God leads, and if we follow God, not halting to consider self, we must do well. Of this I am sure,—that I have a niche to fill that no one else can fill for me, and I am trying hard to fill it, not as I will, but as I feel directed by Wisdom.
My experience in the past several years has shown me the necessity for watching and praying. I well remember when I was going through the first class with our beloved Teacher, fifteen years ago this month, how watchful I had to be lest I should lose one word of her teaching, how I used to pray that I might catch and remember all she said.
I noticed that there were conditions to be fulfilled in order to expect to become a good demonstrator of the healing power of God, as she taught it. Old things had to pass away; old habits to be destroyed; character to be remodeled, and new ways, correct ways, to be learned, God to be understood, and new prayers to be learned; in fact, the old man to be made new, and great struggles to be met in the passage from an old sea captain to a Christian Scientist. "Precept upon precept, line upon line," was the way she was leading us, and I was determined to get all the precepts and lines right, because, as I knew, there was a great deal at stake, even the life of her whom I loved—my wife. So if I did not clearly understand the Teacher's explanations I would ask again and again, until I was sure I had it right. Such strict teaching was the making of me, for it changed me, oh, so much. She taught me how to pray as many of the ancient worthies prayed, and she has taught us all how to pray, and so fitted us to heal the sick and sinful. She taught us what she knew was right. Note her life. Is it not a record of piety, faithfulness, trust, and prayer from her girlhood?
