"Through a glass, darkly"

Annie M. Knott

In his first epistle to the Corinthians St. Paul tells us that at present we see "through a glass, darkly;" but he at the same time assures us that we shall see "face to face" and know as we are known. To the Christian Scientist this thought of seeing "through a glass, darkly," implies the dimness of vision which prevails in mortal sense because of the belief of life, substance, and intelligence in matter. This mental condition has even obscured the outward order of things to mortal sense, so that nothing is clearly understood until the evidence of the physical senses is corrected by some understanding of the Principle which governs the universe and man.

Students of Christian Science are sometimes puzzled in striving to reconcile material evidence with spiritual facts, when in reality it is never possible to do so, although it is very helpful to gather lessons along the way from sun, moon, and star, flower and tree, and even from the grass beneath our feet. The seeming difficulty arises when one attempts to make the so-called material object spiritual, and many are needlessly troubled at what seem to be the varying statements of their friends, who like themselves are on the way from sense to Soul. At this point we can all be helped by recalling ofttimes our Leader's statement on page 123 of Science and Health, to the effect that "divine Science . . . resolves things into thoughts, and replaces the objects of material sense with spiritual ideas." The first step here indicated is to deal with thoughts instead of things, and the more advanced step called for in Christian Science is to grasp as soon as possible the spiritual idea which alone relates us to reality.

The question is sometimes raised as to whether one is nearer the spiritual fact when he no longer believes that the earth is a vast plane and that the sun moves across it from east to west. To this it may be answered that if one were to stop here, the more correct view of the astronomical fact would do nothing to advance one toward the realization of health, harmony, and sinlessness. It of course goes without saying that the knowledge that the earth is a sphere is of great practical value to navigators and others, and shows that humanity is breaking some of the old-time fetters of ignorance and superstition, but this only indicates the necessity for pressing on and understanding all creation in the light of Mind as understood in Christian Science.

It may be said at this point that many of the illustrations used in explaining Christian Science are intended to show that exactness is required, and so we fall back upon mathematical statements to do this; but it should not be forgotten that if we were to repeat the multiplication table to a sick person, or to one in bondage to the belief in sinful habits, he would not be advanced one step toward the understanding of man in God's image and likeness, who is pure and perfect because of this likeness. It is therefore apparent that no statement of so-called physical science, however accurate, can do the needed work for suffering humanity, though this does not mean that students of Christian Science reject the more nearly correct statements which are brought out from time to time by astronomers and others. On page 121 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says, "Astronomical order imitates the action of divine Principle; and the universe, the reflection of God, is thus brought nearer the spiritual fact."

No earnest student of our Leader's writings would question for a moment that the faithful study of these writings would prepare human thought for all discoveries which are of importance in the so-called physical realm, in so far as they are in harmony with spiritual law and order, even though they are at best but prophecies of the good things to come. We nevertheless cheerfully accord them their temporary value, even while we accept Paul's statement that human knowledge "shall vanish away." We, however, look with him for the coming of "that which is perfect," that which will satisfy the longing sense of humanity and heal both mind and body through the truth.

Annie M. Knott.

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