IT is sometimes objected, by those who know of Christian Science only by hearsay, that it makes too much of physical healing, but this is an entirely mistaken sense both as to its purpose and results. If one were to read without prejudice all the testimonies published in our periodicals, he would see that in a large majority of cases the emphasis is placed upon the spiritual awakening which has come with the healing, and especially upon the opening up of the Scriptures which always accompanies the study of Science and Health. It is true that those who testify are apt to dwell at much length upon the experiences of the dark dream of fear and suffering from which they were awakened by the truth, but they had been taught to believe that this dream was real. Materia medica had seemingly offered convincing evidence of its reality, and this was regarded as sufficiently authoritative, so much so, indeed, that the sufferers resented the slight implied by the declaration that disease is never real because it is not of God and is no part of man's true being. In Christian Science they learn that their sufferings were due to the belief in evil's reality, but others who have not yet experienced the awakening ask to be told all about the dream, that they may know whether it has any of the features of their own.
It is easy to tell other mortals of the dark experiences of suffering through which we have passed, but it is only as we rise above material sense, escape from its bondage, that we begin to comprehend spiritual reality with its inherent harmony and beauty, and when we attempt to tell of this, words fail! Even Paul could only cite the words of Isaiah, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard"! So the Scientist tells of his long struggle and of his glad release, but when he would tell of his spiritual awakening he can only say that he is glad even for the months of patient waiting and striving—anything—since the light came at last.
In the same way, words fail when one attempts to tell what the opening up of the Scriptures means to him. The Bible has always been admitted to be a treasure-house of truth, yet in all the centuries men have been sick and sinful and poor because they have not known how to avail themselves of its treasures. All through the ages there have been gleams of light, instances of healing, both before and after the time of Christ Jesus, whose three years of ministry seemed to be the radiant dawn of Truth's eternal day. But, so far as one can judge, the Word was not opened up until after Jesus had risen from the tomb, the event which Mrs. Eddy calls "his mighty, crowning, unparalleled, and triumphant exit from the flesh" (Science and Health, p. 117)Luke gives us a hint of this opening up of the Scriptures when he tells of the walk to Emmaus, and later of the meeting with the disciples in Jerusalem, when the Master opened "their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." After this wonderful experience we find them becoming ready to follow Christ as never before, to heal the sick and regenerate the sinful as the great Teacher had done.
