clearer range of vision."
"Your words indicate a sound judgment," commented Mr. World, and the
two church officials listened eagerly. "Why should the church compel
a man to journey on a path so narrow that he can scarcely make any
progress?"
[Illustration: Mr. Elder, unable to push through the narrow pass of
Consecration, was compelled to take the "Shorter and Broader Way to
Heaven."]
"A sensible view of it," said Mr. Elder, "for I have learned by
experience that it is impossible to travel far in the way you mention.
I tried it until recently, when I gave it up in disgust. I patronized
an old established exchange store, disposed of a part of my outfit,
and got in exchange something up-to-date, as you see from my appearance.
I then endeavored to walk on the old path, but soon came to an
especially narrow place called Consecration. I could not squeeze
through. I struggled hard and long until one came to me and said: 'Let
go what thou hast under thine arms and belted to thine heart, and them
shalt go through with ease and rejoicing.' That was asking too much
of me, for I paid a high price for these things and was minded to hold
to them at all cost. I then endeavored more earnestly to push ahead,
but found that I could not. As I looked around me, in despair, I saw
a path leading to the left, under a beautiful arch, whereon I read
this inscription:
A SHORTER AND BROADER WAY TO HEAVEN.
"This path I took and have been traveling comfortably thereon,
especially since I found this still Broader Way into which it led. If
only all church-members would know the comforts and advantages of this
way, they could no longer refuse to travel it."
"They are finding it out more and more every age," said Mr. World with
a complacent smile. "The church and the world ought to be one and,
according to the teaching of the Bible, how could this be better
accomplished than by having the church come down to the level of the
world, and from that point lift the world upward. That was Christ's
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