Science and Health
with Key to The Scriptures
by Mary Baker Eddy
Preface

 

xi:1
Many imagine that the phenomena of physical heal-
ing in Christian Science present only a phase of the
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
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-
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
are not supernatural, but supremely natural. They are
the sign of Immanuel, or "God with us," – a divine
influence ever present in human consciousness and re-
peating itself, coming now as was promised aforetime,
xi:19
To preach deliverance to the captives [of sense],
And recovering of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty them that are bruised.
xi:22
When God called the author to proclaim His Gospel
to this age, there came also the charge to plant and
water His vineyard.
xi:25
The first school of Christian Science Mind-healing
was started by the author with only one student in
Lynn, Massachusetts, about the year 1867. In 1881,
she opened the Massachusetts Metaphysical College in
Boston, under the seal of the Commonwealth, a law
relative to colleges having been passed, which enabled
her to get this institution chartered for medical pur-
xii:1
poses. No charters were granted to Christian Scien-
tists for such institutions after 1883, and up to that
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
Christ, Scientist; President of the first Christian Sci-
entist Association, convening monthly; publisher of
her own works; and (for a portion of this time) sole
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
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
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
read this book throughout consecutively in order to elu-
cidate her idealism.
xii:23
In the spirit of Christ's charity, – as one who "hopeth
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.
xii:27
MARY BAKER EDDY
xii:28
NOTE. – The author takes no patients,
and declines medical consultation.
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