Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures Part 1

Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures.

by Mary Baker Eddy.

PREFACE

vi:1 To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings. The wakeful shepherd beholds vi:3 the first faint morning beams, ere cometh the full radiance of a risen day. So shone the pale star to the prophet- shepherds; yet it traversed the night, and came where, in vi:6 cradled obscurity, lay the Bethlehem babe, the human herald of Christ, Truth, who would make plain to be- nighted understanding the way of salvation through Christ vi:9 Jesus, till across a night of error should dawn the morn- ing beams and s.h.i.+ne the guiding star of being. The Wise- men were led to behold and to follow this daystar of vi:12 divine Science, lighting the way to eternal harmony.

The time for thinkers has come. Truth, independent of doctrines and time-honored systems, knocks at the vi:15 portal of humanity. Contentment with the past and the cold conventionality of materialism are crumbling away. Ignorance of G.o.d is no longer the stepping- vi:18 stone to faith. The only guarantee of obedience is a right apprehension of Him whom to know aright is Life eternal. Though empires fall, "the Lord shall vi:21 reign forever."

A book introduces new thoughts, but it cannot make them speedily understood. It is the task of the st.u.r.dy vi:24 pioneer to hew the tall oak and to cut the rough granite. Future ages must declare what the pioneer has accomplished.

vi:27 Since the author's discovery of the might of Truth in vii:1 the treatment of disease as well as of sin, her system has been fully tested and has not been found wanting; but vii:3 to reach the heights of Christian Science, man must live in obedience to its divine Principle. To develop the full might of this Science, the discords of corporeal sense vii:6 must yield to the harmony of spiritual sense, even as the science of music corrects false tones and gives sweet con- cord to sound.

vii:9 Theology and physics teach that both Spirit and matter are real and good, whereas the fact is that Spirit is good and real, and matter is Spirit's oppo- vii:12 site. The question, What is Truth, is answered by demonstration, by healing both disease and sin; and this demonstration shows that Christian healing con- vii:15 fers the most health and makes the best men. On this basis Christian Science will have a fair fight. Sickness has been combated for centuries by doctors using ma- vii:18 terial remedies; but the question arises, Is there less sickness because of these pract.i.tioners? A vigorous "No" is the response deducible from two connate vii:21 facts, - the reputed longevity of the Antediluvians, and the rapid multiplication and increased violence of diseases since the flood.

vii:24 In the author's work, RETROSPECTION AND INTROSPEC- TION, may be found a biographical sketch, narrating experiences which led her, in the year 1866, to the dis- vii:27 covery of the system that she denominated Christian Science. As early as 1862 she began to write down and give to friends the results of her Scriptural study, for vii:30 the Bible was her sole teacher; but these compositions were crude, the first steps of a child in the newly dis- covered world of Spirit.

ix:1 She also began to jot down her thoughts on the main subject, but these jottings were only infantile ix:3 lispings of Truth. A child drinks in the outward world through the eyes and rejoices in the draught. He is as sure of the world's existence as he is of his own; yet ix:6 he cannot describe the world. He finds a few words, and with these he stammeringly attempts to convey his feeling. Later, the tongue voices the more definite ix:9 thought, though still imperfectly.

So was it with the author. As a certain poet says of himself, she "lisped in numbers, for the numbers ix:12 came." Certain essays written at that early date are still in circulation among her first pupils; but they are feeble attempts to state the Principle and practice of ix:15 Christian healing, and are not complete nor satisfac- tory expositions of Truth. To-day, though rejoicing in some progress, she still finds herself a willing dis- ix:18 ciple at the heavenly gate, waiting for the Mind of Christ.

Her first pamphlet on Christian Science was copy- ix:21 righted in 1870; but it did not appear in print until 1876, as she had learned that this Science must be demonstrated by healing, before a work on the subject ix:24 could be profitably studied. From 1867 until 1875, copies were, however, in friendly circulation.

Before writing this work, SCIENCE AND HEALTH, she ix:27 made copious notes of Scriptural exposition, which have never been published. This was during the years 1867 and 1868. These efforts show her comparative ix:30 ignorance of the stupendous Life-problem up to that time, and the degrees by which she came at length to its solution; but she values them as a parent x:1 may treasure the memorials of a child's growth, and she would not have them changed.

x:3 The first edition of SCIENCE AND HEALTH was pub- lished in 1875. Various books on mental healing have since been issued, most of them incorrect in theory x:6 and filled with plagiarisms from SCIENCE AND HEALTH.

They regard the human mind as a healing agent, whereas this mind is not a factor in the Principle of x:9 Christian Science. A few books, however, which are based on this book, are useful.

The author has not compromised conscience to suit x:12 the general drift of thought, but has bluntly and hon- estly given the text of Truth. She has made no effort to embellish, elaborate, or treat in full detail so in- x:15 finite a theme. By thousands of well-authenticated cases of healing, she and her students have proved the worth of her teachings. These cases for the most part x:18 have been abandoned as hopeless by regular medical attendants. Few invalids will turn to G.o.d till all physical supports have failed, because there is so little x:21 faith in His disposition and power to heal disease.

The divine Principle of healing is proved in the personal experience of any sincere seeker of Truth. Its x:24 purpose is good, and its practice is safer and more po- tent than that of any other sanitary method. The un- biased Christian thought is soonest touched by Truth, x:27 and convinced of it. Only those quarrel with her method who do not understand her meaning, or dis- cerning the truth, come not to the light lest their x:30 works be reproved. No intellectual proficiency is req- uisite in the learner, but sound morals are most de- sirable.

xi:1 Many imagine that the phenomena of physical heal- ing in Christian Science present only a phase of the xi:3 action of the human mind, which action in some unex- plained way results in the cure of disease. On the con- trary, Christian Science rationally explains that all xi:6 other pathological methods are the fruits of human faith in matter, faith in the workings, not of Spirit, but of the fleshly mind which must yield to Science.

xi:9 The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus' time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their real- xi:12 ity in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation. Now, as then, these mighty works xi:15 are not supernatural, but supremely natural. They are the sign of Immanuel, or "G.o.d with us," a divine influence ever present in human consciousness and re- xi:18 peating itself, coming now as was promised aforetime,

To preach deliverance to the captives [of sense], And recovering of sight to the blind, xi:21 To set at liberty them that are bruised.

When G.o.d called the author to proclaim His Gospel to this age, there came also the charge to plant and xi:24 water His vineyard.

The first school of Christian Science Mind-healing was started by the author with only one student in xi:27 Lynn, Ma.s.sachusetts, about the year 1867. In 1881, she opened the Ma.s.sachusetts Metaphysical College in Boston, under the seal of the Commonwealth, a law xi:30 relative to colleges having been pa.s.sed, which enabled her to get this inst.i.tution chartered for medical pur- xii:1 poses. No charters were granted to Christian Scien- tists for such inst.i.tutions after 1883, and up to that xii:3 date, hers was the only College of this character which had been established in the United States, where Christian Science was first introduced.

xii:6 During seven years over four thousand students were taught by the author in this College. Meanwhile she was pastor of the first established Church of xii:9 Christ, Scientist; President of the first Christian Sci- entist a.s.sociation, convening monthly; publisher of her own works; and (for a portion of this time) sole xii:12 editor and publisher of the Christian Science Journal, the first periodical issued by Christian Scientists. She closed her College, October 29, 1889, in the height of xii:15 its prosperity with a deep-lying conviction that the next two years of her life should be given to the prep- aration of the revision of SCIENCE AND HEALTH, which xii:18 was published in 1891. She retained her charter, and as its President, reopened the College in 1899 as auxil- iary to her church. Until June 10, 1907, she had never xii:21 read this book throughout consecutively in order to elu- cidate her idealism.

In the spirit of Christ's charity, as one who "hopeth xii:24 all things, endureth all things," and is joyful to bear consolation to the sorrowing and healing to the sick, she commits these pages to honest seekers for Truth.

MARY BAKER EDDY

NOTE. - The author takes no patients, and declines medical consultation.

CHAPTER I - PRAYER

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pa.s.s; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him. - CHRIST JESUS.

1:1 THE prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are 1:3 possible to G.o.d,- a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love. Regardless of what another may say or think on this subject, I speak from experience.

1:6 Prayer, watching, and working, combined with self-im- molation, are G.o.d's gracious means for accomplis.h.i.+ng whatever has been successfully done for the Christian- 1:9 ization and health of mankind.

Thoughts unspoken are not unknown to the divine Mind. Desire is prayer; and no loss can occur from 1:12 trusting G.o.d with our desires, that they may be moulded and exalted before they take form in words and in deeds.

Right motives

2:1 What are the motives for prayer? Do we pray to make ourselves better or to benefit those who hear us, 2:3 to enlighten the infinite or to be heard of men? Are we benefited by praying? Yes, the desire which goes forth hungering after righteous- 2:6 ness is blessed of our Father, and it does not return unto us void.

Deity unchangeable

G.o.d is not moved by the breath of praise to do more 2:9 than He has already done, nor can the infinite do less than bestow all good, since He is unchang- ing wisdom and Love. We can do more for 2:12 ourselves by humble fervent pet.i.tions, but the All-lov- ing does not grant them simply on the ground of lip- service, for He already knows all.

2:15 Prayer cannot change the Science of being, but it tends to bring us into harmony with it. Goodness at- tains the demonstration of Truth. A request that 2:18 G.o.d will save us is not all that is required. The mere habit of pleading with the divine Mind, as one pleads with a human being, perpetuates the belief in G.o.d as 2:21 humanly circ.u.mscribed,- an error which impedes spirit- ual growth.

G.o.d's standard

G.o.d is Love. Can we ask Him to be more? G.o.d is 2:24 intelligence. Can we inform the infinite Mind of any- thing He does not already comprehend?

Do we expect to change perfection? Shall 2:27 we plead for more at the open fount, which is pour- ing forth more than we accept? The unspoken desire does bring us nearer the source of all existence and 2:30 blessedness.

Asking G.o.d to _be_ G.o.d is a vain repet.i.tion. G.o.d is "the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever;" and 3:1 He who is immutably right will do right without being reminded of His province. The wisdom of man is not 3:3 sufficient to warrant him in advising G.o.d.

The spiritual mathematics

Who would stand before a blackboard, and pray the principle of mathematics to solve the problem? The 3:6 rule is already established, and it is our task to work out the solution. Shall we ask the divine Principle of all goodness to do His own 3:9 work? His work is done, and we have only to avail ourselves of G.o.d's rule in order to receive His bless- ing, which enables us to work out our own salvation.

3:12 The Divine Being must be reflected by man, - else man is not the image and likeness of the patient, tender, and true, the One "altogether lovely;" but to 3:15 understand G.o.d is the work of eternity, and demands absolute consecration of thought, energy, and desire.

Prayerful ingrat.i.tude

How empty are our conceptions of Deity! We admit 3:18 theoretically that G.o.d is good, omnipotent, omni- present, infinite, and then we try to give information to this infinite Mind. We plead 3:21 for unmerited pardon and for a liberal outpouring of benefactions. Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of the 3:24 blessings we have, and thus be fitted to receive more.

Grat.i.tude is much more than a verbal expression of thanks. Action expresses more grat.i.tude than speech.

3:27 If we are ungrateful for Life, Truth, and Love, and yet return thanks to G.o.d for all blessings, we are in- sincere and incur the sharp censure our Master pro- 3:30 nounces on hypocrites. In such a case, the only acceptable prayer is to put the finger on the lips and remember our blessings. While the heart is far from 4:1 divine Truth and Love, we cannot conceal the ingrati- tude of barren lives.

Efficacious pet.i.tions

4:3 What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds. To keep the com- 4:6 mandments of our Master and follow his example, is our proper debt to him and the only worthy evidence of our grat.i.tude for all that he has 4:9 done. Outward wors.h.i.+p is not of itself sufficient to express loyal and heartfelt grat.i.tude, since he has said: "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

4:12 The habitual struggle to be always good is unceas- ing prayer. Its motives are made manifest in the blessings they bring,- blessings which, even if not 4:15 acknowledged in audible words, attest our worthiness to be partakers of Love.