Some well known facts seem to say that patients may be healed equally easily whatever their state of thought and feeling. Unbelievers have been healed. Many have been healed without being told of its agency. We have heard of one being cured of a false taste, the tobacco taste, and was displeased because he could enjoy it no more. But these cases are not decisive of the question. There are atheists in name who are more religious than many nominal Christians, and who will thus in thought co-operate well with the Christian Science physician. So the disposition of those who are unconsciously healed may co-operate with their Christian healers. Even the displeasure of the old smoker, because his taste and habit were brought into conflict, may have been superficial and contrary to the main trend of his feelings.
On the other hand, all the great examples of healing and cleansing in the Bible show the mental concurrence of the healer and the healed. There is not a single case of opposition or indifference on the part of the patient. This would be contrary to the analogy of the moral principles involved. Disease is a form of error and a type of sin, which cannot be truly removed against the will of the subject. The case of the dead brought to life is governed by the feeling of their friends, and doubtless also by the feelings of the subject before the change. Jesus commended the faith and zeal, where conspicuous, of those who sought his benefactions, either for themselves or others; and at Nazareth he declares his healing power limited by the unfaith of the people.
The same law is indicated in the opening of the book of Acts, concerning the impotent man at the gate Beautiful. It is said that Peter based his command that the man rise and walk on his perception that "he had faith to be healed." It was only those who had faith to be healed who sought healing at the hands of Jesus or the apostles; and only these and their friends were blessed by them.
