THE individual into whose realm of experience Christian Science has penetrated with its healing balm, is inevitably inspired to "be up and doing." In his joyful recognition of the opening out of splendid possibilities for good, he is ready and consistently eager for work. This buoyant state is increased many fold by the legitimate expectancy of further fulfilled hopes. Everywhere about him the world's apparent need looms large, yet now he sees a way of redemption; he has "found a ransom." But in his early efforts toward the unfoldment of some cherished ideal, and in his bounden wish to help others similarly, he feels the need of knowing how to work.
The fact of healing in our day, the fact of an ideal life made not only possible but practicable, right here on earth, has become to him immanent. The certitude that God has healed him through the understood prayer of Christian Science has brought the satisfying conviction that a like understanding of the creator insures for others the fruition of his heart's dearest desires: this will bring into actuality the holiest purpose of which he has conceived. Then the way of understanding becomes to him paramount to every other interest.
He is given at once the Bible, and the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," as his interpreter and unerring guide in the straight and narrow way of wisdom. Having sounded this keynote, he now faces the discords or obstacles which beset any and all endeavor toward a righteous goal. Having begun with God and consistent prayer as a foundation for all harmonious action or pursuit in life, he begins to apply the Principle and newly discerned rule. Then he promptly learns that one of the first essentials for his superstructure is a working knowledge of the truth concerning Spirit, God, and that to know the truth about Spirit impels the unknowing of the untruths about matter. Hitherto his hopes had been built upon matter or material means alone, as both foundation and superstructure. With his resurrected hope comes the growing conviction that he is now to build entirely with spiritual truth, the divine metaphysics which, as Mrs. Eddy says, "explains away matter" (Science and Health, p. 278).
