Someone reading Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures for the first time might be surprised by the opening pages of "Christian Science Practice." The chapter deals with healing the sick, yet it does not begin with specific instructions or detailed rules for treatment. As students of Christian Science know, those opening pages are devoted by the author, Mary Baker Eddy, to the encounter of Christ Jesus with the woman "which was a sinner," while he was at dinner in Simon the Pharisee's house.

The account turns our attention to certain qualities of thought expressed by the woman—her repentance, contrition, meekness, reverence; her consecration, gratitude, and human affection. It strongly emphasizes the Master's Christlike love—his compassion, purity, spiritual insight, courage, unselfish affection, and spiritual power. In other words, very little is said about the method of metaphysical treatment, in the chapter, until after the spirit of treatment has been thoroughly established.

Certainly it would be a mistake to seek the explanation of Christian Science healing in some stereotyped procedure, technique, or human outlining. Its essence is to be found in a deep and humble spirit of Christlike love and faith that reaches the heart.

Method is important, of course; we need to be systematic. Science and Health makes abundantly clear that faithful adherence to the divine Principle and rules of mental practice is imperative. At the same time, however, the textbook makes plain that the Christlike spirit—not only animating our prayers but also characterizing our entire lives—is what gives vitality and inspiration to our treatment.

Every conscientious student of Christian Science yearns for more of this Christlike spirit. How can we gain it?

One way is to consider deeply in prayer the moral qualities so often referred to in the Bible and in Mrs. Eddy's writings—not just "moral" in the everyday use of the word, but also "moral" in the sense of the spiritual qualities of Truth and Love lived and expressed in daily life.

The moral qualities are not merely human in origin. Whatever is genuinely good and substantial in them has its basis in God, because God is the only source of good. They find their foundation and strength in the nature and law of divine Principle, Love. They are the shining into human experience, in a degree, of the attributes of God. To put it another way, the moral qualities provide some outward evidence of the divine reaching the human.

Unselfish affection is an example. The divine reality is that God is Love. The attributes of Love, as expressed or made practical in a degree in human experience, would include a recognition of God's love for man and a positive love and affection for God and man; also, the compassion and spiritual insight that enable us to discern the needs of others and help them. These elements are very necessary in the work of Christian Science healing.

Divine Love's attributes, when understood, would prompt the unselfish life purpose that enables one to break out of the prisons of self-concern, self-interest, self-centeredness. Unselfed love brings the humility that enables us to get a mortal sense of self out of the way and accept God's healing action. Unselfed love is the effective solvent for self-will and egotism. How clearly the Master expressed Christlike humility when he said of his own healing work: "I can of mine own self do nothing" ^{John 5:30.} and "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." ^{14:10 .}

Another moral quality indispensable to success in healing ourselves and others is honesty. It takes honesty to uncover the error in human thought, face it, and cast it out with Truth.

Evil is inherently dishonest. It will try to conceal itself, wear the guise of good, and be something when it isn't. Self-justification and self-righteousness are dishonest mental states because they involve self-deception. They would obstruct healing if not uncovered and destroyed—and this takes spiritually based honesty.

From an understanding of the absolute purity and integrity of divine Truth, the honest thought derives strength and courage as well as the spiritual discernment needed to identify hidden error and wipe it out. Like a laser beam, honesty cuts right through the subtle twisted logic of error, its concealed motives, and enables us to face its specious deceptions, which would hold us or others in bondage.

Our Leader tells us in Science and Health that "a moral question may hinder the recovery of the sick"; ^{Science and Health, p. 419.} that you should "include moral as well as physical belief in your efforts to destroy error"; ^{Ibid., p. 418.} and that "moral conditions will be found always harmonious and health-giving." ^{Ibid., p. 125.} These "moral conditions" include hope, temperance, faith, compassion, in addition to those already mentioned; they include sexual morality and faithful observance of the Ten Commandments, which translate divine precepts into human action and thus provide moral law.

We can draw encouragement from Mrs. Eddy's words, "As time moves on, the healing elements of pure Christianity will be fairly dealt with; they will be sought and taught, and will glow in all the grandeur of universal goodness." ^{Ibid., p. 329.} As we cultivate and practice the moral and spiritual qualities, which find their home in God—let them have full play in our thoughts and lives—our conscious being will overflow with increasing evidence of God's presence and ever-available goodness. We'll demonstrate "the healing elements of pure Christianity," which make possible the mighty works of Science.

DeWITT JOHN