The carnal, or mortal, mind is basically lazy. It is the belief of life in matter, and in this belief whatever requires effort is tiring. In its suggestions to us that mortal mind is our mind and that matter and its conditions constitute our life, mortal mind rationalizes. It suggests that we can demonstrate divine Truth without making the effort to learn the system which has been given us for attaining the truth.
Specifically, mortal mind suggests that it does not matter how one states the truth or how well one understands the statement of truth; it only matters how much of the spirit one expresses. But in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," page 495, Mrs. Eddy presents the question, "How can I progress most rapidly in the understanding of Christian Science?"She begins her answer in these words: "Study thoroughly the letter and imbibe the spirit."
One who expects to use the truths of Christian Science to heal diseases and discords must recognize the way in which Christian Science has come to us. It was revealed by Mrs. Eddy, a follower of Christ Jesus. Jesus taught and demonstrated the spiritual truths of Christian Science, but he did not explain the method for attaining and demonstrating these truths. He promised that there would be another Comforter, who, he said, would "teach you all things" (John 14:26).
Christian Science is the Comforter, and Mrs. Eddy has revealed it to us through the textbook, Science and Health. On page 123 of this book she writes, "The term Christian Science was introduced by the author to designate the scientific system of divine healing." And on page 147 she says: "Although this volume contains the complete Science of Mind-healing, never believe that you can absorb the whole meaning of the Science by a simple perusal of this book. The book needs to be studied, and the demonstration of the rules of scientific healing will plant you firmly on the spiritual groundwork of Christian Science."
The practice of Christian Science is summed up in Christ Jesus' statement (John 8:32), "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." The letter of Science explains the difference beween knowing the truth and wishful thinking.
The truth is spiritual. To know it, we must unite our thought with divine Mind. Since Mind is All and knows all, we can be conscious, while knowing the truth, only of spiritual reality. But we cannot jump into the consciousness of reality without practicing the system our Leader has given us for attaining this consciousness. This system requires the exercise of good thoughts in the denial of evil, or error.
God is good, and the practice of the moral qualities stirs human consciousness, exposes error, and prepares us to recognize the Christ, Truth. Honesty, moral courage, kindness, diligence, patience, compassion, gratitude give glimpses of the Christ. Like John the Baptist, they prepare the way; but they are not the Christ.
Whether we are working to solve problems involving the health of our bodies, harmony in the home, the education of our children, the peace of the world, or the effectiveness of our churches, we need to be sure that our prayers employ the spiritual truths of God and man. We need to "study thoroughly the letter and imbibe the spirit" in order that we may truly discern spiritual realities in their grandeur, their power, and their applicability to the problem at hand. If we do this, we shall defeat mortal mind and its magnetic suggestion of mental laziness. We shall rise to the demonstration of Truth, the victory of Truth over error in each instance.
Every effort to be morally good is strengthened by the power of Truth and leads to an understanding of spiritual reality. The exercise of moral qualities unfolds our God-given capacity to realize the divine Principle, Life, Love, Soul, God. Spiritual power, perfection, purity, harmony, joy, love—the qualities of the one Mind which man reflects—are ever present in us. As we make honest efforts to reject moral evil, we find these Christly qualities enlightening our thought, and healing comes.
The truths which Christian Science has revealed of God and man have power, when entertained in consciousness, to spiritualize thought, to destroy disease and discord, and to reveal harmony. But a knowledge of the existence of these truths and of their spiritual origin raises for us a higher moral standard. To be honest, we must forsake what Science reveals to be error, and we must diligently pursue an understanding of the truth.
The letter of Christian Science is not like the letter of an academic subject. It cannot be learned by mere memorization. Because it is the letter of the Science of infinite Truth, this system of Mind-healing unfolds to us day by day. The more we have learned of it, the more we realize how much there is to be learned. That is the nature of our Leader's revelation. The closer we get to its truth, the more clearly we understand its immensity and the minuteness of our personal knowledge of it.
As we overcome the lazy conceit of mortal mind and agree to "study thoroughly the letter and imbibe the spirit," we shall find our every step a step of victory over evil, a demonstration of the allness and goodness of God.
