THE pure, childlike thought easily grasps the truth; while bigotry, worldly pride, and impiety will "strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel." Of old, men high in the counsels of the mighty, wise men, philosophers, and in their day many Pharisaical leaders of religious thought, sought in vain to shape into something more than theory their erroneous concepts of God. But the Apostle Paul, knowing of the ceaseless effort unsuccessfully being put forth in this direction, said that God had "chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise." Jesus saw that the egotists sitting in high places were unable to grasp the simple truth and love which it was his mission to reveal and demonstrate; and as a consequence the task of recording and, in some measure, proving his teachings was left in the hands of simple fishermen and the like.
Much of the early fruitage of Christian Science was gathered by those of simple faith; and as one reviews the last chapter in Mrs. Eddy's books "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" and "Miscellaneous Writings," one cannot but be impressed by the evidence of the childlike thought exhibited in the testimonials which comprise these chapters. For the most part, these testimonials are those of healing that came through the perusal or study of Science and Health. Upon reading them, one is at once struck with the absence of any tinge of exaggeration of statement, with the sincere faith of the relator, and with the simplicity and finality of the accounts of healing.
As part of the instructions left for the guidance of men, Jesus, the master Christian, set forth clearly the only terms upon which men could hope to enter the kingdom of God, the state of eternal harmony. He said, "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." We are sometimes tempted to believe that it is harder now to demonstrate Christian Science than it was in the early days of its discovery. But Truth changes not and cannot be subjected to any definition of degree. Therefore, any seeming complexity must be due to the resistance of the so-called mortal mind, due to its unwillingness to follow the simple directions given us. If, then, receiving the kingdom as a little child was the way in Jesus' time, it is also the way to-day. Let us ask ourselves, Is it harder for me to trust God, to have faith in His goodness, to be unselfish, to be teachable,—is it harder for me to gain these qualities,—than it was for the early Christian Scientists? And if so, is it, perhaps, because I do not understand God as they did, or because of the skepticism of the age? As mortals, all of our seeming state of existence centers in what we call "me," a mortal, material concept of man. Does not the explanation of slow progress at least partly lie in our reluctance to accept as a little child, Mrs. Eddy's declaration—the declaration of Christian Science— that matter is unreal? It is easy to accept in theory, but this is not sufficient; it must be accepted as a working rule.
