The truths gleaned from the Bible and from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy help us in storm and calm, in defeat and victory, in moments of doubt and darkness, and in days of assurance and sunlight. They must be ever active in our consciousness if we would safeguard our mental homes from the encroaching suggestions of mortal mind. Mrs. Eddy tells us in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 210): "There is no door through which evil can enter, and no space for evil to fill in a mind filled with goodness. Good thoughts are an impervious armor; clad therewith you are completely shielded from the attacks of error of every sort." Our duty, then, is to keep thought constantly in conformity with divine Mind by recognizing the spiritual relationship between God and man. In this way we shut out the would-be intrusion of mortal mind.
That this mental work brings liberation and healing was proved by a young woman who was suddenly confronted with error which seemed so great that she felt plunged into a maelstrom of gloom and fear. Clear thinking seemed an impossibility, but she audibly repeated "the scientific statement of being" from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy (p. 468). This steadied her thought, and clear, prayerful metaphysical work followed. Mortal mind was stilled, and a positive victory resulted. The more earnest study we give to the spiritual facts of reality, the more will be unfolded to us of the depth and height, the majesty and might, of the Love and Mind they forever reflect.
The opening statement of "the scientific statement of being" reads, "There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter." If there is no truth in matter, then matter must be a lie, and no one could actually believe that which he knows is false. We perceive the fallacy in the statement that three plus three equals seven because we know that it is contrary to fact. There is no intelligence in it, for it is contrary to knowledge; we cannot use it, for it does not conform to mathematical science and has no entity. It is only our belief in its fallacy that would make it appear real to us. We may reason similarly regarding materiality. There is no place in Spirit for matter, the antipode of Spirit. Man cannot know matter, for he knows God. Man cannot use matter, for it does not exist in his spiritual habitation. Matter does not conform to Principle, for it is contrary to spiritual law. Therefore matter possesses no entity.
The dream picture of materialism claims that mortals are subject to so-called material laws. But these so-called laws have no principle and afford no accuracy or dependability. In the words of "the scientific statement of being" the clarion note of Truth is, "All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all." Mind creates all. The spiritual universe and man, made in God's likeness, must be Godlike and must be and are governed, sustained, and perpetuated by God's infallible law. There is, there can be, nothing outside the spiritual creation, for God's creation is infinite. Since God is All, there is nothing beyond infinity, or outside of infinity. The all-inclusiveness of Spirit leaves no place for matter. That which has no habitation has no existence.
These truths cherished in thought serve as levers by which the human mind is lifted out of itself to that height where it perceives to some degree the at-one-ment of God and His idea and learns that Love is forever reflected in man and that it tenderly cares for its offspring. On this spiritual height beliefs with their earth weights drop away, and the freed thought radiates intelligence, enabling us to demonstrate the truth of our Leader's words (ibid., p. 403), "You command the situation if you understand that mortal existence is a state of self-deception and not the truth of being." The self-deceiving beliefs of limitation, poverty, inactivity, dishonesty, sickness, and sin have no intelligence and no reality, for Mind does not produce them. Let us know that material beliefs cannot obstruct our pathway, cannot obscure our vision of the Christ, and cannot prevent our steady climb up to the Horeb height of reality.
Intelligence can know only Truth. It logically follows that so-called mortal mind, having no intelligence, cannot state the truth. Material sense testimony, because unsupported by Principle, has no power, no reality, no life. Then shall we fear any suggestions coming to us from that source? Though the material sense may argue lack, prolonged illness, discord, binding habits or limitations, let us accept as valid only the proclamation of Truth that we are "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" (Rom. 8:17). Therefore we partake, by reflection, of God's abundance, love, strength, wisdom, and harmony. We must steadfastly and understandingly affirm that He hath given us power and that nothing can touch us or harm us. Paul's assurance to Timothy is still true (II Tim. 1:7), "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
Tyranny, war, limitation, hatred, and so forth result from the belief that the infinite is modeled after human impulses, passions, and changeableness. As one gains an understanding of God. not as a mortal magnified, but as infinite Spirit, he perceives that "Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error," as "the scientific statement of being" declares. Thought that is brought into conformity with divine law understands God and expresses Him.
Love bears to each waiting consciousness pure, illimitable ideas, which silence the dissonance of material existence and produce harmonious human conditions. It is certain that when falsity is excluded from consciousness, it cannot be objectified in what is termed a discordant body and a discordant environment.
Let us sing and rejoice that Love's holy presence is an actuality wherein we safely abide. Let us also breathe a prayer of gratitude for the truth in the last sentence of this wonderful "scientific statement of being": "Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual." As we do, we shall find liberation from the intrusions of mortal mind and shall rejoice in the safety and security of Truth.
