Chapter III - Spirit and Matter
171:1
having left no explanation of it; perhaps like natural
having left no explanation of it; perhaps like natural
musicians they caught the tones of moral and spiritual
science without being able to explain them. The Bible
that contains it all has been our only text-book; we
found, also, the Scriptures have both a literal and spir-
itual import, but the latter was the especial interpreta-
tion we received, and that taught us the science of Life
outside of personal sense. We learned the Principle
of being must be understood to make man right, and
that this was a step infinitely beyond the power of
faith; it was "to know in whom we have believed,"
to comprehend through Christian experience the way
to health and holiness, to Truth and Life. To reach
this Horeb height where God is understood, even in
part, we must be growing purer; we cannot perceive
the Principle of Science without this, "for none but
the pure in heart shall see God." Purity is the baptism
of Soul, – "the answering of a good conscience," for a
clean Spirit washes the body of all foulness, and signi-
fies such only as understand Truth. As soon may a
camel go through the eye of a needle, as man carry the
filth of the flesh into the kingdom of heaven, the reign
of harmony; we cannot learn harmony of discords;
then wherefore seek in mortal bodies the glorious sense
or proof of Truth, Life and Love? These are not in
matter, not in the body, or personal sense, and it is
only a question of time when we shall all learn this;
eternity will reveal it to all.
171:29
"Cutting off right hands and plucking out eyes"
"Cutting off right hands and plucking out eyes"
means to become spiritual. Denying sense is the way to
the joys of Soul, and until belief gives place to the spirit-
ual understanding that Intelligence is not in matter, we
172:1
shall not advance many steps towards harmony or
shall not advance many steps towards harmony or
heaven. The sensualist's happiness consists in things
of sense, his God is matter, person instead of Principle,
and body instead of Spirit; his affections are imag-
inary, whimsical, and unreal; passion, falsehood, malice,
hypocrisy, etc., are, alas! what it is to be sensual.
Strip the sensualist of his cloak, and what a loathsome
spectacle he becomes; he would shrink from beholding
himself, and blush to be identified with such being.
Talk not of making scientists of elements such as these,
the very basis of error must be changed before we can
unloose the sandals of Truth. Either in time or eter-
nity a sense of desolation must come to the wicked,
darkness and unutterable woe before they lay down
matter for Spirit.
172:16
Mind is the seat of motive and action, and forms in-
Mind is the seat of motive and action, and forms in-
dividual character; if this source be corrupt, it sends
forth impure streams. Take away wealth, fame, and
the organizations of society that weigh not one jot in
the balance of God, and we get the view of a man.
Break up clans, equalize wealth with accessions of hon-
esty, and worth will be decided by Wisdom; evil is
predominant now, the wicked man is master of his more
upright neighbor, but success in error is defeat in Truth.
"Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous
man his thoughts, for lo! I come quickly, and my re-
ward is with me," is the watchword of science. The
voice of Sinai and the sermon of the mount are pursu-
ing man, and will overtake the age. Truth has been
uttered in its application to every want of man, but the
world slumbers; when will the wakening be?
172:32
Peals, that should startle the dream of error, are
Peals, that should startle the dream of error, are