Systematic teaching and the student’s spiritual growth and experience in practice are requisite for a thorough 462 462:1comprehension of Christian Science. Some individu-als assimilate truth more readily than others, but any 3Rapidity of assimilationstudent, who adheres to the divine rules of Christian Science and imbibes the spirit of Christ, can demonstrate Christian Science, cast out 6error, heal the sick, and add continually to his store of spiritual understanding, potency, enlightenment, and success.

9    If the student goes away to practise Truth’s teach-ings only in part, dividing his interests between God and Divided loyaltymammon and substituting his own views for 12Truth, he will inevitably reap the error he sows. Whoever would demonstrate the healing of Christian Science must abide strictly by its rules, heed every state-15ment, and advance from the rudiments laid down. There is nothing difficult nor toilsome in this task, when the way is pointed out; but self-denial, sincerity, Christianity, and 18persistence alone win the prize, as they usually do in every department of life.

    A thorough perusal of the author’s publications heals 6sickness. ... Perseverance in the perusal of the book has generally completely healed such cases.

    In Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English, faith and the words corresponding thereto have these two defini-Self-reliance and confidencetions, trustfulness and trustworthiness. One 24kind of faith trusts one’s welfare to others. Another kind of faith understands divine Love and how to work out one’s “own salvation, with fear and trem-27bling.” “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief!” expresses the helplessness of a blind faith; whereas the injunction, “Believe . . . and thou shalt be saved!” 30demands self-reliant trustworthiness, which includes spir-itual understanding and confides all to God.

    The Hebrew verb to believe means also to be firm or 24 24:1to be constant. This certainly applies to Truth and Love understood and practised. Firmness in error will never 3save from sin, disease, and death.

    If we look to the body for pleasure, we find pain; for Life, we find death; for Truth, we find error; for Spirit, 261 261:1we find its opposite, matter. Now reverse this action. Thoughts are thingsLook away from the body into Truth and Love, 3the Principle of all happiness, harmony, and immortality. Hold thought steadfastly to the endur-ing, the good, and the true, and you will bring these 6into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts.

    Vibrating like a pendulum between sin and the hope of forgiveness, — selfishness and sensuality causing con-Moral retrogressionstant retrogression, — our moral progress will 6be slow. Waking to Christ’s demand, mortals experience suffering. This causes them, even as drown-ing men, to make vigorous efforts to save themselves; and 9through Christ’s precious love these efforts are crowned with success.

    “Work out your own salvation,” is the demand of 12Life and Love, for to this end God worketh with you. Wait for reward“Occupy till I come!” Wait for your re-ward, and “be not weary in well doing.” If 15your endeavors are beset by fearful odds, and you receive no present reward, go not back to error, nor become a sluggard in the race.

18    When the smoke of battle clears away, you will dis-cern the good you have done, and receive according to your deserving. Love is not hasty to deliver us from 21temptation, for Love means that we shall be tried and purified.

    The divine demand, “Be ye therefore perfect,” is sci-254254:1entific, and the human footsteps leading to perfection are indispensable. Individuals are consistent who, watching 3Patience and final perfectionand praying, can “run, and not be weary; . . . walk, and not faint,” who gain good rapidly and hold their position, or attain slowly and 6yield not to discouragement. God requires perfection, but not until the battle between Spirit and flesh is fought and the victory won.