SPIRITUAL PROGRESSION

Spiritual Progression

April 13th, 1915

I am here, Prof. Salyards.

Well, I am here as I agreed. I will endeavor to write you my thoughts on the subject: "What may spirits know about the Laws of the Spirit World, after they have been in that World for a short time."

As you know, I have been here for a comparatively short time. While my studies have been, to a considerable extent, in the study of these Laws, yet, I find that I have limited knowledge of the same. Much of my information has been gathered from other spirits, who have lived here a great many years, and who have devoted their study and investigation to these Laws.

Well, I want first to say that no spirit, by the mere fact of; having shortly before made their advent to this World, has received any much greater knowledge than they had when on Earth.

My knowledge of Spiritual Laws, when on Earth, was not very extensive. I found, when I came into the Spirit World, that I did not know much more than I did before I came. Such is the experience of every spirit. As I continued to investigate these matters, I discovered that my capacity for learning was greatly increased. That my mind was more plastic and received this knowledge more easily than when I was a mortal. This is largely due to the fact that the brain, I mean the mortal brain, is, when compared to what you might call the spirit brain, a thing of much inferior quality, and not so capable of learning the cause and effect of phenomena.

I am now undergoing a course of study that will, I have no doubt, give me wonderful information of these Laws, so that ultimately I may become what you mortals might call, a learned human.

The first, and to me, the most important Law that I have learned is; that human continues to live in the Spirit World without their Earthly body. This Great Law, while to you, and to many others, is well known and is an established fact. Yet, to me, was not known, as I had never had any experience in Spiritualism, and had never given any study to the subject.

When I arrived in the Spirit World, I learned that this Law is One of God's Truths that it is fixed, and will never change. All will survive the change of so-called death. The next Great Law that I learned is; that no human, can of their own power, make their condition, or position, in the Spirit World, just what and where they would have it be. This is another Fixed Truth. One which many spirits even, do not fully comprehend. For they think, or so express themselves, that all they have to do is to exercise a little will power and they can move from certain conditions. This is not True. The Law controlling this matter never has any exceptions in its operations.

Human, or spirit, can in a way, determine what their destiny may be. But when once fixed by this great power of will, which God has conferred on human, they cannot, by the exercise of that will, change that fixed condition, until the Law of Compensation has been satisfied. Even then, the change is not brought about by the exercise of their will, but by the operation of the Laws releasing them from memories and recollections, which hold them to the conditions that their Life has placed them in. So when humans think, that they, by the exercise of their own will, can release themselves from a condition, which they have made for themselves, they are mistaken.

Many spirits here have this idea. Believe that if they only chose to exercise their vaunted will power, they could relieve themselves of their darkened condition and get into happier conditions. Strange, they never try this. The reason therefore is apparent. They could not if they tried, and will not try, because they cannot. Yet they think that when they get ready, they will only have to exercise this will and the change will follow. No, this Law is as fixed as any Law of this Great Universe of God.

Of course, while human, or spirit, cannot by the exercise of their will change their condition, yet, in order to secure that change, the will has to be exercised. Because the help, which comes from without, which is absolutely necessary to human (or spirit), which causes the change, will not come, unless human exercises the will, in the way of desiring and asking for it (help).

So let not human think that they are their own savior, because they are not! If the help did not come from without, they would never be saved from the condition, which they find them self in when they enter the Spirit World. You hear, in your spirit circles, and read in the publications about Spiritualism, that progression is a Law of the Spirit World. Well that is True. It does not mean that a spirit, by the mere fact of being in the Spirit World, necessarily progresses, either mentally, or Spiritually. This is not True. Many spirits, who have been here for years, are in no better condition than when they first became spirits.

All progression depends upon the help that comes from outside the mind, or soul, of human! Of course, when this help comes, human has to cooperate. Without this help, there would be nothing with which to cooperate. No progress could possibly be made. Many of the Spiritualists make this great mistake when they speak, or write, on this subject. Let them know, that if a human depends upon their own powers, exclusively, they will never progress. This Law does not apply only to the soul's progress, of which you have heard us speak so often, but to the progress of the mere mind. Also, to what might be called the purely Moral Qualities. My observation, and my information from the other spirits that I have mentioned, confirms the Truth of what I have said; Human, of them self, cannot elevate them self, either mentally, or Morally (Spiritually). The sooner they learn that fact, the better for them.

Another Law of the Spirit World is; that when a spirit once commences to make Spiritual Progress, that Spiritual Progress increases in geometrical progression, as we used to say when teaching on Earth. Just as soon as the Light breaks into a human's soul, or mind, and they commence to see that there is a way for them to reach Higher Things, and make greater expansion of either their mind, or soul, they will find that their desire to progress will increase as that progression continues. With that desire, will come help, in such abundance that it will be limited only by the desire of the spirit. Their will then becomes a great force in their success in progressing, and working in conjunction with the help that calls it into operation. It becomes a wonderful thing of power and irresistible force.

This progression may be illustrated by the history of the snowball, which started rolling from the top of a hill. As it continues its descent; not only does its velocity increase, but it continually enlarges its form and body by the outside snow attaching itself to the ball. So with the mind, or soul, of a spirit; as it ascends, it not only becomes more rapid in its flight, but it meets this outside help that I speak of, which help, attaches itself to the spirit, and as it were, becomes a part of it.

So you see that the great problem is; to make the start. This Principle will apply to mortals, as well as to spirits. Because, if the start be made on Earth, the mere fact of becoming a spirit will not halt, or in any way interfere with the progress of the soul of that spirit. Of course, this means that a correct start be made. If the start be a false one, or based on things other than the Truth, instead of progress continuing when the human becomes a spirit, there may have to be a retracing of the way, and a new start made, in order to get on the right road.

This applies to the progress of the mind, as well as to the progress of the soul. The mind of a mortal learns many things, which seem to that mind to be the truth, which, in its opinion, must lead to progress and greater knowledge. But when the Earth Life gives place to the Spirit Life, that mind may find that its basis of knowledge were all wrong, and that to continue in the way that it had been moving, would lead to increased error. Consequently, a new start must be made. Frequently, the retracing of that mind over the course that it had followed, and the elimination of errors that it had embraced, is more difficult, and takes a longer time to accomplish, than the learning of the Truth does after the mind makes its correct start.

So sometimes the mind of great learning is more harmful, and retards more, the progress of that human, in the ways and acquirements of Truth, than does the mind that is, as you might say, a blank. That is, without preconceived ideas of what the Truth is on a particular subject.

This unfortunate experience exists to a greater extent in matters pertaining to religion, than to any other matters. Because the ideas and convictions, which are taught and possessed of these religious matters, affect innumerably more mortals than do ideas and convictions in reference to any other matters.

A spirit who is filled with these erroneous beliefs, that may have been taught them from their mortal childhood, and fostered and fed upon by them until they become a spirit, is, of all the inhabitants of this Spirit World, the most difficult to teach, and convince, of the Truths pertaining to (Spiritual) religious matters. It is much easier to teach the agnostic, or even the infidel, of these Truths, than the hide-bound believer in the dogmas and creeds of the church.

So, I say, let the minds of mortals be opened to the teachings of the Truth, even if they are convinced that what they believe is the truth, yet let not that belief stand in the way of them being able to see the Truth, when it actually is presented to them.

Another Law is; that not all who know that Life in the Spirit World is continuous, are certain that Continuous Life means Immortality. I mean by this; that the mere fact of living as a spirit does not, of itself, prove that such spirit is immortal. This is a subject that spirits discuss, as much as do mortals. It is just as much a question of uncertainty, as is the immortality of the soul as taught among mortals, now, and for all ages past.

While humans know that the death of the body does not mean the death of the spirit, and that such spirit, which is the Real Human, continues to live with all its qualities of a Spiritual Nature, yet there has never been any proof presented to human that that spirit will live for All Eternity. Or, in other words, that it is Immortal.

I say this, because I have read the histories and beliefs of most of the civilized, and some not called civilized, nations of the World. I was not able to find, in all my readings, that it was ever demonstrated that human is immortal. Of course, many pagan and sacred writers taught this. Their statements were all based on belief, nothing more. So I say, Immortality has never to mortals become demonstrated as a fact.

In the Spirit World, the spirits of, not only the lower spheres, but those of the higher intellectual, or moral, Spheres, are still debating the question among themselves. I am informed that there are some who lived on Earth many centuries ago, who have become exceedingly wise and learned in the knowledge of the Laws of the Universe, and have become so free from the sins and errors of their Earth Life, that they may be called Perfect Humans. Yet they do not know that they are immortal. Many of them think that they are just such humans, or spirits, as were they who were represented by Adam and Eve (or First Parents). They know, not that they are any less liable to death than were the ones just mentioned. Hence, immortality is a thing, which may, or may not; exist for spirits as well as for mortals.

I know that many of your Spiritualist friends on Earth claim that the mere fact that Spiritualism has demonstrated the Continuity of Life, establishes the fact of immortality. A few moments consideration, will show you the falsity of this reasoning.

Change is the Law Eternal, both on Earth, and in the Spirit World. Nothing exists the same for any length of time. In the succession of these changes, how can it be said that in the future, far or near, changes may not come by which, the existence of the spirit (soul), the ego (soul) of human, may be ended? That ego (soul) take some other form, or enter into some other condition, so that it will not be the same ego (soul), and not the same spirit, which is now living as a demonstration of the Continuity of Life?

So, many spirits, as well as mortals, do not know what is necessary to obtain, to have the certain Knowledge of Immortality. Many other spirits know that there is an Immortality for spirits who choose to seek that Immortality, in The Way that God, in His Great Wisdom and Providence, has provided. I will not discuss this phase of Immortality now. But will at some later time.

There is another Law, which enables spirits to become, by the mere operation of their Natural Affections and Loves, Pure and free from the consequences and evils of their mortal lives, and again become Perfect, like the First Parents, before the fall. This does not mean that the Law of Compensation does not operate to the fullest, and that it does not demand the last farthing. Because such is the exactness in the operation of this Law of Compensation, that no spirit is released from its penalties, until they have satisfied the Law (of Compensation).

As you believe, and as many other mortals believe, a human's punishment for the sins committed by them on Earth are inflicted by their conscience and memories. There is no special punishment inflicted by God on any particular human! The Law of Punishment (Compensation or Recompense) operates alike on every human. If the facts, that bring that punishment into operation, are the same, that punishment will be the same. No matter whether the object of its infliction be the same, or different persons. So you see, it cannot be escaped, on any ground of special dispensation, so long as the facts, which call for its operation exist. The conscience and memories of the spirit realize these facts.

When a spirit first enters the Spirit Life, it does not necessarily feel the scourging of these memories. This is the reason why you will so often hear the spirit, who has so recently left their Mortal Life, assure their friends, or sorrowing relatives, at the public sances, that they are very happy, and would not be again in the Earth Life, and similar assurances. But after a little while, memory (conscience) commences to work, as the soul is Awakened. Then, never ceases, until the penalties are paid. I do not mean that the spirit is necessarily, continuously in a condition of torment, but substantially that. Relief does not come until these memories (conscience) cease their awful lashings. Some spirits live here a great number of years before they receive this relief. While others, more quickly obtain it.

The greatest cause, which operates to relieve these spirits of these memories, is Love. I now mean the Natural Love. This Natural Love embraces many qualities, such as remorse and sorrow, and the desire to make amends for injuries done, etc. Until a spirit's Love is Awakened, none of these feelings come to him. He cannot possibly feel remorse, regret, or the desire to atone, until Love, no matter how slight, comes (is Awakened) into their heart. They may not realize just what the cause of these feelings may be, but it is Love just the same.

Well, as these various feelings operate, and they act in accordance with them, a memory here and there will leave them, never to return. As these memories in turn leave them, their sufferings become less. After awhile, when the memories have all left them, they become free from the Law. It, as to them, becomes extinct. It must not be understood that this is a work of quick operation, for it may be years, long, weary years of suffering, before they become thus free, once more a spirit without sin, or these memories. This is the way the Great Law of Compensation is satisfied. It cannot be avoided! All its demands must be met, until sin and error are eradicated, and the soul returned to a Pure State.

This gradual release from these penalties does not mean that a spirit is progressing in their journey to the Higher and Brighter Spheres. Because even without this torture and torment, they may still remain stationary, as to the development of their Higher Nature (soul), mental and moral. When they have been relieved of these sufferings, they are then in a condition to start towards the Spiritual Progression that I have spoken of.

As you are tired, I will continue the balance of my discourse when I write again.

With all my Love, I am, your True Friend and professor,
Joseph H. Salyards.

Spiritual Progression

May 28th, 1915

I am here, Jesus.

I want to tell you what I mean by Immortality, as you and your friend differed today in your ideas of what it means.

When Adam and Eve were told that if they should disobey God and eat of the forbidden fruit, they should surely die, the word death, meant death of the soul, so far as its future progress in that, which would insure its receiving the Divine Essence of the Father's Divine Love was involved. It did not mean the physical death, or the death of the body, because it is very apparent that after their doom was pronounced, they lived in the flesh a great many years.

But their soul's progression stopped. It was only after my coming to Earth, and teaching the Doctrine and Truth of human being restored to the condition which Adam and Eve occupied before their fall, did humankind have the privilege of becoming Immortal again. That is; of being permitted, and in condition, to obtain that soul progress, which would enable them to become One with, and a part of, the Father, in His Divine Love and Affections.

I do not mean that Adam and Eve were endowed with this Divine Love when they were Created. But that they had that formation of soul potentialities, which if properly exercised, would have brought them in that Unison with the Father that would have made their Nature, Divine. When they disobeyed the Commandments of the Father, they died (spiritually), so far as that possibility of obtaining the Divine Nature was concerned.

As to those who lived on Earth, between Adam and Eve's fall, and my Revelation of the Truth of Redemption, they did not receive this Divine Nature, or potentiality. They were compelled to live only as mortals, and spirits, having only the Natural Love. They never were admitted into the Father's Heavenly Kingdom, but existed merely as spirits having the Natural Love, which was Bestowed upon Adam and Eve, and their race.

Abraham, Isaac, and the rest of the persons who are described in the Bible as being Children of God, and obedient to His Commands, were not partakers of this Divine Nature, and became so only after my coming to Earth and showing The Way to its attainment.

When I was sent to Earth, God sent me with the Truth, as to Humankind's Redemption, and at the same time, conferred upon humankind the Privilege of receiving His Divine Essence. No sacrifice, or death, of mine brought about this Great Boon. Only with my coming, came this Divine Love, and The Way to obtain It.

Adam and Eve were not Created Immortal, and had only the Potentiality of Immortality. After their "death", human ceased to have even this Potentiality, until God sent it to them with my coming to Earth.

When it was said, "as in Adam and Eve, all humans died, so in (me) were all humans made alive.", it was merely meant that when Adam and Eve fell, that which formed a part of their being, and made it possible for them to become Immortal was taken from them. That is; as to that Potentiality and Privilege, they died, and were no more able to attain to the condition of soul that enabled them to become One with the Father, or to partake of His Divinity. That in this condition of (spiritual) death, humankind remained, until, as I say, I came, and brought with me the Restored Gift of the soul attribute, which made it possible for human to again become Immortal.

When this Gift was Bestowed upon humans, it was also Bestowed upon all those who were then living in the Spirit World. But they could obtain it only in The Way that was provided for human to obtain it. Understand me; everything that was lost by Adam and Eve's fall, was restored by my coming with the Restored Gift. It embraced every spirit who had ever lived as mortal, and every mortal who thereafter lived, up to the present time.

My coming, of itself, or the death, or sacrifice of me by the Jews, did not restore humankind to the condition that existed in Adam and Eve before their fall. I was only a Messenger of God, sent with that Gift, to teach the Truth of its Restoration to humankind, and to spirits. When, after my death, I descended into hell, as the Bible says, I proclaimed to the spirits, the Truth of the Bestowal of this Restored Life, which had been lost by Adam and Eve's disobedience. All spirits (in the Spirit World), good and bad, now have this Restored Potentiality of obtaining the Divine Nature that I have spoken of, and Immortality. So you see, when Adam and Eve died, it was the death of the soul quality, or Potentiality, which makes Immortality possible.

When the Bible speaks of those humans, of ancient times, who were God's prophets and Beloved Children, as walking with Him, it merely means that they had obtained such a high development of their Natural Love, that they could occupy those Spheres in the Spirit World, which made them, mere spirits of mortals, close to the Father and supremely happy. I mean that happiness which does not partake of the Divine Nature. They were not in the same condition of soul attributes as was Adam and Eve before their fall. They did not have this Potentiality. Any interpretation of anything written in the Bible, which gives to any human, or spirit, at that time, the possibility of receiving the Divine Essence of the Father, is erroneous and misleading.

As I have said, my death, or sacrifice by blood, as is emphasized in creeds and worship of the churches, did not in the slightest degree, work to bring about the Restoration of this Great Favor of God to humans. They were merely the results of the conditions of the beliefs of humans in the Jewish nation, which would not tolerate my Declarations of Truth. My death, etc., did not appease any wrath of God towards humans; but of His Own Great Love for His Creatures, He Bestowed this Gift, or Privilege of the soul, which human had lost by Adam and Eve's disobedience.

?

It was the disobedience of believing that they were not dependent upon God for the soul quality, or Potentiality, that made it possible for them to partake of God's Divine Nature. The "Tree of good and evil", merely represented the Knowledge that God had reserved unto Himself of the existence of that, which if known to Adam and Eve, would have subjected them to temptations that would destroy this soul quality, of which I have spoken. When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of this "Tree", that is; when they disobeyed God, and sought the Knowledge of those things, which subjected them to the temptations that might cause them to cease to be All Good, God took away the Potentiality of Adam and Eve becoming One with Him, and Immortal. It was a direct punishment for disobedience. The result was that human was left mere human, either as a mortal, or as a spirit.

I do not think that it was ever said that if Adam and Eve should eat of the "Tree of Life", they would live forever and become as a god. Because they were already the recipient of this "Tree of Life", in that attribute of their soul, which could, by its proper development, make them selves like the gods. Here you must understand that "gods", could mean only those who possessed this Divine Nature of the Father. There was, Only One God. All other living beings in the Spirit World were merely those who were possessed of the god-like qualities of Love and Obedience.  None were gods. The angels of God were merely the spirits that I have last described.

When it was said that human was made a little lower than the angels, it meant that while these Angels had that Divine Nature Perfected, to a more or less degree, human had only the Potentiality of soul, that would enable them to obtain that development, which would perfect them so that they could become an angel. This saying does not apply to any human born after Adam and Eve, and before my coming with the Announcement that God had restored to human this Divine Attribute, which Adam and Eve had forfeited.

So you see, the loss of Immortality does not mean the death of the physical body, but the death of that quality, or Potentiality, of the soul, which enabled human to become like the Father, in certain of His Divine Attributes. More strictly speaking, the mere possession of the soul of this Quality, is not Immortality, or rather it does not make a human, or spirit, Immortal, but merely gives them such quality of soul, and Potentiality, that by its proper development, they may become Immortal.

In the future, all humans, either as spirits, or as mortals, will possess that soul quality, or Potentiality, until the "Great Day of Judgment" shall again take from those who have not at the time, perfected their souls into the enjoyment of the Divine Nature, as I have explained. When that day comes, those who are without this Divine Essence in their souls, will be forever deprived of the Privilege of receiving the Great Gift of this Divine Essence, or in other words, of God's Divine Love. After that time, those spirits who have never acquired this Divine Nature will be permitted to live merely as spirits, enjoying their Natural Love, just as Adam and Eve after their fall. All spirits, and humans, who lived between that time and my coming, lived only in their Natural Love. This is the "Second Death". Adam and Eve's was the first. The Great Day of Judgment will declare the second. After that, never again will human have the opportunity of partaking of this Divine Essence of the Father and becoming "as one of the gods."

Humans may reason, to the utmost of their limited intellects, in the way of saying that God would not subject His Creatures to this second death, and thereby deprive them of this Great Boon of becoming partakers of His Divine Nature, and the Great Happiness that comes with it. Such reasoning, or the conclusion reached, will not change the fact. What I tell you is the fact. Many humans, to their sorrow, will, when too late, realize that it is True. Humans will not be justified in complaining of this. The opportunity is now given, and will in the future be given, to all humans and spirits to become the Divine Children of the Father, in the Angelic and Divine Sense. If they refuse to do so, they can have no grounds upon which to base the accusation of injustice against the Father, or His Love.

He will still be their Father, even though they may not accept His Great Gift. They will, from the Natural Love Bestowed upon them, be comparatively happy. But they will not partake of His Heavenly Kingdom. They will be like the guests invited to the marriage feast, who, because of various excuses, declined to attend. While they were not deprived of other food and sustenance, yet the more precious food, which the host had provided for them at the feast, they never partook of, and never thereafter had the opportunity to.

Many of my parables in the Bible, illustrate this Great Truth, when properly understood, as humans did in those days when I was on Earth, but now harden their hearts, and shut their intellects, to The Truths of these parables, and to my teachings.

Of course, ultimately, all these humans will be saved from sin and error. In fact, sin and error will be destroyed entirely. Humans, and spirits, will live in comparative happiness. They will live in (spiritual) death, and not in Life, so far as the Life of the soul, with its possibilities of becoming Divine, and of enjoying the Great Happiness, which the Divine Love of the Father Bestows, is concerned. (And which God Desires them to have!)

So you see, Immortality does not pertain to the physical body, to the spirit body, or to the soul unqualifiedly, but to those qualities of the soul, which makes it possible for the human soul to become in its Nature, Divine. Immortality does not mean mere "continuous existence", because every spirit, and every soul, may Live through All Eternity in their individualized form. When it was said in the Bible that I brought Immortality and Life to Light, it did not mean that I showed human merely that they would, as spirits, continue to live forever. It meant that they would live forever in the Father's Kingdom, with Natures Divine, and not capable of being deprived of the Great and True Life, which is found only in that (Celestial) Kingdom.

So let you, and your friend, think over what I have written. In places where my meaning may not appear plain, I will try, by the inspiration of my Knowledge and Power (of Love), to enlighten your souls and intellects. You are both very mediumistic and easy recipients of inspiration. As your souls seem to be attuned to the Truth, and as you are seeking earnestly for the Truth, I will endeavor with all my powers to inspire you with such intellectual thoughts, and Spiritual perceptions, as will enable you to see these Truths, in all their nakedness, face to face, not as through a glass, darkly.

I must now stop. I give you my blessings, and the Blessings of the Father.

Your friend and brother, Jesus.

Spiritual Progression

February 3rd, 1916

I am here, Luke.

I come tonight to say a few words concerning; The Great Truth of the development of the soul in its Natural Love, wherein the New Birth is never experienced.

I know, that humans think that this Natural Love has in it, a part of the Divinity of the Father's Divine Nature that as they develop in the way of purifying it, and ridding it of those things, which tend to impair its Harmony, they will realize that there exists in their souls this Divinity, of which we have written. This is not True. This Natural Love partakes only of those elements, which the Father implanted in it at the time of human's Creation. In none of these elements are any of the Qualities of the Divine Nature.

It is difficult to explain, just the distinction between the Divine Love coming from the Father, and the Natural Love also coming from Him, yet, not having any of the Divine Nature, or Qualities. It is a fact. The Natural Love may become so purified, that it may come into Perfect Harmony with the Laws governing its condition and composition, yet, fall far short of having in it, any of the Divine Love.

So, as we have explained to you, the soul may obtain this Divine Love, and thereby become a part of the Father's Divinity. I will now try to explain how the Natural Love of human may be developed, so that their soul may come into Harmony with the Law of Love, the Natural Love, and make them a very happy, pure and contented being.

In the first place, I wish to say that there is no such thing in the World as "Original Sin", or evil, and that God did not create them, or permit them to exist, except, as He permits human to use their own will, without limitation. I mean by this that He does not say that a human, in the exercise of this will, shall do this, or do that. As respects this will, human is untrammeled. He does say, and His Laws are inexorable in this particular, that human, when in the exercise of the great power of free will, causes that will to come into conflict with the Will of God, or to violate His Laws, they, human, must suffer the consequences (of the Law).

This may be illustrated by your Natural Laws declaring the freedom of the press. Human may publish whatsoever they please. So long as they do not thereby, violate the rights of others, or of decency, they may make their publications without fear of the Law. But when in the exercise of this freedom of speech, as you call it, they violate the Law, then they must suffer the consequences of this violation.

So it is with the mortal, who in the exercise of their free will violates the Will of the Father, or the Laws (of Love and Harmony) limiting its exercise by the mortal, they must suffer the consequences. The results of this violation are sin and evil created, and in no other way. Surprising as it may sound to you; human is the creator of sin and evil. Not God, who is only Good.

Then the question arises, how can sin and evil be eradicated from the world? Every thoughtful human will have the same answer. That is by humans ceasing to violate the Will of God, or His Laws, which restrict the exercise of the wills of mortals, to that, which in its right exercise will not produce sin or evil. In other words, when humans, by the wrong use of their wills, bring about inharmony, they can, by the right use of their wills, not disturb that Harmony, which when it exists, leaves no room for the presence of sin and error.

So you see, the one thing necessary in order for humans to become happy and free from everything that defiles them, or causes unhappiness, or discord to exist, is to develop their souls in this Natural Love, until this Natural Love comes into Perfect Unison with the Laws that control it. Thus may be applied the oft quoted expression; that Love is the fulfilling of the Law. This means Love in its Purest and most Perfect State.

Now, how can this development of the Natural Love be accomplished by humans?

The mind, while a powerful helper in this regard, is not, of itself, sufficient to bring about this great desideratum. It is True that with every mortal, there is a constant warfare between the appetites and lusts of the flesh, and their Higher Desires. Hence, it is said, that these appetites and desires are sinful, the cause of evil and the inharmony that exists in the lives of mortals. This statement is not altogether True. For as human was made with Spiritual Aspirations and Desires, so also, were they made with appetites and desires of the flesh. The latter, of themselves, are not evils.

The failure to make the distinction between the fact that these appetites and desires of the flesh are not evil, and the fact that only the perversion of them brings evil, is the great stumbling block that stands in the way of human's developing this Natural Love in the manner that I have indicated. These, what are sometimes called the animal appetites and desires, may be exercised, in such a way, as to be in Perfect Harmony with the Laws that control them. In such exercise, not interfere with, or prevent, the development of this Natural Love to Perfection.

Human, in the free exercise of their will, has in their wanderings, gone beyond the limitations, which the Law of Harmony has placed upon them, added to, and increased and distorted, the appetites and desires of the flesh, which were originally bestowed upon them. Hence, has them self, created those things that are not in Harmony with the Creation of them self.

So you see, human is a creator, as well as a creature. As the latter, they cannot alter or change any of the effects of their Creation. As the former, they can alter and change, even abolish, the effects of their own creation. As the creator, is greater than the things that they created. Although, these things of their own creation have held him in bondage and unhappiness, to a more or less extent, ever since they became their creator. The strength of this apparent paradox is that the creator, human, has for all these long centuries believed it, and submitted to their creations, and still does so.

So what is the remedy?

Simply this: Human must awaken to the fact that they are greater than their creatures (creations), and that their creations are subject to their will. That whenever, by their existence and workings, they bring discord and unhappiness, and cause their will to be exercised in opposition to the Will of the Father, then they must be destroyed. Never be permitted to come into existence again. Let humans become the masters of their creatures, and obedient to the Great Will of their Creator. They will realize that sin, error, and unhappiness will disappear. Their Natural Love will come into Harmony with the Laws of its Creation. Earth will indeed become a heaven. The Brotherhood (Fellowship) of Human established on Earth.

If humans will only think, and thinking, believe, that all sin and error, and the resulting unhappiness and sorrow in the World, are children of their own creation. Not the children of God. That, in the Economy of His Universe, He leaves the control, management, and even the existence of these children, to the will of their parents. They will then understand why evil exists, and why wars, hatred and misery continue on Earth, to blight the lives and happiness of mortals. Why, as some say, and especially the so-called christians, God permits all these things to exist, flourish, and apparently contradict the Great Truth, that He is Good, and the Fountainhead of All Goodness.

The Universe, the inhabitants thereof, and the Greatest Production of His Power, human, were All Created by God. But sin and error, and their awful followings, are the creatures of human. The Laws of His Universe work in Harmony. All is Good. Even the apparent inharmony, which human has created, does not affect that Great Harmony. But is confined in its workings to human, them self. Only human is apparently in inharmony. That is caused by human them self.

Suppose, for a moment, that human's will was working in accord with that of the Father. Can you imagine that there would be any of these creatures of human's perverted will in existence? Would there be any evil, hatred, disease, or suffering known to the consciousness of human? I tell you, no.

Now I say, human, their creator, must destroy these inharmonious creatures. Human must kill, and bury deep and forever, these children of the perverted exercise of their will. Until then, sin and error, and all their concomitants, will continue to live, flourish, and torment their creator.

I say here, with all emphasis, and with a full realization of the great significance and responsibility in the sight of God, which I assume in saying it, that human can destroy these bastard creatures of their will, so perverted and discordant.

Their Natural Love, if permitted to assert its God-Given powers and functions, is sufficient to bring their will in accord with that of the Father, and turn their thoughts away from these children of their, and to make them conscious of Purity and Truth. The dead desires, and dead appetites, will bury their dead children. Human will come into their own again.

Then comes the question. How is human to accomplish this great end, so devoutly to be wished for?

Well, it is late now. I will write upon this important feature of this development of their Natural Love in my next message.

So with all my Love, I will say goodnight.

Your brother in Christ, Luke.

Spiritual Progression

January 19th, 1916

I am here, Your Old Friend, G_____.

I desire to write to you tonight upon a subject, which I think will be interesting. It is so late now I hesitate to do so.

Well, as you think it will be all right, I will do so. I want to write on the subject of the soul's progression, as I have experienced it.

As you know, when I first came into the Spirit World, I was an unbeliever in things pertaining to the soul, except that I thought that the soul, which in my then opinion was the equivalent of that part of human, which survived death, would continue to exist, and progress, as the mental qualities of the human should be developed. That the mind was the great and only thing in the future existence, and as the mind was developed more and more on Earth, the condition of the human in their progression would be determined.

I had no conception of the soul, as a distinct and independent existence from the mind. I thought that all the qualities and attributes of the mind were those, which belong to the soul, and that I had none others. So, I say, I entered the Spirit World, and did not change my beliefs until a long time after I became a spirit.

As I continued to live in the Spirit World in this belief, I found that the mental faculties, and their development, did not bring to me the satisfaction, which I had anticipated. Also, I met some of my friends of Earth, who had preceded me by long years, humans of great mental acquirements. I found that their condition were not as satisfactory a nature as I had led myself to believe that they should be. For many of these friends were only in the Earth Plane. Some were in darkness, which was wholly contrary to what they should be, if my theory of the allness of the mind was True. All this caused me to think, and in thinking, I commenced to realize that there might be something wrong in my theory, and that the soul might be a distinct thing from the mind, in its Nature and functions.

I did not find that these intellectual friends of mine had any very great happiness, nor were they satisfied with their conditions. Yet they could not, by the exercise of any mental progress, get out of their condition of darkness. Of course, they were engaged in pursuing studies of one kind or another, and such studies gave them considerable happiness and satisfaction. Yet, notwithstanding all this, there was some restraining force that prevented them from going to Spheres, higher than they were then living in.

I found that there were Higher Spheres, where the mind was developed to a much greater degree, and where many spirits who believed in the supremacy of the mind lived, and enjoyed the pursuits of their studies. At times, some of these spirits would come to our Plane and tell of the wonderful development and happiness in these Higher Spheres, and urge us to make the effort to progress and become inhabitants of them. You may be assured we were willing and anxious to make such progress. But try as I would, and as my friends would, the efforts produced no visible effect. We continued in darkness.

Being of an inquisitive nature, I sought for the reason of our inability to get out of the darkness. At last, found that the mind was not everything, but the development of the Moral Qualities were necessary to enable us to progress as we desired, and that in order to develop these qualities, something more than the mere exercise of the mental faculties were required.

Conscience must be satisfied. Our recollection of evil deeds on Earth must be gotten rid of. Our qualities of soul, which determined our position and condition in the Spirit World, must be so adjusted to the demands of the Laws of Harmony, so that we could be able to advance in our progress, to that place which such adjustment would entitle us to occupy.

I further found that the darkness, in which we lived, was not created by any defective condition of the mind. For many spirits, whose minds were highly cultivated, and possessed of unusual knowledge, were in just as much darkness as were many spirits of very meager mentality and information.

All this knowledge came to me, and caused me to seek a way to improve my Moral Nature, and to get rid of the recollections of those things, which tainted and darkened such Nature. I sought very diligently. But it was slow work, and the efforts required were great. But some progress was made. If I had continued long enough, and used my will powers in urging the cultivation of kind thoughts, Love for the True, and affection, etc., I would undoubtedly have progressed from darkness. This had been the experience of many spirits, who believed as I did, that the mind was the thing, and depended upon their own will and exertions to bring the desired results.

While in this condition of struggle and slow progress, I would occasionally meet spirits who seemed to be of a Higher Order, and more beautiful than was I. Naturally, I wondered what the cause was. Although, strange as it may seem to you, I never made the inquiry, until one day I met some of our folks, who had this beautiful appearance, and seemed to be so Perfectly Happy.

Naturally, in our conversation, I asked them the cause of their happiness. When they told me, I was so surprised that I gave very little credence to what they said. Because, what they told me was so similar to what I had heard on Earth, in the orthodox churches, that I supposed that these friends had brought with them their old orthodox faiths and emotions, and were deceiving themselves, as to the cause of their appearances, and that the probable cause was that they were more moral than I when on Earth. Hence, their recollections of Earthly sins were less, and conscience was not so severe on them, therefore they had gotten out of their darkness into Light, with the resultant appearance of beauty and happiness. I would not, at first, accept their explanations of the cause of their conditions, and continued for sometime longer, in the effort to improve my moral condition and advance in my mental acquirements.

There was one other thing, I noticed. That is, that while these beautiful friends had not the mental development, apparently, that some other spirits who had progressed out of the darkness into the Higher Spheres of Light, yet the beauty, and seeming happiness of these friends, were so much greater, and of a different Nature from the happiness and appearance of those more highly mentally developed spirits.

Again, I thought, and concluded that even moral and mental development could not explain the cause of the difference between the appearances and happiness of these friends, and those of these more mentally developed spirits. So I again determined to seek the cause. As a consequence, I sought these friends, with the intention and desire to listen more seriously to what they might tell me, and to open my mind to the secret as it was to me.

Well, I listened to them. They told me that their progress and condition was caused by the Soul Development, which they had received in seeking for, and obtaining, the Divine Love of the Father. That the soul is the great and important part of being spirits. That the condition of the Soul Development determines the position, appearance and happiness of the spirit. That the spirit body and mind are both subordinate to the soul, and whenever the mind submits to the control of the soul, and the will of the mind, as you may say, to the will of the soul, that then, the progress to the Highest Sphere will commence. The spirit who is thus progressing, will show the state of their advancement, by the appearance of their beauty and happiness.

They further explained to me the Nature and Power of the Divine Love, and Its great developing potentialities. The absolute necessity of Its entering into, and possessing, the soul, in order for it to make its greatest progress. That, as this Divine Love became more and more a part of the soul's possessions, the soul took on itself the Divine Nature of the Father. All these things which had a lodgment therein, and which tended to make it dark and sinful, disappeared. As these things disappeared, the soul mounted to Higher Spheres, and became happier and more beautiful. The spiritual body correspondingly manifested this happiness and beauty.

All these things and many more, these friends told me, urged me to seek for the Divine Love of the Father, and offered in every way to help me. At first, I could not understand what seeking this Divine Love meant. They took great pains to instruct me, and told me that only through prayer and Faith would it come to me. That while this Divine Love was waiting to fill the soul of every spirit, and anxious to do so, yet only by earnest, sincere, seeking would It enter the soul and fill it with Its Great Essence.

At last, they persuaded me to pray to the Father, and then prayed with me. It was hard to have Faith in that, which my mind did not understand and could not grasp. But they said, the soul has its faculties, and is not dependent upon the mind for this Faith. Upon my exercising these soul faculties, would depend the question of my receiving this Divine Love, and this Faith. For as Divine Love came, Faith would come also, which Faith was not a mere mental belief, but something greater and different.

Well, I continued to pray for this Divine Love. After awhile, I felt a sensation, which I had never felt before within my soul. As I prayed this feeling increased. Faith, in a small degree, came to me. I realized that there was a Love possessing me that was never with me before. I continued thus to seek and pray, until at last, this Great Love came to me in great abundance, flooding as it were, my whole soul. Happiness unspeakable came to me, and as these friends said, Light and Beauty also.

Well you can imagine that my longings and desires became insatiable. The darkness disappeared. My recollections of the evils of my Life became fainter and fainter. Suddenly, I found myself in the Third Sphere, which then appeared to me to be the very heaven of heavens, and the very fountainhead of beauty and happiness.

Now during all this time, and it was not accomplished in a day, I gave no attention to the development of my mind, or to the acquiring of knowledge of the material things, as I might say, of the Spirit World. When I found myself in the beautiful Sphere that I have mentioned, it seemed to me that my mental faculties had expanded beyond all possibilities of belief, and knowledge of things that I had never before heard, or conceived of, came to me with wonderful clearness.

The soul, not the mind, was the thing! And Love, this Divine Love of the Father, made happiness mine, and everything beautiful and satisfying. They who seek only the development of the mind, and lets the soul slumber are poor indeed. But they who seek the development of the soul, finds that as their soul develops, their mind does also, and rich they are beyond compare.

Well, I continued in this Soul Development. In the increased happiness, and the attainment of great brightness, and more than all, the possessions of this Great Love, until I passed through the Fifth Sphere, where everything was much more beautiful, and Love so more abundant than in the Third Sphere, and entered the Seventh Sphere, where I now am. I will not attempt to tell you the glories of this Sphere, for I feel that words are inadequate to do so. Then in a faint, unsatisfying way, have I attempted to rehearse to you the Soul's Development, and the wholly sufficient thing that it is.

My advice to all mortals, based on my own personal experience, is to seek with all their might, and earnest efforts, the development of the soul, and that of the mind will follow. This they can commence while yet on Earth. They will find, that progress after they have crossed the borderline, will be much more rapid and easier.

Well, it is late. I have written long enough. I wanted so much to write to you tonight upon this subject of the Soul Development, as I see its vital importance to the future happiness of human, and to their Immortality.

So with all my Love and blessings, I am, your brother in Christ, G ____.

Spiritual Progression

February 16th, 1916

I am here, Luke.

Well do you think you can take my message tonight? It looks like you may. At any rate, we will try.

As I was saying, "In what way is a human to obtain this development of the soul in its Natural Love?"

In the first place, they must recognize the fact that they do not live to them self, alone. That what they conceive to be the workings of their own mind, and will, are not always the result of thoughts and desires that originate in them, but are largely the products of the influences of the workings of the minds of spirits who are around them, trying to impress them with their desires and wills. Consequently, you will understand, that it is very important to human, as to what kind of spirit influences they have surrounding and working upon them. If these influences are good, the better it is for their progress in the development of this Natural Love. If they are evil influences, then, of course, such development is retarded.

Consequently, the First thing for a human to do is to attempt to attract (Law of Attraction) to them self, influences of the Higher Nature. They can do so, by trying to cultivate good thoughts and to indulge in Good and Moral acts.

The Great Law of Attraction that we have written about, applies, and works, in such cases as this, as it does in every other relation of God's Universe. If a human's thoughts are evil, there will always be attracted to them spirits of similar thoughts. When the spirits come to humans, the spirits attempt to, and succeed, in intensifying these evil thoughts of the humans, which attract the spirits to the humans. It must emphatically be understood, in this regard, that human may, and often does, originate their own thoughts and desires. It is not necessary that any influence of these evil spirits should be present and operate upon their brain or affections, in order that these evil thoughts and desires should come into existence. Again, human has a will power that is susceptible of being exercised, free from the wills of these evil spirits. You will see how True this is, when you remember that they can exercise that will power, free and independent from the Will of God Himself.

So I say, that these thoughts and desires may, and do, originate in human, free and independent of the wills, or influences, of these evil spirits. As a fact, these spirits are attracted to them only when these thoughts, that they have originated, are evil.

Now, if human would have this Spiritual Progress that I speak of, they should endeavor to have Good, Pure thoughts, and desires. Then, they will attract to them selves, spirits who are Good and Pure. Their influences will help them to a wonderful degree, in strengthening and increasing these Good thoughts, and make it less and less likely that evil thoughts will arise in their brain, or evil desires in their affections. As a consequence, their will power will be exercised in doing those things, which are Good and Moral.

Now, while human may originate these thoughts and desires, they must also know, as a Truth, that this progress is not dependent upon them self alone. For when they are in that condition to attract the Good spirits, they will invariably come to them and render their help. It will prove to be a wonderful and never failing help.

Now, human's thoughts and desires are not always, as may be supposed, the result of something that may be hidden within them selves, and of which they may not know its existence. I mean not in all cases, and probably in only a minority of cases. Most frequently are these thoughts and desires, are the children of an objective influence, that comes to them, by reason of objects becoming sensible to their ordinary senses, which create, or suggest, these thoughts, or desires.

Without going into details, you will understand what I mean. As a mere illustration; a glass of whiskey may, and does, suggest to a human who likes whiskey, the thought and desire that they should take a drink. Thereby, bring into operation their will, which is followed by the act of drinking. So, as with many other objects, which a human meets in the course of their daily Life. These thoughts and desires arise, not only from seeing objects, but also from feeling and tasting them.

Again, these objective suggestions, causing these thoughts and desires, arise, and exist, not only from the real object sensed, but also from words and thoughts, which are expressed by other human beings in course of conversations, or in books and literature, (or movies). When they come in this way, they are frequently more effective than in any other. Hence, as these objective words and thoughts enter the mind of human, they create similar thoughts, which frequently intensify, and attract the evil spirits of like thoughts, with their degenerating influences. Hence, the importance of a human avoiding companionship where such communications take place, and the books, literature, (and movies), where these evil suggestions are made.

It has been well said, that evil communications corrupt Good manners. I may add that such communications corrupt Good thoughts, produce evil desires, and retard the progress of the soul in its Natural Love. It must be remembered that this Natural Love is Pure, free from all evil, or taint of defilement, when it is fully developed. Anything, that tends to defile it, retards the progression of the soul in this particular.

So the plain lesson to be drawn from all this is; that human must, in the first place, make the effort to have only Good, Pure, thoughts and desires from their inner self. Next, they must avoid those objects and associations that tend to cause to arise in them these evil thoughts. Thirdly, they must learn the Truth, that when they have these evil thoughts, they Attract to them selves spirits of evil, who by their influence can, and do, intensify these evil thoughts and desires. I know, as regards this last mentioned Truth, that the majority of humans have no knowledge of its existence. It is time that they should learn, that such a danger to their soul's progression does exist, and is always imminent.

They should learn this other fact, that when their thoughts are Pure, and free from defilement, they have surrounding them, the influence of Good Spirits, who work to increase, and make permanent, their good thoughts. As these good thoughts continue, the Natural Love develops towards its Pristine Condition of Purity (as in their Created State). Human comes nearer to their Designed Condition of Existence (of Perfection).

So, you will see from this, that as human's thoughts and desires become freed from these things that tend to defile them, they Naturally progresses toward that condition, which is necessary, in order for them to have this development of the soul in its Natural Love. Again, the development may be helped very much by human thinking, and doing, acts of charity and kindness, and observing the Golden Rule. For every act of charity, kindness, and self sacrifice for the sake of others, has its reflex action in their own condition of Love and soul, and helps their soul development.

In short, the observance by human of all the Moral Laws, which are many, and varied, tends to bring about the development of the Natural Love. This must be remembered that as this development proceeds, the tendency to indulge in the perverted appetites of the flesh, as they are called, will disappear. As it disappears, this Natural Love, of course, becomes Purer and sweeter, and brings human nearer to their State of Perfection.

Again, the meditation upon Spiritual Things, and the outflowing of this Natural Love towards the Father, will cause the progression. While all humans, as we have said, do not seek for the Divine Love, yet as All Humans are Children of God, He Helps them, to the full extent of their desires, towards happiness, and the Perfecting of this Natural Love in its Natural Pure State, with which He endowed them at their Creation. Upon their will and aspirations depends the nature of the help, which the Father gives to them. Always, He gives His Help and Blessings, and to the fullest. His Great Desire is that human shall become Perfect in that Natural Love, which they possess, and which they seek for. The Natural Love, in its qualities, may become as Perfect in human, as may the Divine Love in its Qualities. Each is just as much in Harmony with God's Universe, in its respective Qualities, as is the other.

So I say, human is helped, more than in any other way, by their meditations of the Higher Things of their being, by prayer and aspirations to the Father, who Hears the prayers of the human who has only this Natural Love, and Answers them, just as He does the prayers of the human who has the Divine Love in their soul. Ultimately, all sin and evil will be eradicated from the Universe. Human, in their mere Natural Love, will become Pure, Perfected and Happy.

I have tried, in my inefficient way, to show human how they may progress in the development of their Natural Love. If they will follow my advice, they will succeed. For as human, by the indulging of these perverted appetites of the flesh, and the exercise of their will power, fell to a low degree of degeneracy, so they can, by ceasing to indulge in these perverted appetites, and by the exercise of that same will power, rise again to their Condition of Purity in their Natural Love. Besides, they have the Help of the Father, and the Good Angels, in their efforts to recover. Also, the experience of the result of their fall, which they may not be conscious of, but which, in their Inner Self, has an existence, and is continually working.

Well my dear brother I must stop. I feel that you have taken my message very successfully. Read it over, and correct errors of construction. I will come soon, and write again.

Your brother in Christ, Luke.

Spiritual Progression

June 11th, 1916

I am here, Jesus.

I come tonight according to promise. I desire to write my message, if you are in condition to receive it.

I wish to write on the subject of; "What is the correct way in which a human should live the Life on Earth, in order to receive the cleansing from their sins, so that they can acquire the Purification of their Natural Love?"

Heretofore, I have conferred in my messages almost exclusively to the Redemption of the soul by means of the Divine Love, so that the Redeemed One may become an inhabitant of the Celestial Spheres.

Now, I will deal only with that cleansing that will fit them to live in the Highest and Purest of the Spirit Spheres, where they can have the happiness, which a Pure Natural Love will bring to them.

As has been written you, the soul, as it was Created, and placed in human, was at the time of its Creation in human form, or rather at the time it found a habitation in that form, made Pure and Perfect. In complete Harmony with the Laws of God controlling its existence, that only after the fall, by reason of; human's own indulgence in the animal appetites and desires, did it lose its Purity, and become contaminated by sin and error. Ever since that time, it has remained in such condition of impurity and alienship to God and His Laws (of Love and Harmony).

This impurity has been the lot of each succeeding generation of humans, and has never been eradicated from human's souls, notwithstanding all the Moral Instructions that human has acquired. Still there has been wonderful improvements in the purity of human's thoughts, as well as in their actions and habits of Life, since the turning from the bottom of their degeneracy.

Now, there are several ways in which human may succeed in acquiring that Purity that existed at the time of the Creation of the First humans. In time, this consummation will be accomplished. In these ways, human, them self, will have to be an important, working factor. For human is the Highest of God's Creations, with powers and will possessed by no other of God's Creatures. There is no power in Heaven, or Earth, that can, or will, redeem human from this condition of sin and error, unless human will cooperate in the work. That, to the greatest and best of their ability.

These sins that I speak of, were created by human's thoughts and desires, and carried into acts and deeds by the operation of their will. They must be removed by the same processes. Where the evil thoughts and deeds created that, which contaminated and defiled the qualities of their soul, these evil thoughts and deeds must be supplanted by good thoughts and deeds in order that the defilement may be removed, and the soul purified.

Evil thoughts are born of suggestions, both inward and outward. Also, of the influences of spirits of evil who establish a rapport with the mortals.

Let us postpone the writing, for our rapport is not just right. I will come soon and finish.

With all my Love, I am, your brother and friend, Jesus.

Spiritual Progression

June 17th, 1916

I am here, Jesus.

I see that you are in better condition tonight. It may be that we can continue the message.

Well, as I was saying, the only way in which a mortal may obtain the development of their soul condition, without the help of the Divine Love, is by attempting to exercise their will, in the way that will cause the thoughts of evil and error to leave them. To be replaced by thoughts that will bring their heart and soul into Harmony with the Laws of their Creation as mere human. This can be done, by their seeking for those Higher Things of Morality. The subordinating of the purely animal desires and appetites of the mortal, to the aspirations and desires of the Higher and Nobler part of their Nature (soul).

As I have before told you, human was Pure and Good, until they, by the exercise of their will, following the suggestions of the animal desires, permitted them self to degenerate from the High and Perfect Condition of their Creation.

These sins and desires do not belong to their Original Nature. Their True Nature was Pure, and in Harmony with the Laws of God. Although, they have lost it, by the excessive and wrongful exercise of their will, obeying the desires of their animal Nature. Yet, they can recover their Condition of Original Purity and Harmony, if they will get rid of these sins and errors, so that their True Nature may again become free from everything that defiles it, or places it out of Harmony, with the Laws that Created it.

So you see, it is not necessary for human to obtain, or add to, their Original Condition, any qualities that were not theirs in the beginning. Merely to get rid of, or eradicate from that condition, those things, which are mere excrescences, or parasites. Thereby have their Nature in the same condition that was theirs when they were Created, and was the Perfect Human.

So long a time, has the Nature, or condition of the Nature of Human, been in this state of defilement and alienation from the True Condition of their Creation, that the effort to bring about the restoration will necessarily be great. They will have to use all their power of will that they are capable of, to effectuate this object. They will find in such efforts; two conflicting forces, always fighting each other for the mastery.

The fact that they believe their present condition is the natural one, and that the state, Purity, and freedom, from sin and error is one that does not belong to them Naturally, but must be acquired, by adding something to what they now have. and always possessed, will make the fight more uneven.

Therefore, the First Things; that human must believe is: that their present condition is not their Natural One. And, that they have nothing more, or greater, to accomplish than to relieve them self of those things, which prevent their condition from becoming as it was, when they were The Perfect Human.

If they will get this belief firmly fixed in their mind, and assert that; they were made by God, that God never Created anything impure, or not in Harmony with His Laws, then they, human, will have accomplished the First Step towards their Regeneration, and towards success in their effort.

They must not consider themselves to be, a weak, low, and UNWORTHY Creature of God, not being entitled to those conditions of Purity and Greatness, which made them the Beloved Child of the Father. Of course, self-esteem, pride, and everything of that nature, must be eliminated from the estimate that they must have of them self. On the contrary, the idea that they are degenerated, and utterly helpless being, MUST NOT be permitted to enter their mind (and is not True Humility). Such thoughts do not make them pleasing to God, as they have been taught they do. Only make them subservient to their masters, of sin and error, and prevent them from asserting their own superiority to these things, which is necessary to exist in their conception of their True Condition, in order that they may obtain the ascendancy over those masters.

When they shall have assumed this position, then, they will realize that these animal appetites, desires, and evil thoughts, which arise from them, and from the belief that they are, by Nature, degraded and unworthy of a better and Higher Condition of Nature, are really beings of their own creation. Subject to their will, self control, and total destruction.

With such Realization, will come a Consciousness, that they are not parts of their Nature. But foreign to it. That in order that their Nature may become separated from them; they must look upon them as enemies, and treat them as such, to be destroyed and utterly extinguished. Never more to be taken to their bosom, and cherished as inalienable and dominant parts, of their Nature.

Of course, in treating them as such enemies, great watchfulness and determination will have to be exercised. They are very insidious, will at all times, and in all ways, whenever the opportunity arises, try to convince them that they are an integral, and necessary, part of their being, incapable of being separated from them.

By the exercise of this belief, based upon a "right conception" of what is, and what is not, a part of them, as The Perfect Human, and by the exercise of their will power, in accordance with this conception, they will be able to rescue them self from these unnatural appetites, desires, and thoughts, of error and sin.

As this belief becomes stronger, and this conception clearer, and their will, exercised in closer Harmony with the Two Essentials, these excrescences will gradually, and one by one, fall away from them. Until, at last, they will rise again, The Perfect Human, with the Pure and Harmonious Nature, which God gave them, at the time of their Creation.

This process will be slow, sometimes hardly perceptible. The long years of misbelief, in the Idea of Original Sin, and the idea that God created evil and error, for the purpose of defiling human's Nature, and making a disobedient devil of them, without any inherent goodness, or the possibility of becoming regenerated, unless by the operation of some miracle, will make it difficult for the acquiring of the True Belief, as to what they, and what their Nature is, and enable them to become the master, and not remain the servant.

God is the Father of All. Loves All His Children! As He Originally provided for their happiness, so now, He Desires that all may be happy. Even though, they may not seek for that Divine Love, which makes mortals and spirits, more than the mere Perfect Human.

Forgiveness is, in effect, forgetfulness. When humans, in their efforts, cause all these things of evil and sin to cease being a part of their Nature (soul), and only thoughts of Purity and Righteousness to find a lodgment in their minds, then these other things are forgotten. Forgiveness has taken place. Human no longer is the slave of false beliefs and unrighteousness, nor are they their associates. Even in memory, they become things of nonexistence. When they get into this Condition of Purity and Freedom, in Harmony with the Laws of their Creation, there exists nothing, which can be the object of forgiveness. They are the Human of Perfect Creation.

In all this, human must realize, that they do not exist by, and for, them self, alone. Always, they are surrounded by mortals, or spirits, or both, exercising upon them their influence for good, or evil. Helping them to turn their thoughts from these things of evil and sin into those Higher Things, which are theirs by Nature, or causing them to receive and foster these evil thoughts with increased intensity. They cannot get rid of these influences, of one kind, or the other. Hence, they should seek the influence of those who are Good, and desire to help them in their efforts towards the recovery of that condition, which is theirs, by Right of Birth.

Among God's Laws, which never change, and which work impartially, is the Great Law of Attraction. It works in the case of all mortals, and spirits, and never rests. The Great Principle of this Law is; that like attracts like, and the unlike, repulses the unlike. So human must know, that as they are, I mean in their state of mind and soul, so necessarily will be their companions, of those who desire their association. Hence, they should realize this Important Truth, and all that it implies.

If their thoughts and deeds are evil, they will attract those spirits, or mortals, who have similar thoughts and deeds. Who will NOT help them to Higher Things, but who will retard their progress towards their First Estate. If their thoughts and deeds are Good, then their associates will only be those of like qualities, who can, and will, help them in their progress.

Every effort to create good thoughts strengthens the desires and will in that direction assists the coming of other good thoughts. With these efforts, come the help of these unseen influences, and the repulsion of the influences of the retarding forces.

Human is a Wonderful Being, the Highest Creation of the Father. Yet their greatest master is their belief in the power and supremacy of these things of evil, of their own creation.

Beyond all this, a means to accomplish human's restitution to their Perfect Estate is the Help of the Father, which is never refused when human seeks for it, in earnest sincere prayer. Always, the Father is willing to respond to the True Prayers of human. By His Instrumentalities will make the efforts of human sure and effective. So that they can acquire that condition, that will free them from all sin, error, and slavery of false belief, in the mastery of their evil creatures.

Human must believe in the Love and Help of the Father, and in the humanhood and greatness of them self, and in the utter error of their belief in the mastery of their own children of sin and error.

I have written enough and must stop, as you are tired. So assuring you of my Love for you, and my care and help, I will say, goodnight.

Your brother and friend, Jesus.

Spiritual Progression

July 2nd, 1916

I am here, John.

I come tonight to tell you of a Truth, which is important for you to know, as well as for the World of Humankind. I will not write a very long message. What I may say will be the Truth. Every human should understand it, and make it their own.

I will not write upon any subject that you have been instructed upon before. I will deal with a subject entirely new. My subject is: "Why should humans learn that they are not to be left to themselves, in their conceptions of what Life means, and what its importance is, in the economy of Human's Creation and Destiny."

I know that this may seem to you to be a strange subject to write on. It is one that should be of interest to all humans who know that the Earth Life is very short. Then Eternity takes them into its embrace. Never again permits them to become creatures of time.

Human lives, dies, and never lives again, according to the materialist. They are as the brute animal without any future. But the Spiritualist, and by that I mean those who believe that there is something more to human than the mere material, believes they live, and never ceases to live. Although, the physical body dies, never to be resurrected again as such body.

Now, as we take either the one, or the other, of these views, the Meaning of Human's Earth Life, assumes a very different aspect, and calls for very different thoughts and actions on their part in living their Life. Of course, if what is called death is the end of things, that human should do, or they should think they should do, as the old saying; "Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you shall die.", and with that death comes oblivion and forgetfulness never to be Awakened again into consciousness. Their mission in the universe is fulfilled. They can no more experience the hopes, ambitions, joys, or sorrows, which were theirs as a Living human.

On the other hand, if human never ceases to live, then their thoughts, and conduct, should be turned towards the accomplishment of that, which will provide for them the best possible Future Life.

Those, of both opinions, know that when death comes, the physical body can no longer be used. Those who believe in the Continuous Existence know that as the physical body perishes, human must have some other form, or body, in which may be lodged the Consciousness of this Continued Existence. That body must be as real as the one, which they relinquish. Such being the fact, the human who knows that death does not end all, will naturally, and necessarily, seek to learn what that body of Continued Existence is like, and what is necessary to enable them to obtain that body. Thereby, enjoy the Living in Eternity. Thus seeking, they will not be satisfied to learn that that body is the mere spirit body, which has been theirs during all the years of their Earth Life, but will desire to further learn what the relationship is, between that spirit body, and the manner of living their Earth Life.

I know that of them self, human cannot, to any degree, discover this relationship. That they must depend upon the teachings, and experiences, of those who have experienced the separation of the spirit body from the physical body, in order to at all comprehend this relationship.

As one having had this experience, I wish to say that the spirit body, is of itself, a Creation, like as is the physical body, and has its existence only for the purpose of preserving human's individuality , and of containing and sheltering their soul, both while on Earth, and after they become a spirit.

Then, their living means; that they are placed on the Earth merely to acquire an individuality (of the soul). To learn that within them, is the soul, which is their Real Self, which they must cherish, educate, and feed, with the Higher Thoughts, and the Goodness of their Original Creation, and not neglect the opportunities that come to them for this development.

I know that this seems incoherent to you, with no special object in view. You are mistaken in thus thinking, for the object will soon be seen. As you are not just in condition for further writing tonight, I will postpone my writing until later.

So trusting that you will not feel inclined to reject the message, I will say goodnight.

Your brother in Christ, John.

Spiritual Progression

October 11th, 1916

I am here, St. John.

I merely want to say, that I have been listening to your reading of my message, and heard your comments on the same. You are correct in what you and your friend said.

There is scarcely a greater error in the beliefs of humans that retard the development of their souls, than the belief that at sometime Jesus will come, in all his glory and power, and take humans into his heaven just as they are, in body, soul, and spirit. This belief, has for a long time prevented many humans from seeking to develop their soul qualities, either as to the Natural Love, or as to the Divine Love. For, as a basis of their faith, is that saying in the Bible, "that whosoever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved". Many, thinking that they have this belief, are contented therein. Further, believe that because of that belief, they will be carried into the heavens of Jesus when he comes, even though in the meantime they may have given up the Earth Life. It is deplorable that humans should believe these things, and live and die in this belief, which, of course, is wholly intellectual.

Such is the fact. We spirits, who know the Truth, have for all the long centuries, been so anxious that humans should know the Truth, and have been working among humans, by means of spirit impression, and sometimes by Revelation, to help them learn not only the Truth, but the errors of their beliefs. As our efforts have not been very successful, we concluded to use the means that we are now using, to Reveal to Humankind, in our own words and thoughts, the Truths of God, as regards human, and all things connected with Him.

Here I want to say, with all the emphasis that I can, that you, and your friends, must believe that the communications that you receive, as to these Truths, are written by us, in our own words, and that your mind does not supply a thought, or suggestion, and that you are used only as a medium to convey our thoughts, and lend your physical organs to facilitate our expressing in our own language, the Truths that we desire to convey.

So, no matter how improbable some things may seem to you, you must accept them as True. For nothing but the Truth will be written. Further, we will not allow any spirit, who is not in our band, or who has not this Divine Love, to write on any of the Truths, that are necessary to be Revealed to the World.

I thought this the proper place to say this, as I desire to assure your friend of the Reality of the messages, and the source from which they come.

I will not write more now, and will say goodnight.

With my Love to you both, I am, your brother in Christ, John.

Spiritual Progression

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. I heard your conversation, and 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 (Divine) 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 workings, 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. He will never be able to comprehend the Divine Love that requires a perception of the soul (developed in the Divine Love itself). He may remain satisfied, and convince himself, that the Natural Love is the only Love, and that when it becomes developed to a certain degree, it becomes the divine love, and 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 Love is a thing of itself, not the development of the Natural Love, and has in it not the qualities of that Divine Love. The one (Divine Love) is of God, that is; partakes of His Very (Soul) Nature, while the other is also of God, but does not partake of His (Soul) Nature, but is only a Creation, intended to make human happy, and Perfect in their Condition of the mere Perfect 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 hearken 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, which someday you will understand and wonder that such a thing could have been.

Goodnight.

Your brother in Christ, John.

Spiritual Progression

March 13th, 1919

I am here, Abraham Lincoln.

Let me write a few lines tonight, as you are in good condition to receive my message.

Well, I see that you have been thinking a great deal about Spiritual Things, and have longed for the Divine Love of the Father. By such thoughts, and longings, you have come unto a condition that enables the Celestial Spirits to make a rapport with you.

Tonight, I desire to write for a short time on the subject of; "How important it is for humans to learn the Truths of God, in reference to the Plan, which He has prescribed for Human's Salvation, and their coming into Harmony with the Laws that govern them, as the Created Human.

As you have been told, in the beginning, human was Created Perfect, and in all the constituent parts of their being, made in Harmony with God's Laws controlling human as a Perfect Creature. If they had never disobeyed the Precepts of the Father, they would have always remained the Perfect Human.

Now this condition of human is a fundamental one. The soul is in itself, just as capable of that Perfection, as it was when Created. Only by the sin of disobedience, was it alienated from God, and made the possessor of those things, which tend to contaminate it, and cause its Pure Condition to be overshadowed, and dormant, as to this Perfection.

All of God's Universe is Perfect! Subject to the Workings of His Perfect Laws (of Love and Harmony). When that condition exists, which shows that some one, or other, of His Creatures are not working, or being, in Harmony with these Laws, it only means, that in order for the restoration to the Harmonious Existence, human must renounce, and get rid of, these foreign things, that have the effect of interfering with the Harmony of their Creation.

There is no such thing as total depravity, or "Original Sin", or the existence of any condition of the soul in this "Original Sin", that cannot be remedied by the application of the proper treatment, and the removal of the incubus. Human, in order to become Perfect again, as they were before "the fall", is not required to be recreated, or have imposed upon them, that, which will make them a new, or different, being, from what they were in the beginning. The Perfect Human is still in existence, but is hidden from the sight and consciousness of humans. Needs only their revealment, by eliminating from them, "the covering", which now hides their Real Self (the soul). Nothing new is needed! Only the riddance of the soul from those things, which do not belong to it. Then, the soul will appear, just as it was Created. A Perfect Soul, made in the image of God, but not formed from any portion of the Great Oversoul of the Father.

For a long time now, human has remained in this condition of having their soul "covered over" by those things that are merely the results of the perversion of their appetites, and the animal part of their Nature. It is only by a process of renunciation, that these encumbrances can be gotten rid of, and human stand forth, a free and Glorious Being, as they were before the burden of sin came upon them.

In this process, they need no one to pay any supposed debt to the Father, or to make an atonement for them. They must, them self, by their course of thinking, and consequent doing, remove the things that cause them to appear to them self, and to others, the outcast from God's Favor. In order to accomplish this, they must first renounce the idea that they are a vile being, and not worthy of the Favor of the Father, and assert their belief that they, as the human, is the Perfect Creature of God, and can, of them self, regain the Estate, from which they have fallen. Let sin and error be removed from their present, apparent, existence. In doing this, they will be helped by the spirits of humans, who from their own experience, Know, that sin and error has no Real Existence in the Economy of God, but in the living of human, on Earth, and in the Spirit World as well, have a Reality, that has prevented humans from finding their True Selves (soul).

The Renunciation, is not so much a matter of the intellect, as it is of the Moral Nature of Human. They, while they must use their mind, and its attributes, in working out this Renunciation, yet must try earnestly, and certainly, use the Moral Faculties of their True Nature. For the perversions of these faculties, are the foundation of their present condition of sin and error. This renunciation may take a long time to be accomplished, as humans look upon time. It will finally come to pass. The Harmony of God's Universe will be restored. In the meantime, humans will suffer, for this renunciation is always accompanied by suffering, not so much as a necessary ingredient, or penalty, of the renunciation, but as a consequence of the changing of humans wills, and desires, in the process of reaching again The Condition of the Perfect Human.

I will stop now, as the rapport has ceased, but will come again.

Goodnight, I am your friend and well-wisher. Abraham Lincoln.

Spiritual Progression