Among the rules for a good life which Christ Jesus gave in his Sermon on the Mount is the following (Matt. 7:13, 14): "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." When these verses appeared in a Lesson-Sermon from the Christian Science Quarterly, one Sunday School teacher commented, "The straight and narrow way expands; the broad way limits."

The class of young men and women looked at her somewhat questioningly. "Straight and narrow" were words which did not appeal to them. But as the discussion progressed they learned that truth is narrow in the sense of exact, unerring, and is absolute and straight in the sense of undeviating and precise. One does not object to mathematics on the ground that it is too strict and narrow. The multiplication table does not state that five times two may be ten, but rather that it is ten. Strict adherence to the rules of mathematics makes the solution of problems possible and corrects mistaken calculations. The very strictness and exactness of mathematics enable one to learn to solve the simplest problem as well as the most advanced.

Mary Baker Eddy discerned this fact, for in her Message to The Mother Church for 1901 she writes (p. 22): "I begin at the feet of Christ and with the numeration table of Christian Science. But I do not say that one added to one is three, or one and a half, nor say this to accommodate popular opinion as to the Science of Christianity. I adhere to my text, that one and one are two all the way up to the infinite calculus of the infinite God."

As Mrs. Eddy comprehended the allness of God through her faithful study of the Bible, the entangling theories of matter fell away until the complete nothingness of matter was revealed to her. This was the narrow gate she entered, and she never turned back. What an expansive experience she had! She was restored to health herself; she healed others; and she became the Leader of a world-encircling movement for good.

Christian Science teaches one how to find the straight and narrow way. Mrs. Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to theScriptures" (p. 151): "All that really exists is the divine Mind and its idea, and in this Mind the entire being is found harmonious and eternal. The straight and narrow way is to see and acknowledge this fact, yield to this power, and follow the leadings of truth."

To walk in the straight and narrow way is not to be colorless or supine. Notice the four verbs, all indicative of action, which Mrs.Eddy uses to describe this way: see, acknowledge, yield, follow. It takes moral courage, spiritual strength, and uncluttered thinking to see that the only existence is the divine Mind and its idea. But this existence must be acknowledged as the only fact. To assent perfunctorily is not enough. Opposition must cease—the human must yield to the divine all the way. Then thought is ready to follow the leadings of truth, to demonstrate the truth of being.

The broad way was presented by the serpent or tempter to Adam and Eve in the allegory: "You don't want to be narrow-minded. Eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You want to know and experience all." And, as always, the broad way narrowed until they found themselves naked, without food, clothing, and shelter, driven from the garden, and deprived of a sense of wholeness.

Self-indulgence begins mildly, but it ends by tyrannizing its victim. Self-control, which may appear restrictive and binding to material sense, expands into the knowledge that it is God who really controls man and gives him dominion over all the earth. Extravagance narrows into being burdened by debt. Economy, which is a wise use of substance, enables one to grasp wider opportunities.

We must follow the straight and narrow way in leisure moments as well as at work. Pleasure in matter sometimes narrows into pain in matter. One member of this particular Sunday School class pointed out that no one starts out to be a drunkard. He begins by wishing to be broad-minded. The serpent disguises itself under the caption "social drink." Later the partaker may find himself enslaved. The Psalmist gave the recipe for lasting pleasure (Ps. 16:11), "In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

The straight and narrow way need not be dull, cramped, or lack adventure. Instead, it opens the way to boundless achievement, because it is unimpeded by the barnacles of sensuality, which hamper success. Nothing good or worth while needs to be given up. The giving up of falsities leads to Life instead of to death; it unfolds abundance rather than lack, freedom instead of imprisonment, and gives grace in place of crudity.

Radical reliance on God is the straight and narrow way in scientific healing, for it clarifies man's relation to God and enables one to show forth health, happiness, and freedom.

As these thoughts were brought out in their discussions, the Sunday School class selected Joseph as an example of the unlimited scope of the straight and narrow way. To read the life of Joseph from this viewpoint is very enlightening. Sometimes the tempter asks, "What does goodness get one?" It may appear to the casual reader that it brought Joseph nothing but trouble. Contrariwise, it strengthened and elevated him. The Scriptures say (Gen. 39:2), "The Lord was with Joseph." Joseph's absolute trust in God, divine Mind, manifested itself in leadership which even the keeper of his prison recognized and utilized. Placed in charge of the prisoners, Joseph prospered in whatever he did.

Humbly declaring (Gen. 41:16), "It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer," Joseph was able to interpret Pharaoh's dream. Pharaoh, in turn, discerning the business acumen in the plan which Joseph outlined and which carried Egypt through a period of famine, gave him complete charge. Returning good for evil and seeing God's protecting hand through all the events which brought him into Egypt enabled Joseph to preserve the life of his brothers and father and many others. Goodness is always life-preserving.

A portion of a letter which our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, wrote to a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, contains this kindly counsel for each one of us (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 202): "Press on. The way is narrow at first, but it expands as we walk in it."

Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have
called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
When thou passest through the waters, I
will be with thee; and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow thee: when thou
walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be
burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon
thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy
One of Israel, thy Saviour.—Isaiah 43:1-3.