WITH a heart filled with gratitude for the blessings received through Christian Science, I desire to testify to the healing power of Truth. For seven years previous to March, 1907, I had been residing in Johannesburg, South Africa, and during those years had suffered acutely from what was said to he organic disease of the heart. There is no need to describe the sufferings I endured during those long weary years, but I can briefly state that they were most distressing, and I passed through the hands of fifteen or sixteen doctors. All their good efforts on my behalf, however, proved nugatory, and, ultimately, in March. 1907, materia medica admitted defeat and pronounced the verdict that there was no cure for me and very little if any hope of my living much, longer. Throughout these dark days I was looking to God for the Christ-cure, but found it not. Being a church-member, I used to read the Bible and was a frequent communicant, but was taught that it was God's will I should suffer, and that I must bow to His will!
Acting on the advice of my doctor, I left Johannesburg and visited Cape Town, via Durban, it being thought that on reaching the sea level I should be a little better. During my journey, and on my way back to Johannesburg, I had many bad attacks, being picked up unconscious on several occasions. Although I had been warned not to return to the Transvaal, because of the altitude, I was forced to do so, as my finances had disappeared and it was necessary for me to resume business. On my return I was a veritable wreck—without any hope in materia medica and very little in God. My course seemed nearly run, but again it was proved that "man's extremity is God's opportunity," for a kind friend, seeing the condition I was in, lovingly told me of Christian Science, stating that God would heal me, even as He had healed this friend's wife. His calm assurance, coupled with the fact that I knew him as an able business man, at once appealed to me, and as a result I saw a practitioner. At that interview I heard more of this healing truth, and procured a copy of Science and Health the following day, having decided to "work out" my own salvation.
Need I say how those first words in the preface of the text-hook, "To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, today is big with blessings," appealed to me, and acted as oil on the troubled waters? Little did I know then the magnitude of the blessings I should receive! At that time I was depending on a drug which I inhaled when the all too frequent attacks occurred. Within three days I was able to rely solely upon God, and discarded the drug. Through the study of Science and Health, in conjunction with the Bible, I was healed within three months, and have not had the slightest return of the disease, enjoying perfect health ever since. Through the daily study of the Lesson-Sermon, besides attending the Sunday services and testimony meetings. I was brought nearer and nearer to God, and would here like to express my gratitude to the members of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Johannesburg, for their loving help to me in the study of the text-book. From the foregoing it will be seen that my healing came through attaining, if only to a small extent, an understanding of the omnipotence and omnipresence of God, which understanding Christian Science has given me.
