PROGRESSION

Christian healing , without the use of matter of any material means, has been proved to be a practical method within the reach of all mankind and as efficacious now as in Jesus' time. It is a big step, however, from the admission that this is so, to individual demonstration of the power of Truth to heal a difficult case. Those who wish to take this step, and who cast about to see how they may get on the right line, quickly find that they stand greatly in need of spiritual sense. To remedy this lack it is necessary to devote time and energy to the gradual acquirement of a more thorough and correct knowledge of God, Spirit, and of the real, spiritual universe, through systematic study of the Scriptures, of Mrs. Eddy's writings, and the literature sent out by The Christian Science Publishing Society. The task will be facilitated proportionably as the student is patient, enduring, and self-denying; that is to say, is "willing rather to be absent from the body," in order "to be present with the Lord," to adopt and pursue the lofty ideals of that Mind which was in Christ Jesus.

"Ye must be born again," said Jesus, recognizing mankind's dense ignorance of Truth. Therefore a kindly warning against unreasonable aspirations is helpful to those who are learning their early lessons in Christian Science, and encourages those to persevere who might otherwise ignorantly expect to reap before they had sown, and so suffer disappointment, and perhaps doubt, because of unrealized expectations. It is great help to the student to acquire a proper sense—neither excusing nor accusing—of mankind's present great distance from "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ," and of the reformation of self which is to be effected before men may reap all the fruits of Christlikeness.

Such a warning, endorsed by a reference to and perhaps a simple explanation of Jesus' forewarning, is especially comforting when, as sometimes happens, the physical, moral, and spiritual regeneration which comes of Christian healing is slow in appearing in some particular direction where it is most longingly awaited. This seeming delay is not due to any lack of potency in God, the Principle of Christian Science, who speaks and it is done, but the truth comes slowly to mortal sense because mortals are such slaves to their material beliefs. They are themselves responsible for the continuance of their sense of sickness or sin, as the case may be, from which they seek to escape, for their subservience to their material sense of discord has the effect of holding its characteristics in their thoughts long after the truth has been made known to them and has healed them as will eventually be shown to have been the case. "Idiotic" would appear to be the very mildest of terms that such perverseness deserved, did we not remember how very real the world of sense still seems to be, although we know now that the thoughts of mankind constitute all there is of it.

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PEACE
October 14, 1911
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