Editorial May 26, 1923 Issue

"Perfect God and perfect man"

Ella W. Hoag

In the heart of every one there is an innate desire for perfection. When God said to Abram, "I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect," He presented perfection as an absolute necessity. Jesus emphasized the same when he said to all men, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." All Christians have accepted these commands as veritable, but have believed quite as universally that they could only be completely obeyed in a future heaven. It was not until the Science of Christianity was revealed that the present way to attain perfection was made plain. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 259) Mrs. Eddy writes, "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."

Now it is axiomatic that only what starts with a perfect, scientific premise can be worked out scientifically. To imagine that any problem could be solved without beginning with the basic law involved would be but folly. Who would think he could add correctly if he did not know there was a fundamental law involved which was already perfect, and which held unchangeable every idea belonging thereto? How could one ever hope to correct a mistake in addition, if he did not know that the truth about it already existed and could be demonstrated? With this truth any error could be replaced; and therefore each mathematician would be secure in the consciousness that inasmuch as he understood the law and the truths included, he would be able to prove them. He would not attempt to correct mistakes by dealing with them as realities; nor would he spend time endeavoring to find the exact nature of a mistake. Instead, he would erase it and look unhesitatingly to the fundamental law to find the truth.

Just so it is with the demonstration of the Science of Life. Mrs. Eddy tells us in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 242), "Unless you fully perceive that you are the child of God, hence perfect, you have no Principle to demonstrate and no rule for its demonstration." If, then, we do not perceive that God's creation is already finished and good, how can we ever hope to prove perfection? Accepting this perfect premise of "perfect God and perfect man," we have the rule whereby every truth may be demonstrated, every evil belief thereby annulled. Mrs. Eddy, however, also says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 5), "That man is the idea of infinite Mind, always perfect in God, in Truth, Life, and Love, is something not easily accepted, weighed down as is mortal thought with material beliefs." From this Christian Scientists may readily see that it is "material beliefs" which would claim to make them unwilling to accept and apply this basic truth and thus hinder their demonstration of perfection. With the truth of "perfect God and perfect man" laid hold of as simply and naturally as is the truth in regard to numbers, the way is immediately open for all men to advance in the proof of perfection.

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