Editorial June 10, 1933 Issue

"Heal the sick"

W. Stuart Booth

WHEN Christ Jesus was assured that his disciples had received sufficient spiritual instruction and inspiration to warrant it, he sent them forth to spread the gospel of present salvation. In giving them special and specific directions regarding this mission, he commanded them to "preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." Here was a composite, a complete Christian command covering both preaching and practice, both theory and proof.

The healings wrought by Christ Jesus were due to his understanding and utilization of God's law of life and harmony; and he imparted this understanding to his disciples in so far as they could comprehend and receive it. That they and others might be impressed with the fact that the healing power was not limited as to time, place, or people, Christ Jesus said plainly that the healing "signs shall follow them that believe." Had this promise been intended only for the twelve disciples certainly the Master would have said "you," not "them."

This, and other similar Bible promises and statements, were pondered by Mary Baker Eddy even in her youth, and when, in 1866, her thought was prepared to receive it, she discovered the Science or exact knowledge of God and His law which Christ Jesus applied. According to her own statement, this understanding unfolded to her so that a few months later, as she says in "Retrospection and Introspection" (p. 24), she "gained the scientific certainity that all causation was Mind, and every effect a mental phenomenon." Then she applied her understanding of God's law of life, health, and harmony in the healing of the sick; and she was so eminently successful in this work that thereby the first foundation stones of the Christian Science church were laid. Many of those who were healed received instruction in Christian Science and went forth, like the disciples of old, proclaiming that the kingdom of heaven, harmony, is at hand, and verifying their words by healing works. It is impressive and significant that a goodly proportion of the early beneficiaries of Christian Science were so dominated and moved by gratitude and unselfish zeal that they consecrated their thought, time, and efforts to Christian Science healing, whereby mankind might be benefited, and the Cause of Christian Science established and prospered.

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