"Semper paratus"

George Shaw Cook

Refuting the fallacy that it is necessary to sustain the so-called physical body by material means until divine Mind is ready to heal it, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, says (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 458): "Divinity is always ready. Semper paratus is Truth's motto."

It should be evident to thoughtful persons that Truth, which is omniactive, ever present, and always available, does not have to wait even momentarily to become operative in the healing of disease. Christ Jesus proved this in numbers of instances, recorded in the Gospels, in which he demonstrated the healing power of Truth. For example, the Gospel records that when a leper appealed to him for healing, "Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed." And Luke, writing of the healing of the blind man, says that "immediately he received his sight."

The foregoing instances prove that, as Mrs. Eddy says, "Divinity is always ready;" and in Christian Science practice this is often proved to be a fact. Many cases of instantaneous healing occur under Christian Science treatment. Some of these cases are recorded in The Christian Science Journal and the Christian Science Sentinel, and some are testified to in the Wednesday evening meetings in Christian Science churches. "Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear," said the prophet.

For these and other reasons, Christian Scientists are coming to realize that the law of God, infinite good, is the law of immediate, complete, and perfect recovery from the belief that sickness is real or that it has any part in the reality of man's being. The divine law should therefore be more and more understood to be spontaneous and immediate in its healing effect.

Periods of convalescence and gradual recovery of health and strength will be regarded as unnecessary experiences when it is seen that the operation of divine law is immediate, regardless of the length of time that disease may have prevailed, and irrespective of its supposed nature. It does not matter how long a lie has been believed; when it is once seen for what it is, its power to deceive immediately vanishes. On page 14 of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy says: "Become conscious for a single moment that Life and intelligence are purely spiritual,—neither in nor of matter,—and the body will then utter no complaints. If suffering from a belief in sickness, you will find yourself suddenly well. Sorrow is turned into joy when the body is controlled by spiritual Life, Truth, and Love."

Should there, for any reason, appear to be protracted recovery, this need not be a cause for discouragement or doubt. The beliefs of mortal mind which seem to result in disease may in some instances appear to require time for their correction. In such cases firmness in holding to the divine facts of being and faithfulness in rejecting the arguments of mortal mind will bring ultimate victory. Expectancy of quick healing is, however, always an advantage, and is often that which is most needed to facilitate recovery.

Whether the healing is slow or fast, gradual or immediate, the fact remains that it is certain if the understanding of man's spiritual perfection is present and the rules of divine Science are correctly and obediently applied. Our Leader says (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 130), "Truth never falters nor fails; it is our faith that fails." When faith is based upon the spiritual understanding of man's eternal perfection as the idea of divine Mind, it does not fail.

It is quite obvious that, according to the teaching of Christian Science, man, the image of God, is not in need of healing. He always exists at the standpoint of perfection, conscious of his oneness with divine Principle and manifesting fully the wholeness, holiness, health, happiness, and harmony of being. The belief that man could possibly do otherwise is all that can ever be destroyed; and its destruction is assured through steadfast realization that man is now the perfect likeness of his infinite Father-Mother, God.

Students of Christian Science, aware of the fact that "Divinity is always ready," and that in his true nature man expresses the divine qualities of inspiration, joy, intelligence, and ability, may face each new problem with confident assurance that "Semper paratus is Truth's motto." Then they will have no doubt about the outcome, for they will know that the requisite power to heal is present as the expression of divine Love.

George Shaw Cook

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Prayer and Self-Discipline

June 29, 1940

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