THE basis and substance of Christian Science practice is the oneness, the allness, of Principle and its idea. The earnest student of Christian Science spends much time in studying and pondering the definitions of God as found on pages 465 and 587 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, for the understanding of Principle, God, carries with it the understanding of man, God's idea, his nature, origin, and substance. This idea has no individuality, no entity, no being, separate from God, or the Mind which conceives it. That which Mind conceives is; it requires no process, no germination, no development, no time, no effort. God "spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast." God's creation, or self-expression, is intact, unchangeable and unchanging. This spiritual fact of oneness is the foundation and starting point of all scientific deduction and practice.
Truth is not abstract glory but tangible, provable scientific fact. In an article entitled "Advice to Students," in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 299), Mrs. Eddy says, "The good which the material senses see not is the only absolute good; the evil which these senses see not is the only absolute evil." And in the textbook our Leader urges (p. 496): "Ask yourself: Am I living the' life that approaches the supreme good? Am I demonstrating the healing power of Truth and Love?"
Good is God, Spirit; there is, in Science, no human good. Therefore "the life that approaches the supreme good" is the life that is imbued with spirituality of thought, motive, purpose, and pursuit. In such spiritualization of thought there is no compromise with human theories, no halfway position. Spiritual-mindedness recognizes the so-called conditions of matter as aggressive mental suggestion and discovers substance in its native element and function, Mind. What is it that says, "I am diseased, ill, weak, poor, aging, weary"? The aggressive mental suggestion of mortal mind is the essence of every inharmonious condition.
