Article August 12, 1922 Issue

The Crown of Life

MIRIAM CROSIER

Ever since the time when Jesus drove the moneychangers out of the temple, there has been great need to purify thought of all vain traffic, in order to make room for the true worshipers, who worship "in spirit and in truth."

John Bunyan, in "Pilgrim's Progress," described Christian's wife and children traveling over the same road where Christian himself had gained so many victories. While in the "Interpreter's house," they were shown into a room where was a man using a "muck rake," who could look no way but downward. There stood very near him one in white who proffered him a "crown of life" for his muck rake; but the man did nothing but rake up sticks and dirt from the floor, never looking up. He refused to exchange his rags and rake, even for a crown which would dignify and adorn him. We say: What a foolish man! Why did he not look up and obtain the good, instead of looking down and suffering destitution?

The lesson is obvious: for it is the figure of the man of the world; and the muck rake is a type of mortal mind. To the man of the world, or material sense, material possessions and pleasures—dust and rubbish—seem substantial and real; although always at hand is the crown of life,—a demonstrable knowledge of God,—if he will only take hold of it. When the nothingness of material possessions is clearly realized, then false belief is exchanged for the assurance that God "giveth us richly all things to enjoy." To those who are faithful to God, good, divine Principle, until the destruction of all error, is given a crown of life,—an understanding of God as Life. In John we read, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." On page 289 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy says, "Mortal man can never rise from the temporal débris of error, belief in sin, sickness, and death, until he learns that God is the only Life."

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