Testimony of Healing December 12, 1908 Issue

All my life I had been a sufferer

Martha C. Sprague with contributions from Charles H. Merk

All my life I had been a sufferer. Sudden and serious breakdowns had cut short every strenuous effort to accomplish anything. For two or more years prior to 1898 I had "suffered many things of many physicians." More than once my life had been despaired of, but I would rally only to meet continued suffering, until my joy, my hope, and my home were gone, and I lay at death's door under an acute attack of rheumatic trouble. A dear old-time friend had been sent for, to see me before I should pass on. She came as she had done many times before,—to render relief from the sense of suffering; this time, however, she brought the message that was to free me from suffering sense, for she had just entered upon the narrow way of Christian Science.

Her former loving services had given her a right to the initiative, and I shall never forget the sweet humility that characterized her request to be allowed to give me a treatment. Viewing it now, in the light of what she had to give, I wonder that I could have granted it reluctantly: but my blind faith in Christianity had been destroyed in the light of better reasoning, and I could conceive of no alliance between religion and Science. She, however, wrestled silently in that prayer which brings down healing from the source of all good,—that prayer which is desire, born of divine Love. I rallied at once, in response to its call to life and action; and for a few days I read continually that inspiring book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy.

At first I could see but little in it, but as I advanced it dawned upon me that this religion was a complete reversal of all material statements; that to know God aright we must turn from all material testimony, and reach out after the testimony of Spirit, God, unadulterated by human concepts, unmixed with mortal confusions. The command, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve," was for me. I obediently arose from my bed, though with great trepidation and pain, and cast all my medicine out through the open window, declaring that henceforth God should be my only physician.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

I desire to relate my experience in Christian Science