The Christian Science Practitioner

CHARLES G. BALDWIN

I have proved for myself the statement found on page 201 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," where Mrs. Eddy says, "The way to extract error from mortal mind is to pour in truth through flood-tides of Love." The patient and tender ministrations of loyal Christian Science practitioners have been the means by which I and many thousands have learned to appreciate the healing power of Christian Science. Weary and heavy-laden I found in the practitioners those who could aid me to lay aside my burdens. In the divine Love thus demonstrated in accordance with the teachings of Mrs. Eddy, disease disappeared and I found protection from the ever vacillating whims of false beliefs and fashions.

Many brave travelers have given time and effort searching for the fountain of life. I traveled many years over the land of medicine, electricity, hygiene, and other cures, only hoping to prolong my mortal existence; but at length, discouraged and miserable, I turned to "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, and discovered the secret of immortality. With the aid of practitioners and teacher I gained the solution of my individual problems, thereby changing discouragement into courage and misery into joy. I discovered that "the vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love" (Science and Health, p. 113). This divine Love won my praise, and when all else had failed my need was met.

For years before this, whatever was the nature of my woes I had only one prayer, "O God, make me more Christlike;" and it was, I feel, in answer to this prayer that I have caught just a glimpse of the Christlike love demonstrated by Christian Scientists. This love, as taught by our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, has explained and illumined the Bible for me so that its power now surpasses anything that I could ask or think, causing me to rejoice and praise God and have a truly good time in Spirit, not matter, because I know that I have found Truth and it is indeed good.

The loyal and faithful practitioners through whose untiring efforts I have often found surcease from pain and disease have made me understand that in thus acknowledging my restoration to health and the blessings received I am not praising them but I am praising God, the giver of every good and perfect gift, who is the one true Practitioner, to whom all must be turning together, thereby truly worshiping God "in spirit and in truth." Thus I learned to worship God before realizing how near is the kingdom of heaven. When I did begin to perceive, however, that the kingdom of God was at hand and that Mrs. Eddy had indeed restored the apostolic healing to the world, I discovered a new sense, a spiritual sense, of Life everlasting. I entered into the riches of this spiritual kingdom and found Life, Truth, and Love without measure. In this spiritual kingdom I perceived that, as Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 140), "not materially but spiritually we know Him as divine Mind, as Life, Truth, and Love. We shall obey and adore in proportion as we apprehend the divine nature and love Him understandingly, warring no more over the corporeality, but rejoicing in the affluence of our God." This divine affluence was manifest to me in a deeper understanding of the divine Life and Love reflected by Christ Jesus in his teaching and demonstration of man's right relation to God.

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