NECESSARY aids to a journey are the signposts indicating the right roads to follow. That there is a way to every goal, a road of some description leading to every destination, is always understood. That there is not more than one way to reach the goal of perfection is not so readily understood. The Master's description of this way "which leadeth unto life" could not be plainer; and still it seems that humanity needs frequently to be reminded of his way, which he defined as a narrow one. He did not imply, as may have been supposed, that the lives of those who followed this way to life eternal should be narrow. On the contrary, he explained, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy has defined this one and only path which Jesus knew, indicated, and followed, in these words (p. 242): "There is but one way to heaven, harmony, and Christ in divine Science shows us this way. It is to know no other reality—to have no other consciousness of life—than good, God and His reflection, and to rise superior to the so-called pain and pleasure of the senses."
To recognize in daily practice only good as the reality is indeed a straight way and a narrow—too narrow to admit of fear, or doubt, or discouragement; too straight and undeviating to contain such errors of the carnal mind as envy, rivalry, or obstruction; too high a way ever to descend to the swamps and marshes of subtle hypocrisy or deceit. Our Master did not intend, however, that the way of holiness should be regarded as difficult or unduly arduous; for he promised mankind rest during the journey, in words which never fail to bring tranquillity when voiced to a pilgrim in need of solace: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. . . . For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Who has not experienced release from a burden when dwelling upon these quiet words! It could not be otherwise, for Truth binds no burdens upon humanity; and the vague and intangible impositions of material sense, or belief of a self separated from God, vanish before Truth realized.
Our Leader states in her book "No and Yes" (p. 33), "Self-sacrifice is the highway to heaven." The Scriptures contain numerous instances, vital to our present age, of those who followed this path of unselfed endeavor to glorify God and also to bless humanity: David—repeatedly defending the true followers of God; Nehemiah—building the wall and the ramparts of pure monotheism, that God might again be accorded respect and devotion by the sorely tried remnant of the nation at Jerusalem; Daniel—upholding, regardless of consequences, the privilege of prayer to his creator; Paul—enduring shipwreck, imprisonment, stripes, and indignities, that others might follow the Master. All these, and many more, gained through following the way of salvation a fuller, freer, richer life-experience, a foretaste of heaven on earth, a peace passing all human understanding. On the contrary, ' there were those who, once enlightened by Truth, turned back to evil, such as Gehazi and Judas, who plunged headlong into depths most agonizing—and such object-lessons as these, to be found throughout the Bible, are a solemn warning.
