I am often asked wherein the faith cure differs from Christian Science. A letter just at hand, from a pious clergyman, reads: "I suppose that your success in any case depends upon the faith of the patient in your ability to heal him."
Now Christian Science is in no respect a "faith cure." No blind faith in our inspired power is demanded by us of our patients. That is a "faith-cure" M. D. who inspires his patients with confidence in the healing efficacy of bread pills and unmedicated pellets. And the Christian motive which influences the good doctor is to be respected, as is the motive of the "faith-cure" professional who inspires healing faith in his audible prayers.
But the Christian Scientist is not of them. His practice is the demonstration of a principle which has its rules of application, as precise and unerring as the rules of mathematics. It is by the understanding of this principle, that he heals his patient. No more faith in his understanding, or power to demonstrate, is required of the patient, than would be demanded of the blackboard upon which a student worker would bring out the correct result of a problem proposed for solution, whose propositions he understands and with whose principles he is familiar.
