Mrs. Eddy was asked, "Is Christian Science based on the facts of both Spirit and matter?" She answered, "Christian Science is based on the facts of Spirit and its forms and representations, but these facts are the direct antipodes of the so-called facts of matter; and the eternal verities of Spirit assert themselves over their opposite, or matter, in the final destruction of all that is unlike Spirit."Miscellaneous Writings, p. 55;
Spiritual verities constitute the reality and power of Spirit's all-inclusiveness. As we apply them to the human scene, the so-called facts of matter—the erroneous conditions of material existence and even material existence itself—are proved, step by step, to be pure delusions. The self-enforcing elements of Mind's impartations must eventually annihilate every suppositional claim of matter.
Mrs. Eddy writes: "Every material belief hints the existence of spiritual reality; and if mortals are instructed in spiritual things, it will be seen that material belief, in all its manifestations, reversed, will be found the type and representative of verities priceless, eternal, and just at hand."pp. 60, 61;
Educated human beliefs profess to contradict and reverse "the facts of Spirit." Mortal mind claims in matter everything God made in Spirit. However, the fact is that the spiritual is real and the material unreal. Intelligence is in Mind, not in brain matter. Life is Soul; it is not in an organ called the heart. Spirit, God, is substance, and His attributes, not material possessions, constitute limitless supply. Health, harmony, power, authority, immortality—these are mine, saith the Lord. But every human individual brings them into expression to the degree that he consciously reflects God.
Consider these verities in their application to education, to business, to achievement in any walk of life.
Scientifically speaking, there are not two minds, one containing and imparting infinite intelligence and another to be educated. Divine Mind is the only Mind, the source of all intelligence and wisdom. Then there is no illusory mortal mind, and no law can be made to sustain or enforce its illusions. The understanding of the Christ, the true idea of sonship, destroys illusions, negates suppositions, and lifts the human mind out of itself into the consciousness of reality.
Actually, knowledge of spiritual facts is highest education. The sons and daughters of God always exist at the standpoint of instant knowing, instant fulfillment; and in the measure that we realize this sonship, we speak with divine authority. Jesus did, at the age of twelve and throughout his mission. Mind's unlimited verities are the basis of moral and spiritual culture, supplying education, counsel, and direction beyond the power of any human guide. Reflecting the Mind that was in Christ Jesus keeps us perceptive of wisdom from above. We manifest highest education when we magnify and exemplify Soul's likeness in words and in deeds.
From a human viewpoint, business involves many personalities and minds that are busy inventing, manufacturing, buying, and selling material things. But actually there is only the Father's business, the expression of the one Mind, the activity of divine ideas. Spiritualized human consciousness perceiving this fact envisions the wide horizon of "verities priceless, eternal, and just at hand." It is aware that there is in fact no other mind, view, or viewer, only Mind's effortless, limitless, spiritual achievement.
Business executives, statesmen, composers, inventors, lawyers, teachers, artists— men and women in all walks of life—need a perception of the divine verities to demonstrate right activity, greatness, and success. In his real being every individual is endowed with the riches of the Christ without limitation. Creativeness, skillfulness, originality, abundance, and fulfillment only await individual recognition and demonstration of man's true capacity as the reflection of Mind. Divine inspiration motivates effort and leads to the accomplishment of all right desires. Consciousness imbued with Truth's invincible verities is lifted above the limitations of human environment, social stratum, or the personal sense of one's status in an organizational echelon. Spiritual endowments are unlimited, and the recognition of this impels grand achievements.
No human being is responsible for the manifestation of God's likeness in others, just as no one can do another's thinking for him. Truth's verities must be individually sought, adopted, expressed, and practiced. And no human being has special status with God or can secure favors from Him. The verities are the same for all. Humility, the secret of teachableness, enables each individual to recognize his complete dependence on God's omnipresent spiritual qualities.
In this process the mortal nature is subdued. Referring to Paul's words in II Corinthians, "I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake,"II Cor. 12:10; Mrs. Eddy writes, "The Science of Paul's declaration resolves the element misnamed matter into its original sin, or human will; that will which would oppose bringing the qualities of Spirit into subjection to Spirit."Mis., p. 201; Human will masquerades as consciousness. Impulsiveness, temper, stubbornness, and sensuality are elements of mortal mind that obscure His likeness and hinder reformation and healing. Are we letting "the eternal verities of Spirit assert themselves," or elements of human nature?
In all ages God's verities have manifested His sovereign power to supply and heal. In his prayer of affirmation David proclaimed: "Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty. . . . Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all."I Chron. 29:11, 12;
The accomplishments of Moses and, in supreme degree, of Christ Jesus, gave evidence of spiritual verities made manifest. Poverty and barrenness to them signified spiritual bankruptcy, failure to understand and keep God's commandments. And so today Truth's verities give the assurance and evidence of endless, limitless supply and spiritual achievement. The acknowledgment of them allows the angels of God's presence to meet our every need, though not our every want. Divine forces, brought into operation through patient expression of the divine nature, accomplish and fulfill every holy purpose. They achieve the triumph of abundance over lack, purity over sin, goodness over evil, confidence over doubt, love over hate, and life over death.
Time is not an element in knowing and demonstrating spiritual facts. Peter and John kept mindful of divine verities and instantly healed a man lame from childhood. Genuine realization and demonstration are instantly one. "Ye men of Israel," said Peter, "why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?"Acts 3:12; These two disciples of Jesus must have seen man at this instant as an immortal expression of Soul, the embodiment of divine ideas. In all ages and at all times the correct view of man heals metaphysically.
Being mindful of God's omnipresent verities enabled the Master to heal the sick, raise the dead, and feed multitudes. He proved that spirituality breaks mesmerism and discloses God's man complete and perfect, satisfied in the immediate possession of omnipresent, spiritual good. Jesus' demonstration was simultaneous with his conviction, "I knew that thou hearest me always."John 11:42. Such understanding destroys the so-called facts of matter—that man is physical, finite, sick, dying, or dead—and demonstrates the Christ, the ideal man, here and now.
Christ Jesus is our perfect example. But every individual can learn in Christian Science how to demonstrate "verities priceless, eternal, and just at hand," including the incorporeality and immortality of man. Step by step, reasoning based on "the eternal verities of Spirit" must annihilate all beliefs in "so-called facts of matter."
Worship of the one God, Spirit, the Father, and communion with divine ideas alone enable us to perceive and serve Deity aright. Divine verities base true Christianity. Obedience to the Ten Commandments and living the Sermon on the Mount enable us to fulfill our mission, feeding those hungering after righteousness, healing the sick, and raising the dead—those buried in material beliefs. We worship, glorify, and serve God aright when we understand, love, and magnify His likeness.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:16, 17
