IT is St. John who says, and in no uncertain tone, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world;" and this to many Christian people means an unequivocal demand for asceticism, from which they shrink. It is, however, well to remember that it is this same apostle who has more to say respecting joy and peace than has any other New Testament writer. To the student of Christian Science this is a gentle reminder that real joy, and what Mrs. Eddy calls "permanent peace" (Science and Health, p. 265), cannot be attained so long as we cling to earth and earthliness. It would also seem that the present hour is making very strong demands upon us to turn away from the false concepts of life and happiness which have promised so much and given so little, and to grasp, not alone for ourselves but because of humanity's great need, the things which give peace and joy, though "not as the world giveth."
We are told that Jesus once wept over Jerusalem, saying, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." The citizens of that ancient capital, like those of modern times, loved the things of the world so well that they stoned their own prophets who bade them pause in their pursuit of pleasure. Not long before Jesus' sorrowful plaint was uttered, John the Baptist, a brave preacher of righteousness, was beheaded on the request of a dancing girl. The contemporaries of the Galilean prophet were too busy with politics and religion, with false pleasures and delusive hopes, to heed the message which would have brought them not only joy and peace but life eternal. Because of this, the day of their visitation closed, leaving them unblessed.
After Jesus' day, James, who had for a long time withstood the appeal of divine Truth and its healing ministry as given to humanity by the fearless Master, became a loyal and fearless follower of Christ. Boldly does he point out in his world epistle the evils which hinder the appearing of God's kingdom among men. He traces the origin of "wars and fightings" to their source in mortal mind, to lust and wantonness and an enslaving love of pleasure. He tells these pleasure-seekers that it were well for them if their joy were even turned "to heaviness." He saw, as the prophetic spirit must ever see, that only spiritual sense can reveal imperishable peace and joy, and he says the final word when he bids us "draw nigh to God." In Science and Health (p. 296) we are told that "suffering or Science must destroy all illusions regarding life and mind, and regenerate material sense and self." Which shall it be with each of us? It is assuredly a matter of choice, and nothing but a false sense of what constitutes life and happiness can lead us astray.
