Editorial September 19, 1908 Issue

SEEING

Annie M. Knott

It is said that the sense of sight determines every movement of the body. This is self-evidently the case so far as walking is concerned, though very few are conscious of it. To do anything well we must see clearly, but this means far more than seeing physically. One may claim perfect physical sight and yet may see nothing rightly. Though he may have been able to lay aside his spectacles, he may yet see everything "through a glass, darkly." It is very apparent that an appeal must be made to the reason and to the higher faculties before one can say even with respect to any human problem, "I see!"

In St. John's apocalyptic vision we read in its wonderful symbolism of the sea of glass, and the "living creatures" (Rev. Ver.) that were "full of eyes before and behind," also "full of eyes within." We find this same idea in the prophecy of Ezekiel, but in Revelation its climax is reached when these creatures with the wings and the eyes join in ceaseless praise to God, saying, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." They could see the divine creation, in which are no elements of evil,—no sin, disease, nor death,—and seeing this they were impelled to praise without ceasing the creative Mind. They thus typify the divine ideas brought to light in Christian Science when the importance of man's spiritual faculties is recognized, and when spiritual evidence is sought instead of the false evidence of material sense.

No one questions that Christ Jesus was the highest representative of God to humanity, and we find that he declared entirely for that which was unseen to the physical senses in making his marvelous demonstrations. "She is not dead," was his positive declaration respecting Jairus' daughter, a declaration made in the face of the scorn and incredulity of those who could not see what he saw,—the deathless reality of being. Our revered Leader says, "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick" (Science and Health, p. 476). Seeing always this spiritual evidence, Jesus might well ask his disciples, "Why are ye so fearful?" And should not Christian Scientists ask this question of themselves and others when the false evidence of material sense seeks to overwhelm them? Should they not at such times remember the eyes "before and behind" and "within," all revealing the unbroken eternal harmony? With such seeing, the Christ-healing comes naturally and inevitably.

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