MINDFUL of the statement on page 269 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, "Metaphysics resolves things into thoughts, and exchanges the objects of sense for the ideas of Soul," the student of Christian Science takes much the same course with thoughts that the research chemist does with matter. Whereas the latter examines, analyzes, and studies the nature and composition of so-called material substances to see how they act and what they may be used for, the Christian Scientist examines thoughts under the microscope of his growing understanding of spiritual being. If thoughts are good, they proceed from God, divine Mind, and thus he identifies them as real; but if they are evil, they emanate from the so-called mortal mind and he identifies them as counterfeit and unreal. He turns away from the examination of matter in all its forms and has regard only for thoughts, their origin, nature, and effects.
The basis of Christian Science practice as applied to the examination of our thinking is simple. God, who is defined by Mrs. Eddy as Life, Truth, Love, Spirit, Mind, Soul, Principle, is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, all-power, all-presence, all-knowledge. Man, made in the image and likeness of this wholly good Supreme Being, reflects His qualities. All that truly can enter the consciousness of man, therefore, are the thoughts of God.
The positive and useful substances of the chemist become, in one's metaphysical laboratory, the qualities indicated in the Sermon on the Mount and in other places in Scripture, such as purity, meekness, peace, mercy, forgiveness, righteousness, humility, faith, gratitude, and so on. Examining these qualities and enlarging his understanding of their meaning and man's God-given capacity for expressing them, one also enlarges his effectiveness in discerning and rejecting the counterfeits, such as impurity, aggressiveness, quarrelsomeness, unmercifulness, hardness of heart, unrighteousness, self-righteousness, and faithlessness.
