IN St. Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians we read: "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.... For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." In these words the conditions for entering heaven are clearly set forth, viz., that corruption and mortality cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Therefore this mortal must put on the garments of immortality,—a process which is clearly mental, not physical.
The "gateway of death" through which mortals must pass to enter heaven is shown to be the death of a false sense of being. We are told that we must "put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven is within our consciousness, and that unless we become as little children we shall in no wise enter into this kingdom. What is it to become as a little child? Is it not to put off our mortal garments of pride, fear, self-will, self-love, human wisdom,—"the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,"—and to be clothed in the sweet, pure garments of spirituality? What a beautiful description our Master gave of the white garments of purity: "Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Our Leader says: "The robes of Spirit are 'white and glistering,' like the raiment of Christ. Even in this world, therefore, 'let thy garments be always white'" (Science and Health, p. 267).
In Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress," the two pilgrims, Christian and Hopeful, after many struggles and victories, reach the country of Beulah, where they are blessed with glorious glimpses of the Celestial City to which they are journeying. The glory of this city dazzled and blinded them at first. In this country, we are told, the "shining ones commonly walked, for it was upon the borders of heaven." Now these pilgrims rejoiced greatly, and hoped to enter straightway through the golden gates of the city, but two men, clothed "in raiment that shone like gold," met them and showed them that between the country of Beulah and the gate of the Celestial City there ran a river, "and there was no bridge to go over." The waters of the river were "not all of a depth." "For," said they, "you shall find it deeper or shallower, as you believe in the King of the place." So these two pilgrims crossed the river safely, although not without great difficulty. When they reached the other side they found the two "shining ones" waiting for them, and with their aid the pilgrims went up the hill upon which the city was situated, with great ease; besides, "they had left their mortal garments behind them in the river, for though they went in with them, they came out without them." So now these two faithful pilgrims were ready to enter into the joy of their Lord.
