Systematic Study

Has anyone yet taken up the systematic, topical study of Mrs. Eddy’s Science and Health? By topical study, I mean tracing one subject from beginning to end of the volume. In the Tenth Chapter of Revelation we are commanded to “take it and eat it up.” Eat what? The little book which the angel held in his hand, that it may become our Life. Science and Health is this book, sweet to the spiritual man, but bitter to the material man. It forms the connecting link between mortal and Immortal Mind, and leads us out of the one into the other.

There is a line of study which can be traced throughout the book, which might be compared to Jacob’s ladder. It begins with Life, embracing all the harmonies of our being. As the roots are the life of a tree or a plant, so Life is the foundation of the study of Christian Science. Without it we could not take the first step from matter to Mind. This is the keynote of the chapter on Recapitulation, and contains the basic Science of Being. Mrs. Eddy states, that we must learn the Science of Life in order to reach the perfection of manhood. To understand God, as the Principle of all Being, and to live in accordance with this Principle, is the Science of Life.

Associated with Life are Substance and Intelligence. These three are mentioned together in many places, throughout the book; for our understanding of Life changes our view of the basis of Substance and Intelligence, from matter to Spirit.

Taking the study in this way, there will be no personal preferences, but your course will be according to Principle. Life is dwelt on in all its phases—its beauty, purity, harmony, and loveliness. The chapters on Science of Being and Footsteps of Truth are full of Life. In Physiology there is less. In Recapitulation, as before stated, Life is the keynote. When we come to the chapters on Healing and Teaching, and Creation, it is like lifting the curtain and taking a fairy peep; for we see the vast mountains and rocks, the heights and the depths of thought in regard to Life. In the chapter on Genesis we find the trees, flowers, and waters, or the beauty of Life.

This is only the basis, but what a wonderful basis it is!

Next in the line of study is Truth, that clear-cut, refined sense, exact, just, and infinite in perfection, which it is heaven to know,—like the clear, frosty air of a dawn in the autumn, when the stars shine in the heavens like diamonds, and everything is distinctly outlined.

Truth bears the same relation to Science as the trunk, limbs, branches, and foliage do to the tree; “and the leaves of the tree [of Life, corresponding with Truth] were for the healing of the nations.”

Love, the highest in the line of study, is like the flower or the fruit; “and the tree of Life bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month.” What a wonderful, glorious study!

How interesting also, and how necessary, to study the Bible in the same way; to know and preserve all its sayings —first, on Life, and then on Truth and Love. These three, understood, make the light of Spirit, which, reflected, heals all manner of disease and sin, for where the light is, there can be no darkness.

There are many other subjects to be taken up when we have finished Life, Truth, and Love; for instance, the further statements about Spirit,—i. e. its purity, beauty, harmony, perfection. Other topics are Soul, Spirit, Mind, Person, Body, the Belief of Death, and what Christ proved concerning Death and the Body; and there are many more. The study of Science and Health in this way is beautiful. We feel a sense of harmony stealing over us,—as we read our collection of thoughts on each of these subjects,—that is beyond description in its sweetness.