Jesus gave a specific admonition to those who would follow him. He said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." In referring to this denial of self, which Jesus mentioned among the requirements for discipleship, our Leader says in "No and Yes" (p. 2), "Our Master taught his students to deny self, sense, and take up the cross." She has thus clearly identified the self which, with sense, is to be denied. Obviously, then, it is a material sense of self which must be denied, put off, if we would follow in the footsteps of the Master, Christ Jesus, in successive overcomings of the belief of evil, in demonstration of the power and presence of God, good.

Mankind, unenlightened by the liberating power of Truth, finds itself bowed down with a knowledge of this false material selfhood, knowledge which is far from joyous. Medical theories claim that disease and other dangerous inheritances can act on this selfhood embodied in matter. Psychology claims that this mortal selfhood can have ability of itself or can lack ability; that it can be endowed with temperamental tendencies both good and bad. Economics declares that in accordance with certain material conditions mortals can be deprived not only of the good things of human existence, but even of bare necessities.

Every one of these claims, however, refers to the counterfeit mortal selfhood, and not one of them relates to the real man, the son of God. These claims, if accepted as true and admitted into thought or experience, attach themselves to a mortal, material sense of things. In proportion as this false selfhood is put off, one is putting one's self out of the reach of these devastating beliefs; for in no way can these identify themselves with man's true selfhood as a child of God.

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 316) Mrs. Eddy says: "The real man being linked by Science to his Maker, mortals need only turn from sin and lose sight of mortal selfhood to find Christ, the real man and his relation to God, and to recognize the divine sonship." What hope and assurance are inspired by the realization that man's relationship to God is already established; that the right idea is ever linked to the creative Mind, God! But we must become aware of our spiritual sonship; and our Leader stresses the same point which Jesus emphasized when she makes it plain in the above statement that the process of becoming aware of the Christ, Truth, involves turning away from sin and losing sight of mortal selfhood.

It can readily be seen why putting off this mortal sense of things is essential to progress. Acceptance and contemplation of material beliefs prevent one from accepting and contemplating the truth about man, thereby separating one in belief from the true concept of man. This evangelization of self, with its liberating effect, would go on much more rapidly if mortals were willing to part as readily with the seemingly pleasant phases of mortal selfhood as with those which are undesirable.

What suggestions of egotism tempt one to believe that through his own ability and efficiency he can accomplish great things! Jesus was able to say, "I can of mine own self do nothing;" and, "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." He could rest in supreme confidence as to the outcome of his work, knowing as he did that all true activity is man's by reflection, and that unto God belong "the kingdom, and the power, and the glory." Success in any field of human endeavor which is attributed merely to one's own efforts is unstable and without a true foundation. It is through God-reliance, not self-reliance, that one builds rightly and safely.

Mortals are prone also to hold to an exaggerated sense of goodness as a quality of their own. Again we find a just rebuke in the Master's words to the rich young ruler: "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." When we come to recognize, as Jesus did, that God is the source of all good, we shall learn to trace every manifestation of good to its true origin, and rejoice as did the Psalmist when he wrote, "Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God."

Love of self does not seem to be easily moved, and often vigorous effort is needed to rout this obstacle to spiritual unfoldment. It is manifested in a constant desire to get, to receive, and shows little evidence of giving and serving. Lack of consideration for others, human will, and ambition for place and power are all closely identified with this impostor, self-love. "Self-love," we are told on page 242 of Science and Health, "is more opaque than a solid body." And we are admonished as follows: "In patient obedience to a patient God, let us labor to dissolve with the universal solvent of Love the adamant of error,—self-will, self-justification, and self-love,—which wars against spirituality and is the law of sin and death."

Our Leader's life was an exemplification of self-sacrifice, of loving service. Through her understanding of "the mind of Christ," demonstrated in the overcoming of mortal beliefs, she was able to give the truth to mankind; and through her work thousands have been healed and blessed. As each one denies himself, denies unlovely traits, physical disabilities, human sufficiency, he is putting on "the mind of Christ," and so is beginning to manifest his true sonship. Thereby is he himself blessed and is enabled to bless others. Thus is found the true humility which rejoices, not in its own goodness but in the goodness of God.