How to obtain and maintain health is a question frequently discussed today. Mary Baker Eddy sets forth vividly and lucidly in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," the complete revelation of divine Science, which in a simple yet satisfying way answers this universal question. On page 400 of the textbook Mrs. Eddy writes, "Mortals obtain the harmony of health, only as they forsake discord, acknowledge the supremacy of divine Mind, and abandon their material beliefs."
Because the human body is originated and maintained by mortal thought, symptoms of disease develop and continue in human experience only as mankind holds in thought mortal beliefs. In order to purify human thought and thereby obtain health, one must first empty it of all that is unlike God, good. The present sense of physicality changes in the degree that the mortal mind presiding over it changes. As thought is corrected and brought into subjection to Truth, the physical impressions change. When thought has been spiritualized, has rejected the false beliefs and accepted divine Mind as the only governing power, there is nothing left in the human mind that can suffer.
A practical illustration of how health may be obtained was given by the apostles on the day of Pentecost, when they were of one Mind and the light of divine Science, or the Holy Ghost as it is called in the Bible, came to them with such force and clarity that they understood Life, God, as never before. Following this experience, many wonders and signs were done by them, including the healing of the man lame from birth who was laid daily at the gate of the temple to ask alms. Peter's arresting statement (Acts 3:6), "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk," brought forth a spontaneous healing, for we read: "Immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God." This new light of understanding enabled the disciples to surrender their false beliefs about man in such a measure that there was no longer room in consciousness for the mortal thought of lameness.
