WHAT Bible-reading child has not expressed the longing, "If Jesus were only here now! If only I could do the works that he did !" Suppose that to such a child in days gone by the Master had appeared, saying, "Come, follow me. The works that I do shall ye do also," what child would not have followed gladly, on having the way pointed out? In this age many who come to Christian Science do not perhaps at first realize that this is indeed "the way," and with timid steps they cautiously investigate first one tenet and then another of its truth, finding it sound, practical, capable of demonstration, "with signs following," until suddenly the thought comes to the inquirer that this is the truth,—the "pearl of great price."

The truth has again appeared, and through the inspired pages of our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," we are given insight into that which heals. Thousands of Scientists, many of them practitioners, are acknowledging that they have received through our Leader the same word as that spoken by the Master, and the cases of healing they have effected are unnumbered. But one sometimes meets good people, devoted to the cause, and is led to wonder why they are not also utilizing this healing word. On questioning such people it is sometimes answered, "Oh, I am not good enough to heal;" or, "I have a family, and my first demonstration is to support them;" or, "I have a big business which demands all my time." One such woman had put off healing the sick as a practitioner for years because of timidity born of a natural modesty, which was accentuated into seemingly great fear!

In all these excuses one recognizes that which points to one objective: the carnal mind which is "enmity against God." This mortal consciousness, with its lusts, its false appetites, its beliefs of pleasure in matter, puts up these specious arguments, and so long as the student believes them, mortal thought keeps him from the work that perhaps he would like to do most of anything in the world. Step by step, however, these erroneous arguments are being uncovered for what they are worth, and little by little men are rising above the lusts of the flesh into the dominion of the children of God, and as they do so, as the carnal thought is overcome and conquered, the dominion of the real sons and daughters of God appears, and the words of Christ Jesus come home with conviction: "Look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."

Speaking of this condition in Science and Health (p. 570), Mrs. Eddy says: "Millions of unprejudiced minds—simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert—are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, and never fear the consequences." Evidently, for every one who awakens to his dominion, the fleshly lusts having been subordinated to the desire to do God's work in this most momentous period of all ages, there are those who like sheep are waiting to be fed. Fear that there will not be enough to meet the need material; fear of what the family or the world will say; fear of the unknown, which is groundless, hesitation, doubt, uncertainty,—all these signify nothing. They are the myths of mortal sense which would defeat the divine plan for universal salvation—which plan cannot, of course, be defeated nor even retarded.

In reviewing the pros and cons of the step into the work in the harvest field, it is sometimes helpful not only to realize the emptiness of our fear but the positiveness of Truth. As an example: when the pilot in the ferryboat pulls the cord and the engineer receives the signal, the lever is thrown, the steam is applied, and the boat moves. There is nothing doubtful, hesitant, uncertain, discordant, or worthy of distrust in this; it is positive action. When the conductor pulls the train-cord and the engineer opens the throttle of the locomotive; or when the motorman turns the lever in the trolley car—if the power is on—the car moves. Here is an example of immediate action. In Science, the truth is always thus available and operative. It remains for us simply to do our part. When we live the truth and declare with conviction that it is God who heals, the healing follows. There is no other way. Positive effect follows positive cause. It is not a question as to whether one is "good enough" to heal, nor is it a personal matter; it is a question of the realization and application of divine Principle. Mrs. Eddy says: "God will heal the sick through man, whenever man is governed by God" (Science and Health, p. 495). If one has any doubt or hesitation about this, all he needs to do is to live and declare the truth, and forsake his old customs and habits.

There is nothing more positive than that God will fulfil His promises and effect the regeneration of the sick and sinful. To such a declarer of the truth Christ Jesus says, today as of old: "He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal." Surely if one is to receive wages in God's vineyard, he cannot expect that these wages are to be less than the living necessities of those who are, humanly speaking, dependent upon him for daily sustenance. No just material employer would expect such a condition, for such a condition is unjust. Manifestly, therefore, if one works for God he will receive a suitable wage. In Christian Science we are given the assurance that "divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need. It is not well to imagine that Jesus demonstrated the divine power to heal only for a select number or for a limited period of time, since to all mankind and in every hour, divine Love supplies all good" (Science and Health, p. 494). This being true, we need not fear that want or woe faces us as we appropriate the words of the Master: "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."