LIFE AFTER LIFE

May 29th, 1916

I am here, St. John, Apostle of Jesus.

    I come to-night to tell you a vital Truth, which I know you will be interested in.  The question has often been asked: "What does the spirit of human do when it leaves the physical body for eternity?''  Many spirits, I know, have written you about this matter.  Some of them have described their personal experiences.  Yet in all the information that you have received, there are some facts that have not been referred to.  I will in a brief way describe them.

    When the spirit leaves the body, there is a breaking of the silver cord, as it is called.  Thereby all connection between the spirit and the body is severed for all eternity.  Never again can that spirit enter that body.  Neither can any other spirit.  Although, I know, it is claimed by some Spiritualists, that another spirit may inhabit the cast-off body.  But this is all wrong.  For no spirit ever enters the body which has once been the home of another spirit.  Hence, claims made by some of the wise men of the East, that such a thing can be, have no foundation in fact.

    When the silver cord is once severed, no power that is known to the spirit world, or among spirits of the highest sphere, can again resuscitate that body and cause the manifestation of life.  Hence, in the miracles mentioned in the Bible, where it is said that the dead were brought to life, it must be understood that this tie between the spirit and the body was never broken.

    In those ancient days, as now, there were persons who had the appearance of being dead.  So far as human knowledge was concerned, were dead, but who were really in a state of what may be called suspended animation.  No signs of life appearing, to the consciousness of humans.  Death was thought to have taken place.  Yet in no case where the supposed dead were raised to life, had the mortal really died.

    As Lazarus has already told you, when Jesus commanded him to come forth, he had not died.  So of all the other supposed dead who were called to life.

    When this tie has been once severed, there are certain chemical Laws affecting the physical body, certain Spiritual Laws affecting the spirit, which absolutely render it impossible for the spirit to again enter the body.  As you have been informed, we all, mortals, spirits and angels as well, are governed by Laws, which have no exceptions and never vary in their workings.

    So I say, when once the spirit and body separate, it is for all eternity.  The spirit then becomes of itself, a thing apart, controlled entirely and exclusively by Laws governing the spirit body.

    With the spirit's entry into the spirit world, comes the soul, still enclosed in that spirit body.  To an extent controlled by that body, which latter is also, in certain particulars controlled by the soul.  The spirit body has not, of itself, the power to determine its own location, or destiny, as regards place.  For the Law of Attraction, which operates in this particular, operates upon the soul.  The condition of the soul determines the location of itself.  As the spirit body is the covering of the soul, it must go where this Law of Attraction decrees the soul shall abide.

    While the mind, the mental faculties and the senses have their seat in the spirit body, yet the Law that I speak of does not operate upon these faculties, as is apparent to every spirit which they know from observation, as well as from experience, that the combined power of all these faculties cannot move a spirit body one step in the way of progress, unless such faculties have, in their influence upon the soul, caused its condition to change.  In the matter of mere mental or moral advancement this can be done.

    So, I repeat, the condition of the soul determines the locality as well as the appearance of the spirit body.  This Law of Attraction is so exact, that in its operations, there is no opportunity for chance to interpose and place the spirit body in a location which is not its, by reason of the operation of this Law.

    So that when the spirit body enters the spirit world it must go to and occupy the place which its enclosed soul condition determines that it shall occupy.  No interposition of spirit friends, or love of parent, or husband, or child, can prevent this destiny.  Although for a time, until the soul has really had an awakening as to its condition of severance from the mortal life, these relations, or friends, may retain the spirit body near the place of its entrance into the spirit life, even though that place be one of more beautiful surroundings and happiness than the one to which it is destined.  But this situation does not last long, for the Law works.  As the soul comes into full consciousness, it hears the call and must obey.

    Thus you see, friends and loved ones in spirit life meet with love, kindness and consolation, the newly arrived spirit.  But the parting must come.  Every soul must find its home according as its own qualities have determined.  Yet the consolation mentioned is a real one.  For in many instances, if it were not so, the lonely spirit would experience fear, bewilderment and all the unspeakable sensations of being deserted.

    Then there comes a time, when every soul must stand alone.  In its weakness, or strength, realize that no other soul can bear its sorrow, or take from its burdens, or enter into its sufferings.  Thus is realized the saying that each soul is its own keeper and alone responsible for its own condition.

    Of course in many cases the loving friends may visit that soul in its place of existence and offer consolation, help, encouragement and instruction.  But in some cases this cannot be.  For as this soul is then laid bare to itself, all its deformities, sins and evil qualities come before it.  Thus throws around it a wall, as it were, that prevents the good friends and loving ones from appearing to it.  Thus, again, comes into operation the Great Law of Attraction.  For while these more elevated friends, cannot come to that soul, yet other spirits, of like souls and qualities may become its associates, and render such assistance as the blind can lead the blind in their movings about.

    I wish here to say, notwithstanding what some of you Spiritualist teachers have said, for the soul has its location as well as its condition.

    The above condition that I have described is the destiny of some souls shortly after becoming spirits.  It is a deplorable one.  You may think that such souls are deserted by the loving influences of God's ministering spirits, and left all alone in the dreary places of their habitations.  But such is not the case.  For while they are deprived of the presence, to them, of the higher spirits, yet the influences of love and compassion are flowing from these spirits.  At sometime will be felt by the lonely ones.  As these influences are felt, the poor soul commences to have an awakening, which gradually causes the wall of their seclusion to disappear, until at sometime, the higher spirits find that they can manifest their presence to these unfortunate ones.  Besides, this, every spirit, no matter how fallen, has a work to do.  Even though it may appear insignificant.  Among these spirits of similar conditions some are a little more progressed than others.  By reason of a Law, which causes the more progressed to help the lesser, the latter are frequently helped from their low estate.

    Now what I have last written applies of course to the spirits who are wicked, vile and without any soul development in the way of goodness.  But a similar Principle enters into the conditions of all the spirits in the earth plane.  Although the higher they are in that plane the greater opportunities they have for receiving help and progressing.  Of these latter, the operation of the mental thoughts and moral qualities upon the condition and progress of the soul, I will write you later.

I have written enough for to-night, and leaving you my love and blessings, I will say good-night.

Your brother in Christ, John

December 22nd, 1915

    I desire to write you a short time to inform you of certain Truths which you should know pertaining to the spirit life.  To what mortals who lead the lives of good and pure humans may expect and be assured of realizing.

    I am in the Celestial Spheres, but I shall not speak of these spheres, but only of the spiritual spheres, where humans, after they become disembodied spirits, may live and experience a happiness which they on earth have no conception of.

    When a spirit first enters the spirit world it receives a welcome from some one or more spirits whose duties are to receive such spirit, and to show the place where it is suited to live or exist.  Such spirit is then permitted to meet its friends and relatives.  To commune with them for a short or long time and receive whatever consolation such friends or relatives may be able to give it.  In many cases the gladness and happiness of these spirit friends cause the spirit to believe that it is in heaven, or at least, in a place of great happiness.  But after this first interview, the spirit must, by reason of the Law of Attraction, go to the place where its condition of soul, or its condition of moral growth, or intellectual development, fits it for.  There remain until such condition is made better and enables it to rise to a higher place.

    No spirit, after it once gets into the place that is suited for it to live in, ever retrogrades.  Although, it may stand still for a long number of years, and never make any progress.  But this is a Truth not known to a great many mortals, and spirits also.  That the condition of the mortal at the time they become a spirit, fixes their condition and place of living when they first enter the spirit world.  After they are put in such place by the Law of Attraction, as I have said.  When once that place is found and occupied, the spirit never goes to a lower place.  Either will stay in that place for a long time, or will progress.  Ultimately will in all cases progress.

    Well, the evil spirits find these places of habitation in the earth planes.  Which are many, and of varied kinds.  Having many different appearances, suited to the conditions of the spirits who will occupy them.  A spirit who is in the lowest of these earth planes is said to be in the lowest hells.  As all spirits who are in these planes where they suffer and encounter darkness believe and say they are in hell.  But this is merely a name used for convenience.  For the hells are merely places forming a part of the One Great Universe of God.  These hells, as you may imagine, are very numerous, for the conditions of spirits are very varied.  Each spirit has a place in which to live fitted to its condition.

    As the spirit becomes freed from some of these conditions, which as to them, causes the Law of Attraction to work, they progress to a higher and better place.  Finds that their surroundings are not so dark and painful.  As this progression continues, such spirit will ultimately find themself in the planes of light and comparative happiness, where the evil recollections have, to a large extent, left them.  The good deeds which they did on earth then come to them and cause a happiness that makes them realize that they were not all bad.  That God has been good to them in relieving them from the sins and evil thoughts which bound them to the place from which they have progressed.

    But after all this, they have not gotten into any of the spheres which are above the earth planes.  They may have to remain there for a great many years before they enter the second sphere.  Which is next in gradation to the earth plane.  This latter plane is the most populous of all the spheres.  For it has spirits coming to it in great numbers.  In greater numbers than are progressing from it to higher spheres.  Hence it has a greater variety of sub-planes than has any of the other spheres.  Is filled with a greater variety and kind of spirits than are any of these higher spheres.

    When a spirit has remained in the earth planes a sufficient length of time to put them in condition to go to the next higher sphere, they make their progress.  Is never prevented from doing so.  I do not mean to say that the spirit is compelled to remain in the earth planes any particular number of years before progressing.  For this is not true.  On the contrary the number of years that they remain there, is determined by their condition of progress.  So that some spirits may go through these planes in less than a year, and others may remain there many years.

    In the second sphere, appearances are brighter.  Many opportunities are afforded the spirit to seek for and obtain happiness that they did not have before.  Many spirits find great happiness in pursuing their intellectual studies and things of this kind, and in obtaining a knowledge of the Laws of the spirit world, governing what you might call the material nature of this world and also of the earth world.

    This sphere is not so well suited for the growth of the soul faculties.  Those spirits whose desires and aspirations are for the development of their soul qualities, do not stay in this world, or sphere, very long.  For they do not find that the necessary provisions for such development exists.  As a consequence, they progress to the third sphere, where they find wonderful opportunities and surroundings.  Which enables them to progress in these matters of the soul.

    Well I see that you are tired, and I will postpone any further writing on these matters to another time.

So Goodnight - John B. Comeys 

February 25th, 1915

I am here, Prof. Salyards.

    Well I am very happy and desire to write you on some phases of spirit life that I have observed in my experience of progressing.

    I have noticed that the spirit when it first comes into this life, is very often in a condition of darkness, not realizing where it is, or what its surroundings are.  In many instances, it requires quite a long time for the spirit to realize that it is not still of earth.  But in many cases this is not the condition of the spirit, for it seems to have an immediate understanding of its condition and surroundings. I attribute the first mentioned condition to be due to the fact that, when on earth, the mortal had no definite belief as to what the future life might be.  In many instances believed that the soul went into the grave with the body, to await the great resurrection day.

    Some of your religious denominations are preaching that doctrine now.  The consequence will be, that all those who believe the doctrine will experience the condition of darkness and the want of knowledge of the continuity of life that I have spoken of.

    The second class of spirits, or those who appear to realize immediately that they have passed from earth to spirit life are those, who, while on earth, believed that the spirit when it left the body passed immediately into the Heavenly Spheres, or into the opposite, I mean the place of the wicked.  I know that many of this class have hardly realized that they were in heaven, or hell, for some little time after their entrance into spirit life.

    Well, as soon as the spirits realize fully that they are no longer of earth, they commence to inquire as to where they are.  Many of them ask questions that indicate that they are disappointed in not realizing the expectations that they had while on earth.  It is very difficult at times to convince them that there are no such places as the heavens and the hells as taught by the churches.  For while our spirit world may be a heaven, or hell, to them, yet the heaven, or hell, that they expect to find is not here.

    Some, on the other hand, do not seem to understand that they have really left the earth.  Because, they say, if we had left the earth life, we would know nothing, quoting Job and some of the preachers: "the dead know nothing."

    I have been very much interested in observing these different phases of the departed spirits' beliefs and thoughts.  Now all this shows the absolute necessity of mortals understanding the Truths pertaining to life and death.  This affords a very strong argument why Spiritualism should be more extensively and earnestly taught to mortals.  And why the false doctrines of those who teach either that the dead know nothing, or that the departed spirit goes either to heaven, or to hell, in the orthodox sense, should be shown to be not only a false belief, but injurious to humankind.

    Let the believers and teachers of Spiritualism make greater and stronger efforts to refute these harmful teachings.  They will be doing the cause of Truth and of humans happiness a great good.

    I am not only interested in these phases, but in all others which show that the spirits, even after they realize that they are still alive and must live as spirits, continue to show the fact that their orthodox teachings are false.  Some say, that they may yet be able to go back into the body and await the great resurrection day for deliverance.  Say that they will soon see God, and that He will take them into His Heavens, where they will find that eternal rest and peace that they were taught to expect when on earth.  The wicked, even, look in dread to have some devil come and carry them to the hells where torture of the most terrible kind they think awaits them.

    From all this you may understand that we spirits who know the Truth, have a great work to do to enable these darkened spirits to understand and believe that their false hopes and dreadful fears have no foundation in Truth and will never be realized.  This work many spirits are engaged in doing.  These spirits are not necessarily of the higher kind.  For many spirits who occupy the earth plane and have no real spiritual enlightenment, are engaged in this work.

    I am not now engaged in causing these dark spirits to see the Truth.  For I have progressed to higher things.  My mission is to teach the Truths of the higher life, which I have been taught by spirits who live in higher spheres.  This work to me is one that is not only interesting, but which gives me the great happiness that comes with the realization that I have been the means of leading a spirit to learn to love God, and to receive the happiness which the love of God gives to spirits.  I tell you that this teaching is the grandest that I ever engaged in in all my life.  When on earth, as I taught and saw the young mind develop, I found much happiness in the knowledge that I was doing some good.  But here, in my teachings, when I see a soul develop, I realize that I am doing a spirit that greatest of all good in bringing it At-One in love with the Father.  Happiness here and that of earth, is as the soul development is so much greater than the development of the mere mind.

    My work is not confined entirely to this teaching.  I also am engaged in trying to assist mortals to a true conception of the life here.  I mean the spiritual part of this life.  No human is entirely without spirit influence, whether good or evil.  Many are susceptible to the influence of the evil spirits.  For that reason, the work of the good spirits is so much more difficult.  There is in humans (mental) nature, that which leads them to evil thoughts, so much easier than to good thoughts.  This is an old saying, I know, but is a true one.  The fact that it has been said so often and for so long a time, does not decrease the importance of it as a Truth.  So while humans have felt this evil inclination in their (mental) nature, the fight between the good and evil influences will be somewhat unequal.  The advantage though, with the good influences, is that what they suggest is Truth which will never die.  While the suggestions of the evil influences last only for a comparatively short time.

    When the material gives up the spirit being which it clothes, that being will then be relieved of many of these natural tendencies to evil thoughts and deeds.  While this mere separation does not make a devil a saint, it makes it so much easier for the spirit to get rid of many of these evil tendencies, and makes him more susceptible to the influence of Truth and goodness.

    You must not think from this, as soon as they have been in the spirit world for a little time, they become good spirits, for that is not true.  Many evil spirits have been in the spirit world for a great many years.  Yet have their evil thoughts and desires and all the evil qualities of hatred, malice, envy, etc., as when they were on earth.

    Their giving up the earth life did not deprive them of their will, the greatest force, or power, that God gave to human, except that of love.  Many of these spirits refuse to exercise their will in a way that will enable them to rid themselves of these evil thoughts and desires.

    So you see, the mere fact of becoming a spirit does not mean that the mortal has become a good and saintly spirit. No, I am sorry to say that many humans who were very evil on earth are still evil as spirits.  Their happiness, which they think they have, is only that happiness, which they, as humans, thought they realized from the exercise of evil thoughts and acts.  Yet there is one great redeeming fact connected with their dark and sad condition.  That is, that in the end, whenever it so pleases God, all evil will be banished from the spirit world.  All spirits will be given that happiness which comes from a nature free from sin and error.  Not by the fiat of God, but by humans seeking and doing those things that will free the soul from sin and error and again come into Harmony with God's Laws.  Just such I imagine as Adam and Eve enjoyed in the historical Garden of Eden.

    But that happiness, while of a character that brings much contentment and peace, yet is not the True Happiness which God is waiting to give all His Children, who ask and seek for the inflowing of the Divine Love in their souls.

    I will not discourse on this Great Happiness to-night, as it would take too long and you are somewhat tired.  But will say, that all humans should seek for it both on earth and in the spirit world.  When on earth I did not have it, but since I came here I found it.  Now possess it, thanks be to God and His Loving Kindness.  You folks all have it, and many others too numerous to mention.

Let me stop now as I am tired and you need to rest.

So with all my love and best wishes, I am your old professor, Joseph H. Salyards  

March 21st, 1920.

I am here, Jesus.

    Let me write tonight as you are in good condition.  I desire very much to write you in reference to a subject that is important for humans to know.

    As I have before written you, there are two destinies for humans in the spirit life.  The one, or the other, of them may be just as they desire and seek for.

    I was with you today as you listened to the preacher expound the reasons why he is a believer in the faith of the church to which he belongs, in which he is a leader and teacher.  He is undoubtedly honest and earnest in his beliefs.  So far as they go, they will afford him the happiness that he spoke of.  Provided, he puts such beliefs into actual, practical living and makes them the dominating, dynamic influence that shall guide and control him in his intercourse with humanity.  He said truly that there is a Law that operates, in wonderful power in shaping humans lives. Which, when obeyed, will determine the career not only of humans, but of nations.  That Law is:  That when once a Truth is ascertained, or comes to the knowledge of humans, it must be recognized and acted upon, or it will lose its beneficent effect upon the lives of humans.  If he applies this Law to his own life, he will experience a wonderful help in meeting the difficulties and cares of life and in overcoming the things that beset him as a thinking man.

    This is a wonderful Truth.  So far as it pervades the life of a human, will result in making that life one of consistent goodness and cause Harmony between that human and God, who overrules the secret things of the Universe.  That human will enjoy a great happiness, even while in the flesh.

    This is not the important object and aim of what the preacher calls religion.  Nor does it furnish the means by which a human may come into a greater and closer Harmony with the Will of God.  I know, that to human this present mortal life seems a thing of the greatest importance.  That the chief aim of human, should be to act in that manner that will make their life successful and happy.  So far as it is suited to make human the Harmonious Creature that is intended, it is advisable to follow that course of living and loving.  But the preacher does not know of and cannot teach the great object of humans appearance on earth and the goal that is ever before him, waiting to be reached and possessed.

    As I have told you before, human's existence in the flesh, is only for the purpose of giving their soul an individualization.  All other apparent objects are only secondary, as you may say, accidental accompaniments of this process of individualization.  Hence you will observe that this great object is accomplished equally in the case of the infant who dies young and in the case of the human who lives to a ripe old age.  In each case the object of the soul's incarnation in the flesh is effected.  The old human, of course, has their experience, a longer and more diverse existence in meeting and overcoming, or submitting, to the exigencies of their living, than does the infant.  The great object is not more perfectly accomplished in the one case than in the other.  The soul becomes individualized the moment it finds its lodgment in the receptacle prepared by the Laws of Nature, in using the human father and mother as its instruments.  Time, thereafter, does not influence or have any determining effect upon that soul, so far as its individualization is concerned.  Neither does eternity.  For that condition, being once fixed, never can be changed nor annihilated.  So far as is known, to the highest spirits of God's Heavens.  Of course the soul, as thus individualized, is subject to the various influences that surround it in its mortal life.  These influences may be retarding, deadly or destructive to the progress of the soul, but cannot possibly affect the object obtained by that soul's coming into the flesh.  Or, ever require a new individualization of that soul. Its identity and character, as an individualized thing, are established.  No condition of the soul, as to its goodness or badness, can ever, in the slightest degree affect this character, or identity.  The soul, once individualized, always remains the individual.  Even though the elements that enter into and make up the form will always find itself being rebuilt and continued by the operations of the Law that preserves the individuality of that soul.  Then, I say, the object of the incarnation of the soul is to give it an individualization.  This in two appearances.  First, in that of the physical form, which humans, by their perception of their natural organs of sense can perceive, secondly, a form that is more sublimated and generally invisible to these organs, a spiritual form.

    At the moment of incarnation, the soul takes the form which has been prepared for it by the forces that exist in the parents and retains that for during the natural life.  At the same moment there is Created for it, or attracted to it, the form of the spirit body, which then and ever afterwards remains with it.  Both of these bodies are of the material.  One of the visible material of the Universe, the other of the invisible, but still of the material.  As you know, that body which is made of the visible material lasts for a little while only and then disappears forever.  While that which is of the invisible, which is more real and substantial than the former, exists all the time of the existence of the visible, continues with the soul after the disappearance of the visible body.  While changeable in response to the progress of that soul, yet the spirit body never, in its composite form, leaves that soul.  This, we in the spirit life know to be true.  Just as certainly as you mortals know the Truth of the existence of the physical body.  As you mortals, may in the short space of the life on earth, identify the human, which is really the soul, by the appearance of their physical body, so we in the spirit world identify the same human by the appearance of the spirit body.  So this fact must be forever. Then, such being the fact, it must be conceived that the soul has its existence in the physical body for an infinitesimal short time.  That is, its life on earth is only the breath of a moment.  Then it enters on its career through eternity. After a few years, as you may say, it may cease to remember that it ever had a lodgment in the physical body.

    The preacher criticized the religion that taught humans to think of and prepare for the future of the soul.  Emphasized the fact that their thoughts should be more of the present.   That duty and good works towards their fellow human should be the object of their living and their religion.

    Well, I recognize the importance of duty and good works. Approve of them with all the Knowledge that I now have of the demands and requirements of God's Love.  On the other hand must say, that their importance to human's future destiny, is also the importance of other privileges and obligations possessed by and resting on humans during the short time that the soul is clothed in the physical body.  Duty performed and good works will lessen the distress and sufferings of the mortal life.  Cause the human who performs the duty and does the good works to become more in Harmony with God's Laws of Mercy and Truth.  But will never suffice to bring a soul into Harmony with the Will of The Father, as regards the Higher Destiny of human. These things will tend to lead merely to the purification of the soul.  To cause it to come into accord with the Laws of its own Creation and their end.  These constitute merely the exercise of compliance with the Moral Laws and bring only a moral effect.  When I say Moral Laws, I mean those Laws that demand, that and by the observance of which, human comes into the condition of the Perfect Human.  Which was theirs at the time of Their Creation.  They, thereby, obtain nothing more than belonged to them when they existed as the Perfect Humans and were in complete Harmony with God, as such Perfect Human.  They, then loved God with all the capacity of their souls in the exercise of the Love that had been bestowed upon them and could have loved their fellow as themself.

    To this condition humans are, to a more or less extent, now striving to attain.  Many precepts of the Old Testament, as well as of the New, will lead humans to thus obtain.  If this were the only destiny of human, then the religion of the preacher, which he says is based on these Moral Precepts of love to God and love to his fellow human, would be sufficient to obtain the goal sought.  Love, duty and service would be all that are required of humans, while on earth, as well as after they become spirits.  The exercise of these graces by humans, while on earth, would be just as necessary and helpful, as would their exercise afterwards in the spirit world.  These things of love to God and love to human, service and sacrifice constitute the True Religion that leads to the Perfect Human.  Makes for that Harmony with the Laws of God, governing the condition of the Perfect Human, but not the Divine Human.  These things should be preached by all ministers, teachers and practiced by humans everywhere.  For in their practice are happiness and bliss unspeakable.  As these things work to a finality, human again becomes the Child of God and obedient to His Laws and realizes the meaning of "love God and love your brother".  So I repeat, the preacher in pronouncing the basis of his religion, declared the Truths, that will lead him into the condition of the Perfect Human, in Harmony with God's Will as to Human's Creation.

    Well, I see you are tired.  So we will postpone the further writing.  I am very much pleased that you are in so much better condition and hope that we may continue our messages without further interruption.  Only pray more and believe that The Father will answer your prayers.  So believe that I love you and want you to be happy and free from care.

Good night.  Your brother and friend, Jesus

February 19th, 1919

I am here, John

    Let me say just a word.  I was with you today when you were talking to your friend and heard your conversation. Saw the utter want of comprehension, on the part of your friend, as to the Truths of the spirit world.  Especially of the Laws, that divide the mere Perfect Human, from the Divine Human, or spirit.  He is so engulfed in the conceptions that he has of these loves, arising from his experience in life, that he can only see the existence of one love, the natural. His mind is not capable of seeing the other Love.  Of course his soul has not that development which would assure him of the reality of the Divine Love.  The mind itself is capable of informing him of the existence and working of the natural love.  As this is the only means that he possesses of understanding what love is, he cannot possibly understand this Divine Love and that soul developed to a degree by the very Divine Love itself.  He may argue to the extent of the capacity of his mind and he will never be able to comprehend the Divine Love.  That requires a perception of the soul.  He may remain satisfied and convince himself that the natural love is the only love.  That when it becomes developed to a certain degree, it becomes the Divine Love. Then find that that he is far away from the Truth.  He must know, I mean it is necessary for him to know, that only those who have the Divine Love, to some degree, are capable of knowing that the Divine is a thing of itself.  Not the development of the natural love.  Has in it not the qualities of that Divine Love.  The one is of God, that is partakes of His Very Nature.  While the other is also of God, but does not partake of His Nature, but is only a Creation intended to make human happy and Perfect, in their condition of the mere human, the merely Created existence.

    I thought that I would give you these short comments on your conversation, in order to show the grave and important mistake under which your friend is laboring.  He will not easily believe these things of Truth, while in the flesh.  When he comes to spirit life, the difficulties will be just as great.  It may be that he will always be content to remain the possessor of this natural love only.  I wish that it might be otherwise.  That he might let go his intellectual belief and harken to the call of the soul, which when not trammeled by these beliefs, is continually longing for this Greater Love.

    Believe that I am your friend and interested in you to an extent that you cannot now comprehend.  But which, some day you will understand and wonder that such a thing could have been.

Good night.  Your brother in Christ, John

September 23rd, 1916

I am here, St. John.

    I want to write tonight on a subject that is important.  I hope that you will he able to receive my message, for I have been waiting for some time to deliver it.

    Well, I desire to discourse on the subject of: "What is the destiny of the mortal, who has not experienced the New Birth, but who will progress to that condition which may be called the Perfect Human"?

    As you know, there is a future for the mortal who receives the New Birth and a different one for those who has only the complete and pure development of their natural love.  This latter condition does not depend upon the mortal having in their soul the Divine Love, or the Essence of The Father.  Merely upon the purification of the natural love.  So that all sin, error and inharmony form no part of their state of soul, or mental existence.  This condition is not the result of a New Birth.  Or, of a change in the constituent elements of their soul.  Merely the elimination of those things therefrom, which were the results and the necessary sequences of the defilement that followed the fall.

    Now as humans, lost by this fall, the qualities which made them the Perfect Creature of their Maker, it is only necessary for them to regain what they lost by that fall, in order to become the Perfect Human once more.  In recovering this state of Perfection, it is not required that they should seek, or actually add to the qualities which they at first possessed, any new, or additional qualities, or attributes.  Only that they regain what they had been deprived of by their disobedience.  When that is accomplished, they will come again in Harmony with the Laws of their Creation and have all the potentialities and excellence, that they originally possessed.

    Now, what will that future be?  In order to determine this question, it is only necessary to understand what their inherent condition, or qualities were, when they were the Perfect Human of their Father's Creation.  At that time they were possessed of those things of which they are now the possessor.  Except, that then they were all so accurately adjusted, that every sense and function of their bodies, as well as every faculty of their souls and minds, were so in Harmony with the Laws of their Creation, that they were capable of doing the Will of The Father and obeying every requirement that was imposed upon them.  They were then, not only a Perfect Being, as regarded their physical formation, but also as regarded their mental and moral qualities.  Which of course included all the emotions,  appetites and spiritual aspirations.  As we have written you before, all these faculties were subject to their wills.  In a certain sense their wills were controlled by the exercise of these faculties.  Their bodies were in the beginning made of matter, changeable, as it now is, but of a more ethereal kind.  Not subject to decay and disintegration in such a short time, as it now is.  Yet, subject to this decay.  Human, as regards their physical being, necessarily was compelled to die.  To have released their spirit body and their soul, from this physical vesture.  Thereafter exist as pure spirit. This was not the death that they died as a consequence of their disobedience.  But the death natural to them, by reason of the very nature of their Creation.

    Their soul and spirit body were not subject to death in the sense of annihilation, but were given the qualities of continual existence in a Pure and Perfect state.  The only difference that the fall made, as to these parts of their being, is that the Purity and Harmony that were human's, were now no longer parts of their soul and spirit.

    Whether immortality was a quality of that existence, we spirits do not know.  Therefore cannot assert.  But as their Created soul and spirit body had a beginning, mere Creatures of The Father, it may be, that they were intended to have an ending, as individualized soul and spirit.  Of course, they were Created from something.  Not from nothing, as some of your theologians say.  It is possible, in the order of change, which seems to be the Law in the spirit world, as well as in the mortal world, that this soul and spirit may be resolved again into that something.  As to this finality we do not have any knowledge, because, so far as the observation of spirits in this world go, no soul, or spirit body, I mean the body as a composite whole, not as to its constituent elements, has ever been resolved into that something, or been deprived of its individualized existence.  Therefore I cannot say, that when human was created, it was intended that, as human, they should not be Immortal, or that they should be so.

    You will readily see, that after human shall have accomplished the purification of their soul, become in mind and spirit body, as it was intended they should be at the time of their Creation, they will be nothing more, nor less, than they were at that time.  Have no other, or greater qualities, or freedom from limitations and changes, than they had before their fall.  Of course, they will have no physical body.  Here let me say, that there is no fact or experience known to the spirit world that justifies the assertion that human on earth will ever be immune to physical death.  I know that some say, that in the far future, humans may make such progress, in the development of their natural love, that their condition of inner purity will be so great, as to cause the physical bodies to become so etherialized, as to render them free from physical death.  That, I cannot conceive will ever happen. For humans were made to become inhabitants of the spiritual realms.  The short time they were decreed to live the earth life, was for the purpose only, of giving the soul an individualized existence.  Never was it intended that the physical form should have an eternity of existence, no matter how pure, or, as they say, etherealized it may become.  For it was made of matter, of the earth, earthy.   While the soul was made of that, which had its origin in the spirit realm.  Composed of spirit substance.  So that it cannot be conceived, that in the beginning human was Created for an immortal earth existence.

    I see that you are tired.  I will finish later.  I am glad that I could write tonight.  Also that you are in such good condition to receive my message.  So with my love, blessings and assurances that you have every reason to keep up your courage and hope, I am, your brother in Christ, John

September 28th, 1916.

I am here, Jesus.

    I come to-night to tell you that you are in a better condition to write than you have been for sometime, and I think it best that I deliver to you a message.

    Well, I will write on the subject:  Of the destiny of the human who has not the Divine Love in their soul, and dies with only the natural love and a belief in the creeds and dogmas of the churches.

    I know that many humans believe that the creeds of the churches is what is necessary for the salvation of humankind.  I mean as to baptism and observance of the sacraments, and the belief that in my name, humans may be saved, are sufficient, all that are necessary to insure them an entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven.  In such belief, rest with the feeling of assurance that nothing else is required, or in any way to be sought for and acquired.

    The large majority of professing Christians are in this state of belief.  Hence the greater number of humankind will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven, or become in their natures Divine.  I have already told you what is the future of those who possess this Divine Nature of the Father.  Now I will confine my message to the future of this great majority.

    As you may know, the river can never run higher than its source.  Neither can this majority attain to a perfection and happiness, superior to that which was possessed by human before the time of the fall from the state of their Perfect Creation.  Hence, no matter how great their progress may be, in their natural love, or in their moral, or mental qualities, they can never excel the First Created Human, as they were before the fall.  The only possible future for this vast majority, is the condition and development that existed in the Perfect Human of God's First Creation.

    I know it is said, that human has in them, that which is a part of the Divinity of God.  That by their own efforts they may develop that Divine Substance, until they become Divine themself, and of the Nature of the Father.  This is not True.  It is not possible to develop the Divine Love, or any Essence of the Divine, out of that which has not, in itself, there is nothing of the Nature of the Divine.  In the spirit world, I mean the spiritual, as well as Celestial, Laws prevail.  Are just as certain in their operations, as are the Laws of the Material world.  A fundamental Law is:  that only like produces like.  Although in the physical world it may appear that a derivative is not like that from which it is derived, but this is in appearance only.  For in substance and essence the likeness exists and cannot be eradicated.

    So as to the real condition of the soul of human.  If they have only the natural love, the Created Love, the development of that love will result in that, which cannot possibly be greater, or other, than that which in its constituent parts, is only the natural love.  No matter what the perfection may become, the Divine Element is absent. All the limitations that are inherent in the Created Being still continue to form a part of and control that Being.

    There is a limit to the development of this natural love, to the state of happiness, beyond which it is not possible for this being to go.  That limit, is the qualities and excellence possessed by the First Humans, before they became defiled and impregnated with sin.  The mind of such being is also limited in the progress which it may make, in obtaining knowledge.  For that mind being a thing of Creation, is bound by the limitations that that Creation imposed.

    So I say, such a human can never progress higher than those attributes, or qualities, with which they were endowed when they were the Perfect Human, either spiritually, or mentally, unless they seek for and obtain the Divine Love.  When spirits come and write that life in this spirit world is always progressive, these spirits who write, have never attained to this limit of which I speak.  Hence, to them, progression is endless.  This belief is very beneficial, because it inspires them to make an effort to progress.

    There are many spirits in this Perfect State in the highest sphere of natural love or mentality.  But they are spirits who have been in the spirit world for a vast number of years, are what you might call ancient spirits.  These spirits have realized this limitation of which I write.  While they can change the objects of their seeking and the sources of their happiness, yet their progress has its ending.  Often there comes to them dissatisfaction and a realization that over and beyond their sphere (6th Sphere), there must be something that may be obtained, that surpasses their Perfect State and development.  As a result of this dissatisfaction many of these spirits, in moments of their unrest, give heed to the suggestions of those spirits who have become possessed of the Divine Essence, upon whom is no limitation of progress. For these latter spirits, are at all times in the highest sphere of these spirits of Perfected Natural Love, trying to show them the way to the Higher Development and Happiness of the Celestial Spheres.

    It may seem surprising to you, but it is a fact, that these spirits of the natural love, during their periods of progression, especially as they make nearer approach to their Perfection, in the satisfaction and happiness that they experience in that progression, will not listen to the spirits of the Divine Spheres.  Or believe that there can be any other methods of progress more desirable, or excellent, than the ones that they are pursuing.  Only when they come to realize the dissatisfaction that I speak of, will awaken to the fact, or consent to be awakened to the fact, that there may be a way that leads to things beyond their limits of progress and the Perfection that they may have acquired.

    So, as I say, the higher the progress of these spirits and the farther away they advance from the earth plane, the greater the difficulty in persuading them that there is a State of Perfection and Happiness, surpassing that which they are seeking for, and a way, different from the way they are pursuing.

    As these spirits progress in their natural love and in the development of their Created Minds, much happiness and satisfaction come to them.  In each stage of progress, so much greater do these experiences become, that they readily conceive that there can be no way superior to the one that they are travelling.  Hence, having such belief, the difficulty of convincing them to the contrary, becomes almost insurmountable.  As a consequence the spirits of the Celestial Spheres and those of the spirit spheres who are progressing in the Divine Love, give the great part of their time and efforts to convincing spirits, of these Higher Truths while they are in the earth planes, before the Happiness that I mention is experienced.

    The life on earth, and that in the earth planes of the spirit world, are the states in which the souls of mortals and of spirits have the best opportunities for learning and believing these Truths, that show them the way to the progression that is without limitation, or ending.  Hence, the importance of humans knowing these Truths, and of spirits also, before they experience the satisfaction and pride, I may say, that the advancement in the development of their natural love and mental and moral qualities gives them.

    Until the time comes when the Father shall withdraw from human and spirit, the privilege of obtaining this Divine Love and Essence, which time will bring the second death, these spirits, all spirits and mortals will have the opportunity of seeking for and finding the way to the Celestial Spheres and Immortality.  After that time, this privilege will no longer exist.  Then those spirits and mortals who have not found and followed the way of that privilege, will be and become only the Perfect Beings, as were their First Parents.  They will have no assurance of Immortality, or even continuous life.  That dissatisfaction and longing for something unknown, will be theirs.  They will remain only the Created Beings in spirit body, soul and mind.  As the First Parents had all the qualities that these restored humans will have, and fell, why may it not be that they will fall?  That there may come some change in the individualized spirit that will destroy that individuality and dissolve it into its elements of pre-creation?  No spirit knows that such a change will take place, that the Perfect Spirit will not always retain the same individuality, or that the happiness of such spirit will not always exist.  Neither does any spirit know that these things will continue to be.

    Then why should they not choose that course which leads to Divinity, certainty of Immortality and progress, rather than the one which leads to limitation of progress and happiness, and to uncertainty of Immortality?

    I have written enough for to-night. I will come again soon.  So remember that I love you and am with you trying to help you spiritually.  That I pray to the Father to Bless you.  Good-night.  Your brother and friend, Jesus