IN the latter half of the nineteenth century there occurred a disclosure of universal reality which has no parallel in human history. This was the revelation of the Science of the infinite to Mary Baker Eddy, a devout follower of the teachings of Christ Jesus. The lens of divine Science enabled Mrs. Eddy to behold the world of Spirit with accuracy and detail. She discerned and examined causation of divine Mind, substance of Spirit, and essence of eternal Life.
Through consecutive years the revelation continued to unfold. With patience and persistence truth was accepted and digested. The wonder that kept expanding could be grasped only bit by bit; its implications were beyond the capability of human reason to define, the full meaning too vast to be more than touched at first. But initial glimpses spread into glorious vistas. Clearer and clearer the spiritual picture grew. The infinitude of God became transparent. The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science writes, "The search was sweet, calm, and buoyant with hope, not selfish nor depressing" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 109).
But the discovery of divine Science consisted of more than spiritual knowledge of reality. It also included comprehension of the unreality of so-called material existence. The Discoverer writes of this part of the exploration: "I shall not forget the cost of investigating, for this age, the methods and power of error. While the ways, means, and potency of Truth had flowed into my consciousness as easily as dawns the morning light and shadows flee, the metaphysical mystery of error—its hidden paths, purpose, and fruits—at first defied me. I was saying all the time, 'Come not thou into the secret' —but at length took up the research according to God's command" (Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 222, 223).
