Throughout the entire history of the Christian Science movement, nothing has been more striking to the careful observer than the readiness with which its followers have responded to every call to go forward, however unexpectedly it came. This is so well known that it is hardly necessary to recount the occasions upon which we have had to lay aside the methods we had employed in advancing our Cause, in order to adopt some other means for reaching the same end.
It should be remembered that all such changes have been designed to secure greater freedom of thought and action, and to provide for the participation of as many as possible in the work of bringing the knowledge of Christian Science to all mankind.
It is evident that our services, simple though they be, have behind them a power which touches very deeply the hearts of those who, though they may not be professed Christian Scientists, yet "love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity," especially when they are led to draw aside the curtain of prejudice, and worship with us the loving Father of whose presence we have proof in the healing of both sickness and sin.
At the Sunday services we receive full measure of the life-giving, life-restoring word of Truth, and at the experience meetings each heart should echo the Psalmist's query, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?" It were well for each one to emphasize the "me," and to "forget not all his benefits" when we meet to give testimony to Truth's all-healing power, and to think upon our blessings, so often that no effort will be needed to recall them whenever we have opportunity to speak of them.
There can be no question that evangelical Christianity has had a wonderful hold upon the world's thought. The story of the Gospel is indeed the story of all humanity,—the same fears, the same sorrows, and the same hope ever reaching out toward God as the only source of salvation from despair.
Through the Gospels some measure of deliverance has ever come to men, else the race had been annihilated by the weight of its misery, and for this divine aid prayers and thanksgivings have ascended to God through all the waiting centuries.
To-day a fuller sense of salvation is meeting the world's need, and it is thus defined in our text-book: "Life, Truth, and Love, understood and demonstrated as supreme over all; sin, sickness, and death destroyed" (Science and Health, p. 593). And what thanks do we render unto the Lord for this fuller sense of salvation? Of old the Hebrews were required to bring of their best possessions as offerings to God. The choicest of the flocks and of the herds, and the first-fruits of the land were to be brought for the service of the Temple. The lame, the sick, and the blind were not acceptable.
Do the spoken and written testimonies of Christian Scientists meet this requirement, are they indeed the best fruits of our unfolding mental powers which have been ripened in the sunshine of truth? Do our offerings truly correspond to the "diligence, promptness, and perseverance" which "are likened to 'the cattle upon a thousand hills'" (Science and Health, p. 514). If our mental offerings possess these characteristics, as they should, then they will complete the idea already quoted from our text-book, and, "keep pace with highest purpose."
The accuracy, clearness, brevity, and simplicity of the gospel narratives of healing are unsurpassed in literature, and in these beautiful and touching stories we can find the best models for our guidance in telling others of our restoration by the same divine power.
Perhaps the first testimony of the Christian era to the healing power of truth is given in the story of the woman who came to Jesus and touched the hem of his garment. A tale of long years of burdensome and hopeless suffering is told in a few words. Never, perhaps, has our vigorous Anglo-Saxon expressed so much in so brief a space as do those words which relate the healing of one who was destitute of everything save that grain of faith demanded by the Master; but this was enough, and her great need was supplied.
It may help some timid one to recall the statement that this woman came into the presence of the Master, "fearing and trembling," but she made the acknowledgment of her healing before the multitude, and for her reward she heard the loving words, "Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole, go in peace."
It has been hinted that the testimonies given at our meetings are beyond the facts; but those who know best the actual occurrences are aware that the opposite is true. If we were to express adequately what is really being done, the world could but be moved by a mighty desire to know what it is that is accomplishing this beneficent work. Sad to tell, there are many who doubt the trustworthiness of the gospels, and little wonder, since they have been told that what is recorded therein has no relation to their present need. In many such cases, the Christian Science gospel of healing has come with its proof that the law which prevailed in Jesus' time is operative to-day; and they not only accept this gladly, but the "sweet story of old" is no longer doubted; it is understood and loved.
Says Paul, "Ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ, ... written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God;" and we might pursue this thought further, and say with him, "Seeing we have this hope, we use great plainness of speech," which is undoubtedly the best thing to do; and if we seek divine inspiration God will touch our tongues and pens, even as He has inspired our Leader in her great work for humanity.
She has urged us to so embody the grand ideas of Truth, that we may cope successfully with every error which assails us, and through this overcoming, acquire the power and habit of effectively expressing Truth in all we say and do.
When we thus attain to the heights of our aspiration, the world will recognize the presence of that divine harmony so beautifully expressed by Whittier,—
That song shall swell from shore to shore;
One hope, one faith, one love restore
The seamless robe that Jesus wore.
