Upon our understanding of what constitutes true existence depend our health, our peace of mind, our spiritual progress, and the happiness that belongs to every child of God. Through Christian Science we are learning that we can gain and retain a clear perception of our God-given freedom—freedom evidenced by release from fear, by more peaceful environment, by a very certain sense that good alone is real. We are beginning to understand that we should not only hope for, but can experience here and now, the peace and harmony that belong to our true selfhood, which God has created. Through clear spiritual thinking we are gaining a constantly increasing perception of reality or true being. We are discovering that our real selfhood has never been touched in the slightest degree by carnal illusions springing from mortal beliefs; that the personal, human concept of existence is mesmeric falsity. Perception of the spiritual truth that man's intelligence emanates directly from divine Mind provides a positive scientific basis from which to work.
God's creation is the forever manifestation of Himself; and the true man, His image and likeness, as the Scriptures unequivocally declare, eternally expresses the qualities and attributes of eternal Mind. The true image or idea of God is forever enfolded by Spirit and always at one with Him. It is therefore clear that as we endeavor to express the desirable attributes of purity, love, honesty, kindness, tenderness, patience, and compassion, we are constantly seeking to manifest our sonship with the Father.
In the Glossary in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy gives the following definition (p. 591): "MAN. The compound idea of infinite Spirit; the spiritual image and likeness of God; the full representation of Mind." This "full representation" of supreme intelligence, the spiritual idea of God, is constantly being unfolded through spiritual understanding, and this unfoldment expands in accordance with its unlimited, boundless origin. Man, because he expresses the one Ego, is always within the divine infinitude, a spiritual fact made clear by Mrs. Eddy's statement (ibid., p. 588), "There is but one I, or Us, but one divine Principle, or Mind, governing all existence."
