What was it that gave the Apostles John and Peter such courage to face the angry rulers of the Jews after the glorious healing brought about at the gate Beautiful? It was the healing itself which enabled them to stand their ground fearlessly before the foes of Christianity. Nothing but their ability to prove the power of God could have impelled them to speak with such courage to their would-be persecutors.

As in the early days of Christianity, Christ-healing is again being proved through the teachings of Christian Science. Today, as was the case at the gate Beautiful, metaphysical healing may come through the spoken or written word, and now, as then, it is the spiritual assurance of the speaker or writer which gives his words, authority. However simple his utterances, one who has demonstrated what he speaks or writes of Christian Science will bring healing to those ready to accept it.

In most walks of life it would seem much more simple to talk or write about some dynamic fact than to prove it. But the wise student of Christian Science, however overflowing with the letter, will be certain that he has proved in some measure for himself what he would present to others before he talks or writes it. By taking this course he is saving himself from becoming a mere theorist regarding this infinite subject, the Science of Mind.

From a cursory study of the Bible one might believe that Jesus' works were the outcome of his words, but Mary Baker Eddy refutes this, for she tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 350): "His words were the offspring of his deeds, both of which must be understood. Unless the works are comprehended which his words explained, the words are blind."

The spoken or written word may be expressed in many original and different ways, for spiritual inspiration is limitless in its expression; but whatever is given out in the name of Christian Science must always be traceable to its source, namely, the Bible, Science and Health or Mrs. Eddy's other writings, for in Science and Health is the final revelation of Truth, which will continue to unfold throughout all time.

St. Luke writes of Jesus in his Gospel (4:32), "They were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power." And continuing to read, we find the account of Jesus' healing of one, where he was teaching, who had an unclean devil. This evil belief besought Jesus to let it alone, but Jesus rebuked it, saying, "Hold thy peace, and come out of him." And he who had been in bondage was made free. Jesus understood and proved the truth which he spoke. Hence "his word was with power." And because he knew that the power of the Word is demonstrable in all ages, he could say emphatically (Matt. 24:35), "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

The same power of God which brought forth Jesus' works and words impelled our beloved Leader in this greatly blessed age. An experience which revealed to her the ability to prove the teachings of the Bible was the turning point of her life; and it was also a turning point in the history of the world. But Mrs. Eddy forbore to thrust the glorious vision which continued to unfold to her before the world until she herself had proved in remarkable healing works for others the Science of Christianity which she had discovered. Not until nine years after her great discovery did she send forth her textbook, Science and Health. She knew that before she gave it to the world, Christian Science had to be proved by herself to be a practical and demonstrable system that would heal the sick when applied according to the rules laid down.

Few if any of Mrs. Eddy's students, when they began to contribute to The Christian Science journal, were experienced writers. But because of the great need of the hour many of them were compelled to go forward in the healing work, and they rapidly became experienced healers. This qualified them to speak or to write with authority. And after many years Mrs. Eddy's writings in the early issues of the Journal, as well as those of her students, still bring comfort and healing and are eagerly sought in Christian Science Reading Rooms, where they are preserved for public use. Our Leader and her students who wrote for the Journal in those crucial days wrote from veritable inspiration gained through their conviction of the power of God, as well as from their hard-won experiences.

Today, as in the early days of our movement, when Mrs. Eddy watched over every activity of the budding Christian Science organization, the spoken or written word is going forth with the power of God to heal, bringing untold blessings to mankind. The healer through his daily contact with humanity is allaying fear in human consciousness and healing the sick. In his local work he may support his prayers with the spoken word, and in his work which comes from other fields he supports it by the written word in the form of letters. In this way many of the doubts and fears which throng human consciousness at this period are being met by the spoken or written word of the healer.

Healing and comfort also come from the spoken word in our churches, lectures, Sunday Schools, and other legitimate channels, as well as from the written word which goes forth through our periodicals. But whether spoken or written, the word, will only bring healing and comfort in proportion as it is the outpouring of spiritualized thought and as the speaker or writer can truthfully say, "I have proved what I am saying," or, "I have proved what I am writing."

The true practitioner is in the work of healing because he loves his brother man. He is therefore willing to make many personal sacrifices. He faces the claims of death unflinchingly, and his prayers go forth continually to heal and uplift the human race. His life as a practitioner demands the surrender of the human to the divine in countless ways. His experience, therefore, necessarily equips him to speak and write the word with authority.

Mrs. Eddy made great demands on the student of Christian Science, and she has written for those who would follow in the path she trod (Science and Health, p. 10): "If good enough to profit by Jesus' cup of earthly sorrows, God will sustain us under these sorrows. Until we are thus divinely qualified and are willing to drink his cup, millions of vain repetitions will never pour into prayer the unction of Spirit in demonstration of power and 'with signs following.'"