AN argument often urged by non-believers in Christian Science runs thus: If Christian Science is founded on the Bible, why separate yourselves from other Christian denominations? One might ask in return, Why so many Christian denominations? If all believe in the Bible, why not unite and in one great body conquer the world for Christ?
Mrs. Eddy answers the first of the above questions simply and clearly when she says: "The theology of Christian Science' includes healing the sick. Our Master's first article of faith propounded to his students was healing, and he proved his faith by his works" (Science and Health, p. 145). The apostle Matthew wrote with like brevity: "Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." All through the gospels, in fact, it is strikingly significant of the faith of that day that the multitudes who thronged him and listened eagerly to his gracious words, brought their sick and maimed to be made whole at the word of the great Physician. It seems incredible to us now that any disciple who had been privileged to witness and share in this work of the Master, could ever have demanded, as did Philip, "Show us the Father, and it sufficeth us," but Jesus' reply, "Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works' sake," is followed by the promise so startling in its intensity, which nevertheless has been read from thousands of pulpits to ears that heard not nor dreamed of its present-day application: "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also."
Today the world is slowly awakening to the glorious possibilities made available through the discovery of Christian Science. The faith on which Paul lays so much stress in his various epistles, the faith through which Peter and John restored to "perfect soundness" the impotent man who had lain so many weary years at the gate Beautiful, was of that sterling quality of which the Master said, "If ye have faith, and doubt not, ... all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive;" and though for centuries men had declared that the power to heal the sick had lapsed, the time came when one who asked, "nothing wavering," received, and never again can the dark veil of doubt and despair wholly shut away the loving Father from those who put their trust in Truth's power to save even to the uttermost.
