In the divine order of being we see man blessed with abundant intelligence, reason, substance, purity, integrity-yes, whatever he needs to express fully the divine nature. 200), "Jesus regarded good as the normal state of man, and evil as the abnormal holiness, life, and health as the better representatives of God than sin, disease, and death." To accept one's relationship to God as His son is to gain a sense of health, holiness, and harmony as natural components of one's being. In her book "Miscellaneous Writings," Mrs. "This perfect soundness" which the healed man exhibited implies the wholeness or perfection-the normal state-of man in Christian Science. To be sound means to be free from defect or flaw. As Peter expressed it, referring to Jesus' name, "His name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." One mighty breath of Truth was sufficient to break his bonds and restore him to normal activity. Possibly years of self-pity or mental deformities of character had kept this poor man bound. The restoration was immediate and complete, for the inert limbs responded, and in joyous strength, the man joined Peter and John, "walking, and leaping, and praising God." Note that the lame body had not been taken into consideration at all. The man's dormant, Christly understanding was at once aroused, and the heavy bondage of material laws of disease was dissolved. The word "name" is frequently used to designate the nature or individuality of a person, and it may be assumed that Peter was referring to the nature of the Christ when he gave the command, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." In a way, Peter called upon the lame man's spiritual nature to manifest itself, knowing that this comprised his true and only identity. In explanation of the incident, the narrative goes on to say that it was through faith in Jesus' name that this man was made whole. Peter fearlessy denounced their rejection of Jesus and eloquently pointed to the healed man as indisputable evidence of the Christ-power at hand. He used the occasion to turn the thought of the bystanders to the power manifested in this healing. Those who witnessed this healing were struck with awe and would have attributed to Peter and John supernatural power, but Peter was quick to correct this misconception.
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