Article December 30, 1933 Issue

"The pure in heart"

COURTLAND L. BUTLER

The Master's beatitude, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God," means much more than is gained from a casual reading of the words. Many Christian people have considered that if they were free from dishonesty, immorality, and the grosser errors common to humankind—as they believed themselves to be—they had fulfilled all the requirements necessary to see God at some remote future time. But this limited application of the Master's words does not fully accord with the teachings of Christian Science. In the light of this Science this text may be rendered, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see good; in other words, Happy are they who have the understanding of good, for through it they are demonstrating the truth of man in the likeness of God. This implies that impurity cannot see good, for it is the antipode of purity and comprises all that is unlike God.

The earnest student of Christian Science seeks through scientific self-analysis to detect and destroy any lurking impurities of thought, and it requires constant watchfulness to do this thoroughly and completely. Many errors may try to slip by unchallenged on the subtle suggestion that they are harmless; hence they may not be readily recognized as impure. In the Glossary to the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 591), Mrs. Eddy defines "man" thus: "The compound idea of infinite Spirit; the spiritual image and likeness of God; the full representation of Mind." When the student understands, at least in a measure, the true nature of man, he accepts the standard of purity as spiritual perfection. While he does not at once reach the full and complete demonstration of this infinite reality, he recognizes that his demonstration of health, harmony, and success must be made from the standpoint of this perfect standard of divine Principle. In working on his problems he finds that no halfway position is permissible. Our textbook states (p. 259), "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."

Blessedness is happiness. Can spiritual or true happiness be found in a state of ill health, suffering, despair, failure, or any of the sins or discords of mankind? Most certainly not! Then, as it is not conceivable that the Master made any erroneous statements, does it not follow that to be "pure in heart" is conducive to a state of health and harmony, and that these are not conditions of matter, but states of consciousness? Does it not follow, also, that the Master indicated the way out of all evil, including despondency, dejection, worry, want, sickness, and sin, when he said that "the pure in heart" should see God, should understand God, good?

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