No doubt many beginning to attend the Christian Science church services are struck by the positive tone given out by the reading, at the beginning of the Lesson, of the Explanatory Note from the Quarterly. It announces that "the Bible and the Christian Science textbook are our only preachers," and that "Scriptural texts, and their correlative passages from our denominational textbook,— these comprise our sermon." Then follows the statement that the sermon is "undivorced from truth, uncontaminated and unfettered by human hypotheses, and divinely authorized." This places completely and squarely before the listener the purpose of the Lesson-Sermon. This statement does not go unchallenged by mortal belief, which asks: "Who knows that human hypotheses do not contaminate these texts and correlative passages? Were they not written by human beings, and must they not be human hypotheses? And how am I to know that they are divinely authorized?"
Just so has every truth been assailed, since theories must be proved to determine where truth really lies. All that the human mind cognizes appears to it a theory until proof shows it to be truth. The Scriptures have outlived the assaults of human hypotheses, and it has been proved that the Bible presents the fundamental basis of right living. Application of its rules demonstrates that it teaches the truth about Life and all that life is or can be. This teaching was revealed in prophecy, and was expounded and exemplified in precept and practice by Christ Jesus and his followers. It remains for the Christian Science textbook to point the way to this clear perception and practical application of the Bible teachings for this age.
The proofs which scientific Christianity gives of its divine authority are in the results brought forth from its practice. From these results in the practical application of the Lesson-Sermons come proofs that no fair critic can ignore, and many cases of physical healing are reported as occurring during their reading. Many troubled hearts are comforted. Many sinful desires are overcome. People continue to come in great numbers to these services weekly to listen and be blessed. Students study these Lessons daily, and gain from them the spiritual vision which enables them to fight and win their battles against error. Many have been thereby so spiritually uplifted as to entirely overcome obnoxious habits that had held them slaves to sin and to sickness for years.
