ThePerfectMan 259
Even those whoare at the earliest stageof
the Path become lifting forcesin evolution, as
intruth areallwhounselfishlyworkforothers,
thoughthesemoredeliberatelyandcontinuously.
ButtheChristtriumphantdoescompletelywhat
othersdoatvaryingstages ofimperfection,and
therefore is he called a "Saviour," and this
characteristicinhimis perfect. He saves,not
by substituting himself for us, but by sharing
with ushislife. He iswise,and all menare
thewiserfor hiswisdom, forhislifeflowsinto
all men's veins and pulsesin all men's hearts.
He is not tied to a form, nor separate from
any. HeistheIdealMan, thePerfect Man;
each human being is a cell in his body, and
eachcellisnourishedbyhislife.
Surelyit had not beenworthwhiletosuffer
the Cross and to tread the Path that leads
thereto, simply to win a little earlier his own
hberation,tobeat restalittlesooner. Thecost
wouldhavebeentooheavyforsuchagain,the
strife too bitterforsuch a prize. Nay,butin
his triumph humanityis exalted,and the path
trodden byallfeet isrendered a little shorter.
Theevolutionofthewholeraceisaccelerated;
thepilgrimageofeach ismadelesslong. This
wasthethoughtthatinspiredhimintheviolence
of thecombat, that sustained his strength,that