How familiar to the student of Christian Science is the admonition, "Stand porter at the door of thought." It is found on page 392 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, under the marginal heading "Guarding the door." The paragraph continues, "Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously." It concludes with this statement: "The issues of pain or pleasure must come through mind, and like a watchman forsaking his post, we admit the intruding belief, forgetting that through divine help we can forbid this entrance."
A student of Christian Science awoke one morning with the disturbing realization that she was experiencing the symptoms of influenza. Instantly she recalled that the day before, she had dismissed a suggestion of this as erroneous, but being preoccupied with household duties, she had neglected to perform her office as porter and exclude the error from her consciousness.
As she now turned to God in prayer, she recalled the foregoing quotation, particularly the part which reads, "through divine help we can forbid this entrance." She knew that what had claimed to enter without divine permission need not be further entertained, that she was not compelled to offer mental hospitality to an intruding belief. With mounting inspiration and courage the student held fast to the thought of her oneness with God, her eternal perfection as His idea. Joyfully she recalled these words from Science and Health (p. 538): "Truth is a two-edged sword, guarding and guiding. Truth places the cherub wisdom at the gate of understanding to note the proper guests."
