Excerpts from

  Science and Health
With Key to the Scriptures
by Mary Baker Eddy




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Table Of Contents

PREFACE
CHAPTER I - PRAYER
CHAPTER II - ATONEMENT AND EUCHARIST
CHAPTER III - MARRIAGE
CHAPTER IV - CHRISTIAN SCIENCE VERSUS SPIRITUALISM
CHAPTER V - ANIMAL MAGNETISM UNMASKED
CHAPTER VI - SCIENCE, THEOLOGY, MEDICINE
CHAPTER VII - PHYSIOLOGY
CHAPTER VIII - FOOTSTEPS OF TRUTH
CHAPTER IX - CREATION
CHAPTER X - SCIENCE OF BEING
CHAPTER XI - SOME OBJECTIONS ANSWERED
CHAPTER XII - CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PRACTICE
CHAPTER XIII - TEACHING CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
CHAPTER XIV - RECAPITULATION

KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES
CHAPTER XV - GENESIS
CHAPTER XVI - THE APOCALYPSE
CHAPTER XVII - GLOSSARY
CHAPTER XVIII - FRUITAGE


PREFACE

 To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is
big with blessings. The wakeful shepherd beholds
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
cradled obscurity, lay the Bethlehem babe, the human
herald of Christ, Truth, who would make plain to benighted
understanding the way of salvation through Christ
Jesus, till across a night of error should dawn the morning
beams and shine the guiding star of being. The Wisemen
were led to behold and to follow this daystar of
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
portal of humanity. Contentment with the past and
the cold conventionality of materialism are crumbling
away. Ignorance of God is no longer the stepping-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
reign forever."

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

 Since the author's discovery of the might of Truth in
the treatment of disease as well as of sin, her system has
been fully tested and has not been found wanting; but
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
must yield to the harmony of spiritual sense, even as the
science of music corrects false tones and gives sweet concord
to sound.

 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

opposite. The question, What is Truth, is answered by
demonstration, - by healing both disease and sin; and
this demonstration shows that Christian healing confers
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 material
remedies; but the question arises, Is there less
sickness because of these practitioners? A vigorous
"No" is the response deducible from two connate
facts, - the reputed longevity of the Antediluvians,
and the rapid multiplication and increased violence of
diseases since the flood.

 In the author's work, RETROSPECTION AND INTROSPECTION,
may be found a biographical sketch, narrating
experiences which led her, in the year 1866, to the discovery
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
the Bible was her sole teacher; but these compositions
were crude, - the first steps of a child in the newly discovered
world of Spirit.

 She also began to jot down her thoughts on the
main subject, but these jottings were only infantile
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
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
thought, though still imperfectly.

 So was it with the author. As a certain poet says of
himself, she "lisped in numbers, for the numbers
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
Christian healing, and are not complete nor satisfactory
expositions of Truth. To-day, though rejoicing
in some progress, she still finds herself a willing disciple
at the heavenly gate, waiting for the Mind of
Christ.

 Her first pamphlet on Christian Science was copyrighted
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
could be profitably studied. From 1867 until 1875,
copies were, however, in friendly circulation.

 Before writing this work, SCIENCE AND HEALTH, she
made copious notes of Scriptural exposition, which
have never been published. This was during the years
1867 and 1868. These efforts show her comparative
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

 The first edition of SCIENCE AND HEALTH was published
in 1875. Various books on mental healing have
since been issued, most of them incorrect in theory
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
Christian Science. A few books, however, which are
based on this book, are useful.

 The author has not compromised conscience to suit
the general drift of thought, but has bluntly and honestly
given the text of Truth. She has made no effort
to embellish, elaborate, or treat in full detail so infinite
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
have been abandoned as hopeless by regular medical
attendants. Few invalids will turn to God till all
physical supports have failed, because there is so little
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
purpose is good, and its practice is safer and more potent
than that of any other sanitary method. The unbiased
Christian thought is soonest touched by Truth,
and convinced of it. Only those quarrel with her
method who do not understand her meaning, or discerning
the truth, come not to the light lest their
works be reproved. No intellectual proficiency is requisite
in the learner, but sound morals are most 
desirable.

Buy original and revised editions in Adobe PDF eBook format for $6.95 the pair.
(ebook pack comprises of original 1875 edition plus the final revised edition, published in 1910)




or click here to order printed book from Amazon.com for $12.95