God alone heals. Through her clear spiritual vision Mary Baker Eddy perceived the great truth that God, Mind, is the only cause, omnipotent and omnipresent; therefore He alone has the power and ability to heal. This, however, was not a new truth, for Jeremiah glimpsed the power of God when he prayed (Jer. 17:14), "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed." The Psalmist exclaimed (Ps. 107:20), "He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." Luke, recounting an incident in Christ Jesus' healing ministry, said (Luke 5:17), "And the power of the Lord was present to heal them."

Christian Science treatment, or understanding prayer, is based upon the fact that God is All; that He lovingly cares for His children; that He absolutely and harmoniously governs the one and only universe, which, because it is of His creating, is perfect, spiritual, and eternal; and that man, the image of God, Spirit, is His reflection and thus is always effect, never cause. The belief that one has within himself, apart from God, an ability to effect cures weakens his ability to demonstrate Truth. The healing is done by God, not by men.

A spiritual understanding of God and man is necessary before one can effectively demonstrate the healing power of God. This understanding is gained through the study of the Bible and of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, as well as her other works. Christian Science makes plain that we must relinquish mortal beliefs, the beclouding claims of error that man is a discordant mortal, in order that the healing light of the Christ, Truth, may shine through us. We cannot demonstrate the truth of being while holding to resentment, anger, envy, sensuousness, or jealousy. Such beliefs of mortal mind must be replaced with the spiritual qualities of tenderness, unselfishness, and purity.

We would do well to examine our thinking often to see if the tendency to criticize, to feel superior, to be impatient, to exaggerate, or to be unduly inquisitive about another's personal affairs is present. These and similar erroneous thoughts must be eliminated. Once detected, their destruction is effected through the realization that because they are not of God, good, they are unreal and powerless. God's man expresses the positive, constructive qualities of God.

One quality essential in the healing work of Christian Science is compassion—the compassion expressed by Christ Jesus. In her writings Mrs. Eddy points out the need to express this tender compassion toward those who seek our help. No trace of coldness or disdain is found in the self-forgetful heart overflowing with love and tender solicitude. Pure affection stems from the recognition that God is perfect divine Love, and that the real man is loving and lovable.

Jesus often spoke of faith, thus indicating that it too is essential in the healing ministry. He explained to his disciples that they had not healed the lunatic boy because of their unbelief, or lack of faith. The faith which heals is never dim or faltering, but is based upon a clear conviction that Love is ever present, and that man, in Love's likeness, is superior to every claim of error.

The understanding of God and His omnipotence annihilates the arguments of mortal mind, regardless of their persistency. Our affirmation of Truth should be courageous, absolute, undeviating, vibrant with the assurance of Love's all-powerful presence. Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 155): "The universal belief in physics weighs against the high and mighty truths of Christian metaphysics. This erroneous general belief, which sustains medicine and produces medical results, works against Christian Science; and the percentage of power on the side of this Science must mightily outweigh the power of popular belief in order to heal a single case of disease." The Scientist utilizes the pure, potent truth of God's allness, which mightily outweighs error, and Love's healing power is thereby evidenced in his human experience.

Christian Science practice is not primarily the effort of one person to heal another; it is the demonstration of the ability of God, Mind, to maintain His creation in harmony and perfection. For correct reasoning, the student starts with God, omnipotent Mind, the only source of intelligence and power. Just as man, His idea, expresses divine intelligence, so does he express divine power in harmonious activity, in steady spiritual progress. From a human standpoint God's power is evidenced in the destruction of the lying belief that man is material, not spiritual.

Through prayer we utilize the understanding that man reflects God's power. It makes no difference whether the error to be destroyed is a discordant condition concerning oneself, another person, or a group of persons. In the degree we understand the supremacy of Spirit and man's true, spiritual nature as the son of God, healing occurs.

Awakening from the dream of life and intelligence in matter, we perceive in some measure the eternal perfection of God and man. Our Leader in "Miscellaneous Writings" says (p. 16), "This newly awakened consciousness is wholly spiritual; it emanates from Soul instead of body, and is the new birth begun in Christian Science." She continues on the next page, "This spiritual birth opens to the enraptured understanding a much higher and holier conception of the supremacy of Spirit, and of man as His likeness, whereby man reflects the divine power to heal the sick." Thus it is clear that it is God who heals.

Demonstration in Christian Science is the proof of the omnipotence of God. We do not demonstrate a house, an automobile, a position, or some material object, but that which is spiritual fact: God's loving-kindness, the supremacy of Spirit, the present and eternal perfection of man and the universe. Through the spiritual understanding that God is the source of all good and is ever providing for His own, our human need, whatever it may be, is met.

In our study of the Science of God and man, we perceive with increasing clearness that it is God alone who heals. Absolute faith that Love is omnipotent and that the power of Almighty God is supreme, reflected in Godlike compassion, underlies quick and permanent demonstration and attains the goal of instantaneous healing.