Article July 24, 1909 Issue

PERFECTION

ANNIE M. PAYNE

On page 290 of our text-book, Science and Health, we read: "Perfection is gained only by perfection." Many a time has the present writer read this passage with a half-careless, half-wondering reflection which seemed to ask. Who then may hope to reach that blessed state? Just so did the disciples of old question, "Who then can be saved?" and the reply of Jesus is the reply here: "With men it is impossible; but not with God: for with God all things are possible!" These words from Mark's Gospel are indeed identical in substance with our Leader's assertion as here quoted. To assert that for mortals the heights of spiritual being are impossible, and that they are only possible to God, is to say in other words that perfection is gained only by perfection.

The mistake that clings so long to human consciousness, namely, that mortal belief stands for real existence and that it can achieve righteousness, is easily refuted by the simplest argument, as we may readily see. In perfect accord with the teaching of Christ Jesus, Christian Science instructs us that God is good and that He is infinite. Can good that is infinite have any taint of imperfection? Surely not. Can this infinite or all of good be conceived of as side by side with something which is evil? No. Then we must conclude both that the all of good is what is meant by perfection, and that there is nothing besides perfection. Conversely, error or evil, having no part in perfection, has no part in the all; in other words, is nonexistent. Therefore no form of consciousness that assumes acquaintance with evil can at the same time be any part of the all or perfection. Nor can it grow into or become part of perfection, since this would prove perfection to have been wanting in perfection, which is impossible.

Thus the conclusion concerning mortal man is clear. Assuming, as he does, acquaintance with evil, he has no part in perfection nor can he gain perfection. This thought, at first startling, is that which ultimately brings such joy to the Christian Scientist; since through it he learns that the infinite good, which has often seemed nebulous and far off, is actually the only fact. Being all, it can only be self-revealed; but as it pours forth its eternal stream of blessing it appears to awakening mortal sense to be its own gaining of perfection, and for practical purposes it is often thus conveniently, because humanly, expressed.

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