Discovery and birth

This morning, I can see that the opening paragraph of the Preface to Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy speaks of the discovery of Christian Science. 

The phrase “must give it birth” comes to mind. It is found in Mary Baker Eddy’s autobiographical sketch Retrospection and Introspection (Ret.), in the chapter The Great Discovery:

Jesus of Nazareth was a natural and divine Scientist. He was so before the material world saw him. He who antedated Abraham, and gave the world a new date in the Christian era, was a Christian Scientist, who needed no discovery of the Science of being in order to rebuke the evidence. To one “born of the flesh,” however, divine Science must be a discovery. Woman must give it birth. (Ret. p. 26:17–23 (to 2nd .))

The brief previous chapter in Retrospection and Introspection is entitled Emergence into Light. Readers of this blog would be enlightened through the perusal of those two short chapters.

Ah! I find that Preface speaks of this biographical sketch - see Science and Health p. viii: 24. In fact, there is a great co-relationship between this chapter and Retrospection and Introspection.

Ah! We have access to Mrs. Eddy’s teacher: the Bible - see Science and Health p. viii: 30. 

The Bible was  also her textbook - see Ret. p. 25:3.

Joyce Voysey