My first reading of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures"...

My first reading of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy was not prompted by a search for health, but by a desire to know just what could be the nature of this philosophy. I had, for many years, been wandering through a maze of material reasoning in regard to the Bible and man's earthly existence. Feeling the need of a religious faith, I had attempted at different times to accept various creeds; but had always found that I could not agree, and so had rejected them. As a result of all this perplexity, I had finally reached the conclusion that since God had made man capable of sinning, He could not condemn him for following a natural inclination. The outcome of this was a tendency toward loose thinking and careless acting, which had brought about a despondent mental condition that was slowly but surely undermining health and mental poise.

In my reading of Science and Health I had expected to find an extravagant and far-fetched theory similar to some of the material philosophies I had read before. Instead, I was both surprised and delighted to find humble statements filled with spiritual truth, together with sound doctrine based on divine Love that carried with it an abundance of proof. There was nothing in the book with which I disagreed; therefore I found it necessary to begin to practice what I understood to be true. Immediately, I discontinued the use of medicine, which had been a regular habit with me for years. About a month later I found I had been completely healed of a digestive trouble which had been a source of much annoyance to me since childhood. This healing must have taken place at the time the book was first read, as I had made no effort to overcome the condition.

In the seven years that have followed, I have never resorted to materia medica, although during that time I have been healed of scarlet fever, a sprained ankle, severe throat trouble carrying symptoms of diphtheria, dog-bite, grief, and many other discordant conditions that mortal mind would have us believe attack us in the flesh. A condition of lack has been replaced by abundant supply. Despondency and unrest have changed to joy, happiness, and an harmonious sense of life, for which my gratitude can be expressed only by a greater effort to reflect more of that Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus."

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December 29, 1923
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