Purity

Whether one is aware of it or not, there is inherent in each one’s thought a regard for purity; and it is a standard by which, much of the time unconsciously, things are measured. Thus laws have been passed to keep foods and other products from being adulterated. In the degree that a diamond is pure it is valuable; and the flawless stone is the one that is pure in color, clearness, and brilliancy. In human relationships, friendships must be pure in order to endure; and in the ratio of their purity are they elevating and inspiring.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” It was because of his own purity of vision that he could see and state this spiritual fact to the world; and it was his life of purity that enabled him to prove that immortality is a spiritual fact here and now. Only the consciousness which is cleansed of materiality, of self, of sin, can see life as it really is—beautiful, heavenly, holy, sacred, and deathless, deathless because only good can exist in Life, and Life is eternal. Evil alone contains destructive qualities, destructive to itself and its offspring, but never affecting the good and the spiritual.

In studying the Bible one gains throughout its sacred pages glimpses of the real creation, as occasionally some scribe attains to a purity of thought which enables him to see and to record the truth clearly; and so the thread of immortality shines through the Old Testament, and comes into greater light in the New. These evidence of reality found in the Scriptures unfolded their treasures to Christ Jesus, as may be seen by tracing many of his sayings to the ancient prophets. That he understood their deep meanings is evidenced by his life with its wonderful works. Although he proved what he saw by his deeds, yet he knew that the world in general was not ready for his great unfoldment of pure Truth; and so he told those about him that he had many things to tell them which they could not then bear, that is, understand.

It remained, therefore, for another to discover, prove, and put into practical form our Master’s full meaning; and so, in the year 1866, Mrs. Eddy touched the Christly garment and saw that Life is God, as the Scriptures state, and that Life is pure, and incapable of imparting evil, impurity, or death. She saw, too, that Life always was, is now, and ever will be pure, and that evil’s claim to have life or to destroy life is not a fact but a falsity. Having received this great spiritual revelation, Mrs. Eddy began lovingly and unselfishly to make her discovery understandable and usable for the salvation of the whole world from its impure thoughts and misconceptions of creation. As her vision became clearer, she saw what Jesus had seen; and so she wrote (Science and Health, p. 337), “In proportion to his purity is man perfect;” and (ibid., p. 241), “The corner-stone of all spiritual building is purity.” It was the purity of her own life and living that has made thousands love her, and gratefully and humbly acknowledge her as their Leader.

In view of the fact that it is only through purity that God, Life, can be seen, one needs to adopt the pure teachings of the Bible. Since Christian Science is founded upon, and adheres strictly to, the teachings of the Bible. one can have no fear in studying it and in being loyal and faithful to its teachings. Many systems have sprung up claiming, because of supposed advanced understanding, to be equal and in some cases to be superior to this correct teaching. But Christian Science, as given to the world by our Leader, can no more be improved on than can the teachings of Christ Jesus, because she was divinely guided and inspired, and did nothing of herself, but relied wholly on God’s guidance. The attempt to steal and borrow from others’ labors is not new; it dates back to earliest times. The magicians tried to do the works of Moses and Aaron, and later the sons of Sceva tried to imitate the works of the Christians. Knowing the egotism and dishonesty of so-called mortal mind, and wishing to protect earnest students from adulterations, our Leader has directed that her name as author be given whenever her works are read or quoted in public (see Manual, p. 58); and she has striven to make, and has succeeded in making, her teachings pure and flawless throughout. Realizing the student’s need for the unadulterated truth, she wrote in “Retrospection and Introspection” (p. 61): “Posterity will have the right to demand that Christian Science be stated and demonstrated in its godliness and grandeur,—that however little be taught or learned, that little shall be right. Let there be milk for babes, but let not the milk be adulterated.”

As we purify our thoughts, and thereby our daily living, we gain better views of what Christ Jesus, Mrs. Eddy, and the ancient prophets saw; and we learn to do the works that they did in healing the sick, casting out devils, and raising the dead. As one sees suffering humanity reaching out blindly, helplessly, and often hopelessly, for salvation from sin, sickness, and sorrow, from impure living and impure business methods, one’s heart is filled with the compassionate desire to help men turn from false concepts of life to the one and only true Life which is God. In humility, such a one meekly strives so to purify his own thinking and living that he may see God more clearly, and consequently see man as he really is, perfect, complete, and beautiful. As one thus purifies his thinking he will find that his body as well as his whole experience is improving; physical ailments will disappear, inharmony will vanish, lack will be replaced with plenty, sorrow with gladness, and he will realize in an increasing measure the truth of the words of a well-known hymn:

“How blest are they whose hearts are pure,
From guile their thoughts are free,
To them shall God reveal Himself,
They shall His glory see.”