From a purely human standpoint, the subject of this editorial might excite controversy, since an intellectual may also be a metaphysician. But from the standpoint of Christian Science, the metaphysician should be thought of as one who places God first in his affections, exalts His essences and His attributes, placing them higher than scholarly distinction, and who puts his spiritual understanding to work with healing power. An interest in ontology dominates his thinking.
On the other hand, the intellectual is more often than not one who overemphasizes the importance of human knowledge and keenness at the expense of spiritual intuition and the compassionate warmth that yearns to comfort and heal mankind. The intellectual is often inclined to be satisfied with theory; whereas the metaphysician is satisfied with nothing less than the practical application of Truth.
The metaphysician acts through revelation, the intellectual acts more through reason. In her discovery of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy blended revelation and reason. But her teachings show that reason enters into the demonstration of divine Science only in the measure that its basis coincides with the revealed truth and that logical conclusions are drawn from the standpoint of divine Principle, which is infinite Love, or God. In "No and Yes," Mrs. Eddy says (p. 11): "Revelation shows this Principle, and will rescue reason from the thrall of error. Revelation must subdue the sophistry of intellect, and spiritualize consciousness with the dictum and the demonstration of Truth and Love."
