Christian Science reveals the fact that a joyous expectancy of good is natural to men and is a presage of healing. Mortals, however, are ever ready to contemplate and expect evil. This is because the basis of their thinking is wholly material. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes on page 551 of its textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," "Darkness and doubt encompass thought, so long as it bases creation on materiality."

A study of Christ Jesus' works and life indicates that he always reasoned practically from spiritual cause to spiritual effect, consistently refuting every discord of material sense and proving man's existence to be perfect and spiritual. His every healing was a contradiction of some manifestation of the evil belief that man lives in and is governed by matter, and a further demonstration of the truth that God is eternal Life and man the divinely governed expression of Spirit. His words were vigorous and health-restoring, because he was convinced that life which reflects God is forever spiritual and perfect. He was ever aware of the spiritual harmony of being, of the power and supremacy of good.

When we realize that we. too, can hold to the same divine Principle of being and spiritual law upon which the Master based his words and works, we can become confidently expectant of a rich unfolding to us of divine goodness. For just as surely as we strive to fulfill the demands of God's law we shall grow more responsive to its beneficence.

God's law is plainly revealed in the Holy Bible, and is so illumined by the textbook of Christian Science that all who will may read and learn. With the help of these two guides, all faithfully persistent students may learn to base their reasoning on the truths of Life. As this study is pursued, every onward step will be companioned and supported by a wholesome desire for and expectation of more childlike trust and obedience. Trust in God's law and obedience to its precepts run counter to belief in sin, disease, and death, and renew and revivify thought with the certain fulfillment of right expectancy.

So simple is spiritual law that a child may understand and obey it, as did one young pupil of the Christian Science Sunday School. Coming to her mother, who was reading the Bible, she laid her small hand upon the open page of the book. Glancing down, the mother noted a fingernail, crushed two years previously, which had not grown since. She suddenly realized that this delusion of deformity had seemed very real to her. These words came to her thought (ibid., p. 492): "For right reasoning there should be but one fact before the thought, namely, spiritual existence."

Pointing to the nail, the mother said, "Divine Love never made anything like that and does not know it." The child stood quietly thinking for a few moments and then agreed that it could not be true. The mother earnestly declared that God's work is spiritual and complete, intact now and always; that it is our thinking which must change, so that spiritual reality can appear. When she had finished speaking, the little one lovingly looked up into her face and said, "Mother, that is truth!"

The next day the child came and extended her hand for inspection, remarking with utmost certainty, "See, the nail is growing." The woman looked, but only the eye of faith could have discerned any change in the appearance of the fingernail. Cognizing the little girl's reasoning to be founded wholly on those spiritual facts voiced the previous day, and perceiving that true growth had already occurred, even the requisite growth from a material to the spiritual basis of thought, the mother voiced her conviction of God's goodness, "Let us thank our Father-Mother God for His perfect work." Within a week's time the nail had grown to be as long, strong, and flexible as the others.

Clothe our thought in however many words we may, healing occurs when faith in materiality gives way to faith in Spirit. It is the concurrence of faith with spiritual expectancy that heals disease. This faith is no shifting belief that looks to matter for its confirmation. True faith is an actual understanding of God's spiritual law, the very recognition and acceptance of the Word of Life. This understanding faith, always serenely sure, dwells in God's goodness and anticipates its manifestation in human experience.

How immeasurable should be the gratitude of those who have been inspired by the unfaltering expectancy of God's unerring guidance and support, shown forth in the life of Mrs. Eddy! In spite of heartless rebuffs, she continued to go on courageously, alone, relying wholly on God's spiritual law to direct her in establishing the Cause of Christian Science.

In the world today strange changes and forebodings of trouble confront humanity. Never have the demands for our expectation of the triumph of Truth over all the falsities of evil been greater, nor the tests of the correctness of our understanding of Life more rigorous. Mere belief in the teachings of Christian Science is insufficient to do the healing work that must be accomplished. Only by prayer and watching, by keeping our thought pure and obedient to spiritual law, can faith outgrow depressing fears and belief in matter, and rise into that uplifted state of consciousness which inspired the Psalmist of old to exclaim, "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him."