Chapter III - Spirit and Matter
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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.
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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?
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Peals, that should startle the dream of error, are
Peals, that should startle the dream of error, are
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sounding in our ears; marvels, calamities, perils and sin
sounding in our ears; marvels, calamities, perils and sin
much more abound now that the understanding is mak-
ing higher demands on man; and if its voice be not
suffocated, longevity will increase, sin diminish, and the
world feel the alterative effects of Truth through every
pore. Aggravation of error foretells its doom and be-
cause of the madness of sin we know Truth is nigh,
even at our doors, and "will overturn until He whose
right it is shall reign." What is Truth? is the question
that convulses the world to-day; hence its throes to
put down radicalism and free thought, which purge
better than a doctor's pills, and to have this question
decided permanently in favor of some 'ism. The march
of time we cannot stay, for progress is engraven on its
banners; those whose kingdom is of this world will
fight for their positions, and furnish their sentinels with
orders "not to let Truth pass their guard unless it sub-
scribes to their sect"; but Truth has passed already
beyond the pointed bayonet; and there is a little tumult
still, and rallying to its standard; we must labor in faith
many long years, still hoping the hour is not far off of
a higher and practical Christianity. Truth is liberty;
its followers hoist the standard of freedom; en-
graven on its banners we read, slavery is abolished,
my body is no longer my master, I claim the free-
dom of the Sons of God. What power opposed to
divine Wisdom is it that binds man to conditions of
sickness, sin, and death? Is it not the body material?
Then is not this body an enemy to man? But this
foe is not stronger than Omnipotence, and is not a ty-
rant without a master. The humble Nazarene rebelled
against its power, and through his demonstration of