With greatest gratitude I should like to exclaim with the Psalmist: "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases." From childhood I had a desire for spiritual things, and I therefore attended various churches in order to find the truth. Finally I joined the church I liked best, worked in the Sunday school, helped where I could; and I can say that I have had many blessings from this work. Nevertheless, there remained within me a disquiet, an unstilled longing, a fear. I prayed much; but it seemed as if God did not hear me. Then I became very ill, so nervous that I could not sleep, and fear drove me from one doctor to another; but none of them could help me. As I believed that God saw all evil and that He permitted me to be thus tormented, I became impatient. Words are inadequate to describe my sufferings. They were as the tortures of hell. But thanks be to God; for while in this condition I found Christian Science. Oh, what a beautiful truth, for which I had searched so long! "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy found its way into our home; and I am very grateful to the dear friends and relatives who have helped me to understand this healing truth, which so clearly reveals to us a loving, patient Father-Mother God, who knows not evil and condemns not His children. I am also grateful to the dear Christian Science practitioner who helped me, and who showed great patience. I am grateful for the periodicals, for Science and Health, and for the Bible Lessons, which show us so clearly how to put off the old man and to put on the new.
More than four years have elapsed since I found this truth. There is much yet that I have to learn, and I would exclaim with Paul, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." My gratitude also goes out to Mrs. Eddy for her unselfish work, her love and self-sacrifice, in giving to mankind a better understanding of God and His dear Christ. It is my sincere desire to put off all that is unlike God, to be more loving, and to help my fellow-men wherever I can.— Lawrence, Massachusetts.
