THE average mortal, though he may be unaffiliated with any religious sect, is aware of an undefined urge to do better than he is doing. This indicates that, almost unbeknown to himself, he is awakening to God's law of perfection, which, ultimately, no one can evade or fail to fulfill. No one is, or ever wants to be, wholly bad. How is this accounted for? How does even the wrongdoer know how to distinguish between right and wrong? Not by any of his physical senses, but by a moral sense which brings enlightenment and, when obeyed, leads on to the radiance of spiritual sense, whereby the allness of God, good, is discerned.
If there were no redemptive power of good, so-called mortal mind would hold undisputed sway over mankind and mental darkness and sin could have no end. But Job writes, "He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection." The perfection of God, good, is always searching the hearts of mortals, impelling them to respond to the irresistible attraction of infinite divine Love, or divine Principle. Spiritual understanding, coming to humanity's rescue, can set an end to all its failings. Is not everyone conscious at times of a silent divine influence stirring in his thoughts? The vital point, stressed by Christian Science, is that one should gladly yield assent to this good influence coming direct from the divine Mind. Without this Christ, Truth, none could ever emerge from bondage. That is why Christ Jesus said that "no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." By means of spiritual ideas and uplifted desires is God revealed to men and made available to them, in all ages. If there were no mediator, no Christ, no true thoughts "to shew unto man his uprightness," there could be no redemption for the human race, for it certainly cannot redeem itself. Only divine Principle can do that, and then only in proportion to each one's obedience to its irrevocable demands.
Christian Science completely eschews the doctrine of fallen man, who is supposedly recovering a lost perfection. Spiritual man has never lost perfection. It also repudiates the belief that evil can develop good, or that there is any such thing as personal goodness underived from God. On page 104 of "Miscellaneous Writings" our Leader writes, "According to Christian Science, perfection is normal,—not miraculous." This divine Science throws wide open to all the field of spiritual reflection, for God's gifts of purity, joy, health, and harmony, component parts of perfection, are normal, not miraculous. Not one of these gifts has ever been withdrawn or depleted. Therefore everyone who is applying the teachings of Christian Science and is learning to reflect true manhood can enjoy continuous health, harmony, and inspiration. Let us remember that God's image, being inseparable from good, is always above the arena of mortal illusion. Man's spiritual senses dwell in good, in divine Mind; they are always spiritually illumined, incapable of cognizing or entertaining any belief in so-called material substance. Mind and its ideas alone constitute reality.
