# Christian Science makes healing lawful

Commentary on Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton.

On [CH05.P019](https://glosses.org/orthodoxy/pg16769-r1/CH05.P019/#char=938,1050): "But a Christian Scientist of the twentieth century can believe it as much as a Christian of the twelfth century."

The capitalized name denotes the religious teaching of Mary Baker Eddy, rather than a scientist who happens to be Christian. Her *Science and Health* first appeared in 1875. In the Project Gutenberg transcription inspected here, she calls healing the operation of divine Principle and describes such works as supremely natural (Preface, xi:9–18). More sharply, she rejects the idea that Spirit occasionally sets aside material laws (83:12–20). Her positive account makes healing an expression of immutable divine law (134:21–135:8). [Eddy, *Science and Health*](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/3458/pg3458-images.html).

Chesterton's example therefore works as evidence of a modern religious outlook accepting extraordinary healing, but introduces a complication into his contrast between law and will: Eddy's explanation itself appeals to unchanging law. Agreement that a healing occurred would not entail agreement about what made it possible. The inspected transcription does not identify its print edition; these passages should not be treated as verified wording of the 1875 first edition or of a particular edition available to Chesterton in 1908.

## Sources

- [Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/3458/pg3458-images.html), Project Gutenberg #3458, updated 2021; print edition unspecified; Preface xi:9–18; chapter IV, 83:12–20; chapter VI, 134:21–135:8

Revision 1 · 2026-11-07 · https://glosses.org/a/a_craskj7u/