The fruitage which has come into my experience since Christian Science first began to influence my thought and conduct many years ago has been indescribably rich. My first blessing, which was due to the spiritual-mindedness of a Christian Science lecturer, was that I received its teachings in the way described in the chapter on Fruitage in Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, where a testifier writes (p. 625), "It seemed to me from the first that it was something I had always believed, but did not know how to express—it seemed such a natural thing."
On one occasion I was suffering from a severely inflamed condition of the throat called quinsy. It had resisted my efforts to treat myself mentally, and as I felt that my own thought was too much clouded with material discomfort, I asked my wife to call a Christian Science practitioner. She did so about 7.30 a.m. After the telephone call had been made I felt myself being urged to rejoice. I told myself that I would rejoice after the healing but that I had nothing to rejoice about until then. For some while I could think of nothing but the words (Phil. 4:4), "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."
I realized that the work of the practitioner was turning my thought to my true identity as a wholly spiritual being, incapable of suffering, and that this fact was cause for present rejoicing. I must have fallen asleep shortly after this, for I was awakened by my wife entering the room about 9 a.m. to inquire whether I needed breakfast. I said, "Yes, a normal one." This I ate easily and with no pain, whereas three hours before I could not swallow-even a sip of water. There has never been a recurrence of the complaint. I am grateful for having learned always to rejoice in present spiritual perfection, whatever the material testimony may be.
