Notice once more that as we ascend in the scale of development natural selection selects more unsparingly and the path to life narrows.  It is a very easy matter for the lowest forms to get food.  Indeed the plant sits still and its food comes to it.  And the battle of brute force can be fought in a multitude of ways—­by mere strength, by activity, by offensive or defensive armor, or even by running into the mud and skulking.  It is harder to gain knowledge, and yet many roads lead to an education.  Colleges are by no means the only seats of education.  And many totally uneducated men have college diplomas.  And life is, after all, the great university, and here the sluggard fails and the plucky man with the poor “fit” often carries off the honors.

  “But where shall wisdom be found? 
   And where is the place of understanding? 
   The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: 
   And the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. 
   No mention shall be made of corals or of pearls: 
   For the price of wisdom is above rubies.”

And when it comes to righteousness there is only one right, and everything else is wrong.  “Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”  Therefore “strive to enter in at the strait gate.”  And remember that “strive” means wrestle like one of the athletes in the old Olympic games.

“I saw also that the Interpreter took Christian again by the hand and led him into a pleasant place, where was built a stately palace beautiful to behold; at the sight of which Christian was greatly delighted.  He saw also, upon the top thereof, certain persons walking, who were clothed all in gold.  Then said Christian, May we go in thither?

“Then the Interpreter took him and led him up toward the door of the palace; and, behold, at the door stood a great company of men, as desirous to go in, but durst not.  There also sat a man at a little distance from the door at a table-side, to take the name of him that should enter therein; he saw also that in the door-way stood many men in armour, to keep it, being resolved to do to the men that would enter what hurt and mischief they could.  Now was Christian somewhat in amaze.  At last, when every man started back for fear of the armed men, Christian saw a man of a very stout countenance come up to the man that sat there to write, saying, Set down my name, Sir; the which when he had done, he saw the man draw his sword, and put an helmet upon his head, and rush toward the door upon the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly force; but the man, not at all discouraged, fell to cutting and hacking most fiercely.  So after he had received and given many wounds to those that attempted to keep him out, he cut his way through them all, and pressed forward into the palace, at which there was a pleasant voice heard from those that were within, even of those that walked upon the top of the palace saying: 

        “’Come in, come in;
          Eternal glory thou shalt win.’