Editorial December 12, 1908 Issue

"THE WAY OF HOLINESS."

Annie M. Knott

The 35th chapter of Isaiah is of peculiar interest to Christian Scientists, because it outlines so beautifully the results which must of necessity follow when divine Truth is clearly revealed and understood. Here, as in St. John's apocalyptic vision, divine realities are presented to human thought by means of symbols which may be readily understood. Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 575) "spiritual teaching must always be by symbols;" so the prophet tells us that with the coming of Truth "the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose." He also tells how the deserts of human hope begin to blossom at the breath of Spirit, when the word is spoken: "Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come ... he will come and save you." Then we have the fruition in the healing of disease,—the eyes of the blind are opened, the deaf hear, the lame "leap as an hart," and sorrow and sighing flee away.

No one who studies the signs of the times can fail to see that this glorious prophecy is being fulfilled in the present-day ministry of Truth, Christian Science. To reach the heights of Truth humanity must know the Christ-way and walk in it, and Isaiah calls this way "the way of holiness." What he says about it is not only highly interesting but intensely helpful to the one who is timid in undertaking the journey from sense to Soul. These are his words: "The unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not, err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there."

In all Christian experience it has been customary to dwell much upon the perils of the way which leads to life. The Master did not, however, emphasize these perils, although he did say that the way is strait and narrow, and he also said, "Few there be that find it." When his students went out on their healing mission, the Master taught them how to overcome the threatened dangers which beset their path, and he said, "I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." It is therefore evident that at no stage of our mental journey from belief in error to the understanding of Truth, from a sense of imperfection to the realization of man's perfection as the likeness of God, is there any cause for fear. Even before we have fully risen above the plane of material sense, the promise to those who follow Christ is this, "Nothing shall by any means hurt you."

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