SCIENTIFIC humility may be likened to the attitude of a mathematician before the principle of numbers. He knows that no exercise of human will, no personal opinion or desire, will change one iota or divert in the slightest degree the operation of the rules of that principle; therefore he cannot outline the solution of the problem according to his own personal dictation. He also knows that exact obedience to those undeviating rules will enable him to arrive at the inevitably perfect solution to any problem he may be engaged in solving. This must be the attitude of the student of Christian Science towards that divine Principle of which the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, has said in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 112), "From the infinite One in Christian Science comes one Principle and its infinite idea, and with this infinitude come spiritual rules, laws, and their demonstration, which, like the great Giver, are 'the same yesterday, and today, and forever.' "
The acme of scientific humility was expressed in the words of Jesus the Christ: "I can of mine own self do nothing," and, "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works"—words of transcendent interest and value! It is the Father, not my Father, indicating the universal nature of the divine Principle, Love, its impartial government of all existence. "The Father that dwelleth in me." This indicates how completely the consciousness of Jesus was the reflection of Principle; how completely any belief of a self apart from Love had been erased. This enabled him also to say: "What things soever he [the Father] doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." This is the perfection of reflection. An understanding of divine Principle demonstrates that Principle.
What startling and ineradicable proof of his scientific humility, his understanding of the Father and the nature of the Father as divine Love, Jesus gave. Before his pure reflection of Spirit and its beneficent power the distortions of sense testimony disappeared—every material claim to power, every so-called law of matter, was annulled. When the Pharisees and Sadducees questioned his authority or tried to trick him into answers that would incriminate him before their law, his reflection of omniscience gave answers which annulled their arguments and silenced their tongues. His consciousness of his own spiritual being as the pure reflection of Love enabled him to pass unharmed through the midst of his enemies when, in hatred of his purity, they had led him to the top of the hill from whence they "might cast him down headlong." Innumerable are the evidences he gave of the scientific humility which knew no selfhood apart from God, no power apart from Principle.
Humility has no kinship with timidity. Of all men, Jesus was the most humble and least timid. He met fearlessly all the demands upon his understanding, free from any sense of personal responsibility, but vividly conscious of the Father, Mind, dwelling in him. The presence of timidity in thinking means that there is a belief that one can do something of himself and may fail. Scientific humility has no sense of either fear or inferiority, inability or servility. Conversely, scientific humility is never aggressive, never asserts itself as a personal possession. It stands still in serenity, knowing that Truth maintains itself, asserts itself, and proves itself by its own dynamic power.
When selfless Love holds uncontested sway in consciousness, its radiant blessings appear, impartially bestowed upon all. Humility is that state of thought which has dethroned self-will and enthroned God's will, which aids in bringing every thought into captivity to Christ, Truth, that is, into conformity with Principle, perfect God and perfect man. It is a complete surrender of all belief in a self apart from God, that divine Mind, altogether good, intelligent, wise, and lovely. It is a vigorous, practical, and courageous claiming of at-one-ment with that Mind or Principle; not in arrogance or with the slightest taint of boasting, but in the serenity of security, in gracious service and un-selfed rejoicing in all good. True humility is not afraid to claim man's birthright as an expression of God, that the activity and power of Mind may be made manifest to men, reflecting the dominion of God. Humility saves from humiliation.
Scientific humility never feels pride of accomplishment. It maintains its purity even through the greatest victory, the most sublime conquest. Witness the attitude of Jesus after his resurrection. While he allowed the magnitude of his demonstration over death and the grave to speak for itself, saying to his disciples, "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have," he never spoke of his great victory with a taint of vainglory or a sense of personal achievement. He knew the utter unreality, the mythical nature, of material existence and the mighty, uninterrupted actuality of spiritual being and identity. In her Message to The Mother Church for 1902 (pp. 18, 19) Mrs. Eddy writes: "The nature of Jesus made him keenly alive to the injustice, ingratitude, treachery, and brutality that he received. Yet behold his love! So soon as he burst the bonds of the tomb he hastened to console his unfaithful followers and to disarm their fears." So at that meeting with his disciples on the shore of the Galilean sea, with the glory of his ascension before him, we have only his selfless, loving solicitude for his disciples, and his compassionate regard for humanity expressed in that tender command to Peter, "Feed my sheep."
It was this scientific humility which enabled the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science to meet the enmity of the carnal mind with a reflection of Love, wisdom, and power unparalleled apart from her great Master, Christ Jesus. What but a self-abnegated at-one-ment with divine Principle could have enabled this one gentle, loving woman to stand alone against the sensual and intellectual hatred of materialism, the established claims of theology, medicine, and science, preaching, teaching, practicing directly contrary to their cherished theories and doctrines? Her works prove her to have been maintained by Truth itself, to have been guided by infinite divine wisdom, protected by Love, and sustained by Life. Today her discovery shines, a light in the world, leading the thought of mankind out of the darkness of materialism, though the darkness may comprehend it not. That light can be kept clearly shining only through obedience to her lucid instruction given on page 356 of "Miscellaneous Writings": "Cherish humility, 'watch,' and 'pray without ceasing,' or you will miss the way of Truth and Love."
