Men often voice the truism, "Cleanliness is next to godliness." To be washed clean, viewed metaphysically, is to be purified through divine Mind. Baptism, an ancient ceremonial rite, when considered in its spiritual sense, typifies purification. Progress toward godliness through Christly purity and innocency is a holy, redemptive experience. It brings one to a fuller realization and acceptance of his actual Godlikeness. To exalt thought through spiritual baptism should be humanity's lofty aim and purpose.
Mary Baker Eddy declares in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 383):"We need a clean body and a clean mind,—a body rendered pure by Mind as well as washed by water. One says: 'I take good care of my body.' To do this, the pure and exalting influence of the divine Mind on the body is requisite, and the Christian Scientist takes the best care of his body when he leaves it most out of his thought, and, like the Apostle Paul, is 'willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.'" We also have Christ Jesus' assurance (Matt. 5:8), "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
As exalted consciousness is attained, one cannot sit back complacently, satisfied and passive. One's purification, expressed in health and holiness, must be actively and daily sustained and retained. This is accomplished by one's constantly refreshing mind and body through the demonstration of divine Mind's animation, Life's circulation, Truth's purification, which results in elimination of error. There is no stagnation in divine Mind, which is omniaction. Purification from selfish motives and unholy desires, as well as the purgation of unrighteous thoughts, must continue until there is brought to light the blameless, sinless, faultless child of God's creating. Mrs. Eddy in her poem "Feed My Sheep" turns thought to God, man's loving Father. She writes (Poems, p. 14),
