e no offering can liquidate one's debt of
gratitude to God, the fervent heart and willing hand are
not unknown to nor unrewarded by Him. [10]

May this volume be to the reader a graphic guide-
book, pointing the path, dating the unseen, and enabling
him to walk the untrodden in the hitherto unexplored
fields of Science. At each recurring holiday the Christian
Scientist will find herein a "canny" crumb; and thus [15]
may time's pastimes become footsteps to joys eternal.

Realism will at length be found to surpass imagination,
and to suit and savor all literature. The shuttlecock of
religious intolerance will fall to the ground, if there be
no battledores to fling it back and forth. It is reason for [20]
rejoicing that the _vox populi_ is inclined to grant us peace,
together with pardon for the preliminary battles that
purchased it.

With tender tread, thought sometimes walks in memory,
through the dim corridors of years, on to old battle- [25]
grounds, there sadly to survey the fields of the slain and
the enemy's losses. In compiling this work, I have tried

[Page xii.]

to remove the pioneer signs and ensigns of war, and to [1]
retain at this date the privileged armaments of peace.

With armor on, I continue the march, command and
countermand; meantime interluding with loving thought
this afterpiece of battle. Supported, cheered, I take my [5]
pen and pruning-hook, to "learn war no more," and with
strong wing to lift my readers above the smoke of conflict
into light and liberty.

Mary Baker Eddy

CONCORD, N.H.
January, 1897

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY.

Prospectus.

[Page 1.]

The ancient Greek looked longingly for the Olym- [1]
piad. The Chaldee watched the appearing of a
star; to him, no higher destiny dawned on the dome
of being than that foreshadowed by signs in the heav- [5]
ens. The meek Nazarene, the scoffed of all scoffers,
said, "Ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye
not discern the signs of the times?"--for he forefelt
and foresaw the ordeal of a perfect Christianity, hated
by sinners. [10]

To kindle all minds with a gleam of gratitude, the
new idea that comes welling up from infinite Truth needs
to be understood. The seer of this age should be a
sage.

Humility is the stepping-stone to a higher recognition [15]
of Deity. The mounting sense gathers fresh forms and
strange fire from the ashes of dissolving self, and drops
the world. Meekness heightens immortal