The initial step for him who would gain a demonstrable understanding of Christian Science and find practical help therein is to make immediate use of the small understanding which he has already gained, putting into practice or demonstrating the rules that he has learned. Practice, which establishes profession, is demanded of him before he can go up higher. He must begin by denying and reversing the evidence of the material senses, and by seeking, daily and hourly, to gain spiritual understanding. He must watch every thought, challenge every material belief, turn from every material suggestion, refute all false arguments, and put in the place of these the spiritual understanding that knows man as spiritual, perfect, enduring, and good. He does not need to understand all of this before he begins to demonstrate the truths of Being; but he must begin with the understanding he has already gained, and patiently, persistently, and lovingly endeavor to continue in the study and demonstration of these truths. To behold the perfect creation of God requires much patient work on his part, much consecration of thought and fidelity of purpose. It means the daily overcoming of all that is unlike God. But the gleam of light which he has seen will grow brighter, until the path which leads to victory will be continually seen.
Students of Christian Science are sometimes heard to say that they are not progressing in the study of Christian Science as they would like to do. On hearing this remark, the writer has been led to seek for the aids to progress that have been provided for students by our Leader. What are some of the means of growth provided in the Manual of The Mother Church? It provides the necessary textbooks which the student is to use for self-instruction, and a Lesson-Sermon to be studied daily. It provides for church organization, and for the administration of the local affairs of each branch church; for the Sunday services and Wednesday evening testimony meetings; for the Sunday school; for the Reading Room. It admonishes each student to watch and pray; to "defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion" (Manual, p. 42); to adhere to the Golden Rule; "to be merciful, just, and pure" (ibid., p. 16). All of these are means of growth to Christian Science students. Are students who complain of their slow progress taking advantage of these opportunities for growth?
Suppose a student in school bewails the fact that he is not progressing in the study of English as he would like. You propose that he enroll in a certain class which is taking up just the work he needs to learn, and he replies that he does attend that class, but that he has asked to be excused from doing any assigned work; that he does not want the teacher of the class to call upon him for any recitation; that he does not expect to make any credits in the work; that he is just listening to the others in their attempt to gain some understanding of the work; that he is just a visitor in the class—he just looks on. What would you expect the result to be? Would you expect him to make any marked progress?
