THOSE who investigate the teachings of Christian Science soon learn to accept, as a basis for all right reasoning, the perfection of God and of man in God's likeness. The revelation of this truth is like a foretaste of heaven to the one who receives it; for he gains a glimpse of his true identity as God's child, untouched by the bondage and the sorrows of material beliefs. Joy then becomes exuberant, and thought is exalted into a new sense of existence. One reads with glad acceptance Mrs. Eddy's words in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 288), "Science reveals the glorious possibilities of immortal man, forever unlimited by the mortal senses." In the light of this first revelation of the truth, one is as certain of his immortal heritage as he is of the sunshine and the air. He knows positively, as he thinks, that sin, disease, and death are illusions, and that henceforward they are to have no further power to manifest themselves in his experience. Such a one looks forward with jubilant expectation to a future filled with strength and happiness and achievement of those objects which have seemed to him most desirable.
All this is good, so far as it goes. It is a true view of the spiritual and permanent; and one's human experience is undoubtedly henceforth the better for this first splendid mental leap out of the mesmeric mists of false belief. One thing, however, is not at the outset learned as fully as it must be. The first distinct proof of God's power has been, to the one who has experienced it, so uplifting, so wonderful, that he is unalterably convinced that Christian Science is the truth. Nothing, to be sure, could be clearer than this first proof of the power of Truth; but the truth of every statement of Christian Science is to be demonstrated. The heights and magnitude of real existence are to be explored. But one has begun his demonstration of the infinite Science of being; and for that, he may in deed rejoice and give thanks to God.
If one could clearly understand this spontaneous joy and gratitude, which is felt during and immediately following the first beautiful proof of the healing power of divine Love, one would undoubtedly spare himself considerable later surprise and disappointment; for one would see that, as a matter of course, proofs in the Science of being, just as in mathematics, imply solutions, according to rule, of whatever examples are presented. And if one would only remind himself that problems are not to be feared, but that they may be approached calmly and with assurance, as a mathematician approaches his examples, knowing that arduous mental application may, possibly, be required, but that it need not be resented or dreaded, because the rule faithfully applied cannot fail to bring right results, one would avoid much needless anxiety; and the solution, or demonstration, would be both gladdened and hastened. It was, surely, such an attitude that enabled Paul exultantly to declare, "I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
