Article June 8, 1940 Issue

The Mirror of Divine Science

CHARLES W. J. TENNANT

Christ Jesus used many familiar illustrations to help his listeners to understand the deep things of God which he was imparting to their dawning spiritual understanding; and in like manner his faithful follower, Mary Baker Eddy, employed a similar means to present her teaching. On page 301 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" she writes, "Few persons comprehend what Christian Science means by the word reflection." To have a reflection, one must also have a mirror, for a mirror is that which throws back the image of whatever is in front of it. Mrs. Eddy uses the illustration of a mirror.

Most people use a mirror in order to ascertain whether or not they are measuring up to what custom or fashion demands of them, and the illustration is, therefore, one which is readily understood. A mirror reflects whatever stands before it, and there are certain laws governing the relationship of the object to the reflection. If the mirror is without flaw, it will give back an exact image of that which is in front of it. If it is distorted, so likewise will the image be distorted.

On page 515 of the Christian Science textbook, Mrs. Eddy refers to divine Science as a mirror and to God's image and likeness, man, as reflection. God being omnipotent and omnipresent, spiritual man cannot become unlike his divine Principle, God, any more than the human likeness in a mirror can reflect anything unlike its human original. Christ Jesus referred to this unchanging perfection when he said (John 5:19), "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." By means of the mirror of divine Science we see that every idea of God, "from the infinitesimal to the infinite" (Science and Health, p. 336), reflects God. Since God is Life, all His ideas reflect Life. Since God is Truth, all the ideas which constitute man and the universe express Truth. Since God is Love, all His ideas express boundless love.

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