Purity is a quality before which mankind stand somewhat in awe because to them its unadulterated character seems unattainable. Yet purity is a quality of God, and as such must be a quality which man, God's reflection, includes. Habakkuk declared (1:13), "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity." Through the understanding which Christian Science gives of what God is and of what man is as the very outcome of God, we learn that purity not only is attainable, but is the absolute condition of the spiritual, or true, individuality of all.
The human concept of purity stands in art and literature for symmetry, classicism, simplicity, chasteness, and freedom from excessive ornamentation. To the Christian and the principled person it has always stood for undefiled living and honor. Unfortunately for humanity, purity has too often been interpreted in a limited or personal way, which has permitted the weeds of selfish opinion, unkind criticism, self-righteousness, condemnation, dogma, and creed to form and grow. Thus the love, simplicity, and oneness that constitute the actual purity of existence have been seemingly suffocated, and peace, poise, and health—the fruits of righteousness—have been postponed, if not lost. Yet the ideal of purity persists, and rightly so, because it stems from the allness and oneness of God and man's oneness with God as His manifestation.
The purity of God is inherent in the fact that He is forever Himself. Spirit is never less than Spirit; Mind is never tinged by matter; Principle never becomes personal sense; Love knows nothing of hate; Life never becomes unconscious in death; Truth is never touched by human opinion; Soul is never divided into physical senses. Likewise the qualities of God remain forever what they are. Omniactivity never becomes partial activity; intelligence never becomes stupidity; all-knowing never becomes partial knowing; substance cannot be nothingness.
