It would be a mistake to believe that the characteristics which are attributable to generic man could not also be rightly attributed to individual man. In other words, the qualities that are expressed by the sons of God collectively must of necessity be reflected by each individual son. Obviously, then, the inherent qualities which are expressed by generic man must of necessity characterize the individuals who, taken together, constitute the universal brotherhood of man or the entire expression of infinite divine Mind. Each individual man is, therefore, in himself individually complete, a perfect idea of Soul, Spirit. God, reflecting the wholeness, the infinity, of divine being. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. says on page 267 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." "Generically man is one, and specifically man means all men." And she also says (ibid., p. 515), "Man is the family name for all ideas.—the sons and daughters of God."
There is no distinction made between the individual rays which constitute sunlight. It is recognized that they all emanate from the same source and express the same characteristics. Similarly the individual sons of God have one origin and nature. Possibly this fact was discerned by Paul when, in endeavoring to explain to the Athenians the nature of God, he said, "He is Lord of heaven and earth ... and hath made of one blood all nations of men." The foregoing applies, of course, mainly to human experience, but, nevertheless, it illustrates, in a degree, the universal and impartial nature of God, as well as the fact that all men in their true selfhood express the qualities of their common Father.
It is plain that an all-wise and impartial creator could not bestow upon one individual any quality or characteristic that is not also expressed and enjoyed by all. Understanding this divine fact, one is freed from the unhappy effects of believing that one individual is more fully endowed with intelligence, strength, wisdom, ability, or capability than another. Thus the excuse for envy, jealousy, rivalry, and unkind comparison is effectually disposed of. This knowledge also helps one to be free from the tendency to self depreciation and self-pity.
Referring to the Wisemen from the East, who came to Palestine seeking the birthplace of Jesus, Mrs. Eddy says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 164), "Their highest human concept of the man Jesus, that portrayed him as the only Son of God, the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and Truth, will become so magnified to human sense, by means of the lens of Science, as to reveal man collectively, as individually, to be the son of God."
Man is, as our Leader states (Science and Health, p. 591), "the compound idea of infinite Spirit; the spiritual image and likeness of God; the full representation of Mind." And it might be said, without detracting from the value of this marvelously illuminating definition, that man generically considered is the full and complete representation of God: whereas, man, individually considered, is a full representation of his creator. This helps one to see that there is no attribute of God's man, universally speaking, which is not possible for man individually to express. Fully to grasp this incontrovertible fact frees one from the limiting, erroneous belief that what is termed generic man can know something or do something that individual man cannot know or do.
It is an immensely liberating and encouraging thing to realize that every individual is now, in his true nature, an indivisible, perfect, complete expression of divine Mind. Realization of this fact gives added meaning to the declaration of John, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God." It helps to free one from the false theological teaching which might, and sometimes does, prevent one from claiming his full heritage of freedom and dominion as God's individual idea.
Man is, then, individually, as well as generically, the perfect expression of divine Principle, and he forever expresses the perfection and harmony of being. He can never be separated from his Principle, and there is no adverse circumstance or finite, limited sense of health or wholeness that can deprive him of the joy which comes from conscious realization that he is, actually, the individualized manifestation of all-inclusive Mind.
Many a student of Christian Science has been liberated from a sense of limitation and freed from bondage to persistent conditions of disease through learning, as Christian Science teaches, that in reality he is the individual manifestation of divine Truth and Love; that as such he is a necessary factor in Mind's perfect creation, and, therefore, an indispensable part of God's infinite manifestation. Paul wrote in his epistle to the Romans, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs."
