Article April 17, 1909 Issue

THE PARTIAL AND THE PERFECT

ROSEM UND GUERNSEY.

St. Paul tells us that "when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." To spiritual sense the perfect is always present, and of necessity must be by reason of the unchanging law of divine Life and Truth, but to our finite human sense this perfect manifestation is ofttimes veiled from sight by the clouds of misconception, so that there appears to be present only that which is expressed in limitation, and which through the vagaries of blind chance may culminate at any moment in suffering and despair.

Could we, however, but read aright the events we deem so woeful, we would realize, when storms break over us and sweep away that which seemed so fair, that it is because these partial things have outlived their usefulness that they are done away, because we have grown to that point in the stature of Christ that we are able to look upon a more perfect concept without its effulgence blinding us. Not until that which is perfect is come, does that which is in part leave us. There is no void, no interval when we are without the sustaining power of Truth and Love to meet our present needs. Each blast of the storm but thins the mists around us. Perfection stands always behind the clouds of material sense, awaiting recognition. After gas was utilized as an illuminant, men put aside their tallow dips—not before. When wireless telegraphy is perfected, we shall abandon wires as a transmitting medium of sound. But there will not be, and never has been, any interval of inaction between the casting off of the old and the taking on of the new. The new is in force before the old goes, and the old is done away with simply because it is no longer of any use to any one. In the epistle to the Hebrews we read, "Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away."

It is human nature to cling to the possessions of the moment, to linger in pleasant gardens, drowsily content, not realizing how this false sense holds us from man's true heritage as a child of God: or, half comprehending, lazily to resolve on action at some future period. Fortunately for our ultimate attainment the matter is not left in our hands. Truth, lovingly watchful, knows when to advance us to the next step in our progress toward our Father's house. Says Mrs. Eddy, "When this hour of development comes, ... spiritual Love will force you to accept what best promotes your growth" (Science and Health, p. 266).

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