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instead of perfection, one can no more arrive at the
true conception or understanding of man, and make himself
like it, than the sculptor can perfect his outlines from
an imperfect model, or the painter can depict the form
and face of Jesus, while holding in thought the character
of Judas.
(Spiritual discovery)
The conceptions of mortal, erring thought must give
way to the ideal of all that is perfect and eternal. Through
many generations human beliefs will be attaining
diviner conceptions, and the immortal and
perfect model of God's creation will finally be seen as
the only true conception of being.
Science reveals the possibility of achieving all good,
and sets mortals at work to discover what God has already
done; but distrust of one's ability to gain the goodness
desired and to bring out better and higher results, often
hampers the trial of one's wings and ensures failure at the
outset.
(Requisite change of our ideals)
Mortals must change their ideals in order to improve
their models. A sick body is evolved from
sick thoughts. Sickness, disease, and death
proceed from fear. Sensualism evolves bad
physical and moral conditions.
Selfishness and sensualism are educated in mortal
mind by the thoughts ever recurring to one's self, by
conversation about the body, and by the expectation of
perpetual pleasure or pain from it; and this education
is at the expense of spiritual growth. If we array
thought in mortal vestures, it must lose its immortal
nature.
(Thoughts are things)
If we look to the body for pleasure, we find pain; for
Life, we find death; for Truth, we find error; for Spirit,
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