The prophets in the Old Testament often used such expressions as: "Thus saith the Lord" (Isa. 10:24) and, "The word of the Lord came unto me" (Jer. 1:4). These expressions indicate an understanding of God, a natural turning to Him in times of need, and a listening for His guidance in what appeared to be conditions of great difficulty and lack. Mrs. Eddy recognizes the understanding the prophets attained and writes in Science and Health, "The Soul-inspired patriarchs heard the voice of Truth, and talked with God as consciously as man talks with man" (p. 308).
Christ Jesus' even greater understanding of God and of man's relationship to Him enabled him not only to talk with and listen to God but also to heal all manner of discord. When he raised Lazarus he said: "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always" (John 11:41, 42). His spiritualized thought, which acknowledged God as All, was the power which healed, as he repeatedly demonstrated.
He claimed for his followers the right to continue this healing work. And for many years after his resurrection, the Christian Church continued healing by spiritual means alone. This work, however, gradually diminished and disappeared in the third century as the Church turned more to rites, ceremonies, and doctrines.
