Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health, p. 407), "In Science, all being is eternal, spiritual, perfect, harmonious in every action." Then she adds: "Let the perfect model be present in your thoughts instead of its demoralized opposite. This spiritualization of thought lets in the light, and brings the divine Mind, Life not death, into your consciousness."

Each student of Christian Science endeavors to express, and to see expressed in others as well, the perfect model of God's creating. He knows that regardless of what sense testimony may argue, man's perfection as the idea of unerring Mind is unimpeachable. Man forever manifests undisturbable peace and poise, undeviating balance and symmetry, illimitable strength and freedom. Furthermore, he expresses omniscient wisdom and intelligence and unwearied activity.

Spiritual qualities, which form the perfect model of divine Love, cannot be too stanchly defended as our divine birthright. In our endeavor to identify ourselves with the true model, it is wise to consider this counsel from Mrs. Eddy (Pulpit and Press, p. 3): "Know, then, that you possess sovereign power to think and act rightly, and that nothing can dispossess you of this heritage and trespass on Love."

Error tries to stop us from thinking that which is true of ourselves, from accepting the perfect model. If error, or animal magnetism, announced that it was going to lull us to sleep, to make us oblivious of our divinely bestowed perfection, we would be alert to handle such suggestions. But since error does not forewarn us, we may be fooled into declaring: "I don't feel well today," or, "I feel tired and discouraged."

Mortal mind seems to be unceasingly at work, daily, hourly, suggesting imperfect models, such as self-condemnation, grief, sorrow, suffering, and imperfection. Coming from the carnal mind, which is really no mind at all, these suggestions must be denied any reality or activity. We must reject them as powerless, mindless, having no influence and no control over God's man, and see them for what they are: impositions on mankind.

We help not only ourselves but the entire Cause of Christian Science when we destroy these aggressive suggestions in thought before they take tangible shape or form. And we have this assurance from Isaiah (50:4): "The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary."

Let us ask ourselves, "Would I permit an intruder to invade my home, take my household belongings, my most valued possessions, and do nothing about it?" Certainly not! Then how much more should we defend our mental dwelling by refusing to let false beliefs intrude and take possession of our consciousness and hold us in their grasp. We can protect ourselves from these silent, unseen intruders by identifying ourselves with all that is good and true and keeping our gaze fixed on the perfect model.

Our Leader counsels (Science and Health, p. 261), "Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts."

Jesus taught us to bear witness to the perfect model alone. Everywhere he went he met with imperfect models, false pictures, limiting beliefs, but he did not accept these as true. He understood and scientifically demonstrated the truth of his statement (Matt. 5:48), "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

This perfect view of man enabled him to heal instantly the man with the withered hand, when he simply said (Mark 3:5), "Stretch forth thine hand." And the Bible states that the man "stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other."

It is essential that we actively resist error's aggressive suggestions of accident, sickness, and limitation and vehemently insist on man's inalienable rights as the eternally perfect child of God. We defend our divine heritage as we reverse mortal imagery and replace false suggestions with the right idea. As we do this, we shall be utilizing the law of perfection in our experience. Then Love's perfect model will appear, enabling us to obey the command, "Be ye therefore perfect."