WE say again, and it cannot be said too often, Disease has its causes. And to think of getting rid of the disease without diligently and conscientiously seeking out and putting away the cause is a delusion and a snare. And any means employed to remove the disease without honestly inquiring for, and seeking to remove, the cause only deepens the delusion, and more securely fastens the snare.BEST February 5, 1900, page 91.1

Also we say again, and this cannot be said too often, God does heal disease. He does it even by a miracle. But He does not do it, and He ought not to be asked to do it, regardless of principle. He ought not to be asked to touch the disease when we refuse to touch the cause.BEST February 5, 1900, page 91.2

A woman came once to ask for prayers for healing, when the following conversation occurred:—BEST February 5, 1900, page 91.3

“Will you please come with some others of the brethren, and pray for me that I may be healed?”BEST February 5, 1900, page 91.4

“What is the matter with you?”BEST February 5, 1900, page 91.5

“I have taken a severe cold, and it has settled on my lungs, and they pain me much.”BEST February 5, 1900, page 91.6

“How long have you had the cold?”BEST February 5, 1900, page 91.7

“About a week.”BEST February 5, 1900, page 91.8

“Have you done anything for it?” “No.”BEST February 5, 1900, page 91.9

“What! nothing?”BEST February 5, 1900, page 91.10

“No.BEST February 5, 1900, page 91.11

“Then, my sister, prayer is not what you need at all; but a good hot bath rather. Please go at once and put yourself through a thorough course of treatment—hot bath all over, a fomentation, a compress, or even both, over your lungs. Do that honestly, and then if necessary, we can offer the prayers that you have asked. Of course we can pray that the Lord shall make this treatment effective; but the treatment is the thing needed now.”BEST February 5, 1900, page 91.12

She went and did as directed, and was not seen again for two or three days. Then, when met, she was asked,—BEST February 5, 1900, page 91.13

“How are your lungs now?” “Oh! all right.”BEST February 5, 1900, page 91.14

That was, and such as that is, Christian healing—divine healing. And if it be so that the cause of disease is beyond human reach, then, with proper Christian regard for principle, the Lord can in faith and full confidence be asked to make “every win whole,” and to give perfect soundness in the presence of all. And that, too, is Christian healing—divine healing. Then, too, with proper Christian regard for principle, that person can remain well. Yet it is the truth that there are thousands of persons who will dose themselves with drugs and patent medicines, or put themselves under the power of satanic influences to be “healed,” rather than put themselves through a hot bath, and take simple and sensible treatment. Only about a month ago a little baby was taken dangerously ill. The doctor prescribed such simple but effective treatment. And he was met by the mother’s, “Oh, can’t you give some medicine that will do it quicker than that? That is so much trouble!” That single incident tells the true story of multitudes.BEST February 5, 1900, page 91.15

How can such persons have God’s saving health? How can they be kept from the snares of Satan, which are now laid everywhere to meet this sentiment with signs, and lying wonders, and deceiving miracles—all to “heal” without “so much trouble.”BEST February 5, 1900, page 92.1

A. T. JONES.

June 4, 1900