Physical Science is defined as classified knowledge; that is, knowledge gained from the five personal senses and arranged by the reason and intellect. It depends upon known laws of matter, as observed by the five personal senses.
Now, what would be some of the objections to knowledge gained in this way? First—is it reliable? Place a stick in water, and sense says it is bent. Memory, which is mental, tells you that it is not. Sense says that the earth is the centre of a system of sun, moon and stars; that the moon is as large as the sun, and the stars much smaller; that the earth has no motion, and that it is fiat. Science shows the earth to be a sphere and to have motion; that it revolves around the sun, and the moon is tributary; that the stars, thousands of them, are very much larger than the sun, with tributaries of their own.
Science shows infinity, and when the science of creation is understood, the new heaven and earth will appear. Sense puts first that which is smallest, and of least account, and science must correct sense in every instance, not occasionally.
Physical science reasons from effect to cause; but this scientific guess-work is the house built on sand, which has no real foundation. It has a thousand and one sources, and is subject to mistakes every time. It deduces its principle, or principles, from a large array of facts, but this method is fallible, for we are never sure of possessing all the facts. But if we know the principle, or cause, then we have a foundation for all results, even to infinity.
This is the one great difference between physical and metaphysical science—the physical depends upon a collection of facts to show the principle; while the metaphysical states the perfect principle, and thus brings out a harmonious result. It states Principle as unchangeable Goodness the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. This Goodness is immortal, infinite Mind our very Soul, or being, and we have no other.
Christian Science is as exact as mathematics. As the ray of solar light is divided into three primary colors, so infinite Spirit or light is subject to three statements—Life, Truth and Love. As the ray is further divided to form the seven colors, so the Light of Spirit is stated further as purity, beauty, harmony and perfection. Thus we see the bow in the clouds symbolizes the seven statements of infinite Spirit, which, understood, saves us from the flood of error.
As the reflection of all the rays of light makes white, so the unselfish reflection, or giving of all good to others, makes the bright and burning light, the sun of intelligence, which destroys all error. While the absorption of all the rays of light makes black or the absence of light, so the selfish absorption of all good to ourselves is incorrect in science, and we get nothing in reality .
The way to obtain blessing is to reflect it to others, to let our light shine, expanding from the centre. We grow infinitely in all directions, but to grow inward we become less and less, or nothing.
