Christian Science presents to the seeker for Truth the literal application of Christ Jesus' potent saying, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).

In the illumination of their understanding from the first impact of Truth, many find immediate healing for mental and physical ills. But whether this is so or whether the emergence into light comes about more gradually, the student will always find that much work still awaits him before human concepts, built up through the ages and seemingly ingrained in mortal thinking, are ready wholly to yield to the higher conceptions of immortal Mind.

Through careful study of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, through prayerful daily consideration of the Bible Lessons, set forth in the Christian Science Quarterly and read every Sunday in The Mother Church and its branches throughout the world, and also by the constant effort to apply what is learned, one gradually replaces false beliefs with sublime truths. Understanding is built up by "precept upon precept; line upon line ... here a little, and there a little" (Isa. 28:10).

Apart from its challenging Preface and a chapter entitled "Fruitage," there are 599 pages in Science and Health. Open to any page and therein are statements of heavenly truth to offset human misconceptions, as, for instance, on page 277, where our Leader has clearly set forth the contrast between "the realm of the real" and the illusive world of matter. She says: "The realm of the real is Spirit. The unlikeness of Spirit is matter, and the opposite of the real is not divine,—it is a human concept. Matter is an error of statement. This error in the premise leads to errors in the conclusion in every statement into which it enters."

This statement alerts the student to watch his thinking in so-called good times as well as in bad ones, to see whether or not it is accounting matter as real. One readily turns from a distasteful or afflictive experience, seeking refuge in the truth of the allness of good. But sometimes the devout student may fall into the snare of selfish complacency and pride and trust to the letter of Science while missing its spiritual significance.

The writer once had a poignant lesson to learn in this respect. When living in a remote part of Asia, far from home, at a time when there was no Christian Science organization in that country and no practitioner upon whom to call for help, she was attacked by a tropical disease in its most violent form. At first she set out with confidence to make her own demonstration, as she had done before, with the aid of the Bible and the writings of Mrs. Eddy. But the fever mounted, and the pain grew.

In the midst of her confusion came a call on the telephone, and she heard a friend, who was also a student of Christian Science, begging her to come at once and "explain Science" to a new inquirer who was in an unhappy state of mind. The friend said: "Please come and talk to her. You explain things so much better than I do. I can never find the right words."

Feeling quite unable to answer the call at that time, yet not wishing to confess her weakness, the writer reminded her friend of the privilege we each have of voicing the truth, recalling to her God's promise to Moses, "I will be with thy mouth" (Ex. 4:12), and explaining to her that the real I, or Ego, is God, divine Mind.

As she replaced the telephone receiver, she became aware that her positive statement of the truth had, momentarily, afforded her relief from the intense pain and fever. However, in a few minutes the attack was redoubled. Then, as a drowning man may throw out his hand to grasp a lifeline, she stretched out her hand for her copy of Mrs. Eddy's "Miscellaneous Writings" and opened it at random. For a moment all was a mist before her eyes, but she prayed and waited until six words alone stood forth on the page: "Relinquish your human concept of me."

In a flash these words so applicable to her human need were taken into her consciousness, accepted, and obeyed. She saw how, for all her previous mouthing of the truth, she had herself been clinging to the false human concept of a lonely, suffering mortal. The glorious healing truth of the only I, or Ego, now took full possession, and she was instantaneously healed.

Later with the aid of her Concordance, she traced the reference which had been to her such an angel message. She found it on page 353 of "Miscellaneous Writings" and pondered the whole sentence, which reads: "If one asks me, Is my concept of you right? I reply, The human concept is always imperfect; relinquish your human concept of me, or of any one, and find the divine, and you have gained the right one—and never until then."

How immediate and completely satisfying is Love's help when sought with the whole heart!

An instantaneous healing, such as the one related, should not be considered miraculous. It has its scientific explanation which in time the world must come to accept and which Christian Scientists have a responsibility to prove in their own experience and thus to others in their vicinity.

Mrs. Eddy gives this explanation on page 428 of Science and Health in these words: "The great spiritual fact must be brought out that man is, not shall be, perfect and immortal. We must hold forever the consciousness of existence, and sooner or later, through Christ and Christian Science, we must master sin and death. The evidence of man's immortality will become more apparent, as material beliefs are given up and the immortal facts of being are admitted."