Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/philosophyofexisOOabbo THE PHILOSOPHY ' OF EXISTENCE. A Brief Narrative Showing the Prin- ciples AND LAWS Involved and Operating in the Universe. // ^ 22 18S2 J • JQ H.c-^BBOTT. PUBLISHED BY Orlando, Fla. \/-, ■ 1892. '^ >iA Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1892, by J. H. ABBOTT, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. ORANGE COUNTY REPORTEB PRINT, ORLANDO, FLORIDA. PREFACE. ^7 This work was commenced in 1874, ^^^ h^as, therefore, occu- pied eighteen years in its preparation. It grew out of an intense desire, on the part of the writer, to know the causes of all that was about him. This desire was largely aroused by the teaching of that beloved instructor. Prof. W. H. Venable, at Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1879, while a resident of Kansas, I first learned of the inner meaning of the seven geometrical figures, through one Stephen Ogden. Through the disclosures of the Spirit of Truth, the perception was given to me, that the commonly known facts of science, grouped with reference to the requirements of the seven principles, which the geometrical characters symbolized, possessed a significance not apparent when that relationship was ignored, and, moreover, disclosed the laws of evolution. Through contin- ued research, much study and thought, came a knowledge of the laws of: The origin of Being, the product of the middle life. Organic appropriation of external forces, and. The Return of all things to the source of being after middle life. While in Massachusetts in 1888, on a November afternoon, I was borne, by the Spirit, to the portal of the heavens, and given a view of the absoluleism of Good (God). The disclosures of that occasion are too sacred for the printed page, were they utterable in human language, but their force and power has gone into these pages, and I trust may prove a pathway for other souls to travel over to the same knowledge. The work has been divided, and subdivided, according to the subject, and as dictated by the Spirit. Much of its force lies in this system, and in the relationship of its corresponding parts. The various paragraphs have been numbered, and references to them, throughout the work, have been made by the use of these numbers. The subject matter of this narrative has been given to the writer, principally, through the sixth sense. It is presented in the order and light in which it was received. As the revelation pro- gressed, from the beginning to the end, many words came to have a different shade of meaning, and the truths, to take on a deeper and more spiritual character. The earlier part of the narrative. IV PREFACE. therefore, might be corrected to correspond to the after advanced thought, with benefit to its scientific accuracy of expression. This has not been done, however, as it is believed that the way it came to me, will be the way it will most naturally unfold to another, and that the growth in meaning will assist, rather than embarrass, a ready apprehension of the philosophic truth. Again, many words have several meanings, and the writer was not such a master of languages as to avoid the use of some words, in a different sense, in one place, from that in which he had used them in another. The same truths have been repeated in different garb, and under different aspects, with the hope and endeavor, to fix the essential and valuable in the reader's mind. It is impossible that those who shall read this work will not have some preconceived notions in conflict with its teachings. Some matters, when first presented, may appear, to the reader, antagonistic to revealed truth, or scientific axioms, but when these have been developed, later in the work, it will be seen, that the first shock was merely because of their unfamiliarity, and opposi- tion to the ancient errors that still have a great hold upon the thought of the time. It is, therefore, earnestly asked, that every- one shall read this work carefully from beginning to end, and reserve judgment until its close. The writer feels it his duty to state, that he does not deem the work especially suited for young unmarried people, whose imma- ture minds are apt to be subject to unbridled imagination. To those who are searching for the truth, without prejudice, and their number is legion ; who desire to know the causes and wherefores of all things ; of the material world, and its forces, of themselves, of the great spiritual powers, and of God, I believe the following pages will be of deep and absorbing interest. The Spirit of Truth is the author of the work. The writer is but the human instrumentality. Though conveyed by so frail a vessel, it is hoped that, by the mercy and providence of the Al- mighty, it may serve its high purpose, of increased knowledge among men, and the strengthening of the Lord's kingdom on Earth. J. H. Abbott. Orlando, Fla., March, 1892. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION Jt To whom the narrative is written, 2. What the narrative is about, 3. Means of knowledge, 4. Limits of knowledge, ,5. Range of knowledge, 6. To attain the utmost, PAGE. I I I 2 2 3 BOOK I. THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES. CHAPTER I.— MATTER 7. The spiritual subsistence, 8. Matter, externalized spirit, 9. Matter expelled from the spiritual subsistence, 10. The characteristics given to matter bj' God, 11. Matter indistructable, 12. Matter void, without form, CHAPTER n.— SPIRIT. 13. Michael cast matter out of heaven, 14. God's spirit sent out, .... 15. The spirit is united to the spiritual subsistence, 16. The spirit gives form and causes matter to bring forth, 17. The characteristics given to the spirit by God, iS. Spirit also without form, but master of all forms, 19. Existence is spirit in manifest form, CHAPTER III.— FORM. 20. The tools of creation, 21. The three material tools, 22. These three tools essential to change, 23. The principle of motion, 24. The principle of extent, 25. The principle of separation, 26. The spirit is three-fold, 27. The principle of affinity, 9 9 9 9 9 9 ID II II II The One, 12 The Two, 12 The Three, 12 12 The Three, 12 VI CONTENTS . 28. The principle of consciousness, 29. The principle of rest, 30. The spiritual tools unite matter into being, 31. The three spiritual tools essential to selection, 32. The principle of limitation, 33. The outside, 34. The many a result of limitation, 35. L,imitation solves the rebellion, 36. Limitation divides, 37. The limitations of matter the story of evolution, 38. All things the result of the seven principles, 39. The seven spirits essential to form, CHAPTER IV. The Two, The One, The Four- page. 12 13 13 13 Form, 13 14 14 14 U 14 14 15 RELATIONSHIP OF THE SEVEN PRIN- CIPLES. 40. The seven principles, how made known to us, ... 16 41. The order of the seven principles, ..... 16 42. Necessity the law of God, . . . . . . 17 43. Every existence has seven periods, . . . . . 17 44. The seven days of the earth, . . . . . . 17 45. The seven principles govern, each the others, in their department, 17 46. Law the result of the coexistence of the seven principles, . . 17 47. Particular laws. The five great laws. .... 18 CHAPTER v.— THE DUAL LAW. 52. 53- 54- 55- 56. 57- 58. 59- 60. 48. The outward and the inward, ..... 49. Their mutual operation gives material formation, 50. Everything has its opposite, ..... 51. Light came from the midst of darkness, motion from rest, The dual law not eternal, ..... Dual movements, . . . The centrifugal and centripetal, the father and mother of all things, CHAPTER VI.— THE TRIUNE LAW. Gas, liquid, then solid, the rule of the material world, The order in which the seven principles came, caused this progress of matter. The law alwa3's the same. Example, of human kind. All advancement due to the triune law, .... The progress maj^ be retarded or hastened, .... Gases, liquid and solids co-exist, ..... CHAPTER VIL— ORIGIN OF BEING. 61. Variety due to origin of new beings, 62. Middle life gives birth to being, 63. The prime of life, the perfection of being, 64. The law of origin, . . . 65. Attraction of the sexes, 66. Repeated births refine matter, 67. Beings repeat their parents' experiences, 6S. The law of origin universally applicable. 19 19 19 19 19 20 20 23 23 23 24 24 24 25 25 CONTENTS. vn CHAPTER VIII. — LAW OF PRESERVATION TION. 69. Action and reaction, ...... 70. Preservation results from expulsion of the centrifugal, 71. The return is the cause of knowledge, CHAPTER IX.— LAW OF SELECTION. 72. Like associates with and attracts like, 73. Growth results from selection, 74. Knowledge essential to choice, 75. Experience perfects choice, 76. The choice of good necessary to a return to God, REAC- PAGE. 26 26 26 27 27 27 28 28 CHAPTER X.— ORGANIC APPROPRIATION— HABIT. 77. Organic appropriation of external force, .... 29 78. Accumulation of habits, ...... 29 79. Habits become a part of their possessor, .... 29 80. Summary of the five great laws, ..... 30 BOOK II. THE TERRESTRIAL WORLD. CHAPTER I.— FORCE. 81. Existence two-fold, 82. The terrestrial and celestial, 83. The creation an evolution of forms — an embodiment of principles, 84. The seven secondary principles, 85. Sound, 86. Only the middle octaves heard by 87. Heat, 88. Light, 89. Molecular motion, 90. Electric current and magnetism, 91. The first day's work, seven times seven, 92. God's word expanded to a universe, 93. The birth from the middle time, 94. Each form of motion comes from the midst of the preceding one 95. Spectriim analysis, ..... 96. Moleculer motion and masses simultaneously produced, 97. Greater range of the sense organs probable, 33 33 33 34 34 .34 35 35 36 36 36 86 36 37 37 37 38 CHAPTER II.— THE EVOLUTION SPACE. 98. The atom, .... 99. An atom cannot exist alone, 100. Simple molecules, 1 01. Simple molecules equal in size, OF THE WORLD- 39 39 39 40 CONTENTS. 102. Compotind molecules, 103. Molecular densit5% 104. Space between molecules, 105. Size of molecules, 106. Weight of molecules, 107. Colors of molecules, 108. Taste of molecules, 109. Mass formation, no. All moleciiles of a kind alike, 111. Molecular kinds evolved as the world evolved, 112. Nebulous stars, 113. Spiral revolution, 1 14. Testimon}- of the heavens, 115. Nucleolus, 116. The earth's crust, 117. The oceans, 118. Dry land, 119. Mountains, 120. Volcanoes, 121. Minerals, 122. Clouds, 123. Soil, 124. Crystals, 125. Crystals of a kind alike, 126. The king molecule, 127. Perfection of matter, CHAPTER III.— GROWTH— KIND 1 28. The three sevens, 129. The concrete sevens, 130. The 343 expressed in the third day, 131. Space expressions are confined to substance, 132. Carbon the prime or birth form of matter, 133. Carbon crystals, 134. Organic cells, .... 135. First forms of vegetation, 136. Development of vegetable forms 137. Seaweed, .... 138. Grass to trees, etc., 139. The seed, .... 140. The seed is after its kind, 141. The seed formation coincident with growth, 142. Pollen, 143. Reproduction, 144. Vegetable decay, 145. Sap, 146. Air breath, T47. Nature three-fold and perfect. Yello^v, 148. The earth at its prime, CONTENTS. IX CHAPTER IV.— TIME. $1. THE MAIDEN EARTH. PAGE. 149. Uniform temperature, ....... 54 150. A little sun, ........ 54 151. 152. Sameness. No repetition, ...... 54 153. No measure of time, . . . . . . . 54 154. Birth of rotative events, ...... 55 155. The maiden earth reaches maturity, . . . . . 55 52. THE MARRIAGE TO THE SUN. 156. 157. Plant absorption of heat, ..... 55 158. Rains produced by vegetation, ..... 56 159. Heat shut in by moisture in the atmosphere, ... 56 160. The heat of the earth let loose, ..... 56 161. Cooling of the earth, ....... 56 162. The sun supplies its heat, and wooes the earth, ... 56 163. The loss of light, ....... 56 164. The coming of the sun, ...... 56 165. The earth becoming dependent, . . • . . 57 166. The earth conquered by the sun, ..... 57 $3. THE EARTH'S PREGNANCY. 167. The wedding ring, ....... 168. The earth a magnet. Its poles, ..... 169. The earth's structure undergoes a change by reason of its magnetized con dition, ........ 170. The increase of internal pressure from polarization, 54. THE BIRTH OF THE MOON. 171. The earth brings forth seed after its kind, 172. The interior pressure breaks through the earth's crust, 173. The moon comes forth a gaseous cloud, 174. The "volcanic zone," .... 175. The moon's existence similar to earth, §5. TIMES AND SEASONS. 176. Day and night, 177. Months, . . . 178. Years, .... 179. The spiral career of the earth, 180. The years unequal, 181. The seasons, 182. 183. Successive events, §6. THE GLACIAL EPOCH. 184. Ice accumulation, ....... 185. The moon robbed the earth of its heat, .... 186. The glaciers melted by the sun's heat make a vegetable pulp, §7. THE BIRTH FUNCTION NECESSARY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE. 187. The fifth stage or condition of development coincident with the birth of a new life, ........ 188. The new existence is also simultaneous with the fifth state of development. 57 57 57 58 58 58 59 59 59 59 60 60 60 60 61 62 62 62 63 63 63 I go. 191. 192. 193- 194. 195. 196. 197. 198. 199. 200. 201. 202. 203. 204. 205. 206. 207. 208. 209. 210. 211. 212. 213. 214. CONTENTS. CHAPTER v.— LIFE. $1. ANIMALS VS. PLANTS. PAGE. The centrifugal exerted paramount authority the first three days of crea- tion, ......... 65 From the fourth day, thereafter, the centripetal exercises general author- ity. The processes of evolution reversed, .... 65 Unions of effort, ....... 66 Tendencies of animal life are inward, ..... 66 When the planet learned movement it became the animal, . . 66 The superiority of animal life to plant growth. ... 66 §2. DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE. The organic sea, ....... 67 Uniform contractions and expansions, .... 67 Independence of motion, ...... 68 Length of evolution, ....... 68 Bones, ......... 68 Organic acquirements, . . . . . . . 69 Muscles, ......... 69 Vital organs, ........ 69 Blood, ......... 70 I/ife a union of forces. Forces in affinity, .... ^o Death, ......... 71 Continuation by propagation, . . . . . . 71 Sex, ......... 71 §3. THE ESSENCE OF LIFE. The vital force manifested through oxygen, .... 72 The food the source of supply of the vital energy, . . . 72 What we eat, drink and breathe, determines our animal character, • 72 The heart the \'ital fountain, ...... 73 Through the blood the supply for a new being is concentrated, . 73 An actual stream of blood ladened \\dth life flows down through the ages, 73 The animal life must be removed to give room to spiritual life, . 73 CHAPTER VI.— MIND. 51. THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 215. The "living" creature of the sixth day, .... 74 216. They came from the midst of the "moving" creature, ... 74 217. The higher animals have emotions, ..... 74 218. Lines of communication — nerves, ..... 75 219. The nerves the masters of the muscles, .... 75 220. The organs of sense at the outer extremities, ... 75 221. Eyes and the coming of hearing, tasting, smelling and feeling, . 75 222. Nature plays upon the organism through the senses and determines its character, ........ 75 §2. THE BRAIN. 223. Formation of the brain, ...... 76 224. Impressions conveyed over the nerves to the brain, ... 76 225. The nerves the avenues of communication between the outer and inner worlds, ......... 76 CONTENTS. XI PAGE. 226. Memory. Microscopic fac-similies lodged in the brain, . . 76 227. Memories are composed of nerve particles, .... 77 228. Brain seed, ........ 77 229. Forms reproduced from memories, ..... 77 230. Conscious and unconscious conditions, .... 77 231. God has no memory, but continued consciousness, ... 78 §3. THOUGHT. 232. Reference to the turning about, ..... 78 233. Through the three Zones out, then in, .... 78 234. Similarit}'- between mind and substance, .... 78 235. Plants, thoughts in substance, ...... 79 236. Mental action like chemical action, ..... 79 237. Mental combustion and results, ..... 79 238. Perceptions, conceptions, ideas, etc., . . . . .79 239. "Organs" of the brain, ...... 79 240. Relative sizes and comparisons of organs, .... 79 241. Mental powers limited to the scope of the senses, . . . 80 242. Use of the "All Brain," ...... 80 CHAPTER VII.~THE SOUL. $1. THE THREE RACES OF ANIMAL MAN. 243. Man superior to all other animals, ..... 81 244. Man's superiority affords him protection, .... 81 245. Through man are all evolutions superior to mind, ... 81 246. 247. The black race, ....... 82 248. The red race, ........ 82 249. The new order of things established by them, ... 82 250. The white race, . . . . . . . . 83 §2. GENESIS OF THE SOUL. 251. The new birth from mind, ...... 83 252. All evolutions built upon former ones, . . . . 83 253. The middle evolves, ....... 84 254. Man the equilibrium race of mind, ..... 84 255. The soul is added to former evolutions, .... 84 256. The manner in which the soul was acquired, and its function, . 85 257. Satan the occasion of the soul's evolution, .... 86 §3. THE CYCLES OF CREATION AND INVOLUTION. 258. Creation returns to its source through mau, .... 86 259. The center governs the flow of spirit outward and inward, . 87 260. Forms result from opposition, ...... 87 54. THE KNOWLEDGE OP GOOD AND EVIL. 261. Inherited experience, ....... 88 262. All knowledge comes by experience, . . . . . 88 263. Evil gives self-knowledge and parts the being from God, . . 89 264. The knowledge of evil necessary to prepare man to be lifted to a higher career, ......... 89 265. The career of evil leads to destruction, but for the mercy of God, . 90 $5. THE ASTRAL BEING. 266. The soul manifested through the astral fluid, . . . 91 267. The astral matter emanates from the nervous, ... 91 Xll CONTENTS. 268. The influences of the animal upon the soul, 269. The power of the will, 270. Either death or life may become the soul's portion, 271. The spiritual existence of the soul, BOOK III. THE CELESTIAL WORLD. PAGE. 91 92 92 93 PART I.— THE MICROCOSM. CHAPTER I.— TRANSMISSIONS. §1. INVOLUTION VS. EVOLUTION. 272. High thoughts, ...... 273. Books Two and Three contrasted, 274. Creation an outgoing, ..... 275. Regeneration an ingoing, .... 276. Involution an inward movement, 277. The truth of all without, impressible upon the soul, 278. The soul may take in Godhood, §2. TRANSMISSIONS BY BIRTH. 279. Macrocosm and microcosm defined, 280. Characteristics of macrocosm and microcosm compared, 281. The microcosm a germ or seed of the macrocosm, 282. The microcosm individualizes the macrocosm, 283. The microcsmic body supplied out of the macrocosmic body, 284. The child a product of the union of both parents' characters, 285. Inherited experience transmitted, .... 286. Structure and corresponding knowledge inherited together, 287. Chemical characteristics transmitted, §3. TRANSMISSIONS BY FOOD, AIR AND BODILY CONTACT. 288. Material transmissions continued after birth, 289. The vital powers conveyed by food, .... 290. Nations classified by their diet, .... 291. The microcosmic character according to the materials used in its con- struction, ...... 292. The regenerative forces conveyed through water, 293. Transmissions through the air are life-giving, 294. The sense organs developed by bodily contact, 295. The transmissions through the senses more consciously known, but less fundamental, ...... $4. TRANSMISSIONS BY MENTAL INFLUENCES. 296. Ideas transmitted, ..... 297. Education a transmission of knowledge, 298. A royal highway established by the macrocosm, 299. The transmissions of social life-customs, 300. Pschyic transmissions, ..... 301. The microcosm not capable of receiving all oflfered to it, 302. Thought transmissions facilitated by bodily death, 99 99 99 99 100 100 100 100 100 lOI lOI lOI lOI lOI 102 102 103 103 103 104 104 104 105 105 106 106 106 107 107 108 108 CONTENTS. Xlll CHAPTER II.— MICROCOSMIC INFLUENCES. §1. THE MACROCOSMIC ELEMENTS. PAGE. 303. Influences, or transmissions from a higher plane, . . . 109 304. The niacrocosmic elements universal, but they form a particular micro- cosm, ......... 305. The niacrocosmic seas, ...... 306. The macrocosmic waters all flow from one fountain — God, 307. Macrocosmic influx gives that by which we differ from our parents and race, — the advancement, ...... 308. The governing principle shows the characteristics of the age, 309. The first period of the macrocosm — motion, .... 310. The second, third and fourth periods — dimensions, kinds and beings, 311. The fifth period — self-will and two ways, .... 312. The sixth period — recognition, . . . . 313. The twelve phases, ....... 314. The macrocosm undergoing development of God, 315. Each part undergoing its specific education, 316. The twelve signs, ....... 52. INFLUENCES OF THE SUN. 317. The sun, father of all on earth, 318. Manner of the earth's development, 319. The sun's influence the greatest on earth, 320. Its twelve manner of influences, 321. The astral direction, 322. The life influenced by the astral sea, 323. Influences of different parts of the earth, 324. The supply of the same influence can be continued by change, 325. The region of greatest diversity of solar effects, «3. THE INFLUENCES OF THE MOON 326. The moon governs the manner of expression, 327. The moon assorts the earth influences, 328. The moon goes through the signs in reverse order, 329. The moon's influences opposite to the sun's, §4. THE PLANETS. 330. The members of the solar body, 331. Each planet has a specific influence, 332. The maximum planetary influence, 333. The relative order of the planets, 334. The inner planets material in characteristics, 335. The outer planets celestial in characteristics, §5. INFLUENCES OF THE STARS. 336. The influence of the stars not derived from our sun, and are distinctive, 337. The celestial influences strongest in Neptune, 338. The influences of the stars less than the suns, 339. Their influences reach only to man, 340. Each sign a celestial countr}-, 341. The solar journey through the twelve signs, 109 no no no III III III III 112 112 112 112 "3 "3 113 113 "3 114 114 114 114 115 "5 "5 115 115 116 116 116 116 116 117 117 117 117 117 117 118 CONTENTS. CHAPTER III.— POLARIZATION. $1. EVERYTHING IS POLARIZED AT ITS MIDDLE PERIOD. PAGE. 342. Polarization comes after transmission and influx, . . . 119 343. Polarization due to the establishing of two wills, . . . 119 344. Polarization marks and determines the middle period, . • 119 345. The two poles of opposite tendency produce the magnet, . . 119 346. The two poles being equal, neither can triumph without help from without, 120 347. The material and spiritual poles of the universe, . . . 120 $2. MAGNETS WITHIN MAGNETS. 348. The solar magnets' relation to the universal magnet, 349. The forces of each pole present throughout the magnet. 350. The lesser magnets within the superior, 351. The relative position to any pole determines its relative power 352. 353. Magnets of quality, .... 354. The lesser magnet created by the greater, 355. The universe full of magnetic influences, causing constant changes things, ....... §3. POLARIZED MAN. 356. The animal magnetized, .... 357. Every particle of the body also a magnet, 358. Man i:nder the influence of two wills, 359. Career of individuality, .... 360. The soul's magnetic appropriations, 361. Physical and mental expressions, 362. Intensitj' of inward and outward co-dependent, 363. Reaction between the soul magnet and animal magnet in man, §4. STRUCTURAL FORM AND ORDER OF THE HEAVENS. 364. Structural form due to a procession of wills, 365. Structural form changes, 366. The form of the universe now oval, .... 367. Influences of the two poles, ..... 368. The poles of the solar system, . . . 369. The influences of locality, ..... 370. The four middle planets fractured by the polarization of the solar system 371. Mercury, grossly material, .... 372. Veniis, animal in character, .... 373. Earth, highly selfish, ..... 374. Mars, war-like, ...... 375. Asteroids, full of pride, ..... 376. Jupiter, seat of intelligence, .... 377. Saturn, the esthetic realm, 378. A change to universal spirits in the outer planets, 379. The intelligences of the Sun and Neptune compared, 380. Summary of the characteristics of the solar system, CHAPTER IV.— THE HUMAN RACE. §1. THE EGO. 381. The animal, an association of forces in a body, . . . 129 382. The self life, ........ 129 383. The persistence of the soul by reason of self-will, . . . 130 CONTENTS . XV PAGE. 384. The soul grows, . . . . . . . . 130 385. The soul's character constantly changing, , . . . 130 386. The soul seed is planted, ...... 130 387. The unfolding of the soul, ...... 131 388. The cohesion of the soul dependent upon the strength of will, . 131 389. The soul a fit instrument of spirit, ..... 131 390. The parents of the body not necessarily parents of the soul, . 131 391. Idivi duality transformed, . . . . . . 131 392. The will may command the service of spirits, . . . 132 393. Aid of spirits obtained through faith, ..... 132 394. Souls enrapport with nature can prophecy, .... 132 395. The human soul a final and lasting manifestation, . . . 133 §2. THE UNIVERSAL WAY. 396. Correspondence, ....... 133 397. Correspondence is on three planes, ..... 133 398. Corresponding progress, ...... 133 399. The universal solar stream, . . . . . . 134 400. Man is borne along on this stream, ..... 134 401. Man cannot control his conditions but can receive or reject what they offer, ......... 134 402. The days of the week commemorative, . . . . 134 403. Man not carried along the universal stream as a machine, . . 134 404. The two inward ways — an opportunity of choice, . . . 135 $3. THE TWO WAYS. 405. The necessity of choice presented, . . • . . 135 406. Experience the only method oi possessing knowledge, . . 135 407. The knowledge of good and evil brings death, . . . 136 408. The restoration of Adam's race to come, .... 136 409. The ancients looked forward, we backward, to Christ, . . 136 410. The overcomer's choice in Christ, ..... 13,7 411. The restoration after the gospel age, ..... 137 412. Review of the two ways — three opportunities to choose between them of- fered to man, ........ 137 413. The cessation of birth to bring prolonged life, . . . 138 414. Satan's final removal, ....... 138 415. The retrograde and the ascension, ..... 138 PART II.— THE RETROGRADE. CHAPTER v.— THE DEVIL. 51. BIRTH OF THE SPIRIT OP EVIL 416. The Devil's names, .... 417. Satan had power of choice and was greatly exalted, 418. Led by pride to his fall, 419. The spirit of outgoing cut off from God, 420. Satan cut off from the source of life must die, 421. The awfulness of Satan's guilt, 422. The conquest of Satan committed to Christ, §2. THE DEVIL'S ANGELS. 423. One third of the stars drawn after Satan, 141 141 141 142 142 142 142 143 CONTENTS. 424. Another third constitute the outgoing force, 425. The evil spirits present in man and his surroundings, 426. The intellectual scope of the devils, 427. No man escapes the wiles of the devils, 428. God employs the devils, 429. The lake of fire their end, . . 53. THE GREAT RED DRAGON. 430. The Devil the source of sin, 431. The human race sifted by means of Satan, 432. The Prince of this world, 433. The woman Israel, .... 434. The dragon sought to destroy Christ at birth, 435. Satan beholds in Christ a new Adam, 436. Satan's design upon Christ, . , 437. The temptation of Christ, 438. The casting of Satan out of heaven, 439. The dragons persecution of the Christ, $4. THE BEAST .>ND THE FALSE PROPHET. 440. The threefold form of evil on earth, 441. The world worships the beasts, 442. The nations which symbolize the beast, 443. The seven heads, 444. The beast that was, is not and yet is, 445. Ivabor — the ten horns, 446. The one horn, 447. The false prophet of science and politics, 448. The mark of the beast, 449. The name of the beast, 55- S.'^TAN'S WAY IS TO DEATH. 450. Satan's realm, that of darkness and death, 451. Death is disruption — separation, 452. For man's body to die is unnatural, 453. Satan may destroy the soul, 454. The whole human race under sin, CHAPTER VI.— SINNERS, %\. THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 455. God's purpose is original, .... 456. Man's purpose is selective. .... 457. Adam, at first, manifested God's purpose, 458. Man may select other than God's purpose, 459. God rttled all in Eden, ..... 460. Sinless Adam was immortal, .... 461. Perfection consists of being in harmony with God's will, 462. The golden age of Eden, .... §2. THE FALL. 463. Curiosity is an outreaching, .... 464. Satan led Eve through curiosity, 465. Adam loses his kingdom, 466. Adam delivers his kingdom to the serpent, 156 156 156 156 CONTENTS. XVI i 467. Man's disobedience, ..... 468. Discord comes into Eden, .... 469. Satan, man's school master, .... 470. The barrier raised by man between himself and God, 471. Man's knowledge of evil by experience, 472. The soul's orbital career, .... 473. Man obtains self-hood, . . . . . 474. Man building his life about his own idea, 475. The divine nature cannot be stolen, $3. THE SCARLET WOMAN. 476. The history of crime and sin, .... 477. Nature of modern crime, .... 478. The woman of the world, .... 479. Babylon the representative of human vice and depravity, 480. The nations her offspring, .... 481. The end of continued reproduction is death, 482. Man cannot restore himself to the immortal plane, 483. Our present bodies must die, .... CHAPTER VII.— PERDITION $1. THE BOTTOMLESS PIT. 484. A descent or backward movement, 485. Pauses in the backward movement, 486. The grave the bottomless pit — formlessness, 487. The grave not topless, . 488. The spirits escape, .... 52. THE FIRST HELL. OR PURGATORY 489. The soul lingers in a form after death, 490. The regenerate souls rest until the Resurrection, 491. The unregenerate souls cannot rest, 492. The torments of purgatory, ..... 493. These torments come through every sense, 494. The consciousness of evil committed greatly intensified, 495. Men desire to die but cannot, .... 496. Only the worshippers of the beast there, 53. SHEOL, OR THE SECOND HELL. 497. The river of the dead flowing back to the scenes of their crime, 498. The agonies of sheol deeper than those of purgatory, 499. The soul is destroyed by the evil spirits going out and tearing it apart 500. Only a third killed in sheol, .... 501. For an hour, a day, a month, and a year, 502. The location of purgatory, sheol and the formless bottom, 503. The king of the downward course, §4. THE TWO WITNESSES. 504. Man in his downward course is not left without succor, 505. Duration of their prophecy, 506. Their warnings and miracles, 507. Their death, . . . , . 508. These witnesses shall be slain but not buried, 509. They shall be awakened, PAGK. 156 157 157 157 157 158 158 158 159 159 159 160 160 160 161 161 161 162 162 162 163 163 163 163 163 164 164 164 164 165 165 165 166 166 166 166 167 167 167 167 168 1 68 168 XVlll CONTENTS. 510. Parallel events, ..... 511. Third woe, ..... 512. Woes visited upon the living and the dead, ^. THE FIRST JUDGMENT, 513. The last stand of evil against the good, 514. The great upheaval of society, 515. The mourning" over Babylon's fall, 516. The church leaves the vi'orld, 517. The destruction of all flesh, 518. Satan bound a thousand year, 519. The beast cast into perdition, the "remnant" slain. 520. The race freed from temptation, 56. THE FINAL JUDGMENT. 521. The gathering of gog and magog by satan, 522. The earth shall be destroyed by fire, 523. The final judgment is of the dead only, 524. Death and hell cast into the lake of fire, CHAPTER VIII.— OBLIVION. $1. ANNIHILATION. 525. Sin increases the centrifugal power and causes disasters, 526. Sin the cause of sickness among those about us, 527. The efiect of sin upon the soul, ..... 528. The strong hold of sin upon man, ..... 529. The desires of the soul when identified with the beasts are wholly e%al, 530. The casting into the lake of fire is by an inevitable law, 531. The fire whollj^ destroys, 532. Annihilation blots out, . . . . $2. THE DARKNESS. 533. To and from oblivion, 534. Lost thoughts in oblivion, 535. The lake of fire, obliterates, wipes out, or bears everj-thing to oblivion, 536. The nether world, ... 537. Darkness is the womb and grave of all things, $3. THE PRIMITIVE WATERS. The lake of fire supplies the water of the great deep. 538. 539- 540. 541- 542. 543- 544- he waters do not contain any identity, The deep without form and void, .... The purity of the waters, ..... Creations wrought out of the waters, .... All that is not regenerate, born again — returns to the great sea. The great sea a medium for heavenly beings, PAJ^T III.— THE ASCENSION. CHAPTER IX.— THE CHRIST. %\. CHRIST IN GOD. 545. The whole world found in sin b}- Christ, 546. Christ., the will of God, .... 547. The will of God creates the universe, 548. Christ the 07ily begotten of God, PAGE. 168 169 169 169 169 170 170 170 170 171 171 171 172 172 172 173 173 173 174 174 174 175 175 175 175 175 176 176 176 176 176 176 177 177 177 181 iSi 181 181 CONTENTS. XIX 549. Christ like God, .... 550. Clirist diflferent from God, ... 551. Clirist the form of God, 552. God sacrifices his will for man, 553. God come down into human conditions, §2. CHRIST'S CONCEPTION AND BIRTH. 554. Christ's great descent, .... 555. The announcement of Jesus' birth, 556. The beginning of a new race, 557. Christ spontaneously conceived, 558. Illustration of the cooling wax, 359. Mary's disturbed mental condition, 560. Gabriel's visit to Mary, 561. Mary's visit to Elizabeth, 562. The impression takes possession of her physical being 563. Not physically possible now, 564. Mary has made up for Eve, 565. Christ formed and developed under earth conditions, §3. CHRIST IN LIFE. 566. Christ's brethren, . . . 567. His youth, ...... 568. Christ anointed by God to his ofi&ce at his baptism, 569. Christ endowed with the power of God, 570. Christ led by the spirit into the wilderness, 571. His triumph over Satan, .... 572. Christ's overcoming, . . . 573. Christ takes the authority over the earth from Satan, 574. He comes from the wilderness in the power of the spirit, 575. Christ's teaching, 576. Repentance, 577. Man destroyed by Satan, saved by Christ, 578. Christ's miracles, 579. His transfiguration, 580. The transfiguration endowed him with added spiritual life 581. Christ goes triumphantly to his death, §4. THE ATONEMENT. 582. Christ came into the world to die for man, 583. The death of the cross was a great suffering, 584. The triumph in the Garden of Gethsemane, 585. He gives up the ghost, ..... 586. Types of sinners crucified with him, 587. The bod}^ laid in a new tomb, .... 588. Christ's crucifixion taketh away the sin of the world, 589. Sinners are relieved from the death penalty by Christ, our substitute 590. Christ the second Adam, .... 591. A personal choice offered each one in Christ, 592. The will of God has power to cast Satan out of each of us 593. Made at-one-with God, .... §5. CHRIST THE KING OF GLORY. 594. Christ's glor^/ now greater than before he came to earth, 595. By overcoming Christ has obtained a seat at the right hand of God, PAGE. 182 182 182 182 182 183 183 183 183 184 185 185 185 185 185 185 186 186 186 186 186 187 187 187 187 187 188 188 189 189 189 190 190 190 191 191 191 191 191 191 192 192 192 192 192 XX CONTENTS. 596. Christ's later kingdom more exalted than the first, 597. Victory over death and ascension, 598. Christ's second appearance will be sudden, 599. The gathering of Christ's elect, 600. Glorified bodies of the first resurrection, 601. The millennium glory of Christ, CHAPTER X.— THE NEW RACE §1. BORN AGAIN. 602. The human race runs its cycle, 603. The human race obeys the law and brings forth, 604. The soul meeting God produces a new race, 605. Christ the cross, ..... 606. Christ the "son of man" and "son of God," 607. The spiritual built upon the soul, 608. Soul, the crown of the material pyramid, 609. The new race a spiritual race, .... 610. How one may be born again, .... 611. The new birth a slow process, .... §2 OVERCOMING. 612. The soul alone possesses the knowledge of good and evil, 613. This knowledge divine, but may be lost to man, 614. The soul convinced of sin, .... 615. The marriage of the self with the spirit, 616. How the spiritual being is formed, 617. God supplies the pattern, .... 618. A part must be sacrificed, .... 619. The overcoming of first importance, 620. The spirit of God alone can overcome, 621. The principles enunciated by Christ must be practiced, 622. Overcoming is not easy, .... 623. To overcome, one must be in earnest, $3. THE SEVEN CHURCHES. 624. Who constitute the church, .... 625. The whole church passes through its cycle of existence, 626. The seven Asiatic churches symbolical, 627. The seven stages of church development, 628. The instruction of the whole church for all, 629. Only he that overcometh shall obtain, and the order of development, 630. The later church development most spiritual, 631. The difference in the blessings promised, 632. The apostolic church, 633. The church of the Martyrs. 634. The Greek church, 635. The Roman church, 636. The church militant, 637. The Protestant church, 638. The modern church, 639. The modern church lukewarm, 640. The Asiatic church represent a circle. CONTENTS. XXI §4. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 641. The sea or stream of humanity, .... 642. The stream of humanity meets a rough place in its middle course 643. The spray,its troubles cause the new-born race that will r 644. Only by overcoming can gods be born, 645. No opportunity for a new birth in the millennium, 646. Bating of the hidden manna, 647. Baptism necessary, 648. The three graces — Faith, 649. Hope, 650. Charity, |J5. POWER OF THE SPIRITUAL. 651. The will above law, 652. The will free and unlimited by law, 653. All things come to the spiritualized soul, 654. The spiritual ones to rule with Christ, 655. No sin, no Savior; no Savior, no throne, CHAPTER XL— THE MILLENNIUM. §1. THE RESTORATION. 656. The superior condition of man, lost by Adam's disobedience, 657. Christ restores man to Eden again for God's namesake, 658. The restoration is without man's choice, 659. The restoration is to be brought about by expelling the beast, 660. The church to be removed before the destruction of the beast, 661. Then the bodies of all shall perish, .... 662. The form is not to perish, ..... 663. The restored race ruled over by Christ and the church, §2. RETURN OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. 664. The woman Israel to return to Jerusalem, 665. Zechariah's prophecy of the restoration, 666. The restoration follows the middle time, 667. The awakening of the children of Israel, 668. Gathered out of the nations, 669. Apportionment of the land between the tribes, 670. Their restoration after the great battle, 53. THE REGENERATED EARTH AND ITS GOVERNMENT. 671. A new earth, ....... 672. All to enjoy the work of their own hands, . . , 673. Safety everywhere, ...... 674. The regenerated condition of earth, .... 675. The rule with the rod of iron, .... 676. The millennium rule perfect because its sovereign is perfect, 677. The perfect rule of the saints, .... 678. The blessings of the people of the new earth, $4, THE NEW JERUSALEM— CAPITAL OP THE WORLD. 679. The capital city an example and law to the world, 680. General arrangements of the cit}^ 681. The marvelous river of life, 682. The east gate of the sanctuary, 683. The walls and foundations of the city, 684. The pre-eminence of the city, 685. The superiority of its inhabitants. PAGE. 203 203 ise above the rapids, 203 204 204 204 204 205 205 205 205 205 206 206 206 207 207 208 20S 208 208 209 209 209 210 210 210 211 211 211 211 211 212 212 212 213 213 213 214 214 214 214 215 215 215 XXll CONTENTS. CHAPTER XII— THE SHINING ONES. $1, A REVIEW OF EXISTENCE. 686. The waters from which the universe was formed, 687. The first limitations wrought in them, 688. The stars formed, 689. The centrifugal division of the suns, 690. The centripetal expulsions, 691. The planets came from these divisions, 692. The four elements of each planet, 693. Each planet diversified by the development of the fourth element, 694. Changes in the earth's crust, 695. The earth's exterior developments, 696. The earth under the reign of the sun, 697. The tnan on earth, 698. The soul developed. . 699. Queries respecting realities, ~ $2. KEALITIE8. 700. P^orms many, realities few, 701. Three prime realities of existence, 702. The three secondary realities, 703. The secondary realities are each three-fold, 704. The reality of the soul, 705. The divine being embraces all realities, ... 706. The sons of God the only final reality of existence, 707. The sons of God are stars, and shining ones, 708. God and the shining ones the only real ones, $3. THE SPIRITS CAREER OP THE PLANETS. 709. Each star a will, or purpose, of God, .... 710. The race after this earthl}' career, ... 711. The essence of the millennium race sent out to a more distant planet 712. The spirits' progi-ess from planet to planet, 713. The career through the twelve planets checked by pride, 714. Each planet has a different pattern for its forms, §4. THE STARS OP HEAVEN. 715. The magnitude of the scope of great minds, 716. The great intelligence developed by a tour of the planets, 717. Intelligence at last carried into the celestial sea and drawn into suns 718. The overcomers as the shining ones, 719. The three-fold cai^eer of the shining ones, 720. Each shining one unfolds or manifests his character, 721. The host of Ilea ven and their companionship, 722. The love of the stars of the highest order. 723. The shining ones served by angels, $5. THE CENTRAL ONE. 724. Every orbit a spiral and each career ends at the center, 725. The shining ones to reabsorb what they have expressed, 726. The angels and shining ones return to God's bosom, 727. Ijove at last absorbs or drinks up everything else, 728. The center the gateway to God's abode, 729. The kingdom within the center unknowable, T HE END. INTRODUCTION. 1. This narrative is written to the spiritually minded who alone can discern these things (i Cor. 2: 10-16). To those who seek a higher life, who reach out after truth, and who have alread}- obtained somewhat of the innermost knowledge. To such these words carry their own conviction. The proof is in the truths them- selves. And unto such minds as cannot see that these truths must be as they are, when properly presented to them, these truths can- not yet come. Facts and phenomena are means by which these truths are presented. This work relates facts and phenomena in such an order and manner, together with such explanation, as shall, if possible, reveal to you the truth they present. The truth is the essential thing. 2. The narrative is about, what is. He who opens his eyes to the light, beholds a world clothed with vegetation, and populous with life. And in the shadow of the night beholds the lights of countless other worlds. And, again, turning his mental eyes in- ward, by reflection, he beholds an inner, unembodied world more marvelous than any without. This, that is all about us, and we ourselves, that are a part of the whole, this is the sub]ect', Ex is ie?ice,hs when, and what, and how, and why. Herein is the fullness of knowledge, which is the source of our usefulness, and measure of our ability to serve God, our ma*ker, — The Great All. 3. Means of Knowledge. — We cannot know of this exis- tence, or about it, except by coming in contact with it, — by touch. We make these touches, or contacts by means of organs which have been developed in us during the evolution of the race. With- out the development of these sensibilities in our organisms, we cannot gain the knowledge that comes by such contacts. Most of the animal beings possess the senses of feeling, taste, smell, hearing and seeing. But the animal sees by means of eyes. With- out eyes no being can acquire the knowledge which comes through contact with light. There are seven kinds of touches known to the highest developed human beings. The touch of material con- tact, of flavor, of odor, of sound, of light, of soul and of spirit. 2 INTRODUCTION. And while by far the most extensive knowledge of the animal is gained through seeing, the highest knowledge yet received by man has been through the sixth and seventh senses. And the per- son in whom these senses have not yet been developed, can no more obtain, of themselves, the knowledge which comes, and only comes by these kinds of contact, than a being without eyes can obtain a knowledge of color. How many more senses may yet be developed, how many more touches than those of flavor, odor, sound, etc., might be made, because of the nature of things, within or without, had we the sensibilities to preceive them, we cannot now know, but presume the seven senses to be all that exist, in the nature of things, as they reach in contact power from the begin- ning to the end of existence. Already we preceive that as sight reaches further and gives us an immensely greater number of con- cepts than all the other five animal senses, so, only more so, are the sixth and seventh senses capable of giving us vastly more knowledge than all the five animal senses together, including sight. 4. Limits of Knowledge. — To the human being possessing only the first five senses, no knowledge of the beginning or ending of Existence can come. Only the middle ground of Existence is presented to him. By the aid of a telescope he may see countless miles into space, behold the stars and their motions, and the mind follows the sense of sight thus far but not one step beyond. It can give no solution of the limit of space by means of such contact, or conception of space without limit. The ph^-sical life from birth to death comes within the scope of the five senses and the animal ex- periences, or contacts, may be comprehended, and a long succes- sion of lives of like experiences may be conceived, but the mind cannot go one step beyond the knowledge so derived. Such con- tacts give no solution to the beginning or ending of Existence. What was before the beginning? What will be after the end? Nor is it possible for the human mind to conceive of the progress or evolution everywhere apparent in Existence without being forced to a belief in a beginning and hence an ending. For all that we do see full}^ we preceive has beginning and ending. Even evolv- ing cycles ever coming and going, evolving from each other and passing back to a new beginning must presuppose an original of beginning. The five senses can only touch or be touched bv the most ma- terialized forms of existence. Indeed the first two evolved — feel- ing and taste, — only act in contact with solid or liquid substances. It is only the psychic and spiritic senses' that can touch the spirit- ual deptlis and intellectual heights of existence. In these heights and depths are all beginnings and endings, and the intellectual and spiritual touches are essential to a knowledge of them. 5. Range of Knowledge. — The range and possible extent of our knowledge is limited to the number, acuteness and scope of our senses. Within this range our knowledge is further limited INTRODUCTION. by the number and accuracy of the conceptions formed from the contacts experienced. And these are dependent upon the kind and scope of our environment and the form of our own organism, and upon our prior conceptions. Our memory and reasoning pow- ers varying in accordance with the individual form of organism. 6. To Attain the Utmost. — To develop the two higher senses and attain the utmost limit of knowledge possible it is de- sirable to have an education in the best schools, thorough mental culture by contact with bright intellects ; and after that, prolonged companionship with nature and silence and thought communion with God. The most ready and efficient way of obtaining will de- pend largely upon the form of organism possessed and upon the inherited experience of the person. But the general conditions required are similar. Frequent the solitude. Be still, be calm, think and pray. Let no care annoy, none of lifes labors harass, but in restful peace and quiet receptive- ness let the spirit within go forth above the earth and elements surrounding it to the blue of heaven. It may be a long time, on first trial, but there will come, finally, contact of thought. Truths, unseen, unknown through eye, or ear, or physical contact, will come to you. Think long upon the truths so received for they will bud, unfold, blossom as a rose, and disclose other truths still more beautiful. These perceptions, moreover, will carry with them a conviction of their verity beyond the sight of the ph3^sical eye, or hearing of the physical ear. In the course of time, when your higher sense is more developed, these contacts shall become to you, vivid and sudden as a flash of lightning, as convincing and satisfactory as a mathematical solution, and as new to you as the world all was when first you opened your eyes, while the pleasure of these receptions shall be beyond any sight of beautiful picture, or sound of most entrancing music. Then by considering the words of this narrative, there shall come to you, by thought, the essential knowledge of Existence. BOOK ONE. THE SEVEN PI^INSIPLES, CHAPTER I. MATTER. 7. There is a Spiritual Subsistence which is unchang- ing, eternal, unlimited, united and at rest. There, there is no limit, no beginning, no end : No measure, to stint, no time to pass away, no space to hedge the spirit in, no motion to tire, no dis- turbing differences ; but boundless, endless joy is the life thereof: The Nirvana : The Absolute. Existence came, of necessity from this spiritual subsistence. There was no where else to come from. This spiritual subsistence is our God and there is none else (Is. 45 : 5-6, Is. 46:9). So, as God, this spiritual subsistence, "in the he- ginning'" gave birth or expelled from itself "the heavens and the earth" (Gen. i :i). The spiritual substance so cast forth to form the heavens and the earth we know as Matter. Out of Matter has been formed the Universe. 8. Matter is Externalized Spirit. — That is, spirit ex- terior or outside the spirit world, or spirit condition. Matter came oui from spirit and will return back to spirit again. The existence of matter, as an entirety, spans the space between the beginning and the end. Either foot of the span rests against the spirit world. The "beginning" from which existence came and the ending into which existence is poured is God (Is. 48:12-13 Rev. i :8). Matter went forth from Him in ether, "without form and void," and in darkness (Gen. i :2), wholly unrecognizable by physical means, as even spirit also is. And after being developed into and passed through all the externalized forms of the mineral, vegetable and animal world it returns to God through thought and will. 9. To have obtained existence matter must have been ex- pelled from its original spiritual subsistence, — cast out of God. For not to have been cast out would have been to remain spirit As a thing exterior and apart from God it forms a new and an- tagonistic kingdom (see Rev. ch. 12). A realm unlike its fa- therland and dividing territory, jurisdiction and authority from it. Hence we may style the existence of matter a rebellion. 10. An opposition of will in the realm of subsistence ma}^ have been the occasion for the creation of matter. But the God created it, endowed it, characterized and afterwards made use of it to His honor and glorv. So that matter has nothinof that was not im- « PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. parted to it by the God. By being cast out motion was imparted to it. By being cast out in all directions from the subsistence as a center, extent, volume, dimension was given it. By being cast out it was divided, separated, completely cut off from the spiritual subsistence from which it came. God gave to matter motion, extent, and separateness. And there is no matter without them. They char- acterize it. All matter has dimensions. All matter is in incessant motion. And all matter is divided into parts, atoms, molecules. It is separated into kinds, distinct and unlike. It is varied and has been fashioned into forms along divergent lines. (See Rev. 12 :7-9, Luke lo :i8, John 12 :3i.) 11. Matter is indestructable. It maybe wrought back into spirit again by the process called regeneration. Spirit may pass into matter by creation. But the sum total of all substance, so far as we know, is eternally the same. 12. Matter of itself is void and without form. It is the earth which the maker molds into forms. The sea of waters from which all vessels are filled. It is the material out of which the whole structure of the universe and all its parts is built (Gen. 1:2). It is the substance of IMngs. Not the essential substance, spirit is that. But that part of the eternal essence which is objective — exter- nal substance. CHAPTER IL SPIRIT. 13. ■ The power employed to cast the opposition out of* Heaven into the condition of formless earth or matter, was called Michael (Rev. 1 2 :7 9). And through him was given to matter a territory and rule apart from Heaven, and the three principles which possess it. 14. But Good tolerates no rival power longer than in His wisdom to make use of it for His own high purposes. So, imme- diately, at the beginning, as soon as the opposed spirit had been cast out into matter "without form and void," He sent out His spirit after it to mold it into such form as He chose. 15^ Unlike matter the "spirit of God" retained its spiritual condition and power. Although coining forth into existence, it con- tinued its union with the source from which it came forth and was not separated from it. This spirit did the will of God, and "mov- ed upon the face of the waters," i. e. fluid matter, or ether, and commenced the process of subjection of the rebellion. 16. Although entering the realm of matter the spirit was not of it. Matter is the material of which the universe is built, spirit is the force which has molded and fashioned the matter into the countless shapes and forms and beings that are. It brought light out of the darkness, the form out of the void. 17. Still joined to the spiritual subsistence from which it came the spirit is characterized b}' principles given to it by the Father source. By being inseparable from its source it has union. Through the union with its source it holds communicaiion. And by reason of its reliance upon God it is at jysI, stable, strong. It is at one with Him, All spirit is conscious, communicative, knowing. All spirit has strength and power to will and to do. And all spirit seeks to unite or draw to a common governing center. It has affinities. Its work is along convergent lines towards centers which govern. Instead of separating it unites. Instead of ex- panding it concentrates. Instead of restless motion its part is to- ward restful peace. 18. Spirit has no form but can mold matter into every form of which mind can conceive. The mind is the mirror upon wh'ch it casts all forms. The universe is cast upon the great .'dll Mind. The spirit is subjective. It is master of all the external substance. lO I'lIILO.SOJ'lI^' <)]'" KXI.STENCE. It is the essential substance. Essence of all. It is the seer and knovver, while matter is the seen and known. Spirit knows itself through the material form it has called forth. 19. So Existence Contains both matter, or externalized spirit, and the pure spirit, or power of the spiritual subsistence from which both came, and the myriad fui'/ns and conditions into which the spirit has forced matter. Therefore, Existence is spirit in nianij'esi Joriii. The evolution or transformation of matter, by spirit from the original ether sea into millions of stars and beings reaching to su- blime intelligence and ultimately to complete spiritual sovereignty constitutes the whole of existence, extends to the limits of Time and the confines of Space. Its details, for human kind, are impos- sible to know but its principles are the same everywhere and throughout all time. CHAPTER III. FORM. 20. The countless forms, beings and organized entireties whicli exist and which we all know of less or more, were, and are, born of matter, by the spirit. The spirit made all forms out of matter. But to make anything means and methods must be em- ployed. We work with our head or hands,, or by means of tools and machines. But these are secondary means. In making the world out of matter the spirit worked by means of principles. A.nd these same principLes must be employed or made use of by us in our work. God gave to existence these principles as He had given to it matter and spirit. All is from Him. Possibl}' matter and spirit may have been without the existence of these principles, al- though I cannot conceive it. But it is certain that spirit could have done no work and matter could not have been wrought into any forms, or constructed into worlds or beings, but for them. So we can know nothing about forms, beings, bodies or anything that exists without a knowledge of these principles. We have already referred to them in the first two chapters. They are in two groups and were called into existence simultaneously and necessarily, with matter and spirit. 21. Of the great two. Matter and Spirit, that till the universe, and are the composite parts of its forms. Matter is most readily apprehended by us. This is due to its priority of development and externalit}' of form. The subjective spirit may only be known through the means of the objective matter. The spirit by which matter was cast forth (1;^) was threefold. To matter was imparted the three principles of motion, extent and separateness. Its origin and manner of birth give it these three characteristics of necessity. It was cast out of the spiritual subsistence (9), hence motion was imparted to it. By being cast outward there was given to it extent. It was driven away from its source into all directions, — a volume, — a sea of expanse. By the same expulsion it was separated from its source : sent apart from it. And the gates of Heaven were shut behind it. 22. These three principles could not exist without each other. Motion must be from one point to another point separate from the first, and in the transit it traverses extent. Without the extent and 12 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. separateness motion plainly could not exist. Without the going forth from the first source there could have been no extent, ex- panse, nor any separating. The inevitable result of these princi- ples in Matter necessitates incessant change. All change employs movement between points not identical and at a distance from each other. 23. All matter is in constant motion from the restless mole- cule to the twinkling star, rushing along its pathway in the Heav- ens with lightning speed. We behold compound motions in the growing plant, the blowing wind, the rusting iron, the passing of time and thought of man. Wherever there is material thing, there is motion. 24. The principle of extent gives to all matter dimensions, length, breadth, and thickness. No material substance exists that has not bulk, size, volume, expanse, space. Matter was spread out. Space is but the ether sea in which material forms are sus- pended or immersed. 25. P'rom the principle of division, or separateness, comes all the differences, unlikeness, diverseness, divergences, variety both in quantity and quality that is to be found among material things. It has given to the material world its innumerable unlike and different classes and kingdoms. It has given individualitv to everything. Because of it we have the difference which exists be- tween the bird, the sea, the fish, the cloud, the tree, man and the mj'riad varieties that diversify nature. Those different lines of creation that have diverged widely, coming into cross purposes, produce hate, antagonism, jealousies, wars. Its unchecked ten- dency is disintegration, destruction, ruin. Such is its tendency when it is controlled b}' the will of matter in opposition to the will of God. 26. Like matter the God-spirit was also threefold. It is gov- erned, or governs, bv the three principles of affinity, consciousness and rest. As matter was a rebellion from the sjnrit subsis- tence and departed from it possessed of unlikeness and separate- ness, and as the God-spirit was of that spirit subsistence, hence like it, so the principles .of spirit were opposite in kind to the prin- ciples of matter. The jirinciples of spirit are God-like. By it the spirit is at one with God. 27. Affinity is that principle by which things are drawn to- gether. It causes union of purpose, plan and being. Because of it all things gravitate to a one center. It groups the stars, binds particle to particle in every mass and gives organized effort. It has produced cohesion, gravitation, chemical affinities, magnet- ism, families, tribes, nations, fortunes, loves, and all kinds of ac- cumulations. 28. Consciousness is the principle by which things coming in contact feel each other and by touching know of the thing touched. It is the avenue of communication by which one thing imparts to FORM. 13 another. It concentrates into a tiny cell the immensities of a uni- verse. It is directly opposite to extent. It gives recognition and perception. It is the receptacle of knowledge. The store house of power. It joins the thing known to the being knowing and puts the thing within the reach of its power. It unites the without to the within. It produces sensations and cognizances in organ- ized being and becomes concentrated power. It joins the families, tribes and affinities, beings and bodies to the sovereign center. Its results are knowledge, intelligence and reason. The sub- jective has contact with the objective. 29. Rest is the principle of the center : rest in opposition to motion. About it all things move but it moves not. It is the sovereign upon the throne : the altar of the spirit. The will is lodged there. It is the place of the chooser, the dictator, origina- tor of all action : father and master of all its sphere : the queen bee for which all the rest live. The "one center" which is in com- mon. It is the strong one: gateway for the spirit: doorway to Heaven: source of all power : the immoveable c*;?^. 30. The spirit by means of the principles of affinity, con- sciousness and the immovable, unites matter into a being. The being is an organized form or individual within which these prin- ciples can exercise their power. The being is thus placed between these spirit principles within and the principles of matter without and sul3Ject to their influences, until it becomes possessed of the knowledge of Good and Evil, when it becomes master and they the servants. Being is the form existence is constantly seeking. 31. Like the three principles of Matter, the principles of Spirit are co-dependent. Beings to draw each other, — to have an attraction one for the other, — must be conscious of each other, must preceive one the other, must come in contact (74). And though they become cognizant of one another yet will they not be drawn to each other unless they are alike, have something in com- mon, have trust, belief, reliance one in the other. The Hottentot would be repulsive to the Boston Belle, especiall}'- as a husband. A choice is made. All beings exercise a selection. Kindred things draw each other. Thev must be alike, kindred, sympa- thetic. They must be of the same order of things or they repel. 32. The Principle of Limitation. The progress of mat- ter under the control of the outward principles of motion, extent, and separation, was apart, diverse, contrary and separate. Such a direction continued must result in diffusion, w^eakness, thinness, dismemberment, disintergation, destruction. But "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters," — the sea of matter, — and stayed its further course in this direction, — limilcd the outgo- ing. Here we have another principle interposed between the out- going and the inbringing principles. The principle oi limitation came from the joint presence of matter and spirit. It is exercised Ijy spirit upon matter. Matter is immersed in spirit. Spirit satu- 14 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTEN'CE. ates It through and through. Matter was retained, conlined, shut in, and cut off. 33. Matter had been 'without form and void." The spirit b}- means of limitation gave it form, and order, and system. The form divides or separates all within from all without. This limita- tion gives to everything an outside, an exterior surface, a perime- ter, a beginning and an end. That by which it is divided from ever^'thing outside of itself. This outside is the form which we see and feel and touch. It is onl}'^ at this outside that the within comes in contact with the without. Limitation stands between the within and the without and divides or parts them, cuts them off one from the other. Its dividing power is constantly being em- ployed cutting, shaping, forming new things and beings out of old. By it spirit is continually limiting matter. 34. Wonderful and universal as the principles of the spirit and matter are, without this dividing principle of limitation there would be but one vast thing. By it all things may be limited, cut, split and made two things. And as it is only within and through the being that the internal group of principles hold svvay, without division into many beings affinity, consciousness, and one- ness would be confined to one vast whole. Indeed there could have been no heiiig at all, for by limitation, the spirit produces being from matter. But now, by limitation the spirit principles find habitation in myriad forms. 35. Indeed limitation solves the great rebellion, for while it is a division to the external rebels of matter it is a multiplication to the internal powers of the spirit ; a reducer of the vast forces of the without, an increaser of the vast forces of the within. ^6. Limitation has divided motion into two great forces, centrifugal and centripetal. These two great forces are the father and mother elements of the universe. Being is their child. The first is governed and characterized by the outward bound princi- ples. The last by the inward bound principles. By giving indi- viduality to each form and being also, limitation has caused one thing to succeed another. All was not simultaneous or coincident, but successive, one after another — Time, of which later on. Lim- itation has divided Extent into vast Worlds and Spaces, — the Universe. And. Separateness into great kingdoms or classes — the mineral, vegetable and animal. 37. The Limitations of Matter bv the spirit is the story of Evolution. Evolution is the process of limitation. This work of evolution is the result, the inevitable result, and only result pos- sible of the co-presence of the seven principles named. Its pro- gress is absolute and fixed from the beginning. 38. Matter and spirit are the substance and force of the uni- verse but all things, beings and relationships are the result of these seven principles. h\\ things have been made out of the substance but bv reason of. and through the agencv of these seven principles, FORM. 15 which pervade all things and by which all things are governed and controlled, without which no thing or bei.ng could for a mo- ment exist. 39. Spirit and matter are the two pillars at the entrance to God's temple (King 7 : 15-22). They support the being. Creation is built upon them and by them existence is upheld. They are the two springs of the arch. Limitation, the keystone that binds the arch into one span. The seven principles, are, in the consuma- tion the "Seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth" (Rev. 5:6,4:5,3:1 and 1:4). All powers are made to serve Him. All come from Him. All go to Him. These seven spirits are the es- sentials of existence. Remove them and existence ceases. Spirit would remain, matter might, but existence would vanish. CHAPTER IV. RELATIONSHIP OF THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES. 40. The presence of the seven principles are made known to our consciousness by the seven notes of music, do, re, mi, fa, sol, la and si. They appear in the seven prismatic colors, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. They are commemorated by the seven days of the week, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wed- nesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They are symbolized and their characteristics aptly expressed by the seven geometrical signs, viz. The straight line, Motion » The angle. Extent. The triangle, Separation. The square, or rectangle, Limitation. The circle, Affinit}^. The globe. Consciousness. The center, (or point), Rest, Oneness, or Perfect Being. Everything is in sevens. Furthermore each seven known < present the seven principles in the same order. They follow each other always in the same order and exercise their dominion in their proper time and place. 41. First of all came motion,' things^ events began to move. Motion was away from Heax'^en, outward into a vast expanse. This caused a change and the motion and change was unlike Heaven and separated from it. But expanse reached its limit. Space was partitioned off, and divided up into small forms and shapes. Things and events were turned back towards smallness of form instead of going ever on to largeness, and diffusion. They were drawn into concentrated bodies, vital periods, quick living. And these bodies and periods came into contact and had knowl- edge of each other, and enthroned a sovereign will, and came to rest at the source. The seven principles always maintain this same cei'tain order in reference to each other,— motion, extent, separation, limitation, affinity, consciousness and fixedness. Of course we may touch successivelv distant ke3^s in a composition, but the scale is always the same. A little thought will show that their characters are such as to make it impossible for any one of them to proceed another in any different order of position. They RELATIONSHIP OF THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES. 1 7 may remain quiescent of expression, and be brought to the uses of being in myriad variety and combination. Yet they continue to exist in the same rotation of position, (see the seven angels in Rev.). 42. It is a noticeable feature of the operations of the Divine, that, when known, they show at once to be both natural and proper, and inevitable. In fact, impossible in the nature of things to be different than they are. They are necessities. God's wis- dom fills up the measure. It is just full, nor does it ever run over into different channels than those it was designed to fill. All the principles which He has employed are complete and perfect and so will Existence be when the edifice is fully finished. Necessity is the law of God. 43. Because of this inevitable order we find each existence, each part of an existence, and each group, or cluster of existences passing through seven periods, conditions or stages of being, each being in succession governed by one of the seven principles. And each period will have its seven minor periods and so on. Although some existences are imperfect and from collision with mightier ones are destroyed or broke up before completing their round. 44. The Seven Days. Existence as an entirety, therefore, has its Seven Grand Ages. These God has called "Days," that is revelations, or disclosures. Each day is a new lighl. The sov- ereignty of a different one of the seven great principles. Seven great unfoldings. Night hides, but day reveals. The mineral world has entered its seventh or rest period and mineral creations may have ceased. Man is the animal of the sixth period, the day of consciousness, and has also reached his sixth sub-period, the epoch of mind. The last epoch of man is the "millenium" the period of rest, and of sovereignty. Each of these seven great da3'"s in the material world will be exposed in order in Book Two. 45- The Order displayed by the seven principles in their uniformity of operation is due to the fifth principle, the succession of authority is due to the limiting of each in turn by the fourth prin- ciple, their possession and operation to the first principle, their sovereignty over the being each in turn to the seventh principle, and so on. 46. The Law. The unfolding of existence during each of the seven days, or ages, while it has been dominated by the cor- responding principle as sovereign of that age, has yet been influ- enced and effected by all the co-existent principles in varied com- binations. By reason of the co-existence of these seven principles each with its counteracting, or supporting influence, have come certain methods or modes of operation. And these laws, or meth- ods of operation, by the very nature of the seven principles, ex- tend to every created thing and relationship. Nothing exists without its law. A law by which it was produced, is maintained, or finally superceded. Moreover, a perfect knowledge of the 15 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. seven principles and their mutual influences, one upon another, would disclose not only all the operations that have taken place, as a result of their co-existence, but, also, all the results that must follow, of a necessity, because of the nature of things, to the end of time and the finishing of all things. 47. Particular Laws, by which a small number of indi- viduals exist, have grown out of laws possessed of more extended sway, as twigs out of branches. These we can scracel}' touch upon. But five great universal laws, — the great limbs of the tree, — claim our brief consideration before we examine the unfolding of existence as evidenced b}^ the facts. These are the Dual Law, the Triune Law, Law of Origin, Law of Preservation, and Law of Selective Appropriation. CHAPTER V. THE DUAL LAW. 48. The first law is due to the two vast elements, matter and spirit each with its characteristic group of principles, set in oppo- sition to each other by the principle of limitation or division. The first group is oulirard in all its tendencies,— external, and charac- terizes the material world, the seen, the visible, the known of the five senses, the governed. The last group is inward in all its ten- dencies,— internal, and characterizes the inner, unseen, invisible, but governing existence. That which does the knowing. 49. They characterize respectfullv the material and spiritual. Time, or limitation, parts Earth from Heaven, the terrestrial from the celestial, the objective from the subjective, the within of the being from the without of the being. These two great armies are occupied in a mighty engagement. The results of the efforts of both parties being a certain universal and constant method, man- ner or law of material formalion. This we might style the law of opposition, but from an earthly standpoint is more correct!}' the law of compliment. 50. Everything and relation that exists requires and has an opposite to define it. Thus we have light and darkness, heat and cold, hate and love, male and female. Do not be deluded by the thought that one is the absence of the other. We cannot know things that do not exist. That would be to create. Absence is only the opposite of presence. Things may be positive and neg- ative, but both are. Though one may be transient, the other eter- nal. 51. The darkness was not taken from the light. The dark- ness existed first, whatever the subsistence mav have been, and the light was born from it (Gen. i :2-4). Heat is the offspring ^of rapid motion. Motion is a principle of the manifested spirit of this earthly existence, but cold, its opposite, is the natural result of rest, and rest is in Heaven. False things may be untrue yet they are. You know of nothing, have no power to know of what is not. 52. This dual law must remain until Time be removed from between the within and the without parting Earth from Heaven. When this limiting principle is removed, as it will be at the end 20 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. (Rev. 10:6), then there will be no opposition longer and the dual law will perish. Existence must end with it. Doubtless then, evil wnll succumb to its opposite good, darkness vanish into light, and the outer kingdom of the rebellion flow back into the Fatherland. 53. Motion is the means by which every evolvement of crea- tion has been produced. The other principles have influenced and directed its course. Given it direction and purpose. The first ef- fect of the principle of division when called into existence was to divide motion into two great parts. The one part governed by- separation and expanse was of neccessity an outgoing, — amotion away from the center. The other part incited by affinitv, con- sciousness and oneness, was and continues to be an incoming cen- tripetal movement, — motion towards the center. This was the be- ginning of creation, — the first dualty, — two great opposite and contending forces. And although each has been divided into many parts, and out of eacli many children have been born, thev embrace together all the movements known. 54. As all would have been diffused, scattered, wrecked, if the centrifugal force had alone remained, and di\ision had not created the centripetal finxe. and limited the first, so we see that the two are essential to existence. There could be no thing or be- ing without these dual forces. The one is the father and the other the mother of all things. There can be no progress, development, unfolding, without the outward bound force to bring it out of what was before. This is the father. — the originator. Equallv true there can be no continuance of existence in the same being, /lo form^ collection of many parts into one harmonious whole, without the inward bound force to keep that which is brought forth. This is the mother. — the preserver. The mother element clothes the father element and gives it expression in form. Without the pres- ervation by the mother element, tiie father element could not be expressed. So all existence depends upon this duality and no form or being could for a moment exist without it. CHAPTER VI. THE TRIUNE LAW. 55. From the co-existence of the two great forces of oppo- site direction, — centrifugal and centripetal, — has sprung a second great law, by which all things progress or develop, as by the first law all things consist. We may call this the Triune Law, since by it all things exist in three states or condition, and progress from the first through the second to the third. Gas, liquid, then solid, is the rule of the material world. 56. The reason for these successive conditions, and the char- acter of each, readily appears, when we recall the order in which the seven principles carne into existence to exercise their sway over it. First came the centrifugal group, — motion, expanse and diver- gence ; next limitation : and last the centripetal group, — affinit}--, contact and rest. The centrifugal group in its government of mat- ter was outward bound, expansive, sending apart, scattering. This expansiveness, wide-separation, diffusiveness is the charac- teristic of (/as. But when, afterwards, the centripetal group of prin- ciples came their opposite power contested with the first for the control of matter, litiiiling their power, and the divided authority produced the liquid condition, a state in which the particles are collected by the last force but are still restless and mobile from the persistence of the first. After a time, — for all this is wrought in time, hence the control could not be instantaneous, — the last power, — the centripetal — obtained sovereignty and the particles are drawn closely together, solidified and established. 57. Now these seven principles operate in the same order in every being which the middle principle has divided from the orig- inal mass of matter. The law^ of their operation does not vary. Hence in everything from the lowest form of the material world up to the highest form of the organic, this law of progress or develop- ment is the same. Take for example the highest of all, the hu- man animal. First it is born small, — a mere six to ten pounds of soft tender baby. Under the control of the centrifug'al force it ex- pands, or grows. It exhibits a contrary disposition. It reaches out in all directions and its youth is wavward and wild. Fickle, changeable, unsettled, uncontrolled are the days of youth. But ut- ter three successive periods it reaches its limit, obtains its tuU 22 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. form and matures. Then comes the centripetal power and the man becomes settled, with fixed purposes, aims and methods. In youth he was easily turned aside, but now he is set and firm. It is hard to learn an old dog new tricks. Not only have the bones and muscles and sinews hardened, but the whole man has hard- ened into either a good or despicable being. He has become solid. 58. All the progress or advancement made from the simple but vast original waters, to the complex and many final forms is due to this great Triune law. If the progress is governed by the material will, it will be downward ; if governed by the spiritual will, it will be upward. And mankind have the power to choose which will shall control them (269). For controlled and influenced they must be. There is no standing still in exis- tence. The order is to move on. 59. Some of the substances known to us exist in nature in the three forms, such as ice, water and vapor, the three forms of water. By the application of the proper principle to them we may transform them, by advancing them, or setting them back in their career. As, for instance, water first existed as a i^apor, envel- oping the whole world. Its natural progress was to a liquid form, and on finally, in the end of the world, to solid ice. But by appli- cation of one of the centrifugal forces, as heat, we may set it back, and turn the water into steam. Or, by the withdrawal of the centri- fugal forces, such as heat, we leave it exposed to the paramount centripetal powers and obtain ice. a transformation, or advance- ment, from the liquid to the solid condition quicker than would have happened but for our intervention. So it is that by our will we may hasten, or retard, the inevitable progress from gas to solid (268). 60. But, naturally, at this point arises the question, how is it, since we see about many things that have arrived at the solid con- dition through natures' process, that everything has not become fixed? How is it that there are still gases, liquids and solids all existing at the same time? This is due to the principle of limita- tion and to the principle of inequality, or unlikeness which causes different things to be diflferently limited, and brings us to another great law. CHAPTER VII. ORIGIN OF BEING, Or the Law of the Will. 6i. The marvel of Time, the principle of limitation has, with the co-operation of the principle of separation or difference, effected the happy variety observed in nature whereby gas, liquid, and solid co-exist. Had the principles not co-existed, the one original mass of matter, under the influence of the Triune Law of progress, would have progressed together in one body from gas to solid. But each of the seven principles govern, successively, each being in a given order (40, 41, 43). Now when at the middle stage the being is turned over to the authority of limitation, it puts a boundary around it and confines it to a recognized limit, then the spirit of difference and separation bursts through the mid- dle of the limitation and by passing that limit is cut off into a new being. A part of the parent becomes a new and separate being. And since it is the law, just referred to (40), that every being must commence under the authority of the fir si principle, — motion, — this portion of matter which had only progressed through one-half its course in the parent being, recommences at the beginning again. So there exists portions of matter which have never been under the paramount authority of the centripetal power. These are the gases and liquids, both literal and figurative. 62. From what is before us we perceive that the middle or liquid condition is the one that gives birth to new being. A new being, race or mineral is never brought forth from the 3'outh or age of its parent being, race or kind. Baby's and grey hairs do not bear children. But it is the prime of life that offsprings. (93.) 63.' At the prime of life is the perfection of matter and of physical being. Then are the two forces in equilibrium. Each is fully engaged by the opposite force. This complete employment of all its forces is beneficial to the being, Then can the being best spare a part of itself; for it has a superabundance of form. Then, too, is its condition most inviting to an attack from its kind from without. In its youth the being had a surplus of centrifugal force, — more than could be employed within itself in conflict or union, with the small centripetal force. This surplus of centrifu- 24 ■ PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. gal force repelled or repulsed the forces from without that came into communication with the 3'outh. In age the being has a sur- plus of centripetal force, — more than can be kept busy within bv the diminished centrifugal. This surplus centripetal power appro- priates to its own use and enslaves those forces from without that come within reach of its being. But in middle life the being has no such surplus of either force. At that time, both forces being nearly equal in strength, they are fully employed with each other, within the being, resulting in perfection of form and comliness. Hence, at the prime of life without force to defend or force to enslave, the being is left open to successful attacks from without. Then may the aggressive power of some other being obtain mas- tery over the middle life and entering that being's within upset its equilibrium and expel a portion of its substance to form a new organism under the sovereignty of the entering will. The state of equilibrium is easily upset. It takes but little heat to turn the liquid into gas, — to send it back to a new beginning. 64. Hence the law of origin : lilienever an expulsive surplus comes in contact with a collective middle life of its own lind the equilibrium of that life will de disturbed and a portion expelled by the new force and will form a new being. Pour a new liquid into a vessel already full and some of the old must run out. 65. The gradually increasing supremacy of the centripetal power existing in the prime middle life will draw the expulsive sur- plus from another being of the same kind. Only beings of the same kind, or race, could approach consciously near enough to feel the drawing or attractive influence, and respond to it. Moreover the two forces seem ever seeking to get at each other, so that when the centralizing power has engaged all the ex- pansive force in a being, — as occurs in middle life, — it become^ attractive to the opposite force in some other being, which, as we have said, must be of its race to come in reach of its influence or selective power. For these reasons has come a duality in all the later or more divided and limited races. One portion of the race having a superabunance of the expulsive force, — the progressive male ; and the other portion having a superabundance of the attractive force, — the conservative female. As all motion of sub- stance was first centrifugal and the centripetal was divided or sep- arated out of it by limitation, so the female must, in the first in- stance, have been taken from the male. And the female is the higher. For surely all things are becoming solid, preserved. It is the woman who rescues and saves the world. And moreover the highest comes last. 66. Another admirable result is produced by the law of ori- gin. By the act of birth the particles least fit to remain in the mother being are expelled. The mother retains the strongest hold on those particles that are most fitting, or most in harmony with her organism. The particles expelled are sent on a new ORIGIN OF BEING, OR THE LAW OF THE WILL. 25 round of the sovereignty of the elements, together with another lot of particles from the father being. And the more times that substance is vvorked over in this way b}' the seven principles, in the presence of a new portion each time, the more divided, com- plex and perfect it becomes : or, in other words, the more victories spirit gains over matter the more spiritualized it be- comes. So that which is rejected by the unconscious selfishness of the being in which it first lodged becomes in the end more greatly exalted. Matter will continue to be divided and subdi- vided, called into minuter limits, until it passes inward below limit and ends in spirit. 67. In each successive being, moreover, matter recites its own experiences, so that in the embrio it passes through all the types of the forms it has passed through up to the last, when, it having learned nothing further, and cannot without further ex- perience or contact, it breaks away from the parent into a sepa- rate being, ^ — it is born (252). 68. The law of origin of being applies equally to the mate- rial masses, and mineral kingdom as to the animal and vegetable. It reaches from the foundation up through the whole structure. There are branches of creation, of course, through which the sap does not ascend to man. But man is at the top of the main stem of creation. CHAPTER VIII. LAW OF PRESERVATION— REACTION. 69. The law of origin, which we have been considering, has direct relation to the child and its welfare ; a new law comes to exercise itself over the parent by reason of the function of giving birth, — the law of preservation. If a loaded gun be mounted upon wheels running upon a track, to reduce friction, and then tired, as the ball discharged from it travels away, the gun will be found traveling in the opposite direction ; an evidence of action and reaction. And the two forces are said to be equal. Wherever the element of limitation parts one thing from, or sends it out of, another this reaction takes place. Division comes in between and sends one part one way and the other part the opposite way. And since the child, or new part travels the old, learned, familiar, out- ward way (61 and 67), the reaction in the parent is a new, unex- perienced, but opposite, hence, inward way. And since the child moves away from its source, the parent must move towards its source. Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return was God's direction to all material forms. Universally expressed, covering the whole rebellion, the truth is, spirit is thy source, to spirit shalt thou return. 70. Herein is the law of preservation. If the law of the child continued and the outgoing did not reach a limit, the being would expand to bursting, diffusion, separation and total loss, or destruction. But that wonderful fourth principle stops the out- ward progress in its proper order, divides a part to a new outward form, and sends the major part towards salvation, preservation and solidity. With the superabundance of the centrifugal force (which has gone into the child) expelled from the being its conduct is governed henceforth bv the retained centripetal force and by it the being becomes fixed in its habits and perm.anentl}- established. 71. The Return,— This return of the being towards its source is attended by many interesting circumstances. It passes through the same three zones through which it came out from the source, but in reverse order and in opposite direction ; from childhood out, then back to second childhood. Moreover, in this return, the inward meets the outward, and so comes to a knowledge of it. In this recognition, or contact, comes consciousness. The outward presents itself to the inward and is received in knowledge. And the incoming shall not be as the outgoing. Matter went forth void and without form ; it comes back individualized, improved by experience and fruitful in knowledge. CHAPTER IX. LAW OF SELECTION. 72. The improvement of matter by experience is chiefly through the operaton of the fifth great law, — the law of choice or selection; Darwin's Natural Selection is a part of its operation. We have perceived how, in the grouping together of beings, or particles, each must perceive the others presence (31) before any exercise of affinity, by which they draw toward each other. At least one of them must perceive, the other may be passive and simply be drawn without conscious knowledge of the one drawing. Only one may do the selecting. But whether one only, or both, are conscious, both draw and are drawn by reason of the likeness existing within them. For although beings, and particles, may perceive each others presence, they will not draw each other un- less they have an affinity one for the other: interests in common, likeness of quality, a common want. Unlike or antagonistic par- ties only repel. So a selection is made, a choice exercised, either by the macrocosm, to add to its forms particles akin and harmoni- ous ; or by the microcosm, to add to its being similar desires, im- pulses and forms. Mind exercises choice in all grouping or col- lecting of particles. The things that are alike choose each other. The bad choose the bad ; the good, the good. " Birds of a feather flock together." The clustering of the like divides the unlike ; minerals are divided from minerals, families from families, nations from nations by the selection exercised, like choosing like. 73. By this law all things grow. The plant sending up its slender stem, and sending down its tender roots, from the seed ; selects from the surrounding environment the particles suitable for its use and appropriates them, — adds them, in fact, to its being. By this means, and by this means alone, it augments its size, — grows. It sends out its affinity by means of its expansive power to seize upon and appropriate the nearest particles in the ground and air which are the most suitable to its own being. It does not seize upon particles haphazard that it may magnify its bulk, but always, with great nicety, selects those that are appropriate, kin- dred, and sufficiently sympathetic to be readily assimulated into its being. No others respond to its drawing influence. With rep- etition, or experience, — in other words, by repeated divisions, — rebirths by means of the fourth principle, — this power of selection becomes more and more sensitive and perfect, until, finally, in man it becomes a choice between good and evil. 74. But each being must know to choose. One being ma^^ 28 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. choose another and draw it to them, bind it to their usef^, without the consciousness of the being or thing so drawn and used. But in such case the choice is not mutual, but is the choice of. the active and masterful being. Tlie other one makes no choice, but mav draw as well as be drawn. Notl ing can be selected or made choice of where it is not perceived or its presence known. And as knowledge only comes as fast as the within comes in contact with the without ; and as only man has progressed so far towards the great spiritual source as to have a spiritual contact and so be able to have a knowledge of good and evil ; so of all beings, only man has a spiritual choice. Only man can become a spiritual being. 75. The within coming in contact with the without is expe- rience. The greater the distance the being has progressed on its return towards the source, the larger its experience, and the greater the proportion of the whole to be known it has had oppor- tunity to receive. Knowledge is the being's recognition of its experiences, or contacts. And as the power of choi<:e is limited by the being's knowledge {74). so only in so far as the being has proceeded on its return journey to its source, and only in so far as it has become conscious of its contacts, is its power of choice per- fect. Perfect and entire knowledge gives the power of perfect and entire selection. And perfect selection would be perfect being. This is unquestionable the ultimatum. " Be ye therefore perfect, even as 3'our Father which is in heaven is perfect (Math. 5 : 48). Hence we may see that races and individuals are superior as they approach this end. 76. But perfect knowledge, wherewith is the power of per- fect selection, is not enough, in itself, to a return to the spiritual source. The power of selection must be used in the choosing of the good in preference. to the evil. That being which has perfect knowledge may choose to be *' perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven," or he may choose to be perfect in evil, — a Devil incarnate. Evil can never return to the spiritual souice, hence evil selections preclude spiritual subsistence. Moreover, that be- ing, which, on its return, reaches the knowledge of good and of evil, and chooses the evil because of ignorance still remaining, may recover the lost estate by the right choice at the time when his ignorance shall be removed, but he who chooses the wrong from preference, having full knowledge, has committed the unpar- donable sin. He belongs to the evil. CHAPTER X. ORGANIC APPROPRIATION— HABIT. 77. Because of the law of choice, the later races are superior to the earlier. In fact so much more prominent does the opera- tions of this law become in the organic kingdom, — or after matter took on organized form, — that it could with propriety be called the law of organic appropriation of external force. But this ex- pression presents its operation in union with the law of preserva- tion. When a being has chosen any particle or motion, — for motions may be chosen as well as substance, — or appropriated it to its own use; the law of preservation causes the particle to be- come a fixture of the being ; or the motion to become a perma- nently repeated one within the being, that is a habit- And so com- pletely does the law of preservation make all that ihe being has received b}' exercise of the law of choice its own, that the being becomes largely a product of these habits. And in conse- quence the characteristic habits of a race of animals is alike in all individuals of the race. 78. As the offspring receives its start in the character of the parent, — which character is largely composed of the parent's ac- quired habits, — and adds its own selections also to the inherited ones, so a constant advance, or accumulation, is going on in all races. 79. The law of choice gives character, and the law of pre- servation fixes it, — makes it a very part of the self of the being. And as a part of the being it becomes a part of that which chooses, and hence sovereign to the choice. The being may not deny itself. The man who has bad habits is not a possessor of bad habits only, he is a bad man. For such a one there is no salva- tion in himself. For his being cannot deny itself. For him the only hope of anything better is to be born again, — born over. The Spirit born in the heart of man has power to cast out the bad and renew and purify the whole life and character and make out of the bad man a good one (John 3 : 1-2 1). The badness Ay\v\g, and being cast out, as the new spiritual life grows and fills thfe being. This new spiritual being is the offspring of the ]Vord of God., given by Christ Jesus, the son of the Most High. Its influ- ence is over you and round about you to-day. Though a bad 30 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. man, — and all human kind have been subjected to the hrey pas- sions of the animal realm, — you can, by the exercise of choice, open your heart and mind to the Word and be impregnated by it : and when the period of you gestation is over, there shall be born within you a new creature whose part is eternal life. Thenceforth the creature will choose the good of himself. 80. Summary of the Five Great Laws. — B}'^ the Dual Law all things consist, or are held together. By the Triune Law all things change or progress. By the Law of Origin all things have being and reproduce being. By the Law of Preservation all things persist or continue in existence. By the Law of Choice all things grow and are governed. All other laws are children of these. By these methods, and the component principles, the Spirit has fashioned out of a sea of matter a beautiful and wonder- ful world, diversified in form, radiant with color, and glorious in thought. The chief features of which will be presented in the following books of this work. BOOK T\^^0 THE TERRESTRIAL WORLD, CHAPTER L FORCE. 8i. The Creation. Existence is twofold, physical and spiritual. The first limitations of matter by the spirit were upon the physical plane. The rebels from heaven,— the waters, — had the advantage of the battle ground. And while the spirit was vic- torious its victories were in the country of the enemy. The mate- rial and physical, clothes, characterizes and embodies all the spirit's first efibrts. These limitations of matter, and the resultant forms, belong to the Creation. The last limitations of matter will be upon the spiritual plane, within the boundary of the celestial world, and embodied in spirit. And these limitations, and result- ant forms, belong to the Regeiieralion. 82. The two realms overlap each other, and many battles have been, and are being, fought, on the borderland, or common ground, between the two domains. This book will deal with that part of existence which is inseparable from physical embodiment, — nature and the natural forms, — The Terrestrial World. While that part of existence which lies across the boundary line, in the spiritual environments, will be dealt with in the next book, — The Celestial World. 83. The Creation is the evolution of forms from matter by the process of its limitation by spirit (37). The essential substance is spirit and is not created (7). It is from the forever. It has been, and will forever be. It is involved in eternity, — the always. It may be drawn out, cast out, or evolved (8, 9). And in the without, or objective, it is matter. From this matter the spirit has power, by reason of the seven principles which were also evolved from the spiritual subsistence (20), to create forms, things and beings. This creation is b}" the process of evolution. And this evolution, unfolding from, coming out of, is essentially a limiting process. The seven principles, themselves, were limited ; or, out of each was evolved, or drawn out, seven other principles ; and ever}' principle evolved manifested itself in matter. Only so can princi- ples be expressed. We could know nothing of movement but for the thing, or material object, that moves. We know of motion because the bird flies, the tree waves in the wind, the waters run in the streams, and we ourselves can walk, and eat, and have 34 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. many motions. So, with all other principles. They are clothed or embodied. Every principle has its body. And every thing has the spirit of the thing within it which it expresses, if we have but the eyes to see it. 84. The seven great secondary principles, evolved from the first seven by limitation, are : Force, evolved from the limitation of motion; ,5'/'a(?(?, evolved from the limitation of expanse ; Growlli^ evolved from the limitation of separateness : Time,, or Duration, evolved from the limitation of the entire limit ; Life, evolved from the limitation of affinity ; Mind, evolved from the limitation of consciousness ; Soul, evolved from the limitation of the oneness, or God. These principles are closely allied to material things, and give the character to each of the seven days of creation (44), in succession. While all still exist, and find expression in out- ward forms, they severally found the maximum of their power in the day each was created. Each of these days is a revelation of the great victories these secondary principles obtained over mat- ter. The days when each was embodied. They still hold matter prisoner in the forms in which they then fashioned it ; so that a consideration of these days of creation will reveal the Terrestrial World in its completed form. 85. Sound. — The first principle is motion. Hence motion was the governor of the first day (40-41). It was divided into seven forces by the following circumstances. From the center " the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (Gen. 1:2), The fore ranks of the particles of the waters crowded back upon their fellows behind, causing, for a moment, a dense mass, then, those behind surged back upon the others still behind them, to make room for those in front, and for an instant there was a second dense sphere ; and so on backward, from the central front outward, into all directions. Motion was divided up, limited b}^ the resistance offered by the waters, but still pursued. And this is exactly the form of a sound wave: the voice at the center; the resultant sound traveling away in spherical waves. The voice of God traversed to the utmost rank. A great shout ran from front to rear. The breaking up of the rebel ranks produced chaos. But each of the seven principles lent their influence to motion in succession, and traversed the ranks of matter, bringing harmony out of chaos, and producing the seven great notes of music in its lowest octave (40), — the music of the spheres. Out of chaos the spirit wrought harmonies, and by successive and re- peated divisions, or limitations, produced the higher octaves. 86. The periods of the waves of the first created giant sounds are too long, the pulsations too slow, for the human ear to catch them. Also, the last created octaves are not heard by us, the pulsations being at the other extreme, too quick and short. Fortunate for us the first cannot traverse our organisms, as their mighty tones would doubtless tear our beings to pieces. And FORCE. 35 could we hear the highest pitches they would cut us like a knife, appearing to be one prolonged shriek. Blessed are we that our organisms are only attuned to those middle vibrations, or sound waves, that traversing our beings produce less startling structural changes in them. 87. Heat. — Unable to withstand the spirit's onslaught, be- yond a certain limit, the rebels changed their tactics, and by the principle of division they separated, moving their particles to one side. But the onrushing spirit shot them forward away from the center, so that, with separating from each other, and being sent forward at the same time, they traveled at, sa}^ an angle of forty- five degrees, and met at the apex of the triangle a particle from the other foot. Thus reinforced, the two particles held here a short, sharp battle with the spirit force. But the spirit divided them asunder and sent them apart, each one on another diagonal way to meet another j^article at the next apex ; then, another short resistance, another separation and another diagoiial journey, and so on. In other words, the rebel particles instead of falling straight back upon their fellows, fell diagonally back, presenting triangular faces. The next rank did the same, when thus pressed upon, falling back into the niches behind, pressing them apart and backward to the next rank. So rushed on the first wave of heat, tearing, disintegrating, consuming. The controlling influence of the sound motion had been the second principle, expanse ; but the controlling influence of heat was the third principle, separate- ness, divergence, disintegration, destruction, wide diffusion. Such are the characteristics of heat : first a coming together, then a driving of everything apart ; causing a separation, a gaseous con- dition, as a resultant. This action also broke up the ranks of the rebels and left them still more at the mercy of the spirit. 88. Light. — The second method of defense, heal, was too in- tense. The rebels could neither overcome the spirit or prevent its onward course, so the}-' thought to escape and let the spirit pass on beyond them, and so cut it off from heaven. So when the spirit next charged, the particles of matter sprang up. In fact they had reached their limit of outgoing, the confines of the uni- verse, and sprung up to let the force pass by and then dropped down to their former positions ; so that a wave of particles, rising as the force reached them, then dropping as it passed on, moved across space, — like the waves of the sea, — but the several particles left not their own immediate vicinity. This is the vertical wave, the wave of liglil. Successively the seven principles ob- tained control over the waves of light and gave the seven primal colors, in many octaves, only one of which most human eves are formed to see. But the different combinations and blendings of the members of this one octave lend enchantment to all nature. We have known of a few people who can see an eighth color in the rainbow, the one next above or outside the violet. The range 36 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. of human vision is doubtless increasing. The fourth principle, — Limitation, — is the governing influence of light. Hence the pul- sations, or wave motions, of light, are much the most regular of any of the motions. 89. Molecular Motion. — When the particles of matter sprung to one side, at right angles to the spirit's course, and so, by the joint action of the matter and the spirit, the waves of light were created, or brought forth, matter may have dreamed that it had eluded spirit. Its particles were no longer forced away from the center b}^ spirit, simplv parted. If so, its thought of triumph was short, for limitation (the will of God) being present in con- trolling influence, the spirit reached the limit of its outward course and was turned about by it upon the material particles and swept them round and round into groups, or bodies, and these molecules became the beginning of masses. This rotary motion is the molecular, or chemical motion. 90. Electric Current and Magnetism. — And when these masses resisted spirit still, spirit gave them another whirl at right angles to the first and made them into globes. These globes, whirling with ever increasing speed, by contact, sent forward an electric thrill, as when an ivory ball strikes another it pauses in its career, but the other takes up the motion and carries it on. Then into the heart of each globe a spark of spirit sped, lodged there, and henceforth governed it, and drew all things to itself or into its service, as it required ; a magnetic power. Thus force ruled matter with despotic will. For when spirit ceases from motion itself, and comes to rest, it becomes will and causes something else to move in its stead. 91. Thus came the seven motions, or primal forces, each seven fold. Had all matter been swept by spirit through the whole length of themx to magnetism, all matter would have been chained and imprisoned forever. But some matter withstood one onslaught, and some, another. So all the motions live, and so ended the first day's work. 92. Through the mouth comes the human volition. Our servants hear and obe}'. The voice conveys to them our will and they respond to its dictations and execute its behests. In the heavens God spoke and His voice went forth calling all forms into being. It is His wojxl that has gone forth and expanded into a universe. 93. As the leaf comes out from between the old leaves or stalks of a plant, and pushing up its wrapped envelope gradually unfolds into being, so have all things come out from the midst of pre-existing forms. The middle period of each stage, or epoch, or variety of existence, gives birth to the succeeding epoch or variety, (62, 63, etc.) And the middle period, or condition, of the middle epoch, or variety, of any existence, at the same time that it produces the next, gives birth, also, to a new existence. Not FORCE. 37 only the leaf, but also the fruit, which shall develop into a new and separate individuality. This is the law of original being, the product of the middle life, — the mother source. The father power lies within the last epoch, or state, of some former existence, and instigates, or compels, within the middle life of the mother the birth of the new existence (see 6i). 94. Thus motion exists in the form of seven forces, or varie- ties, which form a series or stages in its development; viz., me- chanical motion, sound, heat, light, molecular motion, electricity and magnetism ; each of them being seven fold. The magnet, while it does not move itself, causes motion ; so magnetism may be classed with motion. Sound was produced from the middle form of mechanical motion ; heat, from the middle state of sound ; light, from the middle part of heat ; molecular motion, from the middle part of light ; and so on to the end. 95. The Spectrum Analysis. — For evidence of this, throw the spectrum of the sun light upon a proper surface and examine it with delicate and proper meters. (Tyndall's experiments). In the spectrum of light before you, the seven colors appear in this order; viz., red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Now apply your most delicate instrument for the detection and measurement of heat, and heat waves, and you will find that the presence of heat waves is detected some distance below the red light, or where no light is thrown upon your screen, and that the rapidity and quantity of the heat waves increase as you move upward until they have reached their maximum in the red lighted portion of the spectrum, and that the presence of heat waves is still detected as you move up the scale of light, though with evi- dence of decreasing power until they disappear altogether at about the middle of the green portion of the spectrum. So light must have its origin from the middle part of the heat force, and not irom the last condition. Next use the most delicate instrument for the detection of the atinic, or chemical rays, and you are una- ble to discover the presence of any of them below the green of the spectrum. But 3'Ou do find them in that middle color, and perceive an increased presence of this force as you proceed upward through blue, indigo, and into violet, where it culminates, and its decreasing presence disappears at a point above the violet, about equally distant from that color with its beginning. So the chemical or molecular rays were born from the middle variety, or green, of light. Where heat dies out of the scale, or passes com- pletely into the light, impregnating it, there the new existence of chemical force is born. And where light dies out, or enters the chemical existence with complete impregnation of its being, there, by a delicate galvanometer, where light ends in violet, may be de- tected the birth of the electric fluid. Light is its father, and mole- cular, or chemical force, its mother. 96. But, return to the middle variety of motion, — light, — and 38 PHILOSOPHY OP EXISTENCE. when chemical action, or molecular motion, which is the next variety of motion, was born, it also produced jointly with the new molecular motion, substance, or masses of varied kinds, — a new form of existence. Molecular motion is no where found except in connection with matter. It is the motion of the molecules of mat- ter. And matter,— externalized spirit,— -can have no existence, in the forms we know, without it. When spirit succeeded, through the molecular force, in parting the fleeing sea from its homogene- ous home, it became matter, and external from spirit. 97. As our range of vision increases we will be able to see farther down the scale of the spectrum ; see sound, or its har- monics in form ; and further up the spectrum, and see the electric fluid. As our powers of hearing become more acute we will hear light, and so on. CHAPTER II. T}IE EVOLUTION OF THE WORLD.— SPACE. 98. The Atom. — Expanse is the second principle and rules the second day. The second day had its birth in the middle period of the first day, when, after the creation of light, the spirit turned about and parted the waters into minute revolving bodies (89). When the fire (spirit) struck the face of the water (matter), the water burst into gas, or ethereal steam. A vast expanse en- sued, — an enormous luminous cloud. The spirit pursued and divided this expanse into minute parts. Nor did the spirit cease to divide the all-space until it had been parted into the smallest pos- sible territories. The limit of the division of matter could only be reached when each minute space contained a single indivisible particle, or atom, held there by a particle of spirit. 99. An Atom Cannot Exist Alone. — To have reached the absolute limit this atom must needs be the smallest part of the essential substance, — spirit. And having reached the spirit it is inside the power of the principle of limitation, and not under its control, or within its dominion. It would be in the state of spirit- ual subsistence and not in existence at all. But the will of matter being in opposition to the will of spirit, this is impossible. The external and internal stand in opposition everywhere. And to exist, the single minute atom of matter clothed with its centrifu- gal force, must be held in its minute territory by an atom of spirit clothed with the centripetal power. Outside of heaven, therefore, the atom does not, and cannot be alone in fact, only in theory. An atom of matter can only exist in conjunction with another, or other, atoms. Every atom of matter is confronted by an atom of spirit. God is everywhere. 100. Simple Molecules. These tiny atomic systems are molecules. The simplest molecule that can be conceived of is an atom of centripetal force conjoined to one of centrifugal force. The atoms in a molecule, being possessed by motion, revolve about a common center by reason of the diverse powers possessing the essential particles, one of which' tends to send them away from 40 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. that center while the other tends to draw them to it, causing, unit- edly, the necessary resultant of revolving motion. loi. Simple Molecules Equal in Size. As the spirit divided space into the smallest possible parts, each a dominion of a molecule of matter, all molecules in the free condition of gas occupy equal spaces. If the spaces were not equal the larger could not be at the limit to which space could be divided. When space had been completely subdued by the spirit and each minute space held its minute simple dual molecule then commenced the reverse process. This was at the turn about of the day — the middle period. The time, in the first day, when light was born. Ever}^ period has its turning around, or reaction point (69). The dividing asunder, the parting, the centrifugal, having reached its limit, the centripetal assumed the superior swa}', and the process of evolution was reversed. From this point, therefore, instead of further dividing, each territorj^ commenced an increase, — a growth. And while previously the centrifugal had scattered, separated and parted one from another, now the centripetal gath- ered one to another and there began increase, union. 102. Compound Molecules. — The simple molecules of ether, all of equal size, provided a way of centripetal mastery. The growths that took place did not occur b}' expansion of a mol- ecule to include the territory of another. Such extension of sway being contrary to the nature of the centripetal. But one molecu- lar power became the center towards which others moved and joined it within its own domain. As invited guests the}" entered their neighbors' house and joined company to him, — molecules combined. Often "some members of a molecule were excluded and joined other households. In these combinations no atom is ever left alone. A new companion takes hold of it betbre the old one will let it go. Great variet}^ characterizes the various com- pounding of the molecules. Owing to the varying affinities the different kinds have for each other, chemical compositions and de- compositions may be caused at will by bringing about the proper conditions, — placing certain kinds within reach of each other. A knowledge of these conditions enables the chemist to produce the molecules of 7/'ffZ*(?r, by combining those of Oxygen gas with Hydro- gen gas ; common salt, b}^ combining sodium and chlorine : and so on. Gold and Silver, and many other compounds, are called elements, by the chemists of the schools, because they have not been able to split them into their component parts, — have not ob- tained the knowledge of the conditions by which their molecules may be produced by combining simpler ones. 103. Molecular Density. — In the law of molecular growth lies the secret of the inevitable progress of all matter from the simple gas to the solid. While retaining its first size the molecule in- creased the atomic members of its family from the other molecules about it. And these atoms must occup}' an equal space in this THE EVOLUTION OF THE WORLD. — SPACE. 4I molecule, that is enjoyed by a far lesser number in a molecule of some simpler kind. Thus in carbon molecules there are twelve times the atomic numbers that are in hydrogen molecules. The more complex and heavy a body is the more atoms its molecules contain, and the greater its molecular weight. Form, or what we call the solid state, comes through equilibrium of the two great forces. The two great forces are nearly in equilibrium in carbon and it took on form and became manifest with less atomic mem- bers than an}^ other substance. It is the base of all bodies and solids. In nitrogen and oxygen the power had passed over to the centripetal and they were spirit bound. Substances assumed visi- ble form as the two forces neutralized each other. The acid neu- tralized by the alkalai give the salts. 104. Space Between Molecules. The deserted territories of those atoms who have left them to enter the home of their more powerful neighbor, constitute the space surrounding that neigh- bor, over which space its sway is thus extended, and within which it moves and has its being. Every molecule like every planet, or sun, has its space which parts it from its companions. The spaces between molecules are far greater than the spaces the molecules occupy, or than the molecules themselves. We would infer this from the space between the planets. But we know it by experi- ment. Air, for instance, having been compressed to (1-729) one seven hundred and twenty-ninths its usual bulk. The molecules themselves being at the limit of material condition, are indivisible and incompressible (98 and 99). So in this compression of air the molecules are simply brought nearer together. And since air can be compressed to (1-729) one seven hundred and twenty-ninths its bulk, the distance between molecules of air, in the usual state, can- not be less than (729) seven hundred and twenty-nine times their diameters. 105. Size of Molecules. We also know, through experi- ments, that in a lineal inch of matter in the gaseous state, more than four hundred million and less than seven hundred million of molecules exist. Considering the space between the molecules to be 729 times their diameters, gives a diameter of something less than (1-291,000,000,000), one, two hundred and ninety one bil- lionths of an inch for each molecule, — rather small. 106. Weight of Molecules. A speck of gold, so small as to weigh only three billionths (.000,000,003) of a grain, can be seen by the use of a microscope, showing (.000,007) seven mil- lionths of an inch in diameter. Should this diameter of gold con- tain only one molecule in thickness, it would still have sevent}^- five hundred (7500) molecules in the mass, and the weight of each molecule would be but tw'o hundred and twenty-five ten trillionths (.000,000,000,022,5) of a grain. A molecule is, therefore, far too small and light for conception. The least bi-chromate of potash that can be w^eighed bv the finest scales in the w^orld will vet color 42 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. several litres of water, showing, thereby, the presence of myriad molecules and demonstrating both their extreme smallness and lightness. The figures above, in reference to molecules, are those of Prof. Clarke of Cincinnati University. 107. Color of Molecules. From the different structures of unlike kinds came the different refractions of light, hence come the variations of color. Had all molecules, of all kinds of matter, been arranged alike, they would have refracted a ray of light alike and been possessed of the same color. The third principle, how- ever, caused creation to progress along separate, unlike, indepen- dent and different lines, and not all after the same manner. 108. Taste of Molecules. From the different internal motions of the tiny molecular S3'^stems, come the difference in taste. A predominance of the centrifugal gives the acid. A pre- dominance of the centripetal activity gives the alkali. And the neutral and combined tastes lie between. 109. Mass Formations. In the molecular formations, or augmentations, like molecules would, by reason of the fifth princi- ple, — affinity, — exert like influence upon each other; and would, therefore, congregate, or mass together. Molecules of different formation could not mass. If they became mixed each would be readily distinguished from the other by the differences which sep- arated them, — color, taste, etc. 110. All Molecules of a Kind, Alike. Among the masses composing the earth's bulk, we find many different kinds. But the molecules of the same kind are alike each other. They taste alike, smell alike, weigh alike, look alike, and act alike un- der similar circumstances. The principle of affinity has grouped like particles into masses, and the masses of the same kind also taste, smell, look and act alike under similar circumstances. Each kind of mass is unlike each and all other kinds. 111. Molecular Kinds Evolved as the World Evolved. These wonderful molecules, even those of solid masses, are invisi- ble things themselves, j^et the}' constitute the whole of the visible Earth. The many kinds known to the modern chemists were not all built up from the simple ether molecules, nor did they originate at the same time ; but the combinations which produced them, were induced by the surrounding conditions which were brought about in the evolution of the Earth as a whole. The different kinds be- ing called into existence as the proper conditions for them were brought about. By means of the spectroscope we discover that a few simple gases exist in the nebula ; most of the sixty odd, so called elements, in the sun ; and only in the Earth, the numerous com- pound forms of matter known to us. The increased number of kinds of matter keeping pace with creative development. 112. Nebulous Stars. The development of matter as a whole was simultaneous with its molecular development, and began, when, after the light came in the middle of the first da}', the spirit THE EVOLUTION OF THE WORLD. SPACE. 43 turned about upon the waters and whirled them into revolving bodies (89,96). The glowing cloud of light, impelled by its exter- nal energy of rebellion, had sped from its origin of darkness, preg- nated by spirit, a mighty nebulous sea. Within its ample space the centripetal power continued its conquest over the centrifugal and concentrated the glowing waters of matter into a nucleus brighter, denser and more material than the rest : yet not one nu- cleus, but many. For the principle of separation established a difference in density throughout the one original mass ; and the seventh principle caused numberless centers of concentration, about which the surroundings of each revolved ; while limitation parted the several centralized communities one from another, giving each a confine and form. Each concentrated glow developed into a star, and the drawing of the glowing vapor of each towards its center, left the vast spaces between the several stars. 113. Spiral Revolution. These innumerable waters, or fluid bodies, which were thus parted one from another, sped each on its own different, yet similar, journey in a great spiral course ; many separate individual spirals within one great universal spiral, bv which the motions of all are kept in harmonv and bound to- gether. The course of each is curved, because the centrifugal im- pelled it outward while the centripetal drew" it inward ; and spiral, because the centripetal is the most powerful and gradually draws all things nearer and yet nearer the center which governs it. Time and utility forbid our following the experience of but one of these spiral journeys, that out of which came the Earth we inhabit. The spiral of the Earth is a secondary one, and originates from the Sun, and not from the first nebulous sea (173, 174, 179)- But its story must be, in the first of its career, and in the general princi- ples governing the after part, the story of all. 114. Testimony of the Heavens. — The heavens furnish us pictures of the various stages of creation. The telescope reveals bright clouds of light which spectrum analysis shows to consist principally of hydrogen gas. In the heavens maybe seen spiral nebula, the work of the two great forces, the centripetal gaining the mastery. The Milky Way shows the spiral of the Universe. 115. Nucleolus. — In the spiral of the Earth the nucleus, under the action of the centripetal power, became more dense. At the center of the nucleus the contractive action was concen- trated, and decidedly the strongest there and a micUohls formed of still denser matter. Here was fiercest the battle between the two mighty forces. And their powers being concentrated to this limited nucleolus their action was very intense, and great heat re- sulted. The glowing cloud without, being left more to the power of the centrifugal, developed into the atmosphere that surrounds us. In the nucleolus, or Earth proper, the concentration of the centri- petal caused that inner body to graduallv become more solid. While in the nucleus, between the luminous cloud, or atmosphere 44 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. without, and the nucleolus within, the forces were more equally divided and it assumed the condition of water. ii6. The Earth's Crust. — The nucleolus, or earth proper, is of first consideration. At first a hot liquid mass, the earth cooled by radiation. The exterior first parted with its surplus heat and became the Earth's crust. 117. The Oceans. — The weight of the vast volume of water (115) resting upon the Earth depressed the plastic crust, where it was most pliable, forming basins of water. The basins, by the added weight of the water which flowed into them as they deep- ened, continued their deepening, until they had received all the water; and hence no further water, or liquid weight, flowed in any longer, to further stretch their bottoms downward. 118. Dry Land. — When the water had all flowed into the basins their rims were left exposed. These ridges, separating the basins, were, therefore, dry land, (Gen. i :9). 119. Mountains. — Still pliant, and no longer cooled by the waters which had previously covered them, these ridges formed the principal avenues for the radiation of heat from the molten in- terior into space through the atmosphere. And thus placed in the current of heat going from the interior of the Earth to the space about the planet, these ridges were temporarily softened. The pressure of the seas against the opposite sides of the base of the softened ridge forced it upward, and mountain chains appeared. 120. Volcanoes. — By the stretching of the crust to form the mountains, it was made weak along its summits, and even broken open in places, or fractures of its surface made, causing openings through into the bowels of the world. The gathering gases within, tending to increase the internal volume, and the cooling and contracting crust of the Earth, tending to compress the inter- nal mass into a smaller compass, increased the pressure within, until it could no longer be contained, but broke through the frac- tures of the mountain ridges, or made openings itself, forming great volcanoes, vomiting fire and gas and molten matter. By this means great peaks were thrown up. Awful earthquakes pre- ceeded and accompanied theses eruptions. So passed the Azoic age. 121. Minerals. — In this cooling process of the Earth, heat acted as an assorter, separater, or evolver, of the varied substan- ces of the Earth. Those parts of the Earth's crust radiating heat the most rapidly, or conducting heat the most poorly, soon became solids. Those which conducted a greater portion of the heat, and got rid of it more slowly, remained liquids and were forced by the great internal pressure (120) into the fissures of the rocks which opened from below ; where, after a longer time, they solidified into seams, or veins, of valuable ore. Variety, in the power of radiating and conducting heat, as in all things else, has been a great benefactor of Earth. Other substances were never solidified THE EVOLUTION OF THE WORLD. — SPACE. 45 bat remaining gases, or at least, liquids, played a still more active part in the Earth's evolution. The most notable gases are Oxygen, Hydrogen and Nitrogen. The first two combined, also, form water, — the great liquid. And the first and last mixed form the essentia] air, — the fuel of life. 122. Clouds. — The waters washing against the hot shores that rimmed them in, evaporated and rose in vapor, mist, or steam, and spread out over the land, and shrouded the mountain tops, in a thick cloud. The whole planet, in the earlier period, was continuously en- wrapped or shut in, by this vast dense thick cloud (Gen. 2:6). And there was no rain there, but this mist watered the ground. So is the planet Jupiter now surrounded. 123. Soil. — But after a time, when the outer atmosphere had parted with much of its heat and become cooled, these steam like vapors rose to the cold zone surrounding the atmosphere, parted with their heat and were condensed into heavy drops of liquid water and fell, by reason of their specific weight, in great rains upon the lands. By the beatings of the rains,, the breaking up of the surface by the contractions of the Earth continued for many ages, a portion of that surface became a fine disintegrated matter, or soil, out of which vegetation was soon to spring. 124. Crystals. — While the soil was forming on the surface, separation and concentration was taking place just beneath in the earth's outer crust. This crust, as it cooled, was breaking up into minute fragments, as did the ether sea of matter at the beginning of the second day (112). And just as in that beginning there were countless nuclei, or centers, formed from which came the stars, so now, in each material mass of the Earth's surface, originated magnetic centers about which accumulations of the kind were drawn into individual and separate forms. These "ci^yslals," as they are called, are often found closely associated, but each is individual and distinct from its associates. 125. Crystals of a Kind Alike. The lines of attractive power of the central molecule, whose superior force first drew his fellow molecules to unite with him into an individual form (102, 104) corresponded with the alignment of the atom particles which composed it. So Ihe crystal reveals the arrangemenls of Vie atoms hi Vie molecule. And as all molecules of a kind are alike (no) in arrangements ; so all crystals of the same kind of matter are of the same form. And as molecules of different kinds of matter are of different arrangements and atomic numbers, so crystals of differ- ent kinds of matter are always different. Each kind of matter has its own kind of crystal. And the laws governing crystal forma- tion being always the same, the crystals of each substance have a shape and color and relative size ])eculiar to that substance. 126. The King Molecule. Yet while like its famil}^, each crystal has an individual being, distinct and separate, the Great 46 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. Jehovah who gave, or allows, to the central molecule its authority and power over the fellows of its territory of space (104), and so enabled it to consumate the concentration of power represented in the crystal, knows perfectly the peculiarities by which each crys- tal differs from each other of the same substance, or race. 127. Perfection of Matter. The Earth, as a structure, was at last perfect. It was ready to be furnished and inhabited. It was a globe, having ridges of land overlaid with a rich soil, dividing lakes and oceans of water; while crystal streams, created by the rains, flowed from the mountains to the seas ; a mist that rose up, b}' reason of the magic fire within and spread out over all the land and watered it ; all kinds of useful minerals in its mountains ; and crystal jewels, — the perfection of material substance, — to adorn : the planet Earth, — the home of life, — stored with wealth. How wondrously hath God provided for the kingly man. Blessed be His Name. CHAPTER III. GROWTH.— KIND. 128. There are three ranks or degrees of sevens ; the ab- stract, the abstract-concrete and the concrete. The abstract seven, are the Great Seven Principles ; motion, expanse, unlike- ness, Hmitation, affinity, consciousness and fixedness. The ab- stract-concrete seven consists of seven groups, of seven mem- bers each. The names of these groups, are Force, Space, Growth, Time, Life, Mind, and Soul (84). The names of the members of the Force group, are Mechanical Motion, Sound, Heat, Light, Molecular Motion, Electricity and Mag- netism (94). Each of the other groups are similarly di- vided, making 49 individual kijids, in all ; or a square of the original seven. The first three, of each group, are outward bound under the servitude of the centrifugal, the fourth is in equilibrium, and the last three are inward bound under the influence of the centripetal. 129. The concrete seven consists of seven evolutions of each of the forty-nine. Thus sound is seven fold, embracing the seven distinct notes do, re, mi, fa, sol, la and si, (40). Light is seven fold, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. In like manner, each of the forty-nine are sevenfold. This makes 343 in- dividual Jcinds; or the cube of the original seven. In the cube thought is fully expressed and made manifest. There is no expres- sion possible on the physical, or material, plane beyond the cube. Hence the three hundred and fort3^-three kinds mark and distin- guish all created forms. The sounds, and colors, and heats, elec- tric currents and bodies of space are expressed all around us. But, as in the case of sound, while there are but seven notes, they may be produced in many octaves, kej^s or pitches. Again, the various notes of sound and light, and of the whole forty-nine, have numerous harmonies and discords, combinations, and blendings ; so that the possibilities of dififerent kinds of things, to human con- ception, assumes an appearance of infinity. 130. The third day of creation was distinguished for its evo- lution and accumulation of kinds. And these kinds are all wrought out of matter, or expressed in it, by means of the three hundred and forty-three evolutions. The principle of unlikeness 48 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. or separation, governed the third day. The day had its birth in the middle condition of the second day, when the centripetal ob- tained mastery (101,126), and began the process of growth or ac- cumulations of matter of a kind. 131. The forces, in the second day, had entered into the spaces and divided them into the different kinds of substances. This gave us the, so called, elemental substances, and finally, as the forces further divided, the many compounds known to chem- istry. Those kinds of substances dominated by a preponderance of the centrifugal resisted further limitation ; those governed by a surplus of the centripetal absorbed or appropriated to their own use all other forces coming in contact ; so that in the extremes of the space, or substance world, no further expression could be had. These could never be anything but space expressions of spirit or thought. So that to space, and the substances of space, are confined the sounds, colors and other like forces. The creative spirit wrought them into no other forms. 132. The middle, or equilibrium substance, however, was ca- pable of expressing higher forms. The substance which was thus suitable is called carbon. Through this form of matter, then, the spirit poured its power bringing out the higher manifestations. Carbon heads the middle, or fourth group, of substances (see the periodic law discovered to exist among the so called elementary substances, — Mendelejeff's method, Remsen's Theoretrical Chem- istry p. 75 edition 1877). Carbon is the base of all organic sub- stance. And organic chemistry is frequently defined as the chem- istry of the Carbon compounds. All vegetable and animal forms are manifested through carbon, and carbon compounds. 133. Carbon Crystal. In carbon is found the birth of plant grov^th. And this is the next unfoldment to the crystal. True to our law^ of origin from the middle condition (93), we do not find the birth of vegetation in the perfect carbon crystal, — the diamond. It was the leavings of the diamond that seized upon nitrogen, which heads the fifth group of substances, and was at the same time evolved, and embodying itself in water forms the "protoplasm" or growth germ. Those particles which were the fittest to form diamonds were seized upon for that purpose, leaving the less fit to form, under the co-operation of nitrogen, the higher order of vegetation. The manifestations of quality are through carbon. 134. Organic Cells. — Those carbon crystals which the force of attraction fixed became transparent and reflective beauties. But those particles which lacked enough of the might of the central force to perfect the crystal, became hollow within. Such hollow^ spheres became smaller upon the application of any external pres- sure, or internal increase of magnetism, which is the ultimation of the attractive power, and larger upon any loss of that powder. These pliable spheres of nitro-carbon were the first simple organic cells. They were prevented from hardening into solid substance GROWTH. KIND, 49 from the presence of the gaseous nitrogen. A surface coated with minute imperfect diamonds has been obtained, and felt to the touch like velvet or soft skin. The diamonds were imperfect and microscopic in size, and were accidentally obtained upon the inside of a cover to a box in which coal was heated under consid- erable pressure (Prof. W. H. Venable, Chickering Institute). This instance indicates that vegetation originated at a period of the Earth's history when a considerable amount of heat and pres- sure existed ; both too great for animal life to have endured. 135. First Forms of Vegetation. — While some large plas- tic masses of nitro-carbon may have been parted into gigantic trunks, limbs and branches and formed immense forests in the third day of existence ; modern plant growth was by aggregation of the simple cells. These simple cells exerted magnetic power. The forces were lodged within. The result was a large collection of them, in the simplest form, upon the surface of the ground, or at the bottom of the sea; where the water facilitated their collec- tion into these groups or communities. This first aggregation of cell accumulation was nothing superior to slime. 136. Development of Vegetable forms. Irregular heaps of the simple cells, the washing away of particles by the water, and the increased tenacity of grasp of the remaining particles to each other in consequence, produced the simpler forms of moss. The more complex forms readily followed by a similar process of elim- ination and hardening. 137. If you can imagine a large surface strewed with organic cells, half formed carbon crystals into which the forces had entered, it will be readily conceived that certain centers (124) would gradual- ly draw a large number of the particles into communities of slime and resulting moss. But these being collected into circular forms, would leave the particles between the circles, and most distant from the influences of their centers, in intersecting lines. Being so weakly acted upon by the central forces as to fail to respond to their influences, the ever active forces of attraction would cause these particles to unite with each other, and form lines of organic substance united at common junctions. These irregular lines, join- ed at the common junction, would have, at the junction point, a more tenacious hold to the surface rock beneath them, than else- where ; by reason of greater numbers of magnetic particles at that place. Therefore, when some unusual undertow swept the lines of or- ganic growth from this hold on the rock, this junctional point would still cling to its hold. Thus, clinging to the bottom with long liiies streaming in the water above, we have the seaweed. 138. As the ocean basins became depressed and the ridges were pressed upwards by the lateral pressure of the seas (119), the water retreated from the land and left vast fields of seaweed ex- posed ; which, dried and hardened in the wind, tossed about as grass. From the moss and grass to the herb and grain, and from 50 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. the herb and cereal to the shrub and bush, and from them to the tree is not, essentially, a different process. The forces we have seen filling creation, continued to produce new forms of growth after the same manner. 139. The Seed. When the magnetic power, — the consuma- tion of force in the carbon substance which it had organized, — had drawn all the suitable particles within its reach, into the plant in which it existed, it could do no more in that direction. The plant had obtained, as we say, its growth, — the limit of its size. Had it remained just in this condition, it would be plain, that the centraliz- ing power was lost, or had departed from the plant. But this is not supposable. No force is ever lost. There is a "conservation of forces." It is equally true that nothing comes to a standstill in nature. As long as force remains it finds expression in action. It is continued progress throughout the universe. So the mag- netism, which has no longer the ability to add to the stature of the plant, now proceeds to exert its power upon the par- ticles of the plant itself. Its field of labor, now confined to the small compass of the plant, its power is exerted with more relative force. This force resolves itself into centers, or seats of power, just as when it collected the first organic cells into individual plants, for nature loves to repeat herself (137), that is she continues to work after the same laws (124) ; and demanding an offering, first, from the surrounding cells and then from the more distant ones, forms about these centers a dense, minute, minature plant, which is Ihc seed. 140. Each center, enthroning sufficient power to compel a contribution from each extremit}' of the plant, as well as from its immediate presence, fashions a seed in the likeness of the plant, with lines of forces in the seed corresponding with the lines offerees in the plant. But b}^ the influences of the center being more forcible, upon the immediate surrounding region, that region con- tributes more largely than any other ; and as the surroundings of each center varies somewhat from the surroundings of each other center, so each seed varies somewhat from each other seed. The plants which are born of these seeds are therefore varied in form, though all of the same kind. .141. The particles called to the seed center arrange themselves in the order of their coming so that the cluster is a minature counterpart of the plant, as we have said. So small a counterpart, however, that no ordinary microscope reveals its arrangements in- telligently. This cluster surrounded by various sheaves, or en- velopes, husks, etc., called the seed, locks within itself the mighty energ3^ of growth. I wish to call attention to the fact, that, while we have considered the growth and formation of seed separately, that in the higher classes of plant growth, at least, seed formation commences before the plant has obtained its ultimate growth and that the two formations thereafter, proceed together. 142. Pollen. But while the power of attraction was at work GROWTH. — 'KIND. 5 I fashioning the seeds, the power of repulsion was also at work. It could not be lost or cease its operations any more than attraction. The tendency of attraction was to withdraw its forces from the conflict without into the smallest possible compass within. Thus came about the seed. But it was the tendency of repulsion to do the opposite and scatter its forces to the extremities of the plant. Just as truly as it is the tendency for attraction to contract all substance into the least possible space it is the tendency of repulsion to expand all substance into the greatest possible space. The former force acts from within, the later from without. The plant was the first compromise, or equilibrium, between them ; but as the centralizing power withdrew its forces into the seed, a surplus of the expansive power resulted in the- plant. This surplus with its mind bent on scattering all substance, rushed along the lines of the plant, demanding for itself a contribution from every part thereof, and bore them to the extremities of the twigs. This is the pollen and it was restrained at the extremities of the twigs by the attractive power. As also the centralizing power had been driven out to a formation of seeds near these same extremities by the expulsive force. So here, then, at the extremities of the twigs and branches formed both the seed centers and the pollen lines. Together they made the blossom. 143. Reproduction. While the force within the seed was one to hold things in place, the force within the pollen was one to scatter them. In consequence of its character, the pollen had but a weak hold upon the plant and finally fell down upon the seed, or was snatched up by some passing breeze and borne to a lodgment upon some neighboring seed of the same specie. Thus, brought again in contact with its late opponent, it penetrated into its ranks (63,64), and the seed became pregnant with a new war, was divid- ed from the plant, and borne by some strong wind to a lodgment in the soil, where, provided with a supply of suitable particles in their environment, the forces in the seed turned once more their at- tention to them and a new plant was formed like the parent. Each seed thus formed by the one power, and ejected or sent out, by the other, partakes of qualities from both the plant furnishing the pollen and the plant fashioning the seed. So while the same family is preserved, infinite variety is produced ; and thus no two individuals of any race are precisely alike. But each bearing seed after its kind. In the highest vegetable growth another compromise between the two forces is interplaced between the plant and its seed known as the fruit. Or the fruit ma}^ be deemed the womb of life, the embr3'0 of the new individual plant. 144. Vegetable Decay. What has come of the parent plant? Drained of its vital forces, which had sustained it by their constant activity in suppl^n'ng new particles to replace the losses b}' heat and cold, winds and damps, inhalation, and exhalation, not to mention the ruder robberies of tempest, fire, earthquake and 52 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. such grosser forces, it succumbed to the forces of the environment. Its vital forces had flowed into the seed avid from the seed into the new plant growth, and it no longer possessed the ability to move on in its rough surroundings, but gave way to these stronger forces. Its fibers decomposed and the plant died- Its particles, which had come at first from the soil and air, returned again to them. Its circle of existence had been fulfilled. The more perfect, complete or well adapted the growth was to the existence of any individual, or family, in its environment, the longer was it able to cope with the outward forces and survive. Thus the weak and puny plants were destroyed by the forces without and only the fittest survived to propagate their species. Hence, a constant improvement in the race. 145. Sap. Only in the crudest torms of growth, like slime and moss, could -he particles of the surrounding be directly assim- ulated or added to the plant (137, 143)- Hence those particles seized upon by the attractive power through that part of the plant in contact with the surrounding soil, the roots, were sent up into the trunk, branches and twigs bv the centrifugal force. To be so forwarded along the interior of the limbs of the plant, it had not only to be absorbed from the soil, but prepared by an equilibrium of the centripetal and centrifugal into a fluid or sap, in which shape it was readily distributed. Brought in from the surrounding by the cen- tripetal, it was presented to the centrifugal, which, when it had ob- tained equal power over it, increased and sent it up the tree. After a season, the ascending sap having parted with the suitable particles which it brought, the particles being added to the bulk of the tree, in turn received from the tree the exhausted or waste particles no longer useful to the tree's growth, and descended to the roots again where the expulsive force expelled them. The season of warmth caused the sap to ascend : the cold season caused it to descend. 146. Air. — Breath. In a similar manner the leaves of the plant absorbed, or took in, from the surrounding air the suitable particles it found and needed, — the carbonic acid, — and united the carbon in various ways to its bulk, giving diversity of color and form, throw- ing off" the oxygen. The warmth of the daylight caused the ab- sorption of the carbonic acid and the cool of night forced it out. So nature dictated to the plant its operations. 147. Perfect. Nature, or creation as a whole, had now progressed through the first day of motion ; the second day of sub- stances, in which quantity had its birth ; and the third day of growth, in which quality, or kind, is set forth. The physical world was now, in itself, three-fold and perfect. There could be no more new principles of external expression for the cube had been reached. The material world had reached its third power. The animal life, which came after, and will be considered in a chapter ahead, as far as it re- lates to its material exterior or growth of being, was simply further expression on the same principles. The animal substance is simply GROWTH. KIND. 53 organic substance, or carbon compound, which obeys the same laws of growth as plants. Of the interior principle of life which in- habits the animal growth, more hereafter. Yellow, the third color (129), is the color symbolizing physical, or material perfection. 148. The organic being, called the Earth, or World, was now perfect. Endowed with all the forces, enriched with mineral wealth, — its mountains mines of wealth, — diversified by land and sea ; beautiful with hill and valley, and, withall, covered with a gar- ment of many colors, plumes of green foliage above a cloth of gold and red flowers : it was a garden for the gods. The Earth had reached the extremec ondition of material self, — its limit, — the peri- phery. When the plant reached its limit of growth the ceaseless forces went into the seed and the plant reproduced its kind. The Earth too had reached its growth, as.a whole, "and bore seed in itself after his kind" (Gen. 1:12). What was its reproduction, — the child of mother Earth ? CHAPTER IV. TIME. §1. The Maiden Earth. 149. During the period of the formation of plant growth a hot house temperature was maintained, from the internal heat of the Earth. One perpetual sumjner existed from pole to pole and from east to west. Of the earlier plant existences fossiliferous remains of the same species may be found alike in Spitzbergen and in Florida ("The Mosaic Creation and Modern Science", C. B. Warring, in Scribner's, March 1878). 150. During the periods previous to the birth of the plant the Earth had been a ball of fire,— a little sun. "Let there be light,'* said God, and the Earth was this glowing light. Light is born from the midst of heat. 151. At the commencement of the vegetable existence the Earth had cooled greatly, and the cosmic light was no longer in- tense, but still shed enough light throughout the Earth to make one perpetual day ; no night any where. The whole Earth was one steaming garden. Because of this regularly distributed heat and steam, the atmosphere was one sluggish cloud. In this cloud the lightnings may have flashed incessantly. But, since the heat was distributed so evenly, there were no winds ; and also no con- siderable tides, as will presently appear, consequently no waves in the sea. Just as an evenly warmed room has no drafts in it ; so the Earth, regularly warmed by the heat of its own body, had no drafts, or currents, on its surface < 152. No seasons, no nights, no winds, no waves, no cold, consequently there was no repetition of events : no changes re- curring in systematic order, no day succeeding day, divided b_v night succeeding night and so on in uniform rotation. There was no spring followed by summer, then b}- fall, then b}' winter; with another spring, summer, fall and winter to follow continually in the same order and manner and productive of the same results : no years, nor months, nor days. Though the Earth might be revolv- ing around the sun, there was no evidence of it on this self sufficient globe. 153. There was as yet no measure of time from the Earth's TIME. 55 standpoint. Perpetual day, with impenetrable clouds of vapor, did not permit of observations on the sun and stars, and left no means for determining years. Intense internal heat did not permit the heat of the sun to affect the Earth. The Earth's heat drove back the sun's heat as the latter approached the Earth. Had man lived then, he could not have told, by any means at his command, the years and weeks. In fact the element of time, which is based on like series of discernible rotations, or rotative event, had no ex- istence on the Earth prior to the middle of the plant age. 154. In the middle of the plant-growth time was born. When vegetation advanced to that perfection that the plant produced the seed, the seed the plant, and the plant the seed again, then nature, on Earth, first began to repeat herself; or time was born. But these plant rotative events afforded a very imperfect measure of time. 155. This was the maiden Earth. But the period of maturity, when all these conditions were changed and the present physical order of things established, is that fourth age which we are now to consider : the middle period of the World's existence : the marriage and birth time of its life. The element of Time, the birth-prin- ciple, the creative power, the principle of limitation and division ; without the existence of which nothing but God himself could ever have been ; had its full expression on Earth in this age. §2. The Marriage to the Sun. 156. The ever increasing vegetable growth absorbed more and more the carbonic acid and moisture which made the atmos- phere heavy. This act, in time, — i. e. by repetition, — greatly di- minished the dense cloud masses. The radiation of the Earth's heat into space was greatly facilitated by the disappearance of these dense clouds ; and, also, by the ever increasing and prolific plant existence, which absorbed the internal heat with equally increasing avidity. 157. We cannot perhaps form an exact idea of how much heat was absorbed by the abundant plant growth. Observe the fact that, now, in the tropics, where vegetation is abundant, the hottest seasons of the year seldom, or never, register above 98° Fahr. ; while in the north temperate zones, where vegetation is much less abundant, it is not very unusual, in summer, to find the thermometer at 120° in the shade. At that period, vegetation was probably much more rank and profuse all over the globe, than it now is, even in the limited jungles of the tropics. More- over, the prime source of heat then, being from the internal con- dition of the Earth, the roots of the plants were active agents in absorbing heat, which is not now the case to anything like the same extent. The cooling power of plants then, must have been very great. 56 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. 158. The power of vegetation to produce rain is generally recognized. The timber law, which gives so many acres of open land to the citizen who will plant, and keep alive for a certain time, a certain number of trees thereon, has already been productive of an extended rain area into what was known as the Great American Desert ; and is making it a productive region. The absorption of heat by vegetation cooled the air. The cooling of the air caused condensation of its moisture and resulting rain. Indeed, the cool- ing of the air caused the clouds to disgorge themselves in mon- strous rains. This cleared the skies of the cloud masses, and al- lowed free radiation of heat into space. 159. Look at the Earth in its present condition. The mois- ture in the atmosphere makes it a great enveloping, non-conductive blanket, which prevents the heat of the sun and Earth, when once bottled up within it, from escaping readily into space. This pre- vention results in the uniform atmospheric temperature which we enjoy. Aeronauts get a taste of what living on the Earth would be without this moisture in the air. A mile or two above the Earth's surface they find the cold intense, though the sun shines upon them brightly. 160. The power of water, or moisture, to shut in heat is in proportion to its densit}^ in the air. If then the great rains of the fourth period precipitated, say, one half of the moisture of the air to the surface of the Earth, then an immense amount of that radiat- ed heat of the Earth, which had previously been shut in just outside of its crust, was liberated into space. In proportion as heat escap- ed from the atmosphere, the internal heat was drawn forth from the Earth's surface. The more rapidly heat escaped from the Earth itself, the greater was its contraction. What giant commo- tions must have then ensued ; the breaking up of strata, and the • elevation of mountain ridges. 161. What proportion of heat escaped by the clearing of the atmosphere of so much moisture is hard to determine. But, if the Earth was cooled considerably by the direct absorption of heat by vegetation, it was cooled tenfold more, at least, by the removal of the vast clouds of vapor from the skies in form of descending rain. 162. Thus cooled by radiation, by ])lant absorption, and by rain falls, the condition finally arrived when the Earth's surface heat was reduced to the heating power of the sun at the Earth's surface. Now as plant growth continued to absorb heat, and moisture, containing latent heat, the new supply to keep up the equilibrium reached had to be drawn from the sun. 163. Coexistent with the Earth's loss of heat was its loss of light. And, as the dense cloud masses were removed, by the causes already named, the sunlight took its place and shone on the Earth. 164. Pouring along over the same path as the heat and light, TIME. 57 in the plane of the Earth's orbit, came the electric and atinic ra3^s, which, falling most numerously about the central line of the Earth's surface, made about it an electric belt. 165. So the Earth became joined to the Sun. For she had now found his presence necessary to her wellbeing. And the Sun exercised his power right masterfully over the Earth. He bound the marriage band of electricity about her and the Earth became de- pedent upon him for its warmth, and its light, and through them, for every thing which could support growth, or life, upon its surface. 166. No longer was the Earth an independent kingdom, but only a vasalage to a mightier Empire. Once the little realm had ignored the influences of the mighty sun, but now its princely powers were forced to admit the mightier forces of that luminary. Its armies ruled in the newly acquired territory with despotic sway. No longer the same physical conditions existed at Pole and Equator (149) as in t'ormer days. But this was changed to suit the new government, and the new laws, of the new administration. §3. The Earth's Pregnancy. 167. Among the changes wrought by the new government Were those due to the electric belt which the sun had put about the Earth in the Torrid Zone, — -the wedding ring. A soft iron is al- most instantly made a magnet by passing on electric current around it. A few other substances are magnetized in the same way but far more slowly and less powerfully. Most substances maybe so magnetized if the current is strong enough and continued long enough. ^ The electric current established about the Earth in the equatorial regions made the Earth a magnet. 168. As the two poles, — two, because of the dual law, (posi- tive and negative), — of every magnet lie in the perpendicular to the center of the electric plane, we must look in the direction of the poles of the Earth for its magnetic poles. We find them some 23^° distant. This 231}° variation is due to the inclination of the Earth's axis to the plane of its orbit. The electric plane coincides with the plane of the orbit, hence the magnetic poles, at right angles thereto, are found 23^-° from the Earth's axial terminations, or poles. 169. In the case of the soft iron magnet, if you will detach some light particles of the iron and distribute them equally over the magnet's surface they will not remain so, but will change their arrangement b}^ clustering thickly about the poles. Just as these free particles visibly arrange themselves, so the internal particles of the magnet undergo a change in their positions ; but, being less free to act, they will require more time and power to perfect their arrangement. When, then, the Earth was magnetized bv the sun, the entire structure commenced rearranging its component parts. 58 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. The sun was not satisfied, as some Earthly monarchs have been, in obtaining a nominal rule, but by his electrial forces compelled every particle of the Earth's substance to adjust itself to the new laws which he had established. He had caught the Earth at its middle stage, or condition, of existence, and his will dominated it. 170. The free particles would, as we have illustrated move into the new positions demanded of them most quickly, while the more fixed ones would move more slowly. Excepting the atmos- phere, the free portion of the Earth's substance was the molten in- terior. The forces of the sun penetrated into this interior, — the womb of the Earth, — and caused therein great activity. The quick movement of these inner particles produced friction ; and friction produced heat. Electro-magnetic action is accompanied by heat. Increase in the Earth's interior heat, unable to expand the mass, because of its confinement by the crust, or exterior shell of the Earth, increased the pressure of the interior substance upon the inside of the Earth's crust to a frightful degree. Doubtless, earthquake followed earthquake in rapid and awful succession. The result of the contraction of the Earth's crust from loss of surface heat, and from the sun's magnetic embrace ; and the increase of internal pressure due to the increased heat within ; was tragic. The two contrary forces exerted themselves to the utmost. §4. The Birth of the Moon. 171. The middle life of a member of any series produces the next member of that series ; while the middle life of the middle member produces, in addition to the next member, the first life of a new series of existence (93). The seven members, or periods, of the Earth's life may be styled; i. The Age of Force, 2. The Age of Space, 3. The Age of Vegetation, 4. The Age of Time, 5. The Age of Life, 6. The Age^of Mind, and, 7. The Age of Soul (84). As the seven days of the Earth's existence em- braces all its being, then must the new existence, which comes from its middle member, be distinct from that of the Earth. Where shall we find such an existence? An existence, that, while separate from the Earth, still enjoys sufficient relationship to it to be of kin. In the Earth's case there is no choice. Onl}^ one such being exists. That one is the moon. Obedient to the voice of God the Earth brought forth seed after its own kind (Gen. i : 11, 12, 21- 25). God maketh every thing to be fruitful. 172. How the moon was conceived and born of the Earth we will but briefly discuss, as it is but another illustration of that great law of the origin of being from the middle life, to w^iich we have so persistently referred. In the cooling of the Earth's surface, which resulted in the Sun's establishing its rule over the planet Earth, its crust was, of necessity, much contracted, or the diameter of the Earth became less. In the Earth's becomincr a ma^rnet we TIME. 59 have seen how the interior heat and pressure was Increased (170). The magnetizing of the Earth would have a tendency, on the other hand, rather to contract the Earth's outer substance and reduce the space occupied. When the time came that the pressure reached its maximum, and the crust was no longer strong enough to resist the mighty internal pressure, and something had to give way, then the organized thing which the Sun's magnetic power had formed in- side the Earth burst forth and was born. This was the result of polarization, or the joint operation of two wills within the Earth. 173. The crust burst asunder, and a portion of the internal substance was forced through the rupture b}^ the great internal pressure, with awful violence, and hurled into space. The hot fiery mass, when ejected from the interior of the Earth, was relieved of that great pressure which had kept it in a liquid, or plastic con- dition, and promptly expanded into gas. This gaseous cloud, radiant with light and hot with heat from the bowels of the earth, with its central nucleus was the substance of the Moon, and sped out on its spiral career. 174. In a similar manner the Earth, with other children planets, must have been previously born of the Sun. The well known "Volcanic Zone" probably marks the line of the crust fracture through which the Moon was brought forth from the bowels of the Earth. 175 With the Sun for its Father, and the Earth for its Moth- er, the Moon must have had a similar existence to theirs. From its small relative size, its seven periods have each been much shorter than the Earth's and it is now, in point of condition, much older than the Earth. It foreshadows what the Earth will one day be in a material way. Too much importance cannot be at- tached to the birth of the Moon as a factor in the progress of events on the Earth. §5. Times and Seasons. 176. With the rule of the sun and the birth of the moon, there came upon Earth, days and months and years. As the cosmic light dimmed, and the dense clouds cleared from the skies, the sunlight took its place. The cosmic glow remained longest in the atmosphere ; and traces still linger there. No night is perfectly dark, even when the light of the moon and stars is complete!}^ ex- cluded fiom the Earth. The cosmic light had given perpetual day, but the Sun' denied his light to that part of the Earth's surface turned away from him, making it night on that side. As the Earth turns regularly upon its axis, the spot thus covered for a period with darkness, was, after a time, turned towards the Sun, and enjoyed about an equal period of light. Thus was created Da^- and Night on Earth. They had had no existence prior to the establishment of the Sun's dominion over the Earth ; neither were 6o PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. they suddenly created : the slow fading of the cosmic light pre- vented such a catastrophe, for such would it have been had the change come suddenly into existence. So slowly did the cosmic light of the earth vanish, and, thereby, prevent the sunlight to dis- tinctlv mark the night from the day ; that a man living a hundred years during that time, would have scarcely noticed, that the dull light, which distinguished the night from the brighter day, had darkened, in any perceptible measure, during his lifetime. 177. The revolution of the Moon about the Earth marked off the months. Hence the month had no existence prior to the birth of the Moon in this same period. 178. The revolution of the Earth about the Sun, marked off the years. The year is the true measure of the Earth's existence, as the month is the true measure of the Moon's. And the year has been selected by man, Earth's ruling inhabitant, as the standard for the measurements of all other existences. 179. The Earth has probably revolved about the Sun ever since its birth. Shot out of the Sun in a great geyser like liquid mass, and thus relieved from the immense pressure to which it had been subjected (174) within the Sun's crust, it expanded into a cloud of light and sped off to a great distance from the Sun as a Comet. The fl3'ing light, with its inseparable companions of heat and electricity, sped on until the centrifugal force, by which it was ejected from the Sun, had spent itself, or been overcome by the centripetal. It then curved about and sped back towards the Sun ; its speed increasing as it approached the Sun, and the centripetal grew stronger. But it had been misplaced from the line of its outgoing by curving about at the extremity of its flight, conse- quently, it did not fall upon the Sun but to one side of it. The great momentum which it had acquired on its return, also, carried it past the Sun, before the gravitation of the Sun could overcome it. So the combined forces caused it to sweep on- around the Sun and start on a second journey. It went a less distance the second time, and curved about still less abruptly. Because of this, as it returned to the Sun the second time, it passed proportionally further from that luminar}^ and sped forth on its third trip on a more circu- lar elliptic. Thus the Earth continued to revolve about the Sun, proportionall}^ broadening and shortening its orbit at each trip. But each successive journey lie within the former one, and each approached more nearlv the circular. The continuous line of the Earth's course since it reached its first extremity describes a spiral, approaching the Sun each revo- lution by a geometricall}^ decreasing ratio. 180. So the Years of the Earth, coexistent with its revolutions about the Sun, have been unequal. At first, probably, quite per- ceptibh' so, but the ratio of difference between them growing less, until now, scarcely perceptible. Some Astronomer has computed that in one hundred thousand years from now the Earth will re- TIME. 6 1 volve about the Sun in about ten minutes less time than now ; or the year will be ten minutes shorter. We have nothing on the Earth itself, now, to enable us to determine that the years are nearly Vie same lenglh. A. minute is a sixtieth part of an hour, and an hour the twenty-fourth part of a da}^, of which there are three hundred and sixty-five, or six, to a year, whether the revo- lution about the Sun consume much, or little, of duration, or Time, as a whole. If then, the Earth turns on its axis three hun- dred and sixty-five times in each journey around the Sun, we could not perceive any difference in the length of its years, from the Earth's standpoint. For the day would still be twenty-four hours, and each hour sixty minutes ; and we could not tell that the min- utes were not always alike. We could only know that the day was divided into 24 equal parts ; and these 24 parts were divided into sixty equal parts, or minutes. The clocks would vary with the accelerated, or retarded, motion of the Earth itself. But, by means of the fixed stars in the heavens, we have a means of com- parison. And while the "sideral year" does not correspond, ex- actly, with the civil, or the solar 3^ear, it is comparatively close. For practical purposes, therefore, we may deem ;|he soul lives after the body has perished. The teachings of great minds as Confucius, Milton, Luther, and Aristotle, have had great influence in fashioning the souls of generations, and have largely governed and directed the thought and belief of the world. 298. Much labor is required, by the teacher, to get the first TRANSMISSIONS. IO7 ideas across from his mind to, and into, the mind of the child. Patience, chastisement, rewards and punishments, with other incentives and fears, finally prepare and pave a highway, across which may rush the armies of thought, that shall possess, and gov- ern, the child in all its after life. Aside from the transmissions from one human being to another, the mind of the macrocosm, with much labor and patience, strives with each human being, prepar- ing by afflictions, and difficulties, and rewards, a means of commu- nication, by which it may pour into that being elixirs of a glorious life. And when the human shall awake to the meanings of these efforts, and obtain the alphabet of this language, the knowledge of heaven will flow across into his soul, and his conduct shall, in correspondence, be heavenly too. The doctrines of Christ, when they have reached over into the human soul, afford such a royal highway. The words, ideas, doctrines, of the Pharisees, hypo- crites, accepted by any man, may act in his mind as a leaven, until they permeate and contr^^l the whole life. Such words are poison. On the other hand, the Christ came with words, — He is the word, — which, received into the soul, shall fill, and conform, the being to ia heavenl}^ character. The essence of his teaching has flowed out into all the w^orld, and been transmitted into the hearts of many lives, giving to them the light and understanding of gods. He is the light of men. 299. Besides education, there is a social condition resulting from education, and the associations of the animal man coniointl3^ from which powerful factors are transmitted into the soul. The conjoint condition is that of public opinion, the fashion, the voice of the time. And it speaks with no uncertain tones to nearly everv human soul. Its language is not one of words but of customs. And, through these customs, its forces are transmitted to the mi- crocosm with no reduction of power because of the way they come. 300. But, probably, the' most powerful of all the mental influ- ences, by which transmissions are made to the microcosm, is that of the emanation from each personal presence, of a pschyic, or astral, fluid. By means of this fluid the personal character of a person is felt by the receptive microcosm. The presence of great men convey to those who come within their reach, inspiration, ambition, courage. A giant of evil inspires pigmies to deeds of sin and wrong. The Lord Jesus Christ had the greatest personal power of any one that has ever been on the Earth. He spake as never before man spake ; as one having authority, and not as the scribes and Pharisees. Mulliludes followed him into the desert, and staid there with him for days, without food, or shelter. He was kingly, and had a kingly character, and gave off emanations of pschyic fluid, that were absorbed by those about, to such an extent, that they were uplifted in character, and became more like him. She, who barely touched the hem of his garment, was I08 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. healed of her disease. And virtue constantly poured out of him into the souls about him. Every community gives out an atmos- phere, which influences, and transmits, its forces to each individ- ual coming within its reach. Every star does the same : for no star is without intelligence, which governs it. This pschyic- astral fluid permeates everything ; the atmosphere, and the human body, which acts like a sponge towards it ; while the great sea lies without. The influences it exerts, the forces it contains, will be treated of in the next chapter. 301. The microcosm has, as we see, many forces conveyed to it from without. There are many without that are not conveyed to it. For while the microcosm has nothing it did not get from the macrocosm, the macrocosm has much it has not yet given to it. But the microcosm has a career before it. It has a history behind it. The microcosm, as a beast of the field, could not receive, or have transmitted to it, any of the finer sentiments, of love, relig- ion, or science. It had no brain, or heart organs, by which to receive these forces from the macrocosm. These forces could not be expressed, or manifested, through the beast medium. But as the microcosm progresses, and is educated, and molded, by the macrocosm, it is prepared for influxes from it which it could not before receive. Now, the macrocosm has much that the micro- cosm has no organ by which to receive it, but the organs will be developed. When it has received of all that the macrocosm has, then will it become one with it. 302. When the microcosm shall be parted from the bod}- by death, transmission to it, through bodily means, must cease, but those through pschyic means and ideas will be greatly facilitated and increased. Death but introduces the prepared soul into bet- ter conditions for thought transmissions. What are the various forces and powers existing in the macrocosm, and what the mi- crocosm resulting from so many differing forces? CHAPTER II. MACROCOSMIC INFLUENCES. §1. The Macrocosmic Elements. 303. The child obtains its body from its parent, as we have considered, together with all its parent's chemical, structural and vital character, by bodily transmission, or transference. In like manner the Moon obtained its body from the Earth, and the Earth its being from the great Sun. These are all instances of trans- missions within the realm to which the being belongs. The trans- mission of thought from one person to another, and of knowledges gained through the senses, are also, transmissions belonging to the realm of the microcosm and matters of its consciousness. But all transmitted from the realm above, or higher intellectual plane than the microcosm is by influx, and does not come into the conscious state of the recipient. When the recipient becomes conscious of these influxes, then it rises to a point between the planes where choice can be made of them. When one passes higher yet and has caused these higher thoughts to enter his being and perform their duties without the necessity of conscious thought, then the being becomes one with the macrocosm influencing it, and is ele- vated to a plane higher than that which it previously inhabited. Thenceforth it can, also, control the influx into itself, hence it is an influx no longer, but an appropriation. Influx is a flowing in ; a flooding of the microcosm from out of the macrocosm by which the microcosm is influenced to acts, growth, and changes in itself beyond its own control. The human race has control of its trans- missions, but not of its influxes. 304. In the first instance the microcosm was formed by the macrocosm by means of these influxes. The macrocosm contains all elements in universal form, or condition, from which supply the microcosm brings them into individual use. The macrocosm loves principles of right and truth. The microcosm loves per- sons — individuals in whom these qualities are found. The microcosm, with its particular loves, and limited hates, one sided esthetic emotions and yearnings in certain directions, cannot con- no PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. ceive of the higher order of the macrosomic intelligence which possesses love universal, the ideal of universal beauty, and univer- sal desire. For instance love, in nature, is free as the sunshine shed upon all ; in man it is split up in different individuals, into loves varying with each. We love some person or thing, the ma- crocosm pours out love as the rain pours, alike upon the evil and the good. 305. These universal intelligences of the macrocosm, or pschyic fluids, lie like seas about us, and their waters flow in and out of the caverns of our being as the ocean waters sweep through the caves along the coast, leaving their curious markings and trac- eries behind. The macrocosm contains a great sea of energy, a great sea of productiveness, a great sea of constructiveness, a great sea of selfishness, a great sea of love and so on. Into whatsoever comes within its way, into which it can flow, the waters of these seas flow. The only limit to their flowing appearing to be the ca- pacity of the microcosmic cavity to receive it. The water of the sea may vary from time to time in density. A cavity into which it might flow, could it reach it, may not lie along its coast but be situated high above its reach on the dry land. A capacity for one kind of wa- ters may be situated by the side of the wrong sea for its use. The microcosmic cavity may be open to the waters of one ocean and not to another. These are among the hindrances of influx and reasons for the variableness apparent on every hand. But these apparent hindrances give diversity of kind. 306. These different waters flow forth from one universal fountain head. The seven principles are the instruments by which the different streams are drawn out into individuality of ex- istence. Existence is successively presented to these streams of influx. That being which is born under the rule of a certain influx has its character therefrom. All beings that have been, or are to be, are necessary to manifest the macrocosm that gave them being. It takes all the differing microcosms born out of the ma- crocosm, collectively, to reveal the character of that macrocosm. These macrocosms may be but microcosms to a more universal Macrocosm — God. So that all of these superior intelligences must be collectively known to reveal the character of God, out of whom they came. And even then, God must possess character not manifested in his angels, or stars at all. Hence, God is past finding out. 307. The human race on Earth has been generated and nour- ished by the influxes to which it has been submitted. Each indi- vidual transmits his characteristics to his child. What the parent transmits, is what is characteristic of him and his race. All addi- tions of knowledge or character to this, by which the individual differs from his race, and is advanced beyond its former position of intelligence or form, comes from the new influxes from the sea in which he is immersed. As the Earth's position in these ma- MACROCOSMIC INFLUENCES. Ill crocosmic seas is constantly different, so do those who are born this minute differ in character from those born a minute ago. Yet the prime characteristic of the month governs all born in it ; and still more does the controlling principle of the age govern all, etc. The more universal position, or general environment, must be the same for all inhabitants of the same globe, sphere or world. 308. A knowledge, therefore, of the general surroundings of the world, and of what is the governing principle at the time, with the position occupied with reference to other heavenly bodies, will reveal, to him who can read aright, the characteristics of the age among mankind on earth. Such a knowledge, also, by reason of the inevitable procession of the principles, will show him what has been, what is, and what is to be. So that such a one may reveal the secrets of the past, and disclose true prophecies of the future. 309. The first period of the macrocosm was that of activity. The principle of motion governed it (Gen. i :2). God moved to the creation of the universe. Motions of varied kinds were then instituted, which were so powerful and persistent that they have lasted until now, and continue to traverse the space into which the}' were cast. And that, too, when the forms of that space have changed continually. Yet these motions have entered into these forms, and are still passing through them. 310. The second period of the macrocosm was that of ex- panse, volumes, and magnitudes. In this period originated dimen- sions, which were so persistent as to continue until now ; and though they may not now govern, they serve admirably. In the third period, the motions of the first, and the dimensions of the second, were separated into innumerable varieties, or linds. And the varied kinds, persist until now. With the completion of the third period the macrocosm was perfect. God saw that it was good. The three is perfect. It has but one part, one will ; it can- not be self-divided. But God introduced the fourth period of reproduction. From whence the one macrocosm becomes the many ; many wills in place of one ; beings, things, externals, bodies, each clothed by limitation. The stars which were born from the one vast macrocosm, many of them still persist. The beings and forms which emanated f'rom each star, many of them keep on in apparent endless reproduction. And since this fourth period, for each one, there is always two wills. The will of all without and their own self-will. But without this creation, there could have been no companionship ; no love ; only one vast being. 311. With the fifth period the career of the secondary will begins ; the will of the individual within the macrocosm ; the in- fluence and power of each star, moon, and planet. This period presents a new way ; the way of union through association ; action by affinity ; mutual co-operation. There are lienceforth two ways. The one way which the one self of the macrocosm first went, and the new way of many individual paths proceeding in 112 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. the same general way, separate, yet in harmony ; the way of love. After the fourth period, always comes two ways. 312. The sixth period was that of recognition. Each being perceiving its separateness from each other being, and knowing the others by their being without its self; by coming in contact with them ; equally so by parting from them. These knowledges are continually increasing. The larger part of the animal race belong to this time. Man, the intelligent animal, is a product of this macrocosmic age. The seventh and last period of the macro- cosm is the period of the soul. The term period is here used merely to facilitate thought. 313. Each period begins in the middle of the former one (62). It is born in the midst thereof. For a time it remains in an inferior condition, being overpowered and shadowed by the stronger influences of the period or principle in power at the time of its birth ; its parent, in fact ; the mother which fosters it, out of which it grows, from whom it is born. But in process of succes- sion it assumes the superior condition. So the period of each of the principles has two phases ; an inferior, or serving one, and a superior, or governing one. This would make fourteen phases of time, but there are really only twelve. For time supposes succes- sion, and succession, motion. Now the seventh principle is resl: motion does not reach that far, hence the periods cease when the sixth principle gives over the rule to the seventh, and time ceases (Rev. 10:6 and 7). There are consequently six outgoing periods, each separated from the one before, and the one after by an inb ring- ing period. 314. The universe, to which our solar system belongs, is now, probably, in the fifth period, and the universe is still m an oval shape, showing a polarized state. The macrocosm has been developed through these various stages, even as a child is developed into a man. In the day when it first possessed activity and motion, it contained no thought, or knowledge ; it had not reached it then, — we speak of the macrocosm as apart from: the spirit within, — consequently it could not then have imparted t to the microcosm. And since the macrocosm imparts all to the mi- crocosm of which the microcosm possesses, its own age and con- dition determines the microcosmic development. That macrocosm which is now acting upon our microcosmic world, is now being sup- plied with mind by the Great Father, and it is feeding it to its child. 315- Just as the macrocosm, as a whole, is being developed by God through his seven great principles, which he created with it, so each part thereof is being passed through paths of instruction varying from each other: each part of the way varying in its les- sons. Into the ether space each characteristic of each being, star, or thing, he has made, is projected ; it pours out its astral fluid all about it. Each thing or being smaller, or lying on a lower plane, MACROCOSMIC INFLUENCES. 1 13 than itself, coming into this astral fluid, is molded by it into a sim- ilarity of character. So it is that our Sun, and its accompanying planets, in their path through space pass into the influences of different groups of stars, or signs, and imbibe the instruction they each impart to it in turn. 316. Corresponding with the twofold periods of the primal principles, there are twelve signs through which our Sun passes with its planets in the round of its orbit. Thousands of years are occupied in passing through a single sign. The elements imparted to our solar system, thereby, are those characteristic of the princi- ple governing the sign, either in its inferior, or superior, condi- tion, — its male or female ascendency. We believe that our solar system is now passing through the eleventh sign, and receiving spiritual consciousness — the knowledge of good and evil ; which is the fourth of celestial development. §2. Influences of the Sun. 317. The Sun is the father of all things that have been born from mother Earth. Not only of the Moon, which was a child after their own kind, and on their own plane, but of animal life as well. The Sun has incited the Earth to certain operations within her being which have brought forth all that now dwell visibly upon her body — microcosmic parasites. 318. The Earth, a child of the vSun, by some greater and more powerful Star-father, or God-father, developed, through its first three periods, its being after the pattern of its parent. It had bottled u.p in it the structure and experiences imparted to it by its parents, — its inherited experience. After the middle period, the Earth went forth into the society of the other worlds, and expe- rienced new contacts, and felt the influences of its neighbors and such of its kind as came in its way, or presence. The beginning of each body came from its parent bodies, then all parts of the without has added thereto. 319. So the Earth gave, in the first instance, the body to each creature upon it ; induced to this course by the Sun's power acting upon the Earth's structure. The Sun's influence is the great- est which is exerted upon the Earth. By its heat and light, electric and magnetic power, it caused the earth to gather its particles into groups, and made them living bodies ; creatures, that breathed the air it gave, and walked the earth it warmed. Without the Sun's light, and heat, and electricity, all creatures on earth would per- ish : these, by influx, have poured into man the bulk of what he has, and is. 320. By reason of the six principles, and their dual form, the Sun gives forth twelve manner of influences ; twelve kinds of fruit, 3'ielding its fruit each month, and its leaves are for the heal- ing of the nations (Rev. 22:2). Each kind is dispersed to difler- 114 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. ent parts of the Earth's orbit. To the space traversed each month is assigned a special influence : each thirty degrees has its teach- ing. 321. If we throw an}^ light object upon the waters of a stream , it will move in the direction of the current, and be borne away with it. If there are several streams flowing in different directions ; then, according to the stream it is cast upon, will be the direction it is carried. A new life, born into the world, is borne away upon the astral stream upon which it is cast : it is molded by the influ- ences of the time. If it is cast upon the August stream of the heart, it is carried forth into external expressions of love and emo- tion. That is, a person born in August is endowed with a loving and emotional nature. An eddy, in the after current of life, ma}^ guide the person into another, and even contrary channel, but its first, and, because first, strongest natural impulses will be in that direction. 322. Our life-bark, in its voyage from the cradle to the grave, sails over many seas and gathers its cargo from each. If we know the date it sails from port, we may know the sea it puts out upon, and the direction it takes ; and hence, its desired haven. But it may bring up in some other port at last. For the united spirits of former voyages, — experiences inherited from parents, — may be stronger, in their councils, than the spirits of the deep upon which it at present sails, and so guide it into other oceans and to other lands, than that towards which it first sails. But while there is variation, the being cannot go beyond the confines of the general ocean, or outside of the control of the principles governing the age. 323. Besides the direction of character, given to each person by the influxes at the time of birth, each person is influenced by the solar principle of each month, in a less degree. In the tempe- rate zones of the Earth the twelve solar influences are most nearly equal to each other. In the torrid zone the summer influences are abnormally intensified, while the others are shut out by the atti- tude of the Earth towards the Sun. In the frigid zone the winter influences are intensified, and the others given a cold shoulder. Active character is developed towards the pole ; lazy character towards the equator ; the happy medium, between. But he who wishes to intensify any one particular character, must choose its location of maximum presence. 324. The soul which has acquired a knowledge of the solar influences, of the different' periods, and localities of the Earth, ma^^ by selecting the proper locality at the proper time, and then shifting his position to suit the change of the influences, keep in the presence of a given solar supply, continually, and build up his character in that requirement, from the supply so furnished. When we want iron, we go to where the iron ore is and mine it ; when we want lead, we go to a lead mine ; and so on. So it is with kinds of solar influences. MACROCOSMIC INFLUENCES. II5 325. Regions of high mountains and deep valleys, in the temperate zones, offer the greatest diversity of solar influences, as well as of mineral wealth, and conduces to the most even develop- ment of character and prosperity. §3. Influences of the Moon. 326. The Moon took the Earth's surplus of centrifugal force, when it was parted from it (190), leaving the earth under the prime control of the centripetal. Hence, its influence, upon life on Earth, is opposite from that of the Earth itself. Hence the quality which is governed by the sign in which the Earth is when a person is born, will, by reason of the Earth's centripetal force, be fixed in such person as a controlling quality of his life ; but the centri- fugal use, or outward expression of that quality, will be determined by the sign in which the centrifugal Moon is at the same time. Whence the Earth ministers to the subjective, the Moon to the objective. The Earth gives us our character, the Moon our nat- ural occupation. As the Moon's centrifugal force draws man's inclinations towards the occupation of the sign in which the Moon was at our beginning, and such occupation acts as a center of all our efforts, it has been said that we are polarized in that sign. We can best express ourselves in the line of occupation which is most natural to that sign. 327. But the Moon, having been born of the Earth, and re- volving about its parent, passes, in a round of its monthly orbit, through twelve different signs, or fluids, of controlling influence, emanating from the Earth as their center and source ; so that the influences of the Moon are but earthly influences sent back to us in assorted form. The Earth's characteristics are divided by the Moon's foice into twelve methods, each one corresponding to one of the twelve principal influences governing all energies. 328. The Moon also passes through the solar signs, with the Earth as center, in the opposite direction from that in which the Earth passes through the signs, from the Sun as a center. This is due to the fact, that while the Moon travels forward with the Earth about the Sun, and is, therefore, its companion in passing through the signs and influences, from the Sun as a standpoint, it falls be- hind the Earth during a portion of its revolution about it, then, by a greatly accelerated motion, passes ahead of the Earth on the side towards the Sun. If the Moon passed ahead of the Earth from the side away from the Sun, it would pass through the signs in the same direction as the Earth. If it did this, moreover, the Moon would "rise" earlier every morning. Some planets may have such Moons, perchance, but we have not. The Moon rises later each night than the night before, and it passes through all the signs in the opposite direction from which the Earth does. 329. The influences exerted by the Moon upon the Eartli Il6 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. are, therefore, opposite to those exerted by the Sun. The Sun is life-giving, the Moon death-dealing. Such statement, however, would convey an extreme impression, without fuller explanation. The Sun sends into ever^^thing the fire of being. The Moon draws action out from everything. The Sun causes us to acquire, the Moon induces us to expend. The Sun's direct influence upon the Earth is of an ingoing character, but when sent by reflection from the centrifugal Moon, it is of an outgoing kind. The Sun's power makes us to build upon and magnify ourselves ; the Moon's power makes us to expend ourselves ; send ourselves forth. The Sun's rays direct to Earth are, by it, concentrated. The Sun's rays, re- flected to the Earth by the Moon, are scattering. The Sun causes Earth creatures to be; the Moon causes them to do. To be is to live ; to do is to use the life, or die. The Moon causes us to send our life-element forth out of self. §4. Influences of the Planets. 330. The Sun and planets together constitute the material body of the solar system. Like the limbs, and other members of the body human, each one has its peculiar function to perform: each has its oflice. The Sun was the source of all ; the matrix wherein each was formed. Each, however,, has drawn from its mother's breast the peculiar milk needed for its supply. This supply is in accordance with the principle which was governing at the time. Each is in order. Each as it comes into conjunction with the Earth exercises its paramount authority over it. 331. The influences of the planets upon the Earth are in less degree than the Sun's. Their influences, while somewhat affected by the sign they are in, are nevertheless individual and distinct, the third principle having assigned to each its own peculiar func- tion. The governing planet at any time incites the peculiar ele- ment over which it presides, or is coincident with, to flow from the Sun, — which is the universal storehouse of all the influences be- longing to the system. Each planet calls out from the Sun its own needed supply, and the same for the Earth, when the Earth is under its control. 332. The power exerted by a planet upon the Earth is great- est when it is in conjunction with the Earth in the sign character- istic of its own nature ; the sign in which it was born. 333. There are eight principal planets, ignoring Vul- can, which is of doubtful existence. Four of these, Mer- cury, Venus, Earth and Mars, lie nearest the Sun in the order named. The other four lie further away, and are separated from the first group by a cluster of small planets known as Asteroids. These four outer planets in order from the Sun, are Jupiter, Sat- urn, Uranus and Neptune. 334. The four inner planets are most completely under the MACROCOSMIC INFLUENCES. Il7 influence and control of the Sun, and are, in consequence, most material and physical in their characteristics. These four have to do primarily with the physical form. Four is the synonim of form ; the body and vital organs. ' Four is the number of Time. 335. The four outer planets are least under the control of the Sun, the most open to the celestial influences beyond the Solar system, and most independent and free to choose as they please. They are most potent in the forming of intellectual and spiritual shapes. Thev have to do with the head, brain and soul. §5. Influences of the Stars. 336. It will be observed that the Moon, having been born of the Earth (171, etc.), sent back to the Earth an earthly influence causing occupations in accord with the Earth characters. Again, its reflection of the sunlight upon the Earth, caused a change in the work that sunlight did on Earth ; 3^et its influence, by reason of these different relations in which it was placed, unlike all other heavenly bodies, gave it a distinctive character and power pecu- liar to itself. In a similar way each of the planets, by reason of their differing relationship with the Sun, have characters peculiar to each. Yet the Earth and other planets, and the Moon, all pos- sess characteristics derived from the Sun ; not so with the stars. Their characters are not derived from our Sun, although our Sun may have derived its character from them, or some of them, and may in turn contribute in some measure to them. But in the main their characters are each distinctive, and each unlike, while in some ways like, our Sun. At best they are not very near of kin. 337. The stars have their influence upon our Sun and upon all the planets. This influence is greatest upon the planet most distant from the Sun, where the Sun's influence is weakest. The inhabitants of Neptune are less under the rule of the Sun than we, and subject more completely to the great celestial powers. 338. The influence of the stars is less marked and not as strong upon us as the influence of the Sun. But these influences, unlike all we have previously considered, are not derived from the Sun, but are distinctivel}/ their own, — planted in their bosoms by the God. 339. The influence of the stars upon us is of a more general or departmental character, and while less readily seen, is still very potent ; as gravity, which binds star to star, is more general than that which moves the glacier down the valleys of Switzerland. Their influences are primarily intellectual and spiritual, hence only exerted upon man to any extent from among Earth's beings. 340. The stars have their specific forces. The great general forces being assigned to certain localities, or signs, in the heavens. These general forces being separated into more particular func- tions : each assigned to a star of the constellation. The Sun Il8 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. moves with its train of planets through these signs in the heavens, being taught by each of these celestial countries of what it has to teach. 341. The Sun and planets, in one round of the solar orbit, travel through twelve celestial countries, each thirty degrees across it. Each celestial country is inhabited by powerful Lords (stars), with their vassals, who give celestial food to the Sun and its fam- ily during their journey through the land, and courteously accept the small tributes they bring in return. Of the countries lying either side of those through which the Sun passes in its journey, we know less. But since the universe is in an oval form (348), and the Sun's orbit lies in the great plane of the oval, these side countries can only be vassal states or outlying territories of the adjoining kingdoms through which the Sun does pass, and at whose courts he is received graciously, and is never sent empty away. The four superior planets, lying furthest from the Sun, are most graciously received in these kingdoms. And since their egos are less selfish, less self-persistent, they receive most from these great Lords, and acquire most rapidly the celestial knowl- edge. CHAPTER III. POLARIZATION. §. I. Everything is Polarized at its Middle Period, 342. Now, that we have considered how each being and thing obtains its substance and character by transmission from its parent and surroundings, upon its own plane ; and how, having obtained, and during the obtaining, it has been influenced to cer- tain growth and form by reason of the macrocosmic forces oper- ating upon it, by which it is gradually lifted towards a higher plane, we come to a stage in which each thing is polarized. 343. Ever^^thing is polarized at the middle period of its exis- tence ; instance, the Earth when the Sun established its rule over it (167); the pollen and seed in the plant (139). Polarization is an inevitable resultant of the co-presence of the will of the macro- cosm, which is operating upon the microcosm, and of the will born in that microcosm, which will is embodied in the self or ego of the being. The macrocosmic will gathers everything about one center. But when, in the course of its existence, the microcosm develops a will of its own, or there is developed a will within it, then that will gathers all it ma}^ about self as a center. These two centers, the macrocosmic will and the microcosmic will, become lodged in each thing, and become the poles of opposed character found in everything which has passed its middle condition. 344. The time of polarization in anything determines that it shall be the middle period thereof. For its former existence was a career of the macrocosmic will, and now the microcosmic will must also have its career ; and each career must have its seven periods (43). The time of polarization may not, necessarily, be the middle of its existence counted by earthly years, but must be the middle, counted by results. The microcosm may cover more development in one year of time than the macrocosm. Neither is each thing, or creature, even of the same race, polarized as quickly as each other one. It also appears to be the fact that the slowest polarizations are of the highest order. 345. The two poles are centres of opposite tendencies. The major force of the one is centripetal; the major part of the other is centrifugal. Because of this, we have in nature, on one hand I20 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. heat, on the other hand cold.; light and darkness ; and in the soul realm we have good at one pole, evil at the -other. The action of each polar centre is to draw all of its sympathizers about its stand- ard, to concentrate all its friends into a powerful force about it. The establishing of these two centralized forces within each uni- verse, or being, results in rending in sunder the parts of the body thereof, creating great disturbance, commotion, discord, warfare : dividing every part into its opposite components, each of which seeks its corresponding pole. The thing polarized is a magnet, for a magnet is a thing drawing to itself its kind. That which is drawn by the magnet will join the pole of its choice. 346. The two forces in each magnet or magnetized thing must balance each other so long as it remains intact. And being equal neither can overcome the other, but the struggle must con- tinue. Peace cannot be restored until the thing shall sacrifice a part of itself. But the opposing forces within, being equal, this can only be done through the intervention of another. Thus, the Earth, induced thereto by the will of the Sun cast out or sacrificed its surplus of the centrifugal, and became the centripetal, or re- deemed Earth. The Sun was its redeemer. Christ is our Sun of righteousness and the Redeemer of man. 347. The created universe, as a whole, was polarized when it reached its fourth or middle period. Its poles were, the one the material pole and the other the spiritual pole. The concentration of matter about the material pole, in this fourth period, resulted in stars. The concentration of spirit, drawn forth from matter, about the spiritual pole, results in spirits, beings. The spiritual pole finally triumphs, by the intervention of God, and all matter is fin- ally drawn back to spirit about it. §2. Magnets within Magnets. 348. Each part of a magnet is itself a magnet. The universe, as a whole, has been polarized ; hence, its oval form. It has two opposed centres, or poles. Our Solar system has been polarized. It moves in a round of its orbit, about or past, both of the universal poles. Its general forces, and the relative power of either uiiiver- sal pole over it, is according to its relative position to either pole. The relative influence of either pole, in any magnet, upon us, or upon anything else, is in accordance with the position occupied in reference to it, or our distance from it. 349. The power of each of the poles of the universe, the out- going or the incoming, is greatest upon that which is nearest, but the power of both reaches to the utmost limit of space ; hence, there are forces of each present in any localit}-. By the principle of limitation, these respective forces collect about their preferred standard, forming two armies, lying within and smaller than the universal forces, but, like them, set in opposition to each other, POLARIZATION . 121 and making a new magnet within the magnet of the universe. Thus, it comes to pass, that within the great magnet of the uni- verse, are many magnets, as that of the Solar system in which we live. 350. In the magnet of the solar system the sun occupies one centre, the material pole, while at the opposite focus is the spirit- ual pole. The forces of this later pole, being centralized from the celestial universe, are universals, therefore not visible and not material. The planets, in the solar system, in passing through their orbit, not only pass around the Sun, their material pole, at the one end of their ellipse, but, also pass around the invisible spiritual pole, at the other end. 351. Within the magnet of the Solar system, each heavenly bodv, as the sun, the several planets, and asteriods are magnets. Each creature upon them being also magnetized through them. The two magnetic poles of the Earth have exerted their respective influences upon the creatures and forces upon its surface. The races of life have revolved about the two poles of the Earth. At present the nations of man are clustered about the North pole, but in former ages they were, doubtlessly, gathered about the South pole — the oceans then being principally in the Northern hemis- phere. According to the spirit that influences man, will be the Earth pole towards which he moves ; and according to the pole he is near, will be the spirit which will influence man's life within. Prior to the birth of the Moon, the Earth not being a magnet then, no clustering influence existed ; and there was no drawing away from the geographical center. 352. Besides magnets inside of greater magnets, of the same quantitive type ; as our Solar system within a vaster universe ; and the earth magnet within the Solar system ; there are mag- nets of quality which co-exist within the one vast magnet of the universe ; or within the lesser, yet extensive magnet of our Solar system. For instance, the gross material of the Earth is a magnet with a pole in, or under, the British possessions of North America, and the other pole in the South seas. Various iron ores, the mariner's needle, etc., are influenced by this Earth magnet; but man, while probably unwittingly influenced by this magnet also, is still more influenced, in this generation, by the magnets in the thought world. Wealth is a magnet which draws him more powerfully than the Earth poles, and gathers the human race into dense populations, called cities, about the centers of finance. London is a positive pole of finance. 353. There is a magnet of brotherhood. All the peoples of the world are influenced by the principle of the love of kin. and are drawn towards this pole, which is not a locality at all, but a quality. So is every nation on earth a social magnet, v\ith patriot- ism and identical interests poles which draw all its citizens to- gether, and holds them in one great family. Those are nearest to 122 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. the pole of patriotism who are most j^atriotic. Such are the most strongly bound by its power, and compelled to respond to its be- hests. They, in turn, derive most of the benefits which patriotism can confer. Then there are also magnets of love, and right, and knowledge, and so on. Those in whom the sense of right is strongest are nearest the positive pole of morality. Where others might compromise with righteousness, they have no choice, but are compelled, by the force which holds them so near to the pole, to obey its demands, if need be, even to the sacrifice of life itself. The negative pole of right is wrong. In every magnet the posi- tive pole has its opposite or negative. Where right is there is wrong to oppose it. 354. The lesser magnet is created by the greater. Take a powerful magnet in any laboratory and scatter soft iron filings over it ; the filings arrange themselves about its poles, and each tiny piece of iron will be found a magnet. Each has been magnetized by the greater magnet. The attracting power of each tiny mag- net, moreover, will be found to exist by virtue of the greater mag- net. So, too, is the love of man derived from resting upon the love of God. 355. The universe is full of magnets and magnetic influ- ences- Each smaller magnetic being is influenced by the many magnets about it. And the structure it has fashioned, by reason of the virtue derived from its parent magnet, may undergo a com- plete change, under the influences of other powerful magnets, brought into its vicinity, or, into whose vicinity it may come. Not only the vicinity of space, but the vicinity of likeness, gives power to the influencing magnet, and causes changes in the controlled structure. A great and powerful magnet may, in space, be close to a little magnet without material!}^ aflecting it, owing to its great difference of character. While a less mighty magnet, and more distant in space, may have a powerful control over the little mag- net, owing to its being near to it in character. By such influences are the character of things changed. §3. Polarized Man. 356. By the polarization of the animal race came the male and female. The centrifugal pole of the individual body lies in the generative, or creative organs. The centripetal pole lies in the brain. By the last named, the animal takes in of the without ; at the first named, it sends out of the within. The influence of each pole extends to all parts of the body. The generative pole, which sends out its force, draws its suppl}' from every part of the within, while the mental pole, which takes in its force from without, sends its supply to every part of the within. The opposite poles in difl^erent beings draw each other. The opposite poles in the same being seek to get away from each other. POLARIZATION. 123 357. Every particle of the tissues of the body is a magnet by virtue of the magnetism of the animal. B}^ reason of the elec- trical supplies, sent forth by the brain, the magnets that exist in the muscles contract, and action results. While each particle is a magnet, communities of these particles form organs, which are themselves magnets. The heart, which is the central organ of life, — the fountain of growth, — is pre-eminently marked, drawing in the blood at one pole, and sending it forth by the other. So the animal, himself a magnet, contains magnets within magnets within himself. And the structures which these magnets control may be changed by the changing influences of the magnet of the whole animal (354, 355) ; by the forces sent out from the brain. 358. Adam was the most noble of animals, and perfect. He reached his maximum, or fourth period, in the Garden of Eden, and man was polarized. Prior to that, he unfolded according to what his Creator had planted in him, at his beginning; now, he entered into personal contact. This personality was, as it were, a germ, or seed, formed in the mind and called the will. It was the true but invisible pole of the brain. Man now made ventures for himself. In man the one pole, the anirhal, is visible and material, the other pole invisible. About the one pole clusters the body, about the other is fashioned the soul. In his personal ventures, man found Satan, in his without. Satan's influence swaved him. He revolved about this force until he reached a point in his orbit, which submitted him to the influences of Christ : Christ and Satan are the poles of the spiritual realm. The Soul, by the action of this spiritual magnet, was polarized. The good was parted into good and evil, — right and w^ong. The soul is the innermost magnet which we are able tc* reach. 359. In the Earth life of man the animal magnet remains united. In the realm of the hereafter, the soul has been parted from the body. In the by-gone, the animal was separate and alone, not united to the divine, as it is, in all human beings, now on earth. In the journey of individuality, — that is form, — from the material to the spiritual, it exists : first, in the animal ; then in the combined animal and spiritual, in which polarized state, the spiritual pole fashions a soul about it ; then this soul, while yet in the body, becomes polarized, at its middle period, knowing good and evil ; after that, the individual leaves the body, and goes forth in the soul, which becomes parted from the body, and subject to the spiritual realm. T?ie soul lias a spiritual form and slruclurc, as the animal lias a material one. 360. But this soul, which is the most concentrated and intense of magnets, is not born into spiritual life without pain and travail. By organic appropriation of external forces, the soul appropriates, or cuts off, to its own use, that portion of the solar, planetary-, or stellar, fluid which passes into, or saturates, its being, and builds it into its own form by reason of its magnetic power. Love, and 124 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE, beauty, and life, are in the macrocosm ; and they flow into, and are appropriated by, the soul. The incoming fluid is polarized, or concentrated about either the pole of evil, or good. But the fluid seeks expression ; and onl}' through the physical being can it be expressed : or made manifest. The more concentrated the forces become in the soul, the more intense becomes the desire of expression, the necessity of manifestation. The will may send any of these accumulations forth, and give birth to embodiments of them. Until they are embodied, they do not enter into our structure, or have lasting hold upon us. 361. The man is dual, — physical and spiritual. The phys- ical body is dual — male and female. The spiritual soul is dual — having the knowledge of good and of evil. When man is in the animal condition, his physical children are most plentiful ; but when he has reached the finer state, his physical embodiment will be less numerous, and his mental children most plentiful. His creations will be thoughts that shall be born of him and live, influ- encing mankind. These thoughts may be embodied in structures, or works. But the necessitv of child-bearing, or giving expres- sion, of one kind, or another, is laid upon every being. Shall the being express itself through the generative pole, or through the mental pole? 362. The more intense the inward becomes in the mind, the more intense the outward becomes in the life-force ; until nearly all the being's vitality has become lodged in the mind, on one hand, and is struggling to escape from the sexual organs, on the other. The soul, then, has a fierce time of it. Decisions are rapidly forced upon it. If it accepts the urgings of the sexual, the soul rapidly degenerates, and merges into the animal and becomes one with it. All the thoughts it takes in, at the mental pole, are then balanced by expulsions of life-force at the sexual pole. Any struggle between the poles of good and evil, in the mind, compels a counterpart struggle between the male and female elements of the animal. For, in any polarized being action at one pole means, also, action at the other pole. 363. But, the more intense the outward becomes in the mind, the more intense will be the inward in the lite. The soul, then, by the sending forth of mental children, — accepting the promptings of the mind. — draws the life inward, becomes one with the mind, and grows apart from the body. And, by such a course, becomes prepared for a vital existence separate from the animal. The acceptance of the mental, or mind promptings, makes the soul a magnet, with poles of good and evil, but the soul is never male and female ; for, if the soul goes the downward wav into the life-forces, it is lost in tlie animal (362). The body is in no wav evil or good ; for, while affected bv the moral condition of the soul, it has no moral responsibility. The soul has no sex respon- sibility. The body is the soul's avenue of expression in this life, POLARIZATION . 1 2 5 and for every act sent out through it, there must be a reflex im- pression made upon the character within. §4. Structural Form and Order of the Heavens. 364. In the wonderful cycle through which all existence passes, everything, first occupies the position of the positive. Self- assertion blinds it, and shuts out all consciousness of any other thing superior, or inferior, to itself. Then, it becomes tv\^o. It becomes negative to some other positive and greater will ; con- sciousness of others awakes. Then, it becomes the being influ- enced and controlled by both positive and negative, and is polar- ized. This brings a dual knowledge. Now, it may, by means of the choice between the two offered to it, become independent of either and master of both, and, by revolving about them in an orbit, determined, at first, by the relative forces of the poles, it may obtain such supply from them as it chooses, and build itself up distinct from all. If it triumphs over the negative pole, it be- comes a positive one again, and coincident, at least in labor, with the Spirit. So Christ triumphed and reigns. But, if it allies itself to the negative, it will continue a reign in opposition to its spiritual source, for it was positive and from the positive, in the beginning. In these principles is revealed the structural form of the heavens, which is ever changing. 365. The Universe was, at first, a great globe, with one gov- erning center, from which it had its origin. Then it became the polarized Universe, a great oval with two centers of power, one the positive and the other the negative. This is the state it is now in, and everything has its opposite. In the last state, the positive will coincide with the negative in all places, hence the poles will be coincident and one, and once more one center will govern in the perfect globe. And, just as at first existence came out from this center, back into the center it will pass at the end. 366. The form of the universe is now an oval. The body of this oval is composed of molecules, containing suns, planets and moons, as atoms. Looking at these molecules of the universe, in the direction of the more distant edge of the oval, their vast num- bers, produce a "milky Vt'ay." By reason of the present polarized condition of the universe, by which two powers, in two centers, influence every magnet within the universe, every star, and planet revolve in an elliptical orbit. Some are more elliptical than oth- ers, showing the different stages of the struggle going on. From this polarized ellipse, comes the opposites of cold and heat, sum- mer and v/inter, and all their kindred train. But when the posi- itive has closed in upon the negative, the perfect circle will pre- vail. 367. By reason of the two poles of the universe, two great classes of conditions now prevail. And while the influence of 126 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. either pole is felt even to its opposite pole, its influence there is at a minimum, while at its home it is at its maximum. Consequently, about each pole prevail conditions the opposite in kind, to those about the other pole. 368. The same principle must prevail as to the poles of the Solar System. The one pole lies w^ithin the surface of the great Sun and all the material planets revolve about it. At this pole is fire and brimstone. The greatness of the forces of the material world. Here, if anywhere, might makes right, and woe to the weak. Pugilistic strength is worshiped. The wheel of Jugger- naut rolls on, regardless of misery and agony, crushing every- thing before it. This is the home of demons. At the other pole of the solar system, are centered the unseen but potent spiritual powers. Love is king, and all the treasures of thought support him. All tears are wiped away. Gentle ministrations give new- ness of life to the frail. Beauty and joy clothe the angelic multi- tudes. Probably the two poles lie at the common foci of the orbits of all the planets ; but the action of the spiritual pole is one with God, the spiritual pole of the universe. 369. God is in all localities. God is not in any locality. Yet you cannot go beyond the reach of God's spirit. Toward Soul is toward God. Towards the outward, material, is away from God. He who strengthens and improves his body, gets nearer the animal world. He who improves his mind and soul, gets nearer God. Animals are a part of nature, but souls are a part of God. Like seeks like, and the outward surroundings correspond to the inner character. The physical is bound to the Sun, and is drawn towards that material pole ; and the planets will, finally, ail join their mass to it. But the spiritual pole of the solar magnet is one, in its purpose, with God, the great spiritual pole of the universe ; hence, the spiritual soul of man, when sent out by the spiritual pole on a new journey, or round of life, will be carried away from the material Sun towards the celestial Heavens. The law of polarization indicates the origin of soul beings, to be in the middle planet, or planets of the system ; and that the degenerating of the race, are carried back through the several planets, and their con- ditions, to an end in the Sun : while the spiritually increasing ones, of the race, are borne on, through the several planets, and their conditions, away from the Sun to an end in the celestial heavens. 370. The planets, in point of distance from the Sun, are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, the Asteroids, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. These planets, origina]h% beginning with the smallest, Mercury, probably, increased in size in regular order away from the Sun to Lucifer, which was the middle one, and largest, or largest next to Jupiter, and occupied the place of the Asteroids ; then decreased in size again to Neptune. But when the system's polarized forces reached the maximum of their POLARIZATION. 1 27 intensity, the separating power caused the breaking up, or de- struction, of Lucifer (345). The Asteroids are its fragments. Or, probably, the Asteroids are the fragments of four middle planets, a third of the family. Let us use our illustration of iron filings, scattered upon a powerful magnet, again. It will be found that the iron filings will leave the place between the poles and gather about them. Those clusters half way between, — 'Lucifer and his companions' position, — will be torn apart, and divide, traveling towards one pole, or the other. As Mars, which, by its position, ought to be larger than the Earth, is found to be a little smaller, — the only exception to the rule, — it was doubtless fractured and parted at the same time. Or, if we count Vulcan as an inner planet, then Mars becomes one of the four middle planets, that were lost through pride. 371. Mercury being the smallest planet, nearest the Sun, and revolving about it many more times in a given number of years, is many times more powerfully controlled by the Sun than any other of the planets. The Sun's heat, and light, and electric power, have full sway there, and do their own will completely. Mercury is, therefore, grossly malerial, and, to Earth's inhabitants, would be a hell of misery. Forces run riot in it. 372. Venus, somewhat more distant, somewhat larger in its selfhood, less often revolving about its king, is, correspondingly, less subject to his sway ; yet more so than the still more distant and larger Earth. In Venus dwell animal passions, and a super- abundance of animal life. It ministers to the lower instincts. 373. The Earth's function, in the solar system, relates to the heart; the circulator}^ system. Less grossly animal than Venus, less physical and material than Mercury, it is yet more selfish and distinctively egotistic. 374. Mars, we have noted, as being an exception, in being smaller than the Earth, out of turn. This has caused it and its inhabitants to age faster than Earth's. Less subject to the Sun, from greater distance, and less frequent journeys about it, it has, nevertheless, from this aging process, due to smallness, inhabi- tants, probably, as distinctly egoistic as Earth. Its function is of the spleen and liver, and its people have been spleeny. Perchance, mighty wars have reddened its rivers with blood. 375. The Asteroids are smaller and more distant than Mars, and, consequently, individual animal organisms may be main- tained in them. The Asteroids perform in the solar system the function of the lungs. Half way in the solar system, their oppor- tunity of choice, intellectually, is most perfect. Possessed, in con- sequence, of godlike feeling, self reigns supreme. Here, the body and mind have just equal control over the soul. Their sins, if they have an}', are of an intellectual character, as opposed to the sense, or sensual sins, of Earth's people. Vacillating, and un- steady, because of the half-way position occupied, sin, doubtless, 128 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. originated here. Lucifer swelled with pride until he burst. His magnifying of self caused self-destruction. No nations, or union of efforts, would exist here ; each person scheming to self-aggran- dizement. Consequently, the great intelligence of its people falls short of accomplishing what they otherwise might. Doubtless, also, the organic race of soul beings originated here, but a Christ found more welcome in the Earth, where the need of salvation could be more felt. Or, all the human race fell from Lucifer to- j wards the Sun, landing upon Earth, from whence, by Christ's re- l demption, they advance upward once more. 376. In Jupiter a great change, from the conditions of the other described planets, will be found. Jupiter's function is that of the head, or mind executive. In Jupiter, and the planets be- yond, the spiritual pole holds superior reign. It is extremel}- doubtful whether, even in this first planet of the spirit realm, souls are materially embodied at all. Their forms are likely spiritual ones, and have the power to enter such externals as they please, at will. Jupiter is only just about ready for intelligent inhabitants. The clouds of its fourth dav are clearing away, and the fifth day of life is near. 377. In Saturn we behold a new Earth and a new heaven (Rev. 21:1). All that ministers to our ideas of beauty, and much more of beauty, are found there, the realm esthetic ; poetry and love dwell here. There is no need of the Sun to shine in it for the glory of God surrounds it (Rev. 21 .•23), "and the Lamb is the light thereof." 378. In Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, distinctive, intrusive, selfish ego is lost ; souls live for others, and not for self. The all is bettered, and served, in place of the individual one, hence the no longer needed many may be merged into the great whole ; universal, not individual, spirits may come again. 379. Of the Sun, its intelligences are opposite in kind from those in Neptune, but alike in being unembodied in particular and fixed bodies. The intelligencies of Neptune are spirit-like, those of the Sun are forces. Whatever falls into its fires are consumed and reduced to beginnings again. 380. To summarize, the solar system in form is an oval. At one pole (the material) is the Sun, around which all the material planets revolve. It is the source of intelligent forces that domi* nate the physical. In Mercury and Venus, are the conditions for material and animal supremacy ; in the Earth, Mars and the As- teroids, the middle ground between the physical and spiritual, are conditions for souls embodied in physical forms ; and in Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, are conditions for spiritual forms and beings. Towards Mercury is towards hell, towards conditions favorable to evil. Towards Saturn is towards heaven, conditions favorable to spiritual life. CHAPTER IV. THE HUMAN RACE. §1. The Ego. 381. Polarization of the Earth called animal races into being. The principle of limitation becoming subservient to the power of affinity, permitted organized movements. Associated communi- ties of movements clothed, or incased, in material bodies assumed, each of them, particular characteristics, and so became individual. The principle of affinit_y bound together the several forces that had become associated together, in any given form, and caused each of such forces to serve one main end and purpose, which, thereby, became the characteristic of that animal. This characteristic be- came the governing spirit of the being. But Nature, or the Great External, governed the animal through this characleristic. And all the forces, or spirits, that comprised its character, were obedi- ent to the will of Nature, through this governing purpose. When, then, the body succumbed, by nature's behest and its particles, parting company, became scattered among the material surround- ings, the forces, qualities, or spirits, incentives, instincts, that moved it, and constituted its life, inhabited its body, and as an association had constituted the real animal, returned, severally, to their chosen places in the great external from whence they had come. It was not so with man. 382. The external will rules the animal. As the animal race was advanced, under the influences of the macrocosm, now gov- erned by affinity, it reached a condition suitable to a more persist- ent existence, and God put the internal will in its midst. The internal will, as a center, ruling all surrounding it, is the imafje of God, and becomes a self will ; so that the life, of such a being, is a self life, self persistent, and, to the degree of its power, independent of nature, or the great external. Hence, when death destrovs such a being^s bodv, or material dwelling, the being still persists, and its spirits do not scatter and join their kindred forces in nature, but continue bound together by the self will, and selfhood that governs them. This animal, in the midst of whom God put this internal will, is man. The internal, or self will, governs man ; and man, consequentl}', does not perish when his bodv dies. 130 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. 383. The forces, incentives and spirits comprising the man, which is within the human body, continue to keep together, in a united association, after that body dissolves, because they are con- trolled by the internal will, which is still in their midst, and holds them there. The spirits of man are continually drawn towards this will within. So the soul, or real man, lives on after death of the bod}^. 384. When plants were formed (127), a certain center in the organic sea drew the needed particles about it, and so fashioned a body for itself, making a plant. The plant grew, or augmented its size, by drawing material particles from without into its organic condition and being. So, too, does the animal bod}^ increase its size, by abstracting suitable particles from the food which it seizes from the without. In like manner, the without feeds the soul of man. Suitable thoughts, ideas, knowledges, forces, are seized by the central will, and bound to its service, built into its structure, or soul. Indeed, these spirits become willing inhabitants of the com- munity of spirits, which, under the governorship of the central will, constitutes man. 385. A plant, or animal, is constantly changing its material particles, and even its whole form, as a resultant. Even so the character of man is undergoing constant change, and man's soul, or real form, is constantly changing in consequence. New mem- bers are being taken in, old ones, when they are no longer in har- mon}' with the popular voice, are cast out. So man's character changes. And so man himself is changed. For the character is the essential thing. The will, character, and its fashion and form, the soul, constitute the ego, or I. The character is the quality; the soul is the quantity, or collective number of qualities ; and the will is the vital spirit that governs them, or should govern them, and whom the}^ serve. When all the individual parts of the soul become spiritualized, or perfectly identified with the inner will, the soul is eternal : it no longer parts with its members. The soul (form), and spirit (life), are then perfectly wedded. 386. The plant, after it has developed to a certain degree, reaches its fourth, or middle age, and generates seeds, or repro- duces itself. Animal being does the same. The polarized animal race, male and female, divide themselves, each part having a center which enlarges its body by its affinity force. The spirit is the new center. The will of the man becomes divided, and a part is sent out into the soul of the woman, this makes a new center, and is lodged in the physical child born. This speck of will, in the child, fashions a soul about it, from the surrounding, after the same manner, as is formed the physical bod}^. The soul seed, cast into new ground, grows, as does the seed of the blossom, and develops into a soul being, as the blossom seed develops into a new plant. But the only ground in wdiich the soul will root and grow is found in man. THE HUMAN RACE. I3I 387. In infants, this soul seed is discerned awakening from its dormant beginning. In children it sends forth its first tender shoots. It becomes rooted in the basic principles of human life, and takes hold of the common ground upon which the common- wealth, societ_y, and humanity rests. As the child grows into man- hood, or womanhood, education strengthens the soul's trunk, and knowledges multiply its branches. Art and manners give it luxuriant foliage. Moral victories add blossoms, from which come spiritual and eternal fruits in the autumn of life. The growth of the soul is slower than that of the body, and it, presumably, onl}' reaches its minor developments in this life ; it is onh' rooted here. 388. If the selfwill is very weak, the spirits, which are the sou inhabitants, are but loosely bound together. Then, as in the ca ^ of a weak king, whose subjects are liable to leave their allegiance to him and set up an independent government, or otherwise forsake him, so the spirits of such a soul kingdom, after death, — after re- lease from the ph3'sical cage in which they have, in a measure, been confined — -may forsake that soul and go forth to nature ; as do the spirits of all animal forms. But while the selfwill, or essen- tial ego, remains, the soul still, in some measure, exists, although stripped of all possessions. 389. The spirits of the without, vv'hether organized, — thai is, souls, — or not, are seeking to express, or manifest themselves. For this purpose they will enter those material instruments which are suitable to such manifestations. So, growth expresses itself in plants, and trees and grains ; and life manifests itself in the teem- ing forms of the sea and land. Passion manifests itself in animals ; intelligence, in man. Spirits cannot manifest themselves through instruments which will not fit them. The form must correspond to the spirit ; be fit for its use. The spirit of lasciviousness can mani- fest itself in and through the lustful, but has no entrance into the heart of virtue. Upon the pure it has no influence, but like rain falling upon a good roof, rolls oft" and does not enter the house. Character is advanced, and fitness for expression changed, as evo- lution progresses, so that which naturally and properly is mani- fested through a being to-day, would be unnatural and wrong a year, or an age. hence. Being should always manifest the highest spirits of whicli it is capable. 390. A disembodied soul may enter a body at birth, which is suitable for its manifestation, and from which it is not excluded In- prior occupancy ; so that the parents of the body may not. neces- sarily, be the parents of the soul. But such instances must be \'er\- rare. As a rule, the number of souls in Viis present age, on Earth, is increasing as the number of physical births. But the number o souls will never increase in number, so as to exhaust the spiritu;d supply for their growth, or development. 391. One spirit mav drive out another, even in life. A spirit. 132 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. from without, may drive out a spirit which is a member of the soul's household ; but the selfwill of the being will remain, other- wise destruction of the being would occur and a new being take its place. A spirit may forsake the soul, and again return after a time bringing others with him. See Luke 11 : 24-26. The self- will, — king of the soul, may be dethroned and another installed in his place making a nev self. The heart of stone may be replaced with a heart of flesh ; tenderness replace hardness. The Holy Spirit may be installed as kmg and be the will of the being. But when the will, or king molecule, the governing spirit of man, is changed, a new being is born in the death of the old being. A really new soul takes the place occupied by the old soul. The I is carried over into a new creature. The transformation is sooner, or later, complete. All members of the soul not in harmon}^ wnth the new king, all unclean spirits, are driven out, and their places filled with others more in accord with the new sovereign. The struggle mav be long, but the end is certain. Yet, though the Holy Spirit is one, his kingship as the self o^ different souls, re- veals wonderful variety. Great difference is found between differ- ent souls ; and this is more marked betn^een the redeemed, than between the unregenerate. 392. Man's will power extends beyond his own body ; beyond his own soul ; beyond the control over other human beings, made by circumstances of life, relationship, or assigned authority. He may control the spirits who exist in myriads about him. And even those whom he cannot incorporate into his own soul, or whom he may not desire so to do, he can compel to serve him. Others, again, whom he cannot command, will gladly aid him at his re- quest. The spirits of forbearance, patience, gentleness, mercy, charit}^ called about the home, wall sufi^use happiness, as an atmos- phere, about all its inmates and give new life. While the spirits of jealousy, envy, pride, anger, and other evils, will breed discord and miser}^, sickness and crime. Hence, we may each, become great powers for good, or evil, as we wish. The man who know- ingl}^, and intentionally, becomes a power for evil is a devil. While he who uses his power for good is a co-laborer with God, and rules with Christ, who sacrificed self for the good of man- kind. 393. Man must have an acquaintance with the spirits external to himself, to communicate with, and employ them ; or, he must obtain their aid through faith in Christ the king. Through faith in Christ, services, of even unknown spirits, may be obtained. Christ hath obtained knowledge of, and control over, all spirits, and God, their creator, hath placed all under his control. What- so-ever, theretbre, we may ask in His name, believing that we shall receive it, we shall so receive. Without belief no junction can be made between our desire and the fulfilling power. 394. Man may live so in harmony with nature, and her spirit THE HUMAN RACE. 1 33 inhabitants and forces, and with nature's God, as to know of com- ing events. The animals, being under nature's control, are warned by premonitions of any unusual coming change, but have no un- derstanding of them, or actual foreknowledge. Coming events cast their shadows before them. These shadows, falling on the mind which is en rapport witli nature, reveal to it a knowledge of the events. God, in this manner, perchance, instructed the prophets of old. The child, in close sympathy with its parents, knows its parents' mind, plans, and intents. 395. The human soul is the final and highest manifestation made in the material world. All other manifestations in the ma- terial realm lead up to it ; are in the way to it, and uphold and support it. All other manifestations perish, or pass into other forms, or repeat themselves, as nature, by its evolute laws, seeks to manifest itself; they aie but transitory. Not so the soul. Its iiistory stretches forward many a league into the future, and the dis- tant end of the highway it travels, cannot be discovered, from where we now^ stand. After all the material present shall have vanished, the souls of man shall still live on. §2. The Universal Way. 396. As has been so often stated, in different ways, in these pages, the correspondence between the inwird and outward is com- plete ; it is co-extensive witii the ou- ward. You may know the spirit of everything by its fruits. As is the outward, so is the in- ward. Only through correspondences can one being communicate with another. The internal manifests, or expresses, itself, through the outward. Nature is God's revelation ; his communication to man. Again, b}^ correspondence, we know each other. We un- derstand kindness, when manifested by another, because we cor- respond to that other in abilit\^ to manifest kindness. No man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him ( I Cor, 2:11). 397. The real exists on three different planes. One is phys- ical, another mental, and the third spiritual ; but all three corres- pond with each other. They beat in unison. They necessarily correspond, for the spirit creates the thought, and thought mani- fests itself in the physical. Or, thought is the offspring that comes out from spirit, and must, therefore, be of its parents nature ; and thought clothes itself in forms, on the physical plane, to reveal itself to itself. All outer things correspond to and are the result of an inner thought. The wonderful provision in nature for the care and good of all shows, by correspondence, the God who thought it, to be wonderfull}^ good. 398. The general progress of the essential substance, spirit, through thought to expression upon the material plane, was first, through gas, liquid, solid, in the mineral kingdom ; then it flowed 134 PHILOSOPHY OP EXISTENCE. through the vegetable and animal kingdoms into man. But, as it advanced in quality, it moved forward, correspondingly, in space. In all realms it progressed together ; always, at all times, corres- pondingly. 399. The universal stream of our system flows from the Sun towards the planets, and on towards the celestial pole. Every cur- rent has its counter currents, eddies, retrograde motions ; so has the stream universal. Again, every flood tide has its ebb, because of the spirit of opposition ; so this stream universal flows forward in pulsations. First a flood, then a pause, and partial ebbing, then forward again, gaining a little each time. 400. Man is borne on in this current of the way universal, and his physical being must continue therein. It is a good way, and best for him, while an animal. The Soul of the Great Macro- cosm governs it. Man is borne on, with his Sun and planets, through the seas-of hate, passion, jealousy to the seas of love, joy, justice, right. He comes to new seas, and leaves old ones be- hind. In similar manner, his essence has flowed out from the Sun, through, or passed, other planets, to the planet he now occupies. As he is borne along, he comes from one set of truths and influ- ences, into other influences, which were not in existence for him before. He had not arrived at them, could not know, or receive them, before. Neither his position from the Sun presented them, nor could the form he had developed receive them. Now they flow through him for the first time. By reason of his powder of choice he may appropriate them, make them his own, or he can reject them. Onl}- man can exercise such choice, and he, by rea- son of the self will ; animals being swa3^ed and governed by such influences as flow into them. 401. For man, mid some times and surroundings, it is easy to do wrong ; among contrary surroundings, and in other times, it is easy to do right. A man in Neptune might find it ver}^ easy to be spiritual and ethereal ; one in Mercury, equalh^ easy to be gross and material. One locality, or time, in man's career, is much more favorable to his higher development than others. These conditions man cannot control, whether good or bad ; he is borne on in the universal way. But by his selective, or will powder, the king of his ego, he may receive, or reject, any of the influences which are presented, just as he may receive, or reject, diflerent kinds of food. 402. The days of the week keep us in memory, or commem- orate the successive steps of the universal wa}^ in our system. SuN-day, MooN-day, TuES-day, WEDERS-day, TnoRS-day, Fri- day and SATURN-day. Saturn-day, the seventh day, the spiritual day, is far more appropriate for the Sabbath than Sun-day, the day emblamatic of the power of the material and ph^^sical. 403. The human race might have been passed, by the Great Creator, along this universal career, from the Sun to Saturn, as an THE HUMAN RACE. 1 35 animal, under the guidance of nature ; or as a machine ; an engine moved by steam, a ship driven by the wind, a mathematical, or calculating, machine operated by the force intellectual ; but, had the race been so progressed to the spiritual pole, which was also the original source, then would it have arrived only as a servant and slave. Then, as the essential essence went forth, so would it have returned. But the Great God had a more exalted conception. He gave to the human race the power of choice. He stamped mankind with the impress of his own image. Here, is the great mysterv. And while many will prove unequal to the occasion, some will arrive at the haven, as masters and colaborers with God. 404. This opportunity of choice was offered to man at the period of his polarization, and b}' it, was presented to him, two ways of travel. These two ways lie within the universal way, and are not, in any manner, in conflict with it. Yet they are entirely distinct, and nothing inferior to man can enter them. Nor are these ways discernable to the animal world, but are purely of a moral, or inward, character, — although effecting the outward life, — and stretch forward into the spiritual and unseen country. §3. The Two Ways. 405. For man, the universal wa}' divides in the Garden of Eden, and to Adam, a necessity of choice, is presented. Which way shall he take? It was man's reasonable choice to have taken the way his Maker, King, and Friencl, the Great God, had di- rected him to. No other way could be right. God had a right to demand obedience. Man had every reason to believe that, the wa}^ God pointed out, was the best way for him. But, he chose the other path, under the temptation and wiles of Satan, an intellect superior to his own, and fell from the plane of righteousness, and- perfection, along which he was progressing, in the sunshine of God's countenance, to a lower plane, that of sin and self. Had Adam continued forward in the plain path of good, the highway of heaven, he would have gone forward cross the material, or physical trial, represented by the horizontal line in the cross, peaceful and happy. 406. But Adam, and the whole human race, turned down the other way, after the leadership of Satan. And if Adam had not done it, the next man would ; for, man is so constituted, that Ins curiosity would never have been satisfied, as to the real results if he did disobey, without experimenting upon it. God knew Adam would fall. God expected Adam to fall. Yet is Sat?in the guilty one, and man the unfortunate participant in that guilt. Experi- ence is the only way man can make any knowledge a part of his own possessions, other knowledge is only shown to him. But, by experience, he seizes it, and incorporates it into his very nature, gains possession of it. Man became of a sinful nature, w^hen he 136 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. entered the downward path. He gained, thereby, the knowledge of evil, and has ever since enjoyed, to the full, all the miseries, and pains, and passions, and death, and cursings, and hates, that is embraced in that knowledge. Man, b}' this dark contrast, knew now, what before he had enjoyed without consciousness, the, good. By man's choice, he obtained the knowledge of good and evil, which otherwise, he could not know ; and I thank God, Adam fell. But woe is me if he had been forsaken and left there. I thank God more, for the after salvation. 407. The knowledge of good and evil, unquestionably, brought death of the body to man. The soul did not die, but may now, and after a time is, severed from the body. This is what the Devil meant, when he explained to the first pair, "Ye shall not surely die." The real being, the ego, did not die, but lived on in a living death on Satan's plane of pain and sorrow. It was not a sure, or final death. Satan fell from heaven, and meeting man, in Eden, piloted the way down towards death. The first, and onlv immediate death, being separation from the body, through loss, by sin, of the complete power of the soul over the body, which would, otherwise, have enabled it to completel}' renew its wastes as re- quired, and perpetuated its physical being, as well as its spiritual. But man had partaken of the elements of dissolution, and the end of Satan's highway is sure death. 408. Repentent Adam was comforted b}^ the God, from whom he had separated himself; for God forsook him not, although God was almost hid from him by the darkness, into which man had plunged, and the way of which he was learning. God comforted him, with the assurance of a Deliverer, the Christ, through whom he might be saved from the way the race was going down ; and by whom, all who would choose this deliverance, should be lifted up again and restored to the plane, on which he had stood before the fall ; where he should again find the path of good, yea, the high- way of God, and once more travel along, a perfect being, serving Him. This restoration has not yet been accomplished, but will certainly be, in God's good time. And, when it comes, it will be easy to choose to do right, for Satan will then be bound, and tempt not. Those who persist in following the evil way, thereaf- ter, will come to the second death, from which there is no return for the soul ; being dissolved, as the body is in the first death. 409. Adam, and his descendants of old, by reason of God's promise, looked forward in hope to Christ's time, and such as had 'faith, were saved. Even so, we, looking back to Christ and his sacrifice, are saved, by faith in him. Shall not they, and we all- be raised up in the general resurrection, to the judgment, at the close of the journey upon the plane of sin, when the sheep shall be restored to the favor of God,— the right hand, — and the goats shall be dismissed from his presence, and depart from him, which is death ; when Christ shall claim his kingdom, and rule, and "the THE HUMAN RACE. 137 kingdom's of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ" (Rev. ii :i5) ; and God shall have taken to him- self his great power, and reigns on Earth (Rev. 11:17), there shall be sin no more. 410. Another choice was offered to man in Christ's visit to Earth ; the choice of the cross, — Self sacrificed. It shall be found easy to choose the right, when the race has been borne on to the point where the restoration takes place. He would be guilty, in- deed, who should choose evil by preference, at that time, and be found to love darkness rather than light. Because then, the Earth and its people, shall have reached that point where the prevailing influence is good. But, to him who shall take up his cross, and follow Christ, in the thorny path he trod on Earth, and overcome, and triumph over evil, when it is a time of extreme difficulty to do right, he shall be crowned with an especial blessing. He shall be given power with Christ, and reign with him ; shall help him bear the cross, and save the world. He shall drink of the cup that Christ drank of, and be baptized with the baptism that he was baptized with (Math. 20:22,23). These Overcomers shall be born into a new spiritual life, — the church, the bride of Christ. Such shall have part in the First Resurrection, and be beyond the reach of even the power of the second death, and shall reign, with Christ, a thousand years on Earth (Rev. 3 :2i and 20:6), 411. The separating of this new race from the midst of the human race, — who shall be priests and kings unto God, — is the work of this present gospel age. After the bride shall have been made ready, and the marriage of the Lamb takes place, then shall come the "Restoration" of all things. Read Revelations chapters 19 and 20, then note, that after this, and as an apparent immediate result, a new heaven and a new Earth, the restored, or renewed, Eden comes. 412. Let us briefly review this matter of the two ways, the way of Life, and the way of Death, that forked in the garden of Eden. We notice that three opportunities for choice between them is offered to the race of man ; in Adam, in Christ, and at the time of the Restoration. At the first opportunity all erred, and the whole human race has passed into the highway of death. The}' went forth from Eden into darkness and hardship. But mankind was not condemned, to eternal darkness, from having made one sinful, and ignorant, choice, at the parting of the roads in Eden, although he might justly have been. He is offered a second choice in the coming of Christ. An opportunity, is offered him, to enter the straight and "narrow way," that crosses over from the highway of death to the highway of life, under the leadership of Christ. This narrow cross path is one full of difficulties and dan- gers, and one continuous warfare. He who enters it, and fights to final victory, overcoming the evil powers of darkness, and coming up into the glorious light of God, under the banner of Christ, re- 138 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. ceives a crown and kingdom, and partakes of the blessings, and glory of Christ, the King of Kings. Those who are true Chris- tians, — followers of Christ — are such. The third, and final oppor- tunity of choice, comes, when the end of the present career meets the favorable influences, and all who then choose evil, will do so, not in ignorance, but with knowledge, and because they prefer it to good. Hard is it to imagine, that, under such conditions, any will be found who will not turn into the upward path, that leads to the Royal Highway of life. Yet, the revealed word of God, shows that some will not turn from the evil, but will descend, with Satan, to the bottomless pit, and the second death. Probably, most will be saved to this life, of the second Eden on Earth. The promise is given by Him who is absolute, and is sure and certain. 413. After the judgment, and restoration, which closes the present dispensation, there will be no death among the race of men, and no more souls born. For the spirit will not be divided any more. The birth time will have passed. The soul shall have power to hold its organization in control, and the element of sepa- ration, which sin gave, shall be washed out. The resurrection will restore to life all who now sleep. There will be no more resurrec- tion, hence, to die would be to perish forever. 414. The Resurrection, Judgment, and Restoration will not all be instantaneous, and coincident, but consecutive. At the final judgment, Satan shall be finally condemned, and cast into the Sun, or lake of fire, to be consumed as dross, or melted, that his essence may be cast into a new and better mold, fashioned into a more ser- viceable form. 415. These two ways, into the spiritual life, the way to heaven, and the way to hell, lie before us. The one way is the Retrograde, or downward ; the other, the Ascension. A consider- ation of them is the most vital presented to man ; the one way to be avoided, the other to be followed. In the midst of this considera- tion, remember, all is from God, and all serve Him ; the one part willingly, and in union with Him, the other part unwillingly, as servants, slaves. Praise he Vie name of Vie Lord! PART 2. THE PTROGI^ADB, A Disintegration, Accompanied by Pain, and Ending in Oblivion, or Final Death. CHAPTER V. THE DEVIL. §1. Birth of the Spirit of Evil. 416. Satan, The Devil, Lucifer, the great dragon and the Old Serpent are different names for the same spirit. (Rev. 12:9,1s. 14 :i2, etc). The Devil is the Spirit of Evil: the opposite of good ; opponent of God ; rebel from heaven. This was not his character at first. He had been created by God a mighty spiritual power governing His outgoing forces. All expression was made through him. He was the Steward of heaven ; governor of the outward realm. 417. Like all intelligence of the highest order, Satan had' free will, or choice. He could obey God or not. For the most acceptable obedience to the Almighty is that which is chosen, not compelled. Such a volume of the force, or power of God, flowed forth through Satan into the realm of expression, that he was greatly exalted. Scarce another of the hierarchs of heaven stood nearer God than he. He was then called Lucifer, star of the morning. He approached so near to his Creator that he obtained the concep- tion of Self, which, when it had conceived, brought forth Pride. Pride speedily gave birth to Ingratitude and Sin. These children of Satan caused his fall from his high estate. (Is. 14:12-15, I Tim. 3 :6). 418. Satan deemed that fully one-half of God's power must have been committed to his keeping. He thought that he might successfully seize upon and turn this against the Creator and estab- lish his own Self as the center. Pride prompted him to exalt himself to the position, and sovereign function, of the Most High. By cutting off, what his pride conceived to be the greater part of power, committed to his care from the original Point from which it emanated, he thought to leave that Source weak and impotent, and himself a new central sovereign. For it is the power of self- will to lodge itself in a point within — a central sovereign. At least 142 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. he dreamed thereby to divide the realm of heaven into two inde- pendent kingdoms, in one of which he should reign supreme. He erred through Ignorance, also born of Pride, and brother of Sin, and his became a temporary kingdom of error. 419. Satan found, to his sorrow, that the Supreme had not impoverished Himself in committing so much to him : or given into his hands such mighty resources that He had not reserved more to Himself. Satan misled himself by a knowledge of God's character of love ; ever more ready to give than to keep. He believed God had given to him more than he had reserved for His own use. Not a strange idea since all that had been made knowm had been made known through Satan. Remember he was the spirit of outgoing. Everything sent forth from God went out through him. The occu- pation was favorable to Satan's mistake, and facilitated his carry- ing it out. He carried it to its culmination in going out from, and being severed from, God. In the power of will, or choice, com- mitted to him by God, Satan was enabled to disobe}', and by dis- obeying he was cut off from Him. Disobedience always cuts off God's will from operating through any of his creatures. And also cuts off the creature from God. 420. Severed from God, Satan was cut off from the source of life, and so became committed unto death. He opposed himself to God, so there is no reclaim. So the spirit of evil also becomes the king of death. The thrown ball comes to a stop when the force is spent. Cut off from the source of power, the fountain of life, Satan's career will come to an end when his life force is spent. 421. The guilt of one who, as Satan, chose to steal from God the powers committed to him., and of which he had the full use and enjoyment, just as much as if thev were his own, yet threw^ over the love of God for self, is hardly conceivable to the human mind. The act and depth of ingratitude were matters of full knowledge to Satan. His ignorance was only as to results ; and lay in a mis- conce])tion of God's power, w^iich none can reach unto. God had loved him. He had loved God. And yet with a kiss of affection he sought to slay Him and for the sake oi self Jjridc returned hate for love. Conceive of the sucking infant, the pride and joy of its mother, the choicest treasure of that mother's love and care, with full knowledge and intent plunging a dagger to that mother's heart, and so destroying its source of life and love,— its dearest friend, — its all. Such is a faint human conception of Satan's crime. So Satan was transformed into the spirit of evil. But God was beyond the reach of his crime. 422. Coincident with the transformation of Satan into the spirit of evil God committed unto his only begotten Son, all mani- festations of His power. This vs^as the beginning of creation when the Word which had been with God went forth (Jno. i :i etc) in expression. The conquest of Satan has been committed unto this Supreme Son. The creation is the manifestation of that conquest ; THE DEVIL. 143 the spirits' triumph over matter — externalized spirit, — spirit cut off from heaven— Satan and his host. §2. The Devil's Angels. 423. The celestial existence is threefold ; outgoing, incoming, and the warfare and union of these two great forces which results in material forms — earth conditions. To this latter condition be- long the stars, the sun and planets. In the language of heaven, the words Star and Angel are used synonymously (compare Rev. 9;i "Star" and the same intelligence in Rev. 20:1 "Angel"). Of the Angels of existence, or "stars of heaven," the Devil, by his out- going power, drew after him one-third (Rev. 12 :4), whom he cast into the condition of earth, or "to the earth." They did not unite their cause to his, but, as it were, were swept down in the trail of his mighty force, as by a whirlwind. The force of his outgoing was so great, it sucked ihem out after him. The force centripetal still clung to them, — they did not leave it, — they did not even be- lieve in the cause of Satan. But, as weaker minds are unwitting- ly led, as if by very necessity, into wrong ways by greater ones, these were irresistably drawn after Satan, as he and his angels swept forth from the presence of God: They were cast to the earth, — the physical form condition, — and constitute the st;irs, as we name them, with all their accompanying phvsical parts. The stars are the third v/hich Christ, t;ie Son of God, went forth to save. And in which God and his glory is made manifest. The}^ are also the battle ground between Satan and Christ. 424. Another third of the angels went out with Satan and constitute a part of the great outgoing force. These are one with him, and aid in the attempted accomplishment of his purpose; to take themselves and all other intelligence further from God. These angels have their birth as sinful spirits through Satan. There are multitudes of them (Luke 8:30). Some men are possessed by devils (Math. 4:24, 8:16, 9:32, 8:28-33, Luke 8:36). These devils advocate and support Satan in all his efforts. They do his works, and his cause is their own. 425. These devils are not only in the hearts and minds of men, but also in the storms, earthquakes, pestilence, famine, and all that destroys, or is antagonistic to the proper harmony of the universe. They delight in war, rapine, incest, carnage, railroad collision, picnic disasters. The discordant universals ; hate, jeal- ousy, envy, greed, avarice, malice, selfishness, vulgarity, obscenity, etc., are all due to them. They are all spirits (Luke 11 :24, Mark 9:20), and enter in, or go out of a man unseen, bringing or carry- ing away their baneful influences with them. He who listens to their voice within is in danger of sin and crime. They will be sure to use every occasion as an argument and tempt him to evil. 426. These devils by no means confine their labors to those 144 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. gross, low, degrading forms of sin which all civilized nations have come to abhor. They are of a high order of intelligence, and no human mind, unaided of God, may successfully cope with them. They sway principalities and uphold the great powers of earth. They are in the high places (Eph. 6:12). They are not above instigating their human allies to providing and frequenting the lowest conceivable dives of infamy ; and many of them inhabit these places, and look after the interests of spiritual destruction there. So long as portions of mankind may be drawn to destruc- tion that way, they will keep that highway open. But Satan's armies are vast, their scope of talent and resource wonderful. They keep abreast of the times, and, with great nicety of distinc- tion, cater to the advanced ideas of the age. And, alas, their victims are no less now than in the days of barbarism. 427. There is no human being so high, none so low, but they are beset by the wiles of the Devil, and his ever active, restless sprites. They are especially attentive to Christians, or those in- clined to follow Christ. Upon such they concentrate their strongest forces. For when a man walks after the ways of their kingdom, — the world, — they know he is safe to them. They know, equally well, that whosoever obtaineth unto the way of Christ, is lost to them forever. Hence the effort to keep those inclined, from this way. They are by no means so unsuccessful in wrecking Chris- tians, as to discourage them in a continuance of their efforts. 428. In these last days seducing spirits have advanced doc- trines (i Tim. 4:1-4) which, were it possible, "they shall deceive the very elect" (Math. 24:24). And some of them, "shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white" (Dan. 11 :35). And the Devil shall cast some of them into prison, that they may be tried (Rev. 2 :ro). For God useth these devils for the perfect- ing of the human race (i Tim. i :20). He makes them, more- over. His scourges upon men, for sin committed, and hardness of heart (Ex. ch. 7 to 12, the plagues, Rev. ch. 9). 429. The devils have been worshiped of men (i Cor. 10: 20-21), and sacrifices offered unto them (Lev. 17:7 ; Deut. 32:7). Children have been slain (Ps. 106:37), Priests ordained (2 Chron. II :5), and all manner of evil sought after. Yet these bad angels God has reserved unto the judgment day, bound, after a time, in chains (Jude 6). And they shall be cast into the Lake of Fire prepared for them (Math. 25:41. Rev. 20:14), where they shall perish, and bother mankind no more. §3. The Great Red Dragon and His Works. (See Rev. chap. 12). 430. The Devil is the Father of sin. As the moral enemy of man, and a beast of destruction, he is called the Great Red Dragon (Rev. 12 :3). All human vice and depravity are upheld THE DEVIL. 145 by him and are carried, as it were, upon his back (Rev. 17 :3 and 7). The Devil has existed and sinned from the very beginning (i John 3 : 8). He first appeared in the heavens (Rev. 12 :3), and was in the beginning the waters, or fluid matter, upon or against, the face of which, the spirit of God moved (Gen. i :2). Out of this sea, in after time, rose up the h east of human a?iimalism (440), — greed of wealth and physical power (Rev. 13 :i). 431. God makes use of Satan to discipline and strengthen the human race (Luke 22 :3i, i Cor. 5 :5, 2 Cor. 12 :7), and deliv- ers some to his scourging. Satan, by subtlety, in the Garden of Eden, tempted Eve, whom God had warned, and God permitted that she and Adam should yield and fall under the power of the Evil one, to the end that the human race might be tried, sifted, strengthened, and finally, through Christ, the grain has been saved and uplifted. 432. Through the fall in the Garden of Eden, the v^hole hu- man race came under the power, and temporary jurisdiction, of Satan ; hence, he became, for the time, the "Prince of this world" (John i2;3r). He has ruled over the world ever since Adam's fall, and is to-day the enthroned monarch. All the human kings and princes hold their tenure of office from him, by means of and through the expulsive force of vast armies. In imitation of the dark prince, under whom they serve, they have each enthroned Self ,^.& the center of the kingdom, and all the people and inter- ests thereof, revolve about them, and do their bidding (418). 433. fsrael, over which Solomon, the wise, ruled, was called by him, "fairest among women" (Song of S. 1 :8 etc.). Jerusa- lem, as the type of all Israel, is called, "the daughter of Zion" (Is. I :8). John glorifies her; clothes her "with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars," — the twelve tribes (Rev. 12 :i). "x\nd she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron" (Rev. 12 :5), — the Christ. 434. The great red dragon, through the person of Herod, and other emissaries, stood before the woman ready to seize the child when it was born, but when the Christ was brought forth and accomplished, he "was caught up unto God, and to his throne" (Rev. 12 :5}. 435. Satan beheld in Christ a new Adam (i Cor. [5:45), who did not, as yet, belong to his kingdom, even as the first Adam did not at first belong to him. He had inveigled the first Adam into his kingdom bv craftiness and deceit (Gen. 3). He goes forth to tempt this last Adam, if peradventure he may also cause him to acknowledge him ruler. If he can but entice this Christ into his kingdom, the kingdom of this world, then will his authority be unchecked and his government complete. 436. Satan's temptation of Christ, was as much superior, in ingenuity and power, to his temptation of Eve, as the Sun is 146 PHILOSOPHY 0-F EXISTENCE. brighter than a tallow dip. Satan realized that in Christ he had no lately evolved biped to deal with. And he knew that unless he could secure control over this newly arrived being upon the Earthy that his kingdom was divided, and his universal rule on Earth had departed. Therefore, he exhausted his ingenuity, and called into action every faculty of his being, and put forth the utmost limit of his power, in the temptations presented to the Christ He bided his time, and with consummate wisdom seized hia opportunity. 437. The Christ had fasted forty days and forty nights. He had communed with the Silence, The Spirit, — the voice of God,— had made him conscious of the latent power within him. He knew that he could turn the stones at his feet into bread. The DeviFs occasion had come. The spirit of Evil was with Christ. Why should he not turn the stones into bread? He was faint from long fasting. He needed sustenance. His very life might depend upon it. The Evil voice within whispered, "•Command that these stones be made bread" (Math. 4 13). But he would not. Welly says the Devil, vsfhat''s the good of all this philosophy, and of the consciousness of power, which has come to you, in these forty days of fasting? It is all new and untried. You think that you are the Son of God, but that is only theory, you haven'^t proved it yet by facts. Go up on a pinnacle of the temple, overlooking the deep ravine beneath, up on to the tip top of thy Father's house, and, "if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written. He shall give his angels charge concerning thee ; and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone" (Math. 4:6). Then you will demonstrate that you are the Son of God. And if you are not what your com- munion of forty days has convinced you of being, it were better life should be dashed out, than to live. The conclusive answer came, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." To put one's self into uncalled for danger, is to tempt the Lord from his chosen way to serve thy way, It is not God's will. Then the Devil, in spirit, probably, lifted him high up, whence, before his mind, ap- peared all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them. You have come, oh, Christ, to win the world. Here it lies at your feet. You have become enthused with a divine philosophy, which has been given to you in these forty days and nights. Behold the world is all yours, in which to teach yom* philosophy and better mankind. See the magnificence and power and glory. "All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them r for that is delivered unto me ; and to whomsoever I will, I give it" (Luke 14:6), And Christ knew it was true ; that all the nations of the Earth had been committed unto Satan. And Christ was ambitious. "Here," breathed the Spirit of Evil, "is the field of j^our labors, the use for d.\\ the powers you have discovered in the forty days ; for what other use were the}' committed unto 3'ou?" "All these things will I give thee, if thou v/ilt fall down and worship me" (Math. 4:9)- THE DEVIL. 147 The dream of a Napoleon, an easy reality ; if he would but use his powers in Satan's realm. But the answer of self sacrificed came victoriously "Get thee hence, Satan : for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Math. 4:10). Satan had failed, and his kingdom on Earth was divided. 438. In the heaven, Michael, the prince of righteous war, and his angels, fought against the dragon and his angels. The fourth period of the universe had come, and the centripetal force contended with the centrifugal, for mastery in the heavens. The Centrifugal Dragon and his angels fought to keep the mastery, but prevailed not, but were cast out into the earths. No longer was the centritugal to have any sovereign power in heaven, but only in the lesser bodies of Earth (see 189 and 190). The fifth period of the universe begins, — the fifth seal is open. 439. Satan now saw that his time was but short, and being filled with great wrath, he persecuted the woman who had brought forth the man child — the Christ — whom he could not seize, but who had been lifted up to the throne of God. Israel embraced the early church, and the dragon sent floods of wickedness and all manner of subtle devices against it. And being very wroth with the church, he will continue to make war with the remnant of the woman's seed, "which keep thecommandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ," until the end comes (see Rev. ch. 12). §4. The Beast and the False Prophet. (See Rev. Ch. 13). 440. The Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet (Rev. 19:20 and Rev. 13:14), represent the three forms, or impersona- tions, of the Spirit of Evil on Earth. Thev are identified with the three forms or conditions of the material world (55), gas, liquid and solid ; or as the alchemists expressed it, air, water and earth. We are standing upon the earth, the air is heavenward from us, from thence came the Dragon (Rev. 12 :3), and is called, "Prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2). The Beast rose out of the Sea, or water (Rev. 13 :i.) The False Prophet came up out of the earth (Rev. 13:11). The Dragon, like the air, represents the spiril of evil, the source, imparting life to the Beast. The gaseous form contains the essential elements of the liquid and solid as well. The Beast represents the animal nature of man, fed, by the dragon, with all manner of animal passions. The False Prophet is the self confident mental nature of man ; trust in self, in human science, in the power of wealth, rather than in God. These three beasts are the several manifestations of the spirit of evil — the Devil — upon earth ; even as Jehovah, Christ and the Holy Ghost are the three manifestations of the one Good upon earth. The three are one in purpose, in character, in fact. Doubt- 1^8 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. less the middle one, the beast that rose from the sea (Rev. 13 :i), was, or is, or will be, so forcibly manifested through some one man, as to be identified, primarily, with him (Rev. 13:18). Yet the general significance should not be lost sight of, as of first im- portance. 441. The world to-day worships the beast of the sea, the ani- mal man. For what is your commerce, for what the daily strug- gle of life ; your manufactories, your railroads, your ships, your stores, your offices ; the bustle and hurry and fever of life, but to feed, and clothe, and house, and amuse, this animal man? Some- times he is forced to be content with crusts, or crumbs, but the effort of his devotees is to spread the sumptuous feast before him. He is sometimes clothed in cheap raiment, but the attempt of his slaves is to cover him with rich apparel, and bedeck him with jewels. Often he dwells in hot, close, houses, but his worshippers love to enthrone him in luxurious palaces, amid cool gardens, be- guiled, by syren music, from all weariness, tickled by every device of art, and ministered to by every carnal pleasure. The inhabit- ants of the Earth are expending their lives, worshipping and min- istering unto the Beast. No Mohamedan pilgrim, or Hindoo devotee, is more enthusiastic, or undergoes such privations, or renders such untiring zeal, as the whole world gives to the Beast. 442. Daniel said that he ^cCr 5//2, but shall be raised up, resurrected, and triumph over death, as he did. His sacrifice was voluntary, he could have escaped (Math. 26:53), but, for love of us, he sacrificed himself. He is the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. 589. Adam was at one with God, but b}' sin he brought the penalty of death upon the race. Christ suffered that penalty, not for himself, since he was Vv'ithout sin, but for all of us. B37 that death, Christ, being without sin, has atoned for us who have sin- ned. Death must needs come to us as the result of sin. But Christ, who was without sin, took the death upon himself, so that any who have sinned are relieved of death, by the acceptance of his death as their penalty. And by such acceptance there re- maineth unto them eternal life. By Christ's suffering the death penalty, we are again, as was Adam, at the first, in at|one|j-nent with God. 590. Christ is the second Adam. The first Adam was created perfect. H^e was tempted, yielded, and fell into an animal condi- tion. We, born of him in the flesh, inherit death, which is a necessary outcome thereof. But "as in Adam all die, even so, in Christ shall all be made alive" (i Cor. 15:22). For Christ, the second Adam, was perfect. The human race was again put on 192 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. trial in him. He was tempted, but fell not, hence he has eternal life, even as Adam would have had, had he not fallen. Now we, born of Christ in the spirit, shall be made alive, even as born of Adam we all die. In Christ the human race is restored to the eternal life enjoyed by Adam. 591. Adam chose for a race, and chose death. So that, with- out our say so, we are born of the flesh unto death. But in Christ a personal choice is offered to each soul. All who accept him for their Savior, and will have Him to rule over them, are born into life eternal. Each shall choose for himself, this time. 592. A knowledge of sin comes to every one of us. Re- pentance of sin must follow if we would find Christ. If we trulv desire his will to be done in us, then is our will become one with God. And Christ, the Will of God, dwells within us. It is the marvelous power of that Will, through the action of the spirit, to overcome evil, and finally, to expunge it, or cast it out of the soul, even as the spirit cast Satan out of heaven (571, 438). 593. When the evil is cast out of a man's soul by the spirit of God, and the man's will is whatever the Father's will may be, then man shows forth the Father, even as Christ showed forth the Father, and such a soul has become one with Christ, doing as Christ did, and hence, one with God. In such the eternal life is inherent. The will of God is a spring in them, or fountain of water of life, proceeding forth through the center, or wih and making itself manifest in their life. So that through Christ's atonement we are once more made one with God, the source of life. And having access to the source of life, can live eternally. §5. Christ the King of Glory. 594. While Christ left his high position in heaven (554), and came down into the degraded animal condition among dying man, yet by his conquest over the evilness of that condition, by his vic- tory over Satan, and Death, he hath now ascended to a position more exalted than that from which he came. Inasmuch as he who has accomplished his purpose is superior to him who designs to do his, so is Christ now superior to what he was before time. In so far as he who returns from a mighty victory is held in higher esteem, and receives greater glory and honor than he who goes forth to battle, ever so bravely, in so much is Christ exalted above all his former glory. 595. The Will of God, God's only begotten, went forth from the Father, a son full of promise, in whom rested the hope and ex- pectation of heaven. He has returned, with victory riding upon his banners, and with power acquired, and authority enforced. And by merit, as well as by birth, has obtained unto a seat at the right hand of God Almighty, This is what Christ has obtained to by overcoming (Rev. 3 :2i). THE CHRIST. I93 596. His kingdom, also, is now of a more exalted character than in the beginning ; and this adds new lustre to his name. In the beginning, the Will of God ruled the forces, and materials of the universe, and the spirits of the deep ; and all their glory and power was his (554). He left this glory, and, in the person of the man Christ Jesus, came down among doomed men. He has rescued this race from their impending fate, and built, through his ow^n character, a highway to an exalted spiritual life, into which he leads all of mankind who will follow him. So that now, not only are the forces and materials of the universe subject to the Will of God, but also the souls of men. The later kingdom is so much more exalted than the first, that its subjects, by adoption, through Christ, the King, become themselves sons of God. So now Christ has obtained rule over the gods, and is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16). 597. His last victory, whereby he obtained to this exceeding excellency, was over Death. After his body had laid in the tomb (587) three days he rose from the dead. Death had no power to hold him longer, and He put death aside. He appeared unto Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women (Luke 24:10). He appeared unto two, as they walked to Emmaus ; unto Peter and John ; unto all of the Apostles ; and at one time he was seen of about five hundred (i Cor. 15 :6). He performed miracles after his resurrection (Jno. 21 :i-9). He had full possession of his body, for he had wholly triumphed over death, and had flesh and bones as before he was buried and was not a spirit (Luke 24 :39.) But he had a restored body, not the body of a sinful man. After this, amid the hills of Galilee, while talking with his disciples, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God (Mark 16 :ig, Luke 24 :5i). He remained on Earth forty days, after his resurrection, then ascended into glory (Acts I :3). 598. After the power of the holy people shall have been scattered, or spread, and the birth period of the kingdom of Christ come to the full, then will Christ return to take possession of his kingdom, and rule the world. He will at that time appear in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory (Math. 24:30, Luke 21 :27). His coming in glor}- shall be sudden, and unmistakable, "as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west" (Math. 24 :27, Luke 17 :24). He shall come in the same, or like manner in which he ascended (Acts i :9-ii). 599. His appearing shall be at"ter the terrible upheavel of so- ciety, which shall come upon the Earth (514). And all his follow- ers are admonished to rejoice in that time, for then they know that their redemption draweth nigh (Luke 21 :25-28). "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they sluill gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Math. 24:31, Rev. 7:1). "For the Lord 194 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice oi the archangel, and with the trump of God ; and the dead in Christ shall rise first ; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air" (i Thess. 4:16, 17). This is the first resurrection (516). 600. All who have part in this resurrection shall be changed and their bodies glorified (i Cor. 15 :5i-53) ; even as Christ's body was glorified at his resurrection. Then shall Christ, "the Word of God," God's Will, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, to- gether with the army of the sainsts, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, following him on white horses (Rev. 19:11-16), come forth from the heavens, and obtain a victory over Death, by reason of the resurrection (i Cor. 15:54-57). The Beast shall be taken (516, 519), and cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20), and there will be no more death on Earth. For a thousand years, also, there shall be no sin, for Satan is imprisoned (518), but Christ and the saints shall reign (520). The resurrection ushers in the restoration and the millennium. 60 [. To describe the glory of Christ as the Universal Ruler on Earth during the Millennium is impossible. No language of man can do him sufficient honor. Every conceivable glory, and honor, majesty and dominion is his. The whole earth is filled with righteousness. The Saints, Kings and Priests with Christ. No sorrow, nor pain, nor death to mar the vision. But at the last the "Will of God" shall return to the bosom of the Father (1 Cor. 15:28), and this shall be the end of the universe (546). CHAPTER X. THE NEW RACE. §1. Born Again. 602. Adam was the first of the Soul race, or of human be- ings (249, 256, 257). The soul was the last possible evolution of matter. The human race, therefore, was the last and final race of beings, or forms, on Earth. Every race, we have learned, runs its cycle and returns to its source (71, 258). Adam's race, there- fore, starting from a state of perfection (461), will return to that condition again. Starting from the perfect Garden of Eden (462), not subject to death (460), the race of man on earth shall return to its source, and dwell in an Eden again, and know death no more. See chap. 11, The Millennium. 603. But in every race that has ever appeared on Earth, a new race has sprung from its middle life (61, 62. 187). Is the race of man an exception? Has it failed to send forth a new form? Like all races on Earth, it has had its seven ages of development (43). When its fourth time came, was there a blank? Was it a complete failure, and nothing came forth? Nay, but this crowning race of earth brought forth the most glorious offspring of all. But the soul was the last possible evolution of matter (255, 602). True, and this glorious offspring of the human race was not a material evolution at all, but a spiritual one. Existence is pour- ing back into heaven (8). 604. The new creation partakes of the character ot the soul, its mother, and of God, its Father. It is distinct from Earth forms, and belongs to heaven. Earth's creation was as complete without it. But it gives to Earth her sovereign. We have seen that the progress of the god-spirit, after the Earth's middle period, was towards the source (232, 190). That the soul traversed the same space inwardly, that force traversed outwardly (233). The source is God. Hence, the soul travelinij towards God, is met by Him, and His spirit entering into the soul impregnates it with new life, which is born of their union. Thus, the newborn being, half of earth, and half of heaven, becomes the span, or cross, connecting the existence of earth with the liiijher existence of heaven. 196 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. 605. This is what happened when the Holy spirit entered the soul of the Virgin Mary (557, 561,562). God his father, the puri- fied soul, in its prime of life, his mother, Christ is this cross, which bridges the gulf between Creation and its Creator. Christ is the beginning of this new creation, the offspring of the soul's middle life (Dan. 9:27). The "Will of God" binds the universe to God, its origin. 606. Where the end of one existence meets the middle life of another, there a new life begins (64). In this case, God, who is the "I AM THAT 1 AM," the beginning and ending, meets the mid- dle life of the soul, — God alwa^'s meets the soul half way, — and the new life of heavenly beings begins in Christ, llie son of nLan" and the" Son ol God" 607. Now, new evolutions in the material kingdom were added to, or built upon, or grafted into, the evolution which had borne them (252). In like manner this new spiritual creation is added to the soul, or engrafted within it. A continuance of the mother form was necessary to the existence of the new born in the material world. That is, substance was essential to growth, and growth was necessary for life. But in this new born the reverse becomes the necessary. For Heaven is opposite to Earth. And the soul, in the spirit realm, can continue in existence only by the continuance of the spirit within it. 608. But soul is first born as the crowning top of the pyra- mid of material creation (255). It is born of the animal. As a soul of the earthly existence, we are each one of us born of our parents, according to the flesh, and are descendants of fallen Adam, and subject to death. So, then, to escape death, the soul must be born again, when the spirit becomes its support, and upholds it. And this new birth, being spiritual (603), is not subject to, or up- held in any manner by, the flesh ; but may become its sovereign. 609. The new race is, therefore, a spiritual race, and is born of Christ, by the spirit, even as the old race is born of Adam, by the flesh. Each soul born of Adam by the flesh, may be born again of Christ, the last Adam, by the spirit. "The first man Adam was made a living soul ; the last Adam was made a quick- ening spirit." "The first man is of the Earth, earthly ; the second man is the Lord from heaven." "And as we have borne the im- age of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly" (i Cor. 15:45,47,49). 610. How may we be born again? First, by repentance, to put our souls into a receptive state ; then, by acceptance of Christ, we shall receive the Holy Spirit within our souls. The Holy Spirit, within us, will give birth to a new life. The Holy Spirit in the soul, like the leaven in the loaf, or the spark of life in the woman, generates a new being. That is, if the Will of God (546) prompts, or is the incentive, of all our acts, we shall be transformed into the children of God. THE NEW RACE. 1 97 6ii. This birth is never immediate. Like the physical ges- tation the development of the spiritual being requires time. The willing acceptance of Christ, or the will of God, in our souls, is often a matter of brief decision, and is called conversion. The impregnation of the soul, by God's will, is a moment of time, and not unfrequently accompanied by ecs'tacy. But, the birth of the spiritual being within us, whereby we are transformed into the image of Christ, and are like him. occupies years of struggle, and is wrought out by a process called overcoming. And we are the *'Overcomers." §2. Overcoming. 612. The angels do not know evil. They know that it is, but it forms no part of their possessions. They have no organs by which to receive it (3) ; the necessary structural formation never having been developed within them (262). Likewise, the devils know not good. For them it has gone out of existence. They once possessed a consciousness of good (416), but they sacrificed it (421). It has been cut off from them, and lost to them (420). They obtained a knowledge of evil through the conception of self, and the exercise of that function in opposition to God ; whereby they were cut off from good. Hence good was lost to them, and has no part in their kingdom. They love evil, and having no more a knowledge of good, no restoration to their former condition is possible, or desired. Now man, endowed with free choice, was tempted by the Devil into a knowledge of evil, but unlike Satan, not being cut off from God, because of Christ, has also a knowl- edge of good. The result of this dual knowledge is the structure, or form, which we call soul (255-7). 613. The soul is the "self" of man, and possesses this knowl- edge of good and evil, which is a divine knowledge, and is pos- sessed by neither angels, or devils. But, though men possess this knowledge as gods, yet by the following after Satan, by which it was obtained, they have entered the road to hell and death, Satan's kingdom ; and a continuance therein, must ultimately re- sult in a loss of the knowledge of good, and so a complete cutting ofTof that soul from heaven. 614. But this soul, or self of man, is governed by a personal will. This self will is responsible for the continuance in the path of sin. The Holy Spirit persistently presents the "Will of God," to every soul, during this gospel age. And by so doing convinces every soul of sin. If, then, the self will repents of its past guid- ance of the soul, and admits the Will of God, and orders that will be the law of its kingdom, then will the Holy Spirit flow into that soul, and prove a force capable of turning the soul from the road of hell and death, into the spiritual way of heaven. The Holy Spirit will clothe the soul with eternal life ; transforming the evil ipS PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. life, that was, into a new and lovable one. The old growth of the tree shall be cut off, and the new bud grafted in shall grow and make a new tree. The evil desires shall be cast out, and right de- sires take their place. 615. The Holy Spirit, in which dwells the will of God, the Christ, does not oust the self will, and destroy it, but becomes per- fectly wedded with it. Unless this marriage takes place, no new birth takes place. When this wedding occurs the Self and Spirit become one, and a spiritual being is formed. Christ loves us, and when we love him, then are we married to him, and the will of God causes a spiritual form to come forth. 616. The self will is the mother of our soul, or essential be- ing. When we are born of the flesh, the soul form is supported by our body. But when the Will of God — Christ — marries the self will, the conception results in a spiritual soul supported by the Hol}^ Spirit. The spiritual form is the result of the wedded pair casting out the gross animal instincts and passions, and putting spiritual desires and aspirations in their stead. Or, the self will does this, being prompted thereto, and endowed with power so to do, by the Christ. The power being the Holy Spirit, even as the power to build up the former soul being, was supplied by the body, or the animal. The Father Spirit gives the pattern and life force, and the mother Self fashions the form accordingly. 617. Thus God furnished the pattern of the temple, and man gave it expression. Thus God does in regard to the temple of our bodies, and man gives it form. So is the spiritual form, or being, after the similitude, or pattern of God, wrought by his spirit through man's self will. 618. Now in the process of forming a new creature, the mother overcomes the tendency of her particles to retain their former rela- tionship in her own body, and sacrifices that body, and its life powers, to the new being ; fashioning that new being into the form required by the energizing will of the father. Even so, the self will must sacrifice all the animal instincts, and character, which go to make up the unregenerate soul, and overcoming all the strength of their forces, whereby they endeavor to persist in existence, fashion the character particles into the new form willed by the Father. 619. This warfare of the self will, — the church — the bride, — against the flesh born character of its own soul ; the overcoming of the evils accumulated in its career of sin ; is of more practical value to man than the formation of the spirited being, as that takes care of itself as a resultant of that overcoming. The overcoming is prompted by, and accomplished through, the strength of the spirit from the will of God — Christ — the husband. And there can be no question of the power of the will of God to save our souls, when it is wrought in us, through our own will, — our earnest desire. 620. No one can overcome his evil nature in his own strength. The spirit of God descended upon the man Christ Jesus, and he THE NEW RACE. 1 99 wrought in the power of the spirit (Luke 4 : 14). So must it de- scend upon us, and so must we overcome by its strength. How may we obtain it? By asking God. "Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall find ; know, and it shall be opened unto you." God will "give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him" (Luke II :9-i3). Remember the day of pentacost. 621. Again, we must apply the principles enunciated by Christ. We must be persistent in it. We must form correct habits. If we fall, trust in Christ, the will of God, to raise us up. Seek more strength of the spirit, and strive to live nearer Christ. The Christian character is not formed in a day. But if we per- sistently cultivate honesty, the time will come when not a trace of a desire to dishonesty will ever arise. If we persistently shut out the impure thoughts that come to us, the time will arrive when they will trouble us no more. Animal lust may be overcome by persistent refusal to gratify it. Anger may have no longer any control over us, if we cultivate gentleness and forbearance long enough. 622. It is not easy to overcome. It is the hardest career on earth. It is taking up the cross and following Jesus. It requires braver}^ of the highest order. Christ's sermon on the mount was for overcomers : "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time. Thou shalt not kill ; and whosover shall kill shall be in dan- ger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judg- ment." "Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire" (Math. 5:21, 22). "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time. Thou shalt not commit adultery : But I say unto you. That whosoever looTcelh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Math. 5 127, 28). 623. He that would overcome must be intensely in earnest. He must be determined to overcome, even at the sacrifice of ever}^ other thing, even his life. "If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out. If thy right hand offend thee, cut it ofT, and cast it from thee : for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members shouhl perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell" (Math. 5 :29, 30). The more spiritual influx obtained, the easier it will be ; strive for spiritual help. §3. The Seven Churches. 624. The body of overcomers in the world constitute the church of Christ on earth. Sinners who, having repented of their sins, and received Christ in their hearts, are being born anew. The spiritual being is assuming form in each one, and developing faculties and spiritual organs, with every bad habit wiped out, and every evil desire expelled ; until, finally, the spiritual being shall 200 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. be fully formed in the matrix of the earth-soul, and released from its prison. Then is it born into the life for which it has been fitted : the life of a son of God. 625. As each member of this church, while being born anew% passes through a certain process of development, so the whole body of believers, or the church as a whole, passes through its round of changes, or cycle of existence, its acts being seven ages. As the seven principles governed the beast, or church of Satan (443), so are these principles the seven spirits, which influence, and con- trol the church of Christ (Rev. 1.20). But while, by reason of Satan's will in them, their government of the beast was evil, their government of the church is good, for these are held in the right hand of Christ (Rev. 1.16). 626. The seven churches of John's Revelations, while hav- ing, probably, a local habitation in his day, have a far wider and deeper signification. They severally present, and reveal, the seven involutions, seven invelopments, of the church as an entire existence. The history of the church's seven periods (43) is writ- ten in them. Christ is the head of the church, the first and last, and sends the revelations, by the pen of John, to the entire church (Rev. I. II). It is not sent to the world, nor will the world under- stand, until it be fulfilled. 627. These seven churches may each represent a distinct branch of the universal church, such as The Apostolic Church (Rev. 2,2), The Church of the Martyrs (Rev. 2.10), The Greek Church, or Church of the Emperors (Rev. 2.14), The Roman Church (Rev. 2.19, 26), The Crusades (Rev. 3.3), The Protestant Church (Rev. 3.9), and the Modern Church (Rev. 3.15, 17) ; but they relate more specially to the spiritual condition, or religious unfoldment, of the whole church in the seven successive stages of its existence. But as each of these periods gave rise to one of the branches named, and as that branch of the church was evolved by reason of the religious condition of the time, and became, in its character, an exponent of that religious stage — a product of the age, — a consideration of them, like the consideration of the seven prime creations, will reveal the work of each period (84). 628. That the revelation made, and instruction given, for each period, or representative church of the time, was meant for all the churches, and all Christians, is plainly shown by the words which are given in the closing of the message to each one, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches" (Rev. 2.7, 11, 17, 29; ^.6, 13, 22). 629. In every church, in every time, it is only "to him that overcometh," that shall obtain (Rev. 2.7, 11, 17, 26; 3.5, 12, 21). All exhortation is made to this end. All incentive is made to this accomplishment. Now the first three churches are first exhorted to "hear what the spirit saith," and then to overcome ; but the last four are first told to overcome, then hear what the spirit saith. THE NEW RACE. 20I The spirit first speaks giving directions and instruction ; it speaks, in the last times, giving blessings and power. Compare the order in Revelations, chapter two, verses seven, eleven and seventeen, with the order in verses twenty-six, twenty-nine ; and third chap- ter, verses five, six ; twelve, thirteen ; and twenty-one, twenty-two. Also note, that in the first order, the two are more closely con- nected, than in the second order. The reason of the reversal of order, is of course due to the laws governing the operations of the seven principles (43, 56). The centrifugal powers are masters first, then the centripetal (189, 190), reversing the order of action. 630. The earlier churches heard the word of God preached by apostle, and pastor, and repenting became overcomers. Both the word heard, and the deeds done, were ver^' closely related to this life, although of spiritual significance ; and, therefore, both the word and deed were intimately connected. But while the overcoming must continue to be, to the members of the later churches, still connected with the flesh and the beast, to him that hath an spiritual ear, in these later periods, the spirit shall speak of spiritual things, and make revelations of heaven. The first voice of the spirit told of how to overcome, and because of the voice the overcoming took place. This voice is not silent in the later periods, but drops out of importance, becaiise of the higher voice which then speaks to the souls of men because of the overcoming, and by reason of the overcoming. For the overcoming brings us nearer God, and into a position where we may hear the spirit speak. This voice is more distinct from the beast than the first, hence more distinctly separated in the text. 631. Notwithstanding that all are spiritual, the blessings promised to those who overcome, in the first three periods, are such as most readily appeal to those who greatly enjov the blessings of this life ; to eat of the tree of life, to escape from pain and death ; to eat of the hidden manna and possess a beautiful jewel with a magic name inscribed thereon. To the fourth period, where the spiritual and material are in equilibrium, the centrifugal and centri- petal balance each other, they will receive povver from the spiritual, on one hand, and rule over the material, or earth nations, on the other hand. But the last three lots of overcomers, are promised blessings purely spiritual, and found only in heaven ; raiment of light, name in the book of life, and confessed before God, a pillar of the temple of God in heaven, the name of God, and the names of heaven written upon him, and to sit with Christ upon his throne. 632. The first, or Apostolic Church (Rev. 2 :i-7), represented by Ephesus, held paramount authority until into the second cen- tury, giving place gradually, after the Roman Empire began to decline, to the Church of the Martyrs. The Apostolic Church looked to Jerusalem as the capital of their faith. 633. The Church of the Martyrs (Rev. 2:8-11), represented by Smj-rna, ma}' be considered as originating about A. D. 175, 202 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. when Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, fell victim, with others, to a dreadful persecution against the Christians, in the region of Mar- cus Aurelius. The recognition of Jerusalem, as the seat and throne of the apostles, graduall}^ gave place to more prominent recognition of the several bishops, as heads of their respective association of churches. In Diocletians' reign was the "Era of Martyrs." 634. The Greek (Rev. 2:12-17) Church is represented by Pergamos, a Greek colony, and nearest, of all the seven ancient churches named, to Constantinople. The gorgeous Greek church began with Constantine A. D. 323. As he marched against his rival Maxentius, it is said that, he saw^ a luminous cross in the heavens, bearing the inscription, in Greek, "conquer by this." He is supposed to have become a convert to Christianity. At any rate, he practicall}^ made himself the head of the visible church on Earth. The great council of Nice was held 325 A. D. Chry- sostom, archbishop of Constantinople, was a great light of this church. 635. The Roman Church may be said to have begun in the sixth century, but did not assume its maximum authority until the eighth century, when, in 752 A. D.. the Pope obtained temporal dominion. The Church of Rome has held power over the nations (Rev. 2 : 18-29). 6^6. The crusades w^ere seven in number (Rev. 3:1-6). They were presented by the church of Sardis, and occupied the time from A. D. 1095 to 1291. They began under the auspices of the Pope at the council of Clermont. They present the church militant to the world ; the Executive Offspring of the fifth prin- ciple. To them belong the Hospitallers of St. John, Knights Templars, Jesuits, etc. 637. The Protestant Church, represented by Philadelphia (Rev. 3 :7-i3), began with Martin Luther, A. D. 1517, and has branched into many denominations. This church seems to be especially blessed of Christ. 638. The modern church, represented by Laodicea (Rev. 3: 14-22), on the other hand, seems to be rebuked above all others. It arose in the eighteenth century. It is discoverable in the Swe- denborgian Church, and the various schools of theosophy. This period, in which we live, is rapidly becoming subject to it, relig- iously, and all the churches, of all past periods, which have per- sisted in existence until now are coming under its sway, so that the Protestant churches of today are not after the pattern of the original Protestant churches. 639. The church of this period is neither hot nor cold, and God will, at the last, spew it out of his mouth ; and his word shall no more be spoken through the church. In each succeeding period it has been harder to overcome than in that proceeding it. Except in heathen lands, which still belong to the conditions of the THE NEW RACE. 203 earlier churches, but very few will be born again, hereafter. But theirs is the greatest honor, and most spiritual, of all granted to the overcomers. They shall sit on the throne of the Son of God 640. The seven Asiatic churches are named by Christ to John, in their geographical order. Commencing with Ephesus, Smyrna lies next northwest ; then Pergamos, next to the north. Continu- ing the circle it swings about on the fourth church Thyatira, which lies east, by south, of Pergamos ; thence Sardis, next southeast ; then Philadelphia, and last, Laodicea, southeast of Philadelphia, and east of Ephesus. So, true to the law of the seven principles, the circle, or existent career of the church, as a whole, is com- plete in these seven. The end of the church draws near. §4. Characteristics of the Christian Life. 641. To obtain a clear conception of the operations now, and henceforth, going on in existence, one must learn to conceive of mankind as a sea of humanity, or as waters. The age of distinc- tive individuality is passing away from earth. Men are more co- operative in their operations, more necessary to one another, more dependent upon each other, for the various needs of life, and innu- merable wants of society, more bound together than in former ages. Neither was there ever a time before when a wrong, or a good, done one individual of societ3\ effected the whole of it to such an extent. Existence flowed forth from the universal towards the individual, in the beginning ; but has long since passed the turning point in its orbit, and is flowing as swiftly back towards the universal again. Once, individuals were raised pre-eminently above the many by education, and the favorable conditions which they exclusively enjoyed. But now the masses are educated. All belong to the same great bod}^ of water, as it were, and while particle touches particle, yet the water is one volume, out of which rises great and wondrous forms (Rev. 13 :i, Rev. 17 :i5). 642. The stream of humanity, flowing quietly through the fertile valleys of Eden, in the middle of its course, comes to a rocky rapid, and rushes headlong towards apparent destruction. But, behold ! from the falls, and the breaking on the rocks, rises a portion of the water in spray. Rising upward towards the sun it is kissed by its rays and reflects its glory. The rest of the water of the stream, in a little, passes forth from its conflict and terror, and once more, flows peacefully through the beautiful valleys of Eden. Restored again to its native conditions, and perfect earth life, mankind will find them still more charming for his brief de- prival of them (chap. 11, The Millennium). 643. And the spray, that rose a new creation from that mid- dle course of life's stream, could never have been born, but for the conflict with the evil. This spray, that rises from the midst of humanity, is the church of Christ. And the light from the Sun of 204 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. Righteousness glorifies it. It ascends towards heaven, and belongs no more to earth. This present age is that of this conflict with sin, the passing of the stream of life over the rocky rapids, and is ca.led the gospel age. 644. Only this middle portion of the soul race can obtain the new birth (253), and be born into spiritual life. Before Adam sinned he had no chance to become a god, or be spiritually born. After the restoration, and sin is removed from the earth, no man can be "born again." It will be impossible, when the present gospel age ends, for any earth man to enter the spiritual life. For by the overcoming of sin, through faith in Christ — whether look- ing forward, or backward, — and by the power of the spirit work- ing in us, is born that sonhood of God. Such alone are raised, at the first resurrection, to an spiritual estate. 645. Without sin, no knowledge could have been had of good and evil, by man. And this is the knowledge of the gods. Hence, when sin is removed from earth, man will no longer have opportu- nity to know evil. Adam by his sin obtained the knowledge of the gods but also death with it, whereby he would have perished, but by reason of Christ, the Savior. So the first characteristic of Christians is a knowledge of good and evil ; no greater knowledge of evil, perhaps, than that of their unredeemed fellows, but of a more discriminating character, coupled with a determined effort to live according to the dictates of the good. And a depending upon Christ to give them power to so live. 646. Inasmuch as Christians obtain this spiritual life, in the first instance, through Christ, the will of God, they are found con- stantly seeking it in him. For the spiritual being must eat to live, just as much as the physical being. But while the animal man eats material food, the spiritual man must eat of the will of God, which is spirit. This is the meaning of the Lrord's supper. Christ gives his spiritual body and blood to us. "Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you." And of the wine, "Drink ye all of it ; for this is mv blood of the new testament (or will), which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Math. 26:26, etc). Hence Christians drink often of this blood for the remitting of all their sins, and that they may be strengthened and sanctified. Prayer is the method of obtaining, or taking in, this hidden manna, that feeds the new born soul. No Christian can live with- out prayer ; communion with God. 647. Again every one who would be raised into a spiritual being must be baptised. The essential baptism is of the spirit, even as the essential Lord's supper is of communion and remem- brance of Christ. But the symbol, or baptism by water, is, in this present time, necessary that we may show forth the acceptance of the spirit guidance, even as by the Lord's supper we show forth Christ's death, and our own self sacrifice, until he come. Christ himself was baptised by the Holy Ghost (Jno. i :3i-33, Mark THE NEW RACE. 205 I :9-io, Math. 3 : 13-17). And none may be lifted into the new life unless the Holy Spirit descend upon them. "Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (Jno. 3:5). 648. After the spiritual birth has begun in the Christian, he becomes characterized by the three graces, Faith, Hope and Charity. By faith in Christ he may command all the powers of earth and they shall serve him (393). The Christian is remark- able, among men on earth, for that implicit faith, trust, belief, confi- dence in Christ, b}^ which comes his great power. For the Chris- tian, by faith, may "Say unto this mountain. Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea ; and it shall be done" (Math, 21 :2i). All things whatsoever a Christian shall ask in prayer, believing, he shall receive. There are no ifs, or buts, or maybes, about it, for such is the power of faith. 649. The Christian is further characterized by Hope. He looks forward with expectancy. His eyes look up to heaven, not down to earth. His treasures are not of this life, but are laid up in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. His heart is there also (Math. 6:19,21). His eye, looking forward, sees the redemption of the world, and he hopes for the good time coming with the as- surance of faith. Consequent]}^ the new race is a joyous one. 650. But the most distinctive characteristic of the new race is Charity, or love to all. God is love. Born in him the spiritual be- ing is love. Though he might have faith, so that he could remove mountains, yet if he have not charity he would be nothing (i Cor. 13 :2). The spirit of love sent Christ into the world to save lost sinners. JLove suffereth long, and is kind. Love clings close to the needy one, and uplifts him. Love visits the fatherless and widows in their affliction (James i :27), and careth for them. This is what most distinguishes the new race from the old and selfish one. §5. Power of the Spiritual. 651. The spirit, — will, — is above law. The knowledge of sin was by law (Rom. 3 :2o). All of the external and of the evil was by law. By law, and through law, the without was brought back to the within. The career from the beginning of the cycle of crea- tion to the ending thereof in man was under law. But when man enters the spiritual life, by the neii' hirlh, he has passed beyond and above law. The righteousness of God is without law (Rom. 652. The will — the spiritual being — is not limited b}^ any law. It may employ law to govern, and make manifest its pur- poses, but is itself uncontrolled, unfettered, free. Never-the-less man is not without law to God, until a god, thence one with Him. 206 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. This righteousness of God may be had by all (Rom. 20:22) in this gospel age. The essential essence, evil or good, cannot be de- stroyed. But, by our will, through the power of the Holy Spirit, evil may be cast into the lake of fire, and thence pass to the for- gotten region, and be wholly eliminated from our own form. This is accomplished in the spiritual birth. And, by faith in Christ, we obtain spiritual food, which gives to each soul of the life energy of heaven. The Christian may drink of the fountain of life, that flows forth from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1). He has life eternal. 653. The animal and earthly man can only obtain knowledge through contact, touch by means of the senses. His knowledge is all by experience and results in corresponding structure. But those born in the spirit, may obtain knowledge through touch with God,— by absorption. All knowledge is open to him who has be- come one with the Spirit. Knowledge is power. So, through faith and trust in the Spirit, comes all things to the soul of spiritual man ; eternal life, universal knowledge, unlimited power. This is to sit upon the throne of Christ. 654. The spiritually born shall rule with Christ, during the millennium. These have, through Christ, become Kings and Priests unto God and shall reign on the earth (Rev. 5 :io). Christ shall be the head over them, for he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16). These spiritual ones shall rule the nations, and govern the events of the earth, by those laws to which they themselves were once subject, and by the new laws wliich God may make. But they themselves shall be above all law, and reign with the Will of God. They shall sit upon thrones, and judge the earth (Rev. 20:4). 655* By reason of sin man has been compelled to make man}- contacts, so that all knowledge is coming to him when he over- comes. The bitter contacts educated, and advanced us to god- hood. Without the sin we would not have had a Savior, and without a Savior we could never have reached the throne of God. But the eating of the fruit, whereb}^ came knowledge of good and evil, gave dissatisfaction. Nothing less than spiritual life, given by Christ, would satisfy. CHAPTER XL THE MILLENNIUM. §1. The Restoration. 656. We now come to the consideration of the crowning age of Earth ; the last day of its career ; the Sabbath of rest, when the seventh principle shall rule, God made Adam the most perfect creature possible to earth conditions, and put him in the garden of Eden, which was the most fitting environment conceivable. Prac- tically, God said to this man : I have now made you capable of living eternally amid these beautiful surroundings, and lifted you up until you can hold communion with me, and I with you. Now, through you, my creation is joined to me, and through you my will is done in all the earth. So long as vou obey me, and so ex- press my will, you shall live. You still have the physical power, remaining from the animal condition, from which I have raised 3'ou, to reproduce your kind ; but this is an animal function, and that by which they go down to death, touch it not. I do not give you this command from any whim, or, merely to try you, but be- cause it is necessary for you to obey me, in this, if you would live eternally. If you take of this thing, you return to the animal con- ditions, out of which I have lifted you, and death is inevitable. One would think Adam would have obeyed such a reasonable command, made for his own good. Yet Adam and Eve responded to the persuasions of Satan, in the animal realm, and plunged the whole human race into the career of death and degradation ; and gave over the kingdom of Earth to Satan (467). This bitter career we have contemplated. 657. But, glory to God in Heaven!! Christ, the will of God, came himself into the flesh, and has rescued man from the death into which Satan led him. And, He will restore man to Eden again, and his rule to earth, just as soon as llie new spirilual race has been born from among lliem. For God restores man for his own name's sake (Ez. 36:22), that it be not said, that Satan gained a victory- over Him. And to make the victory still more glorious to Himself, and a double chagrin to Satan, He has made this career of sin an opportunity, to lift up into the divine nature all who will accept Christ, his son, so that such shall partake of the glory of the only 2o8 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. begotten son of God. Again, God's will is to be done on earth, and through man his creation shall be joined to him (656). This time the rulers of earth shall be those in whom his will has become a part — Christ within them-— a divine nature. Man, as a race, shall be lifted up, through them, to the plane on which Adam stood, and ma}- hold communion with God, through Christ and his anointed ones,- — Christians. 658. Just as all fell through Adam's sin, so shall the whole race be raised up through Christ's victor}- over sin (i Cor. 15 :22), In neither case is a personal choice offered. God created man to be happy and pure, and He will see to it that he is. The personal choice is only offered to each one during this present age of sin. Sin is permitted to continue, for a time, for the purpose of this golden opportunity to man. To choose right, when it is hard to do ricrht : to choose God's will when it is much easier to do the will of this world ; and, by so choosing, to be lifted up, by the way of the cross, into that divine nature which rules, even in heaven. But only a little while now and sin shall be done away with ; death shall cease : and all the nations of Earth shall find themselves in an environment that induces to right acts, and thoughts, and sur- rounded bv conditions of peace, and joy, and happiness. They • cannot help being good then. 659. How will this be brought about? Well, it will be brought about by the expelling of Ihe Beast from Earth. This will be a period of great pain and trouble and must precede the millennium. Christ will come with the armies of heaven and destroy the beast- The coming of Christ will be sudden, like the lightning (Math. 24:27). There will be no gradually getting better until all the Earth is redeemed, as some suppose ; but, just as in the days when the flood came, and, taking the inhabitants of the Earth by sur- prise, blotted the old race out, so shall the coming of Christ be (Math. 24:36-39). The people of the Earth shall still be eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, just as usual. 660. Now just as Noah was called into the ark, and saved from the general destruction of the flood, so, when the sign shall appear of the son of man in heaven, the spiritual race, Christ's elect, shall be gathered together from all parts of the heaven (Math. 24:30-31), '"with a great sound of a trumpet," and be saved from the terrible times that shall come upon Earth. The Christians who have died shall first rise, "then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air" (i Thess. 4:16, 17). The dead shall be raised incorruptible, and the living be changed, so that all their bodies shall be immortal (1 Cor. 15 :5i-54). These constitute the church, which is the bride of Christ, and the marriage will then take place (Rev. 19:7-9). 661. The Christians, having been all called forth from human society (Rev. 18 •.^) — Babylon — their restraining influence for good. THE MILLENNIUM. 209 will be gone from earth, and wickedness shall literally impoverish the earth (515). Then shall come that awful upheaval of society of which we have spoken (513-520). Then Christ, with the saints, the armies of heaven, shall come, and by the sharp sword, which is the Word of God, that proceeds out of the mouth of Christ, the will of God, the animal, or beastly bodies of all men on earth shall be slain, and the fowls of the air shall have a feast. In other words, it shall, at that time, become God's will, and it shall be spoken, or the purpose sent forth to fulfillment, that, by the causes operating on earth, all human flesh shall be slain. Those whose souls are so animal as to possess only animal passions and desires, and whose ego is, therefore, identical with their beastly bodies, must, of necessity, go with that body into the lake of fire, into which it shall be cast (517, 519)- But the most of mankind shall be released from their fleshly animal bodies, and, with them, they shall be released from the animal passions, and temptations to sin, that have beset them. 662. It IS only the flesh that perishes at this time, not the form. All that is beautiful and comely in face, or limb, or body shall remain to the race. But the matter, that goes to make up this body, thenceforth, shall be after the astral character (266). More of grace, and suppleness, and dignity, and all that is beautiful, or exalted, than was possible to our beastly bodies, shall belong to the restored tribes of man. Adam's body was becoming thus refined, and, had he abode in the will of God, would have become thus ex- alted. But now the will of God has come down into earth, and triumphed over the flesh, so that these astral bodies are, even now, growing and forming within the physical bodies of the race, pre- paratory to the restoration. But in those beings who are wholly beastly they form not. 662^. This restored race of mankind will be ruled over by the SOULS of the spiritual race, who have suffered and borne the cross of Christ (Rev. 20 :4). Over them. King of Kings, is Jesus Christ, the great conqueror, who shall be the Emperor of the World, in this golden day that is coming. There will be no opportunities for any to offend against the law, for Christ and his officers, the saints, shall see into the hearts, and know the motives of all the beings of earth, and prevent all emanations of evil. Their government will be strong and inflexible. Yet it shall have no element of con- straint, or erksomeness, about it. For ever}- influence, and sur- rounding, will be such as to make it easy and natural to do right, and unnatural and well nigh impossible to do wrong. §2. Return of the Children Israel. 664. One of the immediate results, of the upheaval of society that precedes the restoration, and of the victory of Christ over the beast, will be the restoration of the ten lost tribes, and of the Jews, 2lO PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. to Jerusalem, and the promised land. For the woman Israel (510) fled into the wilderness — hidden place — where she is nourished twelve hundred and sixty years, from the time her temple, or church at Jerusalem, was destroyed. After which she is to return. 665. In the prophecy of Zechariah, God portrays the resto- ration of Jerusalem by Zerubbabel, after the Babylonian captivity ; then the coming of Christ and his death, and the punishment of Jerusalem therefor, by Omar (chap.i i ) ; then the trouble Jerusalem shall be to all nations (chap. 12) ; and its final restoration, and Christ's second coming (chap. 14) to it ; the changes that shall be wrought in its surroimdings, and how it shall become the seat of Christ's power on eartli. "And the Lord my God shall come and all the saints with thee." "And the Lord shall be King over all the earth ; in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one." ''And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the na- tions -.fr --^ * * * shall even go up from year to 3^ear to wor- ship the King." "In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, Holiness iinlo the Lord.'" (Zech. 14:5, 9, 16, 29. See also Ezekiel, last portion). 666. Now just as the planet earth, in its middle age, lost its vegetable jife, and all its glor}', and passed through a period of pain ; just as the human race on Earth, in its middle period, is passing through its time of trouble and has lost its Eden ; so the kingdom of Israel, God's chosen people of old, in its middle time, has been scattered over the Earth and have lost their kingdom for a time. But just as the Earth was restored to its first glory, with a new glory added ; and the human race will be restored to its sec- ond, and belter Eden ; so will the kingdom of Israel be restored, and be more glorious than in the days of David and Solomon. The twelve tribes of Israel shall again possess the temple of God on Earth, and within their united midst shall be established Christ's seat of government over the whole Earth. For after the middle time, comes the return to the source with victory achieved. 7his is the law (69, 71). 667. The ten lost tribes of Israel have been buried among the heathen, and their histor3^ and consciousness of whom they themselves are, has been lost, even to themselves, and to the world. But God will open the graves in which they have been buried, and awaken in them a knowledge of who they are, and show to them that they are, indeed, his ancient people, who even now possess the Earth (see Ezekiel, chap. 37). It shall be a won- derful awakening, that shall raise, through a renewal of knowl- edge, the ten lost tribes from the dead, or forgotten realm. "Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land." "Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, v^'herein they have sinned, THE MILLENNIUM. 211 and will dense them ; so shall thev be mv people, and I will be their God." . " - 668. The people of Israel "are gathered out of the nations" (Ezek. 38 :i2). They shall be brought to Jerusalem, out of all nations, at the proper time (Is. 66 ;2o). This matter is being care- fully looked into by wise men, appointed by God to that purpose. At the time appointed of Him, all shall know their Israeliteish origin, and become reunited into one nation, with Jerusalem again their capital, and Christ, come to Earth again, in glor^^, and now to rule, their King. 669. Ezekiel tells how the new kingdom is to be divided between the twelve reunited tribes of Israel (Ez chap. 48). This apportionment is radically different from any that has been actu- ally made in times past by the tribes ; and plainh^ relates to what is yet to come. Seven tribes shall have their portions to the north, and five to the south, of "a holy portion of the land," "an obla- tion," which is to be set apart for the city, and priests, and Prince. Each tribal part extends across the whole possession from east to west. The twelve apostles shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes in the millennium (Math. 19:28). 670. The Israelites shall come into possession of this king- dom after the great battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:13-16). That great battle by which the power of the beast is destroyed (672). and, in which, the fowls feast upon its flesh (Rev. 19:17-21, Ezek. 38 chap, and 39:17-21). The other nations of Earth shall come up against them — Gog and Magog (Ezek. 38 :i8). — and God shall fight for Israel, as in old time ; and rain upon these armies of Gog, with the sword of every man against his brother — quarrels among themselves — with pestilence, "an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire and brimstone" (Ezek. 38:21-23). §3. The Regenerated Earth, and its Government. 671. Christ is the God of the whole earth, as well as the Holy One of (Israel Is. 54:5). There shall be a new Earth, and the former sinful, evil, conditions shall be forgotten. The very mem- ory of those things that now give us pain shall vanish. So that happiness sliallbe untainted (Is. 65 :i7). The child shall be child- like an hundred 3'ears, and not even then shall his childhood die. 672. "And they shall build houses and inhabit them ; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. The}^ shall not build and another inhabit ; they shall not plant and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and my elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. The}' shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble ; for the}' are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer: and while they are yet speaking, I will hear" (Is. 65 :2i-24). 212 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. 673. It will be safe anywhere, also, even for the little child, in any part of the Earth, for there will be no wild beasts any more. "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock : and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt, nor destroy, in all mv holy mountain, saith the Lord" (Is. 65:25). 674. The Earth shall be made new. Possibly this may mean the inhabiting of a new planet, as Mars, where there is no more sea (Rev. 21 :i). In any case, the Eden condition, which Adam at first enjoyed, shall be reproduced (Ez. 36:35). This is the re- generation on Earth. Now just think what a paradise it will be, when there is no more war, anywhere on Earth. Only peace and good will between the nations, and all the nations of earth, united under one general government, caring for all. Germany, and France, and Russia, will have no use for their millions of soldiers ; but swords shall be beaten into plowshares. And arts, and sci- ences, and social harmony, shall prosper wondrously. No inter- national difficulties possible, all the world will be engaged in those pursuits that tend to uplift and enoble man. No sin, or temptation to evil, with ample leisure to all, will lend large opportunity to pleasure, and fulfillment of every right desire. No death, no sick- ness, no wrongs, nine-tenths of life will not be spent, as now, in fighting disease ; and providing for life, and for the dear ones after our death. The feverish rush of life will be over. For, as there is no death, one will have ample time for anything. No oppres- sion, or danger, from man or beast, but a sense of absolute safety everywhere, will greatly facilitate all progress. 675. The world's population, of necessity, will be entirely reorganized, under such a state of affairs. The present nations may some of them continue to exist, but under totally different forms of government. Republics are the fashion, and tendency of this present age. Even in those nations wnich are ruled by monarchs, the kings are such only in name. The actual author- ity is vested in the people, and by them delegated to their legisla- tors, and ministers. No monarch, of this age, would dare to adopt a method of procedure in opposition to the sentiment of the mass of his subjects. And if he did so dare, could not carry it out for want of support. The people, and not the king, rule in this age of earth. The time was when the will of the king was law, but now it is the will of the people that is law. In the monarchal govern- ments the people still allow the king the show of authority, and the pomp and glory of state. But in the millennium age, the govern- ment will be absolute. No tyrant, in the world's past ages, ever devised a method, by which his will should be so perfectly execu- ted, as that by which the will of the ruler of the millennium shall be executed. The nations shall be ruled with a rod of iron (Rev. 19:15). To the republican thought of today it seems contradic- tory, to add, that such a government shall be found perfect, THE MILLENNIUM. 213 and satisfactory, beyond all conception of this present time. 676. No people can be better than their actual ruler. The ruler is the central will which all serve. The people's acts, there- fore, show forth the character possessed by the governing will ; and that will is responsible for the quality of those acts. Now the will of the ancient nations was the king. All tendencies were towards his standard. None could long be better than the king. Else such were not ruled over by the king, and did not properly belong to his kingdom, and were not subjects of his, although within his territory. In the modern nations, the people, collect- ively, being the actual sovereign, their will is the center governing the nation. The standard of the people, in this republican age, of course cannot be better than the best, but must, of necessity, be even somewhat under the highest ideals held. Plainly, then, with imperfect human kings, and later, with imperfect sovereign citizens, the governments of Earth must have always been imperfect and un- satisfactorj^. But the King over all the Earth, in the millennium, is the perfect man Christ Jesus, son of God. His will shall be absolute, and his government perfect, satisfying the most exa t- ing, and drawing them towards the state of perfection represente 1. 677. In the millennium those who shall sit upon the thrones, and rule the nations, under Christ, shall be the saints, who have been lifted up with him into the divine character. And, being one with Christ by the spiritual marriage, their government is the Christ government, and equally absolute — "with a rod of iron" (see Rev. 20:4 and Rev. 2 126, 27). The rulers of the millennium government have power to see into the hearts of men. There is no deceiving of them ; and their judgments, and decisions, shall be absolute, and certain and just. Their appointments shall be fit ; and all their ways shall be ordered with divine wisdom. Hence their government will commend itself to all their subjects. Ail their acts will be so evidently just the right ones, that every one. among the nations, will not only be satisfied, but gratified as well.' Every incentive being to righteousness, and no temptations to evil presented to mankind, there will be, of necessity, and not by choice, that Eden condition which the nations enjoy in the millen- nium. 678. With a perfect government, local and general : with the glorious capital of Earth for an example and crown ; with death- less, painless lives ; with vineyards and gardens and fair posses- sions, which remain theirs through hundreds of years ; with every want satisfied before they call ; in communion with God, Christ and the saints ; with nothing to make afraid, or endanger; without evil, or the presence of sin ; with beauty and childlike vitality ; with love binding heart to heart, and ages to love in ; blessed are the people of the New Earth. What a wide circle of acquiint- ances one may have, extending around the world, and from jiole to pole ; and not one faithless and unworthy. With almost no nee- 2^4 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. essity for labor, and man}- incentives to intellectual, social, and spiritual improvement, the social and family life will, necessaril}', assume an importance unknown to this treadmill of todav. The whole earth will come to be covered with a dense population : all perfectl}' happy, and knowing not evil. §4. The NE^y Jerusalem — Capital of the World. 679. The nations of the earth shall aid the Israelites, in the building of that new Jerusalem (Is. 60:10), w^hich shall be the capital city of the millennial world. Into this capital cit}- the kings of the Earth shall bring their glory. The nations of the Earth shall walk in the light of it. The new Jerusalem stands as the source of powder and influence, which shall flow out into all na- tions, leading, directing them, setting the fashion for them. It is also the goal of all ambitions : the lodestone to which all that is admirable is drawn ; the ultimate resting place of the great and noble, the precious and beautiful. All the world shall minister unto it. All the world shall respond to its behests, and follow its lead. All the world shall go up to drink of its w^ater of life. So all the world must needs be like it. good, in that age of peace. 680. Ezekiel describes, propheticall}-, the great capital city of the world : the seat nf Christ the Prince. It occupies the north- ern one-fifth of the oblation, uhich is to be given by the nation (Ezek. 45 :6). The citj- proper is square, with suburbs about its four sides. Market gardens lie beyond the suburbs, to the east and west, for supplving the city (Ezek. 48:15-18). To the south lies a large portion assigned to the priests, and in the midst stands the sanctuary- facing the city. Still south lies an equal area for the use of the Levites. To east and west of the city, and of the portions of the priests and Levites, the territory belongs to the Prince. All may be properlv considered a part of the great capital. No such glorious appointments and broad dimensions has ever been the happv lot of an}- citv that has yet been built in the world. 681. Forth from the sanctuary, which is God's house, and the palace of Christ the Prince, forth from the throne of God, eastward, flows a marvelous river (Ezek. 47 :i-i2). This river increases in size and volume as it flows away from its fountain at the throne of God (Rev. 22:1). This river is the river of the water of life (Rev. 22 :i and Ezek. 47 :9), and wherever it goes all things spring into life. On each side of this river, on its banks, shall grow fruit trees of marvelous virtue. — the tree of life, which W'as taken away from Adam in the loss of the first Eden (Gen. 3 : 24). The fruit of these trees, borne every month, is for food ; and theleaves for medicine for the healing of the nations (Rev. 22:2, Ezek. 47 :i2). 682. The east crate of the sanctuarv, beneath the threshhold THE MILLENNIUM. 215 of which the living waters issue (Ezek. 47 :i), is for the use of the Prince only. He shall sit in this gate to eat bread before the Lord (Ezek. 44:1-3). He dwells in the sanctuary, since he is God, and has entered by this east gate, and sits upon the throne of God. 683. The wall of the city is of jasper. It has twelve foun- dations, in which are the names of the twelve apostles (Rev. 21 ; 14). These foundations are of jewels ; jasper, saphire, chalce- dony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprasus, jacinth and amethyst. It has twelve gates, each named after a tribe of Israel (Ezek. 48:30-35, Rev. 21 :i2, 13). The street of the city is pure gold (Rev. 21 :2i). 684. What are Rome, and London, and Paris, and New York, compared with this coming capital of the millennium? Be- 3^ond the conception of men, rich and glorious, shall be the city where Christ shall dwell, King of kings, in that day when all the Earth shall know her Sabbaths. "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it : and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it" (Rev. 21 :23, 24). God's tabernacle is there, and He will be their God, and they shall be his people (Ezek. 37 :27, Rev. 21 :3). 685. There shall be no sorrow, nor death, or any pain: for the former things are passed away" (Rev. 21 :^). Snow-white feet shall kiss the transparent pavements of shining gold. Shining garments (Luke 24:4) shall decorate the supple limbs and grace- ful form of this city's people. Joy and happiness shall make their countenances bright as lightning (Math. 28:3). Lips of ruby wine ; stars for eyes ; sunbeams for hair. What wonder if some shall have palms in their hands (Rev. 7 :g), and songs upon their lips (Rev. 5 :g), glorifying God. For here shall be a people beau- tiful beyond all the ideals of any previous age on earth ; intelli- gent beyond all conceptions of the times gone by ; accomplishe in music, art, and conversation : filled with the ecstacy of love. They shall be surrounded by pleasures, luxuries, and ministr.i- tions, beyond the wildest dream of our day ; every wish fulfilled, every desire satisfied. Then shall joy, and happiness, and justice, and peace, and right, fill the whole earth. Oh ! hasten, ye day :;f the Lord ! CHAPTER XIL THE SHINING ONES. |i. A Review of Existence. 686. Before existence was, God was (7). He abode in the spiritual subsistence. In this eternal, limitless realm, Satan ob- tained a view of Self, which, when it had conceived pride within him, led him to contend with God (417, 418). Thence God cast him out, and all his angels with him, into a limited, finite realm, with beginning and end, the waters, or matter (7, 8). From these waters the universe was formed. The great sea extended wide and far without form, and void. Yet it was not beyond the con- trol of God, for the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Gen. t :2) God spoke (Gen. i :^), and His Word, begot- ten of Him in heaven, went forth ; the Light into the midst of the Darkness (John i 'i"5)- The word was Christ, and he was before anything (Col. i .'17). 687. Christ is the will of God ; and since it is the function of the will to limit, he planned, marked out, and determined every form of existence, and produced them through the power of the spirit operating on the matter or waters. By the limitations die • tated by Christ, the purposes of God have all been brought out into being. The first limitations wrought in the resisting sea of matter by the spirit, were the several forces of mechanical motion, sound, heat, light, molecular motion, electricity, and magnetism. Nor did the will cease limiting the waters until it had divided the sea of matter into minute molecules (98). 688. By reason of magnetism, nebulous clouds gathered in the Itiminous sea of molecular matter, and separated the light from the darkness. The light clothed the molecular matter, so that the groups of this substance glowed with it, but in the spaces between these groups, which had been forsaken by the particles in their clustering together, darkness reigned. Each mass of glowing gas was confined to its own limit (112). Each of these bright bodies moved forward in a great circular spiral course (113). And, as they moved forward in existence, each grew smaller, brighter, and more dense, becoming thence a sun. So came the innumerable THE SHINING ONES. 2X7 stars of the universe, tliat, like grains of sand on the sea-shore, sprinkle the floor of heaven. 689. As each sun grew smaller, and more dense, by reason of the mastery of the centripetal force within, more fierce grew the conflict between the two great forces, generating intense heat at the center. The more the centripetal concentrated its forces at the center, the more was its restraining power withdrawn from the circumference. The more intense grew the central etforts of the two forces, swifter grew the compromising revolution. From these causes the condition arrived, when the centrifugal triumphed at the circumference, and portions broke loose from the sun's exterior surface and were flung into space. In this manner originated other suns, and all the planets that had their creation during the first three periods of the universe, when the centrifugal had the general superior control. 690. When the centripetal obtained the supremacy, and all the operations of creation were reversed, as occurred in the fourth stage, then each sun contracting, developed an internal pressure (694), that, ultimating in a force greater than its crust could resist, caused that crust to burst asunder, and shot out, thi-ough the rup- ture, a portion of its interior mass into space. 691. The portions of each sun that broke from their exteriors (689), and those that shot out from their interiors (690), alike, re- lieved of the centripetal control of the sun, from which they came, expanded into gas, and glowing vvi:h light, and heat, and vital energy, speed away on lesser circular spiral careers of their own, about their source. Each of these flying clouds, with its soon- formed nucleus (179)1 fled forth through the heavens a might}^ comet, from which, by the shortening of its orbit and concentra- tion of its, at first, diffused matter, it became a planet. So came all the planets, including the planet Earth. 692. Each planet, by the direction of that conceiving Will, and by the operations of the spirit upon matter, in the proportions designed, becomes divided into three main parts, or elements. These parts are : the enveloping atmosphere or air, in which the centrifugal is superior ; the inner solid, or earth, in which the cen- tripetal is superior ; and a liquid sheet of water, lying between the other two, in which the two forces are nearly in equilibrium. When the two forces have progressed inward towards the center of the solid, a fourth element is developed, the element o^ fire This is the clashing of the forces : no longer at rifle range, the forces charge upon each other, and close in deadly combat. The spirit (or centripetal), being the most powerful, triumphs, and matter (or centrifugal) is expelled. This expulsion characterize.s the fire. 693. When the planet has developed this fourth element of fire, within its solid or inner form, great heat is generated. As the heat is expelled, into space, the exterior of this sphere is hard- ened into a crust (116). This surface formation, by reason of 2l8 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. the raging forces within, is, in places, forced up, or outward, forming peaks or mountains, which pierce through the surrounding sheet of water into the enveloping atmosphere. Thus comes the dry land, a surface uncovered by water. By the reaction of the same forces, other parts of the crust are drawn down or inward, and the surrounding water, flowing down into them, retreats from the dry surfaces, thereby increasing their area (117-119). 694. As the crust hardens, by contraction, and the inner body of the planet grows smaller, the interior heat does not grow less. But its raging warfare, forced into a smaller compass, becomes more intense, until the crust cannot stand the pressure, and gives way, throwing up an opening, or volcano (120), through which the molten interior and fire pours forth. By the local cooling of the crust, which results from such eruptions, the earth's crust is stored with minerals (121). 695. By reason of the heat going outward into space, the waters, in part, rise with it in vapor, and thick clouds enwrap the earth (122). As the cooling continues, or these vapors rise to the cold region above the earth, the vapor condenses into rain, and falls again upon the earth, and makes a soil out of the surface of the dry land (123). Beneath that surface, and in it, the magnet- ism, ever active, gathers like particles about a center forming crys- tals, gems, jewels rare (124, 125). Forth from the new born soil the centrifugal sends a magic growth. God caused the Earth to bring forth grass, the herb, and the tree (Gen. i :ii, 12), each bearing seed after its kind ; and the land was covered with a veg- etable growth. Foliage plumed the hills; a green sod, figured with flowers, carpeted the valleys ; rivers watered them. 696. The beautiful Earth was wooed by the Sun, and by him became pregnant, and gave birth to the Moon (167). By this act time began on Earth (176), and also the Earth's surface received a terrible scouring, — the glacial epoch (184), by which vegetable life was ground to a pulp, or destroyed. This was the Earth's time of sin, when her Eden was lost to her. But she regained it again in the birth of a new race, animal life. Up from the sea, forth from the land, called by the will of God, and fashioned by the forces, came the moving creature, fowl that winged through the air, the creeping thing upon the Earth. Again the Earth was clothed with vegetation, and, for the first time, peopled with life. And each kind of the myriad forms that had being on Earth brought forth abundantly of their own kind. "God blessed them, saying. Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the Earth" (Gen. i :22). 697. God made man also (243). Made him in his image. That is, he is made, through Christ, God's image, or form. The animal man was also admonished to be fruitful and multiph' (Gen. I :28). And the race became many in numbers, and filled the Earth. And Christ, having given man will, as he himself had — THE SHINING ONES. 219 a portion of the will of God breathed into him, — man became a living soul (Gen. 2 ry). To man was given dominion over the Earth. The whole Earth was in peace and happiness, and beau- tiful beyond imagination, to us sinners. From the physical point of view, the universe was now complete. 698. The macrocosm now complete, the purpose of God en- tered the microcosm, man, and a new cycle issued from the uni- versal into the individual. The two forces, centrifugal and centri- petal, now assumed the form of evil and good. The microcosm began its career under the influence of the outgoing spirit of evil. Satan's control carried the microcosm, or soul, out into every form of sin, and vice. But, just as the centripetal is stronger than the centrifugal, and masters it in the macrocosmic realm, and causes the stars, and planets, and moons to form and develop, so good is stronger than evil, and causes the souls to form into astral shapes and forms, and develop, in the microcosmic realm. And just as the material beings have been brought forth from the vast universe of waters, where the centrifugal and centripetal were most nearly in equilibrium, so spiritual beings are brought forth from the equi- librium condition of good and evil. The ascendency of Christ's control over these spiritual beings brings them to the solid, fixed, and established condition, in the microcosm, which is represented by the earth condition in the macrocosm. Finall}', also, just as in the material bodies-— the suns and planets — the fourth element is developed, and the centrifugal is cast out of it and destroyed by fire, so in the spiritual or soul beings the evil shall be cast out and destroyed. 699. What, then, are the realities or essential parts of these two careers, the macrocosmic, and the microcosmic? And as all things return to their source, what is the form of the spiritual being when it shall have come back to the macrocosm from which its cycle started ; when Self shall have returned to the Universe, or realm of the Stars? And what is the end of that universe? §2. Realities. 700. In our study of existence we have learned that the forms of the universe are ver}'^ many, but the reatiiies are very few. There is GOD, — the spiritual subsistence (7) ; who is the only unending reality. A reality that was before existence, and continues after it ends. There is none besides Him (Is. 45 :6). 701. Three prime realities came into existence, born of God : A spirit of outgoing from Him. a force Centrifugal ; a spirit of ingoing to Him, a force Centripetal ; and His Will, or only begotten one, it'liicli is God in exislence. Each of these contains an inseparable portion of the essential substance of God — the one reality. 702. There are three secondary realities or resultants of these 220 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. first three : First, Matter, which is the resuhant of a supremacy of the force centrifugal, by which spirit is externalized, or sepa- rated from God ; second, Life, which is a compromise of the forces centrifugal and centripetal ; and Spirit. Each of the forces, centrifugal and centripetal, desire to act in straight lines. In ever}' material body dwells an inherent force tending to carry it straight away from its source, but the centripetal force, by the might of the spirit, strives to carry it straight to that source. By the centripetal it is bound to God. Life is a compromise, and the body revolves about its origin in a circle. So the Earth revolves about the sun : the sun and stars about the seat of God ; and all living things pass through cycles of existence. These are lives. The spirit is the resultant of the supremacy'of the force centripetal. Every spirit is bound to God, and is internal. 703. By mailer is given to the universe all its bodies and composite substance. It is threefold, typified in the air, water and earth. By Life is wrought out history, marvelous transforma- tions, progressive periods of development. Life is a shuttle that flies from the one force of evil to the other force of good, and back, and endlessly back and forth, weaving a mixed history, a many colored cloth. It is in three forms ; vegetable, animal and spir- itual. By Spiril character is given to all existence. It is spirit that dwells within the bodies and makes history in the lives. It is human, angelic and Divine, 704. But there is still another reality ; and it is the central thought of existence. This reality is the Soul. It originates from the division, or limiting of God's will. It is an offspring of God himself, and conceived by him in the life, and brought forth from the animal. This soul is in the image or likeness of God. His Will, one of the prime realities, took on this form of the soiil, entered the animal realm, and became the man, Christ Jesus. The soul is a Self. The three secondary realities are joined to the service of the soul, as the three prime realities are joined to the service of God. As God's will is masterful and creative, so the soul's will may be, and cause transformations by the selections of matter, life and spirit. 705. Here is a wonderful thought for him who is able to re- ceive it. When the soul in the microcosm returns to the universe and joins God, what will be its power, its life, and occupation? In the beginning God contained all reality. Forth from Him came the outgoing power, the incoming power, matter, life, and spirit ; therefore. He must contain the fulness of all these realities, and because He contains all reality He is God. Only God contains all reality. But in existence. His will governs the five realities that God sent out, and gathers them into the service of His own being. The will controls the two forces and matter, life and spirit. Hence each soul, born of His will, who has triumphed over all the realities, and become one with Christ, the will of God, THE SHINING ONES. 221 can gather these realities into its own being, and is then like God. Indeed, such are gods, partaking of the divine nature, and are in the express image of the Almighty. Thus is finally accom- plished in the time. of John's Revelations that which was spoken in Genesis (Gen. i :26) and begun in the creation. Then are these in Christ, and Christ in God (John 17. 21-23), a three-fold divine nature. 706. So it comes, that for him who has been born again, and so partakes of the divine nature, a godlike work lies at hand, and a celestial career stretches before. The first of his career is an educational one. Not until the marriage with Christ (Rev. 19:7), is such a one prepared for the godlike labor. But when the will of God is joined to the soul, the being becomes the great reality of existence. As the li'ill of God governs all the existent realities, these shall all be absorbed into the existence of these divine beings. Tiience, they shall, collectively, be the only real- ity of existence, as God is the only reality of subsistence, and shall be sons of the All Mighty. Like Him, ultimately, they will contain, within themselves, all the forces, substances, realities there are. And the}^ may send any part of any of them forth to accomplish such purposes as they choose, fashioning forms of infinite varietv, and careers of marvelous exploit. 707. Such Beings are the armies of heaven that go forth into earths (Rev. 19:14). These celestial armies are the stars with which the souls have become identified. Each sends forth its light as God did at the beginning. They give birth to planets, and cause life to spring forth from them. They have become the ma- crocosm out of which many rnicrocosms come. These shining ones send out their forces centrifugal and centripetal, and fashion their matter into myriad of forms. They clothe the forms which are fit with the compromise of life, ever circling round and round. 708. These shining beings, that people heaven — you and I, if we but obtain by overcoming, through Christ Jesus, — Christ, the will of God within them, and the Almighty God, from whence they came and to whom they return, will be the onl}^ realities at the end of existence. §3. The Spirits' Career of the Planets. 709. Behold the stars that sparkle upon the azure deep. Each is a center of energy that passes out into innumerable changes, forms and expressions. Each is a will that has caused many evolutions and involutions, and is working out a marvelous thought of God. Each is a child of God born of Christ, the will of God. Who are these children of God, that, born of God's will, work out his purposes? 710. The whole period of the human race on Earth is, to the time of existence, from its beginning to its end, as a second is to the period of the Earth's millions of 3^ears of duration Tell us, 222 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. oh Spirit of Truth, of that time beyond the race of man on Earth I Such of the human race as retrograded, and became beastly, went down to death and final dissolution. The spiritual essence, or essential substance of such, flowed back into the waters (538-542), ■ — the deep blue sea, — from whence comes the material or bodily parts of the suns or stars (542). From the midst of the rest of the people of Earth, rose a new race, born, through Christ, into a spir- itual existence,— -a divine nature. These became the rulers of the Earth, in the millennium, and after the Earth's career is ended, pass, with Christ, into other kingdoms, as shall shortly appear. Wherever the Will of God is, they are ; for they are one with the Will of God. 711. Now the rest of humanity, over which these spiritual ones ruled in the millennium, the great mass (Rev. 20:8) of the race, what became of them? They had lived joyous, sinless lives, on earth, and being incapable in that form, of anything higher, they pass away with their planet. "Fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them" (Rev, 20:9). But while this disposes of their forms, it does not of their substance. For the essential substance, the spirit, cannot be destroyed. Nor was there in the millennium race, that union between the soul and the beastly material body that should cause their forms to be dissolved into the exceeding rare but material waters of the great deep, and flow back into the ethereal ocean (531,539,540). The millennium race had astral bodies (662). Gross matter had been previously cast into the lake of fire (517, 519)- But by fire their forms were destroyed, and the particles of the substance that composed them sent outward to a new career. Fire sends forth to new conditions ; hence, the spirits that had composed the human race, on Earth, being sent outward, passed further away from the Sun, the mate- rial pole, and lodge, by the concentrative will of God, in some outer planet, probably Jupiter ; where they will again work the evolution of matter, and perform such service as the Divine shall require of them. Here they shall be under the rule again, as in the millennium on earth, of Christ, and the divine ones with him. 712. All progress in time has been after the manner of pul- sations (85). There has been a going outward from the source, then a pause, a concentration, a dense accumulation and struggle, by reason of the opposing force ; then another going out again, to another concentration beyond, and so on. Now the spirit going out from the sun in pursuit of matter, met it at the first planet, paused there for a time, in conflict with it, and by the will of God brought forth such forms as he designed ; then the spirit, having overcome and accomplished its work, went forth again, met the opposition in the second planet, and, fulfilling its office there, went on again. So on it went until it had produced human life in the Earth, accomplished its work there, and passed on to Mars. Thence to the next planet, and so forth. THE SHINING ONES. 223 713. I take it that there were originally twelve planets to this solar system of ours ; that the spirit wrought forms in the four middle ones, which became so puffed up with pride, that they fell. The material of the planets themselves, in consequence, was loosely held together, and by reason of their position between the two polar influences of the solar system, they burst in sunder, and formed the asteroids (370) ; and now there are but eight principal planets (333). The spirit, when it fell back, or down from its advanced position in these four lost planets, landed upon the Earth, and wrought another work there. The Christ, the will of God, stayed its further descent, and started it up again. Hence, when the spirit, in the human race, is again sent out at the close of the earth career, I take it, it will be passed on rapidly to Jupiter, the first of the outer planets, where no life has probably, as yet, been developed. There are some evidences of life in Mars. 714. All substance run into forms, takes the shape of the mold in which it is cast. By reason of the macrocosmic influences existent nearest the Sun, the patterns furnished the spirit in the nearest planet of Mercury, were of gross material forms (371), and possibly of crude vegetable growth. Nothing superior were fash- ioned there. In Venus its patterns were of the animal realm (372). In Earth it called forth the human race, from the midst of which, the will of God caused to be born, by the cross, at the return of the spirit, those Divine Beings, who shall guide its action in the outer planets. For, in the outer planets, the spirit is under the influence of the celestial, or divine pole (376), and not of the material, any longer. Hence, instead of being principally governed by the material Sun, it will be guided by Divine being. The progress of intelligence through the planets of Jupiter, Sat- urn, Uranus and Neptune (378), is upward and inward, and pre- pares a knowledge, and mental condition, inconceivable to this planet Earth. These intelligences shall enlighten the Suns, whose bodies are fashioned from the waters (542). Through this whole career of the planets, — innumerable ages, — these intelligences shall be ruled by the Divine ones, who have overcome in the Earth. What if, for a few paltry years, God permitted another will than his own to rule on Earth, when, by so doing, these Di- vine Ones were created, married to His Will, and for countless ages, through several worlds, extend their reign, in His name. But even this is not their ultimate glory. §4. The Stars of Heaven. 715. In the course of a short lifetime of thirtj'^-three years, Alexander overrun the whole known world, and sighed for more worlds to conquer. Had he lived to be a thousand years old, what a number of worlds he could have overcome, with opportunity furnished him ! So, too, with Csesar, and Napoleon, and many 224 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. Other mighty generals. In a short lifetime an A. T. Stewart, a Cornelius Vanderbilt, a Rothschild, acquires immense possessions. The rapidity of acquiring increases with the increase of posses- sion. One such intellect could obtain complete possession of a world in a thousand or two years. If mind was not limited bv death, what would be the ultimate intellectual achievements, and resulting influence, of a Bacon, a Newton, a Milton, a Gladstone, a Bismark, a Blaine? 716. The intellectual powers, developed by the career of spirit through the planets from the Sun to Neptune, is be3^ond any conception of human kind. They are equal to the possession of suns, and the conquests of solar systems. But in this progress through the planets they have passed through the individual and personal form, into universals again (304), and are as the sunshine that sheds its rays upon all within its reach, or as the rain that falls upon the just and unjust alike. These intelligences are governed by the Divine ones whose servants they have been, through all the outer planets. 717. When the course of the planets are run, these intelli- gences are carried into the glorious blue sea of the universal, by the Divine ones. ■ In this blue sea — the heavenly waters — these Divine wills, the children of God, may each gather of the waters a form, put the universal intelligence in it, and placing themselves at the center, its governing spirit, ride forth upon the sea a glow- ing Sun. The Stars of God are thus filled with intelligence, and one of his Divine children, — his will, — sits upon the central throne and rules in the name of the Lord God. 718. These are the shining ones. Their bodies are the waters or material of the Sun, which they have taken from the blue. Each shining one, inhabiting such a bod}^ is three-fold. There is Love, within which is the Divine one, born of God from a human being, and once known as a Christian on Earth ; then there is Liglil, which is intelligence and knowledge, servant of the inner spiritual sovereign, and born through past contact with all creation ; and Life, the energy and force that ever emanates from God's will, and is guided by means of the intelligence. These shining ones can say, we are children of the Earth, but a greater intelligence and love, Christ Jesus, came into the Earth, won our hearts, and by his subtle spiritual power, entered into our souls, and impregnated us, from which conception there was born in us a spiritual being, that awoke in the heavens. Thus were we raised by the love of God, up to a nearer plane to him, and heaven was peopled. In turn we become stars and shining ones. Having been faithful over a few things, obtained self-control, we have each become the spirit of a star. 719. Now in the Sun the three-fold nature becomes wholly one, and Love, Light and Life are united. The suns have their loves among their companions even as human kind do. But their THE SHINING ONES. 225 mates are spiritual. The sexes are united in them. They contain all attributes in universal form. Three-fold is their career: First, as children growing, expanding, self; Seco?ul,^s mothers bearing children of whom are the planets ; Third, as Fathers ruling their family and generating new life, which offspring are the moons. In this higher sphere of being, the Sun and its family of planets and satellites, in a loving group, roam through the celestial sea, unfolding and making manifest, in the myriad forms that they evolve, the character of the spirit that governs them. The Sun is twain in one. The spiritual one which is the Father of all, and the physical one, or mother, — the outward form which gives ex- pression or birth to the inner thought. 720. Through the celestial body, your intelligence inhabits, shining one, you may work out, and express your whole character. The minerals, natural displays, plants and animals, are the working out of the celestial intelligence, possessing or ruling the star. The air, mountains, rivers, oceans, plants, ani- mals, are all alike your children. The shining ones may be moved by a common impulse. A cluster will think together, be moved by the Great Spirit, to the same impulse and thought. Yet each will be distinct with personal peculiarities and modes of expression. Each shining one contains the universals of all the personalities that may be upon its surface, or that appear upon its planets, or satellites. 721. There are about one billion persons in this world. There are more than that number of stars in the heaven, many times. What is the society of the stars, their companionships, their means of communication? The air is a poor medium to convey our conversation one to another, in comparison to the deep blue sea, as a medium for conveying the sounds the stars send to each other. Had we the ears of the stars, we could hear the music of the spheres. Moreover, like the arms of a lover, this deep blue sea enfolds the loved ones among the stars. 722 The pure waters of the deep blue enfold each star. No curve or dimple, or rounded limb, but the sea presses it with soft caress. This sea is the lips, and arms and eyes of every star. And so, by this sea, each star sends its love to every other star, and gives them touches of affection. As the love of two intelli- gent, refined human beings is higher than the love of two animals, so is the love between the stars higher than the human love, only much more so. Constantly through their waves of light, that flash across the azure sea, they give one another pictures of their treas- ures, and unfold to each other of their stores and bounteous pro- visions. The stars constantly entertain each other with rarest bits of histor}^, poetry, and science. Songs and anthems and orato- rios, entrance the heavenly host. 723. The shining ones rule over the angels (i Cor, 6:3). Each shining one has hosts of angels, who pass to and fro between 226 PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. its central throne, and the various parts of the system governed, bearing messages to the forces at work there, or bringing back information of what is going on. Some, also, are sent as minis- ters to other stars, or couriers, bearing love messages, not entrusted to the general sea, accompanied by gifts and rare treasures. §5. The Great Central One. 724. The orbit of every heavenly body is a spiral (113, 179). Although slowly, the Earth surely draws nearer the Sun at each revolution, and finally must pass into the Sun, and vanish from existence, in that center. Now the whole universe is one vast spiral (113). Slowly but surely it all draws towards one great inner center. Into that center it must ultimately pass, and the universe pass out of existence. God is that great central one that shall swallow up existence. He is the source from which existence came forth (7). 725. In God's image, the soul of man, raised by Christ into the divine character, becomes a shining center from whence goes out the restless external : suns from whence are born planets. '•Then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Math. 13: 43). "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament ; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever" (Dan. 12 :3, see also I Cor. 15 :38-49). The planets and satellites shall return to their source, — the shining one who rules in the likeness of God, — when their work is done. So, too, shall the Shining Ones them- selves, when God calls ; but eternity elapses between the now and the then, — the "forever and ever." 726. The angels are deathless, and change not, or do not return to within the center, but serve God and the Divine shining ones, the children of God, as they are. Yet should they ever go back through the center, they pass into the center from which they have their being, for they are one with it, and thence rest in its bosom. All the stars, also, drawing nearer and nearer the great central one, though like him, and after his nature, shall go in thereat. When the souls of perfect ones return through that gate- way, the center, and enter the spiritual subsistence, existence ends. 727. Love is the centralizing power. God is love. The con- stellations are sweeping through the heavens, bound harmoniously together by love. But love draws them nearer God. All the external shall be drawn into its immediate center, the shining one that rules it, by love. And, finally, the shining ones, themselves divine, and God's children, shall be drawn, bv love, into the GREAT CENTRAL ONE, Father of All, and existence shall have passed back into the spiritual subsistence. 728. We cannot know God. We onlv know that the center is the gateway to his abode. Out from that center came forth JG20I34' THE SHINING ONES. 227 everything into the restless external. It is the great source. It is, also, the great end. Through this central doorway, inward, the end of existence passes. The first and last, and all between of existence is Christ (Rev. i :ii), who is God in the universe, but the Almighty Father, alone is, and was, and is to come (Rev. 1:4). 729. We have diligently perused "Existence," the kingdom of Motion and Change, to which we belong, of which we are a part, from its beginning in matter, to its end in the divine character. But, of the kingdom within the center we cannot know. The gateway can- not be passed through by us mortals, and lies beyond our compre- hension. How much more so, that which lies within it. The center is a point. It has no limit, no dimensions, no motion, no change, nothing subject to the externals we have known. They have no power over it, no affiliation with it ; yet the all came out from within it, and it has exercised all authority over the without. How can we know that to which our tools of knowledge do not apply? Yel, IJirougTi the gateway of ITie center, inward, lies ITie Kingdom of 'Rest, the Spiritual Suhsistence, and our end is iliere. THE END. -H\ THE PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE. A'Brief Narrative showing the prin- ciples AND LAWS involved AND Operating in the Universe. PUBLISHED BY J. H. ABBOTT, Orlando, Fla. 1892. I Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide Treatment Date: Oct. 2004 PreservationTechnologies A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township. PA 16066 (724) 779-21 1 1