But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.—Matthew, 10:23.
AT first glance the above might suggest that Christ Jesus was referring only to a material locality,—another city, to which one might escape in order to elude the persecution which threatened him. When, however, the place of refuge is viewed from a metaphysical or spiritual sense,—as a locality in Mind, a state of consciousness,—the text stands out as one of the many promises of our Master to those who are struggling with the problem of human existence, its perplexities and anxieties; showing that no matter how dark and discouraging are the seeming conditions to be overcome, avenues of escape have always been provided for those who place their reliance upon infinite Love.
When conditions seem unbearable, whether of sin or outside persecution, Truth says to us, "When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another." In other words, Seek the truth; spiritualize your thoughts; give up your fear; bring the human will into subjection to the Divine, and through improved states of right thinking and right doing you will advance into a higher state of consciousness, —"into another city,"—leaving your previous condition behind. Thus, as we continue to advance, demonstrating the nothingness of material conditions and the allness of Life as God, good, we shall be able to prove in a large degree that we "shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man [the divine idea] be come." The assurance is given us that the Son of man will come before the "cities" or avenues of safety shall have been exhausted; that no matter how many stumblings have been made, the channels for approaching God never are and will not be exhausted or closed. As we accept only thoughts of goodness, love, and purity, we shall find that no discordant condition can follow us, if we are where God would have us,—let Truth admonish us and show us the way into "another city." Step by step we shall traverse the necessary distance in experience, until thought is elevated and the Son of man comes to reign in our consciousness.
