Man is made in the image and likeness of God. Therefore he is perfect. It was through the understanding of this fact that Mary Baker Eddy restored Christian healing to the world. The man that is erring, sick, sinning, and dying is not the real man, but a false concept of false material sense. Spiritual sense beholds the perfect man, at all times, under all circumstances. To live in harmony with others, to benefit all by our presence, we must keep our eyes uplifted to behold the divine likeness. With Paul we should say, "Henceforth know we no man after the flesh."

Christian Science establishes in our thinking the spiritual vision by which the true man is seen. The Master's method of healing seems quite simple when we read the following statement by Mrs. Eddy on pages 476 and 477 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "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."

This spiritual vision, which directly contradicts the evidence of the material senses, is divinely inspiring. The blindness and limitation of the unillumined thought were illustrated to a student of Christian Science one summer when she was viewing, with a group of tourists in Sequoia National Park, the great tree known as one of the oldest living things. Ancient even when Christ Jesus lived upon earth, symbolizing the eternality of God's creation, it lifts its majestic head heavenward.

One tourist exclaimed, "What a lot of lumber that would make!" How limited is the mortal sense of things which sees a symbol of creation as so much lumber! Each idea of God, made in His image, must be seen as perfect, entirely separate from material imperfection. Strangely enough, it may seem less difficult to recognize the truth of being in cases of disease than in cases of imperfection of character. The peculiarities and faults of our fellows may seem very annoying at times unless we loyally maintain our steadfast purpose to behold only the perfect man.

It is mortal sense that is annoyed and condemns its own false concepts. Destructive criticism, discussion of personal defects, enlarging upon others' faults, and so on, emanate only from this limited, false sense. Mortal sense worries and frets because it looks at its own beliefs. It cannot exert the hallowing influence of love. The Psalmist said: "Fret not thyself because of evildoers. ... Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright."

This spiritual perception must be cultivated, and is gained only by daily practice. In all his contacts the Christian Scientist must be alert to deny the false, and constantly to focus his vision upon the true. Defects in speech, appearance, mannerisms, cannot assume importance when we "mark" or recognize the presence of the perfect man. Zeal for the Cause of Christian Science cannot make church members overcritical of other members, and cause inharmonies, when the presence of God's idea is realized. Moreover, this holding to the perfect concept causes faults of character and disposition to disappear.

All those serving the Cause, on committees, as Readers, or otherwise, reach the multitudes with the healing truth as they unite with their fellow workers in putting erroneous beliefs out of thought and holding steadfastly to the fact of God's spiritual, perfect man. Our beloved Leader says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 62), "Holding the right idea of man in my mind, I can improve my own, and other people's individuality, health, and morals; whereas, the opposite image of man, a sinner, kept constantly in mind, can no more improve health or morals, than holding in thought the form of a boa-constrictor can aid an artist in painting a landscape."

Thus, in holding to the truth of creation, Christian Scientists become more helpful, more truly loving. The Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus" is revealed with all its healing potency. People came to Jesus from all the cities and villages, and from all the country round about, and he healed them, every one. Today, an increasing multitude, all sorts and conditions of people with various backgrounds, come to the Christian Science church for healing. All that is clannish, provincial, or undemocratic must dissolve like a fog before the inspiring vision of the perfect man. The healing power of Truth is demonstrated as the Master's great love for man, God's image, abides in the thought of individual members.

Since God is perfect, man in His likeness is also perfect. Since God is Truth, man in His likeness manifests Truth. Since God is Love, man in His likeness is loving and lovable. God and man are inseparable. The commandment to love God is inseparable from the commandment to love man. John said, "He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" Progressing in understanding, we fret no more over material evidences. Life becomes more and more joyous and fruitful as divine goodness is discerned in those about us. We are told that the prophets of old walked and talked consciously with God. We, likewise, should walk and talk consciously with God and with His image.

Beholding the perfect man is the mental process, or cultivated perception, by which we attain the ability to distinguish between Adam and spiritual man. Viewed spiritually, man can never appear otherwise than as "altogether lovely." Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 516), "The substance, Life, intelligence, Truth, and Love, which constitute Deity, are reflected by His creation; and when we subordinate the false testimony of the corporeal senses to the facts of Science, we shall see this true likeness and reflection everywhere."