MANY beautiful experiences have come to students of Christian Science as the result of allegiance to its Cause. New friendships have been formed, homes made happy, financial conditions improved, better concepts of health gained; and fetters of varying forms of false belief or superstition have been loosened. These are some of the effects of this fealty, the things added outwardly as signs of spiritual peace, joy, and contentment. And all these are concomitants of right doing, which ever accompanies true thinking; and in the last analysis this is true progress.
When first the loveliness of the teaching of Christian Science dawns on the enraptured thought, one may be tempted to pause and simply drink in the delightsome view of the promised land; but soon there follows realization of the necessity of progress, and the earnest one mentally fares forth to meet this reasonable requirement. At this point much encouragement is to be found in an inspired pronunciamento of Christian Science penned by our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, on page 256 of our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "Progress takes off human shackles. The finite must yield to the infinite. Advancing to a higher plane of action, thought rises from the material sense to the spiritual, from the scholastic to the inspirational, and from the mortal to the immortal."
As their thoughts rise to this higher level of action, Christian Scientists prove again and again the soundness of that statement. They find that improved thinking gives impulse to better words and deeds, and that they are learning not only the meaning of the first and second commandments, but that these two base all the others. Then obedience to the Decalogue becomes a joy, and it is found that the words, "Obedience to law is liberty," are true and provable. Not, however, by one step is complete emancipation from false belief won, but by repeated yielding. The exchange of the finite for the infinite is the obedience which glorifies God.
