We read in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy (pp. 476, 477): "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick." Jesus healed all who sought him for help. Because of his pure spiritual insight, he beheld man as perfect and eternal. Jesus knew that the real man is always at the standpoint of perfection. That material sense argued otherwise made no difference to Jesus. He knew, and proved, that material sense has no foundation in fact, and that its testimony is untrue and cannot govern man. Although the man at the pool of Bethesda had seemed to suffer from an infirmity for thirty-eight years, Jesus knew that the man of God's creating had never been less than perfect, and his understanding of this fact enabled him to awaken the impotent man to the truth about himself, which resulted in instant healing.

When young students of Christian Science encounter conditions which seem perplexing and disconcerting, they may find it difficult to remember that man is perfect. Sometimes they may have to work with a schoolteacher who seems to be unwilling or unable to understand or to cooperate with them. But "Love is reflected in love" (ibid., p. 17); and, whatever error may call itself, if the student steadfastly endeavors to behold "in Science the perfect man," he will find that his problem will be solved. When one is expressing Love himself, he cannot fail to see evidence of Love. As the student consistently and persistently holds to the true view of man, discord and misunderstanding vanish, and harmony is manifested.

Again, certain subjects in one's schoolwork may seem to be very difficult, and one's inability to master them may seem to be a barrier to progress. Remembering that his true work is that of reflection, the student perceives that so-called difficulties give him opportunities to glorify God. As he draws nearer to God in his thinking, he will find that troubles cease to disturb him, for he has learned that harmony is ever present. As our spirituality increases, evil suggestions will have less and less power over us. The sense of fear and undue haste in our daily work will vanish. Confidence and poise will be increasingly expressed.

One young Christian Scientist, who was a college student, had decided to specialize in mathematics. During his sophomore year he began to have considerable difficulty with one of his principal mathematical courses. Try as he might, it seemed impossible to make any progress. He even failed to pass the final examination at the end of the year, and barely passed the supplementary examination in the fall. Nevertheless, he continued to strive to rise above the false belief of inadequacy and failure that seemed to dominate his thinking. "Draw nigh to God," the apostle wrote, "and he will draw nigh to you." This student began, therefore, to work more diligently to become Godlike in his thinking than he had ever worked at anything else. He became so absorbed in this activity that his fear of ultimate failure in mathematics began to disappear from his consciousness. His spiritual growth resulted in the healing of his fear. During his last year in school he was frequently the only one in his class to solve some of the more difficult problems. At graduation, he was grateful to find that he had one of the best averages in his class.

God, good, is ever present; and as the student persistently remembers this, he will discover that he is seeing more of God daily, and that he is inevitably increasing in spiritual discernment. Jesus knew this fact of God's omnipresence and proved it continually. He said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." He proved this by healing the sick and sinning. Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health, p. 126), "I have demonstrated through Mind the effects of Truth on the health, longevity, and morals of men, and I have found nothing in ancient or in modern systems on which to found my own, except the teachings and demonstrations of our great Master and the lives of prophets and apostles." Christian Science is based on the sure foundation of the Bible, and good and certain results are to be expected from its practice. The statements contained in our Leader's writings concerning the unreality of evil and the omnipotence of God are true, and we are justified in speaking to evil with authority and dismissing it as a false belief.

Sometimes evil appears to us to be overpowering, and we seem helplessly bound by its false laws. But are these limitations ever real? How can they be, if God is ever present and changes not? These bonds exist for us only so long as we believe them to be real. Evil is unknown to God, and should not seem real to anyone who is striving to express God. We need only to awake to the consciousness of "the perfect man," understand that in reality we are that man, and freedom will be ours.

At one time the writer worked at a bird-banding station, operated by a friend in co-operation with the United States Government. The conduct of the birds when they were being released after banding was interesting. Often the birds would fly from the hand at once, but sometimes a bird would make no effort to fly, even though perfectly free to do so. It would lie in the hand or perch on a finger for some moments, apparently mesmerized by the belief that it was still held. Then, suddenly realizing its freedom, the bird would fly away quickly to a near-by tree, often bursting into song. Are not men, ignorant of their true freedom, often similarly bound by unreal bonds?

When a student is confronted with a difficult problem in school or anywhere else, he can remember that this gives him an opportunity to express God. As he realizes his perfection as the son of God, the student will find that he has dominion over discordant conditions. And as he awakes to the truth of being, to the "correct view of man," his progress will be certain and sure.