Article January 17, 1948 Issue

"INQUISITIVE, PLASTIC, AND TRACTABLE"

DAISY L. WHITTAKER

Do you wish to learn? Then you must be teachable. Would you receive precious gifts? Then you must be receptive. Jesus said (Matt. 18:3), "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Mary Baker Eddy, on page 15 of her book "Rudimental Divine Science," says that invalids who were healed in her classes seldom left with sufficient understanding immediately to practice Christian Science, because sudden recovery startles consciousness and fills it with glad surprise. "This," she explains, "renders the mind less inquisitive, plastic, and tractable." It would appear that the childlike qualities of thought described by these three adjectives were to her prime requisites to gaining a thorough understanding of Christian Science, and they are, therefore, worthy of our most earnest consideration.

Mrs. Eddy's choice of words is often arresting and interesting, and her thought was ever "inquisitive, plastic, and tractable," leading to the discovery of the spiritual universe. Under the marginal heading "Solitary research" on page 109 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," she describes her search for Truth. As we study the life of Jesus, we find that he too spent much time in prayer, in talking with his heavenly Father, seeking to know and do His will.

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