method of healing was physical instead of mental。
We helped him in the esteem of the public by our writings； but never knew
of his stating orally or in writing that he treated his patients
mentally； never heard him give any directions to that effect； and have it
from one of his patients； who now asserts that he was the founder of
mental healing； that he never revealed to anyone his method。 We refer to
these facts simply to refute the calumnies and false claims of our
enemies； that we are preferring dishonest claims to the discovery and
founding at this period of Metaphysical Healing or Christian Science。
The Science and laws of a purely mental healing and their method of
application through spiritual power alone； else a mental argument against
disease； are our own discovery at this date。 True； the Principle is
divine and eternal； but the application of it to heal the sick had been
lost sight of； and required to be again spiritually discerned and its
science discovered； that man might retain it through the understanding。
Since our discovery in 1866 of the divine science of Christian Healing；
we have labored with tongue and pen to found this system。 In this
endeavor every obstacle has been thrown in our path that the envy and
revenge of a few disaffected students could devise。 The superstition and
ignorance of even this period have not failed to contribute their mite
towards misjudging us； while its Christian advancement and scientific
research have helped sustain our feeble efforts。
Since our first Edition of Science and Health； published in 1875； two of
the aforesaid students have plagiarized and pirated our works。 In the
issues of E。 J。 A。； almost exclusively ours； were thirteen paragraphs；
without credit； taken verbatim from our books。
Not one of our printed works was ever copied or abstracted from the
published or from the unpublished writings of anyone。 Throughout our
publications of Metaphysical Healing or Christian Science； when writing
or dictating them； we have given ourselves to contemplation wholly apart
from the observation of the material senses： to look upon a copy would
have distracted our thoughts from the subject before us。 We were seldom
able to copy our own compositions； and have employed an amanuensis for
the last six years。 Every work that we have had published has been
extemporaneously written； and out of fifty lectures and sermons that we
have delivered the last year； forty…four have been extemporaneous。 We
have distributed many of our unpublished manuscripts； loaned to one of
our youngest students； R。 K c 。 。 。 。 。 y； between three and four
hundred pages； of which we were sole authorgiving him liberty to copy
but not to publish them。
Leaning on the sustaining Infinite with loving trust； the trials of to…
day grow brief； and to…morrow is big with blessings。
The wakeful shepherd； tending his flocks； beholds from the mountain's top
the first faint morning beam ere cometh the risen day。 So from Soul's
loftier summits shines the pale star to prophet…shepherd； and it
traverses night； over to where the young child lies； in cradled
obscurity； that shall waken a world。 Over the night of error dawn the
morning beams and guiding star of Truth； and 〃the wise men〃 are led by it
to Science； which repeats the eternal harmony that it reproduced； in
proof of immortality。 The time for thinkers has come； and the time for
revolutions； ecclesiastical and civil； must come。 Truth； independent of
doctrines or time…honored systems； stands at the threshold of history。
Contentment with the past； or the cold conventionality of custom； may no
longer shut the door on science； though empires fall； 〃He whose right it
is shall reign。〃 Ignorance of God should no longer be the stepping…stone
to faith； understanding Him； 〃whom to know aright is Life eternal；〃 is
the only guaranty of obedience。
This volume may not open a new thought； and make it at once familiar。 It
has the sturdy task of a pioneer； to hack away at the tall oaks and cut
the rough granite； leaving future ages to declare what it has done。 We
made our first discovery of the adaptation of metaphysics to the
treatment of disease in the winter of 1866； since then we have tested the
Principle on ourselves and others； and never found it to fail to prove
the statements herein made of it。 We must learn the science of Life； to
reach the perfection of man。 To understand God as the Principle of all
being； and to live in accordance with this Principle； is the Science of
Life。 But to reproduce this harmony of being； the error of personal
sense must yield to science； even as the science of music corrects tones
caught from the ear； and gives the sweet concord of sound。 There are
many theories of physic and theology； and many calls in each of their
directions for the right way； but we propose to settle the question of
〃What is Truth？〃 on the ground of proof； and let that method of healing
the sick and establishing Christianity be adopted that is found to give
the most health and to make the best Christians； science will then have a
fair field； in which case we are assured of its triumph over all opinions
and beliefs。 Sickness and sin have ever had their doctors； but the
question is； Have they become less because of them？ The longevity of our
antediluvians would say； No！ and the criminal records of today utter
their voices little in favor of such a conclusion。 Not that we would
deny to Caesar the things that are his； but that we ask for the things
that belong to Truth； and safely affirm； from the demonstrations we have
been able to make； that the science of man understood would have
eradicated sin； sickness； and death； in a less period than six thousand
years。 We find great difficulties in starting this work right。 Some
shockingly false claims are already made to a metaphysical practice；
mesmerism； its very antipodes； is one of them。 Hitherto we have never；
in a single instance of our discovery； found the slightest resemblance
between mesmerism and metaphysics。 No especial idiosyncrasy is requisite
to acquire a knowledge of metaphysical healing； spiritual sense is more
important to its discernment than the intellect； and those who would
learn this science without a high moral standard of thought and action；
will fail to understand it until they go up higher。 Owing to our
explanations constantly vibrating between the same points； an irksome
repetition of words must occur； also the use of capital letters； genders；
and technicalities peculiar to the science。 Variety of language； or
beauty of diction； must give place to close analysis and unembellished
thought。 〃Hoping all things； enduring all things；〃 to do good to our
enemies； to bless them that curse us； and to bear to the sorrowing and
the sick consolation and healing； we commit these pages to posterity。
MARY BAKER G。 EDDY。
APPENDIX B
The Gospel narratives bear brief testimony even to the life of our great
Master。 His spiritual noumenon and phenomenon； silenced portraiture。
Writers； less wise than the Apostles； essayed in the Apocryphal New
Testament； a legendary and traditional history of the early life of
Jesus。 But Saint Paul summarized the character of Jesus as the model of
Christianity； in these words： 〃Consider Him who endured such
contradictions of sinners against Himself。 Who for the joy that was set
before Him； endured the cross； despising the shame； and is set down at
the right hand of the throne of God。〃
It may be that the mortal life battle still wages； and must continue till
its involved errors are vanquished by victory…bringing Science； but this
triumph will come！ God is over all。 He alone is our origin； aim； and
Being。 The real man is not of the dust； nor is he ever created through
the flesh； for his father and mother are the one Spirit； and his brethren
are all the children of one parent； the eternal Good。
Any kind of literary composition was excessively difficult for Mrs。 Eddy。
She found it grinding hard work to dig out anything to say。 She
realized； at the above stage in her life； that with all her trouble she
had not been able to scratch together even material enough for a child's
Autobiography； and also that what she had secured was in the main not
valuable； not important； considering the age and the fame of the person
she was writing about； and so it occurred to her to attempt； in that
paragraph； to excuse the meagreness and poor quality of the feast she was
spreading； by letting on that she could do ever so much better if she
wanted to； but was under constraint of Divine etiquette。 To feed with
more than a few indifferent crumbs a plebeian appetite for personal
details about Personages in her class was not the correct thing； and she
blandly points out that there is Precedent for this reserve。 When Mrs。
Eddy tries to be artful in literature it is generally after the
manner of the ostrich； and with the ostrich's luck。 Please try to find
the connection between the two paragraphs。M。 T。
APPENDIX C
The following is the spiritual signification of the Lord's Prayer：
Principle； eternal and harmonious；
Nameless and adorable Intelligence；
Thou art ever present and supreme。
And when this supremacy of Spirit shall appear； the dream of matter will
disappear。
Give us the understanding of Truth and Love。
And loving we shall learn God； and Truth will destroy all error。
And lead us unto the Life that is Soul； and deliver us from the errors of
sense； sin； sickness； and death；
For God is Life； Truth； and Love for ever。
Science and Health； edition of 1881。
It seems to me that this one is distinctly superior to the one that was
inspired for last year's edition。 It is strange； but to my mind plain；
that inspiring is an art which does not improve with practice。M。 T。
APPENDIX D
〃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 pass； he shall have whatsoever he saith。 Therefore I say unto you；
What things soever ye desire when ye pray； bel