Article January 12, 1952 Issue

CONSCIOUSNESS OF PERFECTION

GODFREY SPERLING, JR.

Man , because he is the idea of perfect, all-encompassing Mind, reflects all that Mind knows. Perfect God knows that man is made in His image and likeness and is, therefore, perfect. Man, by reflecting this all-knowing God, is conscious of his own perfection.

In helping a member of his family, a Christian Scientist began to see that if he were to behold the perfect man, he would necessarily have to perceive that the patient's true selfhood also was conscious of perfection. To affirm that the true man is healthy and harmonious is certainly helpful. But to go further and declare that the real man is always conscious of this health and harmony is a necessary part of perceiving the perfect man. Strong affirmations of man's awareness of good soon resulted in the patient's acknowledgment of healing.

Mary Baker Eddy writes in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (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." We can be certain that Jesus beheld the real man. who possesses not only the qualities of health and boundless bliss, but also the consciousness of this perfection through reflecting the all-intelligent divine Mind. When Jesus said to his friend, "Lazarus, come forth" (John 11:43), he knew that Lazarus' true selfhood was alive and conscious of reflecting eternal Life. And again, when Jesus said to the sick of the palsy (Matt. 9:6). "Arise, take up thy bed. and go unto thine house," he saw man as healthy, conscious that he was well.

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