Editorial March 24, 1917 Issue

"Mark the perfect man"

Annie M. Knott

Bible students in general are acquainted with the psalmist's statement, "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace." This statement usually carries with it a thought of sadness, because many take it to mean that even the perfect man does not find peace before the end of his earthly days. In Christian Science, however, we are taught to look diligently for both peace and perfection, even though the religious opinions of those about us may tell us that these are not to be attained here, at least. One of the profound utterances of the great Teacher is this: "The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master."

Unbiased students of the New Testament must admit that perfection was the goal toward which all thought was directed in the time of Christ Jesus and his immediate followers; and that this truth had a vital place in the healing work done at the beginning of the Christian era is clearly understood by all students of Christian Science. On page 259 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says, "The Christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea,—perfect God and perfect man,—as the basis of thought and demonstration." It needs no argument to show that without a perfect Principle no problem can be worked out rightly or with satisfying results; and if our demonstrations at times appear to be slow, it only proves that we have failed to grasp the meaning of the perfect Principle of Christian Science or are unwilling to comply with its high demands.

The religious teachings which were familiar to many of us before we came to Christian Science embodied a certain kind of humility which made us quite ready to declare that we were constant offenders against divine law; but this teaching also furnished the belief that God was acquainted with this human imperfection and was at least partially responsible for it. Christian Science, however, takes away from us this crutch of mortal belief by uncovering the lameness of the mortal argument that anything which God made is ever less than perfect.

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