Whatever lives progresses, for progress is the law of Life, God. Mary Baker Eddy says in her book "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 117), "A progressive life is the reality of Life that unfolds its immortal Principle." Humanity longs to progress, but needs to learn what progress is, whence it comes, and the laws governing it.
Without Christian Science, which defines and demonstrates true progress, one is likely to go along with the worldling's estimate of progress and to think of it in terms of matter. The carnal mind's estimate of progress follows the line of matter—more and better material possessions, personal importance, physical power—and mortals are satisfied with this ideal. Matter is thus the measuring rod of progress and prosperity in worldly thought. But Mrs. Eddy says in her sermon "The People's Idea of God" (p. 1), "Every step of progress is a step more spiritual." Those who follow her are willing to take the steps which demonstrate man's real life as God's expression of unfolding good. If one feels that his human experience is at a standstill, that he is not expanding in usefulness and activity and freedom, he should remember that the truth of progress is available and can be demonstrated as a law of destruction to the sense dream of a limited, stagnant, unprogressive life.
The progress of the real man, God's likeness, involves the perpetual unfoldment of good, of intelligence and wisdom, love and purity and health. All good is individualized in man, and it is through man that God continues to unfold His infinite nature and substance. The creative divine Principle acts through law to supply man with every manifestation of beauty and order and goodness, with all that Principle includes. Thus man can never come to a point when he ceases to progress and prosper. One gathers from Christian Science that real life is never static, never inactive for a moment. Progress not inertia, activity not quiescence, is inevitable in real life.
Anyone who is honestly applying Christian Science should note definite progress in every detail of his life. Every day should find him expressing more intelligence, purer love, a higher sense of justice than he knew before. A new day should welcome the reflection of more spiritual power in the working out of human problems. Not satisfied simply to receive benefits, one should be reaching out to others with the desire to bless through the treasured understanding of God and man. And this activity interprets progress in practical ways.
Putting off limitations is an inevitable accompaniment of spiritual progress in the understanding of Truth, for all that Truth manifests is infinite. Prosperity is not materialism when it is the result of spiritual progress; rather, it is the breaking down of the sense dream of life in matter, for matter is nothing more than limited thinking. It is to be expected that Christian Scientists put off the limitations imposed by matter when they silence material sense and view creation through spiritual sense, which knows only infinity. Unlimited thinking is not going to be clothed in limited vestures. But the Scientist needs to watch that he is not tricked by materialism when he sees prosperity coming his way, that he does not rest in stupid satisfaction over his improved estate. Limitation must continue to be forsaken until matter disappears; and the disappearance, not the accumulation, of matter is the Scientist's goal.
At the beginning and at the end of Jesus' ministry, the Christ was identified with abundance, as illustrated in the two great catches of fish. In the first instance the net broke, and the ships began to sink, so filled were they with fish. Belief in matter had not yet been abandoned by the astonished fishermen. But the Master lifted their thoughts above matter, and we read that "when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him" (Luke 5:11). In the second instance (see John 21:1—11) the net did not break. These chastened men had progressed to the point of recognizing the risen Christ, and the presence of the Christ rather than material abundance filled their thoughts with awe.
Progress and prosperity are inseparable when the Christ witnesses to our manhood as God's sons; for Christ, Truth, demonstrates life in obedience to the Father's will for unlimited good. Progressing in Christliness, we look to God for everything and thus find our needs met with a certain sense of infinity. Jesus' experience was progressive because he looked to infinity for all that he needed—for supply, power, love, for life itself.
Spiritual progress and the prosperity which accompanies it take place in our conscious experience; they appear within thought when we become cognizant of the Christly self, which unfolds infinity. The Christian Scientist should represent to the world the breaking down of material, limited thinking. His progress in prosperity will continue as he learns to fathom the depth of the Father's love for man. His nets will not break, he will not become beguiled by materialism. He will advance in the demonstration of the reality of Life. He will be progressing by steps "more spiritual."
