Science and Health
with Key to The Scriptures
by Mary Baker Eddy
Chapter XVIII - Fruitage

 

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THROUGH GREAT TRIBULATIONS
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When I attempt to make plain what Christian Science
has done for me, words fail me. For twenty years
I was a constant sufferer, my spine having been
injured when I was very young. As a little child I
suffered so much that I would look up to the stars
and beg God, who I thought might be up there
somewhere, to take me away from the earth, – I was
so tired. A great wall of pain seemed to separate me
from the pleasures enjoyed by others, and I could not
explain how I felt, because no one could understand.
Years passed, and I saw my earthly happiness swept
away; my heart was broken and I did not know what
to do. I cried for help, day after day and night after
night, although I was not sure what God was, nor where
He was. I only knew that I suffered, and was
in need of help, and that there was no earthly help
for either mind or body. I loved purity, truth, and
right always, and this made evil seem a most terrible
reality. I was unable to cope with it, and so found
myself in despair. This was my condition when I com-
menced reading Science and Health. I was ready for
its message, and in about ten days there came a won-
derful insight into the truth which heals the sick and
binds up the broken-hearted. All pain left me, I had
a glimpse of the new heavens and the new earth, and
was beginning to be fed by Love divine.
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I had suffered for years with insomnia. That night
I rested like a child, and awoke the next morning well
and happy. A flood of light daily illumined the pages
of the "little book," and the revelation it holds for all
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came to my waiting heart. "The peace which passeth
all understanding" rested upon me, and joy too deep for
words transformed my life. My prayers were answered,
for I had found God in Christian Science.
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The Bible, which I knew very little about, became
my constant study, my joy, and my guide. The copy
which I bought at the time of my healing is marked
from Genesis to Revelation. It was so constantly
in my hands for three years that the cover became
worn and the leaves loose, so it has been laid away
for a new one. Two and three o'clock in the morning
often found me poring over its pages, which grew
more and more sacred to me every day, and the help
I received therefrom was wonderful, for which I can
find no words to express iny gratitude. – I. L., Los
Angeles, Cal.
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A HELPFUL TESTIMONY
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Words cannot express my gratitude to God for
Christian Science. When I first read Science and
Health, I had tried every remedy I had ever heard of.
I felt no change in mind or body that I was conscious
of until I read page 16 of the chapter on "Prayer," in
Science and Health. The first words of the "spiritual
sense of the Lord's Prayer," telling of our Father‑
Mother God, gave me a glimpse of heavenly light. I
stopped and reasoned, and remembered the teachings
of Jesus. The truth of man's spiritual being dawned
on my consciousness. I realized I was not subject to
mortal laws, as I had been taught all my life. I could
not explain how I knew this, but I knew it. Through
Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy had given me what
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I had longed for all my life, – a Mother, a perfect
"Father-Mother God." I had known there was a
great lack, and at that time I believe the orthodox
world had but half of the truth which Jesus came to
establish. When I read, "Give us this day our daily
bread," and its spiritual interpretation, my tears began
to flow; all the years of bitterness, hate, and fear melted
away. I knew then, as I know now, that nothing satisfies
but Love. That day began the outward and inward
conscious healing, – mental and physical. There never
came a doubt! I absolutely knew that Christian Science
was and is the truth. Money, friends, materiality, are
nothing beside the conscious knowledge of God, man,
and the universe.
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I did not need treatment from any one, – Science
and Health was so clear and beautiful. I could not
understand the Bible before, but I found it illumined
now that I had a little understanding of Christian
Science. For ten years I have not had to lie down in
the daytime from any sickness. I am now, and have
been all these years, the picture of perfect health.
When I first read Science and Health I weighed one
hundred and four pounds; I now weigh over one hun-
dred and sixty. This physical health is not to be com-
pared to my happiness, – my harmony that nothing
can take away, – because it is the gift of God. Nothing
has shown me the perversity of the human mind more
than in its conclusions in regard to my healing. Even
when I felt and knew that I was healed, people con-
stantly said, because I was thin and delicate looking,
"You are not well, any one could look at you and know
it." Now that I am fleshy, they say, "You don't look
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as if you ever had a pain in all your life. You could not
have had consumption."
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When I think what my life was before I had Christian
Science, of the six years of colds, suffering, and cough-
ing, not to mention the unhappiness, I want to "work,
watch, and pray" for the Mind of Christ, that I may work
rightly in God's vineyard, and to know that in truth, what
belongs to one belongs to all, – that one God, one Life,
Truth, and Love is all. – A. C. L., Kansas City, Kans.
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DESIRE FOR LIQUOR AND TOBACCO DISAPPEARED
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I first heard of Christian Science four years ago. At
that time drinking and smoking were my comforters. I
had no other companionship. I had lived almost con-
stantly from childhood in an evil atmosphere. Though
I was far from being satisfied with my condition, I failed
to see how to better it until I read Science and Health.
I used occasionally to listen to a sermon, but sermons
did not give me any more comfort than I derived from
my pipe, hence I concluded that church-going could not
satisfy me and I preferred drinking and smoking. When
I began to read Science and Health, I saw it offered some-
thing substantial. After a few months' study all desire
for drinking and smoking disappeared. I did not give
them up; I made no sacrifices, I simply found some-
thing better. I might mention that I had smoked ever
since I can remember. I used to smoke years before I
left school, and, like most Englishmen, loved my pipe, and
would almost prefer to miss a meal rather than to go
without my smoke. I used to think it gave me comfort.
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During my four years' study of Christian Science I
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have not spent a cent for doctors or medicine, neither
have I lost a day from my work on account of sickness,
which compares wonderfully with the previous four years.
I take a great interest and pleasure in reading the Bible
and studying the lessons in the Quarterly. The Bible
used to be a most mysterious book to me, but Science
and Health makes it a most precious book, making its
meaning clearer, plainer, and simpler.
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I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Mrs.
Eddy and to the friend who invited me to attend the ser-
vice held in the Auditorium years ago. I also wish to
acknowledge the benefit I have had from the Journal
and the Sentinel. They have helped me wonderfully. If
the value of Science and Health and these publications
were measured as business men value things, by the
results or benefits they bring, they certainly would be
priceless to me. It would be impossible to measure
their value, as I have got something from Science and
Health that all the money in the world could not buy. –
H. P. H., Chicago, Ill.
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AN EXPRESSION OF LOVING GRATITUDE
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In the spring of 1893, while studying for the minis-
try, Science and Health was placed in my hands, and
the truth contained therein at once became to me the
pearl of great price. I literally devoured the book,
reading it about eighteen hours a day. Its originality
was startling, upsetting my preconceived opinions of
God, man, and creation. Two sentences especially
appealed to me: "The foundation of mortal discord is a
false sense of man's origin" (p. 262), and, "For right
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reasoning, there should be but one fact before the thought,
namely, spiritual existence" (p. 492). I had found the
keynote to the Science of being as taught in this marvel-
lous book, and persevered until a glimpse of the new heav-
ens and new earth came, for the old were passing away.
With this spiritual uplifting came also physical health.
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All my life had been spent in semi-invalidism, and
I seemed destined to a life of suffering. In three
weeks after beginning Science and Health, to my joy-
ful surprise I found myself a well man, sound physi-
cally, and uplifted spiritually. Life was being lived
from a new basis, the old things of personal sense
were passing away and all things becoming new. I
learned that the infinite good is the one Friend upon
whom we can call at all times, an all-powerful, ever‑
present help in every time of trouble; that His children
are really governed in peace and harmony by spiritual
law, and as the right understanding of it is gained, the
other things soon follow, bringing a peace the human
concept can never know.
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For the last twelve years my whole time has been
devoted to Christian Science practice, and I have seen
nearly every so-called incurable disease healed by its
beneficent influence. God bless our dear Leader! She
has set before us an open door, which no man can shut,
and it is but a question of time when the world will know
her better and love her more. – E. E. N., Washington,
D. C.
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HEALED OF BRIGHT'S DISEASE
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August 18, 1902, I was taken down with what three
doctors pronounced Bright's disease, and they stated
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that I would not live a year, or if I did succeed in liv-
ing longer, I would be mentally unbalanced. On Decem-
ber 6, 1902, my wife presented me with Science and
Health as a birthday gift, and it was indeed the
best present I ever received. Since that time I have
been reading it and attending the Second Church
here. I have not used any medicine since, nor has any
one in our home. I am in the finest of health and have
lost all my bad habits. This truth has brought a great
spiritual uplifting to all of us, and words cannot express
my gratitude to Mrs. Eddy and to all who have helped
me to the same. – T. V., Chicago, Ill.
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FIBROID TUMOR DESTROYED
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When quite young I was impressed that the Bible
was not properly interpreted by the preachers, for I
could not conceive of a God of wrath who was unjust
enough to allow His little ones to suffer pain, misery, and
death. I had hope, however, that some day the truth
would be revealed to an awakening world, but little did
I dream that even then there was one of God's noble
women who reflected sufficient purity and holiness to
entertain the "angel of his presence," and commune with
the true God.
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I was believed to be predisposed to scrofula, so that
I was not a strong or attractive child, and my girlhood
and womanhood were scarcely ever free from dread of
the laws of matter and lack of strength. The climax
was reached when a physician informed me, after weeks
of treatment, that I had a fibroid tumor, which required
an operation. The conditions were most trying and I
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was heartsick and discouraged when, in January, 1893,
I heard of Christian Science through a letter from a dear
sister who had been greatly benefited thereby, and I re-
solved to go at once to a practitioner, for I believed it
to be the long-lost truth that would make me free. It
meant a great effort and sacrifice for me to go to Chicago
at that time, but divine Love opened the way and I reached
there in March. I had been in my sister's home but
a few days, reading Science and Health almost con-
stantly, when I asked her if I had not better have
treatment for the tumor, which had given me so much
trouble. She said to me, "You feel well, do you not?"
I assured her that I never had felt so well as I had since
reaching there. "Well," she said with decision, "your
tumor is gone, for God never made it," and her statements
were true, for it has never been heard of from that day.
Since then I have been healed of chronic sore throat,
hay fever, and other troubles, and I know that Christian
Science is the truth. – B. W. S., Coldwater, Mich.
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LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS
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I have received so much benefit from the testimonies
in the Sentinel and Journal that I send mine, hoping
it may cheer some struggling heart. I was reared by
kind and loving Christian parents and was a member
of an orthodox church for over twenty years, but I was
never satisfied. I was filled with fear and bound down
by the false gods of this world, – sin, disease, and pov-
erty; consequently every way I turned, and in everything
I attempted to do, I was met with disappointment and
failure; but God was leading me into a different life.
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My interest was first awakened to Christian Science
about thirteen years ago, and I have been a willing dis-
ciple ever since. Through the reading of Science and
Health I was healed of chronic catarrh and laryngitis,
and it also enabled me to lay off my glasses. Christian
Science has not only helped me mentally, morally, and
physically, but the greatest blessing of all is the spirit-
ual uplifting which enabled me to know that God is both
able and willing to care for His children, if we are but
willing to do our part and bear the cross which, though
it seems heavy at times, always brings a sure reward.
Christian Science has not only helped me, but it has
enabled me to help others.
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The Bible is a new book to me. I now see what
Jesus meant when he said, "Come unto me, all ye that
labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
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My heart goes out in gratitude to Mrs. Eddy for the
work she has done and is still doing for the world, and
to God I am most grateful that He has guided me into the
truth, that I may have life, and have it more abundantly.
– Mrs. M. M., Chicago, Ill.
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A PRICELESS BOON
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I have long desired to express my gratitude for what
Christian Science has done, through reading Science
and Health, for me and my family. I was healed of
profanity, the tobacco habit, and a bad temper, through
the understanding that man is the image and likeness of
God. I was also healed of kidney disease and rheuma
tism. What surprised me most, however, was this; I
had had one finger thrown out of place some fifteen years
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before. It was crooked, but it became straight and use-
ful. A bone in my foot had also been broken, leaving
a bunch, which disappeared after I studied Christian
Science and received class instruction. I am an entirely
well man and for this I am very grateful. I am also
glad that I have learned enough of Truth and love to
be able to heal others. I wish to express my thankful
appreciation of our Leader, also of the Sentinel and the
Journal. – N. R. F., Salina, Kans.
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HEALED OF CONSUMPTION AND ASTHMA
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It is a pleasure to acknowledge the great benefits which
have come to me through Christian Science. It is nearly
ten years since I began the investigation of the subject by
borrowing a copy of Science and Health. I had become
a hopeless sufferer from asthma, – the disease being so
aggravated at times as to make breathing almost impos-
sible. I was also a victim of that dread disease, consump-
tion. It was hereditary, nearly all my family on both
sides having passed away with it. I took up Christian
Science very much as a drowning man catches at a straw.
However, I was much interested as soon as I began to
understand it, and having read the book nearly all my
waking hours for a few weeks, I became so much better
and so convinced of its truth, that myself and wife de-
stroyed all the medicines in the home, and have never
since used any remedy except Christian Science. I con-
tinued to study and to put into practice the teaching as
best I knew, and was restored to health in a few months.
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Prior to my investigation of Christian Science I had
been from boyhood an outspoken infidel, had read that
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class of literature extensively, and had no desire for
anything of a religious nature, – the orthodox teaching
never having appealed to me as a rational exposition of
an all-wise God. I now have no more doubt of the truth
of the teaching of the great Way-shower, Jesus of Naza-
reth, than I doubt the correctness of the basic law of
mathematics or music. I have no doubt whatever that
Christian Science saved me from the grave, and thus
proved a most practicable and efficient help in time of
greatest need. However great my physical suffering has
been, I can but feel glad that through it the door of con-
sciousness was opened to let in the light of Truth. Thus
I have progressed a little way in the knowledge of God,
good, as revealed in Christian Science. – C. B., Webb
City, Mo.
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A GRATEFUL TESTIMONY
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"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto
my path."
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This has been proven to me in every way. When
Christian Science came to me, I was a wreck, physically,
mentally, and financially; but since the reading of Sci-
ence and Health turned my thought toward the light, I
have found that, as far as I am willing to receive the word
and live it, all comforts are supplied me. I am especially
grateful for the spiritual help. I know that things which
I did and thought last year I would not do or think this
year, and am satisfied. Through the careful and prayer-
ful study of Science and Health I have been lifted from
sickness to health, from sorrow to peace, from lack to
plenty, and, the most beautiful of all, from darkness to
light. – Mrs. H. S. C., Seattle, Wash.
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