When first attracted to Christian Science, perhaps through physical healing or by obtaining freedom from some sinful indulgence or simply by having caught a glimpse of the truth, we long to understand what has brought these blessings into our lives. However worthy our desire, the ability to discern that which lifts demonstration out of the category of guesswork and places it on a sure basis must be attained by orderly, steady growth. Such growth is outlined and explained by our inspired Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in an article entitled "The Way," which appears in "Miscellaneous Writings."
In this article Mrs. Eddy cites three stages of mental development which are necessary to acquire clear spiritual vision: self-knowledge, humility, and love. She closes the exposition with these words (p. 359): "The way is absolute divine Science: walk ye in it; but remember that Science is demonstrated by degrees, and our demonstration rises only as we rise in the scale of being."
As we gain a better understanding of the science of music, our mistakes in the application of it become more apparent. Then as we labor intelligently to follow all the directions given to us, the errors disappear, and all the beauty of a fine interpretation is evidenced. Likewise, as we advance spiritually in Christian Science, we are enabled to detect more readily any discordant, erroneous thinking; and through implicit adherence to the fixed rules of this Science, our mistaken beliefs are corrected, and we learn to prove the facts of scientific being.
