I wish to notice a few points of difference between belief and understanding. In the old thought we had only to believe that certain things are thus and so; while from a Christian Science standpoint, we must understand why things are thus and so, in order to have it do us any good.
To illustrate: a boy in mathematics may work sums in addition and subtraction; and he may believe that the sums in fractions and decimals can be worked all right, yet it will do him no good until he studies the principle and understands how to work the sums for himself. How true this is of the great Principle of Christian Science; we can all of us readily believe that Jesus did the works we read of; but of how much practical benefit is this to us until we understand how it is done.
What are the conditions? According to his words, it all hinges on our condition. I think a great many of us, in coming into Christian Science, expect peace and harmony (heaven), contentment, etc., before we have done anything to merit it. We must not look for our reward until we have done something to be rewarded for; and how many of us have done this?
