IT is safe to say that there are few students of Christian Science who do not approach the truth, as revealed therein, in order to gain freedom from some form of error to which they believe themselves in bondage. Some find freedom quickly, others more slowly; but for each individual, freedom from some beliefs seems to come more quickly and more easily than from others. How often during the waiting hours come the questions: Why am I not progressing more rapidly? I have declared the truth earnestly; wherein lies the shortcoming?
Let us consider for a moment the effect which the Declaration of Independence would have had upon our national history had it challenged the world without the sound backing of stern resolve, bravery, unflinching loyalty, self-sacrifice, and prayerful warfare with that which denied and strove to prevent that Declaration of Independence from being realized. We are reminded, again, that the Emancipation Proclamation never alone set a slave free. Freedom came as the result of a God-inspired purpose, an unselfish resolution, a courage ready to defeat every false claim, every false voice, which arose to declare slavery good, or just, or necessary. So, in Christian Science, it is one thing—and the very easiest thing —to make our declarations of liberty. But unless these declarations are understood spiritually, and are fortified by right motives, right thinking, right acting, their freeing power is not realized.
To say, "I tried Christian Science for a week and it could not heal me," is as rational as to say, "I studied chemistry for a week and not a single experiment was successful." As in mundane affairs, so in Christian Science, the richest rewards come as a result of our best efforts. To all who are ready to press on, the Bible declares, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free;" and that promise never fails. Mary Baker Eddy, in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," tells us how to avail ourselves of Truth scientifically and accurately. On page 224 she writes, "Truth brings the elements of liberty;" and to our astonishment, it may be, we see that liberty is not an event to be realized by the removal of a so-called enemy; that it is not merely an escape from an unpleasant environment; nor is it the sudden attainment of a desired goal or the removal of physical symptoms which seem to block our path; but we learn that such are the effects of unhealthy thinking, and that to be truly free we must proceed to correct our thoughts.
