Earthly promises have small comfort for the weary one who has been buffeted by the storms of error in his search for peace; and it is not until refuge is sought outside of matter and material living that surcease is found from the strife and turmoil which attend the effort to acquire and to maintain possession of that which is essential to genuine happiness. Many have exhausted everything that materiality has to offer in the effort to find peace, happiness, and contentment. Solomon recognized the inability of material pursuits and possessions to satisfy the craving for lasting peace, and gave to the world the benefit of his investigations and conclusion in the words, "All is vanity and vexation of spirit." When the fleeting joys of sense have ceased to inspire trust and confidence in their promise of peace, there comes the longing for "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding."
Many in this age, having ceased to trust materiality in the search for peace, through the study of Christian Science have begun to learn something of the true nature of peace, and of how it may be attained. The clearer vision thus gained leads away from materiality, with its turmoil, strife, and pain, into the vestibule of spirituality, where may be donned the spotless garments of peace, joy, contentment, and happiness. On page 265 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes: "Who that has felt the loss of human peace has not gained stronger desires for spiritual joy? The aspiration after heavenly good comes even before we discover what belongs to wisdom and Love. The loss of earthly hopes and pleasures brightens the ascending path of many a heart. The pains of sense quickly inform us that the pleasures of sense are mortal and that joy is spiritual."
It is clear from the above explanation that one who has experienced the loss of human peace, and has thereby gained the desire for eternal joy, must prepare the heart for the reception of joy. It is not always easy to see that a pleasant error is error; but this must be learned before joy and peace can be understood to be purely spiritual. It follows, then, that if one is to attain to true peace it must be through the destruction in thought of all that is unlike God. Peace is defined, in part, as follows: "Exemption from, or subjection of, agitating passions, fears, etc.; tranquillity of mind or conscience. . . . The peace of heart which is the gift of God." This desirable condition will not be attained so long as there remain in consciousness the destroyers of peace called fear, selfishness, envy, or malice. The indulgence of the sinful practices arising from belief in the reality of evil leads away from health, peace, happiness; and it is only by recognizing the unreal mortal nature of these beliefs that the elimination and destruction of their effects may be undertaken.
