FROM his early study of the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, the earnest seeker for health and holiness learns that God does not create evil, disease, and death; hence that man does not please God by submitting to them. He learns that it is God's will for us to manifest health and holiness, and he is comforted in learning that the heavenly Father's compassion far exceeds that of the most loving human parent. Then it is that he wonders why he ever thought it necessary to beg and implore God not to withhold the good gifts of health and peace which a human parent, had he the power, would bestow upon his child unasked.
Though knowing this, the student sometimes halts and in faltering hesitancy asks, "How shall I pray?" Here it is well to heed the comforting words of our Leader, who says, "The desire which goes forth hungering after righteousness is blessed of our Father, and it does not return unto us void" (Science and Health, p. 2). Instead, therefore, of ceasing to pray at all, he can pray in the way which appears to him nearest right, knowing that with his present understanding this is the right way for him; and having so prayed, he may rest in calm assurance that divine Love will attend to the fruition of the prayer. To the earnest seeker a full measure of wisdom is unfolded for each day. Before our Master called Lazarus from the tomb, he said, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me," and he enjoined his followers to pray as though they had already received the desired blessing.
Some years ago the writer was helping a man whose case, after exhausting the skill of materia medica, had been pronounced incurable. For six weeks she had visited him almost daily, and though the progress of the so-called disease was arrested from the first treatment in Christian Science, the healing was not apparent. There was no other Scientist in the country to whom the writer could . turn for counsel, so one day, while on her way to visit the patient, she prayed or affirmed that nothing could be hidden from the eye of wisdom; that because man reflects infinite intelligence, she would know just what was necessary in this particular case. That day it was revealed to her that the patient, while praying as though he had already received, declaring that he was God's child, and thanking Him for health, strength, and purity, was meanwhile feeling in his heart that he was uttering the greatest falsehood.
