Extract from Exact Expression of Truth ROBERT NALL            . . . Mrs. Eddy did not find it easy, as she frankly admits, to express metaphysics in physical terms, but she gave the world an exposition of Scriptural truth that has no equal; and there is no religious literature which excels in high spiritual teaching and power that which is the outcome of her prophetic insight and foresight. The systematic study of Christian Science is therefore an education in classified, strengthened, and fruitful thought and its expression, giving a clear consciousness of unity with God, accompanied by power over every error of mortal sense. The blessing thus received, by its very nature must radiate the healing power of Love to others. We shall have studied to little effect if, with the momentum of Spirit, we are not actuated more and more by desire to conform to the standard of Principle, and thus do our part in the redemption of mankind. And the inquirer or the sufferer who comes with mental or physical trouble has a right to expect from the professed Christian Scientist something like an intelligible, lucid, and reliable explanation of this revival of Christianity, and especially of the proofs which can be adduced to sustain its claim to heal both sickness and sin.          A clear, demonstrable knowledge of Christian Science must of course include more than a passing acquaintance with its vocabulary. But who has not fallen into the temptation of professing a knowledge of divine metaphysics that was not possessed? Have we not learned how little we know by trying to expound what we very imperfectly grasped? And do we not call to mind the painful result, — a plunge into the quicksands of mental confusion that left our listener in precisely the same condition? Does that account for some, at least, of the absurd statements about Christian Science which we meet with sometimes in print and sometimes in private conversation?          These statements unfortunately sometimes bear such a close resemblance to the truth that it requires an intelligent familiarity with the theology of Christian Science to detect where the error lies. Mrs. Eddy fully understood how extremely detrimental this was to growth in spiritual understanding. For instance, on page 200 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," she warns us that "whoever is incompetent to explain Soul would be wise not to undertake the explanation of body." Soul being one of the synonyms for God, this means that if our concept of God is wrong, obviously anything we think or say about Him and His creation may be erroneous. That, indeed, is the basic error of humanity's sorrows. Whatever excuse there may have been for ignorance in this respect in the ages past, there is none today, especially on the part of those who have been led to accept the Science of Christianity as a revelation of Truth and Truth's spiritual idea.          Spiritual thinking is within the capacity of all, from the very fact that it is a divine endowment, not an intellectual acquirement. In other words, it is a vital part of man's heritage as a spiritual being, and all who perceive God as Principle can have no doubt that man, as the spiritual idea of Principle, possesses the power to think rightly and to express himself clearly. To awaken to this requires, of course, persistent mental activity. The inertia of mortal mind is such that any concession made to it invites the possibility that we are more considerate for error than we are loyal to Truth. It is quite true that the requirements of Christian Science are high and insistent, but we must be thankful that we do not fall into hopeless condemnation because we fail in demonstration even many times. It is well to remember how much we are encouraged to press on. Are we not reminded on page 265 of "Miscellaneous Writings" that "whosoever understands a single rule in Science, and demonstrates its Principle according to rule, is master of the situation"? We may be sure that the "single rule" includes a scrupulous regard for a scientific, loving, and gracious utterance that betokens a spiritual thought value, allied to all that is holy and pure. If our rule of life is the rule of the divine order, and we are impressed with our responsibility as coworkers with God, then there can be no more joyous training than that which leads us so to voice the divine message of Science that it will accomplish that whereunto it has been revealed.   Extract from "Exact Expression of Truth" by Robert Nall Christian Science Sentinel, February 1, 1919

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