Part 38 (2/2)
Infinity's reflection
258:9 Man is more than a material form with a mind inside, which must escape from its environments in order to be immortal. Man reflects infinity, 258:12 and this reflection is the true idea of G.o.d.
G.o.d expresses in man the infinite idea forever develop- ing itself, broadening and rising higher and higher from 258:15 a boundless basis. Mind manifests all that exists in the infinitude of Truth. We know no more of man as the true divine image and likeness, than we know of 258:18 G.o.d.
The infinite Principle is reflected by the infinite idea and spiritual individuality, but the material so-called senses 258:21 have no cognizance of either Principle or its idea. The human capacities are enlarged and perfected in propor- tion as humanity gains the true conception of man and 258:24 G.o.d.
Individual permanency
Mortals have a very imperfect sense of the spiritual man and of the infinite range of his thought. To him 258:27 belongs eternal Life. Never born and never dying, it were impossible for man, under the government of G.o.d in eternal Science, to fall from his 258:30 high estate.
G.o.d's man discerned
Through spiritual sense you can discern the heart of divinity, and thus begin to comprehend in Science the 259:1 generic term _man. _Man is not absorbed in Deity, and man cannot lose his individuality, for he re- 259:3 flects eternal Life; nor is he an isolated, soli- tary idea, for he represents infinite Mind, the sum of all substance.
259:6 In divine Science, man is the true image of G.o.d. The divine nature was best expressed in Christ Jesus, who threw upon mortals the truer reflection of G.o.d and lifted 259:9 their lives higher than their poor thought-models would allow, - thoughts which presented man as fallen, sick, sinning, and dying. The Christlike understanding of 259:12 scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Prin- ciple and idea, - perfect G.o.d and perfect man, - as the basis of thought and demonstration.
The divine image not lost
259:15 If man was once perfect but has now lost his perfection, then mortals have never beheld in man the reflex image of G.o.d. The _lost_ image is no image. The 259:18 true likeness cannot be lost in divine reflection.
Understanding this, Jesus said: ”Be ye there- fore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is 259:21 perfect.”
Immortal models
Mortal thought transmits its own images, and forms its offspring after human illusions. G.o.d, Spirit, works 259:24 spiritually, not materially. Brain or matter never formed a human concept. Vibration is not intelligence; hence it is not a creator. Immortal 259:27 ideas, pure, perfect, and enduring, are transmitted by the divine Mind through divine Science, which corrects error with truth and demands spiritual thoughts, divine 259:30 concepts, to the end that they may produce harmonious results.
Deducing one's conclusions as to man from imperfec- 260:1 tion instead of perfection, one can no more arrive at the true conception or understanding of man, and make him- 260:3 self like it, than the sculptor can perfect his outlines from an imperfect model, or the painter can depict the form and face of Jesus, while holding in thought the character 260:6 of Judas.
Spiritual discovery
The conceptions of mortal, erring thought must give way to the ideal of all that is perfect and eternal. Through 260:9 many generations human beliefs will be attain- ing diviner conceptions, and the immortal and perfect model of G.o.d's creation will finally be seen as 260:12 the only true conception of being.
Science reveals the possibility of achieving all good, and sets mortals at work to discover what G.o.d has already 260:15 done; but distrust of one's ability to gain the goodness desired and to bring out better and higher results, often hampers the trial of one's wings and ensures failure at the 260:18 outset.
Requisite change of our ideals
Mortals must change their ideals in order to improve their models. A sick body is evolved from 260:21 sick thoughts. Sickness, disease, and death proceed from fear. Sensualism evolves bad physical and moral conditions.
260:24 Selfishness and sensualism are educated in mortal mind by the thoughts ever recurring to one's self, by conversation about the body, and by the expectation of 260:27 perpetual pleasure or pain from it; and this education is at the expense of spiritual growth. If we array thought in mortal vestures, it must lose its immortal 260:30 nature.
Thoughts are things
If we look to the body for pleasure, we find pain; for Life, we find death; for Truth, we find error; for Spirit, 261:1 we find its opposite, matter. Now reverse this action.
Look away from the body into Truth and Love, 261:3 the Principle of all happiness, harmony, and immortality. Hold thought steadfastly to the endur- ing, the good, and the true, and you will bring these 261:6 into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts.
Unreality of pain
The effect of mortal mind on health and happiness is 261:9 seen in this: If one turns away from the body with such absorbed interest as to forget it, the body experiences no pain. Under the strong im- 261:12 pulse of a desire to perform his part, a noted actor was accustomed night after night to go upon the stage and sustain his appointed task, walking about as actively 261:15 as the youngest member of the company. This old man was so lame that he hobbled every day to the theatre, and sat aching in his chair till his cue was spoken, - a signal 261:18 which made him as oblivious of physical infirmity as if he had inhaled chloroform, though he was in the full pos- session of his so-called senses.
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