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diff --git a/44073-0.txt b/44073-0.txt index 6f63785..c52577a 100644 --- a/44073-0.txt +++ b/44073-0.txt @@ -1,41 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, by -Levi H. Dowling - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ - The Philosophic and Practical Basis of the Religion of the - Aquarian Age of the World and of The Church Universal - -Author: Levi H. Dowling - -Release Date: October 30, 2013 [EBook #44073] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AQUARIAN GOSPEL OF JESUS *** - - - - -Produced by Tor Martin Kristiansen, Jon Noring, Charlie -Howard, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44073 *** [Illustration: PALESTINE FROM THE RAISED MAP constructed from the Surveys of the PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND BY GEORGE ARMSTRONG ESQr @@ -20455,362 +20418,4 @@ Page 158 Chapter 116, verse 2: “dualty” may be typographical error for End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, by Levi H. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ - The Philosophic and Practical Basis of the Religion of the - Aquarian Age of the World and of The Church Universal - -Author: Levi H. Dowling - -Release Date: October 30, 2013 [EBook #44073] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AQUARIAN GOSPEL OF JESUS *** - - - - -Produced by Tor Martin Kristiansen, Jon Noring, Charlie -Howard, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: PALESTINE FROM THE RAISED MAP constructed from the -Surveys of the PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND BY GEORGE ARMSTRONG ESQr -Secretary to the Fund] - - - THE AQUARIAN GOSPEL - _of_ - JESUS THE CHRIST - - _The Philosophic and Practical Basis of the Religion - of the Aquarian Age of the World_ - - AND OF - - THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL - - TRANSCRIBED FROM THE BOOK OF GOD'S REMEMBRANCES, - KNOWN AS THE AKASHIC RECORDS, - - BY - LEVI - - WITH - INTRODUCTION - BY - EVA S. DOWLING, A. Ph. D. - - LONDON: - L. N. FOWLER AND COMPANY - - E. S. DOWLING, PUBLISHER, - Los Angeles, California - 1911 - - FOR SALE BY - E. S. DOWLING - Los Angeles, California. - - Copyright 1911, by - MRS. EVA S. DOWLING - - Copyright in England, 1911 - Entered at Stationers' Hall, London - - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - including rights of translation - - M. A. DONOHUE & CO. - PRINTERS AND BINDERS - CHICAGO - - - - -CONTENTS - - - SECTION I.--_Birth and Early Life of Mary, Mother of Jesus._--Chapter - 1. - - SECTION II.--_Birth and Infancy of John the Harbinger, and of - Jesus._--Chapters 2-6. - - SECTION III.--_Education of Mary and Elizabeth in Zoan._--Chapters - 7-12. - - SECTION IV.--_Childhood and Early Education of John the - Harbinger._--Chapters 13-15. - - SECTION V.--_Childhood and Early Education of Jesus._--Chapters 16-20. - - SECTION VI.--_Life and Works of Jesus in India._--Chapters 21-35. - - SECTION VII.--_Life and Works of Jesus in Tibet and Western - India._--Chapters 36-37. - - SECTION VIII.--_Life and Works of Jesus in Persia._--Chapters 38-41. - - SECTION IX.--_Life and Works of Jesus in Assyria._--Chapters 42-43. - - SECTION X.--_Life and Works of Jesus in Greece._--Chapters 44-46. - - SECTION XI.--_Life and Works of Jesus in Egypt._--Chapters 47-55. - - SECTION XII.--_The Council of the Seven Sages of the - World._--Chapters 56-60. - - SECTION XIII.--_The Ministry of John the Harbinger._--Chapters 61-64. - - SECTION XIV.--_The Christine Ministry of Jesus._--_Introductory - Epoch._--Chapters 65-71. - - SECTION XV.--_The First Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of - Jesus._--Chapters 72-90. - - SECTION XVI.--_The Second Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of - Jesus._--Chapters 91-123. - - SECTION XVII.--_The Third Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of - Jesus._--Chapters 124-158. - - SECTION XVIII.--_The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus._--Chapters 159-164. - - SECTION XIX.--_The Trial and Execution of Jesus._--Chapters 165-171. - - SECTION XX.--_The Resurrection of Jesus._--Chapter 172. - - SECTION XXI.--_Materialization of the Spiritual Body of - Jesus._--Chapters 173-180. - - SECTION XXII.--_Establishment of the Christine Church._--Chapters - 181-182. - - - - -INTRODUCTION - -BY - -EVA S. DOWLING, A. Ph.D., - -SCRIBE TO THE MESSENGER. - - -_THE BOOK._ - -The full title of this book is "The Aquarian Age Gospel of Jesus, -the Christ of the Piscean Age," and the critical reader is apt to -ask a number of pertinent questions concerning it. Among the many -anticipated questions these are perhaps the most important: - - 1 What is an Age? - 2 What is the Piscean Age? - 3 What is the Aquarian Age? - 4 What is meant by the Christ as the word is used in this book? - 5 What relationship existed between Jesus of Nazareth and the Christ? - 6 Who is Levi, the transcriber of this book? - 7 What are the Akashic Records? - -1 _What is an Age?_ Astronomers tell us that our sun and his family -of planets revolve around a central sun, which is millions of miles -distant, and that it requires something less than 26,000 years to make -one revolution. His orbit is called the Zodiac, which is divided into -twelve signs, familiarly known as Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, -Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. -It requires our Solar System a little more than 2100 years to pass -through one of these signs, and this time is the measurement of an Age -or Dispensation. Because of what Astronomers call "the precession of -the Equinoxes" the movement of the sun through the signs of the Zodiac -is in order reverse from that given above. - -_Exact Time of the Beginning of an Age._ Regarding this matter there -is a disagreement among astronomers; but in this Introduction we are -not called upon to give the reasons of the various investigators for -their opinions; there are enough well authenticated facts for our -present purposes. It is conceded by all critical students that the sun -entered the zodiacal sign Taurus in the days of our historic Adam when -the Taurian Age began; that Abraham lived not far from the beginning -of the Arian Age, when the sun entered the sign Aries. About the time -of the rise of the Roman empire the sun entered the sign Pisces, the -Fishes, and the Piscean Age began, so that early in this Age Jesus of -Nazareth lived. - -2 _What is the Piscean Age?_ This question requires further -consideration. The Piscean Age is identical with the Christian -Dispensation. The word Pisces means fish. The sign is known as a water -sign, and the Piscean Age has been distinctly the age of the fish and -its element, water. - -In the establishment of their great institutions John the Harbinger -and Jesus both introduced the rite of water baptism, which has been -used in some form in all the so-called Christian Churches and cults, -even to the present time. Water is the true symbol of purification. -Jesus himself said to the Harbinger before he was baptized: "All men -must be washed, symbolic of the cleansing of the soul." (Aquarian -Gospel 64:7.) - -_Fish was a Christian Symbol._ In the earlier centuries of the -Christian Dispensation the fish was everywhere used as a symbol. In -his remarkable book, "Christian Iconography," Didron says: - -"The fish, in the opinion of antiquarians generally, is the symbol -of Jesus Christ. The fish is sculptured upon a number of Christian -monuments, and more particularly upon the ancient sarcophagi. It -is also upon medals, bearing the name of our Savior and also upon -engraved stones, cameos and intaglios. The fish is also to be remarked -upon the amulets worn suspended from the necks by children, and upon -ancient glasses and sculptured lamps. - -"Baptismal fonts are more particularly ornamented with the fish. The -fish is constantly exhibited placed upon a dish in the middle of the -table, at the Last Supper, among the loaves, knives and cups used at -the banquet." - -In the writings of Tertullian we find this statement: "We are little -fishes in Christ our great fish." - -The last two thousand years, comprising the Piscean Age, has certainly -been one of water and the many uses of that element have been -emphasized, and sea and lake and river navigation has been brought to -a high degree of efficiency. - -3 _What is the Aquarian Age?_ The human race is today standing upon -the cusp of the Piscean-Aquarian Ages. Aquarius is an air sign and the -New Age is already noted for remarkable inventions for the use of air, -electricity, magnetism, etc. Men navigate the air as fish do the sea, -and send their thoughts spinning around the world with the speed of -lightning. - -The word Aquarius is derived from the Latin word aqua, meaning water. -Aquarius is, however, the _water bearer_, and the symbol of the sign, -which is the eleventh sign of the Zodiac, is a man carrying in his -right hand a pitcher of water. Jesus referred to the beginning of the -Aquarian Age in these words: - -"And then the man who bears the pitcher will walk forth across an arc -of heaven; the sign and signet of the Son of Man will stand forth in -the eastern sky. The wise will then lift up their heads and know that -the redemption of the earth is near." (Aquarian Gospel 157:29, 30.) - -The Aquarian Age is pre-eminently a spiritual age, and the spiritual -side of the great lessons that Jesus gave to the world may now be -comprehended by multitudes of people for the many are now coming into -an advanced stage of spiritual consciousness; so with much propriety -this book is called "The Aquarian (or Spiritual) Gospel of Jesus, the -Christ." - -_An Important Event._ The transfer of dominion from one Age to another -is an important event in the world of Cherubim and Seraphim. Among the -manuscripts of Levi we have found a most remarkable paper describing -the transfer of dominion from the Piscean Age to the Aquarian Age, but -it is difficult to determine whether it is a recital of facts or a -prophetic statement. We reproduce the paper in full. - - THE CUSP OF THE AGES. - - "In Spirit I was caught away into the realms of Akasha; I stood - alone within the circle of the sun. - - "And there I found the secret spring that opens up the door to - Wisdom and an understanding heart. - - "I entered in and then I knew. - - "I saw the four and twenty Cherubim and Seraphim that guard - the circle of the sun, the mighty ones who were proclaimed by - masters long ago 'the four and twenty ancient ones.' - - "I heard the names of every Cherubim and Seraphim, and learned - that every sign in all the Zodiac is ruled by two--a Cherubim - and Seraphim. - - "And then I stood upon the cusp where Ages meet. The Piscean - Age had passed; the Aquarian Age had just begun. - - "I saw the guardian Spirits of the Piscean Age; Ramasa is the - Cherubim; Vacabiel is Seraphim. - - "I saw the guardian Spirits of the Aquarian Age, and Archer is - the Cherubim; Sakmaquil is the Seraphim. - - "These four great spirits of the Triune God stood close - together on the cusp, and in the presence of the sacred - Three--the God of Might, the God of Wisdom, and the God of - Love--the scepter of Domain, of Might, of Wisdom and of Love - was there transferred. - - "I heard the charges of the Triune God; but these I may not now - reveal. - - "I heard the history of the Piscean Age from Piscean Cherubim - and Seraphim, and when I took my pen to write Ramasa said: - - "Not now, my son, not now; but you may write it down for men - when men have learned the sacred laws of Brotherhood, of Peace - on earth, good-will to every living thing. - - "And then I heard the Aquarian Cherubim and Seraphim proclaim - the Gospel of the coming Age, the age of Wisdom, of the Son of - Man. - - "And when the crown was lifted from the head of Ramasa and - placed upon the head of Archer of the Aquarian Age; and when - the royal scepter was transferred from Seraphim Vacabiel to - Seraphim Sakmaquil there was deep silence in the courts of - heaven. - - "And then the goddess Wisdom spoke, and with her hands - outstretched she poured the benedictions of the Holy Breath - upon the rulers of Aquarius. - - "I may not write the words she spoke, but I may tell the Gospel - of the coming age that Archer told when he received the crown. - - "And I may breathe to men the song of praise that Seraphim - Sakmaquil sung when she received the royal scepter of the - newborn age. - - "This Gospel I will tell, and I will sing this song in every - land, to all the people, tribes and tongues of earth." - -4 _What is Meant by "the Christ," as the Word is Used in This Book?_ -The word Christ is derived from the Greek word Kristos and means -anointed. It is identical with the Hebrew word Messiah. The word -Christ, per se, does not refer to any particular person; every -anointed person is christed. When the definite article "the" is placed -before the word christ a definite personality is indicated, and this -personality is none other than a member of the Trinity, the Son who -had a glory with the Father-Mother before the worlds were formed. - -According to the teachings of all ancient masters this Son is Love; so -the Christ is Love, and Love is God, since God is Love. - -Another remarkable manuscript found in Levi's Akashic portfolio -gives the clearest possible ideal of the Christ, or Love of God. It -is presumed that this manuscript is a direct transcription from the -Akashic Records and its importance demands its reproduction here in -full. - - THE CHRIST - - "Before creation was the Christ walked with the Father God and - Mother God in Akasha. - - "The Christ is son, the only son begotten by Almighty God, the - God of Force and God omniscient, God of thought; and Christ is - God, the God of Love. - - "Without the Christ there was no light. Through Christ all life - was manifest; and so through him all things were done, and - naught was done in forming worlds or peopling worlds without - the Christ. - - "Christ is the Logos of Infinities and through the word alone - are Thought and Force made manifest. - - "The Son is called the Christ, because the Son, the Love, the - universal Love, was set apart, ordained to be creator, Lord, - preserver and redeemer of all things, of everything that is, or - evermore will be. - - "Through Christ, the protoplast, the earth, the plant, the - beast, the man, the angel and the cherubim took up their - stations on their planes of life. - - "Through Christ they are preserved; and if they fall it is the - Christ who lifts them up; and if they sell themselves to sin - the Christ redeems. - - "Now Christ, the universal Love, pervades all spaces of - infinity, and so there is no end to love. - - "From the great heart of Love unnumbered spirits were sent - forth to demonstrate the height, the depth, the width, the - boundlessness of Love. - - "To every world and star and moon and sun a master spirit of - this Love divine was sent; and all were full anointed with the - oil of helpfulness, and each became a Christ. - - "All glorious in his majesty is Christ, who spread the pure - white robe of Love o'er all the planes of earth--The Christ of - earth, its heaven, its graves. - - "In course of time the protoplast, the earth, the plant, the - beast, the man sold out their birthrights unto sin; but Christ - was present to redeem. - - "Hid in the holiest place in all infinities is locked the - scroll that bears the record of the purposes of God, the Triune - God, and there we read: - - "Perfection is the ultimate of life. A seed is perfect in its - embryotic life, but it is destined to unfold, to grow. - - "Into the soil of every plane these seeds, which were the - Thoughts of God, were cast--the seeds of protoplast, of earth, - of plant, of beast, of man, of angel and of cherubim, and they - who sowed the seeds, through Christ, ordained that they should - grow, and should return at last, by effort of unnumbered years, - to the great granary of thought, and each be a perfection of - its kind. - - "And in the boundless blessedness of Love the man was made the - Lord of protoplast, of earth, of plant, of beast; and Christ - proclaimed: Man shall have full dominion over everything that - is upon these planes of life; and it was so. - - "And he who gave the lordship unto man declared that he must - rule by Love. - - "But men grew cruel and they lost their power to rule, and - protoplast, and earth, and plant and beast became at enmity - with man; he lost his heritage; but Christ was present to - redeem. - - "But man had lost his consciousness of right; he could no - longer comprehend the boundlessness of Love; he could see - naught but self, and things of self; but Christ was there to - seek the lost and save. - - "So that he might be close to man in all the ways of life, that - man might comprehend the mighty spirit of the Love, the Christ - of earth made manifest to human eyes and ears by taking his - abode in some pure person, well prepared by many lives to be a - fit abiding place of Love. - - "Thus Christ made manifest Love's power to save; but men forgot - so soon, and so Christ must manifest again, and then again. - - "And ever since man took his place in form of flesh the Christ - has been manifest in flesh at first of every age." - -5 _What relationship existed between Jesus of Nazareth and the -Christ?_ Orthodox Christian ecclesiastics tell us that Jesus of -Nazareth and the Christ were one; that the true name of this -remarkable person was Jesus Christ. They tell us that this man of -Galilee was the very eternal God clothed in flesh of man that men -might see his glory. Of course this doctrine is wholly at variance -with the teachings of Jesus himself and of his apostles. The Aquarian -Masters in council have formulated an answer to this question that so -well covers all the information required that we give it in full: - - "Jesus was an ideal Jew, born in Bethlehem of Judea. His mother - was a beautiful Jewish girl named Mary. As a child Jesus - differed but little from other children only that in past lives - he had overcome carnal propensities to such an extent that he - could be tempted like others and not yield. Paul was right when - to the Hebrews he said: 'He was in all points tempted like as - we are, yet without sin.'--Hebrews 4:15. - - "Jesus suffered as other men suffer, and was made perfect - through suffering; for this is the only way to perfection. His - life was an example of attainment by the way of crosses and - cruel treatment. Paul was right again when he said: 'It became - him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in - bringing many sons into glory to make the captain of their - salvation perfect through suffering.'--Hebrews 2:10. - - "In many respects Jesus was a remarkable child, for by ages - of strenuous preparation he was qualified to be an avatar, a - savior of the world, and from childhood he was endowed with - superior wisdom and was conscious of the fact that he was - competent to lead the race into the higher ways of spiritual - living. But he was conscious also of the fact that he must - attain the mastery by trials, bufferings, temptations and - sufferings. And all his life was spent in attaining. After his - death, burial and resurrection he appeared in materialized form - before the Silent Brothers in the temple of Heliopolis, in - Egypt, and said: - - "'My human life was wholly given to bring my will to tune with - the deific will; when this was done my earth-tasks all were - done. - - "'You know that all my life was one great drama for the sons - of men; a pattern for the sons of men. I lived to show the - possibilities of man. - - "'What I have done all men can do, and what I am all men shall - be.'"--Aquarian Gospel 178:43, 46. - - "Jesus was the name of the man and it was the only appropriate - name for this kind of a man. The word means Savior and Jesus - was in more senses than one a savior. - - The word Christ means "the anointed one," and then it is an - official title. It means, The Master of Love. When we say - "Jesus the Christ" we refer to the man and to his office; - just as we do when we say Edward, the King, or Lincoln, the - President. Edward was not always King, and Lincoln was not - always President, and Jesus was not always Christ. Jesus won - his Christship by a strenuous life, and in the Aquarian Gospel, - chapter 55, we have a record of the events of his christing, - or receiving the degree Christ. Here is where he was coronated - by the highest earth authorities as the Christ-King; properly - speaking, 'The Master of Love'; and after this was done he - entered at once upon his Judean and Galilean ministry. - - "We recognize the facts that Jesus was man and that Christ was - God, so that in very truth Jesus the Christ was the God-man of - the ages." - - The Nazarene's Testimony. Jesus himself made the matter clear. - Once when he was speaking to a congregation in Bethany the - people called him King and he stood forth and said: - - "'I am not sent to sit upon a throne to rule as Caesar rules; - and you may tell the ruler of the Jews that I am not a claimant - for his throne. - - "'Men call me Christ, and God has recognized the name; but - Christ is not a man. The Christ is universal Love, and Love is - King. - - "'This Jesus is but man who has been fitted by temptations - overcome, by trials multiform, to be the temple through which - the Christ can manifest to men. - - "'Then hear, you men of Israel, hear! Look not upon the flesh; - it is not king. Look to the Christ within who shall be formed - in every one of you, as he is formed in me. - - "'When you have purified your hearts by faith, the king will - enter in and you will see his face.'"--Aquarian Gospel 68:10-14. - -Surely this question has been answered. Jesus was man; Christ was -Divine Love--the Love of God, and after thirty years of strenuous life -the man had made his body fit to be the temple of the holy breath and -Love took full possession, and John well said when he declared: - -"'And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld the -glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.'" - -6 _Who was Levi, the Transcriber of this Book?_ Regarding the -personality of Levi we are permitted to write but little. Suffice it -to say that he is an American citizen, and has been a close student -of the religions of the world from childhood. When but a boy he was -impressed with the sensitiveness of the finer ethers and believed -that in some manner they were sensitized plates on which sounds, -even thoughts, were recorded. With avidity he entered into the -deeper studies of etheric vibration, determined to solve the great -mysteries of the heavens for himself. Forty years he spent in study -and silent meditation, and then he found himself in that stage of -spiritual consciousness that permitted him to enter the domain of -these superfine ethers and become familiar with their mysteries. He -then learned that the imaginings of his boyhood days were founded upon -veritable facts, and that every thought of every living thing is there -recorded. - -In his manuscript entitled "The Cusp of the Ages," a part of which we -have already reproduced in this Introduction, we find the following -copy of the Commission, which Levi received from Visel, the Goddess of -Wisdom, or the Holy Breath. - - LEVI'S COMMISSION. - - "And then Visel the holy one stood forth and said: - - "O Levi, son of man, behold, for you are called to be the - message bearer of the coming age--the age of spirit blessedness. - - "Give heed, O son of man, for men must know the Christ, the - Love of God; for Love is sovereign balm for all the wounds of - men, the remedy for every ill. - - "And man must be endowed with Wisdom and with Power and with an - Understanding heart. - - "Behold the Akasha! Behold the Record Galleries of Visel where - every thought and word and deed of every living thing is - written down. - - "The needs of men are manifold, and men must know their needs. - - "Now, Levi, hearken to my words: go forth into these mystic - Galleries and read. There you will find a message for the - world; for every man; for every living thing. - - "I breathe upon you now the Holy Breath; you will discriminate, - and you will know the lessons that these Record Books of God - are keeping now for men of this new age. - - "This age will be an age of splendor and of light, because - it is the home age of the Holy Breath; and Holy Breath will - testify anew for Christ, the Logos of eternal Love. - - "At first of every age this Logos is made manifest in flesh so - man can see and know and comprehend a Love that is not narrow, - circumscribed. - - "Twelve times in every revolution of the sun this christed Love - of God is made full manifest in flesh upon the planes of earth, - and you may read in Akasha the wondrous lessons that these - Christs have taught to men; but you shall publish not to men - the lessons of the Christs of ancient times. - - "Now, Levi, message bearer of the Spirit Age, take up your pen - and write. - - "Write full the story of The Christ who built upon the Solid - Rock of yonder circle of the sun--the Christ who men have known - as Enoch the Initiate. - - "Write of his works as prophet, priest and seer; write of his - life of purity and love, and how he changed his carnal flesh to - flesh divine without descending through the gates of death. - - "And you may write the story of Melchizedec, the Christ who - lived when Abram lived, and pointed out to men the way to life - through sacrifice; who gave his life a willing sacrifice for - men. - - "And you may write the story of the Prince of Peace, The Christ - who came as babe in Bethlehem, and traveled every way of life - that man must tread. - - "He was despised, rejected and abused; was spit upon, was - crucified, was buried in a tomb; but he revived and rose a - conqueror over death that he might show the possibilities of - man. - - "A thousand times he said to men; 'I came to show the - possibilities of man; what I have done all men may do, and what - I am all men shall be.' - - "These stories of The Christ will be enough, for they contain - the true philosophy of life, of death and of the resurrection - of the dead. - - "They show the spiral journey of the soul until the man of - earth and God are one forevermore." - -_Levi in Prophecy._ About two thousand years ago Elihu, who conducted -a school of the prophets in Zoan, Egypt, referred to Levi thus: - - "This age will comprehend but little of the works of Purity - and Love; but not a word is lost, for in the Book of God's - Remembrance a registry is made of every thought and word and - deed; - - "And when the world is ready to receive, lo, God will send a - messenger to open up the book and copy from its sacred pages - all the messages of Purity and Love. - - "Then every man of earth will read the words of life in the - language of his native land, and men will see the light. - - "And man again will be at one with God."--Aquarian Gospel - 7:25-28. - -Further references to the personality of Levi are, seemingly, -unnecessary. It matters but little who he is; his work in the -transcription of the Aquarian Gospel of Jesus, the Christ, stands -unimpeachable. The lessons of this book all bear the stamp of the -Nazarene, for no man except the world's greatest master could have -touched the high chords of divine Love and Wisdom which characterize -the pages of this marvelous book. - -7 _What are the Akashic Records?_ Akasha is a Sanskrit word, and -means "Primary substance," that out of which all things are formed. -According to Aquarian philosophy, it is the first stage of the -crystallization of spirit. This philosophy recognizes the fact that -all primordial substance is spirit; that matter is spirit moving at -a lower rate of vibration, becoming, as one master expressed it, a -coagulum. - -This Akashic, or primary substance, is of exquisite fineness and is so -sensitive that the slightest vibrations of an ether any place in the -universe registers an indelible impression upon it. - -This primal substance is not relegated to any particular part of the -universe, but is everywhere present. It is in very fact the "Universal -Mind" of which our metaphysicians speak. - -When the mind of man is in exact accord with the Universal Mind man -enters into a conscious recognition of these Akashic impressions, and -may collect them and translate them into any language of earth with -which he is familiar. - -In the infinite One manifest we note the attributes of Force, -Intelligence and Love, and a person may be in full accord with one of -these attributes and not with the others. One may enter fully into -the spirit of the God of Force and not be imbued with the spirit of -Intelligence; or one may be wholly absorbed with the spirit of Divine -Love and be far removed from both Intelligence and Force. Furthermore, -a person may enter fully into the consciousness of Holy Breath, or -Supreme Intelligence, and be not at all in rapport with either Love or -Force. Knowledge is not gained through the spirit of either Force or -Love. It is only from Universal Mind, which is Supreme Intelligence, -called by Oriental scholars the Akashic Records, and by Hebrew -masters, the Book of God's Remembrance, that knowledge of any kind can -be obtained. - - _Consciousness_; we note three phases of it: - - 1 Consciousness of the omnipotence of God and man. - - 2 Christ consciousness, or consciousness of Divine Love. - - 3 Consciousness of the Holy Breath, or of Supreme Intelligence. - -We must bear in mind that one of these phases of consciousness does -not necessarily imply either of the others. People are frequently -found who are completely filled with the Love of God, are far advanced -in the science of Christ consciousness, who are absolutely ignorant; -have not the slightest conception of the laws of natural things or of -spiritual things; are not in rapport with the great Teacher which is -the Holy Spirit. - -_The Akashic Records._ The imperishable records of life, known as the -Akashic Records, are wholly in the domain of Supreme Intelligence, or -Universal Mind, and the Akashic Record reader must be in such close -touch with the Holy Spirit, or the Holy Breath, as the ancient masters -call this spirit of Supreme Intelligence, that every thought vibration -is instantly felt in every fibre of his being. - -_Differentiation._ Since all space is charged with the vibrations of -thoughts of all kinds how may the Akashic Record reader differentiate -and gather only the thoughts and life events of a particular person or -group of persons? - -Every person has his own distinct vibration and when the reader fully -understands the law of discrimination his whole being is tuned for the -reception of the one particular tone and rhythm, and it is impossible -for any other tone or rhythm to make the slightest impression upon -him. This principle is demonstrated in wireless telegraphy. - -It required many years for Levi to learn the Law of Differentiation, -and to come in rapport with the tones and rhythms of Jesus of -Nazareth, Enoch and Melchizedec and their co-laborers. But under the -direction of the Spirit of Supreme Intelligence, he has attained unto -this accomplishment, and now he instantly feels in all his being the -slightest vibrations that come from any of these great centers and, of -course, all of his transcriptions are true to the letter. - - -MAN. - -"What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou -visiteth him?" This was the earnest question of David, the Hebrew -Psalmist, and the 8th Psalm is given wholly to the contemplation of -man, the crowning work of manifest creation. Among the many great -lessons that Levi has been permitted to gather from the Akashic -Records, or the Universal Mind, we find one on _Man_ in which his -descent into physical matter and his final ascent into an eternal -oneness with God is so graphically described that it certainly merits -a place in this Introduction, and we give it in full: - - "Time never was when man was not. - - "If life of man at any time began a time would come when it - would end. - - "The thoughts of God cannot be circumscribed. No finite mind - can comprehend things infinite. - - "All finite things are subject unto change. All finite things - will cease to be, because there was a time when they were not. - - "The bodies and the soul of men are finite things, and they - will change, yea, from the finite point of view the time will - come when they will be no more. - - "But man himself is not the body, nor the soul; he is a spirit - and is part of God. - - "Creative Fiat gave to man, to spirit man, a soul that he might - function on the plane of soul; gave him a body of the flesh, - that he might function on the plane of things made manifest. - - "Why did creative Fiat give to spirit man a soul that he might - function on the plane of soul? - - "Why did creative Fiat give to soul a body of the flesh that it - might function on the plane of things that are made manifest? - - "Hear, now, ye worlds, dominions, powers and thrones! - - "Hear, now, ye cherubim, ye seraphim, ye angels and ye men! - - "Hear, now, O protoplast, and earth, and plant and beast! - - "Hear, now, ye creeping things of earth, ye fish that swim, ye - birds that fly! - - "Hear, now, ye winds that blow, ye thunders and ye lightnings - of the sky! - - "Hear, now, ye spirits of the fire, of water, earth and air! - - "Hear, now, O everything that is, or was, or evermore will be, - for Wisdom speaks from out the highest plane of spirit life: - - "Man is a thought of God; all thoughts of God are infinite; - they are not measured up by time, for things that are concerned - with time begin and end. - - "The thoughts of God are from the everlasting of the past unto - the never ending days to come--And so is man, the Spirit-man. - - "But man, like every other thought of God, was but a seed, a - seed that held within itself the potencies of God, just as - the seed of any plant of earth holds deep within itself the - attributes of every part of that especial plant. - - "So spirit-man, as seed of God, held deep within himself the - attributes of every part of God. - - "Now, seeds are perfect, yea, as perfect as the source from - which they come; but they are not unfolded into life made - manifest. - - "The child in utero is perfect as the mother is. - - "So man, the seed, must be deep planted in a soil that he might - grow, unfold, as does the bud unfold to show the flower. - - "The human seed that came forth from the heart of God was full - ordained to be the lord of plane of soul, and of the plane of - things made manifest. - - "So God, the husbandman of every thing that is, threw forth - this human seed into the soil of soul; it grew apace, and man - became a living soul; and he became the lord of all the kingdom - of the soul. - - "Hark, now, let every creature hear, The plane of soul is but - the ether of the spirit plane vibrating not so fast, and in the - slower rhythm of this plane the essences of life are manifest; - the perfumes and the odors, the true sensations and the all of - love are manifest. - - "And these soul attributes become a body beautiful. - - "A multitude of lessons man must learn upon the plane of soul; - and here he tarries many ages until his lessons are all learned. - - "Upon the boundary of the plane of soul the ether began to - vibrate slower still, and then the essences took on a garb; the - perfumes and the odors and the true sensations and the all of - love were clothed in flesh; and man was clothed in flesh. - - "Perfected man must pass through all the ways of life, and so - a carnal nature was full manifest, a nature that sprang forth - from fleshly things. - - "Without a foe a soldier never knows his strength, and thought - must be developed by the exercise of strength. - - "And so this carnal nature soon became a foe that man must - fight, that he might be the strength of God made manifest. - - "Let every living thing stand still and hear! - - "Man is the lord of all the plane of manifests; of protoplast, - of mineral, of plant, of beast; but he has given up his - birthright, just to gratify his lower self, his carnal self. - - "But man will full regain his lost estate, his heritage; but he - must do it in a conflict that cannot be told in words. - - "Yea, he must suffer trials and temptations manifold; but let - him know that cherubim and seraphim that rule the stations - of the sun, and spirits of the mighty God who rule the solar - stars are his protectors and his guides, and they will lead to - victory. - - "Man will be fully saved, redeemed, perfected by the things he - suffers on the plane of flesh, and on the plane of soul. - - "When man has conquered carnal things his garb of flesh will - then have served its purpose well and it will fall, will be no - more. - - "Then he will stand untrammeled on the plane of soul where he - must full complete his victories." - - "Unnumbered foes will stand before the man upon the plane of - soul; there he must overcome, yea, overcome them every one. - - "Thus hope will ever be his beacon light; there is no failure - for the human soul, for God is leading on and victory is sure. - - "Man cannot die; the spirit man is one with God, and while God - lives man cannot die. - - "When man has conquered every foe upon the plane of soul the - seed will have full opened out, will have unfolded in the Holy - Breath. - - "The garb of soul will then have served its purpose well, and - man will need it never more, and it will pass and be no more. - - "And man will then attain unto the blessedness of perfectness - and be at one with God." - - - - -SUBJECT INDEX - -A general outline of the incidents and topics of the book will be -found in the Contents which appears in the first part of the volume. - - - A - CHAP. - Abram, Sketch of life 10 - Account must be given 105 - Accusers are the greatest sinners 132 - Address of Jesus at magian feast 39 - Address of Jesus to Chaldeans 42 - Address of Jesus to Atheneans 44 - Address of Delphic Oracle 44 - Address of Jesus, final to Atheneans 46 - Address of Jesus at Jordan ford 64 - Address of Jesus in Bethany 68 - Address of Jesus concerning John 67 - Address of Jesus in Bethlehem 76 - Address of John on Jesus and the Christ 80 - Address of Jesus at Jacob's well 82 - Adultery defined by man 98 - Adultery lies in the desire 98 - Adulterer, the one who lusts 143 - Adon Mashich Cumi 172 - Afraid of Jesus' power, priests 31 - Afflictions partial payments on debts 138 - Afflictions, lesson of Jesus 138 - Afflictions merited; the law (V. 5, 6) 138 - Age, Messiah comes at first of every 73 - Ajainin; Jesus his guest 37 - Ajainin in Benares to see Jesus 29 - Ajainin visits Jesus 29 - Almsgiving, lesson of Jesus on 94 - Almighty God, the Father; Omniscient God, the Mother 97 - Alarmed at power of Jesus, Gadarines 118 - Alone on mountain, Jesus prays 128 - Alertness of Pharisees to apprehend Jesus 150 - Altars of Grecian gods 46 - Amazed at resurrection of Lazarus 148 - Amphitheater, Jesus and Apollo in 44 - Angered at Jesus' words about castes, priests 24 - Anger a crime 97 - Anxiety about earthly things 99 - Anxious Martha 136 - Anointed Jesus with perfumes, Mary 159 - Ananias bribes Judas to betray Jesus 159 - Ananias, leader of arresting party 164 - Answering prayer: how God helps 46 - Appeal of Jesus to the mob 164 - Apollo opens up door of Greek lore to Jesus 44 - Apollo states needs of Greece 57 - Apostles are chosen 88 - Apostles, all at Jesus' home 89 - Apostles and Jesus at Capernaum 123 - Apostles confirmed as saviors 127 - Apostles flee to avoid arrest 164 - Apostolic charge of Jesus 89 - Archelaus, ruler in Jerusalem 7 - Ashamed of his cowardice, Peter 164 - Ashbina recognizes Jesus 42 - Ashbina states needs of Assyria 57 - Asher's Inn, Jesus at 78 - Ask in faith; God answers 137 - Assassination of Zacharias 6 - Athens, Jesus meets the masters 44 - Athens beach, storm on 46 - Attainment possible 101 - Augustus Caesar 1 - Author of misfortune, is God? 114 - Avesta 10 - Awaiting coming of Holy Breath 181 - - - B - - Baal, Assyrian Idol 43 - Babylon, Jesus and Ashbina in 43 - Babylon, its wicked kings 43 - Balm of life, the air we breathe 41 - Baptism instituted 15 - Baptism of Jesus by the Harbinger 64 - Baptism of many people by the Harbinger 64 - Baptism adopted by Jesus as disciples' pledge 78 - Baptism by Jesus of six disciples 78 - Baptized, John the Harbinger 15 - Barachia, Rabi, teacher of Jesus 17 - Barato Arabo, friend of Jesus 32 - Bartimeus, healed by Jesus 150 - Barren fig tree withered 152 - Barabbas appointed scapegoat 168 - Bar-Simon's feast 159 - Beatitudes, formulated by Jesus 95 - Belus, monument of folly 43 - Benediction of Jesus on his kindred 69 - Benediction of Jesus on all 180 - Benediction of Jesus on the seventy 140 - Benediction of Jesus on Ladak 36 - Benediction of Elihu and Salome 47 - Best servant, the best ruler 146 - Bethlehem, Jesus born in 3 - Bethlehem, Jesus in 76 - Bethany, Jesus in 77 - Bethany, home of Lazarus 77 - Bethany, Jesus at Lazarus' house 137 - Bethany, Christines returned to 148 - Bethesda, Jesus surrounded by the sick 91 - Bethabara, Jesus in 147 - Betrayal by Judas 160 - Betrayal of Jesus by a kiss 164 - Birth, of Holy Breath 75 - Birth, of water 75 - Birthday feast of child Jesus 16 - Birthday feast of Herod 117 - Blessed is the Son of Man 156 - Blessedness of living the word of God 108 - Blind leaders and their followers 100 - Blind man healed by Jesus 138 - Blind man's story of his healing 138 - Blind guides 126 - Book of God's Remembrance 7, 158 - Book of Life 58, 109, 158 - Brahm, Elihu's lesson on 10 - Brahmic priests seeking wisdom 21 - Brahmic philosophy, Elihu's lesson 10 - Bread from heaven 82 - Broad is the way of wickedness 101 - Brotherhood of life 34 - Brotherhood of Right 83 - Buddha, Life and works of 11, 34 - Buddhist temple open for Jesus 31 - Building on sand cannot stand 101 - Building on rock stands forever 101 - Burial of the Harbinger in Hebron 117 - Burial of Jesus in Joseph's tomb 171 - Busybodies seek faults in others 100 - - - C - - Caesarea--Philippi, Christines in 128 - Caiaphas, Jesus in palace of 165 - Camel, a present to Jesus 37 - Capernaum, Christines in 71 - Car of Jagernath at Katak 26 - Carnal man's rule of life 100 - Carnal thoughts defile the mind 126 - Carnal self, Jesus' temptation 65 - Care of God for every thing 109 - Caring for the helpless 74 - Carpenter, Jesus serves as 20 - Castes, Brahmic priest explains 24 - Castes, Jesus reveals injustice of 24 - Cause of afflictions 138 - Censures Jesus for healing, Priest 140 - Ceremonial forms are symbols 35 - Comforter, Holy Breath, promised 161 - Coming Age, its needs 35 - Coming trials of Apostles, Jesus foretold 127 - Commits to John care of his Mother and Miriam, Jesus 170 - Common people, Jesus abides with 24 - Common people become guests 153 - Common people receive Jesus 73 - Courtesans and thieves, Jesus sits with 27 - Conclusion of Jesus' Galilean ministry 149 - Confession of faith, Andrew 66 - Confession of faith, Nathaniel 66 - Confession of faith, Philip 66 - Confession of faith, Peter 66 - Confession of faith, the people 68 - Confession of faith, Lamaas 80 - Confession of faith, Bethlehemites 77 - Confession of faith, Samaritan woman 81 - Confession of faith, Samaritans 82 - Confession of faith essential 109 - Confession of faith not to be bought 107 - Confession of faith, the healed blind man 139 - Confession of Peter: "Thou art the Christ" 128 - Chaldea, Jesus in 42 - Charge to Mary and Elizabeth by Elihu 7 - Charge, the final to Mary and Elizabeth by Elihu 12 - Charge to Jesus by Brotherhood Hierophant 48 - Charge to the Apostles 122 - Charge to the foreign Masters 122 - Charge to the seventy 133 - Charges against Jesus read 165 - Child the symbol of greatness 131 - Children sing praises of Jesus 151 - Christ; theme of sixth postulate, Matheno 59 - Christ in Jesus eulogized 79 - Christ in Jesus explained by John 79 - Christ in the heart essential 79 - Christ the Bread of Life 125 - Christ flesh and blood 125 - Christ the Rock 128 - Christ recognized by voice from heaven 129 - Christ a name of power 182 - Christ the shepherd 136 - Christine consciousness 71 - Christines in Nazareth Synagogue 86 - Christines in Cana 87 - Christines in Capernaum 93, 118 - Christines in Jesus' house 102 - Christines in Mary's home 112 - Christines in Philip's house 116 - Christines in Nazareth 121 - Christine church opened 182 - Christines in Jericho 149 - Christines on Mount of Olives 157 - Chuzas and Jesus 123 - Conflicts precede peace 113 - Congratulates his disciples, Jesus 140 - Conqueror of carnal self 142 - Consecration of Jesus 4 - Consecration, Jesus' lesson to disciples on 112 - Consecration of Apostles 89 - Conscience stricken Judas returns bribe money 169 - Constant preparation 157 - Courtesan at feast in Simon's house 104 - Courtesan shows gratitude 104 - Courtesan's sins forgiven 104 - Courtesan brought before Jesus 134 - Courtesan and Publicans at feast of God 153 - Covetousness is theft 98 - Coward, the man who fights 97 - Circle; its meaning 48 - Cross must be borne 129 - Cross, each must bear his own 142 - Cross the sea, Christines 117, 124 - Crippled healed tells the news 91 - Crippled man sought healing waters 91 - Crucifixion not permitted 168 - Crucifixion, Jesus' secret lesson on 127 - Cruelty of sacrifice 19 - Crumbs, twelve baskets full gathered 124 - - - D - - Darkness intense on Calvary 171 - David's cave home of the Harbinger 1 - Dawn of Peace, Lamaas' question 113 - Day of the Lord 157 - Day Star 14, 88 - Death of Jesus' father 30 - Death and burial of Elizabeth 15 - Death, Matheno's lesson on 15 - Death, Jesus defines it 120 - Dead should care for the dead 117 - Deeds are seeds that grow 100 - Defends Judas, Jesus 164 - Defends Mary's act 159 - Defends a man for taking bread 132 - Defends healing on the Sabbath 141 - Defilement creature of the heart 129 - Delphic Oracle speaks 45 - Demonstration an illusion 107 - Demonstration, Jesus promises one 107 - Denies his Lord thrice, Peter 165 - Denial of Peter, Jesus' prophecy 161 - Departure of Jesus foretold 162 - Departs by night from Benares 31 - Departing glory of Jerusalem, lamentation 151 - Destruction of Jerusalem foretold 157 - Destruction of life on Athens beach 46 - Descent of man, Third Postulate 58 - Desire inspires words and deeds 101 - Devil the lower self of man 8 - Devil, man the maker 39 - Diamond Rule (V. 10) 101 - Disappears suddenly, Jesus 84 - Disciples deserted their Lord 125 - Disease defined by Jesus 74 - Divided service, Jesus' lesson 105 - Divided house cannot stand 106 - Division of the prepared and the unprepared 145 - Door to feast hall low 153 - Dog wounded, cared for by Jesus 74 - Double-hearted man 99 - Doubt causes Peter to sink 124 - Dove symbol of peace 76 - Drunkard's child calls on Jesus for help 92 - Drunkard saved by Jesus 92 - Drowned child restored by Jesus 74 - Duality of the one God 97 - Dues, give to Caesar his own 73 - - - E - - Earthquake shakes Calvary 171 - Eat grain on Sabbath, Christines 93 - Eating flesh of Christ 125 - Education of John finished 61 - Effort, not result, receives credit 143 - Egotism of Pharisees 155 - Egypt, Jesus goes to 46 - Elder brother of the prodigal son 144 - Elihu and Salome entertain Joseph, Mary and Jesus 5 - Elijah reincarnates as the Harbinger 129 - Embalmed body of Jesus 171 - Empty tomb found by woman 173 - Ensnare Jesus by his words, plan to 108 - Ephraim hills, Christines in 148 - Epileptic obsessed child 130 - Epileptic obsessed child healed by Jesus 123 - Escape from Herod, Elizabeth and John 6 - Esoteric lesson from the carpenter's tools 20 - Eulogises the children 151 - Euphrates, Jesus crosses the 42 - Events all part of God's plan 85 - Evil, its cause 31 - Evil a myth 8 - Evil things transmuted by fire 116 - Evolution explained by Jesus 32 - Evolution of sacred scriptures 14 - Exaltation, philosophy of 9 - Exaltation for those who live the life 146 - Exaltation of her sons, request of Mary 146 - Examination of Jesus before Pilate 167 - Excuses of invited guests 141 - Extremity of Peter Jesus' opportunity 124 - - - F - - Failure of the apostles to heal due to carelessness 130 - Faith, its power demonstrated 41 - Faith saved child from death 36 - Faith defined 22 - Faith the key to all good 101 - Faith, the healing balm 102 - Faith heals the nobleman's son 87 - Faith the wings of prayer 130 - Faith the power of God 130 - Faith cannot be bought nor sold 107 - Faithfulness of Apostles 147 - Fall of man explained 32 - False witnesses testify; Jesus adjudged guilty 165 - False Christs will deceive many 157 - Farewell address to Pilate, Jesus' 163 - Farmer, Jesus abides with one 28 - Fast, theme of Jesus' address 94, 119 - Fasting may do one good, another harm 119 - Father gives his son to save 36 - Feast in Jerusalem 124, 133 - Feast of God, all people must be guests 141 - Feast of Pharisee in Magdala 108 - Feast for Christines, Matthew's 119 - Feast for Christines, Lazarus' 92 - Feast at home of Simon, a Pharisee 104 - Feast of God 153 - Feast to Magian god 39 - Feast of Joachim and Anna 16 - Feast in Jerusalem, Jesus present at 18, 19 - Feast, Mary makes for Jesus 43 - Feast of Ravanna in Nazareth 21 - Feast of Ach at Bahar 27 - Feast of Udraka 28 - Feast, Paschal at Jerusalem 72 - Fear and unbelief asses that bind man's will 92 - Festival at Jerusalem 90 - Final lessons of Jesus 163 - Fire, Bethany in flames 92 - Fire controlled by Jesus' word 92 - Fish, a multitude caught 88 - Five thousand fed 124 - Flesh not immortal, may be dissolved 109 - Flowing spring near Persepolis 41 - Fly across the sea, demand of Pharisees 107 - Foe of John, is Jesus one? 79 - Followers of John become disciples 66 - Food does not defile the mind 126 - Force, Intelligence and Love 58 - Foreign plants are Scribes and Pharisees 126 - Forerunner of Jesus, John 63 - Forgiveness of sins is healing 90 - Forgiveness the paying of debts 94 - Forgiveness, its meaning 13, 36 - Found in the Temple, Jesus 20 - Fountain of the temple, Jesus bathes in 47 - Four thousand fed 128 - Freed, all Gadara was 118 - Freedom, theme of Jesus' address 86 - Friendship result of kindness 83 - Fruitless fig tree made to wither 105 - Fulfilling the law 95 - - - G - - Gadara, Christines in 118 - Garden of Siloam, Jesus' tomb 172 - Garments divided by soldiers 170 - Gethsemane, Jesus in 163 - Gennesaret, Christines in valley of 128 - Geracines, Christines in 114 - Gift of anything, Herod's offer to Salome 117 - Give Caesar his own: give God his own 155 - God; the One, the three, the seven 9 - God's remembrance day, Thursday 160 - God is spirit 81 - Golden Rule 68, 97 - Good and Evil 119 - Greatest master yet to come 14 - Greatest in the sight of God 131 - Greatest commandment 155 - Greatness, Jesus' lesson on 131 - Grecian masters, Jesus teaches 45 - Grecian Jews call on Jesus 156 - Greece, Jesus in 44 - Groves of Cyrus, Jesus in 40 - Growth of man in carnal soul 58 - Guards of Herod torture Jesus 167 - Guardian spirit for every child 131 - Guests of child Jesus at feast 16 - Guest without a wedding robe 154 - - - H - - Hair, Mary wipes Jesus' feet with her 159 - Happiness is near for man of faith 33 - Harbinger John, Matheno's charge to 15 - Harbinger paves the way 62 - Haughty guests would not kneel 153 - Healing art; Jesus teaches Ajainin 37 - Healing fount of Persepolis 41 - Healing art; Udraka's lesson 23 - Healing not paying debts 138 - Healing on Sabbath defended 74, 91, 93, 140 - Heals in Gennesaret 125 - Heals infant in Leh, Jesus 36 - Heals child by Persian fount 41 - Heals a woman 140 - Heals in the temple 74, 152 - Heals withered hand 93 - Healing virtue of Bethesda 91 - Healing virtue is faith 91 - Healing on Sabbath resented 74, 93 - Healing methods described 74 - Head of John given to Salome 117 - Hebron, Jesus in 77 - Heliopolis, Jesus in temple of 47 - Hell, here and now 33 - Herod Antipas 1, 85 - Herod and the wise men 5 - Herod hears charges 167 - Herod sends John to Pilate 167 - Herod orders Jesus crucified 168 - Herod's death 6 - Herodias, immoral woman 85 - Hero, man who answers not 97 - Heresy of John 85 - Henchman of courts 111 - Helpfulness to others 100 - Help for storm-wrecked sailors 114 - Hierophant receives Jesus 47 - History of Jesus told by Hillel 21 - Historic address by Peter 182 - Holy Breath as a dove 64 - Holy Breath, thought of heaven 9 - Holy Breath, fill this child 36 - Holy Breath, mission to the world 162 - Holy Breath fills the air 126 - Holy Breath, the teacher 109, 128 - Holy Breath will come again 105 - Holy Breath, Jesus bathes in 79 - Holy Breath consciousness 65 - Home life, Ruth's lesson 77 - Homeless boy cared for by Jesus 74 - Home of Jesus in Capernaum 87 - Honor to Father and Mother 97 - Hypocrisy, Jesus' lesson on 126 - Hypocrisy will blight soul 105 - Hypocrisy of Pharisees 108 - Hungry in wilderness 65 - - - I - - Identity of Jesus considered 128 - Idolatry condemned 96 - Ignorant learned men 104 - Impartial God cares for all 99 - Impartiality of God 82 - Impartiality of God, child Jesus' lesson 17 - Imprisonment of the Harbinger 85 - Incessant work of Jesus 105 - Indignation of ten Apostles 146 - Infant saved from flames by Jesus 92 - Inn at Mount Olives 91 - Inner light that cannot fail 128 - Inner life revealed to disciples 144 - Inscription above the cross 170 - - - J - - Jaganath, Jesus in 22 - Jairus' daughter dies 120 - Jealous brothers of Jesus 43 - Jealousy unknown in Brotherhood of Right 83 - Jericho, John with Alpheus in 63 - Jerusalem, Jesus' prophetic address 157 - Jesus, birth of 3 - Jesus meets the Harbinger 64 - Jesus a man, not a God 26 - Jewish mob demand Jesus' death 168 - Jewish soldiers guard Jesus' tomb 171 - John, birth and childhood 2 - John in the trial chamber 165 - John with Massalian 164 - Johavehe 138 - Jonah and the fish 107 - Journey to Egypt 5 - Journey to their homes, Joseph, Mary, Jesus, Elizabeth, John 12 - Journey through Sidon and Lebanon hills 12 - Journey of Jesus through Caesarea 123 - Joseph stands in Jesus' defense 147 - Joseph and Nicodemus bury Jesus 171 - Jubilee in Kapavista 34 - Judas censures Mary 159 - Judas treasurer of Christines 159 - Judas with mob that abused Jesus 169 - Judas hangs himself on city walls 169 - Jude, Jesus at home of in Jerusalem 72 - - - K - - Kashmar, Jesus in vale of 37 - Kaspar, Persian Sage 38 - Kaspar states needs of Persia 56 - Kaspar's home by Caspian Sea 42 - Kedron, Jesus and the twelve meet at 163 - Keys of safety for men given to Peter 128 - King, people believe that Jesus was born to be 72 - Kingdom of the soul 71, 129 - Kingdom, Jesus' address on 145 - Kingdom to a new people 154 - Kingdom, Jesus tells Ajainin about it 29 - Kingdom; its gate is low 29 - Kingdom, subjects must be pure 29 - Kiss, sign of identity 159 - Knowledge measure of crime 100 - - - L - - Ladak, Jesus in Leh 36 - Lahore, Jesus in the city of 37 - Lamaas meets John at Salem 80 - Lamaas meets Jesus at Jordan ford 80 - Lamaas friend of Jesus 22 - Lamb, symbol of innocence 76 - Lamps of God, the disciples 95 - Last passover of Jesus and the twelve 160 - Law of God recognizes desires only 95 - Law, its letter forbids killing 97 - Law, its spirit recognizes the desire to kill, the sin 97 - Law, universal application 14 - Lawyers' injustice exposed by Jesus 108 - Lawyers for gain plead against innocence 108 - Lawyers argue in Jesus' trial 166 - Lazarus sick in Bethany 148 - Lazarus dead, Jesus tells Apostles 148 - League with Beelzebul 106 - Leaven of Pharisees; Jesus' lesson 109 - Letter of Jesus to his mother 30 - Liberates birds and lambs 72, 152 - Light about Jesus not comprehended 40 - Listening, Mary chose the better part 136 - Living Oracle 45 - Living people may help the dead 128 - Logos as Love manifest 65 - Logos, the perfect word 48 - Logos in the council of the sages 57 - Lost; Jesus not with kindred 20 - Love manifest by Jesus 7 - Love the savior of the world 8, 75 - Love the balm of life 41 - Love, Jesus' Paschal address on 161 - Love defined by spiritual law 98 - Love fulfils the law 155 - Love banishes lustful thoughts 143 - Lying defined by the laws of man 99 - Lying defined by spiritual law 99 - Lying possible by look or act 99 - - - M - - Magdala, Christines in 106 - Malchus; Peter wounds him 164 - Man with a pitcher 160 - Man of faith breathes in Christ 126 - Man has powers of God 92 - Man defined by Jesus 22 - Manuscripts of Lassa 36 - Many called; few chosen 153 - Marriage feast of Pharisee 141 - Marriage feast in Cana 70 - Marriage defined by man 98 - Marriage defined by God 98 - Marriage, man's relation to 143 - Marriage, Jesus' lesson on 70 - Marriage and lust 143 - Mars, a Cretan vessel 46 - Mart, the beggar 107 - Mary's birth and childhood 1 - Mary and Miriam at tomb 173 - Massalian, Jesus with 139 - Massacre of young children 6 - Masters of old and Jesus 123 - Master at resurrection 172 - Master tells of Jesus' return 180 - Master minds; Delphic Oracle 45 - Materialization of Jesus, appearances after death 173, 180 - To his mother and Miriam 173 - To the other women 173 - To Peter, James and John 173 - To disciples at Emmaus 174 - To ten apostles in Simon's house 175 - To Lazarus, Mary, Martha and Ruth 175 - To Ravanna and other teachers in India 176 - To the Magian priests in Persepolis 176 - To the priests in the temple at Jerusalem 177 - To Thomas and the other apostles at Simon's house 177 - To Apollo and the Silent Brotherhood in Greece 7 - To Claudas and Juliet in Rome 178 - To the priests in temple Heliopolis, Egypt 178 - To the apostles at Sea of Galilee 179 - To multitudes of people in Galilee 179 - To Peter, James and John in Galilee 179 - To the apostles in Jerusalem 180 - To the Marys and others on Mount Olives 180 - Matheno, John's teacher 13 - Matheno states Egypt's needs 57 - Mathias chosen an apostle 181 - Memorial, Mary's act 159 - Memorial Supper 160 - Meng-ste with Jesus 36 - Meng-ste states China's needs 56 - Men of faith control storm 117 - Melzone, Persian wise man 38 - Merchants driven out of temple 152 - Merchants of Kashmar 37 - Merom, Christines at 128 - Message from John to Jesus 103 - Messages of John 61, 62 - Message of John at Bethany 62 - Messages of Silence land 158 - Messengers from John 108 - Messenger, prophecy of Elihu 7 - Messiah defined 73 - Mighty works of wicked men 101 - Mind, sin a creature of 126 - Mission of Jesus to save lost 66 - Mission of Jesus 135 - Mission of John 103 - Missionary tours 90, 102, 105, 140 - Misfortune their causes 114 - Miriam calls on Jesus 106 - Miriam's reincarnation 106 - Miriam's song 106, 110, 121, 140, 181 - Model prayer 94, 137 - Model feast 141 - Mood, their philosophy 9 - Monks of Leh 36 - Money changers driven out 72 - Mother and brothers of Jesus 106 - Mother-in-law of Peter healed 89 - Multitude seek Jesus 124 - Multitude defends Jesus 133 - Murder, Brahmic priests try 31 - Mystery of marriage 155 - - - N - - Name of God not revealed 96 - Name of Jesus in temple 48 - Narrow is the perfect way 101 - Narrow way to life 141 - Nazarite, John the Harbinger 15 - Nazareth, Jesus would not teach in 69 - Nazareth, Jesus at home 43 - Necessity above law 93 - Neglected opportunities 103 - Neighbor the one who shows mercy 136 - New Age creeds 36 - New wine burst old bottles 120 - Nicodemus visits Jesus 75 - Nicodemus sees the light 75 - Nicodemus in Jesus' defense 134 - Nicodemus' home, supper to the Lord 160 - Nicodemus pleads for Jesus in trial 166 - Non-resistance, law of spiritual life 97 - Non-resistance, evidence of willing sacrifice 127 - Not guilty; Pilate's verdict 167 - Number and name of an evil spirit 118 - Number of a soul 134 - - - O - - Oaths change no conditions 99 - Obsessed man freed by Jesus 83, 89, 106, 121 - Obsessed man met Christines 118 - Obsessed girl freed by Jesus 123 - Omnific word heard by apostles 89 - Omnipotence of faith 153 - One cleansed leper thankful 133 - One thing lacking 142 - Offence of causing people to fall 131 - Opportunities; theme of Jesus' address 105 - Outer man seen by carnal man 71 - Overcoming; promise to disciples 162 - - - P - - Palestine under Roman rule 1 - Paying debts by healing 138 - Parable, Gold mine 142 - Parable, Good Samaritan 136 - Parable, Good Seed and Tares 116 - Parable, Householder and Laborers 143 - Parable, Householder and Servants 158 - Parable, Importunate Housewife 137 - Parable, Importunate Widow 145 - Parable, King and Vast Domain 73 - Parable, Laborer and Rich Field 33 - Parable, Leaven 116 - Parable, Lost Sheep 131 - Parable, Marriage Feast 154 - Parable, Nobleman and Unjust Sons 25 - Parable, Pharisee and Publican 145 - Parable, Prodigal Son 144 - Parable, Rich man and Great Harvest 111 - Parable, Rich Man's Feast 153 - Parable, Rich Man and His Feast 141 - Parable, Rich Man and Lazarus 142 - Parable, Righteous King and Sons 36 - Parable, Seed and its Growth 140, 116 - Parable, Sower 116 - Parable, Ten Servants and Pounds 149 - Parable, Ten Virgins 158 - Parable, Treasures in Field 116 - Parable, Stalks with Broken Blades 27 - Parable, Unkept Vineyard 34 - Parable, Wheat and Tares explained 116 - Paschal Supper, preparation 160 - Password of man is character 95 - Patience and readiness 111 - Parting words of Jesus 161 - Patron of Jesus, Ravanna 21 - Peace, Jesus' address on 113 - Pearl of greatest price 142 - Pentecost 182 - Perfect man, Jesus 59 - Perfect age; no rites 35 - Perfect age; all people priests 35 - Perfection of man, Seventh Postulate 59 - Persia, Persepolis, Jesus in 38 - Peter afraid in outer court 165 - Peter walks on the water 124 - Pharisees censure Christines 93 - Phenomena hunters carnal 107 - Phenomena of Holy Breath 182 - Philo states Jewish needs 57 - Philo pleads for Jesus 72 - Physical body not the man 126 - Picture of Holy Breath 96 - Pilate protects Christines 181 - Pilate would save Jesus' life 163 - Pilate, Jesus taken before 166 - Pillars of the Church 95 - Plea for help in home affairs 111 - Plea of Pilate for Jesus to flee 163 - Plea of Jesus before Caiaphas 166 - Platform from which Jesus speaks 154 - Potter's field bought 169 - Porch of temple, great meeting in 147 - Power of Jesus 31 - Power defined by Jesus 22 - Power of faith 130 - Power of God not recognized 130 - Power of God casting evil spirits out 106 - Pray, Christines go apart to 94, 109 - Pray, Jesus teaches Lazarus to 137 - Prayed in sacred grove, Jesus 84 - Prayer to idols for help 46 - Prayer no sign of saintship 101 - Prayer, effectual 46 - Prayer of the envious not heard 153 - Prayer of Jesus for disciples 140, 150, 162 - Prayer, power demonstrated 89 - Prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane 163 - Prayer of Jesus for his murderers 170 - Prayer, importunate 137 - Prayer, unceasing 145 - Prayer, Jesus' address on 94 - Prayer of consecration 89 - Prayer, Salome's lesson on 12 - Prayer, the Samaritan's 84 - Praying alone, Jesus 90 - Preaches at Jordan ford, Jesus 78 - Priesthood can not be reformed 120 - Priests enraged at Jesus 91 - Prince of Peace will come 157 - Proof of Jesus' messiahship 69 - Prophecy concerning Chaldea 42 - Prophecies of Gabriel 2 - Prophecy of aged widow 1 - Prophet without honor 69 - Protects, Jesus, Lamaas 24 - Pruner, blessed work 34 - Pupils at Zoan--Mary and Elizabeth 7 - Purity essential 68 - Purity demanded 126 - Purity manifest by John 7 - Purifying fires 116 - - - Q - - Questions at Jesus' trial 165 - - - R - - Raising the widow's son 102 - Ravanna with Jesus in Nazareth 21 - Reads the scriptures in the temple 68 - Readiness to meet the Lord 145 - Rebukes wealthy Pharisee 140 - Reception Robes 112 - Reconciliation 97 - Reform the priesthood, Nicodemus' plea 120 - Reincarnation affirmed by Jesus 37 - Rejected stone becomes capstone 154 - Repudiates claim to carnal kingship 72 - Reputation an illusion 27 - Request of Mary not granted 146 - Resentment strengthens wrath 113 - Resistance the sire of anger 97 - Responsible for use of thought 109 - Restores Jairus' child to life 120 - Rested in desert place, Christines 124 - Resurrection of Lazarus 148 - Resurrection of Lazarus perturbs priests 148 - Resurrection of Jesus 172 - Responsibility of man 14 - Revealers of light--Jesus and John 7 - Revolution feared by Brahmic priests 31 - Rewards, God's method of giving 143 - Rich young man seeks Jesus 142 - Right is king and will at last reign 113 - Righteousness the Judge 158 - Rock, Jesus calls Peter the 66 - Rolls of Graphael 158 - Roman seal on tomb of Jesus 172 - Roman captain's servant healed 102 - Ruth distressed 77 - Ruth and Asher at Lazarus' feast 92 - - - S - - Sacrifice, giving to the needy 28 - Sacrifice, serving everything 28 - Sacrifice of self 35 - Sacrifice, Jesus' address on 121 - Sad toilers in India 33 - Safe retreat, Jesus had none 117 - Sages at Philo's home 56 - Sakara, Egyptian school 15 - Salim, John preaching at 79 - Salim springs 146 - Salome's dance pleases Herod 117 - Salvation defined 22 - Samaria, Christines in 81, 84 - Samaritans at Jacob's well 82 - Sanhedrim hear charges 166 - Save the lost, Jesus' mission 131 - Saving sinners, Jesus' address on 119 - Saving life by giving life 129 - Savior of the world, resist not 127 - Scheme to apprehend Jesus 159 - School, Elihu and Salome 7 - School of Chris 87, 103 - Schools of Egypt 11 - Scroll of temple brotherhood 48 - Scribes question Jesus 126 - Scribes and Pharisees try to kill Jesus 135 - Sea of Galilee, Christines by 88 - Searching for Jesus in mountain 128 - Secret lesson to apostles 128, 158 - Secret sins exposed 27 - Secret place for prayer, Jesus' 39 - Secret place in Decapolis 127 - Seize Judas, Apostles 164 - Self exaltation, Jesus' lesson on 141, 146 - Self laudation brings abasement 145 - Selfs, the two 8 - Selfish ones find gate locked 141 - Selfishness, Jesus' lesson on selfishness of the people 108, 125 - Sense of right in every man 111 - Senses sense what seems to be 71 - Seven, the number of all 133 - Seven hours in prayer 158 - Seven days' silence, the Sages' 56 - Seven days' silence, the Harbinger 61 - Seven postulates 58 - Seven, its meaning 48 - Seven days prayer, the Christines 122 - Seven baskets full taken up 128 - Seven, number of Holy Breath 96 - Sevens of time in God's hands 96 - Seventy sent out 133 - Seventy return 140 - Seventy, number of God and man 133 - Seventy's missionary tour 133 - Sermon on the Mount 95, 101 - Service basis of Judgment 158 - Service, acceptable 26 - Serve God by serving man 96 - Serving two masters 99 - Sheep gate 91 - Sheep and Goats 158 - Shepherds in hills, Jesus with 76 - Shepherd's home in Bethlehem 76 - Shinar, Plains of 43 - Sick healed in Bethlehem 76 - Sick servant of Asher healed 78 - Sick healed at Sychar 83 - Sick woman healed by thought 84 - Sick son of nobleman healed 87 - Sick and obsessed healed at Capernaum 89 - Signs not seen before 157 - Signs demanded of Jesus 86 - Silence, Jesus' lesson on 40 - Silence in the courts of Heaven 158 - Silence, Jesus and disciples sit in 66 - Silent Brotherhood 38, 87, 172 - Silent prayer, Christines 182 - Simeon's prophecy 4 - Simon of Cyrene, cross bearer 168 - Sin against Holy Breath 105 - Sin and sickness synonymous 90 - Sins of priesthood, Jesus' lesson 72 - Sinless man called to stand 134 - Sinless man not found 134 - Sin, Jesus crosses 37 - Sleeping disciples 163 - Sly fox, Jesus calls Herod 141 - Soldiers charge Silent Brotherhood 172 - Soldiers bribed by priests 172 - Son of man will come 145 - Sons of God, Jesus' lesson on 91, 147 - Songs on the mount 129 - Sonnets of the dead 117 - Sorrowing rich young man 142 - Soul communion 84 - Soul not immortal 109 - Soul of Jesus with apostles 127 - Specialists in sin 68 - Spirit truth is new, must expand 120 - Spirit consciousness 124 - Spirit law abhorred by man 100 - Spirit control, the law revealed 37 - Spirit, light and purity 107 - Spirit immortal 109 - Spirits of wind and wave 117 - Spiritual man, ethics of 100 - Standard law of judging crime, no 132 - Statement of Jesus before Pilate 167 - Stealing bread, trial of man for 132 - Stewards of God's wealth 111 - Stone Jesus, Jews attempt to 147 - Storm on Sea of Galilee 117, 124 - Strength through effort 46 - Strength and wisdom fill Jesus 104 - Striving of the apostles 160 - Substitute for Holy Name 96 - Susanna's guests, Christines 128 - Swearing prohibited 99 - Sychar, Jesus teaches in 83 - - - T - - Tao, God of the Orient 9 - Tax paid by Jesus and Peter 131 - Tax money in fish's mouth 131 - Teacher of Jesus, Mary 16 - Teacher of Jesus, Barachia 17 - Teaches doctors and lawyers, Jesus 19 - Teaches from a boat, Jesus 115 - Teacher who is wise 101 - Temple courts, Jesus teaches in 133, 130 - Temple of God is the heart 81 - Temple priests invite Jesus 29 - Temperance lesson by John 62 - Temperance lesson by Jesus 92 - Temptations of Jesus in Egypt 48-55 - First temptation--Hypocrisy 48 - First victory 48 - First Brotherhood degree--Sincerity 48 - Second temptation--Prejudice 49 - Second victory 49 - Second Brotherhood degree 49 - Third temptation--Unbelief 50 - Third victory 50 - Third Brotherhood degree--Faith 50 - Fourth temptation--Selfishness 51 - Fourth victory 51 - Fourth Brotherhood degree--Philanthropy 51 - Fifth temptation--Fear 52 - Fifth victory 52 - Fifth Brotherhood degree 52 - Sixth temptation--Carnal love 53 - Sixth victory 53 - Sixth Brotherhood degree 53 - Seventh temptation--Emotion 54 - Seventh victory 54 - Seventh Brotherhood degree--The Christ 55 - Temptations of Jesus in the Wilderness 65 - First; to demonstrate power over earth substances. - Second; to demonstrate power over the air. - Third; to demonstrate power over men through wealth. - Tempting thoughts 65 - Ten Commands; is there a greatest 17 - Ten Commandments 96 - Ten is the number of God 133 - Ten lepers cleansed 13 - Testimonies must all be in 167 - Thanks to God 140 - Thankfulness of Jesus 194 - Theft defined by man 98 - Theft defined by God 98 - Thirty pieces of silver 159 - Thought--the First Postulate 58 - Thought the greatest power on earth 84 - Thought, Jesus' lesson on 84 - Three thousand baptized 182 - Tibet, Jesus in 36 - Tigres and Euphrates 42 - Toil should bring happiness 33 - Tombs of Gadara 118 - Tongues of fire 182 - Transfiguration of Jesus 129 - Treasures in heaven 99 - Treasures, anchor of the soul 99 - Tree without fruit cut down 105 - Treasure box of Christines 114 - Tree known by its fruit 101 - Trial hour for apostles 161 - Triumphant entry into Jerusalem 151 - Tribute to Caesar 155 - Tribulations indescribable 157 - Trust in God; He will care 99 - Truth, defined by Jesus 22 - Truth, the leavening power 10 - Truth, spoken in kindness 111 - Tuesday, Jesus in Jerusalem 153 - Twelve is the number of the Jew 133 - Tyre, Jesus in 123 - - - U - - Unbelief precludes great work 86 - Unclean spirits afraid of Jesus 118 - Unclean spirits obey Jesus 118 - Unclean spirits in animals 118 - Unclean animals drowned in sea 118 - Unfoldment, Jesus' lesson on 25 - Unity of God and man 84 - Unity of God, foundation of law 96 - Universal Brotherhood 28, 81 - Universal Fatherhood 28 - Universal Church 60 - Universal family 106 - Unrest in Jerusalem 134 - Ur of Chaldea, Jesus in 42 - Unsuccessful fishermen 88 - Upbraids disciples for striving 160 - Upbraids Judas for treachery 164 - Upper gate of consciousness 142 - - - V - - Vidyapati endorses Jesus 32 - Vidyapati states needs of India 56 - Vigilance essential 112 - Vine and branches 87, 161 - Virtue of healing waters 41 - Virtue the salt of life 131 - Virtueless people lost 131 - Vision of Pilate's wife 167 - Vision of Jesus 16 - Voice from heaven testifies 64 - Vow of Secret Brotherhood 47 - - - W - - Wages based on intent 143 - Walked on water, Jesus 124 - Walked on water, Peter 124 - Wandering musicians 37 - Washes his hands in innocence, Pilate 168 - Washed not hands before eating 108 - Way to Christ, Jesus' address on 129 - Wealth of earth hinders progress 112 - Wealth within the heart 33 - Wealth of soul is purity 111 - Wednesday, Jesus and twelve in Mount Olives 158 - Wept over Jerusalem, Jesus 151 - White, symbol of virtue and purity 76 - Wicked spirit sent to its own place 83 - Wife of Pilate urges non-interference 167 - Will, faith, helpfulness and love, Fifth Postulate 59 - Wilderness, place of Jesus' self-examination 65 - Wine, water changed into 70 - Wise men visit Jesus 5 - Wise men return home 5 - Wise men meet Jesus in Persepolis 38 - Wisdom defined by Jesus 22 - Wisdom of Jesus attracts Ravanna 21 - Withered fig tree, Jesus' lesson on 153 - Woes described by Jesus 95 - Woes on cities of Galilee 103, 156 - Wolves in sheep's clothing 101 - Woman with hemorrhage healed 120 - Woman of Samaria at Jacob's well 81 - Words may hide a lie 99 - Words of Jesus upon the cross 171 - Work of seven sages 56 - Worth of a soul 129 - Worth of the soul, its measure 111 - Wounded Malchus healed by Jesus 164 - - - Y - - Yoke of Christ easy 104 - - - Z - - Zacharias and Elizabeth home, near Hebron 2 - Zaccheus called to entertain Jesus 149 - Zaccheus tells story of own life 149 - Zarathustra; philosophy and works 10 - Zara, Persian wise man 38 - Zoan, Jesus in 47 - - - - -THE AQUARIAN GOSPEL - -OF JESUS THE CHRIST. - - - - -SECTION I. - -ALEPH. - -_Birth and Early Life of Mary, Mother of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 1. - - _Palestine. Birth of Mary. Joachim's feast. Mary is blest by - the priests. His prophecy. Mary abides in the temple. Is - betrothed to Joseph._ - -Augustus Csar reigned and Herod Antipas was ruler of Jerusalem. - -2 Three provinces comprised the land of Palestine: Judea, and Samaria, -and Galilee. - -3 Joachim was a master of the Jewish law, a man of wealth; he lived in -Nazareth of Galilee; and Anna, of the tribe of Judah, was his wife. - -4 To them was born a child, a goodly female child, and they were glad; -and Mary was the name they gave the child. - -5 Joachim made a feast in honor of the child; but he invited not the -rich, the honored and the great; he called the poor, the halt, the -lame, the blind, and to each one he gave a gift of raiment, food, or -other needful thing. - -6 He said, The Lord has given me this wealth; I am his steward by his -grace, and if I give not to his children when in need, then he will -make this wealth a curse. - -7 Now, when the child was three years old her parents took her to -Jerusalem, and in the temple she received the blessings of the priests. - -8 The high priest was a prophet and a seer, and when he saw the child -he said, - -9 Behold, this child will be the mother of an honored prophet and a -master of the law; she shall abide within this holy temple of the Lord. - -10 And Mary did abide within the temple of the Lord; and Hillel, chief -of the Sanhedrim, taught her all the precepts of the Jews, and she -delighted in the law of God. - -11 When Mary reached the age of womanhood she was betrothed to Joseph, -son of Jacob, and a carpenter of Nazareth. - -12 And Joseph was an upright man; and a devoted Essenes. - - - - -SECTION II. - -BETH. - -_Birth and Infancy of John, the Harbinger, and of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 2. - - _Zacharias and Elizabeth. Prophetic messages of Gabriel to - Zacharias, Elizabeth and Mary. Birth of John. Prophecy of - Zacharias._ - -Near Hebron in the hills of Judah, Zacharias and Elizabeth abode. - -2 They were devout and just, and every day they read the Law, the -Prophets and the Psalms which told of one to come, strong to redeem; -and they were waiting for the king. - -3 Now, Zacharias was a priest, and in his turn he led the temple -service in Jerusalem. - -4 It came to pass as Zacharias stood before the Lord and burned the -incense in the Holy Place, that Gabriel came and stood before his face. - -5 And Zacharias was afraid; he thought that some great evil was about -to come upon the Jews. - -6 But Gabriel said, O man of God, fear not; I bring to you, and all -the world, a message of good will, and peace on earth. - -7 Behold, the Prince of Peace, the king you seek, will quickly come. - -8 Your wife will bear to you a son, a holy son, of whom the prophet -wrote, - -9 Behold, I send Elijah unto you again before the coming of the Lord; -and he will level down the hills and fill the valleys up, and pave the -way for him who shall redeem. - -10 From the beginning of the age your son has borne the name of John, -the mercy of the Lord; his name is John. - -11 He will be honored in the sight of God, and he will drink no wine, -and from his birth he will be filled with Holy Breath. - -12 And Gabriel stood before Elizabeth as she was in the silence in -her home, and told her all the words that he had said to Zacharias in -Jerusalem. - -13 When he had done the service of his course, the priest went home, -and with Elizabeth rejoiced. - -14 Five months passed by and Gabriel came to Mary in her home in -Nazareth and said, - -15 Hail Mary, hail! Once blessed in the name of God; twice blessed in -the name of Holy Breath; thrice blessed in the name of Christ; for you -are worthy, and will bear a son who shall be called Immanuel. - -16 His name is Jesus, for he saves his people from their sins. - -17 When Joseph's daily task was done he came, and Mary told him all -the words that Gabriel spoke to her, and they rejoiced; for they -believed that he, the man of God, had spoken words of truth. - -18 And Mary went with haste to tell Elizabeth about the promises of -Gabriel; together they rejoiced. - -19 And in the home of Zacharias and Elizabeth did Mary tarry ninety -days; then she returned to Nazareth. - -20 To Zacharias and Elizabeth a son was born, and Zacharias said, - -21 Most blessed be the name of God, for he has opened up the fount of -blessings for his people, Israel. - -22 His promises are verified; for he has brought to pass the words -which holy prophets spoke in olden times. - -23 And Zacharias looked upon the infant John, and said, - -24 You will be called the prophet of the Holy One; and you will go -before his face, and will prepare his way. - -25 And you will give a knowledge of salvation unto Israel; and you -will preach the gospel of repentance and the blotting out of sins. - -26 Behold, for soon the Day Star from on high will visit us, to light -the way for those who sit within the darkness of the shadowland, and -guide our feet unto the ways of peace. - - -CHAPTER 3. - - _Birth of Jesus. Masters honor the child. The shepherds - rejoice. Zacharias and Elizabeth visit Mary. Jesus is - circumcised._ - -The time was nearly due for Jesus to be born, and Mary longed to see -Elizabeth, and she and Joseph turned their faces toward the Judean -hills. - -2 And when upon their way they came to Bethlehem the day was done, and -they must tarry for the night. - -3 But Bethlehem was thronged with people going to Jerusalem; the inns -and homes were filled with guests, and Joseph and his wife could find -no place to rest but in a cave where animals were kept; and there they -slept. - -4 At midnight came a cry, A child is born in yonder cave among the -beasts. And lo, the promised son of man was born. - -5 And strangers took the little one and wrapped him in the dainty -robes that Mary had prepared and laid him in a trough from which the -beasts of burden fed. - -6 Three persons clad in snow-white robes came in and stood before the -child and said, - -7 All strength, all wisdom and all love be yours, Immanuel. - -8 Now, on the hills of Bethlehem were many flocks of sheep with -shepherds guarding them. - -9 The shepherds were devout, were men of prayer, and they were waiting -for a strong deliverer to come. - -10 And when the child of promise came a man in snow-white robe -appeared to them, and they fell back in fear. The man stood forth and -said, - -11 Fear not! behold I bring you joyful news. At midnight in a cave in -Bethlehem was born the prophet and the king that you have long been -waiting for. - -12 And then the shepherds all were glad; they felt that all the hills -were filled with messengers of light, who said, - -13 All glory be to God on high; peace, peace on earth, good will to -men. - -14 And then the shepherds came with haste to Bethlehem and to the -cave, that they might see and honor him whom men had called Immanuel. - -15 Now, when the morning came, a shepherdess whose home was near, -prepared a room for Mary, Joseph and the child; and here they tarried -many days. - -16 And Joseph sent a messenger in haste to Zacharias and Elizabeth to -say, The child is born in Bethlehem. - -17 And Zacharias and Elizabeth took John and came to Bethlehem with -words of cheer. - -18 And Mary and Elizabeth recounted all the wondrous things that had -transpired. The people joined with them in praising God. - -19 According to the custom of the Jews, the child was circumcised; and -when they asked, What will you call the child? the mother said, His -name is Jesus, as the man of God declared. - - -CHAPTER 4. - - _Consecration of Jesus. Mary offers sacrifices. Simeon and Anna - prophesy. Anna is rebuked for worshipping the child. The - family returns to Bethlehem._ - -Now, Mary took her son, when he was forty days of age, up to the -temple in Jerusalem, and he was consecrated by the priest. - -2 And then she offered purifying sacrifices for herself, according to -the custom of the Jews; a lamb and two young turtle doves. - -3 A pious Jew named Simeon was in the temple serving God. - -4 From early youth he had been looking for Immanuel to come, and he -had prayed to God that he might not depart until his eyes had seen -Messiah in the flesh. - -5 And when he saw the infant Jesus he rejoiced and said, I now am -ready to depart in peace, for I have seen the king. - -6 And then he took the infant in his arms and said, Behold, this child -will bring a sword upon my people, Israel, and all the world; but he -will break the sword and then the nations will learn war no more. - -7 The master's cross I see upon the forehead of this child, and he -will conquer by this sign. - -8 And in the temple was a widow, four and eighty years of age, and she -departed not, but night and day she worshipped God. - -9 And when she saw the infant Jesus she exclaimed, Behold Immanuel! -Behold the signet cross of the Messiah on his brow! - -10 And then the woman knelt to worship him, as God with us, Immanuel; -but one, a master clothed in white, appeared and said, - -11 Good woman, stay; take heed to what you do; you may not worship -man; this is idolatry. - -12 This child is man, the son of man, and worthy of all praise. You -shall adore and worship God; him only shall you serve. - -13 The woman rose and bowed her head in thankfulness and worshipped -God. - -14 And Mary took the infant Jesus and returned to Bethlehem. - - -CHAPTER 5. - - _Three magian priests honor Jesus. Herod is alarmed. Calls a - council of the Jews. Is told that prophets had foretold the - coming of a king. Herod resolves to kill the child. Mary and - Joseph take Jesus and flee into Egypt._ - -Beyond the river Euphrates the magians lived; and they were wise, -could read the language of the stars and they divined that one, a -master soul, was born; they saw his star above Jerusalem. - -2 And there were three among the magian priests who longed to see the -master of the coming age; and they took costly gifts and hastened to -the West in search of him, the new-born king, that they might honor -him. - -3 And one took gold, the symbol of nobility; another myrrh, the symbol -of dominion and of power; gum-thus the other took, the symbol of the -wisdom of the sage. - -4 Now when the magians reached Jerusalem the people were amazed, and -wondered who they were and why they came. - -5 And when they asked, Where is the child that has been born a king? -the very throne of Herod seemed to shake. - -6 And Herod sent a courtier forth to bring the magians to his court. - -7 And when they came they asked again, Where is the new born king? And -then they said, While yet beyond the Euphrates we saw his star arise, -and we have come to honor him. - -8 And Herod blanched with fear. He thought, perhaps, the priests were -plotting to restore the kingdom of the Jews, and so he said within -himself, I will know more about this child that has been born a king. - -9 And so he told the magian priests to tarry in the city for a while -and he would tell them all about the king. - -10 He called in council all the Jewish masters of the law and asked, -What have the Jewish prophets said concerning such a one? - -11 The Jewish masters answered him and said, The prophets long ago -foretold that one would come to rule the tribes of Israel; that this -Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. - -12 They said, The prophet Micah wrote, O Bethlehem Judea, a little -place among the Judean hills, yet out of you will one come forth to -rule my people, Israel; yea, one who lived in olden times, in very -ancient days. - -13 Then Herod called the magian priests again and told them what the -masters of the Jewish law had said; and then he sent them on the way -to Bethlehem. - -14 He said, Go search, and if you find the child that has been born a -king, return and tell me all, that I may go and honor him. - -15 The magians went their way and found the child with Mary in the -shepherd's home. - -16 They honored him; bestowed upon him precious gifts and gave him -gold, gum-thus and myrrh. - -17 These magian priests could read the hearts of men; they read the -wickedness of Herod's heart, and knew that he had sworn to kill the -new born king. - -18 And so they told the secret to the parents of the child, and bid -them flee beyond the reach of harm. - -19 And then the priests went on their homeward way; they went not -through Jerusalem. - -20 And Joseph took the infant Jesus and his mother in the night and -fled to Egypt land, and with Elihu and Salome in ancient Zoan they -abode. - - -CHAPTER 6. - - _Herod learns of the supposed mission of John. The infants of - Bethlehem are massacred by Herod's order. Elizabeth escapes - with John. Because Zacharias cannot tell where his son is - hidden, he is murdered. Herod dies._ - -Now, when the magian priests did not return to tell him of the child -that had been born a king, King Herod was enraged. - -2 And then his courtiers told him of another child in Bethlehem, one -born to go before and to prepare the people to receive the king. - -3 This angered more and more the king; he called his guards and bid -them go to Bethlehem and slay the infant John, as well as Jesus who -was born to be a king. - -4 He said, Let no mistake be made, and that you may be sure to slay -these claimants to my throne, slay all male children in the town not -yet two years of age. - -5 The guards went forth and did as Herod bade them do. - -6 Elizabeth knew not that Herod sought to slay her son, and she and -John were yet in Bethlehem; but when she knew, she took the infant -John and hastened to the hills. - -7 The murderous guards were near; they pressed upon her hard; but then -she knew the secret caves in all the hills, and into one she ran and -hid herself and John until the guards were gone. - -8 Their cruel task was done; the guards returned and told the story to -the king. - -9 They said, We know that we have slain the infant king; but John, his -harbinger, we could not find. - -10 The king was angry with his guards because they failed to slay the -infant John; he sent them to the tower in chains. - -11 And other guards were sent to Zacharias, father of the harbinger, -while he was serving in the Holy Place, to say, The king demands that -you shall tell where is your son. - -12 But Zacharias did not know, and he replied, I am a minister of God, -a servant in the Holy Place; how could I know where they have taken -him? - -13 And when the guards returned and told the king what Zacharias said, -he was enraged and said, - -14 My guards, go back and tell that wily priest that he is in my -hands; that if he does not tell the truth, does not reveal the hiding -place of John, his son, then he shall die. - -15 The guards went back and told the priest just what the king had -said. - -16 And Zacharias said, I can but give my life for truth; and if the -king does shed my blood the Lord will save my soul. - -17 The guards again returned and told the king what Zacharias said. - -18 Now, Zacharias stood before the altar in the Holy Place engaged in -prayer. - -19 A guard approached and with a dagger thrust him through; he fell -and died before the curtain of the sanctuary of the Lord. - -20 And when the hour of salutation came, for Zacharias daily blessed -the priests, he did not come. - -21 And after waiting long the priests went to the Holy Place and found -the body of the dead. - -22 And there was grief, deep grief, in all the land. - -23 Now Herod sat upon his throne; he did not seem to move; his -courtiers came; the king was dead. His sons reigned in his stead. - - - - -SECTION III. - -GIMEL. - -_Education of Mary and Elizabeth in Zoan._ - - -CHAPTER 7. - - _Archelaus reigns. Mary and Elizabeth with their sons are in - Zoan and are taught by Elihu and Salome. Elihu's introductory - lesson. Tells of an interpreter._ - -The son of Herod, Archelaus, reigned in Jerusalem. He was a selfish, -cruel king; he put to death all those who did not honor him. - -2 He called in council all the wisest men and asked about the infant -claimant to his throne. - -3 The council said that John and Jesus both were dead; then he was -satisfied. - -4 Now Joseph, Mary and their son were down in Egypt in Zoan, and John -was with his mother in the Judean hills. - -5 Elihu and Salome sent messengers in haste to find Elizabeth and -John. They found them and they brought them to Zoan. - -6 Now, Mary and Elizabeth were marveling much because of their -deliverance. - -7 Elihu said, It is not strange; there are no happenings; law governs -all events. - -8 From olden times it was ordained that you should be with us, and in -this sacred school be taught. - -9 Elihu and Salome took Mary and Elizabeth out to the sacred grove -near by where they were wont to teach. - -10 Elihu said to Mary and Elizabeth, You may esteem yourselves thrice -blest, for you are chosen mothers of long promised sons, - -11 Who are ordained to lay in solid rock a sure foundation stone on -which the temple of the perfect man shall rest--a temple that shall -never be destroyed. - -12 We measure time by cycle ages, and the gate to every age we deem a -mile stone in the journey of the race. - -13 An age has passed; the gate unto another age flies open at the -touch of time. This is the preparation age of soul, the kingdom of -Immanuel, of God in man; - -14 And these, your sons, will be the first to tell the news, and -preach the gospel of good will to men, and peace on earth. - -15 A mighty work is theirs; for carnal men want not the light; they -love the dark, and when the light shines in the dark they comprehend -it not. - -16 We call these sons, Revealers of the Light; but they must have the -light before they can reveal the light. - -17 And you must teach your sons, and set their souls on fire with love -and holy zeal, and make them conscious of their missions to the sons -of men. - -18 Teach them that God and man were one; but that through carnal -thoughts and words and deeds, man tore himself away from God; debased -himself. - -19 Teach that the Holy Breath would make them one again, restoring -harmony and peace; - -20 That naught can make them one but love; that God so loved the world -that he has clothed his son in flesh that man may comprehend. - -21 The only Savior of the world is love, and Jesus, son of Mary, -comes to manifest that love to men. - -22 Now, love cannot be manifest until its way has been prepared, and -naught can rend the rocks and bring down lofty hills and fill the -valleys up, and thus prepare the way, but purity. - -23 But purity in life men do not comprehend; and so, it, too, must -come in flesh. - -24 And you, Elizabeth, are blest because your son is purity made -flesh, and he shall pave the way for love. - -25 This age will comprehend but little of the works of Purity and -Love; but not a word is lost, for in the Book of God's Remembrance a -registry is made of every thought, and word, and deed; - -26 And when the world is ready to receive, lo, God will send a -messenger to open up the book and copy from its sacred pages all the -messages of Purity and Love. - -27 Then every man of earth will read the words of life in language of -his native land, and men will see the light, walk in the light and be -the light. - -28 And man again will be at one with God. - - -CHAPTER 8. - - _Elihu's lessons. The unity of life. The two selfs. The devil. - Love the savior of men. The David of the light. Goliath of - the dark._ - -Again Elihu met his pupils in the sacred grove and said, - -2 No man lives unto himself; for every living thing is bound by cords -to every other living thing. - -3 Blest are the pure in heart; for they will love and not demand love -in return. - -4 They will not do to other men what they would not have other men do -unto them. - -5 There are two selfs; the higher and the lower self. - -6 The higher self is human spirit clothed with soul, made in the form -of God. - -7 The lower self, the carnal self, the body of desires, is a reflexion -of the higher self, distorted by the murky ethers of the flesh. - -8 The lower self is an illusion, and will pass away; the higher self -is God in man, and will not pass away. - -9 The higher self is the embodiment of truth; the lower self is truth -reversed, and so is falsehood manifest. - -10 The higher self is justice, mercy, love and right; the lower self -is what the higher self is not. - -11 The lower self breeds hatred, slander, lewdness, murders, theft, -and everything that harms; the higher self is mother of the virtues -and the harmonies of life. - -12 The lower self is rich in promises, but poor in blessedness and -peace; it offers pleasure, joy and satisfying gains; but gives unrest -and misery and death. - -13 It gives men apples that are lovely to the eye and pleasant to the -smell; their cores are full of bitterness and gall. - -14 If you would ask me what to study I would say, yourselfs; and when -you well had studied them, and then would ask me what to study next, I -would reply, yourselfs. - -15 He who knows well his lower self, knows the illusions of the world, -knows of the things that pass away; and he who knows his higher self, -knows God; knows well the things that cannot pass away. - -16 Thrice blessed is the man who has made purity and love his very -own; he has been ransomed from the perils of the lower self and is -himself his higher self. - -17 Men seek salvation from an evil that they deem a living monster of -the nether world; and they have gods that are but demons in disguise; -all powerful, yet full of jealousy and hate and lust; - -18 Whose favors must be bought with costly sacrifice of fruits, and of -the lives of birds, and animals, and human kind. - -19 And yet these gods possess no ears to hear, no eyes to see, no -heart to sympathize, no power to save. - -20 This evil is a myth; these gods are made of air, and clothed with -shadows of a thought. - -21 The only devil from which men must be redeemed is self, the lower -self. If man would find his devil he must look within; his name is -self. - -22 If man would find his savior he must look within; and when the -demon self has been dethroned the savior, Love, will be exalted to the -throne of power. - -23 The David of the light is Purity, who slays the strong Goliath of -the dark, and seats the savior, Love, upon the throne. - - -CHAPTER 9. - - _Salome's lessons. The man and the woman. Philosophy of human - moods. The triune God. The Septonate. The God Tao._ - -Salome taught the lesson of the day. She said, All times are not -alike. Today the words of man may have the greatest power; tomorrow -women teaches best. - -2 In all the ways of life the man and woman should walk hand in hand; -the one without the other is but half; each has a work to do. - -3 But all things teach; each has a time and season for its own. The -sun, the moon have lessons of their own for men; but each one teaches -at the appointed time. - -4 The lessons of the sun fall down on human hearts like withered -leaves upon a stream, if given in the season of the moon; and so with -lessons of the moon and all the stars. - -5 Today one walks in gloom, downhearted and oppressed; tomorrow that -same one is filled with joy. - -6 Today the heavens seem full of blessedness and hope; tomorrow hope -has fled, and every plan and purpose comes to naught. - -7 Today one wants to curse the very ground on which he treads; -tomorrow he is full of love and praise. - -8 Today one hates and scorns and envies and is jealous of the child he -loves; tomorrow he has risen above his carnal self, and breathes forth -gladness and good will. - -9 A thousand times men wonder why these heights and depths, these -light hearts and these sad, are found in every life. - -10 They do not know that there are teachers everywhere, each busy with -a God-appointed task, and driving home to human hearts the truth. - -11 But this is true, and every one receives the lessons that he needs. - -12 And Mary said, Today I am in exaltation great; my thoughts and all -my life seem lifted up; why am I thus inspired? - -13 Salome replied, This is a day of exaltation; day of worship and of -praise; a day when, in a measure, we may comprehend our Father-God. - -14 Then let us study God, the One, the Three, the Seven. - -15 Before the worlds were formed all things were One; just Spirit, -Universal Breath. - -16 And Spirit breathed, and that which was not manifest became the -Fire and Thought of heaven, the Father-God, the Mother-God. - -17 And when the Fire and Thought of heaven in union breathed, their -son, their only son, was born. This son is Love whom men have called -the Christ. - -18 Men call the Thought of heaven the Holy Breath. - -19 And when the Triune God breathed forth, lo, seven Spirits stood -before the throne. These are the Elohim, creative spirits of the -universe. - -20 And these are they who said, Let us make man; and in their image -man was made. - -21 In early ages of the world the dwellers in the farther East said, -Tao is the name of Universal Breath; and in the ancient books we read, - -22 No manifesting form has Tao Great, and yet he made and keeps the -heavens and earth. - -23 No passion has our Tao Great, and yet he causes sun and moon and -all the stars to rise and set. - -24 No name has Tao Great, and yet he makes all things to grow; he -brings in season both the seed time and the harvest time. - -25 And Tao Great was One; the One became the Two; the Two became the -Three, the Three evolved the Seven, which filled the universe with -manifests. - -26 And Tao Great gives unto all, the evil and the good, the rain, the -dew, the sunshine and the flowers; from his rich stores he feeds them -all. - -27 And in the same old book we read of man: He has a spirit knit to -Tao Great; a soul which lives within the seven Breaths of Tao Great; a -body of desires that springs up from the soil of flesh. - -28 Now spirit loves the pure, the good, the true; the body of desires -extols the selfish self; the soul becomes the battle ground between -the two. - -29 And blessed is the man whose spirit is triumphant and whose lower -self is purified; whose soul is cleansed, becoming fit to be the -council chamber of the manifests of Tao Great. - -30 Thus closed the lesson of Salome. - - -CHAPTER 10. - - _Elihu's lessons. The Brahmic religion. Life of Abram. Jewish - sacred books. The Persian religion._ - -Elihu taught; he said, In ancient times a people in the East were -worshippers of God, the One, whom they called Brahm. - -2 Their laws were just; they lived in peace; they saw the light -within; they walked in wisdom's ways. - -3 But priests with carnal aims arose, who changed the laws to suit the -carnal mind; bound heavy burdens on the poor, and scorned the rules of -right; and so the Brahms became corrupt. - -4 But in the darkness of the age a few great masters stood unmoved; -they loved the name of Brahm; they were great beacon lights before the -world. - -5 And they preserved inviolate the wisdom of their holy Brahm, and -you may read this wisdom in their sacred books. - -6 And in Chaldea, Brahm was known. A pious Brahm named Terah lived in -Ur; his son was so devoted to the Brahmic faith that he was called -A-Brahm; and he was set apart to be the father of the Hebrew race. - -7 Now, Terah took his wife and sons and all his flocks and herds to -Haran in the West; here Terah died. - -8 And Abram took the flocks and herds, and with his kindred journeyed -further west; - -9 And when he reached the Oaks of Morah in the land of Canaan, he -pitched his tents and there abode. - -10 A famine swept the land and Abram took his kindred and his flocks -and herds and came to Egypt, and in these fertile plains of Zoan -pitched his tent, and here abode. - -11 And men still mark the place where Abram lived--across the plain. - -12 You ask why Abram came to Egypt land? This is the cradleland of the -initiate; all secret things belong to Egypt land; and this is why the -masters come. - -13 In Zoan Abram taught his science of the stars, and in that sacred -temple over there he learned the wisdom of the wise. - -14 And when his lessons all were learned, he took his kindred and his -flocks and herds and journeyed back to Canaan, and in the plains of -Mamre pitched his tent, and there he lived, and there he died. - -15 And records of his life and works and of his sons, and of the -tribes of Israel, are well preserved in Jewish sacred books. - -16 In Persia Brahm was known, and feared. Men saw him as the One, the -causeless Cause of all that is, and he was sacred unto them, as Tao to -the dwellers of the farther East. - -17 The people lived in peace, and justice ruled. - -18 But, as in other lands, in Persia priests arose imbued with self -and self desires, who outraged Force, Intelligence and Love; - -19 Religion grew corrupt, and birds and beasts and creeping things -were set apart as gods. - -20 In course of time a lofty soul, whom men called Zarathustra, came -in flesh. - -21 He saw the causeless Spirit, high and lifted up; he saw the -weakness of all man appointed gods. - -22 He spoke and all of Persia heard; and when he said, One God, one -people and one shrine, the altars of the idols fell, and Persia was -redeemed. - -23 But men must see their God with human eyes, and Zarathustra said, - -24 The greatest of the Spirits standing near the throne is the Ahura -Mazda, who manifests in brightness of the sun. - -25 And all the people saw Ahura Mazda in the sun, and they fell down -and worshipped him in temples of the sun. - -26 And Persia is the magian land where live the priests who saw the -star arise to mark the place where Mary's son was born, and were the -first to greet him as the Prince of Peace. - -27 The precepts and the laws of Zarathustra are preserved in the -Avesta which you can read and make your own. - -28 But you must know that words are naught till they are made alive; -until the lessons they contain become a part of head and heart. - -29 Now truth is one; but no one knows the truth until he is the truth. -It is recorded in an ancient book, - -30 Truth is the leavening power of God; it can transmute the all of -life into itself; and when the all of life is truth, then man is truth. - - -CHAPTER 11. - - _Elihu's lessons. Buddhism and the precepts of Buddha. The - mysteries of Egypt._ - -Again Elihu taught; he said, The Indian priests became corrupt; Brahm -was forgotten in the streets; the rights of men were trampled in the -dust. - -2 And then a mighty master came, a Buddha of enlightenment, who turned -away from wealth and all the honors of the world, and found the -Silence in the quiet groves and caves; and he was blest. - -3 He preached a gospel of a higher life, and taught man how to honor -man. - -4 He had no doctrine of the gods to teach; he just knew man, and so -his creed was justice, love and righteousness. - -5 I quote for you a few of many of the helpful words which Buddha -spoke: - -6 Hate is a cruel word. If men hate you, regard it not; and you can -turn the hate of men to love and mercy and good will, and mercy is as -large as all the heavens. - -7 And there is good enough for all. With good destroy the bad; with -generous deeds make avarice ashamed; with truth make straight the -crooked lines that error draws, for error is but truth distorted, gone -astray. - -8 And pain will follow him who speaks or acts with evil thoughts, as -does the wheel the foot of him who draws the cart. - -9 He is a greater man who conquers self than he who kills a thousand -men in war. - -10 He is the noble man who is himself what he believes that other men -should be. - -11 Return to him who does you wrong your purest love, and he will -cease from doing wrong; for love will purify the heart of him who is -beloved as truly as it purifies the heart of him who loves. - -12 The words of Buddha are recorded in the Indian sacred books; attend -to them, for they are part of the instructions of the Holy Breath. - -13 The land of Egypt is the land of secret things. - -14 The mysteries of the ages lie lock-bound in our temples and our -shrines. - -15 The masters of all times and climes come here to learn; and when -your sons have grown to manhood they will finish all their studies in -Egyptian schools. - -16 But I have said enough. Tomorrow at the rising of the sun we meet -again. - - -CHAPTER 12. - - _Salome's lessons. Prayer. Elihu's concluding lessons. Sums up - the three years' course of study. The pupils return to their - homes._ - -Now, when the morning sun arose the masters and their pupils all were -in the sacred grove. - -2 Salome was the first to speak; she said, Behold the sun! It -manifests the power of God who speaks to us through sun and moon and -stars; - -3 Through mountain, hill and vale; through flower, and plant and tree. - -4 God sings for us through bird, and harpsichord, and human voice; he -speaks to us through wind and rain and thunder roll; why should we not -bow down and worship at his feet? - -5 God speaks to hearts apart; and hearts apart must speak to him; and -this is prayer. - -6 It is not prayer to shout at God, to stand, or sit, or kneel and -tell him all about the sins of men. - -7 It is not prayer to tell the Holy One how great he is, how good he -is, how strong and how compassionate. - -8 God is not man to be bought up by praise of man. - -9 Prayer is the ardent wish that every way of life be light; that -every act be crowned with good; that every living thing be prospered -by our ministry. - -10 A noble deed, a helpful word is prayer; a fervent, an effectual -prayer. - -11 The fount of prayer is in the heart; by thought, not words, the -heart is carried up to God, where it is blest. Then let us pray. - -12 They prayed, but not a word was said; but in that holy Silence -every heart was blest. - -13 And then Elihu spoke. He said to Mary and Elizabeth, Our words are -said; you need not tarry longer here; the call has come; the way is -clear, you may return unto your native land. - -14 A mighty work is given you to do; you shall direct the minds that -will direct the world. - -15 Your sons are set apart to lead men up to righteous thoughts, and -words, and deeds; - -16 To make men know the sinfulness of sin; to lead them from the -adoration of the lower self, and all illusive things, and make them -conscious of the self that lives with Christ in God. - -17 In preparation for their work your sons must walk in many thorny -paths. - -18 Fierce trials and temptations they will meet, like other men; their -loads will not be light, and they will weary be, and faint. - -19 And they will know the pangs of hunger and of thirst; and without -cause they will be mocked, imprisoned, scourged. - -20 To many countries they will go, and at the feet of many masters -they will sit, for they must learn like other men. - -21 But we have said enough. The blessings of the Three and of the -Seven, who stand before the throne, will surely rest upon you evermore. - -22 Thus closed the lessons of Elihu and Salome. Three years they -taught their pupils in the sacred grove, and if their lessons all were -written in a book, lo, it would be a mighty book; of what they said we -have the sum. - -23 Now, Mary, Joseph and Elizabeth with Jesus and his harbinger, -set forth upon their homeward way. They went not by Jerusalem, for -Archelaus reigned. - -24 They journeyed by the Bitter Sea, and when they reached Engedi -hills they rested in the home of Joshua, a near of kin; and here -Elizabeth and John abode. - -25 But Joseph, Mary and their son went by the Jordan way, and after -certain days they reached their home in Nazareth. - - - - -SECTION IV. - -DALETH. - -_Childhood and Early Education of John the Harbinger._ - - -CHAPTER 13. - - _Elizabeth in Engedi. Teaches her son. John becomes the pupil - of Matheno, who reveals to him the meaning of sin and the law - of forgiveness._ - -Elizabeth was blest; she spent her time with John, and gave to him the -lessons that Elihu and Salome had given her. - -2 And John delighted in the wildness of his home and in the lessons -that he learned. - -3 Now in the hills were many caves. The cave of David was a-near in -which the Hermit of Engedi lived. - -4 This hermit was Matheno, priest of Egypt, master from the temple of -Sakara. - -5 When John was seven years of age Matheno took him to the wilderness -and in the cave of David they abode. - -6 Matheno taught, and John was thrilled with what the master said, and -day by day Matheno opened up to him the mysteries of life. - -7 John loved the wilderness; he loved his master and his simple fare. -Their food was fruits, and nuts, wild honey and the carob bread. - -8 Matheno was an Israelite, and he attended all the Jewish feasts. - -9 When John was nine years old Matheno took him to a great feast in -Jerusalem. - -10 The wicked Archelaus had been deposed and exiled to a distant land -because of selfishness and cruelty, and John was not afraid. - -11 John was delighted with his visit to Jerusalem. Matheno told him -all about the service of the Jews; the meaning of their sacrifices and -their rites. - -12 John could not understand how sin could be forgiven by killing -animals and birds and burning them before the Lord. - -13 Matheno said, The God of heaven and earth does not require -sacrifice. This custom with its cruel rites was borrowed from the idol -worshippers of other lands. - -14 No sin was ever blotted out by sacrifice of animal, of bird, or man. - -15 Sin is the rushing forth of man into the fens of wickedness. If one -would get away from sin he must retrace his steps, and find his way -out of the fens of wickedness. - -16 Return and purify your hearts by love and righteousness and you -shall be forgiven. - -17 This is the burden of the message that the harbinger shall bring to -men. - -18 What is forgiveness? John inquired. - -19 Matheno said, It is the paying up of debts. A man who wrongs -another man can never be forgiven until he rights the wrong. - -20 The Vedas says that none can right the wrong but him who does the -wrong. - -21 John said, If this be true where is the power to forgive except the -power that rests in man himself? Can man forgive himself? - -22 Matheno said, The door is wide ajar; you see the way of man's -return to right, and the forgiveness of his sins. - - -CHAPTER 14. - - _Matheno's lessons. The doctrine of universal law. The power - of man to choose and to attain. The benefits of antagonisms. - Ancient sacred books. The place of John and Jesus in the - world's history._ - -Matheno and his pupil, John, were talking of the sacred books of olden -times, and of the golden precepts they contained, and John exclaimed, - -2 These golden precepts are sublime; what need have we of other sacred -books? - -3 Matheno said, The Spirits of the Holy One cause every thing to come -and go in proper time. - -4 The sun has his own time to set, the moon to rise, to wax and wane, -the stars to come and go, the rain to fall, the winds to blow; - -5 The seed times and the harvest times to come; man to be born and man -to die. - -6 These mighty Spirits cause the nations to be born; they rock them in -their cradles, nurture them to greatest power, and when their tasks -are done they wrap them in their winding sheets and lay them in their -tombs. - -7 Events are many in a nation's life, and in the life of man, that are -not pleasant for the time; but in the end the truth appears: whatever -comes is for the best. - -8 Man was created for a noble part; but he could not be made a free -man filled with wisdom, truth and might. - -9 If he were hedged about, confined in straits from which he could not -pass, then he would be a toy, a mere machine. - -10 Creative spirits gave to man a will; and so he has the power to -choose. - -11 He may attain the greatest heights, or sink to deepest depths; for -what he wills to gain he has the power to gain. - -12 If he desires strength he has the power to gain that strength; but -he must overcome resistances to reach the goal; no strength is ever -gained in idleness. - -13 So, in the whirl of many-sided conflicts man is placed where he -must strive to extricate himself. - -14 In every conflict man gains strength; with every conquest he -attains to greater heights. With every day he finds new duties and new -cares. - -15 Man is not carried over dangerous pits, nor helped to overcome his -foes. He is himself his army, and his sword and shield; and he is -captain of his hosts. - -16 The Holy Ones just light his way. Man never has been left without a -beacon light to guide. - -17 And he has ever had a lighted lamp in hand that he may see the -dangerous rocks, the turbid streams and treacherous pits. - -18 And so the Holy Ones have judged; when men have needed added light -a master soul has come to earth to give that light. - -19 Before the Vedic days the world had many sacred books to light the -way; and when man needed greater light the Vedas, the Avesta and the -books of Tao Great appeared to show the way to greater heights. - -20 And in the proper place the Hebrew Bible, with its Law, its -Prophets and its Psalms, appeared for man's enlightenment. - -21 But years have passed and men have need of greater light. - -22 And now the Day Star from on high begins to shine; and Jesus is the -flesh-made messenger to show that light to men. - -23 And you, my pupil, you have been ordained to harbinger the coming -day. - -24 But you must keep that purity of heart you now possess; and you -must light your lamp directly from the coals that burn upon the altar -of the Holy Ones. - -25 And then your lamp will be transmuted to a boundless flame, and you -will be a living torch whose light will shine wherever man abides. - -26 But in the ages yet to come, man will attain to greater heights, -and lights still more intense will come. - -27 And then, at last, a mighty master soul will come to earth to light -the way up to the throne of perfect man. - - -CHAPTER 15. - - _Death and burial of Elizabeth. Matheno's lessons. The ministry - of death. The mission of John. Institution of the rite of - baptism. Matheno takes John to Egypt, and places him in the - temple at Sakara, where he remains eighteen years._ - -When John was twelve years old his mother died, and neighbors laid her -body in a tomb among her kindred in the Hebron burying ground, and -near to Zacharias' tomb. - -2 And John was deeply grieved; he wept. Matheno said, It is not well -to weep because of death. - -3 Death is no enemy of man; it is a friend who, when the work of life -is done, just cuts the cord that binds the human boat to earth, that -it may sail on smoother seas. - -4 No language can describe a mother's worth, and yours was tried and -true. But she was not called hence until her tasks were done. - -5 The calls of death are always for the best, for we are solving -problems there as well as here; and one is sure to find himself where -he can solve his problems best. - -6 It is but selfishness that makes one wish to call again to earth -departed souls. - -7 Then let your mother rest in peace. Just let her noble life be -strength and inspiration unto you. - -8 A crisis in your life has come, and you must have a clear conception -of the work that you are called to do. - -9 The sages of the ages call you harbinger. The prophets look to you -and say, He is Elijah come again. - -10 Your mission here is that of harbinger; for you will go before -Messiah's face to pave his way, and make the people ready to receive -their king. - -11 This readiness is purity of heart; none but the pure in heart can -recognize the king. - -12 To teach men to be pure in heart you must yourself be pure in -heart, and word, and deed. - -13 In infancy the vow for you was made and you became a Nazarite. The -razor shall not touch your face nor head, and you shall taste not wine -nor fiery drinks. - -14 Men need a pattern for their lives; they love to follow, not to -lead. - -15 The man who stands upon the corners of the paths and points the -way, but does not go, is just a pointer; and a block of wood can do -the same. - -16 The teacher treads the way; on every span of ground he leaves his -footprints clearly cut, which all can see and be assured that he, -their master, went that way. - -17 Men comprehend the inner life by what they see and do. They come to -God through ceremonies and forms. - -18 And so when you would make men know that sins are washed away by -purity in life, a rite symbolic may be introduced. - -19 In water wash the bodies of the people who would turn away from sin -and strive for purity in life. - -20 This rite of cleansing is a preparation rite and they who thus are -cleansed comprise the Church of Purity. - -21 And you shall say, You men of Israel, hear; Reform and wash; become -the sons of purity, and you shall be forgiven. - -22 This rite of cleansing and this church are but symbolic of the -cleansing of the soul by purity in life, and of the kingdom of the -soul, which does not come with outward show, but is the church within. - -23 Now, you may never point the way and tell the multitudes to do what -you have never done; but you must go before and show the way. - -24 You are to teach that men must wash; so you must lead the way, your -body must be washed, symbolic of the cleansing of the soul. - -25 John said, Why need I wait? May I not go at once and wash? - -26 Matheno said, 'Tis well, and then they went down to the Jordan -ford, and east of Jericho, just where the hosts of Israel crossed when -first they entered Canaan, they tarried for a time. - -27 Matheno taught the harbinger, and he explained to him the inner -meaning of the cleansing rite and how to wash himself and how to wash -the multitude. - -28 And in the river Jordan John was washed; then they returned unto -the wilderness. - -29 Now in Engedi's hills Matheno's work was done and he and John went -down to Egypt. They rested not until they reached the temple of Sakara -in the valley of the Nile. - -30 For many years Matheno was a master in this temple of the -Brotherhood, and when he told about the life of John and of his -mission to the sons of men, the hierophant with joy received the -harbinger and he was called the Brother Nazarite. - -31 For eighteen years John lived and wrought within these temple -gates; and here he conquered self, became a master mind and learned -the duties of the harbinger. - - - - -SECTION V. - -HE. - -_Childhood and Early Education of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 16. - - _The home of Joseph. Mary teaches her son. Jesus' grandparents - give a feast in his honor. Jesus has a dream. His - grandmother's interpretation. His birthday gift._ - -The home of Joseph was on Marmion Way in Nazareth; here Mary taught -her son the lessons of Elihu and Salome. - -2 And Jesus greatly loved the Vedic hymns and the Avesta; but more -than all he loved to read the Psalms of David and the pungent words of -Solomon. - -3 The Jewish books of prophecy were his delight; and when he reached -his seventh year he needed not the books to read, for he had fixed in -memory every word. - -4 Joachim and his wife, grandparents of child Jesus, made a feast in -honor of the child, and all their near of kin were guests. - -5 And Jesus stood before the guests and said, I had a dream, and in my -dream I stood before a sea, upon a sandy beach. - -6 The waves upon the sea were high; a storm was raging on the deep. - -7 Some one above gave me a wand. I took the wand and touched the sand, -and every grain of sand became a living thing; the beach was all a -mass of beauty and of song. - -8 I touched the waters at my feet, and they were changed to trees, and -flowers, and singing birds, and every thing was praising God. - -9 And some one spoke, I did not see the one who spoke, I heard the -voice, which said, There is no death. - -10 Grandmother Anna loved the child; she laid her hand on Jesus' head -and said, I saw you stand beside the sea; I saw you touch the sand and -waves; I saw them turn to living things and then I knew the meaning of -the dream. - -11 The sea of life rolls high; the storms are great. The multitude of -men are idle, listless, waiting, like dead sand upon the beach. - -12 Your wand is truth. With this you touch the multitudes, and every -man becomes a messenger of holy light and life. - -13 You touch the waves upon the sea of life; their turmoils cease; the -very winds become a song of praise. - -14 There is no death, because the wand of truth can change the dryest -bones to living things, and bring the lovliest flowers from stagnant -ponds, and turn the most discordant notes to harmony and praise. - -15 Joachim said, My son, today you pass the seventh milestone of your -way of life, for you are seven years of age, and we will give to you, -as a remembrance of this day, whatever you desire; choose that which -will afford you most delight. - -16 And Jesus said, I do not want a gift, for I am satisfied. If I -could make a multitude of children glad upon this day I would be -greatly pleased. - -17 Now, there are many hungry boys and girls in Nazareth who would be -pleased to eat with us this feast and share with us the pleasures of -this day. - -18 The richest gift that you can give to me is your permission to go -out and find these needy ones and bring them here that they may feast -with us. - -19 Joachim said, 'Tis well; go out and find the needy boys and girls -and bring them here; we will prepare enough for all. - -20 And Jesus did not wait; he ran; he entered every dingy hut and -cabin of the town; he did not waste his words; he told his mission -everywhere. - -21 And in a little time one hundred and three-score of happy, ragged -boys and girls were following him up Marmion Way. - -22 The guests made way; the banquet hall was filled with Jesus' -guests, and Jesus and his mother helped to serve. - -23 And there was food enough for all, and all were glad; and so the -birthday gift of Jesus was a crown of righteousness. - - -CHAPTER 17. - - _Jesus talks with the rabbi of the synagogue of Nazareth. He - criticises the narrowness of Jewish thought._ - -Now, Rabbi Barachia of the synagogue of Nazareth, was aid to Mary in -the teaching of her son. - -2 One morning after service in the synagogue the rabbi said to Jesus -as he sat in silent thought, Which is the greatest of the Ten Commands? - -3 And Jesus said, I do not see a greatest of the Ten Commands. I see -a golden cord that runs through all the Ten Commands that binds them -fast and makes them one. - -4 This cord is love, and it belongs to every word of all the Ten -Commands. - -5 If one is full of love he can do nothing else than worship God; for -God is love. - -6 If one is full of love, he cannot kill; he cannot falsely testify; -he cannot covet; can do naught but honor God and man. - -7 If one is full of love he does not need commands of any kind. - -8 And Rabbi Barachia said, Your words are seasoned with the salt of -wisdom that is from above. Who is the teacher who has opened up this -truth to you? - -9 And Jesus said, I do not know that any teacher opens up this truth -for me. It seems to me that truth was never shut; that it was always -opened up, for truth is one and it is everywhere. - -10 And if we open up the windows of our minds the truth will enter -in and make herself at home; for truth can find her way through any -crevice, any window, any open door. - -11 The rabbi said, What hand is strong enough to open up the windows -and the doors of mind so truth can enter in? - -12 And Jesus said, It seems to me that love, the golden cord that -binds the Ten Commands in one, is strong enough to open any human door -so that the truth can enter in and cause the heart to understand. - -13 Now, in the evening Jesus and his mother sat alone, and Jesus said, - -14 The rabbi seems to think that God is partial in his treatment of -the sons of men; that Jews are favored and are blest above all other -men. - -15 I do not see how God can have his favorites and be just. - -16 Are not Samaritans and Greeks and Romans just as much the children -of the Holy One as are the Jews? - -17 I think the Jews have built a wall about themselves, and they see -nothing on the other side of it. - -18 They do not know that flowers are blooming over there; that sowing -times and reaping times belong to anybody but the Jews. - -19 It surely would be well if we could break these barriers down so -that the Jews might see that God has other children that are just as -greatly blest. - -20 I want to go from Jewry land and meet my kin in other countries of -my Fatherland. - - -CHAPTER 18. - - _Jesus at a feast in Jerusalem. Is grieved by the cruelties of - the sacrificers. Appeals to Hillel, who sympathizes with him. - He remains in the temple a year._ - -The great feast of the Jews was on, and Joseph, Mary and their son, -and many of their kin, went to Jerusalem. The child was ten years old. - -2 And Jesus watched the butchers kill the lambs and birds and burn -them on the altar in the name of God. - -3 His tender heart was shocked at this display of cruelty; he asked -the serving priest, What is the purpose of this slaughter of the -beasts and birds? Why do you burn their flesh before the Lord? - -4 The priest replied, This is our sacrifice for sin. God has commanded -us to do these things, and said that in these sacrifices all our sins -are blotted out. - -5 And Jesus said, Will you be kind enough to tell when God proclaimed -that sins are blotted out by sacrifice of any kind? - -6 Did not David say that God requires not a sacrifice for sin? that it -is sin itself to bring before his face burnt offerings, as offerings -for sin? Did not Isaiah say the same? - -7 The priest replied, My child, you are beside yourself. Do you know -more about the laws of God than all the priests of Israel? This is no -place for boys to show their wit. - -8 But Jesus heeded not his taunts; he went to Hillel, chief of the -Sanhedrim, and he said to him, - -9 Rabboni, I would like to talk with you; I am disturbed about this -service of the pascal feast. I thought the temple was the house of God -where love and kindness dwell. - -10 Do you not hear the bleating of those lambs, the pleading of those -doves that men are killing over there? Do you not smell that awful -stench that comes from burning flesh? - -11 Can man be kind and just, and still be filled with cruelty? - -12 A God that takes delight in sacrifice, in blood and burning flesh, -is not my Father-God. - -13 I want to find a God of love, and you, my master, you are wise, and -surely you can tell me where to find the God of love. - -14 But Hillel could not give an answer to the child. His heart was -stirred with sympathy. He called the child to him; he laid his hand -upon his head and wept. - -15 He said, There is a God of love, and you shall come with me; and -hand in hand we will go forth and find the God of love. - -16 And Jesus said, Why need we go? I thought that God is everywhere. -Can we not purify our hearts and drive out cruelty, and every wicked -thought, and make within, a temple where the God of love can dwell? - -17 The master of the great Sanhedrim felt as though he was himself the -child, and that before him stood Rabboni, master of the higher law. - -18 He said within himself, This child is surely prophet sent from God. - -19 Then Hillel sought the parents of the child, and asked that Jesus -might abide with him, and learn the precepts of the law, and all the -lessons of the temple priests. - -20 His parents gave consent, and Jesus did abide within the holy -temple in Jerusalem, and Hillel taught him every day. - -21 And every day the master learned from Jesus many lessons of the -higher life. - -22 The child remained with Hillel in the temple for a year, and then -returned unto his home in Nazareth; and there he wrought with Joseph -as a carpenter. - - -CHAPTER 19. - - _Jesus at the age of twelve in the temple. Disputes with the - doctors of the law. Reads from a book of prophecy. By request - of Hillel he interprets the prophecies._ - -Again the great feast in Jerusalem was on, and Joseph, Mary and their -son were there. The child was twelve years old. - -2 And there were Jews and proselytes from many countries in Jerusalem. - -3 And Jesus sat among the priests and doctors in the temple hall. - -4 And Jesus opened up a book of prophecy and read: - -5 Woe, woe, to Ariel, the town where David dwelt! I will dismantle -Ariel, and she shall groan and weep: - -6 And I will camp against her round about with hostile posts; - -7 And I will bring her low and she shall speak out of the earth; with -muffled voice like a familiar spirit shall she speak; yea, she shall -only whisper forth her speech; - -8 And foes unnumbered, like the grains of dust, shall come upon her -suddenly. - -9 The Lord of hosts will visit her with thunder and with tempest, and -with storm; with earthquake, and with devouring flames. - -10 Lo, all these people have deserted me. They draw to me with speech, -and with their lips they honor me; their hearts are far removed from -me; their fear for me is that inspired by man. - -11 And I will breathe an adverse breath upon my people, Israel; the -wisdom of their wise men shall be lost; the understanding of their -prudent men shall not be found. - -12 My people seek to hide their counsel from the Lord, so that their -works may not be seen. They fain would cover up their works with -darkness of the night, and say, Who sees us now? Who knows us now? - -13 Poor, foolish men! shall that which has been made say of its maker, -He is naught, I made myself? - -14 Or shall the pot speak out and say to him, who made the pot, You -have no skill; you do not know? - -15 But this will not forever be; the time will come when Lebanon will -be a fruitful field, and fruitful fields will be transformed to groves. - -16 And on that day the deaf will hear the words of God; the blind will -read the Book of God's Remembrance. - -17 And suffering ones will be relieved, and they will have abundant -joy; and every one that needs will be supplied; and it will come to -pass that all the foolish will be wise. - -18 The people will return and sanctify the Holy One, and in their -heart of hearts, lo, they will reverence him. - -19 When Jesus had thus read he put aside the book and said, You -masters of the law, will you make plain for us the prophet's words? - -20 Now, Hillel sat among the masters of the law, and he stood forth -and said, Perhaps our young rabboni who has read the word will be -interpreter. - -21 And Jesus said, The Ariel of the prophet is our own Jerusalem. - -22 By selfishness and cruelty this people has become a stench unto the -Elohim. - -23 The prophet saw these days from far, and of these times he wrote. - -24 Our doctors, lawyers, priests and scribes oppress the poor, while -they themselves in luxury live. - -25 The sacrifices and the offerings of Israel are but abomination unto -God. The only sacrifice that God requires is self. - -26 Because of this injustice and this cruelty of man to man, the Holy -One has spoken of this commonwealth: - -27 Lo, I will overturn, yes, I will overturn, it shall be overturned, -and it shall be no more until he comes whose right it is and I will -give it unto him. - -28 In all the world there is one law of right, and he who breaks that -law will suffer grief; for God is just. - -29 And Israel has gone far astray; has not regarded justice, nor the -rights of man, and God demands that Israel shall reform, and turn -again to ways of holiness. - -30 And if our people will not hear the voice of God, lo, nations from -afar will come and sack Jerusalem, and tear our temple down, and take -our people captive into foreign lands. - -31 But this will not forever be; though they be scattered far and -wide, and wander here and there among the nations of the earth, like -sheep that have no shepherd guide, - -32 The time will come when God will bring again the captive hosts; for -Israel shall return and dwell in peace. - -33 And after many years our temple shall be built again, and one whom -God will honor, one in whom the pure in heart delights will come and -glorify the house of God, and reign in righteousness. - -34 When Jesus had thus said, he stepped aside, and all the people were -amazed and said, This surely is the Christ. - - -CHAPTER 20. - - _After the feast. The homeward journey. The missing Jesus. The - search for him. His parents find him in the temple. He goes - with them to Nazareth. Symbolic meaning of carpenter's tools._ - -The great feast of the pasch was ended and the Nazarenes were -journeying toward their homes. - -2 And they were in Samaria, and Mary said, Where is my son? No one had -seen the boy. - -3 And Joseph sought among their kindred who were on their way to -Galilee; but they had seen him not. - -4 Then Joseph, Mary, and a son of Zebedee, returned and sought through -all Jerusalem, but they could find him not. - -5 And then they went up to the temple courts and asked the guards, -Have you seen Jesus, a fair-haired boy, with deep blue eyes, twelve -years of age, about these courts? - -6 The guards replied, Yes, he is in the temple now disputing with the -doctors of the law. - -7 And they went in, and found him as the guards had said. - -8 And Mary said, Why Jesus, why do you treat your parents thus? Lo, -we have sought two days for you. We feared that some great harm had -overtaken you. - -9 And Jesus said, Do you not know that I must be about my Father's -work? - -10 But he went round and pressed the hand of every doctor of the law -and said, I trust that we may meet again. - -11 And then he went forth with his parents on their way to Nazareth; -and when they reached their home he wrought with Joseph as a carpenter. - -12 One day as he was bringing forth the tools for work he said, - -13 These tools remind me of the ones we handle in the workshop of the -mind where things are made of thought and where we build up character. - -14 We use the square to measure all our lines, to straighten out the -crooked places of the way, and make the corners of our conduct square. - -15 We use the compass to draw circles round our passions and desires -to keep them in the bounds of righteousness. - -16 We use the ax to cut away the knotty, useless and ungainly parts -and make the character symmetrical. - -17 We use the hammer to drive home the truth, and pound it in until it -is a part of every part. - -18 We use the plane to smooth the rough, uneven surfaces of joint, and -block, and board that go to build the temple for the truth. - -19 The chisel, line, the plummet and the saw all have their uses in -the workshop of the mind. - -20 And then this ladder with its trinity of steps, faith, hope and -love; on it we climb up to the dome of purity in life. - -21 And on the twelve-step ladder we ascend until we reach the pinnacle -of that which life is spent to build--the Temple of Perfected Man. - - - - -SECTION VI. - -VAU. - -_Life and Works of Jesus in India._ - - -CHAPTER 21. - - _Ravanna sees Jesus in the temple and is captivated. Hillel - tells him about the boy. Ravanna finds Jesus in Nazareth and - gives a feast in his honor. Ravanna becomes patron of Jesus, - and takes him to India to study the Brahmic religion._ - -A royal prince of India, Ravanna of Orissa in the south, was at the -Jewish feast. - -2 Ravanna was a man of wealth; and he was just, and with a band of -Brahmic priests sought wisdom in the West. - -3 When Jesus stood among the Jewish priests and read and spoke, -Ravanna heard and was amazed. - -4 And when he asked who Jesus was, from whence he came and what he -was, chief Hillel said, - -5 We call this child the Day Star from on high, for he has come to -bring to men a light, the light of life; to lighten up the way of men -and to redeem his people, Israel. - -6 And Hillel told Ravanna all about the child; about the prophecies -concerning him; about the wonders of the night when he was born; about -the visit of the magian priests; - -7 About the way in which he was protected from the wrath of evil men; -about his flight to Egypt-land, and how he then was serving with his -father as a carpenter in Nazareth. - -8 Ravanna was entranced, and asked to know the way to Nazareth, that -he might go and honor such a one as son of God. - -9 And with his gorgeous train he journeyed on the way and came to -Nazareth of Galilee. - -10 He found the object of his search engaged in building dwellings for -the sons of men. - -11 And when he first saw Jesus he was climbing up a twelve-step -ladder, and he carried in his hands a compass, square and ax. - -12 Ravanna said, All hail, most favored son of heaven! - -13 And at the inn Ravanna made a feast for all the people of the town; -and Jesus and his parents were the honored guests. - -14 For certain days Ravanna was a guest in Joseph's home on Marmion -Way; he sought to learn the secret of the wisdom of the son; but it -was all too great for him. - -15 And then he asked that he might be the patron of the child; might -take him to the East where he could learn the wisdom of the Brahms. - -16 And Jesus longed to go that he might learn: and after many days his -parents gave consent. - -17 Then, with proud heart, Ravanna with his train, began the journey -toward the rising sun; and after many days they crossed the Sind, and -reached the province of Orissa, and the palace of the prince. - -18 The Brahmic priests were glad to welcome home the prince; with -favor they received the Jewish boy. - -19 And Jesus was accepted as a pupil in the temple Jagannath; and here -he learned the Vedas and the Manic laws. - -20 The Brahmic masters wondered at the clear conceptions of the child, -and often were amazed when he explained to them the meaning of the -laws. - - -CHAPTER 22. - - _The friendship of Jesus and Lamaas. Jesus explains to Lamaas - the meaning of truth, man, power, understanding, wisdom, - salvation and faith._ - -Among the priests of Jagannath was one who loved the Jewish boy. -Lamaas Bramas was the name by which the priest was known. - -2 One day as Jesus and Lamaas walked alone in plaza Jagannath, Lamaas -said, My Jewish master, what is truth? - -3 And Jesus said, Truth is the only thing that changes not. - -4 In all the world there are two things; the one is truth; the other -falsehood is; and truth is that which is, and falsehood that which -seems to be. - -5 Now truth is aught, and has no cause, and yet it is the cause of -everything. - -6 Falsehood is naught, and yet it is the manifest of aught. - -7 Whatever has been made will be unmade; that which begins must end. - -8 All things that can be seen by human eyes are manifests of aught, -are naught, and so must pass away. - -9 The things we see are but reflexes just appearing, while the ethers -vibrate so and so, and when conditions change they disappear. - -10 The Holy Breath is truth; is that which was, and is, and evermore -shall be; it cannot change nor pass away. - -11 Lamaas said, You answer well; now, what is man? - -12 And Jesus said, Man is the truth and falsehood strangely mixed. - -13 Man is the Breath made flesh; so truth and falsehood are conjoined -in him; and then they strive, and naught goes down and man as truth -abides. - -14 Again Lamaas asked, What do you say of power? - -15 And Jesus said, It is a manifest; is the result of force; it is but -naught; it is illusion, nothing more. Force changes not, but power -changes as the ethers change. - -16 Force is the will of God and is omnipotent, and power is that will -in manifest, directed by the Breath. - -17 There is a power in the winds, a power in the waves, a power in the -lightning's stroke, a power in the human arm, a power in the eye. - -18 The ethers cause these powers to be, and thought of Elohim, of -angel, man, or other thinking thing, directs the force; when it has -done its work the power is no more. - -19 Again Lamaas asked, Of understanding what have you to say? - -20 And Jesus said, It is the rock on which man builds himself; it is -the gnosis of the aught and of the naught, of falsehood and of truth. - -21 It is the knowledge of the lower self; the sensing of the powers of -man himself. - -22 Again Lamaas asked, Of wisdom what have you to say? - -23 And Jesus said, It is the consciousness that man is aught; that God -and man are one; - -24 That naught is naught; that power is but illusion; that heaven and -earth and hell are not above, around, below, but in; which in the -light of aught becomes the naught, and God is all. - -25 Lamaas asked, Pray, what is faith? - -26 And Jesus said, Faith is the surety of the omnipotence of God and -man; the certainty that man will reach deific life. - -27 Salvation is a ladder reaching from the heart of man to heart of -God. - -28 It has three steps; Belief is first, and this is what man thinks, -perhaps, is truth. - -29 And faith is next, and this is what man knows is truth. - -30 Fruition is the last, and this is man himself, the truth. - -31 Belief is lost in faith; and in fruition faith is lost; and man is -saved when he has reached deific life; when he and God are one. - - -CHAPTER 23. - - _Jesus and Lamaas among the sudras and visyas. In Benares. - Jesus becomes a pupil of Udraka. The lessons of Udraka._ - -Now, Jesus with his friend Lamaas went through all the regions of -Orissa, and the valley of the Ganges, seeking wisdom from the sudras -and the visyas and the masters. - -2 Benares of the Ganges was a city rich in culture and in learning; -here the two rabbonis tarried many days. - -3 And Jesus sought to learn the Hindu art of healing, and became the -pupil of Udraka, greatest of the Hindu healers. - -4 Udraka taught the uses of the waters, plants and earths; of heat and -cold; sunshine and shade; of light and dark. - -5 He said, The laws of nature are the laws of health, and he who lives -according to these laws is never sick. - -6 Transgression of these laws is sin, and he who sins is sick. - -7 He who obeys the laws, maintains an equilibrium in all his parts, -and thus insures true harmony; and harmony is health, while discord is -disease. - -8 That which produces harmony in all the parts of man is medicine, -insuring health. - -9 The body is a harpsichord, and when its strings are too relaxed, or -are too tense, the instrument is out of tune, the man is sick. - -10 Now, everything in nature has been made to meet the wants of man; -so everything is found in medical arcanes. - -11 And when the harpsichord of man is out of tune the vast expanse of -nature may be searched for remedy; there is a cure for every ailment -of the flesh. - -12 Of course the will of man is remedy supreme; and by the vigorous -exercise of will, man may make tense a chord that is relaxed, or may -relax one that is too tense, and thus may heal himself. - -13 When man has reached the place where he has faith in God, in nature -and himself, he knows the Word of power; his word is balm for every -wound, is cure for all the ills of life. - -14 The healer is the man who can inspire faith. The tongue may speak -to human ears, but souls are reached by souls that speak to souls. - -15 He is the forceful man whose soul is large, and who can enter into -souls, inspiring hope in those who have no hope, and faith in those -who have no faith in God, in nature, nor in man. - -16 There is no universal balm for those who tread the common walks of -life. - -17 A thousand things produce inharmony and make men sick; a thousand -things may tune the harpsichord, and make men well. - -18 That which is medicine for one is poison for another one; so one is -healed by what would kill another one. - -19 An herb may heal the one; a drink of water may restore another one; -a mountain breeze may bring to life one seeming past all help; - -20 A coal of fire, or bit of earth, may cure another one; and one may -wash in certain streams, or pools, and be made whole. - -21 The virtue from the hand or breath may heal a thousand more; but -love is queen. Thought, reinforced by love, is God's great sovereign -balm. - -22 But many of the broken chords in life, and discords that so vex the -soul, are caused by evil spirits of the air that men see not; that -lead men on through ignorance to break the laws of nature and of God. - -23 These powers act like demons, and they speak; they rend the man; -they drive him to despair. - -24 But he who is a healer, true, is master of the soul, and can, by -force of will, control these evil ones. - -25 Some spirits of the air are master spirits and are strong, too -strong for human power alone; but man has helpers in the higher realms -that may be importuned, and they will help to drive the demons out. - -26 Of what this great physician said, this is the sum. And Jesus bowed -his head in recognition of the wisdom of this master soul, and went -his way. - - -CHAPTER 24. - - _The Brahmic doctrine of castes. Jesus repudiates it and - teaches human equality. The priests are offended and drive - him from the temple. He abides with the sudras and teaches - them._ - -Four years the Jewish boy abode in temple Jagannath. - -2 One day he sat among the priests and said to them, Pray, tell me all -about your views of castes; why do you say that all men are not equal -in the sight of God? - -3 A master of their laws stood forth and said, The Holy One whom we -call Brahm, made men to suit himself, and men should not complain. - -4 In the beginning days of human life Brahm spoke, and four men stood -before his face. - -5 Now, from the mouth of Parabrahm the first man came; and he was -white, was like the Brahm himself; a brahman he was called. - -6 And he was high and lifted up; above all want he stood; he had no -need of toil. - -7 And he was called the priest of Brahm, the holy one to act for Brahm -in all affairs of earth. - -8 The second man was red, and from the hand of Parabrahm he came; and -he was called shatriya. - -9 And he was made to be the king, the ruler and the warrior, whose -highest ordained duty was, protection of the priest. - -10 And from the inner parts of Parabrahm the third man came; and he -was called a visya. - -11 He was a yellow man, and his it was to till the soil, and keep the -flocks and herds. - -12 And from the feet of Parabrahm the fourth man came; and he was -black; and he was called the sudras, one of low estate. - -13 The sudras is the servant of the race of men; he has no rights that -others need respect; he may not hear the Vedas read, and it means -death to him to look into the face of priest, or king, and naught but -death can free him from his state of servitude. - -14 And Jesus said, Then Parabrahm is not a God of justice and of -right; for with his own strong hand he has exalted one and brought -another low. - -15 And Jesus said no more to them, but looking up to heaven he said, - -16 My Father-God, who was, and is, and ever more shall be; who holds -within thy hands the scales of justice and of right; - -17 Who in the boundlessness of love has made all men to equal be. The -white, the black, the yellow and the red can look up in thy face and -say, Our Father-God. - -18 Thou Father of the human race, I praise thy name. - -19 And all the priests were angered by the words which Jesus spoke; -they rushed upon him, seized him, and would have done him harm. - -20 But then Lamaas raised his hand and said, You priests of Brahm, -beware! you know not what you do; wait till you know the God this -youth adores. - -21 I have beheld this boy at prayer when light above the light of sun -surrounded him, Beware! his God may be more powerful than Brahm. - -22 If Jesus speaks the truth, if he is right, you cannot force him -to desist; if he is wrong and you are right, his words will come to -naught, for right is might, and in the end it will prevail. - -23 And then the priests refrained from doing Jesus harm; but one spoke -out and said, - -24 Within this holy place has not this reckless youth done violence to -Parabrahm? The law is plain; it says, He who reviles the name of Brahm -shall die. - -25 Lamaas plead for Jesus' life; and then the priests just seized a -scourge of cords and drove him from the place. - -26 And Jesus went his way and found a shelter with the black and -yellow men, the servants and the tillers of the soil. - -27 To them he first made known the gospel of equality; he told them of -the Brotherhood of Man, the Fatherhood of God. - -28 The common people heard him with delight, and learned to pray, Our -Father-God who art in heaven. - - -CHAPTER 25. - - _Jesus teaches the sudras and farmers. Relates a parable of a - nobleman and his unjust sons. Makes known the possibilities - of all men._ - -When Jesus saw the sudras and the farmers in such multitudes draw near -to hear his words, he spoke a parable to them; he said: - -2 A nobleman possessed a great estate; he had four sons, and he would -have them all grow strong by standing forth and making use of all the -talents they possessed. - -3 And so he gave to each a share of his great wealth, and bade them go -their way. - -4 The eldest son was full of self; he was ambitious, shrewd and quick -of thought. - -5 He said within himself, I am the oldest son, and these, my brothers, -must be servants at my feet, - -6 And then he called his brothers forth; and one he made a puppet -king; gave him a sword and charged him to defend the whole estate. - -7 To one he gave the use of lands and flowing wells, and flocks and -herds, and bade him till the soil, and tend the flocks and herds and -bring to him the choicest of his gains. - -8 And to the other one he said, You are the youngest son; the broad -estate has been assigned; you have no part nor lot in anything that is. - -9 And then he took a chain and bound his brother to a naked rock upon -a desert plain, and said to him, - -10 You have been born a slave; you have no rights, and you must be -contented with your lot, for there is no release for you until you die -and go from hence. - -11 Now, after certain years the day of reckoning came; the nobleman -called up his sons to render their accounts. - -12 And when he knew that one, his eldest son, had seized the whole -estate and made his brothers slaves, - -13 He seized him, tore his priestly robes away and put him in a prison -cell, where he was forced to stay until he had atoned for all the -wrongs that he had done. - -14 And then, as though they were but toys, he threw in air the throne -and armor of the puppet king; he broke his sword, and put him in a -prison cell. - -15 And then he called his farmer son and asked him why he had not -rescued from his galling chains his brother on the desert sands. - -16 And when the son made answer not, the father took unto himself the -flocks and herds, the fields and flowing wells, - -17 And sent his farmer son to live out on the desert sands, until he -had atoned for all the wrongs that he had done. - -18 And then the father went and found his youngest son in cruel -chains; with his own hands he broke the chains and bade his son to go -in peace. - -19 Now, when the sons had all paid up their debts they came again and -stood before the bar of right. - -20 They all had learned their lessons, learned them well; and then the -father once again divided the estate. - -21 He gave to each an equal share, and bade them recognize the law of -equity and right, and live in peace. - -22 And one, a sudras, spoke and said, May we who are but slaves, who -are cut down like beasts to satisfy the whims of priests--may we have -hope that one will come to break our chains and set us free? - -23 And Jesus said, The Holy One has said, that all his children shall -be free; and every soul is child of God. - -24 The sudras shall be free as priest; the farmer shall walk hand in -hand with king; for all the world will own the brotherhood of man. - -25 O men, arise! be conscious of your powers, for he who wills need -not remain a slave. - -26 Just live as you would have your brother live; unfold each day as -does the flower; for earth is yours, and heaven is yours, and God will -bring you to your own. - -27 And all the people cried, Show us the way that like the flower we -may unfold and come unto our own. - - -CHAPTER 26. - - _Jesus at Katak. The car of Jagannath. Jesus reveals to the - people the emptiness of Brahmic rites, and how to see God in - man. Teaches them the divine law of sacrifice._ - -In all the cities of Orissa Jesus taught. At Katak, by the river side, -he taught, and thousands of the people followed him. - -2 One day a car of Jagannath was hauled along by scores of frenzied -men, and Jesus said, - -3 Behold, a form without a spirit passes by; a body with no soul; a -temple with no altar fires. - -4 This car of Krishna is an empty thing, for Krishna is not there. - -5 This car is but an idol of a people drunk on wine of carnal things. - -6 God lives not in the noise of tongues; there is no way to him from -any idol shrine. - -7 God's meeting place with man is in the heart, and in a still small -voice he speaks; and he who hears is still. - -8 And all the people said, Teach us to know the Holy One who speaks -within the heart, God of the still small voice. - -9 And Jesus said, The Holy Breath cannot be seen with mortal eyes; nor -can men see the Spirits of the Holy One; - -10 But in their image man was made, and he who looks into the face of -man, looks at the image of the God who speaks within. - -11 And when man honors man he honors God, and what man does for man, -he does for God. - -12 And you must bear in mind that when man harms in thought, or word -or deed another man, he does a wrong to God. - -13 If you would serve the God who speaks within the heart, just serve -your near of kin, and those that are no kin, the stranger at your -gates, the foe who seeks to do you harm; - -14 Assist the poor, and help the weak; do harm to none, and covet not -what is not yours; - -15 Then, with your tongue the Holy One will speak; and he will smile -behind your tears, will light your countenance with joy, and fill your -hearts with peace. - -16 And then the people asked, To whom shall we bring gifts? Where -shall we offer sacrifice? - -17 And Jesus said, Our Father-God asks not for needless waste of -plant, of grain, of dove, of lamb. - -18 That which you burn on any shrine you throw away. No blessings can -attend the one who takes the food from hungry mouths to be destroyed -by fire. - -19 When you would offer sacrifice unto our God, just take your gift of -grain, or meat and lay it on the table of the poor. - -20 From it an incense will arise to heaven, which will return to you -with blessedness. - -21 Tear down your idols; they can hear you not; turn all your -sacrificial altars into fuel for the flames. - -22 Make human hearts your altars, and burn your sacrifices with the -fire of love. - -23 And all the people were entranced, and would have worshipped Jesus -as a God; but Jesus said, - -24 I am your brother man just come to show the way to God; you shall -not worship man; praise God, the Holy One. - - -CHAPTER 27. - - _Jesus attends a feast in Behar. Preaches a revolutionary - sermon on human equality. Relates the parable of the broken - blades._ - -The fame of Jesus as a teacher spread through all the land, and people -came from near and far to hear his words of truth. - -2 At Behar, on the sacred river of the Brahms, he taught for many days. - -3 And Ach, a wealthy man of Behar, made a feast in honor of his guest, -and he invited every one to come. - -4 And many came; among them thieves, extortioners, and courtesans. And -Jesus sat with them and taught; but they who followed him were much -aggrieved because he sat with thieves and courtesans. - -5 And they upbraided him; they said, Rabboni, master of the wise, this -day will be an evil day for you. - -6 The news will spread that you consort with courtesans and thieves, -and men will shun you as they shun an asp. - -7 And Jesus answered them and said, A master never screens himself -for sake of reputation or of fame. - -8 These are but worthless baubles of the day; they rise and sink, like -empty bottles on a stream; they are illusions and will pass away; - -9 They are the indices to what the thoughtless think; they are the -noise that people make; and shallow men judge merit by the noise. - -10 God and all master men judge men by what they are and not by what -they seem to be; not by their reputation and their fame. - -11 These courtesans and thieves are children of my Father-God; their -souls are just as precious in his sight as yours, or of the Brahmic -priests. - -12 And they are working out the same life sums that you, who pride -yourselves on your respectability and moral worth, are working out. - -13 And some of them have solved much harder sums than you have solved, -you men who look at them with scorn. - -14 Yes, they are sinners, and confess their guilt, while you are -guilty, but are shrewd enough to have a polished coat to cover up your -guilt. - -15 Suppose you men who scorn these courtesans, these drunkards and -these thieves, who know that you are pure in heart and life, that you -are better far than they, stand forth that men may know just who you -are. - -16 The sin lies in the wish, in the desire, not in the act. - -17 You covet other people's wealth; you look at charming forms, and -deep within your hearts you lust for them. - -18 Deceit you practice every day, and wish for gold, for honor and for -fame, just for your selfish selves. - -19 The man who covets is a thief, and she who lusts is courtesan. You -who are none of these speak out. - -20 Nobody spoke; the accusers held their peace. - -21 And Jesus said, The proof this day is all against those who have -accused. - -22 The pure in heart do not accuse. The vile in heart who want to -cover up their guilt with holy smoke of piety are ever loathing -drunkard, thief and courtesan. - -23 This loathing and this scorn is mockery, for if the tinseled coat -of reputation could be torn away, the loud professor would be found to -revel in his lust, deceit, and many forms of secret sin. - -24 The man who spends his time in pulling other people's weeds can -have no time to pull his own, and all the choicest flowers of life -will soon be choked and die, and nothing will remain but darnel, -thistles, burs. - -25 And Jesus spoke a parable: he said, Behold, a farmer had great -fields of ripened grain, and when he looked he saw that blades of many -stalks of wheat were bent and broken down. - -26 And when he sent his reapers forth he said, We will not save the -stalks of wheat that have the broken blades. - -27 Go forth and cut and burn the stalks with broken blades. - -28 And after many days he went to measure up his grain, but not a -kernel could he find. - -29 And then he called the harvesters and said to them, Where is my -grain? - -30 They answered him and said, We did according to your word; we -gathered up and burned the stalks with broken blades, and not a stalk -was left to carry to the barn. - -31 And Jesus said, If God saves only those who have no broken blades, -who have been perfect in his sight, who will be saved? - -32 And the accusers hung their heads in shame; and Jesus went his way. - - -CHAPTER 28. - - _Udraka gives a feast in Jesus' honor. Jesus speaks on the - unity of God and the brotherhood of life. Criticises the - priesthood. Becomes the guest of a farmer._ - -Benares is the sacred city of the Brahms, and in Benares Jesus taught; -Udraka was his host. - -2 Udraka made a feast in honor of his guest, and many high born Hindu -priests and scribes were there. - -3 And Jesus said to them, With much delight I speak to you concerning -life--the brotherhood of life. - -4 The universal God is one, yet he is more than one; all things are -God; all things are one. - -5 By the sweet breaths of God all life is bound in one; so if you -touch a fiber of a living thing you send a thrill from center to the -outer bounds of life. - -6 And when you crush beneath your foot the meanest worm, you shake the -throne of God, and cause the sword of right to tremble in its sheath. - -7 The bird sings out its song for men, and men vibrate in unison to -help it sing. - -8 The ant constructs her home, the bee its sheltering comb, the spider -weaves her web, and flowers breathe to them a spirit in their sweet -perfumes that gives them strength to toil. - -9 Now, men and birds and beasts and creeping things are deities, made -flesh; and how dare men kill anything? - -10 'Tis cruelty that makes the world awry. When men have learned that -when they harm a living thing they harm themselves, they surely will -not kill, nor cause a thing that God has made to suffer pain. - -11 A lawyer said, I pray you, Jesus, tell who is this God you speak -about; where are his priests, his temples and his shrines? - -12 And Jesus said, The God I speak about is every where; he cannot be -compassed with walls, nor hedged about with bounds of any kind. - -13 All people worship God, the One; but all the people see him not -alike. - -14 This universal God is wisdom, will and love. - -15 All men see not the Triune God. One sees him as the God of might; -another as the God of thought; another as the God of love. - -16 A man's ideal is his God, and so, as man unfolds, his God unfolds. -Man's God today, tomorrow is not God. - -17 The nations of the earth see God from different points of view, and -so he does not seem the same to every one. - -18 Man names the part of God he sees, and this to him is all of God; -and every nation sees a part of God, and every nation has a name for -God. - -19 You Brahmans call him Parabrahm; in Egypt he is Thoth; and Zeus is -his name in Greece; Jehovah is his Hebrew name; but everywhere he is -the causeless Cause, the rootless Root from which all things have -grown. - -20 When men become afraid of God, and take him for a foe, they dress -up other men in fancy garbs and call them priests, - -21 And charge them to restrain the wrath of God by prayers; and when -they fail to win his favor by their prayers, to buy him off with -sacrifice of animal, or bird, - -22 When man sees God as one with him, as Father-God, he needs no -middle man, no priest to intercede; - -23 He goes straight up to him and says, My Father-God! and then he -lays his hand in God's own hand, and all is well. - -24 And this is God. You are, each one, a priest, just for yourself; -and sacrifice of blood God does not want. - -25 Just give your life in sacrificial service to the all of life, and -God is pleased. - -26 When Jesus had thus said he stood aside; the people were amazed, -but strove among themselves. - -27 Some said, He is inspired by Holy Brahm; and others said, He is -insane; and others said, He is obsessed; he speaks as devils speak. - -28 But Jesus tarried not. Among the guests was one, a tiller of the -soil, a generous soul, a seeker after truth, who loved the words that -Jesus spoke; and Jesus went with him, and in his home abode. - - -CHAPTER 29. - - _Ajainin, a priest from Lahore, comes to Benares to see Jesus, - and abides in the temple. Jesus refuses an invitation to - visit the temple. Ajainin visits him at night in the farmer's - home, and accepts his philosophy._ - -Among Benares' temple priests was one, a guest, Ajainin, from Lahore. - -2 By merchantmen Ajainin heard about the Jewish boy, about his words -of wisdom, and he girt himself and journeyed from Lahore that he might -see the boy, and hear him speak. - -3 The Brahmic priests did not accept the truth that Jesus brought, and -they were angered much by what he said at the Udraka feast. - -4 But they had never seen the boy, and they desired much to hear him -speak, and they invited him to be a temple guest. - -5 But Jesus said to them, The light is most abundant, and it shines -for all; if you would see the light come to the light. - -6 If you would hear the message that the Holy One has given me to give -to men, come unto me. - -7 Now, when the priests were told what Jesus said they were enraged. - -8 Ajainin did not share their wrath, and he sent forth another -messenger with costly gifts to Jesus at the farmer's home; he sent -this message with the gifts: - -9 I pray you, master, listen to my words; The Brahmic law forbids that -any priest shall go into the home of any one of low estate; but you -can come to us; - -10 And I am sure these priests will gladly hear you speak. I pray that -you will come and dine with us this day. - -11 And Jesus said, The Holy One regards all men alike; the dwelling of -my host is good enough for any council of the sons of men. - -12 If pride of caste keeps you away, you are not worthy of the light. -My Father-God does not regard the laws of man. - -13 Your presents I return; you cannot buy the knowledge of the Lord -with gold, or precious gifts. - -14 These words of Jesus angered more and more the priests, and they -began to plot and plan how they might drive him from the land. - -15 Ajainin did not join with them in plot and plan; he left the temple -in the night, and sought the home where Jesus dwelt. - -16 And Jesus said, There is no night where shines the sun; I have no -secret messages to give; in light all secrets are revealed. - -17 Ajainin said, I came from far-away Lahore, that I might learn about -this ancient wisdom, and this kingdom of the Holy One of which you -speak. - -18 Where is the kingdom? where the king? Who are the subjects? what -its laws? - -19 And Jesus said, This kingdom is not far away, but man with mortal -eyes can see it not; it is within the heart. - -20 You need not seek the king in earth, or sea, or sky; he is not -there, and yet is everywhere. He is the Christ of God; is universal -love. - -21 The gate of this dominion is not high, and he who enters it must -fall down on his knees. It is not wide, and none can carry carnal -bundles through. - -22 The lower self must be transmuted into spirit-self; the body must -be washed in living streams of purity. - -23 Ajainin asked, Can I become a subject of this king? - -24 And Jesus said, You are yourself a king, and you may enter through -the gate and be a subject of the King of kings. - -25 But you must lay aside your priestly robes; must cease to serve the -Holy One for gold; must give your life, and all you have, in willing -service to the sons of men. - -26 And Jesus said no more; Ajainin went his way; and while he could -not comprehend the truth that Jesus spoke, he saw what he had never -seen before. - -27 The realm of faith he never had explored; but in his heart the -seeds of faith and universal brotherhood had found good soil. - -28 And as he journeyed to his home he seemed to sleep, to pass through -darkest night, and when he woke the Sun of Righteousness had arisen; -he had found the king. - -29 Now, in Benares Jesus tarried many days and taught. - - -CHAPTER 30. - - _Jesus receives news of the death of his father. He writes a - letter to his mother. The letter. He sends it on its way by a - merchant._ - -One day as Jesus stood beside the Ganges busy with his work, a -caravan, returning from the West, drew near. - -2 And one, approaching Jesus, said, We come to you just from your -native land and bring unwelcome news. - -3 Your father is no more on earth; your mother grieves; and none can -comfort her. She wonders whether you are still alive or not; she longs -to see you once again. - -4 And Jesus bowed his head in silent thought; and then he wrote. Of -what he wrote this is the sum: - -5 My mother, noblest of woman kind; A man just from my native land has -brought me word that father is no more in flesh, and that you grieve, -and are disconsolate. - -6 My mother, all is well; is well for father and is well for you. - -7 His work in this earth-round is done, and it is nobly done. - -8 In all the walks of life men cannot charge him with deceit, -dishonesty, nor wrong intent. - -9 Here in this round he finished many heavy tasks, and he has gone -from hence prepared to solve the problems of the round of soul. - -10 Our Father-God is with him there, as he was with him here; and -there his angel guards his footsteps lest he goes astray. - -11 Why should you weep? Tears cannot conquer grief. There is no power -in grief to mend a broken heart. - -12 The plane of grief is idleness; the busy soul can never grieve; it -has no time for grief. - -13 When grief comes trooping through the heart, just lose yourself; -plunge deep into the ministry of love, and grief is not. - -14 Yours is a ministry of love, and all the world is calling out for -love. - -15 Then let the past go with the past; rise from the cares of carnal -things and give your life for those who live. - -16 And if you lose your life in serving life you will be sure to find -in it the morning sun, the evening dews, in song of bird, in flowers, -and in the stars of night. - -17 In just a little while your problems of this earth-round will be -solved; and when your sums are all worked out it will be pleasure -unalloyed for you to enter wider fields of usefulness, to solve the -greater problems of the soul. - -18 Strive, then, to be content, and I will come to you some day and -bring you richer gifts than gold or precious stones. - -19 I'm sure that John will care for you, supplying all your needs; and -I am with you all the way, Jehoshua. - -20 And by the hand of one, a merchant, going to Jerusalem, he sent -this letter on its way. - - -CHAPTER 31. - - _Brahmic priests are enraged because of Jesus' teaching and - resolve to drive him from India. Lamaas pleads for him. - Priests employ a murderer to kill him. Lamaas warns him and - he flees to Nepel._ - -The words and works of Jesus caused unrest through all the land. - -2 The common people were his friends, believed in him, and followed -him in throngs. - -3 The priests and rulers were afraid of him; his very name sent terror -to their hearts. - -4 He preached the brotherhood of life, the righteousness of equal -rights, and taught the uselessness of priests, and sacrificial rites. - -5 He shook the very sand on which the Brahmic system stood; he made -the Brahmic idols seem so small, and sacrifice so fraught with sin, -that shrines and wheels of prayer were all forgot. - -6 The priests declared that if this Hebrew boy should tarry longer in -the land a revolution would occur; the common people would arise and -kill the priests, and tear the temples down. - -7 And so they sent a call abroad, and priests from every province -came. Benares was on fire with Brahmic zeal. - -8 Lamaas from the temple Jagannath, who knew the inner life of Jesus -well, was in their midst, and heard the rantings of the priests, - -9 And he stood forth and said, My brother priests, take heed, be -careful what you do; this is a record-making day. - -10 The world is looking on; the very life of Brahmic thought is now on -trial. - -11 If we are reason-blind; if prejudice be king today; if we resort to -beastly force, and dye our hands in blood that may, in sight of Brahm, -be innocent and pure, - -12 His vengeance may fall down on us; the very rock on which we stand -may burst beneath our feet; and our beloved priesthood, and our laws -and shrines will go into decay. - -13 But they would let him speak no more. The wrathful priests rushed -up and beat him, spit upon him, called him traitor, threw him, -bleeding, to the street. - -14 And then confusion reigned; the priests became a mob; the sight of -human blood led on to fiendish acts, and called for more. - -15 The rulers, fearing war, sought Jesus, and they found him calmly -teaching in the market-place. - -16 They urged him to depart, that he might save his life; but he -refused to go. - -17 And then the priests sought cause for his arrest; but he had done -no crime. - -18 And then false charges were preferred; but when the soldiers went -to bring him to the judgment hall they were afraid, because the people -stood in his defense. - -19 The priests were baffled, and they resolved to take his life by -stealth. - -20 They found a man who was a murderer by trade, and sent him out by -night to slay the object of their wrath. - -21 Lamaas heard about their plotting and their plans, and sent a -messenger to warn his friend; and Jesus hastened to depart. - -22 By night he left Benares, and with haste he journeyed to the north; -and everywhere, the farmers, merchants and the sudras helped him on -his way. - -23 And after many days he reached the mighty Himalayas, and in the -city Kapivastu he abode. - -24 The priests of Buddha opened wide their temple doors for him. - - -CHAPTER 32. - - _Jesus and Barata. Together they read the sacred books. Jesus - takes exception to the Buddhist doctrine of evolution and - reveals the true origin of man. Meets Vidyapati, who becomes - his co-laborer._ - -Among the Buddhist priests was one who saw a lofty wisdom in the words -that Jesus spoke. It was Barata Arabo. - -2 Together Jesus and Barata read the Jewish Psalms and Prophets; read -the Vedas, the Avesta and the wisdom of Guatama. - -3 And as they read and talked about the possibilities of man, Barata -said, - -4 Man is the marvel of the universe. He is a part of everything, for -he has been a living thing on every plane of life. - -5 Time was when man was not; and then he was a bit of formless -substance in the molds of time; and then a protoplast. - -6 By universal law all things tend upward to a state of perfectness. -The protoplast evolved, becoming worm, then reptile, bird and beast, -and then at last it reached the form of man. - -7 Now, man himself is mind, and mind is here to gain perfection by -experience; and mind is often manifest in fleshy form, and in the -form best suited to its growth. So mind may manifest as worm, or bird, -or beast, or man. - -8 The time will come when everything of life will be evolved unto the -state of perfect man. - -9 And after man is man in perfectness, he will evolve to higher forms -of life. - -10 And Jesus said, Barata Arabo, who taught you this, that mind, which -is the man, may manifest in flesh of beast, or bird, or creeping thing? - -11 Barata said, From times which man remembers not our priests have -told us so, and so we know. - -12 And Jesus said, Enlightened Arabo, are you a master mind and do not -know that man knows naught by being told? - -13 Man may believe what others say; but thus he never knows. If man -would know, he must himself be what he knows. - -14 Do you remember, Arabo, when you was ape, or bird, or worm? - -15 Now, if you have no better proving of your plea than that the -priests have told you so, you do not know; you simply guess. - -16 Regard not, then, what any man has said; let us forget the flesh, -and go with mind into the land of fleshless things; mind never does -forget. - -17 And backward through the ages master minds can trace themselves; -and thus they know. - -18 Time never was when man was not. - -19 That which begins will have an end. If man was not, the time will -come when he will not exist. - -20 From God's own Record Book we read: The Triune God breathed forth, -and seven Spirits stood before his face. (The Hebrews call these seven -Spirits, Elohim.) - -21 And these are they who, in their boundless power, created -everything that is, or was. - -22 These Spirits of the Triune God moved on the face of boundless -space and seven ethers were, and every ether had its form of life. - -23 These forms of life were but the thoughts of God, clothed in the -substance of their ether planes. - -24 (Men call these ether planes the planes of protoplast, of earth, of -plant, of beast, of man, of angel and of cherubim.) - -25 These planes with all their teeming thoughts of God, are never seen -by eyes of man in flesh; they are composed of substance far too fine -for fleshly eyes to see, and still they constitute the soul of things; - -26 And with the eyes of soul all creatures see these ether planes, and -all the forms of life. - -27 Because all forms of life on every plane are thoughts of God, all -creatures think, and every creature is possessed of will, and, in its -measure, has the power to choose, - -28 And in their native planes all creatures are supplied with -nourishment from the ethers of their planes. - -29 And so it was with every living thing until the will became a -sluggish will, and then the ethers of the protoplast, the earth, the -plant, the beast, the man, began to vibrate very slow. - -30 The ethers all became more dense, and all the creatures of these -planes were clothed with coarser garbs, the garbs of flesh, which men -can see; and thus this coarser manifest, which men call physical, -appeared. - -31 And this is what is called the fall of man; but man fell not alone -for protoplast, and earth, and plant and beast were all included in -the fall. - -32 The angels and the cherubim fell not; their wills were ever strong, -and so they held the ethers of their planes in harmony with God. - -33 Now, when the ethers reached the rate of atmosphere, and all the -creatures of these planes must get their food from atmosphere, the -conflict came; and then that which the finite man has called, survival -of the best, became a law, - -34 The stronger ate the bodies of the weaker manifests; and here is -where the carnal law of evolution had its rise. - -35 And now man, in his utter shamelessness, strikes down and eats the -beasts, the beast consumes the plant, the plant thrives on the earth, -the earth absorbs the protoplast. - -36 In yonder kingdom of the soul this carnal evolution is not known, -and the great work of master minds is to restore the heritage of man, -to bring him back to his estate that he has lost, when he again will -live upon the ethers of his native plane. - -37 The thoughts of God change not; the manifests of life on every -plane unfold into perfection of their kind; and as the thoughts of God -can never die, there is no death to any being of the seven ethers of -the seven Spirits of the Triune God. - -38 And so an earth is never plant; a beast, or bird, or creeping thing -is never man, and man is not, and cannot be, a beast, or bird, or -creeping thing. - -39 The time will come when all these seven manifests will be absorbed, -and man, and beast, and plant, and earth and protoplast will be -redeemed. - -40 Barata was amazed; the wisdom of the Jewish sage was revelation -unto him. - -41 Now, Vidyapati, wisest of the Indian sages, chief of temple -Kapavistu, heard Barata speak to Jesus of the origin of man, and heard -the answer of the Hebrew prophet, and he said, - -42 You priests of Kapavistu, hear me speak: We stand today upon a -crest of time. Six times ago a master soul was born who gave a glory -light to man, and now a master sage stands here in temple Kapavistu. - -43 This Hebrew prophet is the rising star of wisdom, deified. He -brings to us a knowledge of the secret things of God; and all the -world will hear his words, will heed his words, and glorify his name. - -44 You priests of temple Kapavistu, stay! be still and listen when he -speaks; he is the Living Oracle of God. - -45 And all the priests gave thanks, and praised the Buddha of -enlightenment. - - -CHAPTER 33. - - _Jesus teaches the common people at a spring. Tells them how to - attain unto happiness. Relates the parable of the rocky field - and the hidden treasure._ - -In silent meditation Jesus sat beside a flowing spring. It was a holy -day, and many people of the servant caste were near the place. - -2 And Jesus saw the hard drawn lines of toil on every brow, in every -hand. There was no look of joy in any face. Not one of all the group -could think of anything but toil. - -3 And Jesus spoke to one and said, Why are you all so sad? Have you -no happiness in life? - -4 The man replied, We scarcely know the meaning of that word. We toil -to live, and hope for nothing else but toil, and bless the day when -we can cease our toil and lay us down to rest in Buddha's city of the -dead. - -5 And Jesus' heart was stirred with pity and with love for these poor -toilers, and he said, - -6 Toil should not make a person sad; men should be happiest when they -toil. When hope and love are back of toil, then all of life is filled -with joy and peace, and this is heaven. Do you not know that such a -heaven is for you? - -7 The man replied, Of heaven we have heard; but then it is so far -away, and we must live so many lives before we reach that place! - -8 And Jesus said, My brother, man, your thoughts are wrong; your -heaven is not far away; and it is not a place of metes and bounds, is -not a country to be reached; it is a state of mind. - -9 God never made a heaven for man; he never made a hell; we are -creators and we make our own. - -10 Now, cease to seek for heaven in the sky; just open up the windows -of your hearts, and, like a flood of light, a heaven will come and -bring a boundless joy; then toil will be no cruel task. - -11 The people were amazed, and gathered close to hear this strange -young master speak, - -12 Imploring him to tell them more about the Father-God; about the -heaven that men can make on earth; about the boundless joy. - -13 And Jesus spoke a parable; he said, A certain man possessed a -field; the soil was hard and poor. - -14 By constant toil he scarcely could provide enough of food to keep -his family from want. - -15 One day a miner who could see beneath the soil, in passing on his -way, saw this poor man and his unfruitful field. - -16 He called the weary toiler and he said, My brother, know you not -that just below the surface of your barren field rich treasures lie -concealed? - -17 You plow and sow and reap in scanty way, and day by day you tread -upon a mine of gold and precious stones. - -18 This wealth lies not upon the surface of the ground; but if you -will but dig away the rocky soil, and delve down deep into the earth, -you need no longer till the soil for naught. - -19 The man believed. The miner surely knows; he said, and I will find -the treasures hidden in my field. - -20 And then he dug away the rocky soil, and deep down in the earth he -found a mine of gold. - -21 And Jesus said, The sons of men are toiling hard on desert plains, -and burning sands and rocky soils; are doing what their fathers did, -not dreaming they can do aught else. - -22 Behold, a master comes, and tells them of a hidden wealth; that -underneath the rocky soil of carnal things are treasures that no man -can count; - -23 That in the heart the richest gems abound; that he who wills may -open up the door and find them all. - -24 And then the people said, Make known to us the way that we may find -the wealth that lies within the heart. - -25 And Jesus opened up the way; the toilers saw another side of life, -and toil became a joy. - - -CHAPTER 34. - - _The Jubilee in Kapavistu. Jesus teaches in the plaza and the - people are astonished. He relates the parable of the unkept - vineyard and the vine dresser. The priests are angered by his - words._ - -It was a gala day in sacred Kapavistu; a throng of Buddhist -worshippers had met to celebrate a Jubilee. - -2 And priests and masters from all parts of India were there; they -taught; but they embellished little truth with many words. - -3 And Jesus went into an ancient plaza and he taught; he spoke of -Father-Mother-God; he told about the brotherhood of life. - -4 The priests and all the people were astounded at his words and said, -Is this not Buddha come again in flesh? No other one could speak with -such simplicity and power. - -5 And Jesus spoke a parable; he said, There was a vineyard all unkept; -the vines were high, the growth of leaves and branches great. - -6 The leaves were broad and shut the sunlight from the vines; the -grapes were sour, and few, and small. - -7 The pruner came; with his sharp knife he cut off every branch, and -not a leaf remained; just root and stalk, and nothing more. - -8 The busy neighbors came with one accord and were amazed, and said to -him who pruned, You foolish man! the vineyard is despoiled. - -9 Such desolation! There is no beauty left, and when the harvest time -shall come the gatherers will find no fruit. - -10 The pruner said, Content yourselves with what you think, and come -again at harvest time and see. - -11 And when the harvest time came on the busy neighbors came again; -they were surprised. - -12 The naked stalks had put forth branch and leaf, and heavy clusters -of delicious grapes weighed every branch to earth. - -13 The gatherers rejoiced as, day by day, they carried the rich -fruitage to the press. - -14 Behold, the vineyard of the Lord! the earth is spread with human -vines. - -15 The gorgeous forms and rites of men are branches, and their words -are leaves; and these have grown so great that sunlight can no longer -reach the heart; there is no fruit. - -16 Behold, the pruner comes, and with a two-edged knife he cuts away -the branches and the leaves of words, - -17 And naught is left but unclothed stalks of human life. - -18 The priests and they of pompous show, rebuke the pruner, and would -stay him in his work. - -19 They see no beauty in the stalks of human life; no promises of -fruit. - -20 The harvest time will come and they who scorned the pruner will -look on again and be amazed, for they will see the human stalks that -seemed so lifeless, bending low with precious fruit. - -21 And they will hear the harvesters rejoice, because the harvest is -so great. - -22 The priests were not well pleased with Jesus' words; but they -rebuked him not; they feared the multitude. - - -CHAPTER 35. - - _Jesus and Vidyapati consider the needs of the incoming age of - the world._ - -The Indian sage and Jesus often met and talked about the needs of -nations and of men; about the sacred doctrines, forms and rites best -suited to the coming age. - -2 One day they sat together in a mountain pass, and Jesus said, The -coming age will surely not require priests, and shrines, and sacrifice -of life. - -3 There is no power in sacrifice of beast, or bird, to help a man to -holy life. - -4 And Vidyapati said, All forms and rites are symbols of the things -that men must do within the temple of the soul. - -5 The Holy One requires man to give his life in willing sacrifice for -men, and all the so-called offerings on altars and on shrines that -have been made since time began, were made to teach man how to give -himself to save his brother man; for man can never save himself except -he lose his life in saving other men. - -6 The perfect age will not require forms and rites and carnal -sacrifice. The coming age is not the perfect age, and men will call -for object lessons and symbolic rites. - -7 And in the great religion you shall introduce to men, some simple -rites of washings and remembrances will be required; but cruel -sacrifice of animals, and birds the gods require not. - -8 And Jesus said, Our God must loathe the tinseled show of priests and -priestly things. - -9 When men array themselves in showy garbs to indicate that they are -servants of the gods, and strut about like gaudy birds to be admired -by men, because of piety or any other thing, the Holy One must surely -turn away in sheer disgust. - -10 All people are alike the servants of our Father-God, are kings and -priests. - -11 Will not the coming age demand complete destruction of the priestly -caste, as well as every other caste and inequality among the sons of -men? - -12 And Vidyapati said, The coming age is not the age of spirit life -and men will pride themselves in wearing priestly robes, and chanting -pious chants to advertise themselves as saints. - -13 The simple rites that you will introduce will be extolled by those -who follow you, until the sacred service of the age will far outshine -in gorgeousness the priestly service of the Brahmic age. - -14 This is a problem men must solve. - -15 The perfect age will come when every man will be a priest and men -will not array themselves in special garb to advertise their piety. - - - - -SECTION VII. - -ZAIN. - -_Life and Works of Jesus in Tibet and Western India._ - - -CHAPTER 36. - - _Jesus in Lassa. He meets Meng-ste who aids him in reading the - ancient manuscripts. He goes to Ladak. Heals a child. Relates - the parable of the king's son._ - -In Lassa of Tibet there was a master's temple, rich in manuscripts of -ancient lore. - -2 The Indian sage had read these manuscripts, and he revealed to Jesus -many of the secret lessons they contained; but Jesus wished to read -them for himself. - -3 Now, Meng-ste, greatest sage of all the farther East, was in this -temple of Tibet. - -4 The path across Emodus heights was difficult; but Jesus started on -his way, and Vidyapati sent with him a trusted guide. - -5 And Vidyapati sent a message to Meng-ste, in which he told about the -Hebrew sage, and spoke for him a welcome by the temple priests. - -6 Now, after many days, and perils great, the guide and Jesus reached -the Lassa temple in Tibet. - -7 And Meng-ste opened wide the temple doors, and all the priests and -masters gave a welcome to the Hebrew sage. - -8 And Jesus had access to all the sacred manuscripts, and, with the -help of Meng-ste, read them all. - -9 And Meng-ste often talked with Jesus of the coming age, and of the -sacred service best adapted to the people of the age. - -10 In Lassa Jesus did not teach. When he had finished all his studies -in the temple schools he journeyed toward the West. In many villages -he tarried for a time and taught. - -11 At last he reached the pass, and in the Ladak city, Leh, he was -received with favor by the monks, the merchants, and the men of low -estate. - -12 And in the monastery he abode, and taught; and then he sought the -common people in the marts of trade; and there he taught. - -13 Not far away a woman lived, whose infant son was sick nigh unto -death. The doctors had declared, There is no hope; the child must die. - -14 The woman heard that Jesus was a teacher sent from God, and she -believed that he had power to heal her son. - -15 And so she clasped the dying infant in her arms and ran with haste -and asked to see the man of God. - -16 When Jesus saw her faith he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, - -17 My Father-God, let power divine o'ershadow me, and let the Holy -Breath fill full this child that it may live. - -18 And in the presence of the multitude he laid his hand upon the -child and said, - -19 Good woman you are blest; your faith has saved your son. And then -the child was well. - -20 The people were astonished and they said, This surely is the Holy -One made flesh, for man alone cannot rebuke a fever thus and save a -child from death. - -21 Then many of the people brought their sick, and Jesus spoke the -Word, and they were healed. - -22 Among the Ladaks Jesus tarried many days; he taught them how to -heal; how sins are blotted out, and how to make on earth a heaven of -joy. - -23 The people loved him for his words and works, and when he must -depart they grieved as children grieve when mother goes away. - -24 And on the morning when he started on his way the multitudes were -there to press his hand. - -25 To them he spoke a parable; he said, A certain king so loved the -people of his land that he sent forth his only son with precious gifts -for all. - -26 The son went everywhere and scattered forth the gifts with lavish -hand. - -27 But there were priests who ministered at shrines of foreign gods, -who were not pleased because the king did not through them bestow the -gifts. - -28 And so they sought to cause the people all to hate the son. They -said, These gifts are not of any worth; they are but counterfeits. - -29 And so the people threw the precious gems, and gold and silver in -the streets. They caught the son and beat him, spit upon him, drove -him from their midst. - -30 The son resented not their insults and their cruelties; but thus he -prayed, My Father-God, forgive these creatures of thy hand; they are -but slaves; they know not what they do. - -31 And while they yet were beating him he gave them food, and blest -them with a boundless love. - -32 In certain cities was the son received with joy, and he would -gladly have remained to bless the homes; but he could tarry not, for -he must carry gifts to every one in all the king's domain. - -33 And Jesus said, My Father-God is king of all mankind, and he -has sent me forth with all the bounties of his matchless love and -boundless wealth. - -34 To all the people of all lands, lo, I must bear these gifts--this -water and this bread of life. - -35 I go my way, but we will meet again; for in my Fatherland is room -for all; I will prepare a place for you. - -36 And Jesus raised his hand in silent benediction; then he went his -way. - - -CHAPTER 37. - - _Jesus is presented with a camel. He goes to Lahore where he - abides with Ajainin, whom he teaches. Lesson of the wandering - musicians. Jesus resumes his journey._ - -A caravan of merchantmen were journeying through the Kashmar vale as -Jesus passed that way, and they were going to Lahore, a city of the -Hand, the five-stream land. - -2 The merchantmen had heard the prophet speak, had seen his mighty -works in Leh, and they were glad to see him once again. - -3 And when they knew that he was going to Lahore and then across the -Sind, through Persia and the farther West, and that he had no beast on -which to ride, - -4 They freely gave to him a noble bactrian beast, well saddled and -equipped, and Jesus journeyed with the caravan. - -5 And when he reached Lahore, Ajainin and some other Brahmic priests, -received him with delight. - -6 Ajainin was the priest who came to Jesus in the night time in -Benares many months before, and heard his words of truth. - -7 And Jesus was Ajainin's guest; he taught Ajainin many things; -revealed to him the secrets of the healing art. - -8 He taught him how he could control the spirits of the air, the fire, -the water and the earth; and he explained to him the secret doctrine -of forgiveness, and the blotting out of sins. - -9 One day Ajainin sat with Jesus in the temple porch; a band of -wandering singers and musicians paused before the court to sing and -play. - -10 Their music was most rich and delicate, and Jesus said, Among the -high-bred people of the land we hear no sweeter music than that these -uncouth children of the wilderness bring here to us. - -11 From whence this talent and this power? In one short life they -surely could not gain such grace of voice, such knowledge of the laws -of harmony and tone. - -12 Men call them prodigies. There are no prodigies. All things result -from natural law. - -13 These people are not young. A thousand years would not suffice to -give them such divine expressiveness, and such purity of voice and -touch. - -14 Ten thousand years ago these people mastered harmony. In days of -old they trod the busy thoroughfares of life, and caught the melody of -birds, and played on harps of perfect form. - -15 And they have come again to learn still other lessons from the -varied notes of manifests. - -16 These wandering people form a part of heaven's orchestra, and in -the land of perfect things the very angels will delight to hear them -play and sing. - -17 And Jesus taught the common people of Lahore; he healed their sick, -and showed to them the way to rise to better things by helpfulness. - -18 He said, We are not rich by what we get and hold; the only things -we keep are those we give away. - -19 If you would live the perfect life, give forth your life in service -for your kind, and for the forms of life that men esteem the lower -forms of life. - -20 But Jesus could not tarry longer in Lahore; he bade the priests and -other friends farewell; and then he took his camel and he went his way -toward the Sind. - - - - -SECTION VIII. - -CHETH. - -_Life and Works of Jesus in Persia._ - - -CHAPTER 38. - - _Jesus crosses Persia. Teaches and heals in many places. Three - magian priests meet him as he nears Persepolis. Kaspar, and - two other Persian masters, meet him in Persepolis. The seven - masters sit in silence seven days._ - -Four-and-twenty years of age was Jesus when he entered Persia on his -homeward way. - -2 In many a hamlet, town and neighborhood he paused a while and taught -and healed. - -3 The priests and ruling classes did not welcome him, because he -censured them for cruelty to those of low estate. - -4 The common people followed him in throngs. - -5 At times the chiefs made bold to try to hinder him, forbidding him -to teach or heal the sick. But he regarded not their angry threats; he -taught, and healed the sick. - -6 In time he reached Persepolis, the city where the kings of Persia -were entombed; the city of the learned magi, Hor, and Lun, and Mer, -the three wise men, - -7 Who, two-and-twenty years before, had seen the star of promise -rise above Jerusalem, and who had journeyed to the West to find the -new-born king; - -8 And were the first to honor Jesus as the master of the age, and gave -him gifts of gold, gum-thus and myrrh. - -9 These magi knew, by ways that masters always know, when Jesus -neared Persepolis; and then they girt themselves, and went to meet him -on the way. - -10 And when they met, a light much brighter than the light of day, -surrounded them, and men who saw the four stand in the way declared -they were transfigured; seeming more like gods than men. - -11 Now, Hor and Lun were aged men, and Jesus placed them on his beast -to ride into Persepolis; while he and Mer led on the way. - -12 And when they reached the magi's home they all rejoiced. And Jesus -told the thrilling story of his life, and Hor and Lun and Mer spoke -not; they only looked to heaven, and in their hearts praised God. - -13 Three wise men from the North were in Persepolis; and they were -Kaspar, Zara and Melzone; and Kaspar was the wisest master of the -magian land. These three were at the home of Hor and Lun and Mer when -Jesus came. - -14 For seven days these seven men spoke not; they sat in silence in -the council hall in close communion with the Silent Brotherhood. - -15 They sought for light, for revelation and for power. The laws and -precepts of the coming age required all the wisdom of the masters of -the world. - - -CHAPTER 39. - - _Jesus attends a feast in Persepolis. Speaks to the people, - reviewing the magian philosophy. Explains the origin of evil. - Spends the night in prayer._ - -A feast in honor of the magian God was being held, and many men were -gathered in Persepolis. - -2 And on the great day of the feast the ruling magian master said, -Within these sacred walls is liberty; whoever wills to speak may speak. - -3 And Jesus standing in the midst of all the people, said, My -brothers, sisters, children of our Father-God: - -4 Most blest are you among the sons of men today, because you have -such just conceptions of the Holy One and man. - -5 Your purity in worship and in life is pleasing unto God; and to your -master, Zarathustra, praise is due. - -6 Well say you all, There is one God from whose great being there came -forth the seven Spirits that created heaven and earth; and manifest -unto the sons of men are these great Spirits in the sun, and moon, and -stars. - -7 But in your sacred books we read that two among these seven are of -superior strength; that one of these created all the good; the other -one created all that evil is. - -8 I pray you, honored masters, tell me how that evil can be born of -that which is all good? - -9 A magus rose and said, If you will answer me, your problem will be -solved. - -10 We all do recognize the fact that evil is. Whatever is, must have a -cause. If God, the One, made not this evil, then, where is the God who -did? - -11 And Jesus said, Whatever God, the One, has made is good, and like -the great first Cause, the seven Spirits all are good, and everything -that comes from their creative hands is good, - -12 Now, all created things have colors, tones and forms their own; but -certain tones, though good and pure themselves, when mixed, produce -inharmonies, discordant tones. - -13 And certain things, though good and pure, when mixed, produce -discordant things, yea, poisonous things, that men call evil things. - -14 So evil is the inharmonious blending of the colors, tones, or forms -of good. - -15 Now, man is not all-wise, and yet has will his own. He has the -power, and he uses it, to mix God's good things in a multitude of -ways, and every day he makes discordant sounds, and evil things. - -16 And every tone and form, be it of good, or ill, becomes a living -thing, a demon, sprite, or spirit of a good or vicious kind. - -17 Man makes his devil thus; and then becomes afraid of him and flees; -his devil is emboldened, follows him away and casts him into torturing -fires. - -18 The devil and the burning fires are both the works of man, and none -can put the fires out and dissipate the evil one, but man who made -them both. - -19 Then Jesus stood aside, and not a magus answered him. - -20 And he departed from the throng and went into a secret place to -pray. - - -CHAPTER 40. - - _Jesus teaches the magians. Explains the Silence and how to - enter it. Kaspar extols the wisdom of Jesus. Jesus teaches in - the groves of Cyrus._ - -Now, in the early morning Jesus came again to teach and heal. A -light not comprehended shown about, as though some mighty spirit -overshadowed him. - -2 A magus noted this and asked him privately to tell from whence his -wisdom came, and what the meaning of the light. - -3 And Jesus said, There is a Silence where the soul may meet its God, -and there the fount of wisdom is, and all who enter are immersed in -light, and filled with wisdom, love and power. - -4 The magus said, Tell me about this Silence and this light, that I -may go and there abide. - -5 And Jesus said, The Silence is not circumscribed; is not a place -closed in with wall, or rocky steeps, nor guarded by the sword of man. - -6 Men carry with them all the time the secret place where they may -meet their God. - -7 It matters not where men abide, on mountain top, in deepest vale, in -marts of trade, or in the quiet home; they may at once, at any time, -fling wide the door, and find the Silence, find the house of God; it -is within the soul. - -8 One may not be so much disturbed by noise of business, and the -words and thoughts of men if he goes all alone into the valley or the -mountain pass. - -9 And when life's heavy load is pressing hard, it is far better to go -out and seek a quiet place to pray and meditate. - -10 The Silence is the kingdom of the soul which is not seen by human -eyes. - -11 When in the Silence, phantom forms may flit before the mind; but -they are all subservient to the will; the master soul may speak and -they are gone. - -12 If you would find this Silence of the soul you must yourself -prepare the way. None but the pure in heart may enter here. - -13 And you must lay aside all tenseness of the mind, all business -cares, all fears, all doubts and troubled thoughts. - -14 Your human will must be absorbed by the divine; then you will come -into a consciousness of holiness. - -15 You are within the Holy Place, and you will see upon a living -shrine the candle of the Lord aflame. - -16 And when you see it burning there, look deep within the temple of -your brain, and you will see it all aglow. - -17 In every part, from head to foot, are candles all in place, just -waiting to be lighted by the flaming torch of love. - -18 And when you see the candles all aflame, just look, and you will -see, with eyes of soul, the waters of the fount of wisdom rushing on; -and you may drink, and there abide. - -19 And then the curtains part, and you are in the Holiest of All, -where rests the Ark of God, whose covering is the Mercy Seat. - -20 Fear not to lift the sacred board; the Tables of the Law are in the -Ark concealed. - -21 Take them and read them well; for they contain all precepts and -commands that men will ever need. - -22 And in the Ark, the magic wand of prophecy lies waiting for your -hand; it is the key to all the hidden meanings of the present, future, -past. - -23 And then, behold, the manna there, the hidden bread of life; and he -who eats shall never die. - -24 The cherubim have guarded well for every soul this treasure box, -and whosoever will may enter in and find his own. - -25 Now Kaspar heard the Hebrew master speak and he exclaimed, Behold, -the wisdom of the gods has come to men! - -26 And Jesus went his way, and in the sacred groves of Cyrus, where -the multitudes were met, he taught and healed the sick. - - -CHAPTER 41. - - _Jesus stands by a healing fountain. Reveals the fact that - faith is the potent factor in healing and many are healed by - faith. A little child teaches a great lesson of faith._ - -A flowing spring that people called the Healing Fount, was near -Persepolis. - -2 And all the people thought that at a certain time of year their -deity came down and gave a virtue to the waters of the fount, and that -the sick who then would plunge into the fount and wash would be made -whole. - -3 About the fount a multitude of people were in waiting for the Holy -One to come and potentize the waters of the fount. - -4 The blind, the lame, the deaf, the dumb, and those obsessed were -there. - -5 And Jesus, standing in the midst of them, exclaimed, Behold the -spring of life! These waters that will fail are honored as the special -blessing of your God. - -6 From whence do healing virtues come? Why is your God so partial with -his gifts? Why does he bless this spring today, and then tomorrow take -his blessings all away? - -7 A deity of power could fill these waters full of healing virtue -every day. - -8 Hear me, you sick, disconsolate: The virtue of this fount is not a -special gift of God. - -9 Faith is the healing power of every drop of all the waters of this -spring. - -10 He who believes with all his heart that he will be made whole by -washing in this fount will be made whole when he has washed; and he -may wash at any time. - -11 Let every one who has this faith in God and in himself plunge in -these waters now and wash. - -12 And many of the people plunged into the crystal fount; and they -were healed. - -13 And then there was a rush, for all the people were inspired with -faith, and each one strove to be among the first to wash, lest all the -virtue be absorbed. - -14 And Jesus saw a little child, weak, faint and helpless, sitting all -alone beyond the surging crowd; and there was none to help her to the -fount. - -15 And Jesus said, My little one, why do you sit and wait? Why not -arise and hasten to the fount and wash, and be made well? - -16 The child replied, I need not haste; the blessings of my Father in -the sky are measured not in tiny cups; they never fail; their virtues -are the same forevermore. - -17 When these whose faith is weak must haste to wash for fear their -faith will fail, have all been cured, these waters will be just as -powerful for me. - -18 Then I can go and stay a long, long time within the blessed waters -of the spring. - -19 And Jesus said, Behold a master soul! She came to earth to teach to -men the power of faith. - -20 And then he lifted up the child and said, Why wait for anything? -The very air we breathe is filled with balm of life. Breathe in this -balm of life in faith and be made whole. - -21 The child breathed in the balm of life in faith, and she was well. - -22 The people marveled much at what they heard and saw; they said, -This man must surely be the god of health made flesh. - -23 And Jesus said, The fount of life is not a little pool; it is as -wide as are the spaces of the heavens. - -24 The waters of the fount are love; the potency is faith, and he who -plunges deep into the living springs, in living faith, may wash away -his guilt and be made whole, and freed from sin. - - - - -SECTION IX. - -TETH. - -_Life and Works of Jesus in Assyria._ - - -CHAPTER 42. - - _Jesus bids the magians farewell. Goes to Assyria. Teaches the - people in Ur of Chaldea. Meets Ashbina, with whom he visits - many towns and cities, teaching and healing the sick._ - -In Persia Jesus' work was done and he resumed his journey towards his -native land. - -2 The Persian sage went with him to the Euphrates; then with a pledge -that they would meet again in Egypt land the masters said, Farewell. - -3 And Kaspar went his way unto his home beside the Caspian Sea; and -Jesus soon was in Chaldea, cradle land of Israel. - -4 In Ur, where Abraham was born, he tarried for a time; and when he -told the people who he was, and why he came, they came from near and -far to speak to him. - -5 He said to them, We all are kin. Two thousand years and more ago, -our Father Abraham lived here in Ur, and then he worshipped God the -One, and taught the people in these sacred groves. - -6 And he was greatly blessed; becoming father of the mighty hosts of -Israel. - -7 Although so many years have passed since Abraham and Sarah walked -these ways, a remnant of their kindred still abide in Ur. - -8 And in their hearts the God of Abraham is still adored, and faith -and justice are the rocks on which they build. - -9 Behold this land! It is no more the fruitful land that Abraham loved -so well; the rains come not as in the former times; the vine is not -productive now, and withered are the figs. - -10 But this shall not forever be; the time will come when all your -deserts will rejoice; when flowers will bloom; when all your vines -will bend their heads with luscious fruit; your shepherds will again -be glad. - -11 And Jesus preached to them the gospel of good will, and peace on -earth. He told them of the brotherhood of life, and of the inborn -powers of man, and of the kingdom of the soul. - -12 And as he spoke, Ashbina, greatest sage of all Assyria, stood -before his face. - -13 The people knew the sage, for he had often taught them in their -sacred halls and groves, and they rejoiced to see his face. - -14 Ashbina said, My children of Chaldea, hear! Behold, for you are -greatly blest today, because a prophet of the living God has come to -you. - -15 Take heed to what this master says, for he gives forth the words -that God has given him. - -16 And Jesus and the sage went through the towns and cities of Chaldea -and of the lands between the Tigris and the Euphrates; - -17 And Jesus healed a multitude of people who were sick. - - -CHAPTER 43. - - _Jesus and Ashbina visit Babylon and remark its desolation. The - two masters remain in company seven days; then Jesus resumes - his homeward journey. Arrives in Nazareth. His mother gives a - feast in his honor. His brothers are displeased. Jesus tells - his mother and aunt the story of his journeys._ - -The ruined Babylon was near, and Jesus and the sage went through her -gates and walked among her fallen palaces. - -2 They trod the streets where Israel once was held in base captivity. - -3 They saw where Judah's sons and daughters hung their harps upon the -willows, and refused to sing. - -4 They saw where Daniel and the Hebrew children stood as living -witnesses of faith. - -5 And Jesus lifted up his hands and said, Behold the grandeur of the -works of man! - -6 The king of Babylon destroyed the temple of the Lord in old -Jerusalem; he burned the holy city, bound in chains my people and my -kin, and brought them here as slaves. - -7 But retribution comes; for whatsoever men shall do to other men the -righteous Judge will do to them. - -8 The sun of Babylon has gone down; the songs of pleasure will be -heard no more within her walls. - -9 And every kind of creeping thing and unclean bird will, in these -ruins, find their homes. - -10 And in the temple Belus, Jesus and Ashbina stood in silent thought. - -11 Then Jesus spoke and said, Behold this monument of folly and of -shame. - -12 Man tried to shake the very throne of God, and he assayed to build -a tower to reach to heaven, when, lo, his very speech was snatched -away, because in lofty words he boasted of his power. - -13 And on these heights the heathen Baal stood--the god wrought out by -hands of man. - -14 Upon yon altar, birds, and beasts, and men, yea children have been -burned in awful sacrifice to Baal. - -15 But now the gory priests are dead; the very rocks have shuddered -and have fallen down; the place is desolate. - -16 Now, in the plains of Shinar Jesus tarried yet for seven days, and, -with Ashbina, meditated long upon the needs of men, and how the sages -could best serve the coming age. - -17 Then Jesus went his way, and after many days he crossed the Jordan -to his native land. At once he sought his home in Nazareth. - -18 His mother's heart was filled with joy; she made a feast for him, -inviting all her kindred and her friends. - -19 But Jesus' brothers were not pleased that such attention should be -paid to one they deemed a sheer adventurer, and they went not in to -the feast. - -20 They laughed their brother's claims to scorn; they called him -indolent, ambitious, vain; a worthless fortune hunter; searcher of the -world for fame, who, after many years returns to mother's home with -neither gold, nor any other wealth. - -21 And Jesus called aside his mother and her sister, Miriam, and told -them of his journey to the East. - -22 He told them of the lessons he had learned, and of the works that -he had done. To others he told not the story of his life. - - - - -SECTION X. - -JOD. - -_Life and Works of Jesus in Greece._ - - -CHAPTER 44. - - _Jesus visits Greece and is welcomed by the Athenians. Meets - Apollo. Addresses the Grecian masters in the Amphitheater. - The address._ - -The Greek philosophy was full of pungent truth, and Jesus longed to -study with the masters in the schools of Greece. - -2 And so he left his home in Nazareth and crossed the Carmel hills, -and at the port took ship, and soon was in the Grecian capital. - -3 Now, the Athenians had heard of him as teacher and philosopher, and -they were glad to have him come to them that they might hear his words -of truth. - -4 Among the masters of the Greeks was one, Apollo, who was called, -Defender of the Oracle, and recognized in many lands as Grecian sage. - -5 Apollo opened up for Jesus all the doors of Grecian lore, and in the -Areopagus he heard the wisest masters speak. - -6 But Jesus brought to them a wisdom greater far than theirs; and so -he taught. - -7 Once in the Amphitheater he stood, and when Apollo bade him speak he -said, - -8 Athenian masters, hear! In ages long ago, men, wise in nature's -laws, sought out and found the place on which your city stands. - -9 Full well you know that there are parts of earth where its great -beating heart throws heavenward etheric waves that meet the ethers -from above; - -10 Where spirit-light and understanding, like the stars of night, -shine forth. - -11 Of all the parts of earth there is no place more sensitized, more -truly spirit-blest, than that where Athens stands. - -12 Yea, all of Greece is blest. No other land has been the homeland of -such mighty men of thought as grace your scrolls of fame. - -13 A host of sturdy giants of philosophy, of poetry, of science, and -of art, were born upon the soil of Greece, and rocked to manhood in -your cradle of pure thought. - -14 I come not here to speak of science, of philosophy, or art; of -these you are the world's best masters now. - -15 But all your high accomplishments are but stepping stones to worlds -beyond the realm of sense; are but illusive shadows flitting on the -walls of time. - -16 But I would tell you of a life beyond, within; a real life that can -not pass away. - -17 In science and philosophy there is no power strong enough to fit a -soul to recognize itself, or to commune with God. - -18 I would not stay the flow of your great streams of thought; but I -would turn them to the channels of the soul. - -19 Unaided by the Spirit-breath, the work of intellection tends to -solve the problems of the things we see, and nothing more. - -20 The senses were ordained to bring into the mind mere pictures of -the things that pass away; they do not deal with real things; they do -not comprehend eternal law. - -21 But man has something in his soul, a something that will tear the -veil apart that he may see the world of real things. - -22 We call this something, spirit consciousness; it sleeps in every -soul, and cannot be awakened till the Holy Breath becomes a welcome -guest. - -23 This Holy Breath knocks at the door of every soul, but cannot enter -in until the will of man throws wide the door. - -24 There is no power in intellect to turn the key; philosophy and -science both have toiled to get a glimpse behind the veil; but they -have failed. - -25 The secret spring that throws ajar the door of soul is touched by -nothing else than purity in life, by prayer and holy thought. - -26 Return, O mystic stream of Grecian thought, and mingle your -clear waters with the flood of Spirit-life; and then the spirit -consciousness will sleep no more, and man will know, and God will -bless. - -27 When Jesus had thus said he stepped aside. The Grecian masters were -astonished at the wisdom of his words; they answered not. - - -CHAPTER 45. - - _Jesus teaches the Greek masters. Goes with Apollo to Delphi - and hears the Oracle speak. It testifies for him. He abides - with Apollo, and is recognized as the Living Oracle of God. - Explains to Apollo the phenomenon of oracular speech._ - -For many days the Grecian masters listened to the clear incisive words -that Jesus spoke, and while they could not fully comprehend the things -he said, they were delighted and accepted his philosophy. - -2 One day as Jesus and Apollo walked beside the sea, a Delphic courier -came in haste and said, Apollo, master, come; the Oracle would speak -with you. - -3 Apollo said to Jesus, Sir, if you would see the Delphic Oracle, and -hear it speak, you may accompany me. And Jesus did accompany him. - -4 The masters went in haste; and when they came to Delphi, great -excitement reigned. - -5 And when Apollo stood before the Oracle it spoke and said: - -6 Apollo, sage of Greece, the bell strikes twelve; the midnight of the -ages now has come. - -7 Within the womb of nature ages are conceived; they gestate and are -born in glory with the rising sun, and when the agic sun goes down the -age disintegrates and dies. - -8 The Delphic age has been an age of glory and renown; the gods have -spoken to the sons of men through oracles of wood, and gold, and -precious stone. - -9 The Delphic sun has set; the Oracle will go into decline; the time -is near when men will hear its voice no more. - -10 The gods will speak to man by man. The Living Oracle now stands -within these sacred groves; the Logos from on high has come. - -11 From henceforth will decrease my wisdom and my power; from -henceforth will increase the wisdom and the power of him, Immanuel. - -12 Let all the masters stay; let every creature hear and honor him, -Immanuel. - -13 And then the Oracle spoke not again for forty days, and priests and -people were amazed. They came from near and far to hear the Living -Oracle speak forth the wisdom of the gods. - -14 And Jesus and the Grecian sage returned; and in Apollo's home the -Living Oracle spoke forth for forty days. - -15 One day Apollo said to Jesus as they sat alone, This sacred Delphic -Oracle has spoken many a helpful word for Greece. - -16 Pray tell me what it is that speaks. Is it an angel, man, or living -god? - -17 And Jesus said, It is not angel, man, nor god that speaks. It is -the matchless wisdom of the master minds of Greece, united in a master -mind. - -18 This giant mind has taken to itself the substances of soul, and -thinks, and hears, and speaks. - -19 It will remain a living soul while master minds feed it with -thought, with wisdom and with faith and hope. - -20 But when the master minds of Greece shall perish from the land, -this giant master mind will cease to be, and then the Delphic Oracle -will speak no more. - - -CHAPTER 46. - - _A storm on the sea. Jesus rescues many drowning men. The - Athenians pray to idols. Jesus rebukes their idolatry and - tells how God helps. His last meeting with the Greeks. Sails - on the vessel Mars._ - -It was a holy day and Jesus walked upon the Athens' beach. - -2 A storm was on and ships were being tossed about like toys upon the -bosom of the sea. - -3 The sailors and the fishermen were going down to watery graves; the -shores were strewn with bodies of the dead. - -4 And Jesus halted not, but with a mighty power he rescued many a -helpless one, oft bringing back to life the seeming dead. - -5 Now, on these shores were altars sacred to the gods supposed to rule -the seas. - -6 And men and women, heedless of the cries of drowning men, were -crowding all about these altars, calling on their gods for help. - -7 At length the storm was done, and all the sea was calm, and men -could think again; and Jesus said, - -8 You worshippers of wooden gods, how has the fury of this storm been -lessened by your frantic prayers? - -9 Where is the strength of these poor, weather-beaten gods with -painted swords and crowns? - -10 A god that could abide in such a little house could hardly hold a -frantic fly, and who could hope that he could hold at bay the Lords of -winds and waves? - -11 The mighty powers of worlds unseen do not give forth their help -till men have done their best; they only help when man can do no more. - -12 And you have agonized and prayed around these shrines, and let men -sink to death who might have been, by your assistance, saved. - -13 The God that saves dwells in your souls, and manifests by making -use of your own feet, and legs, and arms, and hands. - -14 Strength never comes through idleness; nor through a waiting for -another one to bear your loads, or do the work that you are called to -do. - -15 But when you do your best to bear your loads, and do your work, you -offer unto God a sacrifice well-pleasing in his sight. - -16 And then the Holy One breathes deep upon your glowing sacrificial -coals, and makes them blaze aloft to fill your souls with light, and -strength and helpfulness. - -17 The most efficient prayer that men can offer to a god of any kind -is helpfulness to those in need of help; for what you do for other men -the Holy One will do for you. - -18 And thus God helps. - -19 His work in Greece was done, and Jesus must go on his way to Egypt -in the South. Apollo, with the highest masters of the land and many -people from the varied walks of life, stood on the shore to see the -Hebrew sage depart; and Jesus said, - -20 The son of man has been in many lands; has stood in temples of a -multitude of foreign gods; has preached the gospel of good will and -peace on earth to many people, tribes and tongues; - -21 Has been received with favor in a multitude of homes; but Greece -is, of them all, the royal host. - -22 The breadth of Grecian thought; the depth of her philosophy; the -height of her unselfish aspirations have well fitted her to be the -champion of the cause of human liberty and right. - -23 The fates of war have subjugated Greece, because she trusted in -the strength of flesh, and bone and intellect, forgetful of the -spirit-life that binds a nation to its source of power, - -24 But Greece will not forever sit within the darkness of the -shadowland as vassal of a foreign king. - -25 Lift up your heads, you men of Greece; the time will come when -Greece will breathe the ethers of the Holy Breath, and be a main -spring of the spirit power of earth. - -26 But God must be your shield, your buckler, and your tower of -strength. - -27 And then he said, Farewell. Apollo raised his hand in silent -benediction, and the people wept. - -28 Upon the Cretan vessel, Mars, the Hebrew sage sailed from the -Grecian port. - - - - -SECTION XI. - -CAPH. - -_Life and Works of Jesus in Egypt._ - - -CHAPTER 47. - - _Jesus with Elihu and Salome in Egypt. Tells the story of his - journeys. Elihu and Salome praise God. Jesus goes to the - temple in Heliopolis and is received as a pupil._ - -And Jesus came to Egypt land, and all was well. He tarried not upon -the coast; he went at once to Zoan, home of Elihu and Salome, who five -and twenty years before had taught his mother in their sacred school. - -2 And there was joy when met these three. When last the son of Mary -saw these sacred groves he was a babe; - -3 And now a man grown strong by buffetings of every kind; a teacher -who had stirred the multitudes in many lands. - -4 And Jesus told the aged teachers all about his life; about his -journeyings in foreign lands; about the meetings with the masters and -about his kind receptions by the multitudes. - -5 Elihu and Salome heard his story with delight; they lifted up their -eyes to heaven and said, - -6 Our Father-God, let now thy servants go in peace, for we have seen -the glory of the Lord; - -7 And we have talked with him, the messenger of love, and of the -covenant of peace on earth, good will to men. - -8 Through him shall all the nations of the earth be blest; through -him, Immanuel. - -9 And Jesus staid in Zoan many days; and then went forth unto the city -of the sun, that men call Heliopolis, and sought admission to the -temple of the sacred brotherhood. - -10 The council of the brotherhood convened, and Jesus stood before -the hierophant; he answered all the questions that were asked with -clearness and with power. - -11 The hierophant exclaimed, Rabboni of the rabbinate, why come you -here? Your wisdom is the wisdom of the gods; why seek for wisdom in -the halls of men? - -12 And Jesus said, In every way of earth-life I would walk; in every -hall of learning I would sit; the heights that any man has gained, -these I would gain; - -13 What any man has suffered I would meet, that I may know the -griefs, the disappointments and the sore temptations of my brother -man; that I may know just how to succor those in need. - -14 I pray you, brothers, let me go into your dismal crypts; and I -would pass the hardest of your tests. - -15 The master said, Take then the vow of secret brotherhood. And Jesus -took the vow of secret brotherhood. - -16 Again the master spoke; he said, The greatest heights are gained by -those who reach the greatest depths; and you shall reach the greatest -depths. - -17 The guide then led the way and in the fountain Jesus bathed; and -when he had been clothed in proper garb he stood again before the -hierophant. - - -CHAPTER 48. - - _Jesus receives from the hierophant his mystic name and number. - Passes the first brotherhood test, and receives his first - degree, SINCERITY._ - -The master took down from the wall a scroll on which was written down -the number and the name of every attribute and character. He said, - -2 The circle is the symbol of the perfect man, and seven is the number -of the perfect man; - -3 The Logos is the perfect word; that which creates; that which -destroys, and that which saves. - -4 This Hebrew master is the Logos of the Holy One, the Circle of the -human race, the Seven of time. - -5 And in the record book the scribe wrote down, The -Logos-Circle-Seven; and thus was Jesus known. - -6 The master said, The Logos will give heed to what I say: No man can -enter into light till he has found himself. Go forth and search till -you have found your soul and then return. - -7 The guide led Jesus to a room in which the light was faint and -mellow, like the light of early dawn. - -8 The chamber walls were marked with mystic signs, with hieroglyphs -and sacred texts; and in this chamber Jesus found himself alone where -he remained for many days. - -9 He read the sacred texts; thought out the meanings of the -hieroglyphs and sought the import of the master's charge to find -himself. - -10 A revelation came; he got acquainted with his soul; he found -himself; then he was not alone. - -11 One night he slept and at the midnight hour, a door that he had not -observed, was opened, and a priest in somber garb came in and said, - -12 My brother, pardon me for coming in at this unseemly hour; but I -have come to save your life. - -13 You are the victim of a cruel plot. The priests of Heliopolis are -jealous of your fame, and they have said that you shall never leave -these gloomy crypts alive. - -14 The higher priests do not go forth to teach the world, and you are -doomed to temple servitude. - -15 Now, if you would be free, you must deceive these priests; must -tell them you are here to stay for life; - -16 And then, when you have gained all that you wish to gain, I will -return, and by a secret way will lead you forth that you may go in -peace. - -17 And Jesus said, My brother, man, would you come here to teach -deceit? Am I within these holy walls to learn the wiles of vile -hypocrisy? - -18 Nay, man, my Father scorns deceit, and I am here to do his will. - -19 Deceive these priests! Not while the sun shall shine. What I have -said, that I have said; I will be true to them, to God, and to myself. - -20 And then the tempter left, and Jesus was again alone; but in a -little time a white-robed priest appeared and said, - -21 Well done! the Logos has prevailed. This is the trial chamber -of hypocrisy. And then he led the way, and Jesus stood before the -judgment seat. - -22 And all the brothers stood; the hierophant came forth and laid his -hand on Jesus' head, and placed within his hands a scroll, on which -was written just one word, SINCERITY; and not a word was said. - -23 The guide again appeared, and led the way, and in a spacious room -replete with everything a student craves was Jesus bade to rest and -wait. - - -CHAPTER 49. - - _Jesus passes the second brotherhood test, and receives the - second degree, JUSTICE._ - -The Logos did not care to rest; he said, Why wait in this luxurious -room? I need not rest; my Father's work upon me presses hard. - -2 I would go on and learn my lessons all. If there are trials, let -them come, for every victory over self gives added strength. - -3 And then the guide led on, and in a chamber, dark as night, was -Jesus placed and left alone; and days were spent in this deep solitude. - -4 And Jesus slept, and in the dead of night a secret door was opened, -and, in priest's attire, two men came in; each carried in his hand a -little flickering lamp. - -5 Approaching Jesus, one spoke out and said, Young man, our hearts are -grieved because of what you suffer in these fearful dens, and we have -come as friends to bring you light, and show the way to liberty. - -6 We once, like you, were in these dens confined, and thought that -through these weird, uncanny ways we could attain to blessedness and -power; - -7 But in a luckful moment we were undeceived, and, making use of all -our strength, we broke our chains, and then we learned that all this -service is corruption in disguise. These priests are criminals just -hid away. - -8 They boast in sacrificial rites; they offer to their gods, and burn -them while alive, poor birds, and beasts; yea, children, women, men. - -9 And now they keep you here, and, at a certain time, may offer you in -sacrifice. - -10 We pray you, brother, break your chains; come, go with us; accept -of freedom while you may. - -11 And Jesus said, Your little tapers show the light you bring. Pray, -who are you? The words of man are worth no more than is the man -himself. - -12 These temple walls are strong and high; how gained you entrance to -this place? - -13 The men replied, Beneath these walls are many hidden ways, and we -who have been priests, spent months and years within these dens, know -all of them. - -14 Then you are traitors, Jesus said. A traitor is a fiend; he who -betrays another man is never man to trust. - -15 If one has only reached the plane of treachery, he is a lover of -deceit, and will betray a friend to serve his selfish self. - -16 Behold, you men, or whatsoe'er you be, your words fall lightly on -my ears, - -17 Could I prejudge these hundred priests, turn traitor to myself and -them, because of what you say when you confess your treachery? - -18 No man can judge for me; and if I judge till testimony all is in I -might not judge aright. - -19 Nay, men; by whatsoever way you came, return. My soul prefers the -darkness of the grave to little flickering lights like these you bring. - -20 My conscience rules; what these, my brothers, have to say I'll -hear, and when the testimony all is in I will decide. You cannot judge -for me, nor I for you, - -21 Begone, you men, begone, and leave me to this charming light; for -while the sun shines not, within my soul there is a light surpassing -that of sun or moon. - -22 Then, with an angry threat that they would do him harm, the wily -tempters left, and Jesus was again alone. - -23 Again the white-robed priest appeared, and led the way, and Jesus -stood again before the hierophant; - -24 And not a word was said, but in his hands the master placed a -scroll on which the word suggestive, JUSTICE, was inscribed. - -25 And Jesus was the master of the phantom forms of prejudice and of -treachery. - - -CHAPTER 50. - - _Jesus passes the third brotherhood test, and receives the - third degree, FAITH._ - -The Logos waited seven days, and then was taken to the Hall of Fame, a -chamber rich in furnishings, and lighted up with gold and silver lamps. - -2 The colors of its ceilings, decorations, furnishings and walls were -blue and gold. - -3 Its shelves were filled with books of master minds; the paintings -and the statues were the works of highest art. - -4 And Jesus was entranced with all this elegance and these manifests -of thought. He read the sacred books, and sought the meanings of the -symbols and the hieroglyphs. - -5 And when he was absorbed in deepest thought, a priest approached and -said, - -6 Behold the glory of this place! my brother you are highly blest. Few -men of earth, so young, have reached such heights of fame. - -7 Now, if you do not waste your life in search for hidden things that -men can never comprehend, you may be founder of a school of thought -that will insure you endless fame; - -8 For your philosophy is deeper far than that of Plato, and your -teachings please the common people more than those of Socrates. - -9 Why seek for mystic light within these antiquated dens? Go forth and -walk with men, and think with men, and they will honor you. - -10 And, after all, these weird initiations may be myths, and your -Messiah hopes but base illusions of the hour. - -11 I would advise you to renounce uncertain things and choose the -course that leads to certain fame. - -12 And thus the priest, a demon in disguise, sung syren songs of -unbelief; and Jesus meditated long and well on what he said. - -13 The conflict was a bitter one, for king Ambition is a sturdy foe to -fight. - -14 For forty days the higher wrestled with the lower self, and then -the fight was won. - -15 Faith rose triumphant; unbelief was not. Ambition covered up his -face and fled away, and Jesus said, - -16 The wealth, the honor, and the fame of earth are but the baubles of -an hour. - -17 When this short span of earthly life has all been measured out, -man's bursting baubles will be buried with his bones. - -18 Yea, what a man does for his selfish self will make no markings on -the credit side of life. - -19 The good that men for other men shall do becomes a ladder strong on -which the soul may climb to wealth, and power and fame of God's own -kind, that cannot pass away, - -20 Give me the poverty of men, the consciousness of duty done in love, -the approbation of my God, and I will be content. - -21 And then he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, - -22 My Father-God, I thank thee for this hour. I ask not for the glory -of thyself; I fain would be a keeper of thy temple gates, and serve my -brother man. - -23 Again was Jesus called to stand before the hierophant; again no -word was said, but in his hands the master placed a scroll on which -was written FAITH. - -24 And Jesus bowed his head in humble thanks; then went his way. - - -CHAPTER 51. - - _Jesus passes the fourth brotherhood test, and receives the - fourth degree, PHILANTHROPY._ - -When other certain days had passed, the guide led Jesus to the Hall of -Mirth, a hall most richly furnished, and replete with every thing a -carnal heart could wish. - -2 The choicest viands and the most delicious wines were on the boards; -and maids, in gay attire, served all with grace and cheerfulness. - -3 And men and women, richly clad, were there; and they were wild with -joy; they sipped from every cup of mirth. - -4 And Jesus watched the happy throng in silence for a time, and then a -man in garb of sage came up and said, Most happy is the man who, like -the bee, can gather sweets from every flower. - -5 The wise man is the one who seeks for pleasure, and can find it -everywhere, - -6 At best man's span of life on earth is short, and then he dies and -goes, he knows not where. - -7 Then let us eat, and drink, and dance, and sing, and get the joys of -life, for death comes on apace. - -8 It is but foolishness to spend a life for other men. Behold, all die -and lie together in the grave, where none can know and none can show -forth gratitude. - -9 But Jesus answered not; upon the tinseled guests in all their rounds -of mirth he gazed in silent thought. - -10 And then among the guests he saw a man whose clothes were coarse; -who showed in face and hands the lines of toil and want. - -11 The giddy throng found pleasure in abusing him; they jostled him -against the wall, and laughed at his discomfiture. - -12 And then a poor, frail woman came, who carried in her face and form -the marks of sin and shame; and without mercy she was spit upon, and -jeered, and driven from the hall. - -13 And then a little child, with timid ways and hungry mien, came in -and asked for just a morsel of their food. - -14 But she was driven out uncared for and unloved; and still the merry -dance went on. - -15 And when the pleasure seekers urged that Jesus join them in their -mirth, he said, - -16 How could I seek for pleasure for myself while others are in want? -How can you think that while the children cry for bread, while those -in haunts of sin call out for sympathy and love that I can fill myself -to full with the good things of life? - -17 I tell you, nay; we all are kin, each one a part of the great human -heart. - -18 I cannot see myself apart from that poor man that you so scorned, -and crowded to the wall; - -19 Nor from the one in female garb who came up from the haunts of vice -to ask for sympathy and love, who was by you so ruthlessly pushed back -into her den of sin; - -20 Nor from that little child that you drove from your midst to suffer -in the cold, bleak winds of night. - -21 I tell you, men, what you have done to these, my kindred, you have -done to me. - -22 You have insulted me in your own home; I cannot stay. I will go -forth and find that child, that woman and that man, and give them help -until my life's blood all has ebbed away. - -23 I call it pleasure when I help the helpless, feed the hungry, -clothe the naked, heal the sick, and speak good words of cheer to -those unloved, discouraged and depressed. - -24 And this that you call mirth is but a phantom of the night; but -flashes of the fire of passion, painting pictures on the walls of time. - -25 And while the Logos spoke the white-robed priest came in and said -to him, The council waits for you. - -26 Then Jesus stood again before the bar; again no word was said; -the hierophant placed in his hands a scroll, on which was writ, -PHILANTHROPY. - -27 And Jesus was a victor over selfish self. - - -CHAPTER 52. - - _Jesus spends forty days in the temple groves. Passes the fifth - brotherhood test and receives the fifth degree, HEROISM._ - -The sacred temple groves were rich in statues, monuments and shrines; -here Jesus loved to walk and meditate. - -2 And after he had conquered self he talked with nature in these -groves for forty days. - -3 And then the guide took chains and bound him hand and foot; and then -cast him into a den of hungry beasts, of unclean birds, and creeping -things. - -4 The den was dark as night; the wild beasts howled; the birds in fury -screamed; the reptiles hissed. - -5 And Jesus said, Who was it that did bind me thus? Why did I meekly -sit to be bound down with chains? - -6 I tell you, none has power to bind a human soul. Of what are fetters -made? - -7 And in his might he rose, and what he thought were chains were only -worthless cords that parted at his touch. - -8 And then he laughed and said, The chains that bind men to the -carcasses of earth are forged in fancy's shop; are made of air, and -welded in illusion's fires. - -9 If man will stand erect, and use the power of will, his chains will -fall, like worthless rags; for will and faith are stronger than the -stoutest chains that men have ever made. - -10 And Jesus stood erect among the hungry beasts, and birds, and said, -What is this darkness that envelops me? - -11 'Tis but the absence of the light. And what is light? 'Tis but the -breath of God vibrating in the rythm of rapid thought. - -12 And then he said, Let there be light; and with a mighty will he -stirred the ethers up, and their vibrations reached the plane of -light; and there was light. - -13 The darkness of that den of night became the brightness of a -newborn day. - -14 And then he looked to see the beasts, and birds, and creeping -things; lo, they were not. - -15 And Jesus said, Of what are souls afraid? Fear is the chariot in -which man rides to death; - -16 And when he finds himself within the chamber of the dead, he learns -that he has been deceived; his chariot was a myth, and death a fancy -child. - -17 But some day all man's lessons will be learned, and from the den of -unclean, beasts and birds, and creeping things he will arise to walk -in light. - -18 And Jesus saw a ladder made of gold, on which he climbed, and at -the top the white-robed priest awaited him. - -19 Again he stood before the council bar; again no word was said; -again the hierophant reached forth his hand to bless. - -20 He placed in Jesus' hand another scroll, and on this one was -written, HEROISM. - -21 The Logos had encountered fear and all his phantom host, and in the -conflict he achieved the victory. - - -CHAPTER 53. - - _Jesus passes the sixth brotherhood test and receives the sixth - degree, LOVE DIVINE._ - -In all the land there was no place more grandly furnished than the -Beauty Parlors of the temple of the sun. - -2 Few students ever entered these rich rooms; the priests regarded -them with awe, and called them Halls of Mysteries. - -3 When Jesus had attained the victory over fear, he gained the right -to enter here. - -4 The guide led on the way, and after passing many richly furnished -rooms they reached the Hall of Harmony; and here was Jesus left alone. - -5 Among the instruments of music was a harpsichord, and Jesus sat in -thoughtful mood inspecting it, when, quietly, a maiden of entrancing -beauty came into the hall. - -6 She did not seem to notice Jesus as he sat and mused, so busy with -his thoughts. - -7 She found her place beside the harpsichord; she touched the chords -most gently, and she sung the songs of Israel. - -8 And Jesus was entranced; such beauty he had never seen; such music -he had never heard. - -9 The maiden sung her songs; she did not seem to know that any one was -near; she went her way - -10 And Jesus, talking with himself, said out, What is the meaning of -this incident? I did not know that such entrancing beauty and such -queen-like loveliness were ever found among the sons of men. - -11 I did not know that voice of angel ever graced a human form, or -that seraphic music ever came from human lips. - -12 For days he sat entranced; the current of his thoughts was changed; -he thought of nothing but the singer and her songs. - -13 He longed to see her once again; and after certain days she came; -she spoke and laid her hand upon his head. - -14 Her touch thrilled all his soul, and for the time, forgotten was -the work that he was sent to do. - -15 Few were the words the maiden said; she went her way; but then the -heart of Jesus had been touched. - -16 A love-flame had been kindled in his soul, and he was brought to -face the sorest trial of his life. - -17 He could not sleep nor eat. Thoughts of the maiden came; they would -not go. His carnal nature called aloud for her companionship. - -18 And then he said, Lo, I have conquered every foe that I have met, -and shall I now be conquered by this carnal love? - -19 My Father sent me here to show the power of love divine, that love -that reaches every living thing. - -20 Shall this pure, universal love be all absorbed by carnal love? -Shall I forget all creatures else, and lose my life in this fair -maiden, though she is the highest type of beauty, purity and love? - -21 Into its very depths his soul was stirred, and long he wrestled -with this angel-idol of his heart. - -22 But when the day was almost lost, his higher ego rose in might; he -found himself again, and then he said, - -23 Although my heart shall break I will not fail in this my hardest -task; I will be victor over carnal love. - -24 And when again the maiden came, and offered him her hand and heart, -he said, - -25 Fair one, your very presence thrills me with delight; your voice -is benediction to my soul; my human self would fly with you, and be -contented in your love; - -26 But all the world is craving for a love that I have come to -manifest. - -27 I must, then, bid you go; but we will meet again; our ways on earth -will not be cast apart. - -28 I see you in the hurrying throngs of earth as minister of love; I -hear your voice in song, that wins the hearts of men to better things. - -29 And then in sorrow and in tears the maiden went away, and Jesus was -again alone. - -30 And instantly the great bells of the temple rang; the singers sung -a new, new song; the grotto blazed with light. - -31 The hierophant himself appeared, and said, All hail! triumphant -Logos, hail! The conqueror of carnal love stands on the heights. - -32 And then he placed in Jesus' hands a scroll on which was written -LOVE DIVINE. - -33 Together they passed from the grotto of the beautiful, and in the -banquet hall a feast was served, and Jesus was the honored guest. - - -CHAPTER 54. - - _Jesus becomes a private pupil of the hierophant and is taught - the mysteries of Egypt. In passing the seventh test, he works - in the Chamber of the Dead._ - -The senior course of study now was opened up and Jesus entered and -became a pupil of the hierophant. - -2 He learned the secrets of the mystic lore of Egypt land; the -mysteries of life and death and of the worlds beyond the circle of the -sun. - -3 When he had finished all the studies of the senior course, he went -into the Chamber of the Dead, that he might learn the ancient methods -of preserving from decay the bodies of the dead; and here he wrought. - -4 And carriers brought the body of a widow's only son to be embalmed; -the weeping mother followed close; her grief was great. - -5 And Jesus said, Good woman, dry your tears; you follow but an empty -house; your son is in it not. - -6 You weep because your son is dead. Death is a cruel word; your son -can never die. - -7 He had a task assigned to do in garb of flesh; he came; he did his -work, and then he laid the flesh aside; he did not need it more. - -8 Beyond your human sight he has another work to do, and he will do it -well, and then pass on to other tasks, and, by and by, he will attain -the crown of perfect life. - -9 And what your son has done, and what he yet must do, we all must do. - -10 Now, if you harbor grief, and give your sorrows vent they will grow -greater every day. They will absorb your very life until at last you -will be naught but grief, wet down with bitter tears. - -11 Instead of helping him you grieve your son by your deep grief. He -seeks your solace now as he has ever done; is glad when you are glad; -is saddened when you grieve. - -12 Go bury deep your woes, and smile at grief, and lose yourself in -helping others dry their tears. - -13 With duty done comes happiness and joy; and gladness cheers the -hearts of those who have passed on. - -14 The weeping woman turned, and went her way to find a happiness in -helpfulness; to bury deep her sorrows in a ministry of joy. - -15 Then other carriers came and brought the body of a mother to the -Chamber of the Dead; and just one mourner followed; she a girl of -tender years. - -16 And as the cortege neared the door, the child observed a wounded -bird in sore distress; a cruel hunter's dart had pierced its breast. - -17 And she left following the dead, and went to help the living bird. - -18 With tenderness and love she folded to her breast the wounded bird; -then hurried to her place. - -19 And Jesus said to her, Why did you leave your dead to save a -wounded bird? - -20 The maiden said, This lifeless body needs no help from me; but I -can help while yet life is; my mother taught me this. - -21 My mother taught that grief and selfish love, and hopes and fears -are but reflexes from the lower self; - -22 That what we sense are but small waves upon the rolling billows of -a life. - -23 These all will pass away; they are unreal. - -24 Tears flow from hearts of flesh; the spirit never weeps; and I am -longing for the day when I will walk in light, where tears are wiped -away. - -25 My mother taught that all emotions are the sprays that rise from -human loves, and hopes, and fears; that perfect bliss cannot be ours -till we have conquered these. - -26 And in the presence of that child did Jesus bow his head in -reverence. He said, - -27 For days and months and years I've sought to learn this highest -truth that man can learn on earth, and here a child, fresh brought to -earth, has told it all in one short breath. - -28 No wonder David said, O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name -in all the earth! - -29 Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained -strength. - -30 And then he laid his hand upon the maiden's head, and said, I'm -sure the blessings of my Father-God will rest upon you, child, -forevermore. - - -CHAPTER 55. - - _Jesus passes the seventh brotherhood test, and in the purple - room of the temple receives the seventh, the highest degree, - THE CHRIST. He leaves the temple a conqueror._ - -The work of Jesus in the Chamber of the Dead was done, and in the -temple purple room he stood before the hierophant. - -2 And he was clothed in purple robes; and all the brothers stood. The -hierophant arose and said, - -3 This is a royal day for all the hosts of Israel. In honor of their -chosen son we celebrate the great Passover Feast. - -4 And then he said to Jesus, Brother, man, most excellent of men, in -all the temple tests you have won out. - -5 Six times before the bar of right you have been judged; six times -you have received the highest honors man can give; and now you stand -prepared to take the last degree. - -6 Upon your brow I place this diadem, and in the Great Lodge of the -heavens and earth you are THE CHRIST. - -7 This is your great Passover rite. You are a neophyte no more; but -now a master mind. - -8 Now, man can do no more; but God himself will speak, and will -confirm your title and degree. - -9 Go on your way, for you must preach the gospel of good will to men -and peace on earth; must open up the prison doors and set the captives -free. - -10 And while the hierophant yet spoke the temple bells rang out; a -pure white dove descended from above and sat on Jesus' head. - -11 And then a voice that shook the very temple said, THIS IS THE -CHRIST; and every living creature said, AMEN. - -12 The great doors of the temple swung ajar; the Logos journeyed on -his way a conqueror. - - - - -SECTION XII. - -LAMED. - -_The Council of the Seven Sages of the World._ - - -CHAPTER 56. - - _The seven sages of the world meet in Alexandria. The purposes - of the meeting. The opening addresses._ - -In every age since time began have seven sages lived. - -2 At first of every age these sages meet to note the course of -nations, peoples, tribes and tongues; - -3 To note how far toward justice, love and righteousness the race has -gone; - -4 To formulate the code of laws, religious postulates and plans of -rule best suited to the coming age. - -5 An age had passed, and, lo, another age had come; the sages must -convene. - -6 Now, Alexandria was the center of the world's best thought, and here -in Philo's home the sages met. - -7 From China came Meng-ste; from India Vidyapati came; from Persia -Kaspar came; and from Assyria Ashbina came; from Greece Apollo came; -Matheno was the Egyptian sage, and Philo was the chief of Hebrew -thought. - -8 The time was due; the council met and sat in silence seven days. - -9 And then Meng-ste arose and said, The wheel of time has turned once -more; the race is on a higher plane of thought. - -10 The garments that our fathers wove have given out; the cherubim -have woven a celestial cloth; have placed it in our hands and we must -make for men new garbs. - -11 The sons of men are looking up for greater light. No longer do they -care for gods hewn out of wood, or made of clay. They seek a God not -made with hands. - -12 They see the beams of coming day, and yet they comprehend them not. - -13 The time is ripe, and we must fashion well these garments for the -race. - -14 And let us make for men new garbs of justice, mercy, righteousness -and love, that they may hide their nakedness when shines the light of -coming day. - -15 And Vidyapati said, Our priests have all gone mad; they saw a demon -in the wilds and at him cast their lamps and they are broken up, and -not a gleam of light has any priest for men. - -16 The night is dark; the heart of India calls for light. - -17 The priesthood cannot be reformed; it is already dead; its greatest -needs are graves and funeral chants. - -18 The new age calls for liberty; the kind that makes each man a -priest, enables him to go alone, and lay his offerings on the shrine -of God. - -19 And Kaspar said, In Persia people walk in fear; they do the good -for fear to do the wrong. - -20 The devil is the greatest power in our land, and though a myth, he -dandles on his knee both youth and age. - -21 Our land is dark, and evil prospers in the dark. - -22 Fear rides on every passing breeze, and lurks in every form of life. - -23 The fear of evil is a myth, is an illusion and a snare; but it -will live until some mighty power shall come to raise the ethers to -the plane of light. - -24 When this shall come to pass the magian land will glory in the -light. The soul of Persia calls for light. - - -CHAPTER 57. - - _Meeting of the sages, continued. Opening addresses. Jesus with - the sages. Seven days' silence._ - -Ashbina said, Assyria is the land of doubt; the chariot of my people, -that in which they mostly ride, is labeled Doubt. - -2 Once Faith walked forth in Babylon; and she was bright and fair; but -she was clothed in such white robes that men became afraid of her. - -3 And every wheel began to turn, and Doubt made war on her, and drove -her from the land; and she came back no more. - -4 In form men worship God, the One; in heart they are not sure that -God exists. - -5 Faith worships at the shrine of one not seen; but Doubt must see her -God. - -6 The greatest need of all Assyria is faith--a faith that seasons -every thing that is, with certainty. - -7 And then Apollo said, The greatest needs of Greece are true concepts -of God. - -8 Theogony in Greece is rudderless, for every thought may be a god, -and worshipped as a god. - -9 The plane of thought is broad, and full of sharp antagonists; and -so the circle of the gods is filled with enmity, with wars and base -intrigues. - -10 Greece needs a master mind to stand above the gods; to raise the -thoughts of men away from many gods to God the One. - -11 We know that light is coming o'er the hills. God speed the light. - -12 Matheno said, Behold this land of mystery! this Egypt of the dead! - -13 Our temples long have been the tombs of all the hidden things of -time; our temples, crypts and caves are dark. - -14 In light there are no secret things. The sun reveals all hidden -truth. There are no mysteries in God. - -15 Behold the rising sun! His beams are entering every door; yea, -every crevice of the mystic crypts of Mizraim. - -16 We hail the light! All Egypt craves the light. - -17 And Philo said, The need of Hebrew thought and life is liberty. - -18 The Hebrew prophets, seers, and givers of the law, were men of -power, men of holy thought, and they bequeathed to us a system of -philosophy that was ideal; one strong enough and good enough to lead -our people to the goal of perfectness. - -19 But carnal minds repudiated holiness; a priesthood filled with -selfishness arose, and purity in heart became a myth; the people were -enslaved. - -20 The priesthood is the curse of Israel; but when he comes, who is to -come, he will proclaim emancipation for the slaves; my people will be -free. - -21 Behold, for God has made incarnate wisdom, love and light, which he -has called Immanuel. - -22 To him is given the keys to open up the dawn; and here, as man, he -walks with us. - -23 And then the council chamber door was opened and the Logos stood -among the sages of the world. - -24 Again the sages sat in silence seven days. - - -CHAPTER 58. - - _Meeting of the sages, continued. Presentation of the seven - universal postulates._ - -Now, when the sages were refreshed they opened up the Book of Life and -read. - -2 They read the story of the life of man; of all his struggles, -losses, gains; and in the light of past events and needs, they saw -what would be best for him in coming years. - -3 They knew the kind of laws and precepts suited best to his estate; -they saw the highest God-ideal that the race could comprehend. - -4 Upon the seven postulates these sages were to formulate, the great -philosophy of life and worship of the coming age must rest. - -5 Now Meng-ste was the oldest sage; he took the chair of chief, and -said, - -6 Man is not far enough advanced to live by faith; he cannot -comprehend the things his eyes see not, - -7 He yet is child, and during all the coming age he must be taught by -pictures, symbols, rites, and forms. - -8 His God must be a human God; he cannot see a God by faith. - -9 And then he cannot rule himself; the king must rule; the man must -serve. - -10 The age that follows this will be the age of man, the age of faith. - -11 In that blest age the human race will see without the aid of carnal -eyes; will hear the soundless sound; will know the Spirit-God. - -12 The age we enter is the Preparation age, and all the schools, and -governments and worship rites must be designed in simple way that men -may comprehend. - -13 And man cannot originate; he builds by patterns that he sees; so in -this council we must carve out pattern for the coming age. - -14 And we must formulate the gnosis of the Empire of the soul, which -rests on seven postulates. - -15 Each sage in turn shall form a postulate; and these shall be the -basis of the creeds of men until the perfect age shall come. - -16 Then Meng-ste wrote the first: - -17 All things are thought; all life is thought activity. The multitude -of beings are but phases of the one great thought made manifest. Lo, -God is Thought, and Thought is God. - -18 Then Vidyapati wrote the second postulate: - -19 Eternal Thought is one; in essence it is two--Intelligence and -Force; and when they breathe a child is born; this child is Love. - -20 And thus the Triune God stands forth, whom men call -Father-Mother-Child. - -21 This Triune God is one; but like the one of light, in essence he is -seven. - -22 And when the Triune God breathes forth, lo, seven Spirits stand -before his face; these are creative attributes. - -23 Men call them lesser gods, and in their image they made man. - -24 And Kaspar wrote the third: - -25 Man was a thought of God, formed in the image of the Septonate, -clothed in the substances of soul. - -26 And his desires were strong; he sought to manifest on every plane -of life, and for himself he made a body of the ethers of the earthy -forms, and so descended to the plane of earth. - -27 In this descent he lost his birthright; lost his harmony with God, -and made discordant all the notes of life. - -28 Inharmony and evil are the same; so evil is the handiwork of man. - -29 Ashbina wrote the fourth: - -30 Seeds do not germinate in light; they do not grow until they find -the soil, and hide themselves away from light. - -31 Man was evolved a seed of everlasting life; but in the ethers of -the Triune God the light was far too great for seeds to grow; - -32 And so man sought the soil of carnal life, and in the darksomeness -of earth he found a place where he could germinate and grow. - -33 The seed has taken root and grown full well. - -34 The tree of human life is rising from the soil of earthy things, -and, under natural law, is reaching up to perfect form. - -35 There are no supernatural acts of God to lift a man from carnal -life to spirit blessedness; he grows as grows the plant, and in due -time is perfected. - -36 The quality of soul that makes it possible for man to rise to -spirit life is purity. - - -CHAPTER 59. - - _Meeting of the sages, continued. The remaining postulates. The - sages bless Jesus. Seven days' silence._ - -Apollo wrote the fifth: - -2 The soul is drawn to perfect light by four white steeds, and these -are Will, and Faith, and Helpfulness and Love. - -3 That which one wills to do, he has the power to do. - -4 A knowledge of that power is faith; and when faith moves, the soul -begins its flight. - -5 A selfish faith leads not to light. There is no lonely pilgrim on -the way to light. Men only gain the heights by helping others gain the -heights. - -6 The steed that leads the way to spirit life is Love; is pure -unselfish Love. - -7 Matheno wrote the sixth: - -8 The universal Love of which Apollo speaks is child of Wisdom and of -Will divine, and God has sent it forth to earth in flesh that man may -know. - -9 The universal Love of which the sages speak, is Christ. - -10 The greatest mystery of all times lies in the way that Christ lives -in the heart. - -11 Christ cannot live in clammy dens of carnal things. The seven -battles must be fought, the seven victories won before the carnal -things, like fear, and self, emotions and desire, are put away. - -12 When this is done the Christ will take possession of the soul; the -work is done, and man and God are one. - -13 And Philo wrote the seventh: - -14 A perfect man! To bring before the Triune God a being such as this -was nature made. - -15 This consummation is the highest revelation of the mystery of life. - -16 When all the essences of carnal things have been transmuted into -soul, and all the essences of soul have been returned to Holy Breath, -and man is made a perfect God, the drama of Creation will conclude. -And this is all. - -17 And all the sages said, Amen. - -18 Then Meng-ste said, The Holy One has sent to us a man illumined by -the efforts of unnumbered years, to lead the thoughts of men. - -19 This man, approved by all the master minds of heaven and earth, -this man from Galilee, this Jesus, chief of all the sages of the -world, we gladly recognize. - -20 In recognition of this wisdom that he brings to men, we crown him -with the Lotus wreath. - -21 We send him forth with all the blessing of the seven sages of the -world. - -22 Then all the sages laid their hands on Jesus' head, and said with -one accord, Praise God! - -23 For wisdom, honor, glory, power, riches, blessing, strength, are -yours, O Christ, forever more. - -24 And every living creature said, Amen. - -25 And then the sages sat in silence seven days. - - -CHAPTER 60. - - _Jesus addresses the seven sages. The address. Jesus goes to - Galilee._ - -The seven days of silence passed and Jesus, sitting with the sages -said: - -2 The history of life is well condensed in these immortal postulates. -These are the seven hills on which the holy city shall be built. - -3 These are the seven sure foundation stones on which the Universal -Church shall stand. - -4 In taking up the work assigned for me to do I am full conscious of -the perils of the way; the cup will be a bitter one to drink and human -nature well might shrink. - -5 But I have lost my will in that of Holy Breath, and so I go my way -to speak and act as I am moved to speak and act by Holy Breath. - -6 The words I speak are not my own; they are the words of him whose -will I do. - -7 Man is not far enough advanced in sacred thought to comprehend the -Universal Church, and so the work that God has given me to do is not -the building of that Church. - -8 I am a model maker, sent to make a pattern of the Church that is to -be--a pattern that the age may comprehend. - -9 My task as model builder lies within my native land, and there, upon -the postulate that Love is son of God, that I am come to manifest that -Love, the Model Church will stand. - -10 And from the men of low estate I will select twelve men, who -represent the twelve immortal thoughts; and these will be the Model -Church. - -11 The house of Judah, my own kindred in the flesh, will comprehend -but little of my mission to the world. - -12 And they will spurn me, scorn my work, accuse me falsely, bind me, -take me to the judgment seat of carnal men who will convict and slay -me on the cross. - -13 But men can never slay the truth; though banished it will come -again in greater power; for truth will subjugate the world. - -14 The Model Church will live. Though carnal man will prostitute its -sacred laws, symbolic rites and forms, for selfish ends, and make it -but an outward show, the few will find through it the kingdom of the -soul. - -15 And when the better age shall come the Universal Church will stand -upon the seven postulates, and will be built according to the pattern -given. - -16 The time has come; I go my way unto Jerusalem, and by the power of -living faith, and by the strength that you have given, - -17 And in the name of God, our Father-God, the kingdom of the soul -shall be established on the seven hills, - -18 And all the peoples, tribes and tongues of earth shall enter in. - -19 The Prince of Peace will take his seat upon the throne of power; -the Triune God will then be All in All. - -20 And all the sages said, Amen. - -21 And Jesus went his way, and after many days, he reached Jerusalem; -and then he sought his home in Galilee. - - - - -SECTION XIII. - -MEM. - -_The Ministry of John, the Harbinger._ - - -CHAPTER 61. - - _John, the harbinger, returns to Hebron. Lives as a hermit in - the wilds. Visits Jerusalem and speaks to the people._ - -It came to pass when John, the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, had -finished all his studies in the Egyptian schools that he returned to -Hebron, where he abode for certain days. - -2 And then he sought the wilderness and made his home in David's cave -where many years before, he was instructed by the Egyptian sage. - -3 Some people called him Hermit of Engedi; and others said, He is the -Wild Man of the hills. - -4 He clothed himself with skins of beasts; his food was carobs, honey, -nuts and fruits. - -5 When John was thirty years of age he went into Jerusalem, and in the -market place he sat in silence seven days. - -6 The common people and the priests, the scribes and Pharisees came -out in multitudes to see the silent hermit of the hills; but none were -bold enough to ask him who he was. - -7 But when his silent fast was done he stood forth in the midst of all -and said, - -8 Behold, the king has come; the prophets told of him; the wise men -long have looked for him. - -9 Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king. - -10 And that was all he said, and then he disappeared, and no one knew -where he had gone. - -11 And there was great unrest through all Jerusalem. The rulers heard -the story of the hermit of the hills, - -12 And they sent couriers forth to talk with him that they might know -about the coming king; but they could find him not. - -13 And after certain days he came again into the market place, and all -the city came to hear him speak; he said, - -14 Be not disturbed, you rulers of the state; the coming king is no -antagonist; he seeks no place on any earthly throne. - -15 He comes the Prince of Peace, the king of righteousness and love; -his kingdom is within the soul. - -16 The eyes of men shall see it not and none can enter but the pure -in heart. - -17 Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king. - -18 Again the hermit disappeared; the people strove to follow him, but -he had drawn a veil about his form and men could see him not. - -19 A Jewish feast day came; Jerusalem was filled with Jews and -proselytes from every part of Palestine, and John stood in the temple -court and said, - -20 Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king. - -21 Lo, you have lived in sin; the poor cry in your streets, and you -regard them not. - -22 Your neighbors, who are they? You have defrauded friend and foe -alike. - -23 You worship God with voice and lip; your hearts are far away, and -set on gold. - -24 Your priests have bound upon the people burdens far too great to -bear; they live in ease upon the hard earned wages of the poor. - -25 Your lawyers, doctors, scribes are useless cumberers of the ground; -they are but tumors on the body of the state; - -26 They toil not neither do they spin, yet they consume the profits of -your marts of trade. - -27 Your rulers are adulterers, extortioners and thieves, regarding not -the rights of any man; - -28 And robbers ply their calling in the sacred halls; the holy temple -you have sold to thieves; their dens are in the sacred places set -apart for prayer. - -29 Hear! hear! you people of Jerusalem! Reform; turn from your evil -ways or God will turn from you, and heathen from afar will come, and -what is left of all your honor and your fame will pass in one short -hour. - -30 Prepare, Jerusalem, prepare to meet your king. - -31 He said no more; he left the court and no one saw him go. - -32 The priests, the doctors and the scribes were all in rage. They -sought for John intent to do him harm. They found him not. - -33 The common people stood in his defense; they said, The hermit -speaks the truth. - -34 And then the priests, the doctors and the scribes were sore afraid; -they said no more; they hid themselves away. - - -CHAPTER 62. - - _John, the harbinger, again visits Jerusalem. Speaks to the - people. Promises to meet them at Gilgal in seven days. Goes - to Bethany and attends a feast._ - -Next day John went again into the temple courts and said, - -2 Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king. - -3 The chief priests and the scribes would know the meaning of his -words; they said, - -4 Bold man, what is the purport of this message that you bring to -Israel? If you be seer and prophet, tell us plainly who has sent you -here? - -5 And John replied, I am the voice of one who cries out in the -wilderness, Prepare the way, make straight the paths, for, lo, the -Prince of Peace will come to rule in love. - -6 Your prophet Malachi wrote down the words of God: - -7 And I will send Elijah unto you before the retribution day shall -come, to turn again the hearts of men to God and if they will not -turn, lo, I will smite them with a curse. - -8 You men of Israel; you know your sins. As I passed by I saw a -wounded bird prone in your streets, and men of every class were -beating it with clubs; and then I saw that Justice was its name. - -9 I looked again and saw that its companion had been killed; the pure -white wings of Righteousness were trampled in the dust. - -10 I tell you men, your awfulness of guilt has made a cesspool of -iniquity that sends a fearful stench to heaven. - -11 Reform, O Israel, reform; prepare to meet your king. - -12 And then John turned away and as he went he said, - -13 In seven days, lo, I will stand at Gilgal, by the Jordan ford, -where Israel first crossed into the promised land. - -14 And then he left the temple court to enter it no more; but many -people followed him as far as Bethany, and there he tarried at the -home of Lazarus, his kin. - -15 The anxious people gathered all about the home and would not go; -then John came forth and said, - -16 Reform, O Israel, reform; prepare to meet your king. - -17 The sins of Israel do not all lie at the door of priest and scribe. -O think you not that all the sinners of Judea are found among the -rulers and the men of wealth. - -18 It is no sign that man is good and pure because he lives in want. - -19 The listless, shiftless vagabonds of earth are mostly poor and have -to beg for bread. - -20 I saw the very men that cheered because I told the priests and -scribes of their injustice unto man, throw stones and beat poor -Justice in the streets. - -21 I saw them trample on the poor dead bird of Righteousness; - -22 And you who follow after me, you commoners, are not one whit behind -the scribes and priests in crime. - -23 Reform, you men of Israel; the king has come; prepare to meet your -king. - -24 With Lazarus and his sisters, John remained for certain days. - -25 In honor of the Nazarite a feast was spread, and all the people -stood about the board. - -26 And when the chief men of the town poured out the sparkling wine -and offered John a cup, he took it, held it high in air, and said, - -27 Wine makes glad the carnal heart, and it makes sad the human soul; -it plunges deep in bitterness and gall the deathless spirit of the man. - -28 I took the vow of Nazar when a child, and not a drop has ever -passed my lips. - -29 And if you would make glad the coming king, then shun the cup as -you would shun a deadly thing. - -30 And then he threw the sparkling wine out in the street. - - -CHAPTER 63. - - _John, the harbinger, visits Jericho. Meets the people at - Gilgal. Announces his mission. Introduces the rite of - baptism. Baptizes many people. Returns to Bethany and - teaches. Returns to the Jordan._ - -And John went down to Jericho; there he abode with Alpheus. - -2 And when the people heard that he was there they came in throngs to -hear him speak. - -3 He spoke to none; but when the time was due he went down to the -Jordan ford, and to the multitudes he said, - -4 Reform and in the fount of purity wash all your sins away; the -kingdom is at hand. - -5 Come unto me and in the waters of this stream be washed, symbolic of -the inner cleansing of the soul. - -6 And, lo, the multitudes came down and in the Jordan they were -washed, and every man confessed his sins. - -7 For many months, in all the regions round about, John plead for -purity and righteousness; and after many days he went again to -Bethany; and there he taught. - -8 At first few but the honest seekers came; but, by and by, the -selfish and the vicious came with no contrition; came because the many -came. - -9 And when John saw the unrepentant Pharisees and Sadducees come unto -him, he said, - -10 You children of the vipers, stay; are you disturbed by news of -coming wrath? - -11 Go to, and do the things that prove repentance genuine. - -12 Is it enough for you to say that you are heirs of Abraham? I tell -you, no. - -13 The heirs of Abraham are just as wicked in the sight of God when -they do wrong as any heathen man. - -14 Behold the ax! and every tree that bears not wholesome fruit is cut -down at the roots and cast into the fire. - -15 And then the people asked, What must we do? - -16 And John replied, Accept the ministry of helpfulness for all -mankind; spend not upon your selfish selves all that you have. - -17 Let him who has two coats give one to him who has no coat; give -part of all the food you have to those in need. - -18 And when the publicans came up and asked, What must we do? John -answered them, - -19 Be honest in your work; do not increase for selfish gain the -tribute you collect; take nothing more than what your king demands. - -20 And when the soldiers came and asked, What must we do? The -harbinger replied, - -21 Do violence to none; exact no wrongful thing, and be contented with -the wages you receive. - -22 Among the Jews were many who had been waiting for the Christ to -come, and they regarded John as Christ. - -23 But to their questions John replied, In water I do cleanse, -symbolic of the cleansing of the soul; but when he comes who is to -come, lo, he will cleanse in Holy Breath and purify in fire. - -24 His fan is in his hand, and he will separate the wheat and chaff; -will throw the chaff away, but garner every grain of wheat. This is -the Christ. - -25 Behold he comes! and he will walk with you, and you will know him -not. - -26 He is the king; the latchet of his shoes I am not worthy to unloose. - -27 And John left Bethany and went again unto the Jordan ford. - - -CHAPTER 64. - - _Jesus comes from Galilee, and is baptized by John. The Holy - Breath testifies of his messiahship._ - -The news reached Galilee, and Jesus with the multitude went down to -where the harbinger was preaching at the ford. - -2 When Jesus saw the harbinger he said, Behold the man of God! Behold -the greatest of the seers! Behold, Elijah has returned! - -3 Behold the messenger whom God has sent to open up the way! The -kingdom is at hand. - -4 When John saw Jesus standing with the throng he said, Behold the -king who cometh in the name of God! - -5 And Jesus said to John, I would be washed in water as a symbol of -the cleansing of the soul. - -6 And John replied, You do not need to wash, for you are pure in -thought, and word, and deed. And if you need to wash I am not worthy -to perform the rite. - -7 And Jesus said, I come to be a pattern for the sons of men, and what -I bid them do, that I must do; and all men must be washed, symbolic of -the cleansing of the soul. - -8 This washing we establish as a rite--baptism rite we call it now, -and so it shall be called. - -9 Your work, prophetic harbinger, is to prepare the way, and to reveal -the hidden things. - -10 The multitudes are ready for the words of life, and I have come to -be made known by you to all the world, as prophet of the Triune God, -and as the chosen one to manifest the Christ to men. - -11 Then John led Jesus down into the river at the ford and he baptized -him in the sacred name of him who sent him forth to manifest the -Christ to men. - -12 And as they came out of the stream, the Holy Breath, in form of -dove, came down and sat on Jesus' head. - -13 A voice from heaven said, This is the well-beloved son of God, the -Christ, the love of God made manifest. - -14 John heard the voice, and understood the message of the voice. - -15 Now Jesus went his way, and John preached to the multitude. - -16 As many as confessed their sins, and turned from evil ways to ways -of right, the harbinger baptized, symbolic of the blotting out of sins -by righteousness. - - - - -SECTION XIV. - -NUN. - -_The Christine Ministry of Jesus--Introductory Epoch._ - - -CHAPTER 65. - - _Jesus goes to the wilderness for self-examination, where he - remains forty days. Is subjected to three temptations. He - overcomes. Returns to the camps of John and begins teaching._ - -The harbinger had paved the way; the Logos had been introduced to men -as love made manifest, and he must now begin his Christine ministry. - -2 And he went forth into the wilderness to be alone with God that he -might look into his inner heart, and note its strength and worthiness. - -3 And with himself he talked; he said, My lower self is strong; by -many ties I am bound down to carnal life. - -4 Have I the strength to overcome and give my life a willing sacrifice -for men? - -5 When I shall stand before the face of men, and they demand a proof -of my messiahship, what will I say? - -6 And then the tempter came and said, If you be son of God, command -these stones to turn to bread. - -7 And Jesus said, Who is it that demands a test? It is no sign that -one is son of God because he does a miracle; the devils can do mighty -things. - -8 Did not the black magicians do great things before the Pharaohs? - -9 My words and deeds in all the walks of life shall be the proof of my -messiahship. - -10 And then the tempter said, If you will go into Jerusalem, and from -the temple pinnacle cast down yourself to earth, the people will -believe that you are the Messiah sent from God. - -11 This you can surely do; for did not David say, He gives his angels -charge concerning you, and with their hands will they uphold lest you -should fall? - -12 And Jesus said, I may not tempt the Lord, my God. - -13 And then the tempter said, Look forth upon the world; behold its -honors and its fame! Behold its pleasures and its wealth! - -14 If you will give your life for these they shall be yours. - -15 But Jesus said, Away from me all tempting thoughts. My heart is -fixed; I spurn this carnal self with all its vain ambition and its -pride. - -16 For forty days did Jesus wrestle with his carnal self; his higher -self prevailed. He then was hungry, but his friends had found him and -they ministered to him. - -17 Then Jesus left the wilderness, and in the consciousness of Holy -Breath, he came unto the camps of John and taught. - - -CHAPTER 66. - - _Six of John's disciples follow Jesus and become his disciples. - He teaches them. They sit in the Silence._ - -Among the followers of John were many men from Galilee. The most -devout were Andrew, Simon, James, and John, with Philip and his -brother of Bethsaida. - -2 One day as Andrew, Philip and a son of Zebedee, were talking with -the harbinger, the Logos came, and John exclaimed, Behold the Christ! - -3 And then the three disciples followed Jesus, and he asked, What do -you seek? - -4 And the disciples asked, Where do you live? And Jesus answered, Come -and see. - -5 And Andrew called his brother Simon, saying, Come with me, for I -have found the Christ. - -6 When Jesus looked in Simon's face he said, Behold a rock! and Peter -is your name. - -7 And Philip found Nathaniel sitting by a tree, and said, My brother, -come with me, for I have found the Christ! In Nazareth he abides. - -8 Nathaniel said, Can anything of good come out of Nazareth? And -Philip answered, Come and see. - -9 When Jesus saw Nathaniel come he said, Behold an Israelite indeed in -whom there is no guile! - -10 Nathaniel said, How can you speak about me thus? - -11 And Jesus said, I saw you as you sat beneath the fig tree over -there, before your brother called. - -12 Nathaniel lifted up his hands and said, This surely is the Christ, -the king, for whom the harbinger has often testified. - -13 And John went forth and found his brother James, and brought him to -the Christ. - -14 The six disciples went with Jesus to the place where he abode. - -15 And Peter said, We long have sought for Christ. We came from -Galilee to John; we thought that he was Christ, but he confessed to us -that he was not; - -16 That he was but the harbinger sent forth to clear the way, and -make the pathway easy for the coming king; and when you came he said, -Behold the Christ! - -17 And we would gladly follow where you go. Lord, tell us what to do. - -18 And Jesus said, The foxes of the earth have homes, the birds have -nests; I have no place to lay my head. - -19 He who would follow me must give up all the cravings of the self -and lose his life in saving life. - -20 I come to save the lost, and man is saved when he is rescued from -himself. But men are slow to comprehend this doctrine of the Christ. - -21 And Peter said, I cannot speak for any other man, but for myself I -speak: I will leave all and follow where you lead. - -22 And then the others spoke and said, You have the words of truth; -you came from God, and if we follow in your footsteps we cannot miss -the way. - -23 Then Jesus and the six disciples sat a long, long time in silent -thought. - - -CHAPTER 67. - - _Jesus visits John at the Jordan. Delivers his first Christine - address to the people. The address. He goes with his - disciples to Bethany._ - -Now, on the morrow Jesus came again and stood with John beside the -ford; and John prevailed on him to speak, and standing forth he said, - -2 You men of Israel, hear! The kingdom is at hand. - -3 Behold the great key-keeper of the age stands in your midst; and -with the spirit of Elijah he has come. - -4 Behold, for he has turned the key; the mighty gates fly wide and all -who will may greet the king. - -5 Behold these multitudes of women, children, men! they throng the -avenues, they crowd the outer courts; each seems to be intent to be -the first to meet the king. - -6 Behold, the censor comes and calls, Whoever will may come; but he -who comes must will to prune himself of every evil thought; - -7 Must overcome desire to gratify the lower self; must give his life -to save the lost. - -8 The nearer to the kingdom gate you come, more spacious is the room; -the multitudes have gone. - -9 If men could come unto the kingdom with their carnal thoughts, their -passions and desires, there scarcely would be room for all. - -10 But when they cannot take these through the narrow gate they turn -away; the few are ready to go in and see the king. - -11 Behold, John is a mighty fisher, fishing for the souls of men. He -throws his great net out into the sea of human life; he draws it in -and it is full. - -12 But what a medley catch! a catch of crabs, and lobsters, sharks and -creeping things, with now and then a fish of better kind. - -13 Behold, the thousands come to hear the Wild Man of the hills; they -come in crowds that he may wash them in the crystal flood, and with -their lips they do confess their sins. - -14 But when the morrow comes we find them in their haunts of vice -again, reviling John, and cursing God, and heaping insults on the king. - -15 But blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see the king. - -16 And blessed are the strong in heart, for they shall not be cast -about by every wind that blows; - -17 But while the fickle and the thoughtless have gone back to Egypt -land for leeks and carnal herbs to satisfy their appetites, the pure -in heart have found the king. - -18 But even those whose faith is weak, and who are naught but carnal -manifests, will some day come again, and enter in with joy to see the -king. - -19 O men of Israel, take heed to what this prophet has to say! Be -strong in mind; be pure in heart; be vigilant in helpfulness; the -kingdom is at hand. - -20 When Jesus had thus said he went his way, and with his six -disciples came to Bethany; and they abode with Lazarus many days. - - -CHAPTER 68. - - _Jesus speaks to the people in Bethany. Tells them how to - become pure in heart. Goes to Jerusalem and in the temple - reads from a prophetic book. Goes to Nazareth._ - -The news soon spread abroad that Jesus, king of Israel, had come to -Bethany, and all the people of the town came forth to greet the king. - -2 And Jesus, standing in the midst of them exclaimed, Behold, indeed, -the king has come, but Jesus is not king. - -3 The kingdom truly is at hand; but men can see it not with carnal -eyes; they cannot see the king upon the throne. - -4 This is the kingdom of the soul; its throne is not an earthly -throne; its king is not a man. - -5 When human kings found kingdoms here, they conquer other kings by -force of arms; one kingdom rises on the ruins of another one. - -6 But when our Father-God sets up the kingdom of the soul, he pours -his blessings forth, like rain, upon the thrones of earthly kings who -rule in righteousness. - -7 It is not rule that God would overthrow; his sword is raised against -injustice, wantonness and crime. - -8 Now, while the kings of Rome do justice, and love mercy and walk -humbly with their God, the benediction of the Triune God will rest -upon them all. - -9 They need not fear a messenger whom God sends forth to earth. - -10 I am not sent to sit upon a throne to rule as Csar rules; and you -may tell the ruler of the Jews that I am not a claimant for his throne. - -11 Men call me Christ, and God has recognized the name; but Christ is -not a man. The Christ is universal love, and Love is king. - -12 This Jesus is but man who has been fitted by temptations overcome, -by trials multiform, to be the temple through which Christ can -manifest to men. - -13 Then hear, you men of Israel, hear! Look not upon the flesh; it is -not king. Look to the Christ within, who shall be formed in every one -of you, as he is formed in me. - -14 When you have purified your hearts by faith, the king will enter -in, and you will see his face. - -15 And then the people asked, What must we do that we may make our -bodies fit abiding places for the king? - -16 And Jesus said, Whatever tends to purity in thought, and word, and -deed will cleanse the temple of the flesh. - -17 There are no rules that can apply to all, for men are specialists -in sin; each has his own besetting sin, - -18 And each must study for himself how he can best transmute his -tendency to evil things to that of righteousness and love. - -19 Until men reach the higher plane, and get away from selfishness, -this rule will give the best results: - -20 Do unto other men what you would have them do to you. - -21 And many of the people said, We know that Jesus is the Christ, the -king who was to come, and blessed be his name. - -22 Now, Jesus and his six disciples turned their faces toward -Jerusalem, and many people followed them. - -23 But Mathew, son of Alpheus, ran on before, and when he reached -Jerusalem, he said, Behold the Christines come! The multitudes came -forth to see the king. - -24 But Jesus did not speak to any one until he reached the temple -court, and then he opened up a book and read: - -25 Behold, I send my messenger, and he will pave the way, and Christ, -for whom you wait, will come unto his temple unannounced. Behold, for -he will come, says God, the Lord of hosts. - -26 And then he closed the book; he said no more; he left the temple -halls, and with his six disciples, went his way to Nazareth, - -27 And they abode with Mary, Jesus' mother, and her sister, Miriam. - - -CHAPTER 69. - - _Jesus and the ruler of the synagogue of Nazareth. Jesus - teaches not in public, and the people are amazed._ - -Next day as Peter walked about in Nazareth, he met the ruler of the -synagogue who asked, Who is this Jesus lately come to Nazareth? - -2 And Peter said, This Jesus is the Christ of whom our prophets wrote; -he is the king of Israel. His mother, Mary, lives on Marmion Way. - -3 The ruler said, Tell him to come up to the synagogue, for I would -hear his plea. - -4 And Peter ran and told to Jesus what the ruler said; but Jesus -answered not; he went not to the synagogue. - -5 Then in the evening time the ruler came up Marmion Way, and in the -home of Mary found he Jesus and his mother all alone. - -6 And when the ruler asked for proof of his messiahship, and why he -went not to the synagogue when he was bidden, Jesus said, - -7 I am not slave to any man; I am not called unto this ministry by -priest. It is not mine to answer when men call. I come the Christ of -God; I answer unto God alone. - -8 Who gave you right to ask for proof of my messiahship? My proof lies -in my words and works, and so if you will follow me you will not lack -for proof. - -9 And then the ruler went his way; he asked himself, What manner of a -man is this to disregard the ruler of the synagogue? - -10 The people of the town came out in throngs to see the Christ, and -hear him speak; but Jesus said, - -11 A prophet has no honor in his native town, among his kin. - -12 I will not speak in Nazareth until the words I speak, and works I -do in other towns have won the faith of men, - -13 Until men know that God has christed me to manifest eternal love. - -14 Good will to you, my kin; I bless you with a boundless love, and I -bespeak for you abundant joy and happiness. - -15 He said no more, and all the people marveled much because he would -not speak in Nazareth. - - -CHAPTER 70. - - _Jesus and his disciples at a marriage feast in Cana. Jesus - speaks on marriage. He turns water into wine. The people are - amazed._ - -In Cana, Galilee, there was a marriage feast, and Mary and her sister -Miriam, and Jesus and his six disciples were among the guests. - -2 The ruler of the feast had heard that Jesus was a master sent from -God, and he requested him to speak. - -3 And Jesus said, There is no tie more sacred than the marriage tie. - -4 The chain that binds two souls in love is made in heaven, and man -can never sever it in twain, - -5 The lower passions of the twain may cause a union of the twain, a -union as when oil and water meet. - -6 And then a priest may forge a chain, and bind the twain. This is not -marriage genuine; it is a counterfeit. - -7 The twain are guilty of adultery; the priest is party to the crime. -And that was all that Jesus said. - -8 As Jesus stood apart in silent thought his mother came and said to -him, The wine has failed; what shall we do? - -9 And Jesus said, Pray what is wine? It is but water with the -flavoring of grapes. - -10 And what are grapes? They are but certain kinds of thought made -manifest, and I can manifest that thought, and water will be wine. - -11 He called the servants, and he said to them, Bring in six water -pots of stone, a pot for each of these, my followers, and fill them up -with water to the brims, - -12 The servants brought the water pots, and filled them to their brims. - -13 And Jesus with a mighty thought stirred up the ethers till they -reached the manifest, and, lo, the water blushed, and turned to wine. - -14 The servants took the wine and gave it to the ruler of the feast -who called the bridegroom in and said to him, - -15 This wine is best of all; most people when they give a feast bring -in the best wine at the first; but, lo, you have reserved the best -until the last. - -16 And when the ruler and the guests were told that Jesus, by the -power of thought, had turned the water into wine, they were amazed; - -17 They said, This man is more than man; he surely is the christed one -who prophets of the olden times declared would come. - -18 And many of the guests believed on him, and gladly would have -followed him. - - -CHAPTER 71. - - _Jesus, his six disciples and his mother, go to Capernaum. - Jesus teaches the people, revealing the difference between - the kings of earth and the kings of heaven._ - -The city of Capernaum was by the sea of Galilee, and Peter's home was -there. The homes of Andrew, John and James were near, - -2 These men were fishermen, and must return to tend their nets, and -they prevailed on Jesus and his mother to accompany them, and soon -with Philip and Nathaniel they were resting by the sea in Peter's home. - -3 The news spread through the city and along the shore that Judah's -king had come, and multitudes drew near to press his hand. - -4 And Jesus said, I cannot show the king, unless you see with eyes of -soul, because the kingdom of the king is in the soul. - -5 And every soul a kingdom is. There is a king for every man. - -6 This king is love, and when this love becomes the greatest power in -life, it is the Christ; so Christ is king. - -7 And every one may have this Christ dwell in his soul, as Christ -dwells in my soul. - -8 The body is the temple of the king, and men may call a holy man a -king. - -9 He who will cleanse his mortal form and make it pure, so pure that -love and righteousness may dwell unsullied side by side within its -walls, is king. - -10 The kings of earth are clothed in royal robes, and sit in state -that men may stand in awe of them. - -11 A king of heaven may wear a fisher's garb; may sit in mart of -trade; may till the soil, or be a gleaner in the field; may be a slave -in mortal chains; - -12 May be adjudged a criminal by men; may languish in a prison cell; -may die upon a cross. - -13 Men seldom see what others truly are. The human senses sense what -seems to be, and that which seems to be and that which is, may be -diverse in every way. - -14 The carnal man beholds the outer man, which is the temple of the -king, and worships at his shrine. - -15 The man of God is pure in heart; he sees the king; he sees with -eyes of soul; - -16 And when he rises to the plane of Christine consciousness, he knows -that he himself is king, is love, is Christ, and so is son of God. - -17 You men of Galilee, prepare to meet your king. - -18 And Jesus taught the people many lessons as he walked with them -beside the sea. - - - - -SECTION XV. - -SAMECH. - -_The First Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 72. - - _Jesus in Jerusalem. Drives the merchants out of the temple. - The priests resent, and he defends himself from the - standpoint of a loyal Jew. He speaks to the people._ - -The Jewish paschal feast time came and Jesus left his mother in -Capernaum and journeyed to Jerusalem. - -2 And he abode with one a Sadducee, whose name was Jude. - -3 And when he reached the temple courts the multitudes were there to -see the prophet whom the people thought had come to break the yoke of -Rome, restore the kingdom of the Jews, and rule on David's throne. - -4 And when the people saw him come they said, All hail! behold the -king! - -5 But Jesus answered not; he saw the money changers in the house of -God, and he was grieved. - -6 The courts had been converted into marts of trade, and men were -selling lambs and doves for offerings in sacrifice. - -7 And Jesus called the priests and said, Behold, for paltry gain you -have sold out the temple of the Lord. - -8 This house ordained for prayer is now a den of thieves. Can good and -evil dwell together in the courts of God? I tell you, no. - -9 And then he made a scourge of cords and drove the merchants out; he -overturned their boards, and threw their money on the floor. - -10 He opened up the cages of the captive birds, and cut the cords that -bound the lambs, and set them free. - -11 The priests and scribes rushed out, and would have done him harm, -but they were driven back; the common people stood in his defense. - -12 And then the rulers said, Who is this Jesus you call king? - -13 The people said, He is the Christ of whom our prophets wrote; he is -the king who will deliver Israel. - -14 The rulers said to Jesus, Man, if you be king, or Christ, then show -us signs. Who gave you right to drive these merchants out? - -15 And Jesus said, There is no loyal Jew who would not give his life -to save this temple from disgrace; in this I acted simply as a loyal -Jew, and you yourselves will bear me witness to this truth. - -16 The signs of my messiahship will follow me in words and deeds. - -17 And you may tear the temple down (and you will tear it down) and in -three days it will be built again more glorious than before. - -18 Now Jesus meant that they might take his life; tear down his body, -temple of the Holy Breath, and he would rise again. - -19 The Jews knew not the meaning of his words; they laughed his claims -to scorn. They said, - -20 A multitude of men were forty and six years in building up this -house, and this young stranger claims that he will build it up in -three score hours; his words are idle, and his claims are naught. - -21 And then they took the scourge with which he drove the merchants -out, and would have driven him away; but Philo, who had come from -Egypt to attend the feast, stood forth and said, - -22 You men of Israel, hear! This man is more than man; take heed to -what you do. I have, myself, heard Jesus speak, and all the winds were -still. - -23 And I have seen him touch the sick, and they were healed. He stands -a sage above the sages of the world; - -24 And you will see his star arise, and it will grow until it is the -full-orbed Sun of Righteousness. - -25 Do not be hasty, men; just wait and you will have the proofs of his -messiahship. - -26 And then the priests laid down the scourge, and Jesus said, - -27 Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king! But you can never see -the king while you press sin as such a precious idol to your hearts. - -28 The king is God; the pure in heart alone can see the face of God -and live. - -29 And then the priests cried out, This fellow claims to be the God. -Is not this sacrilege! away with him! - -30 But Jesus said, No man has ever heard me say, I am a king. Our -Father-God is king. With every loyal Jew I worship God. - -31 I am the candle of the Lord aflame to light the way; and while you -have the light walk in the light. - - -CHAPTER 73. - - _Jesus again visits the temple, and is favorably received by - the people. Tells the parable of a king and his sons. Defines - messiahship._ - -Next day the multitudes were surging through the temple courts, intent -on hearing Jesus speak. - -2 And when he came the people said, All hail! behold the king! - -3 And Jesus spoke a parable; he said, A king had vast domains; his -people all were kin, and lived in peace. - -4 Now, after many years the king said to his people, Take these lands -and all I have; enhance their values; rule yourselves, and live in -peace. - -5 And then the people formed their states; selected governors and -petty kings. - -6 But pride, ambition, selfish greed, and base ingratitude grew fast, -and kings began to war. - -7 They wrote in all their statute books that might is right; and then -the strong destroyed the weak, and chaos reigned through all the vast -domain. - -8 A long time passed, and then the king looked out on his domain. -He saw his people in their cruel wars; he saw them sick and sore -distressed; he saw the strong enslave the weak, - -9 And then he said, What shall I do? Shall I send forth a scourge? -shall I destroy my people all? - -10 And then his heart was stirred with pity and he said, I will not -send a scourge; I will send forth my only son, heir to the throne, to -teach the people love, and peace, and righteousness. - -11 He sent his son; the people scorned him and maltreated him, and -nailed him to a cross. - -12 He was entombed; but death was far too weak to hold the prince, and -he arose. - -13 He took a form man could not kill; and then he went again to teach -the people love, and peace and righteousness. - -14 And thus God deals with men. - -15 A lawyer came and asked, What does messiah mean? and who has right -to make messiah of a man? - -16 And Jesus said, Messiah is one sent from God to seek and save the -lost. Messiahs are not made by men. - -17 In first of every age Messiah comes to light the way; to heal up -broken hearts; to set the prisoners free. Messiah and the Christ are -one. - -18 Because a man claims to be Christ is not a sign that he is Christ. - -19 A man may cause the streams to flow from flinty rocks; may bring -on storms at will; may stay tempestuous winds; may heal the sick and -raise the dead, and not be sent from God. - -20 All nature is subservient to the will of man, and evil men, as well -as good, have all the powers of mind, and may control the elements. - -21 The head gives not the proof of true messiahship, for man by means -of intellect, can never know of God, nor bring himself to walk in -light. - -22 Messiah lives not in the head, but in the heart, the seat of mercy -and of love. - -23 Messiah never works for selfish gains; he stands above the carnal -self; his words and deeds are for the universal good. - -24 Messiah never tries to be a king, to wear a crown and sit upon an -earthly throne. - -25 The king is earthy, of the earth; Messiah is the man from heaven. - -26 And then the lawyer asked, Why do you pose as king? - -27 And Jesus said, No man has ever heard me say that I am king. I -could not sit in Csar's place and be the Christ. - -28 Give unto Csar what belongs to him; give unto God the treasures of -your heart. - - -CHAPTER 74. - - _Jesus heals on the Sabbath, and is censured by the Pharisees. - Restores a drowned child. Rescues a wounded dog. Cares for a - homeless child. Speaks on the law of kindness._ - -It was the Sabbath day, and Jesus stood among the surging masses of -the people in the temple courts and sacred halls. - -2 The blind, the deaf, the dumb, and those obsessed were there, and -Jesus spoke the Word, and they were healed. - -3 On some he laid his hands, and they were healed; to others he just -spoke the Word, and they were full restored to health; but others had -to go and wash in certain pools; and others he anointed with a holy -oil. - -4 A doctor asked him why he healed in divers ways, and he replied, - -5 Disease is discord in the human form, and discords are produced in -many ways. - -6 The body is a harpsichord; sometimes the strings are too relaxed, -and then inharmony results. - -7 Sometimes we find the strings too tense, and then another form of -discord is induced. - -8 Disease is many-formed, and there are many ways to cure, to tune -anew the mystic harpsichord. - -9 Now when the Pharisees were told that Jesus healed the people on -the Sabbath day they were enraged, and they commanded him to quit the -place. - -10 But Jesus said, Was man designed to fit the Sabbath day, or was -the Sabbath day designed to fit the man? - -11 If you had fallen in a pit and, lo, the Sabbath day had come, and I -should pass your way, would you cry out, - -12 Let me alone; it is a sin to help me on the Sabbath day; I'll -swelter in this filth until another day? - -13 You Pharisees, you hypocrites! you know you would be glad to have -my help upon the Sabbath day, or any other day. - -14 These people all have fallen into pits, and they are calling loud -for me to help them out, and man and God would curse me should I pass -along and heed them not. - -15 And then the Pharisees returned to say their prayers, and curse the -man of God because he heeded not their words. - -16 Now, in the evening Jesus stood beside a pool; a playful child had -fallen in, and it was drowned, and friends were bearing it away. - -17 But Jesus called the carriers to stop; and then he stretched -himself upon the lifeless form, and breathed into its mouth the breath -of life. - -18 And then he called aloud unto the soul that had gone out, and it -returned; the child revived and lived. - -19 And Jesus saw a wounded dog; it could not move; it lay beside the -way and groaned with pain. He took it in his arms and bore it to the -home where he abode. - -20 He poured the healing oil into the wounds; he cared for it as -though it were a child till it was strong and well. - -21 And Jesus saw a little boy who had no home, and he was hungry; when -he called for bread the people turned away. - -22 And Jesus took the child and gave him bread; he wrapped him in his -own warm coat, and found for him a home. - -23 To those who followed him the master said, If man would gain again -his lost estate he must respect the brotherhood of life. - -24 Whoever is not kind to every form of life--to man, to beast, to -bird, and creeping thing--cannot expect the blessings of the Holy One; -for as we give, so God will give to us. - - -CHAPTER 75. - - _Nicodemus visits Jesus in the night. Jesus reveals to him the - meaning of the new birth and the kingdom of heaven._ - -Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews, and he was earnest, learned and -devout. - -2 He saw the master's signet in the face of Jesus as he talked, but -was not brave enough to publicly confess his faith in him; - -3 So in the night he went to talk with Jesus at the home of Jude. - -4 When Jesus saw him come he said, Full blessed are the pure in heart; - -5 Twice blessed are the fearless, pure in heart; - -6 Thrice blessed are the fearless, pure in heart who dare to make -confession of their faith before the highest courts. - -7 And Nicodemus said, Hail, master, hail! I know you are a teacher -come from God, for man alone could never teach as you have taught; -could never do the works that you have done. - -8 And Jesus said, Except a man be born again he cannot see the king; -he cannot comprehend the words I speak. - -9 And Nicodemus said, How can a man be born again? Can he go back into -the womb and come again to life? - -10 And Jesus said, The birth of which I speak is not the birth of -flesh. - -11 Except a man be born of water and the Holy Breath, he cannot come -into the kingdom of the Holy One. - -12 That which is born of flesh is child of man; that which is born of -Holy Breath is child of God. - -13 The winds blow where they please; men hear their voices, and may -note results; but they know not from whence they come, nor where they -go; and so is every one that is born of Holy Breath. - -14 The ruler said, I do not understand; pray tell me plainly what you -mean. - -15 And Jesus said, The kingdom of the Holy One is in the soul; men -cannot see it with their carnal eyes; with all their reasoning powers -they comprehend it not. - -16 It is a life deep hid in God; its recognition is the work of inner -consciousness. - -17 The kingdoms of the world are kingdoms of the sight; the kingdom of -the Holy One is that of faith; its king is love. - -18 Men cannot see the love of God unmanifest, and so our Father-God -has clothed this love with flesh--flesh of a son of man. - -19 And that the world may see and know this love made manifest, the -son of man must needs be lifted up. - -20 As Moses in the wilderness raised up the serpent for the healing of -the flesh, the son of man must be raised up. - -21 That all men bitten by the serpent of the dust, the serpent of this -carnal life, may live. - -22 He who believes in him shall have eternal life. - -23 For God so loved the world that he sent forth his only son to be -raised up that men may see the love of God. - -24 God did not send his son to judge the world; he sent him forth to -save the world; to bring men to the light. - -25 But men love not the light, for light reveals their wickedness; men -love the dark. - -26 Now, every one who loves the truth comes to the light; he does not -fear to have his works made manifest. - -27 The light had come, and Nicodemus went his way; he knew the meaning -of the birth of Holy Breath; he felt the presence of the Spirit in his -soul. - -28 And Jesus tarried in Jerusalem for many days and taught and healed -the sick. - -29 The common people gladly listened to his words, and many left their -all of carnal things and followed him. - - -CHAPTER 76. - - _Jesus in Bethlehem. Explains the Empire of Peace to the - shepherds. An unusual light appears. The shepherds recognize - Jesus as the Christ._ - -The Logos went to Bethlehem, and many people followed him. - -2 He found the shepherd's home where he was cradled when a babe; here -he abode. - -3 He went up to the hills where more than thirty years before the -shepherds watch their flocks and heard the messenger of peace exclaim: - -4 At midnight in a cave in Bethlehem the Prince of Peace is born. - -5 And shepherds still were there, and sheep still fed upon the hills. - -6 And in the valley near great flocks of snow-white doves were flying -to and fro. - -7 And when the shepherds knew that Jesus, whom the people called the -king, had come, they came from near and far to speak to him. - -8 And Jesus said to them, Behold the life of innocence and peace! - -9 White is the symbol of the virtuous and pure! the lamb of innocence; -the dove of peace; - -10 And it was meet that love should come in human form amid such -scenes as these. - -11 Our father Abraham walked through these vales, and on these very -hills he watched his flocks and herds. - -12 And here it was that one, the Prince of Peace, the king of Salim, -came; the Christ in human form; a greater far than Abraham was he. - -13 And here it was that Abraham gave to this king of Salim, tithes of -all he had. - -14 This Prince of Peace went forth in battle everywhere. He had no -sword; no armor of defence; no weapons of offence; - -15 And yet he conquered men, and nations trembled at his feet. - -16 The hosts of Egypt quailed before this sturdy king of right; the -kings of Egypt placed their crowns upon his head, - -17 And gave into his hands the scepter of all Egypt land, and not a -drop of blood was shed, and not a captive placed in chains; - -18 But everywhere the conqueror threw wide the prison doors and set -the captives free. - -19 And, once again, the Prince of Peace has come, and from these -blessed hills he goes again to fight. - -20 And he is clothed in white; his sword is truth; his shield is -faith; his helmet innocence; his breath is love; his watchword peace. - -21 But this is not a carnal war; it is not man at war with man; but it -is right against the wrong. - -22 And love is captain, love is warrior, love is armor, love is all, -and love shall win. - -23 And then again the hills of Bethlehem were clothed with light; -again the messenger exclaimed, - -24 Peace, peace on earth, good will to men. - -25 And Jesus taught the people; healed the sick; revealed the -mysteries of the kingdom of the Holy One. - -26 And many said, He is the Christ; the king who was to come has come; -Praise God. - - -CHAPTER 77. - - _Jesus in Hebron. Goes to Bethany. Advises Ruth regarding - certain family troubles._ - -With three disciples Jesus went to Hebron where he tarried seven days -and taught. - -2 And then he went to Bethany and in the home of Lazarus he taught. - -3 The evening came; the multitudes were gone, and Jesus, Lazarus, and -his sisters, Martha, Ruth and Mary, were alone. - -4 And Ruth was sore distressed. Her home was down in Jericho; her -husband was the keeper of an inn; his name was Asher-ben. - -5 Now, Asher was a Pharisee of strictest mien and thought, and he -regarded Jesus with disdain. - -6 And when his wife confessed her faith in Christ, he drove her from -his home. - -7 But Ruth resisted not; she said, If Jesus is the Christ he knows the -way, and I am sure he is the Christ, - -8 My husband may become enraged and slay my human form; he cannot -kill the soul, and in the many mansions of my Fatherland I have a -dwelling-place. - -9 And Ruth told Jesus all; and then she said, What shall I do? - -10 And Jesus said, Your husband is not willingly at fault; he is -devout; he prays to God, our Father-God. - -11 His zeal for his religion is intense; in this he is sincere; but -it has driven him insane, and he believes it right to keep his home -unsullied by the heresy of Christ. - -12 He feels assured that he has done the will of God in driving you -away. - -13 Intolerance is ignorance matured. - -14 The light will come to him some day, and then he will repay for all -your heartaches, griefs and tears. - -15 And Ruth, you must not think that you are free from blame. - -16 If you had walked in wisdom's ways, and been content to hold your -peace, this grief would not have come to you. - -17 It takes a long, long time for light to break into the shell of -prejudice, and patience is the lesson you have need to learn. - -18 The constant dropping of the water wears away the hardest stone. - -19 The sweet and holy incense of a godly life will melt intolerance -much quicker than the hottest flame, or hardest blow. - -20 Just wait a little time, and then go home with sympathy and love. -Talk not of Christ, nor of the kingdom of the Holy One. - -21 Just live a godly life; refrain from harshness in your speech, and -you will lead your husband to the light. - -22 And it was so. - - -CHAPTER 78. - - _Jesus in Jericho. Heals a servant of Asher. Goes to the Jordan - and speaks to the people. Establishes baptism as a pledge of - discipleship. Baptizes six disciples, who in turn baptize - many people._ - -And Jesus went to Jericho, and at the inn of Asher he abode. - -2 A servant at the inn was sick, nigh unto death; the healers could -not cure. - -3 And Jesus came and touched the dying girl, and said, Malone, arise! -and in a moment pain was gone; the fever ceased; the maid was well. - -4 And then the people brought their sick, and they were healed. - -5 But Jesus did not tarry long in Jericho; he went down to the Jordan -ford where John was wont to teach. - -6 The multitudes were there and Jesus said to them, Behold, the time -has come; the kingdom is at hand. - -7 None but the pure in heart can come into the kingdom of the Holy -One; but every son and daughter of the human race is called upon to -turn from evil and become the pure in heart. - -8 The resolution to attain and enter through the Christine gate into -the kingdom of the Holy One will constitute discipleship, and every -one must make a public pledge of his discipleship. - -9 John washed your bodies in the stream, symbolic of the cleansing of -the soul, in preparation for the coming of the king, the opening of -the Christine gate into the kingdom of the Holy One. - -10 John did a mighty work; but now the Christine gate is opened up, -and washing is established as the pledge of your discipleship. - -11 Until this age shall close this pledge shall be a rite, and shall -be called, Baptism rite; and it shall be a sign to men, and seal to -God of men's discipleship. - -12 You men of every nation, hear! Come unto me; the Christine gate is -opened up; turn from your sins and be baptized, and you shall enter -through the gate and see the king. - -13 The six disciples who had followed Jesus stood a-near, and Jesus -led them forth and in the Jordan he baptized them in the name of -Christ; and then he said to them, - -14 My friends, you are the first to enter through the Christine gate -into the kingdom of the Holy One. - -15 As I baptized you in the name of Christ, so you shall, in that -sacred name, baptize all men and women who will confess their faith in -Christ, and shall renounce their sins. - -16 And, lo, the multitudes came down, renounced their sins, confessed -their faith in Christ, and were baptized. - - -CHAPTER 79. - - _John, the harbinger, at Salim. A lawyer inquires about Jesus. - John explains to the multitude the mission of Jesus._ - -Now, John the harbinger, was at the Salim Springs where water was -abundant, and there he preached and washed the bodies of the people -who confessed their sins. - -2 A Jewish lawyer went to John and said, Has not this man from -Galilee, he whom you washed and called the Christ, become your foe? - -3 They say that he is at the Jordan ford; that he is building up a -church, or something else, and that he washes people, just as you have -done. - -4 And John replied, This Jesus is indeed the Christ whose way I came -to pave. He is not foe of mine. - -5 The bridegroom hath the bride; his friends are near, and when they -hear his voice they all rejoice. - -6 The kingdom of the Holy One is bride, and Christ the groom; and I, -the harbinger, am full of joy because they prosper so abundantly. - -7 I have performed the work that I was sent to do; the work of Jesus -just begins. - -8 Then turning to the multitudes he said, Christ is the king of -righteousness; Christ is the love of God; yea, he is God; one of the -holy persons of the Triune God. - -9 Christ lives in every heart of purity. - -10 Now, Jesus who is preaching at the Jordan ford, has been subjected -to the hardest tests of human life, and he has conquered all the -appetites and passions of the carnal man. - -11 And by the highest court of heaven, has been declared a man of such -superior purity and holiness that he can demonstrate the presence of -the Christ on earth. - -12 Lo, love divine, which is the Christ, abides in him, and he is -pattern for the race. - -13 And every man can see in him what every man will be when he has -conquered all the passions of the selfish self. - -14 In water I have washed the bodies of the people who have turned -from sin, symbolic of the cleansing of the soul; - -15 But Jesus bathes forever in the living waters of the Holy Breath. - -16 And Jesus comes to bring the savior of the world to men; Love is -the savior of the world. - -17 And all who put their trust in Christ, and follow Jesus as a -pattern and a guide, have everlasting life. - -18 But they who do not trust the Christ, and will not purify their -hearts so that the Christ can dwell within, can never enter life. - - -CHAPTER 80. - - _Lamaas comes from India to see Jesus. He listens to the - teachings of John at Salim. John tells him of the divine - mission of Jesus. Lamaas finds Jesus at the Jordan. The - masters recognize each other._ - -Lamaas, priest of Brahm, who was a friend of Jesus when he was in the -temple Jagannath, had heard of Jesus and his mighty works in many -lands; and he had left his home and come to Palestine in search of him. - -2 And as he journeyed towards Jerusalem he heard of John, the -harbinger, who was esteemed a prophet of the living God. - -3 Lamaas found the harbinger at Salim Springs; for many days he was a -silent listener to the pungent truths he taught. - -4 And he was present when the Pharisee told John of Jesus and his -mighty works. - -5 He heard the answer of the harbinger; he heard him bless the name of -Jesus, whom he called the Christ. - -6 And then he spoke to John; he said, Pray, tell me more about this -Jesus whom you call the Christ. - -7 And John replied, this Jesus is the love of God made manifest. - -8 Lo, men are living on the lower planes--the planes of greed and -selfishness; for self they fight; they conquer with the sword. - -9 In every land the strong enslave and kill the weak. All kingdoms -rise by force of arms; for force is king. - -10 This Jesus comes to overthrow this iron rule of force, and seat -Love on the throne of power. - -11 And Jesus fears no man. He preaches boldly in the courts of kings, -and everywhere, that victories won by force of arms are crimes; - -12 That every worthy end may be attained by gentleness and love, just -as the Prince of Peace, Melchisedec, the priest of God, won gallant -victories in war without the shedding of a drop of blood. - -13 You ask where are the temples of the Christ? He ministers at -shrines not made with hands; his temples are the hearts of holy men -who are prepared to see the king. - -14 The groves of nature are his synagogues; his forum is the world. - -15 He has no priests dressed up in puppet style to be admired by men; -for every son of man is priest of Love. - -16 When man has purified his heart by faith, he needs no middle man to -intercede. - -17 He is on friendly terms with God; is not afraid of him, and he is -able, and is bold enough, to lay his body on the altar of the Lord. - -18 Thus every man is priest, and is himself a living sacrifice. - -19 You need not seek the Christ, for when your heart is purified the -Christ will come, and will abide with you forevermore. - -20 And then Lamaas journeyed on; he came to Jesus as he taught beside -the ford. - -21 And Jesus said, Behold the Star of India! - -22 Lamaas said, Behold the Sun of Righteousness! And he confessed his -faith in Christ, and followed him. - - -CHAPTER 81. - - _The Christines journey toward Galilee. They tarry for a time - at Jacob's well and Jesus teaches a woman of Samaria._ - -The Christine gate into the kingdom of the Holy One was opened up, and -Jesus and the six disciples and Lamaas left the Jordan ford and turned -their faces toward Galilee. - -2 Their way lay through Samaria, and as they journeyed on they came to -Sychar, which was near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to Joseph -when a youth. - -3 And Jacob's well was there, and Jesus sat beside the well in silent -thought, and his disciples went into the town to purchase bread. - -4 A woman of the town came out to fill her pitcher from the well; and -Jesus was athirst, and when he asked the woman for a drink she said, - -5 I am a woman of Samaria, and you a Jew; do you not know that there -is enmity between Samaritans and Jews? They traffic not; then why ask -me the favor of a drink? - -6 And Jesus said Samaritans and Jews are all the children of one God, -our Father-God, and they are kin. - -7 It is but prejudice born of the carnal mind that breeds this enmity -and hate. - -8 While I was born a Jew I recognize the brotherhood of life. -Samaritans are just as dear to me as Jew or Greek. - -9 And then had you but known the blessings that our Father-God has -sent to men by me, you would have asked me for a drink, - -10 And I would glad have given you a cup of water from the Fount of -Life, and you would never thirst again. - -11 The woman said, This well is deep, and you have naught with which -to draw; how could you get the water that you speak about? - -12 And Jesus said, The water that I speak about comes not from Jacob's -well; it flows from springs that never fail. - -13 Lo, every one who drinks from Jacob's well will thirst again; but -they who drink the water that I give will never thirst again; - -14 For they themselves become a well, and from their inner parts the -sparkling waters bubble up into eternal life. - -15 The woman said, Sir, I would drink from that rich well of life. -Give me to drink, that I may thirst no more. - -16 And Jesus said, Go call your husband from the town that he may -share with you this living cup. - -17 The woman said, I have no husband, sir. - -18 And Jesus answered her and said, You scarcely know what husband -means; you seem to be a gilded butterfly that flits from flower to -flower, - -19 To you there is no sacredness in marriage ties, and you affinitize -with any man. - -20 And you have lived with five of them who were esteemed as husbands -by your friends. - -21 The woman said, Do I not speak unto a prophet and a seer? Will you -not condescend to tell me who you are? - -22 And Jesus said, I need not tell you who I am for you have read the -Law, the Prophets and the Psalms that tell of me, - -23 I am one come to break away the wall that separates the sons of -men. In Holy Breath there is no Greek, nor Jew, and no Samaritan; no -bond, nor free; for all are one. - -24 The woman asked, Why do you say that only in Jerusalem men ought to -pray, and that they should not worship in our holy mount? - -25 And Jesus said, What you have said, I do not say. One place is just -as sacred as another place. - -26 The hour has come when men must worship God within the temple of -the heart; for God is not within Jerusalem, nor in your holy mount in -any way that he is not in every heart. - -27 Our God is Spirit; they who worship him must worship him in spirit -and in truth. - -28 The woman said, We know that when Messiah comes that he will lead -us in the ways of truth. - -29 And Jesus said, Behold the Christ has come; Messiah speaks to you. - - -CHAPTER 82. - - _While Jesus is teaching, his disciples come and marvel because - he speaks with a Samaritan. Many people from Sychar come to - see Jesus. He speaks to them. With his disciples he goes to - Sychar and remains for certain days._ - -While Jesus yet was talking to the woman at the well, the six -disciples came from Sychar with the food. - -2 And when they saw him talking to a woman of Samaria, and one they -thought a courtesan, they were amazed; yet no one asked him why he -spoke with her. - -3 The woman was so lost in thought and so intent on what the master -said, that she forgot her errand to the well; she left her pitcher and -ran quickly to the town. - -4 She told the people all about the prophet she had met at Jacob's -well; she said, He told me every thing I ever did. - -5 And when the people would know more about the man, the woman said, -Come out and see. And multitudes went out to Jacob's well. - -6 When Jesus saw them come he said to those who followed him, You need -not say, It is four months before the harvest time; - -7 Behold, the harvest time is now. Lift up your eyes and look; the -fields are golden with the ripened grain. - -8 Lo, many sowers have gone forth to sow the seeds of life; the seed -has grown; the plants have strengthened in the summer sun; the grain -has ripened, and the master calls for men to reap. - -9 And you shall go out in the fields and reap what other men have -sown; but when the reckoning day shall come the sowers and the reapers -all together will rejoice. - -10 And Philip said to Jesus, Stay now your work a time and sit beneath -this olive tree and eat a portion of this food; you must be faint for -you have eaten naught since early day. - -11 But Jesus said, I am not faint, for I have food to eat you know not -of. - -12 Then the disciples said among themselves, Who could have brought -him aught to eat? - -13 They did not know that he had power to turn the very ethers into -bread. - -14 And Jesus said, The master of the harvest never sends his reapers -forth and feeds them not. - -15 My Father who has sent me forth into the harvest field of human -life will never suffer me to want; and when he calls for you to serve, -lo, he will give you food, will clothe and shelter you. - -16 Then turning to the people of Samaria, he said, Think not it -strange that I, a Jew, should speak to you, for I am one with you. - -17 The universal Christ who was, and is, and evermore shall be, is -manifest in me; but Christ belongs to every man. - -18 God scatters forth his blessings with a lavish hand, and he is not -more kind to one than to another one of all the creatures of his hand. - -19 I just came up from Judah's hills, and God's same sun was shining -and his flowers were blooming, and in the night his stars were just as -bright as they are here. - -20 God cannot cast a child away; the Jew, the Greek and the Samaritan -are equal in his sight. - -21 And why should men and women fret and quarrel, like children in -their plays? - -22 The lines that separate the sons of men are made of straw, and just -a single breath of love would blow them all away. - -23 The people were amazed at what the stranger said, and many said, -The Christ that was to come has surely come. - -24 And Jesus went with them into the town, and tarried certain days. - - -CHAPTER 83. - - _Jesus teaches the people of Sychar. Casts a wicked spirit out - of one obsessed. Sends the spirit to its own place. Heals - many people. The priests are disturbed by the presence of - Jesus in Sychar, but he speaks to them and wins their favor._ - -In Sychar Jesus taught the people in the market place. - -2 A man obsessed was brought to him. The wicked spirit that possessed -the man was full of violence and lust, and often threw his victim to -the ground. - -3 And Jesus spoke aloud and said, Base spirit, loose your hold upon -the vitals of this man, and go back to your own. - -4 And then the spirit begged that he might go into the body of a dog -that stood near by. - -5 But Jesus said, Why harm the helpless dog? Its life is just as dear -to it as mine to me. - -6 It is not yours to throw the burden of your sin on any living thing. - -7 By your own deeds and evil thoughts you have brought all these -perils on yourself. You have hard problems to be solved; but you must -solve them for yourself. - -8 By thus obsessing man you make your own conditions doubly sad. Go -back into your own domain; refrain from harming anything, and, by and -by, you will, yourself, be free. - -9 The wicked spirit left the man and went unto his own. The man -looked up in thankfulness and said, Praise God. - -10 And many of the people brought their sick, and Jesus spoke the -Word, and they were healed. - -11 The ruler of the synagogue, and all the priests were much disturbed -when told that Jesus from Jerusalem was preaching in the town. - -12 They thought that he had come to proselyte and stir up strife among -Samaritans. - -13 And so they sent an officer to bring him to the synagogue that he -might give a reason for his presence in the town. - -14 But Jesus said to him who came, Go back and tell the priests and -ruler of the synagogue that I am not engaged in crime. - -15 I come to bind up broken hearts, to heal the sick, and cast the -evil spirits out of those obsessed. - -16 Tell them, their prophets spoke of me; that I am come to break no -law, but to fulfil the highest law. - -17 The man returned and told the priests and ruler of the synagogue -what Jesus said, - -18 The ruler was amazed, and with the priests went to the market place -where Jesus was. - -19 And when he saw them, Jesus said, Behold the honored men of all -Samaria! the men ordained to lead the people in the way of right. - -20 And I am come to help, and not to hinder in their work. - -21 There are two classes of the sons of men; they who would build the -human race upon the sure foundation stones of justice, truth, equality -and right, - -22 And they who would destroy the holy temple where the Spirit dwells -and bring their fellows down to beggary and crime. - -23 The holy brotherhood of right must stand united in the stirring -conflicts of the hour. - -24 No matter whether they be Jews, Samaritans, Assyrians or Greeks, -they must tramp down beneath their feet all strife, all discord, -jealousy and hate, and demonstrate the brotherhood of man. - -25 Then to the ruler of the synagogue he spoke: he said, United in the -cause of right we stand; divided we will fall. - -26 And then he took the ruler by the hand; a love light filled their -souls; and all the people were amazed. - - -CHAPTER 84. - - _The Christines resume their journey. They tarry a while in the - city of Samaria. Jesus speaks in the synagogue. Heals a woman - by mental power. He disappears, but later joins his disciples - as they journey toward Nazareth._ - -The Christines turned their faces toward the land of Galilee; but when -they reached the city of Samaria, the multitudes pressed hard about -them, begging them to tarry in their city for a while. - -2 And then they went up to the synagogue, and Jesus opened up the book -of Moses, and he read: - -3 In thee and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blest. - -4 And then he closed the book and said, These words were spoken by the -Lord of hosts unto our father Abraham, and Israel has been blessedness -to all the world. - -5 We are his seed; but not a tithe of the great work that we were -called to do has yet been done. - -6 The Lord of hosts has set apart the Israelites to teach the unity -of God and man; but one can never teach that which he does not -demonstrate in life. - -7 Our God is Spirit, and in him all wisdom, love and strength abide. - -8 In every man these sacred attributes are budding forth, and in due -time they will unfold; the demonstration will completed be, and man -will comprehend the fact of unity. - -9 And you, the ruler of the synagogue, and you, these priests, are -honored servants of the Lord of hosts. - -10 All men are looking unto you for guidance in the ways of life; -example is another name for priest; so what you would that people be, -that you must be. - -11 A simple godly life may win ten thousand souls to purity and right. - -12 And all the people said, Amen. - -13 Then Jesus left the synagogue, and at the hour of evening prayer -he went up to the sacred grove, and all the people turned their faces -toward their holy mount and prayed. - -14 And Jesus prayed. - -15 And as he sat in silent mood a voice of soul spoke to his soul -imploring help. - -16 And Jesus saw a woman on a couch in sore distress; for she was sick -nigh unto death. - -17 She could not speak, but she had heard that Jesus was a man of God, -and in her heart she called on him for help. - -18 And Jesus helped; he did not speak; but like a flash of light, a -mighty virtue from his soul filled full the body of the dying one, and -she arose, and joined her kindred while they prayed. - -19 Her kindred were astonished and they said to her, How were you -healed? And she replied, - -20 I do not know; I simply asked the man of God in thought for healing -power, and in a moment I was well. - -21 The people said, The gods have surely come to earth; for man has -not the power to heal by thought. - -22 But Jesus said, The greatest power in heaven and earth is thought. - -23 God made the universe by thought; he paints the lily and the rose -with thought. - -24 Why think it strange that I should send a healing thought and -change the ethers of disease and death to those of health and life? - -25 Lo, you shall see far greater things than this, for by the power -of holy thought, my body will be changed from carnal flesh to spirit -form; and so will yours. - -26 When Jesus had thus said he disappeared, and no one saw him go. - -27 His own disciples did not comprehend the change; they knew not -where their master went, and they went on their way. - -28 But as they walked and talked about the strange event, lo, Jesus -came and walked with them to Nazareth of Galilee. - - -CHAPTER 85. - - _John, the harbinger, censures Herod for his wickedness. - Herod sends him to prison in Machaerus. Jesus tells why God - permitted the imprisonment of John._ - -Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Paraca and of Galilee was dissipated, -selfish and tyrannical. - -2 He drove his wife away from home that he might take as wife -Herodias, the wife of one, a near of kin, a woman, like himself, -immoral and unjust. - -3 The city of Tiberius, upon the shores of Galilee, was Herod's home. - -4 Now John, the harbinger, had left the Salim Springs to teach the -people by the sea of Galilee; and he rebuked the wicked ruler and his -stolen wife for all their sins. - -5 Herodias was enraged because the preacher dared accuse her and her -husband of their crimes; - -6 And she prevailed on Herod to arrest the harbinger and cast him in a -dungeon in the castle of Machaerus that stood beside the Bitter Sea. - -7 And Herod did as she required; then she lived in peace in all her -sins, for none were bold enough to censure her again. - -8 The followers of John were warned to speak not of the trial and -imprisonment of John. - -9 By order of the court, they were restrained from teaching in the -public halls. - -10 They could not talk about this better life that Herod called, the -Heresy of John. - -11 When it was known that John had been imprisoned by the tetrarch -court, the friends of Jesus thought it best that he should not remain -in Galilee. - -12 But Jesus said, I have no need of fear; my time has not yet come; -no man can stay me till my work is done. - -13 And when they asked why God permitted Herod to imprison John, he -said, - -14 Behold yon stalk of wheat! When it has brought the grain to -perfectness, it is of no more worth; it falls, becoming part of earth -again from which it came. - -15 John is a stalk of golden wheat; he brought unto maturity the -richest grain of all the earth; his work is done. - -16 If he had said another word it might have marred the symmetry of -what is now a noble life. - -17 And when my work is done the rulers will do unto me what they have -done to John, and more. - -18 All these events are part of God's own plan. The innocent will -suffer while the wicked are in power; but woe to them who cause the -suffering of the innocents. - - -CHAPTER 86. - - _The Christines are in Nazareth. Jesus speaks in the synagogue. - He offends the people and they attempt to kill him. He - mysteriously disappears, and returns to the synagogue._ - -The Christines were in Nazareth. It was the Sabbath day, and Jesus -went up to the synagogue. - -2 The keeper of the books gave one to Jesus and he opened it and read: - -3 The Spirit of the Lord has overshadowed me; he has anointed me to -preach the gospel to the poor; to set the captives free; to open -sightless eyes; - -4 To bring relief to those oppressed and bruised, and to proclaim, The -year of jubilee has come. - -5 When he had read these words he closed the book and said, This -scripture is fulfilled before your eyes this day. The year of jubilee -has come; the time when Israel shall bless the world. - -6 And then he told them many things about the kingdom of the Holy -One; about the hidden way of life; about forgiveness of sins. - -7 Now, many people knew not who the speaker was: And others said, Is -not this Joseph's son? Does not his mother live on Marmion Way? - -8 And one spoke out and said, This is the man who did such mighty -works in Cana, in Capernaum and in Jerusalem. - -9 And then the people said, Physician heal yourself. Do here among -your kindred all the mighty works that you have done in other towns. - -10 And Jesus said, No prophet is received with honor by the people of -his native land; and prophets are not sent to every one. - -11 Elijah was a man of God; he had the power and he closed the gates -of heaven, and it did not rain for forty months; and when he spoke the -Word, the rain came on, the earth brought forth again. - -12 And there were many widows in the land; but this Elijah went to -none but Zarephath, and she was blessed. - -13 And when Elisha lived, lo, many lepers were in Israel, but none -were cleansed save one--the Syrian who had faith. - -14 You have no faith; you seek for signs to satisfy your curious -whims; but you shall see not till you open up your eyes of faith. - -15 And then the people were enraged; they rushed upon him, bound him -down with cords, and took him to a precipice not far away, intent to -cast him down to death; - -16 But when they thought they held him fast, he disappeared; unseen he -passed among the angry men, and went his way. - -17 The people were confounded and they said, What manner of a man is -this? - -18 And when they came again to Nazareth, they found him teaching in -the synagogue. - -19 They troubled him no more for they were sore afraid. - - -CHAPTER 87. - - _The Christines go to Cana. Jesus heals a nobleman's child. The - Christines go to Capernaum. Jesus provides a spacious home - for his mother. He announces his intention to choose twelve - apostles._ - -In Nazareth Jesus taught no more; he went with his disciples up to -Cana, where, at a marriage feast, he once turned water into wine. - -2 And here he met a man of noble birth whose home was in Capernaum, -whose son was sick. - -3 The man had faith in Jesus' power to heal, and when he learned that -he had come to Galilee he went in haste to meet him on the way. - -4 The man met Jesus at the seventh hour, and he entreated him to -hasten to Capernaum to save his son. - -5 But Jesus did not go; he stood aside in silence for a time, and then -he said, Your faith has proved a healing balm; your son is well. - -6 The man believed and went his way toward Capernaum and as he went he -met a servant from his home who said, - -7 My lord, You need not haste; your son is well. - -8 The father asked, When did my son begin to mend? - -9 The servant said, On yesterday about the seventh hour the fever left. - -10 And then the father knew it was the healing balm that Jesus sent -that saved his son. - -11 In Cana Jesus tarried not; he went his way with his disciples to -Capernaum, where he secured a spacious house where, with his mother, -he could live; where his disciples might repair to hear the Word. - -12 He called the men who had confessed their faith in him to meet him -in his home, which his disciples called, The school of Christ; and -when they came he said to them, - -13 This gospel of the Christ must be proclaimed in all the world. - -14 This Christine vine will be a mighty vine whose branches will -comprise the peoples, tribes and tongues of all the earth. - -15 I am the vine; twelve men shall be the branches of the stock, and -these shall send forth branches everywhere; - -16 And from among the people who have followed me, the Holy Breath -will call the twelve. - -17 Go now and do your work as you have done your work; but listen for -the call. - -18 Then the disciples went unto their daily tasks, to do their work as -they had done, and Jesus went alone into the Hammoth hills to pray. - -19 Three days and nights he spent communing with the Silent -Brotherhood; then, in the power of Holy Breath he came to call the -twelve. - - -CHAPTER 88. - - _Jesus walks by the sea. Stands in a fishing boat and speaks to - the people. Under his direction the fishermen secure a great - catch of fish. He selects and calls his twelve apostles._ - -Beside the sea of Galilee the Christine master walked, and multitudes -of people followed him. - -2 The fishing boats had just come in, and Peter and his brother waited -in their boats; their helpers were ashore repairing broken nets. - -3 And Jesus went into a boat and Peter pushed it out a little ways -from shore; and Jesus standing in the boat spoke to the multitude. He -said, - -4 Isaiah, prophet of the Lord of hosts, looked forward and he saw this -day; he saw the people standing by the sea, and he exclaimed, - -5 The land of Zebulon and Napthali, land beyond the Jordan and toward -the sea, the Gentile Galilee, - -6 The people were in darkness, knowing not the way; but, lo, they saw -the Day Star rise; a light streamed forth; they saw the way of life; -they walked therein. - -7 And you are blest beyond all people of the earth today, because you -first may see the light, and may become the children of the light. - -8 Then Jesus said to Peter, Bring your nets aboard, and put out in the -deep, - -9 And Peter did as Jesus bade him do; but in a faithless way he said, -This is a useless trip; there are no fish upon this shore of Galilee -today; with Andrew I have toiled all night, and taken naught. - -10 But Jesus saw beneath the surface of the sea; he saw a multitude of -fish. He said to Peter, - -11 Cast out your net upon the right side of the boat. - -12 And Peter did as Jesus said, and, lo, the net was filled; it scarce -was strong enough to hold the multitude of fish. - -13 And Peter called to John and James, who were near by, for help; and -when the net was hauled to boat, both boats were well nigh filled -with fish. - -14 When Peter saw the heavy catch, he was ashamed of what he said; -ashamed because he had no faith, and he fell down at Jesus' feet and -said, Lord, I believe! - -15 And Jesus said, Behold the catch! from henceforth you shall fish no -more for fish; - -16 You shall cast forth the Christine net into the sea of human life, -upon the right side of the boat; you shall ensnare the multitudes to -holiness and blessedness and peace. - -17 Now, when they reached the shore the Christine master called to -Peter, Andrew, James and John and said, - -18 You fishermen of Galilee, the masters have a mighty work for us to -do; I go, and you may follow me. And they left all and followed him. - -19 And Jesus walked along the shore, and seeing Philip and Nathaniel -walking on the beach he said to them, - -20 You teachers of Bethsaida, who long have taught the people Greek -philosophy, the masters have a higher work for you and me to do; I go -and you may follow me; and then they followed him. - -21 A little farther on there stood a Roman tribute house, and Jesus -saw the officer in charge; his name was Matthew, who once abode in -Jericho; - -22 The youth who once ran on before the Lord into Jerusalem and said, -Behold the Christines come. - -23 And Matthew was a man of wealth, and learned in wisdom of the Jews, -the Syrians and the Greeks. - -24 And Jesus said to him, Hail, Matthew, trusted servant of the -Csars, hail! the masters call us to the tribute house of souls; I go -and you may follow me. And Matthew followed him. - -25 Ischariot and his son, whose name was Judas, were employed by -Matthew and were at the tribute house. - -26 And Jesus said to Judas, Stay your work; the masters call us to a -duty in the savings bank of souls; I go and you may follow me. And -Judas followed him. - -27 And Jesus met a lawyer who had heard about the Christine master and -had come from Antioch to study in the school of Christ. - -28 This man was Thomas, man of doubt, and yet a Greek philosopher of -culture and of power. - -29 But Jesus saw in him the lines of faith, and said to him, The -masters have a need of men who can interpret law; I go, and you may -follow me. And Thomas followed him. - -30 And when the evening came and Jesus was at home, behold, there came -his kindred, James and Jude, the sons of Alpheus and Miriam. - -31 And these were men of faith, and they were carpenters of Nazareth. - -32 And Jesus said to them, Behold, for you have toiled with me, and -with my father Joseph, building houses for the homes of men. The -masters call us now to aid in building homes for souls; homes built -without the sound of hammer, ax, or saw; - -33 I go, and you may follow me. And James and Jude exclaimed, Lord, we -will follow you. - -34 And on the morrow Jesus sent a message unto Simon, leader of the -Zelotes, a strict exponent of the Jewish law. - -35 And in the message Jesus said, The masters call for men to -demonstrate the faith of Abraham; I go, and you may follow me. And -Simon followed him. - - -CHAPTER 89. - - _The twelve apostles are at Jesus' home and are consecrated to - their work. Jesus instructs them. He goes to the synagogue on - the Sabbath and teaches. He casts an unclean spirit out of - one obsessed. He heals Peter's mother-in-law._ - -Now, on the day before the Sabbath day, the twelve disciples who had -received the call were met with one accord in Jesus' home. - -2 And Jesus said to them, This is the day to consecrate yourselves -unto the work of God; so let us pray. - -3 Turn from the outer to the inner self; close all the doors of carnal -self and wait. - -4 The Holy Breath will fill this place, and you will be baptized in -Holy Breath. - -5 And then they prayed; a light more brilliant than the noonday sun -filled all the room, and tongues of flame from every head rose high in -air. - -6 The atmosphere of Galilee was set astir; a sound like distant -thunder rolled above Capernaum, and men heard songs, as though ten -thousand angels joined in full accord. - -7 And then the twelve disciples heard a voice, a still, small voice, -and just one word was said, a word they dared not speak; it was the -sacred name of God. - -8 And Jesus said to them, By this omnific Word you may control the -elements, and all the powers of air. - -9 And when within your souls you speak this Word, you have the keys -of life and death; of things that are; of things that were; of things -that are to be. - -10 Behold you are the twelve great branches of the Christine vine; the -twelve foundation stones; the twelve apostles of the Christ. - -11 As lambs I send you forth among wild beasts; but the omnific Word -will be your buckler and your shield. - -12 And then again the air was filled with song, and every living -creature seemed to say, Praise God! Amen! - -13 The next day was the Sabbath day; and Jesus went with his disciples -to the synagogue, and there he taught. - -14 The people said, He teaches not as do the scribes and Pharisees; -but as a man who knows, and has authority to speak. - -15 As Jesus spoke, a man obsessed came in; the evil spirits that -obsessed the man were of the baser sort; they often threw their victim -to the ground, or in the fire. - -16 And when the spirits saw the Christine master in the synagogue they -knew him, and they said, - -17 You son of God, why are you here? would you destroy us by the Word -before our time? we would have naught to do with you; let us alone. - -18 But Jesus said to them, By the omnific Word I speak; Come out; -torment this man no more; go to your place. - -19 And then the unclean spirits threw the man upon the floor, and, -with a fiendish cry, they went away. - -20 And Jesus lifted up the man and said to him, If you will keep your -mind full occupied with good, the evil spirits cannot find a place to -stay; - -21 They only come to empty heads and hearts. Go on your way and sin no -more. - -22 The people were astonished at the words that Jesus spoke, the work -he did. They asked among themselves, - -23 Who is this man? From whence comes all this power that even unclean -spirits fear, and flee away? - -24 The Christine master left the synagogue; with Peter, Andrew, James -and John, he went to Peter's house where one, a near of kin, was sick. - -25 And Peter's wife came in; it was her mother who was sick. - -26 And Jesus touched the woman as she lay upon her couch; he spoke the -Word; the fever ceased and she arose and ministered to them. - -27 The neighbors heard what had occurred, and then they brought their -sick, and those obsessed, and Jesus laid his hands on them, and they -were healed. - - -CHAPTER 90. - - _Jesus goes alone to a mountain to pray. His disciples find - him. He calls the twelve and they journey through Galilee - teaching and healing. At Tiberius Jesus heals a leper. The - Christines return to Capernaum. In his own home Jesus heals a - palsied man and makes known the philosophy of healing and the - forgiveness of sins._ - -The Christine master disappeared; no one saw him go, and Peter, -James and John set forth to search for him; they found him at his -trysting-place out on the Hammoth hills. - -2 And Peter said, The city of Capernaum is wild; the people crowd the -streets and every public place is filled. - -3 The men, the women and the children everywhere are asking for the -man who heals by will. - -4 Your home and our homes are filled with people who are sick; they -call for Jesus who is called the Christ. What will we say to them? - -5 And Jesus said, A score of other cities call, and we must take the -bread of life to them. Go call the other men and let us go. - -6 And Jesus and the twelve went to Bethsaida where Philip and -Nathaniel dwelt; and there they taught. - -7 The multitudes believed on Christ, confessed their sins and were -baptized, and came into the kingdom of the Holy One. - -8 The Christine master and the twelve went everywhere through all the -towns of Galilee, and taught, baptizing all who came in faith, and who -confessed their sins. - -9 They opened blinded eyes, unstopped deaf ears, drove forth the evil -ones from those obsessed, and healed disease of every kind. - -10 And they were in Tiberius by the sea, and as they taught a leper -came a-near and said, Lord, I believe, and if you will but speak the -Word I will be clean. - -11 And Jesus said to him, I will; be clean. And soon the leprosy was -gone; the man was clean. - -12 And Jesus charged the man, Say naught to any one, but go and show -yourself unto the priests and offer for your cleansing what the law -demands. - -13 The man was wild with joy; but then he went not to the priests, but -in the marts of trade, and everywhere he told what had been done. - -14 And then the sick in throngs pressed hard upon the healer and the -twelve, imploring to be healed. - -15 And they were so importunate that little could be done, and so the -Christines left the crowded thoroughfares, and went to desert places -where they taught the multitudes that followed them. - -16 Now, after many days the Christines came back to Capernaum. When it -was noised around that Jesus was at home, the people came; they filled -the house till there was no more room, not even at the door. - -17 And there were present scribes and Pharisees and doctors of the law -from every part of Galilee, and from Jerusalem, and Jesus opened up -for them the way of life. - -18 Four men brought one, a palsied man upon a cot, and when they could -not pass the door they took the sick man to the roof, and opened up a -way, then let him down before the healer's face. - -19 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the palsied man, My son, -be of good cheer; your sins are all forgiven. - -20 And when the scribes and Pharisees heard what he said, they said, -Why does this man speak thus? who can forgive the sins of men but God? - -21 And Jesus caught their thought; he knew they questioned thus among -themselves; he said to them, - -22 Why reason thus among yourselves? What matters it if I should say, -Your sins are blotted out; or say, Arise, take up your bed and walk? - -23 But just to prove that men may here forgive the sins of men, I say, -(and then he spoke unto the palsied man), - -24 Arise, take up your bed, and go your way. - -25 And in the presence of them all the man arose, took up his bed, and -went his way. - -26 The people could not comprehend the things they heard and saw. They -said among themselves, This is a day we never can forget; we have seen -wondrous things today. - -27 And when the multitudes had gone the twelve remained, and Jesus -said to them, - -28 The Jewish festival draws near; next week we will go to Jerusalem, -that we may meet our brethren from afar, and open up to them the way -that they may see the king. - -29 The Christines sought the quiet of their homes, where they remained -in prayer for certain days. - - - - -SECTION XVI. - -AIN. - -_The Second Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 91. - - _Jesus at the feast in Jerusalem. Heals an impotent man. Gives - a practical lesson in healing. Affirms that all men are the - sons of God._ - -The feast time came and Jesus and the twelve went to Jerusalem. - -2 Upon the day before the Sabbath day they reached Mount Olives and -they tarried at an inn before Mount Olives on the north. - -3 And in the early morning of the Sabbath day they went in through the -sheep gate to Jerusalem. - -4 The healing fountain of Bethesda, near the gate, was thronged about -with people who were sick; - -5 For they believed that at a certain time an angel came and poured a -healing virtue in the pool, and those who entered first and bathed, -would be made whole. - -6 And Jesus and the twelve were standing near the pool. - -7 And Jesus saw a man near by who had been stricken eight and thirty -years; without a hand to help he could not move. - -8 And Jesus said to him, My brother, man, would you be healed? - -9 The man replied, I earnestly desire to be healed; but I am helpless -and when the angel comes and pours the healing virtues in the pool, - -10 Another who can walk, steps in the fountain first and I am left -unhealed. - -11 And Jesus said, Who sends an angel here to potentize this pool for -just a favored few? - -12 I know it is not God, for he deals just the same with every one. - -13 One has no better chance in heaven's healing fountain than another -one. - -14 The fount of health is in your soul; it has a door locked fast; the -key is faith; - -15 And every one can have this key and may unlock the door and plunge -into the healing fount and be made whole. - -16 And then the man looked up in hopeful mood and said, Give me this -key of faith. - -17 And Jesus said, Do you believe what I have said? According to your -faith it shall be done. Arise, take up your bed and walk. - -18 The man at once arose and walked away; he only said, Praise God. - -19 And when the people asked, Who made you whole? the man replied, I -do not know. A stranger at the pool just spoke a word and I was well. - -20 The many did not see when Jesus healed the man, and with the twelve -he went his way up to the temple courts. - -21 And in the temple Jesus saw the man and said to him, Behold you are -made whole; from henceforth guard your life aright; - -22 Go on your way and sin no more, or something worse may fall on you. - -23 And now the man knew who it was who made him whole. - -24 He told the story to the priests and they were much enraged; they -said, The law forbids a man to heal upon the Sabbath day. - -25 But Jesus said, My Father works on Sabbath days and may not I? - -26 He sends his rain, his sunshine and his dew; he makes his grass to -grow, his flowers to bloom; he speeds the harvests just the same on -Sabbath days as on the other days. - -27 If it is lawful for the grass to grow and flowers to bloom on -Sabbath days it surely is not wrong to succor stricken men. - -28 And then the priests were angered more and more because he claimed -to be a son of God. - -29 A leading priest, Abihu, said, This fellow is a menace to our -nation and our laws; he makes himself to be a son of God; it is not -meet that he should live. - -30 But Jesus said, Abihu, Sir, you are a learned man; you surely know -the law of life. Pray tell who were the sons of God we read about in -Genesis, who took to wife the daughters of the sons of men? - -31 Our father Adam; who was he? From whence came he? Had he a father? -or did he fall from heaven as a star? - -32 We read that Moses said, He came from God. If Adam came from God, -pray, was he offspring, was he son? - -33 We are the children of this son of God; then tell me, learned -priest, Who are we if not sons of God? - -34 The priest had urgent business and he went his away. - -35 And Jesus said, All men are sons of God and if they live a holy -life they always are at home with God. - -36 They see and understand the works of God, and in his sacred name -they can perform these works. - -37 The lightnings and the storms are messengers of God as well as are -the sunshine, rain and dew. - -38 The virtues of the heavens are in God's hands, and every loyal son -may use these virtues and these powers. - -39 Man is the delegate of God to do his will on earth, and man can -heal the sick, control the spirits of the air, and raise the dead. - -40 Because I have the power to do these things is nothing strange. All -men may gain the power to do these things; but they must conquer all -the passions of the lower self; and they can conquer if they will. - -41 So man is God on earth, and he who honors God must honor man; for -God and man are one, as father and the child are one. - -42 Behold, I say, The hour has come; the dead will hear the voice of -man, and live, because the son of man is son of God. - -43 You men of Israel, hear! you live in death; you are locked up -within the tomb. - -44 (There is no deeper death than ignorance and unbelief.) - -45 But all will some day hear the voice of God, made plain by voice of -man, and live. You all will know that you are sons of God, and by the -sacred Word, may do the works of God. - -46 When you have come to life, that is, have come to realize that you -are sons of God, you who have lived the life of right, will open up -your eyes on fields of life. - -47 But you who love the ways of sin will, in this resurrection, stand -before a judgment bar, and be condemned to pay the debts you owe to -men and to yourselves. - -48 For whatsoever you have done amiss must be performed again, and yet -again, until you reach the stature of the perfect man. - -49 But in due time the lowest and the highest will arise to walk in -light. - -50 Shall I accuse you unto God? No, for your prophet, Moses, has done -that; and if you hear not Moses' words you will not hearken unto me, -for Moses wrote of me. - - -CHAPTER 92. - - _The Christines at a feast in Lazarus' home. A fire rages in - the town. Jesus rescues a child from the flames and stays - the fire by the Word. He gives a practical lesson on how to - redeem a drunken man._ - -Now, Lazarus was at the feast and Jesus and the twelve went with him -to his home in Bethany. - -2 And Lazarus and his sisters made a feast for Jesus and the twelve; -and Ruth and Asher came from Jericho; for Asher was no longer hostile -to the Christ. - -3 And while the guests sat at the board behold a cry, The village is -a-fire! and all rushed out into the streets, and, lo, the homes of -many neighbors were in flames. - -4 And in an upper room an infant lay asleep, and none could pass the -flames to save. The mother, wild with grief, was calling on the men to -save her child. - -5 Then, with a voice that made the spirits of the fire pale and -tremble, Jesus said, Peace, peace, be still! - -6 And then he walked through smoke and flame, climbed up the falling -stair, and in a moment came again, and in his arms he brought the -child. And not a trace of fire was on himself, his raiment, or the -child. - -7 Then Jesus raised his hand, rebuked the spirits of the fire, -commanding them to cease their awful work, and be at rest. - -8 And then, as though the waters of the sea were all at once poured on -the flames, the fire ceased to burn. - -9 And when the fury of the fire was spent the multitudes were wild to -see the man who could control the fire, and Jesus said, - -10 Man was not made for fire, but fire was made for man. - -11 When man comes to himself and comprehends the fact that he is son -of God, and knows that in himself lies all the powers of God, he is a -master mind and all the elements will hear his voice and gladly do his -will. - -12 Two sturdy asses bind the will of man; their names are Fear and -Unbelief. When these are caught and turned aside, the will of man will -know no bounds; then man has but to speak and it is done. - -13 And then the guests returned and sat about the board. A little -child came in and stood by Jesus' side. - -14 She laid her hand on Jesus' arm and said, Please, Master Jesus, -hear! my father is a drunken man; my mother toils from morn till night -and when she brings her wages home my father snatches them away and -squanders every cent for drink, and mother and us little ones are -hungry all the night. - -15 Please, Master Jesus, come with me and touch my father's heart. He -is so good and kind when he is just himself; I know it is the wine -that makes another man of him. - -16 And Jesus went out with the child; he found the wretched home; he -spoke in kindness to the mother and the little ones, and then upon a -bed of straw he found the drunken man. - -17 He took him by the hand and raised him up and said, My brother, -man, made in the image of our Father-God, will you arise and come with -me? - -18 Your neighbors are in sore distress; they have lost all they had in -this fierce fire, and men must build their homes again and you and I -must lead the way. - -19 And then the man arose; the two went arm in arm to view the wrecks. - -20 They heard the mothers and the children crying in the streets; they -saw their wretchedness. - -21 And Jesus said, My friend, here is a work for you to do. Just lead -the way in helpfulness; I'm sure the men of Bethany will furnish you -the means and help. - -22 The spark of hope that had so long been smouldering in the man was -fanned into a flame. He threw his ragged coat aside; he was himself -again. - -23 And then he called for help; not for himself, but for the homeless -ones; and everybody helped. The ruined homes were built again. - -24 And then he saw his own poor den; his heart was stirred into its -depths. - -25 The pride of manhood filled his soul; he said, This wretched -den shall be a home. He worked as he had never wrought before, and -everybody helped. - -26 And in a little while the den became a home indeed; the flowers of -love bloomed everywhere. - -27 The mother and the little ones were filled with joy; the father -never drank again. - -28 A man was saved, and no one ever said a word about neglect or -drunkenness, nor urged him to reform. - - -CHAPTER 93. - - _The Christines go through a field of ripe wheat, and the - disciples eat of the wheat. Jesus exonerates them. The - Christines return to Capernaum. Jesus heals a withered hand - on the Sabbath, and defends his deed._ - -Another Sabbath day had come and Jesus and the twelve walked through a -field of ripened wheat. - -2 And they were hungry and they took the heads of wheat and in their -hands threshed out the grain and ate. - -3 Among the men who followed them were Pharisees of strictest sect, -and when they saw the twelve thresh out the wheat and eat, they said -to Jesus, - -4 Sir, why do the twelve do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath -day? - -5 And Jesus said, Have you not heard what David did when he and those -who followed him had need of food? - -6 How he went to the house of God and from the table in the Holy Place -took of the presence bread and ate, and gave to those who followed him? - -7 I tell you, men, the needs of man are higher than the law of rites. - -8 And in our sacred books we read how priests profane the Sabbath day -in many ways while they are serving in the Holy Place, and still are -free from guilt. - -9 The Sabbath day was made for man; man was not made to fit the -Sabbath day. - -10 The man is son of God and under the eternal law of right, which is -the highest law, he may annul the statute laws. - -11 The law of sacrifice is but the law of man, and in our law we read -that God desires mercy first; and mercy stands above all statute laws. - -12 The son of man is Lord of every law. Did not a prophet sum the -duties of the man when in the book he wrote: In mercy follow justice -and walk humbly with your God? - -13 Then Jesus and the twelve returned to Galilee, and on the day -before the Sabbath day they reached the home of Jesus in Capernaum. - -14 And on the Sabbath day they went up to the synagogue. The -multitudes were there and Jesus taught. - -15 Among the worshippers was one, a man who had a withered hand. The -scribes and Pharisees observed that Jesus saw the man, and then they -said, - -16 What will he do? Will he attempt to heal upon the Sabbath day? - -17 And Jesus knew their thoughts and he called to the man who had the -withered hand and said, Arise, stand forth before these men. - -18 And Jesus said, You scribes and Pharisees, speak out and answer me: -Is it a crime to save a life upon the Sabbath day? - -19 If you had sheep and one of them fell in a pit upon the Sabbath day -would you do wrong to take it out? - -20 Or would it please your God to let it suffer in the mire until -another day? - -21 But his accusers held their peace. - -22 And then he said to them, Are sheep of greater value than a man? - -23 The law of God is written on the rock of Right; and Justice wrote -the law, and Mercy was the pen. - -24 And then he said, Man, raise your hand and stretch it forth. He -raised his hand; it was restored. - -25 The Pharisees were filled with rage. They called in secret council -the Herodians, and they began to plot and plan how they might bring -about his death. - -26 They were afraid to publicly accuse, because the multitudes stood -forth in his defense. - -27 And Jesus and the twelve went down and walked beside the sea, and -many people followed them. - - -CHAPTER 94. - - _The Sermon on the Mount. Jesus reveals to the twelve the - secret of prayer. The model prayer. The law of forgiveness. - The holy fast. The evil of deceit. Almsgiving._ - -Next morning e'er the sun had risen Jesus and the twelve went to a -mountain near the sea to pray; and Jesus taught the twelve disciples -how to pray. He said, - -2 Prayer is the deep communion of the soul with God; - -3 So when you pray do not deceive yourselves as do the hypocrites who -love to stand upon the streets and in the synagogues and pour out many -words to please the ears of men. - -4 And they adorn themselves with pious airs that they may have the -praise of men. They seek the praise of men and their reward is sure. - -5 But when you pray, go to the closet of your soul; close all the -doors, and in the holy silence, pray. - -6 You need not speak a multitude of words, nor yet repeat the words -again and then again, as heathen do. Just say, - -7 Our Father-God who art in heaven; holy is thy name. Thy kingdom -come; thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. - -8 Give us this day our needed bread; - -9 Help us forget the debts that other people owe to us, that all our -debts may be discharged. - -10 And shield us from the tempter's snares that are too great for us -to bear; - -11 And when they come give us the strength to overcome. - -12 If you would be discharged from all the debts you owe to God and -man, the debts you have incurred by wilfully transgressing law, - -13 You must pass by the debts of every man; for as you deal with other -men your God will deal with you. - -14 And when you fast you may not advertise the deed. - -15 When fast the hypocrites they paint their faces, look demure, -assume a pious pose, that they may seem to men to fast. - -16 A fast is deed of soul, and like a prayer, it is a function of the -silence of the soul. - -17 God never passes by unnoticed any prayer, or fast. He walks within -the silence, and his benedictions rest on every effort of the soul. - -18 Deception is hypocrisy, and you shall not assume to be what you are -not. - -19 You may not clothe yourselves in special garb to advertise your -piety, nor yet assume the tone of voice that men conceive to be a holy -voice. - -20 And when you give to aid the needy ones, blow not a trumpet in the -street, nor synagogue to advertise your gift. - -21 He who does alms for praise of men has his reward from men; but God -regardeth not. - -22 In giving alms do not let the right hand know the secret of the -left. - - -CHAPTER 95. - - _The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus pronounces the eight - beatitudes and the eight woes. Speaks words of encouragement. - Emphasizes the exalted character of the apostolic work._ - -And Jesus and the twelve went to the mountain top, and Jesus said, - -2 Twelve pillars of the church, apostles of the Christ; light-bearers -of the sun of life and ministers of God to men: - -3 In just a little while you must go forth alone, and preach the -gospel of the king, first to the Jews and then to all the world. - -4 And you shall go, not with a scourge of cords to drive; you cannot -drive men to the king; - -5 But you shall go in love and helpfulness and lead the way to right -and light. - -6 Go forth and say, The kingdom is at hand. - -7 Worthy are the strong in spirit; theirs the kingdom is. - -8 Worthy are the meek; they shall possess the land. - -9 Worthy they who hunger and who thirst for right; they shall be -satisfied. - -10 Worthy are the merciful; and mercy shall be shown to them. - -11 Worthy they who gain the mastery of self; they have the key of -power. - -12 Worthy are the pure in heart; and they shall see the king. - -13 Worthy they who are maligned and wronged because they do the right; -their persecutors they shall bless. - -14 Worthy is the trustful child of faith; he shall sit in the throne -of power. - -15 Be not discouraged when the world shall persecute and call you -curst; but rather be exceeding glad. - -16 The prophets and the seers, and all the good of earth, have been -maligned. - -17 If you are worthy of the crown of life you will be slandered, -vilified and curst on earth. - -18 Rejoice when evil men shall drive you from their ways and cause -your name to be a hiss and byword in the street. - -19 I say, rejoice; but deal in mercy with the doers of the wrong; they -are but children at their play; they know not what they do. - -20 Rejoice not over fallen foes. As you help men rise from the depth -of sin, so God will help you on to greater heights. - -21 Woe to the rich is gold and lands; they have temptations multiform. - -22 Woe unto men who walk at will in pleasure's paths; their ways are -full of snares and dangerous pits. - -23 Woe to the proud; they stand upon a precipice; destruction waits -for them. - -24 Woe to the man of greed; for what he has is not his own; and, lo, -another comes; his wealth is gone. - -25 Woe to the hypocrite; his form is fair to look upon; his heart is -filled with carcasses and dead men's bones. - -26 Woe to the cruel and relentless man; he is himself the victim of -his deeds. - -27 The evil he would do to other men rebounds; the scourger is the -scourged. - -28 Woe to the libertine who preys upon the virtues of the weak. The -hour comes when he will be the weak, the victim of a libertine of -greater power. - -29 Woe unto you when all the world shall speak in praise of you. The -world speaks not in praise of men who live within the Holy Breath; it -speaks in praise of prophets false, and of illusions base. - -30 You men who walk in Holy Breath are salt, the salt of earth; but if -you lose your virtue you are salt in name alone, worth nothing more -than dust. - -31 And you are light; are called to light the world. - -32 A city on a hill cannot be hid; its lights are seen afar; and while -you stand upon the hills of life men see your light and imitate your -works and honor God. - -33 Men do not light a lamp and hide it in a cask; they put it on a -stand that it may light the house. - -34 You are the lamps of God; must not stand in the shade of earth -illusions, but in the open, high upon the stand. - -35 I am not come to nullify the law, nor to destroy; but to fulfill. - -36 The Law, the Prophets and the Psalms were written in the wisdom of -the Holy Breath and cannot fail. - -37 The heavens and earth that are will change and pass away; the -word of God is sure; it cannot pass until it shall accomplish that -whereunto it hath been sent. - -38 Whoever disregards the law of God and teaches men to do the same, -becomes a debtor unto God and cannot see his face until he has -returned and paid his debt by sacrifice of life. - -39 But he who hearkens unto God and keeps his law and does his will on -earth, shall rule with Christ. - -40 The scribes and Pharisees regard the letter of the law; they cannot -comprehend the spirit of the law; - -41 And if your righteousness does not exceed the righteousness of -scribe and Pharisee you cannot come into the kingdom of the soul. - -42 It is not what man does that gives him right to enter through the -gates; his pass word is his character and his desire is his character. - -43 The letter of the law deals with the acts of man; the spirit of the -law takes note of his desires. - - -CHAPTER 96. - - _The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus considers the Ten - Commandments. The philosophy of Christ the spirit of the - Commandments. Jesus unfolds the spiritual aspects of the - first four Commandments._ - -God gave the Ten Commandments unto men; upon the mountain Moses saw -the words of God; he wrote them down on solid rock; they cannot be -destroyed. - -2 These Ten Commandments show the justice side of God; but now the -love of God made manifest brings mercy on the wings of Holy Breath. - -3 Upon the unity of God the law was built. In all the world there is -one force; Jehovah is Almighty God. - -4 Jehovah wrote upon the heavens and Moses read, - -5 I am Almighty God and you shall have no God but me. - -6 There is one force, but many phases of that force; these phases men -call powers. - -7 All powers are of God; and they are manifests of God; they are the -Spirits of the God. - -8 If men could seem to find another force and worship at its shrine, -they would but court illusion, vain, - -9 A shadow of the One, Jehovah, God, and they who worship shadows are -but shadows on the wall; for men are what they court. - -10 And God would have all men to be the substance, and in mercy he -commanded, You shall seek no God but me. - -11 And finite man can never comprehend infinite things. Man cannot -make an image of the Infinite in force. - -12 And when men make a God of stone or wood or clay they make an image -of a shade; and they who worship at the shrine of shades are shades. - -13 So God in mercy said, You shall not carve out images of wood, or -clay, or stone. - -14 Such idols are ideals, abased ideals, and men can gain no higher -plane than their ideals. - -15 The God is Spirit, and in spirit men must worship if they would -attain a consciousness of God. - -16 But man can never make a picture or an image of the Holy Breath. - -17 The name of God man may not speak with carnal lips; with Holy -Breath alone can man pronounce the name. - -18 In vanity men think they know the name of God; they speak it -lightly and irreverently, and thus they are accursed. - -19 If men did know the sacred name and spoke it with unholy lips, they -would not live to speak it once again. - -20 But God in mercy has not yet unveiled his name to those who cannot -speak with Holy Breath. - -21 But they who speak the substitute in idle way are guilty in the -sight of God, who said, - -22 You shall not take the name of God in vain. - -23 The number of the Holy Breath is seven, and God holds in his hands -the sevens of time. - -24 In forming worlds he rested on the seventh day, and every seventh -day is set apart as Sabbath day for men. God said, - -25 The seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; remember it and -keep it wholly set apart for works of holiness; that is, for works not -for the selfish self, but for the universal self. - -26 Men may do work for self upon the six days of the week; but on the -Sabbath of the Lord they must do naught for self. - -27 This day is consecrated unto God; but man serves God by serving man. - - -CHAPTER 97. - - _The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus unfolds to the - twelve the spiritual aspects of the fifth and sixth - Commandments._ - -God is not force alone; for wisdom is his counterpart. - -2 When cherubim instructed man in wisdom's ways they said that wisdom -is the Mother of the race, as force is Father of the race. - -3 The man who honors the almighty and omniscient God is blessed, and -in the tables of the law we read, - -4 Pay homage to your Father and your Mother of the race, that your -days may be prolonged upon the land that they have given you. - -5 The letter of the law commands; You shall not kill; and he who kills -must stand before the judgment seat, - -6 A person may desire to kill, yet if he does not kill he is not -judged by law. - -7 The spirit of the law avers that he who shall desire to kill, or -seeks revenge, is angry with a man without sufficient cause, must -answer to the judge; - -8 And he who calls his brother soulless vagabond shall answer to the -council of the just; - -9 And he who calls his brother a degenerate, a dog, fans into life the -burning fires of hell within himself. - -10 Now, in the higher law we read that if your brother is aggrieved -by something you have done, before you offer unto God your gifts, go -forth and find your brother and be reconciled to him. - -11 It is not well to let the sun go down upon your wrath. - -12 If he will not be reconciled when you have laid aside all selfish -pleas, have waived all selfish rights, you will be guiltless in the -sight of God; then go and offer unto God your gifts. - -13 If you owe aught to any man and cannot pay; or if a man shall claim -a greater sum than is his due, it is not well that you dispute his -claims. - -14 Resistance is the sire of anger; there is no mercy and no reason in -a wrathful man. - -15 I tell you it is better far to suffer loss than go to law, or call -upon the courts of men to judge of right and wrong. - -16 The law of carnal man would say, Eye for eye and tooth for tooth; -resist encroachment on your rights. - -17 But this is not the law of God. The Holy Breath would say, Resist -not him who would deprive you of your goods. - -18 He who would take your coat by force is still a brother man and you -should gain his heart, which by resistance cannot be done; - -19 Give him your coat and offer him still more and more; in time the -man will rise above the brute; you will have saved him from himself. - -20 Refuse not him who calls for help and give to him who asks to -borrow aught. - -21 And if a man shall strike you in a fitful, or an angry way, it is -not well to smite him in return. - -22 Men call him coward who will not fight and thus defend his rights; -but he is much the greater man who is assailed, is smitten and does -not smite; - -23 Who is maligned and answers not, than he who smites the smiter and -reviles the one who slanders him. - -24 It has been said in olden times that man shall love his friend and -hate his foe; but, lo, I say, - -25 Be merciful unto your foes; bless those who slander you; do good to -those who do you harm and pray for those who trample on your rights. - -26 Remember, you are children of the God who makes his sun to rise -alike upon the evil and the good, who sends his rain upon the unjust -and the just. - -27 If you do unto other men as they do unto you, you are but slaves, -but followers in the way to death. - -28 But you, as children of the light, must lead the way. - -29 Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. - -30 When you do good to those who have done good to you, you do no more -than other men; the publicans do that. - -31 If you salute your friends and not your foes, you are like other -men; the publicans have set the pace. - -32 Be perfect as your Father-God in heaven is. - - -CHAPTER 98. - - _The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus reveals to the - twelve the spiritual aspects of the seventh, eighth and tenth - Commandments._ - -The law forbids adultery; but in the eyes of law adultery is an overt -act, the satisfaction of the sensuous self outside the marriage bonds. - -2 Now, marriage in the sight of law is but a promise made by man and -woman, by the sanction of a priest, to live for aye in harmony and -love. - -3 No priest nor officer has power from God to bind two souls in wedded -love. - -4 What is the marriage tie? Is it comprised in what a priest or -officer may say? - -5 Is it the scroll on which the officer or priest has written the -permission for the two to live in marriage bonds? - -6 Is it the promise of the two that they will love each other until -death? - -7 Is love a passion that is subject to the will of man? - -8 Can man pick up his love, as he would pick up precious gems, and lay -it down, or give it out to any one? - -9 Can love be bought and sold like sheep? - -10 Love is the power of God that binds two souls and makes them one; -there is no power on earth that can dissolve the bond. - -11 The bodies may be forced apart by man or death for just a little -time; but they will meet again. - -12 Now, in this bond of God we find the marriage tie; all other unions -are but bonds of straw, and they who live in them commit adultery, - -13 The same as they who satisfy their lust without the sanction of an -officer or priest. - -14 But more than this; the man or woman who indulges lustful thoughts -commits adultery. - -15 Whom God has joined together man cannot part; whom man has joined -together live in sin. - -16 Upon a table of the law, the great lawgiver wrote, Thou shalt not -steal. - -17 Before the eyes of law a man to steal must take a thing that can be -seen with eyes of flesh, without the knowledge or consent of him to -whom the thing belongs. - -18 But, lo, I say that he who in his heart desires to possess that -which is not his own, and would deprive the owner of the thing without -his knowledge or consent, is in the sight of God, a thief. - -19 The things that men see not with eyes of flesh are of more worth -than are the things that man can see. - -20 A man's good name is worth a thousand mines of gold, and he who -says a word or does a deed that injures or defames that name has taken -what is not his own, and is a thief. - -21 Upon a table of the law we also read; Thou shalt not covet anything. - -22 To covet is an all-consuming wish to have what is not right for one -to have. - -23 And such a wish, within the spirit of the law, is theft. - - -CHAPTER 99. - - _The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus unfolds to the - twelve the spiritual aspects of the ninth Commandment._ - -The law has said: Thou shalt not lie; but in the eyes of law a man to -lie must tell in words what is not true. - -2 Now, in the light of spirit law, deceit in any form is nothing but a -lie. - -3 A man may lie by look or act; yea, even by his silence may deceive, -and thus be guilty in the eyes of Holy Breath. - -4 It has been said in olden times: Thou shalt not swear by thine own -life. - -5 But, lo, I say, Swear not at all; not by the head, the heart, the -eye, nor hand; not by the sun, the moon, nor stars; - -6 Not by the name of God, nor by the name of any spirit, good or bad. - -7 You shall not swear by anything; for in an oath there is no gain. - -8 A man whose word must be propped up by oath of any kind is not -trustworthy in the sight of God or man. - -9 By oath you cannot make a leaf to fall, nor turn the color of a hair. - -10 The man of worth just speaks, and men know that he speaks the truth. - -11 The man who pours out many words to make men think he speaks the -truth, is simply making smoke to hide a lie. - -12 And there are many men with seeming double hearts; men who would -serve two masters at a time--two masters quite adverse. - -13 Men feign to worship God upon the Sabbath day and then pay court to -Beelzebul on every other day. - -14 No man can serve two masters at a time no more than he can ride two -asses at a time that go in different ways. - -15 The man who feigns to worship God and Beelzebul is foe of God, a -pious devil and a curse of men. - -16 And men cannot lay treasures up in heaven and earth at once. - -17 Then, lo, I say, Lift up your eyes and see the safety vaults of -heaven, and there deposit every gem, - -18 Where moth and rust cannot corrupt; where thieves cannot break in -and steal. - -19 There are no safety vaults on earth; no place secure from moth, and -rust and thieves. - -20 The treasures of the earth are but illusive things that pass away. - -21 Be not deceived; your treasures are the anchor of the soul, and -where your treasures are your heart will be. - -22 Fix not your heart upon the things of earth; be anxious not about -the things to eat, or drink, or wear. - -23 God cares for those who trust in him and serve the race. - -24 Behold the birds! They praise God in their songs; the earth is made -more glorious by their ministry of joy; God keeps them in the hollow -of his hand, - -25 And not a sparrow falls to earth without his care; and every one -that falls shall rise again. - -26 Behold the flowers of earth! they trust in God and grow; they make -the earth resplendent with their beauty and perfume. - -27 Look at the lilies of the field, the messengers of holy love. No -son of man, not even Solomon in all his excellence, was ever clothed -like one of these. - -28 And yet they simply trust in God; they feed from out his hand; they -lay their heads to rest upon his breast. - -29 If God so clothes and feeds the flowers and birds that do his will, -will he not feed and clothe his children when they trust in him? - -30 Seek first the kingdom of the soul, the righteousness of God, the -good of men, and murmur not; God will protect, and feed, and clothe. - - -CHAPTER 100. - - _The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus formulates and - presents to the twelve a practical code of spiritual ethics._ - -There is a rule that carnal man has made, and which he rigidly -observes: - -2 Do unto other men as they do unto you. As others judge, they judge; -as others give, they give. - -3 Now, while you walk with men as men, judge not, and you shall not be -judged. - -4 For as you judge you shall be judged, and as you give it shall be -given to you. If you condemn, you are condemned. - -5 When you show mercy, men are merciful to you, and if you love in -such a way that carnal man can comprehend your love, you will be well -beloved. - -6 And so the wise man of this world does unto other men as he would -have them do to him. - -7 The carnal man does good to other men for selfish gain, for he -expects to have his blessings multiplied and then returned; he does -not stop to note the end. - -8 Man is himself the field; his deeds are seeds, and what he does to -others grows apace; the harvest time is sure. - -9 Behold the yield! If he has sown the wind, he reaps the wind; if he -has sown the noxious seeds of scandal, theft and hate; of sensuality -and crime, - -10 The harvest is assured and he must reap what he has sown; yea, -more; the seeds produce an hundred fold. - -11 The fruit of righteousness and peace and love and joy can never -spring from noxious seeds; the fruit is like the seed. - -12 And when you sow, sow seeds of right, because it is the right, and -not in way of trade, expecting rich rewards. - -13 The carnal man abhors the spirit law, because it takes away his -liberty to live in sin; beneath its light he cannot satisfy his -passions and desires. - -14 He is at enmity with him who walks in Holy Breath. The carnal man -has killed the holy men of old, the prophets and the seers. - -15 And he will buffet you; will charge you falsely, scourge you and -imprison you, and think he does the will of God to slay you in the -streets. - -16 But you may not prejudge nor censure him who does you wrong. - -17 Each one has problems to be solved, and he must solve them for -himself. - -18 The man who scourges you may have a load of sin to bear; but how -about your own? - -19 A little sin in one who walks in Holy Breath is greater in the -sight of God than monster sins in him who never knew the way. - -20 How can you see the splinter in your brother's eye while you have -chunks within your own? - -21 First take the chunks from out your eye and then you may behold the -splinter in your brother's eye and help him take it out, - -22 And while your eyes are full of foreign things you cannot see the -way, for you are blind, - -23 And when the blind lead forth the blind, both lose the way and fall -into the slough. - -24 If you would lead the way to God you must be clear in sight, as -well as pure in heart. - - -CHAPTER 101. - - _The Sermon on the Mount, concluded. The concluding part of the - code of ethics. The Christines return to Capernaum._ - -The fruitage of the tree of life is all too fine to feed the carnal -mind. - -2 If you would throw a diamond to a hungry dog, lo, he would turn -away, or else attack you in a rage. - -3 The incense that is sweet to God is quite offensive unto Beelzebul; -the bread of heaven is but chaff to men who cannot comprehend the -spirit life. - -4 The master must be wise and feed the soul with what it can digest. - -5 If you have not the food for every man, just ask and you shall have; -seek earnestly and you shall find. - -6 Just speak the Word and knock; the door will fly ajar. - -7 No one has ever asked in faith and did not have; none ever sought in -vain; no one who ever knocked aright has failed to find an open door. - -8 When men shall ask you for the bread of heaven, turn not away, nor -give to them the fruit of carnal trees. - -9 If one, a son, would ask you for a loaf, would you give him a stone? -If he would ask you for a fish, would you give him a serpent of the -dust? - -10 What you would have your God give unto you, give unto men. The -measure of your worth lies in your service unto men. - -11 There is a way that leads unto the perfect life; few find it at a -time. - -12 It is a narrow way; it lies among the rocks and pitfalls of the -carnal life; but in the way there are no pitfalls and no rocks. - -13 There is a way that leads to wretchedness and want. It is a -spacious way and many walk therein. It lies among the pleasure groves -of carnal life. - -14 Beware, for many claim to walk the way of life who walk the way of -death. - -15 But they are false in word and deed; false prophets they. They -clothe themselves in skins of sheep, while they are vicious wolves. - -16 They cannot long conceal themselves; men know them by their fruits; - -17 You cannot gather grapes from thorns, nor from the thistles, figs. - -18 The fruit is daughter of the tree and, like the parent, so the -child; and every tree that bears not wholesome fruit is plucked up by -the roots and cast away, - -19 Because a man prays long and loud is not a sign that he is saint. -The praying men are not all in the kingdom of the soul. - -20 The man who lives the holy life, who does the will of God, abides -within the kingdom of the soul. - -21 The good man from the treasures of his heart sends blessedness and -peace to all the world. - -22 The evil man sends thoughts that blight and wither hope and joy and -fill the world with wretchedness and woe. - -23 Men think and act and speak out of the abundance of the heart. - -24 And when the judgment hour shall come a host of men will enter -pleadings for themselves and think to buy the favor of the judge with -words. - -25 And they will say, Lo, we have wrought a multitude of works in the -Omnific name, - -26 Have we not prophesied? Have we not cured all manner of disease? -Have we not cast the evil spirits out of those obsessed? - -27 And then the judge will say, I know you not. You rendered service -unto God in words when in your heart you worshipped Beelzebul. - -28 The evil one may use the powers of life, and do a multitude of -mighty works. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity. - -29 The man who hears the words of life and does them not is like the -man who builds his house upon the sand, which when the floods come on, -is washed away and all is lost. - -30 But he who hears the words of life and in an honest, sincere heart -receives and treasures them and lives the holy life, - -31 Is like the man who builds his house upon the rock; the floods may -come, the winds may blow, the storms may beat upon his house; it is -not moved. - -32 Go forth and build your life upon the solid rock of truth, and all -the powers of the evil one will shake it not. - -33 And Jesus finished all his sayings on the mount and then he, with -the twelve, returned unto Capernaum. - - -CHAPTER 102. - - _The Christines at the home of Jesus. Jesus unfolds to them the - secret doctrine. They go through all Galilee and teach and - heal. Jesus brings to life the son of a widow at Nain. They - return to Capernaum._ - -The twelve apostles went with Jesus to his home, and there abode for -certain days. - -2 And Jesus told them many things about the inner life that may not -now be written in a book. - -3 Now, in Capernaum there lived a man of wealth, a Roman captain of a -hundred men, who loved the Jews and who had built for them a synagogue. - -4 A servant of this man was paralyzed, and he was sick nigh unto death. - -5 The captain knew of Jesus and had heard that by the sacred Word he -healed the sick, and he had faith in him. - -6 He sent a message by the elders of the Jews to Jesus, and he plead -for help. - -7 And Jesus recognized the captain's faith and went at once to heal -the sick; the captain met him on the way and said to him, - -8 Lo, Lord, it is not well that you should come into my house; I am -not worthy of the presence of a man of God. - -9 I am a man of war; my life is spent with those who ofttimes take the -lives of fellow men, - -10 And surely he who comes to save would be dishonored if he came -beneath my roof. - -11 If you will speak the Word I know my servant will be well. - -12 And Jesus turned and said to those who followed him, - -13 Behold the captain's faith; I have not seen such faith, no, not in -Israel. - -14 Behold, the feast is spread for you; but while you doubt and wait, -the alien comes in faith and takes the bread of life. - -15 Then turning to the man he said, Go on your way; according to your -faith so shall it be; your servant lives. - -16 It came to pass that at the time that Jesus spoke the Word the -palsied man arose, and he was well. - -17 And then the Christines went abroad to teach. And as they came to -Nain, a city on the Hermon way, they saw a multitude about the gates. - -18 It was a funeral train; a widow's son was dead, and friends were -bearing out the body to the tomb. - -19 It was the widow's only son, and she was wild with grief. And Jesus -said to her, Weep not, I am the life; your son shall live. - -20 And Jesus raised his hand; the bearers of the dead stood still. - -21 And Jesus touched the bier and said, Young man, return. - -22 The soul returned; the body of the dead was filled with life; the -man sat up and spoke. - -23 The people were astonished at the scene, and every one exclaimed, -Praise God. - -24 A Jewish priest stood forth and said, Behold, a mighty prophet has -appeared; and all the people said, Amen. - -25 The Christines journeyed on; they taught, and healed the sick in -many towns of Galilee, and then they came again unto Capernaum. - - -CHAPTER 103. - - _The Christines in Jesus' home. Jesus teaches the twelve - and the foreign masters every morning. Jesus receives - messengers from John, the harbinger, and sends him words of - encouragement. He eulogizes the character of John._ - -The home of Jesus was a school where in the early morning hours the -twelve apostles and the foreign priests were taught the secret things -of God. - -2 And there were present priests from China, India and from Babylon; -from Persia, Egypt and from Greece, - -3 Who came to sit at Jesus' feet to learn the wisdom that he brought -to men, that they might teach their people how to live the holy life. - -4 And Jesus taught them how to teach; he told them of the trials of -the way, and how to make these trials serve the race. - -5 He taught them how to live the holy life that they might conquer -death; - -6 He taught them what the end of mortal life will be, when man has -reached the consciousness that he and God are one. - -7 The after midday hours were given to the multitudes who came to -learn the way of life and to be healed; and many did believe and were -baptized. - -8 Now, in his prison by the Bitter Sea the harbinger had heard of all -the mighty works that Jesus did. - -9 His prison life was hard, and he was sore distressed, and he began -to doubt. - -10 And to himself he said, I wonder if this Jesus is the Christ of -whom the prophets wrote! - -11 Was I mistaken in my work? Was I, indeed, one sent from God to pave -the way for him who shall redeem our people, Israel? - -12 And then he sent some of his friends, who came to see him in his -prison cell, up to Capernaum that they might learn about this man, and -bring him word. - -13 The men found Jesus in his home, and said, Behold the harbinger -sent us to ask, Are you the Christ? or is he yet to come? - -14 But Jesus answered not; he simply bade the men to tarry certain -days that they might see and hear. - -15 They saw him heal the sick, and cause the lame to walk, the deaf to -hear, the blind to see; - -16 They saw him cast the evil spirits out of those obsessed; they saw -him raise the dead. - -17 They heard him preach the gospel to the poor. - -18 Then Jesus said to them, Go on your way; return to John and tell -him all that you have seen and heard; then he will know. They went -their way. - -19 The multitudes were there, and Jesus said to them, Once you were -crowding Jordan's fords; you filled the wilderness. - -20 What did you go to see? The trees of Juda, and the flowers of Heth? -Or did you go to see a man in kingly garb? Or did you go to see a -prophet and a seer? - -21 I tell you, men, you know not whom you saw. A prophet? Yea, and -more; a messenger whom God had sent to pave the way for what you see -and hear this day. - -22 Among the men of earth a greater man has never lived than John. - -23 Behold I say, This man whom Herod bound in chains and cast into a -prison cell, is God's Elijah come again to earth. - -24 Elijah, who did not pass the gates of death, whose body of this -flesh was changed, and he awoke in Paradise. - -25 When John came forth and preached the gospel of repentance for the -cleansing of the soul, the common folks believed and were baptized. - -26 The lawyers and the Pharisees accepted not the teachings of this -man; were not baptized. - -27 Behold, neglected opportunities will never come again. - -28 Behold, the people are unstable as the waters of the sea; they seek -to be excused from righteousness. - -29 John came and ate no bread, and drank no wine. He lived the -simplest life apart from men, and people said, He is obsessed. - -30 Another comes who eats and drinks and lives in homes like other -men, and people say, He is a glutton, an inebriate, a friend of -publicans and those who sin. - -31 Woe unto you, you cities of the vale of Galilee, where all the -mighty works of God are done! Woe to Chorazan and Bethsaida! - -32 If half the mighty works that have been done in you were done in -Tyre and in Sidon they would have long ago repented of their sins, and -sought the way of right. - -33 And when the judgment day shall come, lo, Tyre and Sidon will be -called more worthy than will you, - -34 Because they slighted not their gifts, while you have thrown away -the pearl of greatest price. - -35 Woe unto you Capernaum! Behold, you are exalted now, but you shall -be abased; - -36 For if the mighty works that have been done in you had but been -done within the cities of the plain--of Sodom and Zeboim--they would -have heard and turned to God; would not have been destroyed. - -37 They perished in their ignorance; they had no light; but you have -heard; you have the evidence. - -38 The light of life has shown above your hills and all the shores of -Galilee have been ablaze with light; - -39 The glory of the Lord has shown in every street and synagogue and -home; but you have spurned the light. - -40 And, lo, I say, The judgment day will come and God will deal in -greater mercy with the cities of the plains than he will deal with you. - - -CHAPTER 104. - - _Jesus teaches the multitudes. Attends a feast in Simon's - house. A wealthy courtesan anoints him with precious - balm. Simon rebukes him and he preaches a sermon on false - respectability._ - -And Jesus looked upon the multitudes who pressed about for selfish -gain. - -2 The men of learning and of wealth, of reputation and of power, were -there; but they knew not the Christ. - -3 Their eyes were blinded by the tinseled glitter of their selfish -selves; they could not see the king. - -4 And though they walked within the light, they groped about in -dark--a darkness like the night of death. - -5 And Jesus cast his eyes to heaven and said, - -6 I thank thee, Holy One of heaven and earth, that while the light is -hidden from the wise and great, it is revealed to babes. - -7 Then turning to the multitudes he said, I come to you not in the -name of man, nor in a strength my own; - -8 The wisdom and the virtue that I bring to you are from above; they -are the wisdom and the virtue of the God whom we adore. - -9 The words I speak are not my words; I give to you what I receive. - -10 Come unto me all you who labor and pull heavy loads and I will give -you aid. - -11 Put on the yoke of Christ with me; it does not chafe; it is an -easy yoke. - -12 Together we will pull the load of life with ease; and so rejoice. - -13 A Pharisee, whose name was Simon, made a feast, and Jesus was the -honored guest. - -14 And as they sat about the board, a courtesan who had been cured -of her desire to sin by what she had received and seen in Jesus' -ministry, came uninvited to the feast. - -15 She brought an alabaster box of costly balm and as the guests -reclined she came to Jesus in her joy, because she had been freed from -sin, - -16 Her tears fell fast, she kissed his feet, and dried them with her -hair, and she anointed them with balm. - -17 And Simon thought, he did not speak aloud, This man is not a -prophet or he would know the kind of woman that approaches him, and -would drive her away. - -18 But Jesus knew his thoughts, and said to him, My host, I have a -word to say to you. - -19 And Simon said, Say on. - -20 And Jesus said, Sin is a monster of iniquity; it may be small; -it may be large; it may be something done; it may be something left -undone. - -21 Behold, one person leads a life of sin and is at last redeemed; -another, in a careless mood, forgets to do the things he ought to do; -but he reforms and is forgiven. Now, which of these has merited the -higher praise? - -22 And Simon said, The one who overcame the errors of a life. - -23 And Jesus said, You speak the truth. - -24 Behold, this woman who has bathed my feet with tears and dried them -with her hair and covered them with balm! - -25 For years she led a life of sin, but when she heard the words of -life she sought forgiveness and she found. - -26 But when I came into your house as guest you gave me not a bowl of -water that I might wash my hands and feet, which every loyal Jew must -do before he feasts. - -27 Now, tell me, Simon, which of these, this woman or yourself, is -worthy of most praise? - -28 But Simon answered not. - -29 Then to the woman Jesus said, Your sins are all forgiven; your -faith has saved you; go in peace. - -30 And then the guests who sat around the board, began to say within -themselves, What manner of a man is this who says, Thy sins are all -forgiven? - - -CHAPTER 105. - - _Under the patronage of a number of wealthy women, the - Christines make a grand missionary tour. In his teaching - Jesus lauds sincerity and rebukes hypocrisy. He speaks - concerning the sin against the Holy Breath._ - -Now, many women who possessed much wealth, and who abode in other -towns of Galilee, implored that Jesus and the twelve, together with -the masters from the foreign lands, would thither go and preach and -heal. - -2 Among these anxious ones were Mary Magdalene, who was obsessed by -seven homeless spirits of the air, which had been driven out by the -Omnific Word which Jesus spoke; - -3 Susanna, who owned vast estates at Csarea-Philippi; - -4 Johanna, wife of Chuza, one of Herod's court; - -5 And Rachel from the coast of Tyre; - -6 And others from beyond the Jordan and the sea of Galilee. - -7 And they provided ample means and three times seven men went forth. - -8 They preached the gospel of the Christ, and they baptized the -multitudes who made confession of their faith; they healed the sick -and raised the dead. - -9 And Jesus wrought and taught from early morn until the day had gone, -and then into the night; he did not stop to eat. - -10 His friends became alarmed lest he should fail from loss of -strength, and they laid hold of him and would, by force, have taken -him away to place of rest. - -11 But he rebuked them not; he said, Have you not read that God will -give his angels charge concerning me? - -12 That they would hold me fast and suffer not that I should come to -want? - -13 I tell you, men, while I am giving out my strength unto these -anxious, waiting throngs I find myself at rest within the arms of God, - -14 Whose blessed messengers bring down to me the bread of life. - -15 There is a tide just once in human life. - -16 These people now are willing to receive the truth; their -opportunity is now: our opportunity is now. - -17 And if we do not teach them while we may, the tide will ebb; - -18 They may not care again to hear the truth; then tell me, Who will -bear the guilt? - -19 And so he taught and healed. - -20 Among the multitudes were men of every shade of thought. They were -divided in their views concerning everything that Jesus said. - -21 Some saw in him a God, and would have worshipped him; and others -saw in him a devil of the nether world and would have cast him in a -pit. - -22 And some were trying hard to lead a double life; like little lions -of the ground that take upon themselves the color of the thing they -rest upon. - -23 These people without anchorage of any sort, are friends or foes as -seemed to serve them best. - -24 And Jesus said, No man can serve two masters at a time. No man can -be a friend and foe at once. - -25 All men are rising up, or sinking down; are building up, or tearing -down. - -26 If you are gathering not the precious grain, then you are throwing -it away. - -27 He is a coward who would feign to be a friend, or foe, to please -another man. - -28 You men, do not deceive yourselves in thought; your hearts are -known; - -29 Hypocrisy will blight a soul as surely as the breath of Beelzebul. -An honest evil man is more esteemed by guardians of the soul than a -dishonest pious man. - -30 If you would curse the son of man, just curse him out aloud. - -31 A curse is poison to the inner man, and if you hold and swallow -down a curse it never will digest; lo, it will poison every atom of -your soul. - -32 And if you sin against a son of man, you may be pardoned and your -guilt be cleansed by acts of kindness and of love; - -33 But if you sin against the Holy Breath by disregarding her when -she would open up the doors of life for you; - -34 By closing up the windows of the soul when she would pour the light -of love into your hearts, and cleanse them with the fires of God; - -35 Your guilt shall not be blotted out in this, nor in the life to -come. - -36 An opportunity has gone to come no more, and you must wait until -the ages roll again. - -37 Then will the Holy Breath again breathe on your fires of life, and -fan them to a living flame. - -38 Then she will open up the doors again, and you may let her in to -sup with you forevermore, or you may slight her once again, and then -again. - -39 You men of Israel, your opportunity is now. - -40 Your tree of life is an illusive tree; it has a generous crop of -leaves; its boughs hang low with fruit. - -41 Behold, your words are leaves; your deeds the fruit. - -42 Behold, for men have plucked the apples of your tree of life, and -found them full of bitterness; and worms have eaten to the core. - -43 Behold that fig tree by the way so full of leaves and worthless -fruit! - -44 Then Jesus spoke a word that nature spirits know, and lo, the fig -tree stood a mass of withered leaves. - -45 And then he spoke again, Behold, for God will speak the Word, and -you will stand a withered fig tree in the setting sun. - -46 You men of Galilee, send forth and call the pruner in before it is -too late, and let him prune away your worthless branches and illusive -leaves, and let the sunshine in. - -47 The sun is life, and it can change your worthlessness to worth. - -48 Your tree of life is good; but you have nurtured it so long with -dews of self, and mists of carnal things that you have shut the -sunshine out. - -49 I tell you, men, that you must give account to God for every idle -word you speak and every evil deed you do. - - -CHAPTER 106. - - _The Christines are in Magdala. Jesus heals a man who was - blind, dumb and obsessed. He teaches the people. While he - speaks his mother, brothers and Miriam come to him. He - teaches a lesson on family relationship. He introduces Miriam - to the people and she sings her songs of victory._ - -Magdala is beside the sea, and here the teachers taught. - -2 A man obsessed, and who was blind and dumb was brought, and Jesus -spoke the Word, and lo, the evil spirits went away; the man spoke out, -his eyes were opened and he saw. - -3 This was the greatest work that men had seen the master do, and they -were all amazed. - -4 The Pharisees were there, and they were full of jealous rage; they -sought a cause whereby they might condemn. - -5 They said, Yes, it is true that Jesus does a multitude of mighty -works; but men should know that he is leagued with Beelzebul. - -6 He is a sorcerer, a black magician of the Simon Cerus type; he works -as Jannes and as Jambres did in Moses' day. - -7 For Satan, prince of evil spirits, is his stay by night and day, -and in the name of Satan he casts the demons out, and in his name he -heals the sick and raises up the dead. - -8 But Jesus knew their thoughts; he said to them, You men are masters, -and you know the law; whatever is arrayed against itself must fall; a -house divided cannot stand; - -9 A kingdom warring with itself is brought to naught. - -10 If Satan casts the devil out, how can his kingdom stand? - -11 If I, by Beelzebul, cast devils out, by whom do you cast devils out? - -12 But if I, in the holy name of God, cast devils out, and make the -lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the blind to see, the dumb to speak, -has not God's kingdom come to you? - -13 The Pharisees were dumb; they answered not. - -14 As Jesus spoke a messenger approached and said to him, Your mother -and your brothers wish to speak with you. - -15 And Jesus said, Who is my mother? and my brothers, who are they? - -16 And then he spoke a word aside unto the foreign masters and the -twelve; he said, - -17 Behold, men recognize their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers -here in flesh; but when the veil is rent and men walk in the realms of -soul, - -18 The tender lines of love that bind the groups of fleshy kin in -families will fade away. - -19 Not that the love for anyone will be the less; but men will see in -all the motherhood, the fatherhood, the sisterhood, the brotherhood of -man. - -20 The family groups of earth will all be lost in universal love and -fellowship divine. - -21 Then to the multitudes he said, Whoever lives the life and does the -will of God is child of God and is my mother, father, sister, friend. - -22 And then he went aside to speak to mother and his other kindred in -the flesh. - -23 But he saw more than these. The maiden who once thrilled his very -soul with love, a love beyond the love of any fleshly kin; - -24 Who was the sorest tempter in the temple Heliopolis beside the -Nile, who sung for him the sacred songs, was there. - -25 The recognition was of kindred souls, and Jesus said, - -26 Behold, for God has brought to us a power men cannot comprehend, a -power of purity and love; - -27 To make more light the burdens of the hour, to be a balm for -wounded souls; - -28 To win the multitude to better ways by sacred song and holy life. - -29 Behold, for Miriam who stood beside the sea and sung the song of -victory when Moses led the way, will sing again. - -30 And all the choirs of heaven will join and sing the glad refrain: - -31 Peace, peace on earth; good will to men! - -32 And Miriam stood before the waiting throngs and sung again the -songs of victory, and all the people said, Amen. - - -CHAPTER 107. - - _A Pharisee demands of Jesus signs of his messiahship. Jesus - rebukes him, because he does not recognize the signs that are - being continually given. Jesus exhorts the people to receive - the light that they may become the light._ - -A Pharisee elated with himself stood forth among the multitudes and -said to Jesus, - -2 Sir, we would have you demonstrate. If you are truly Christ who was -to come, then you can surely do what black magicians cannot do. - -3 Lo, they can talk, and hold the multitudes with words of power; and -they can heal the sick and drive the demons out of those obsessed; - -4 They can control the storms; and fire and earth and air will hear -and answer when they speak. - -5 Now, if you will ascend and from that tower fly across the sea, we -will believe that you are sent from God. - -6 And Jesus said, No black magician ever lived a holy life; you have a -demonstration of the Christ-life every day. - -7 But lo, you evil and adulterous scribes and Pharisees, you cannot -see a spirit-sign, because your spirit eyes are full of carnal self. - -8 You seek a sign to please your curiosity. You walk the very lowest -planes of carnal life and cry, Phenomena! show us a sign and then we -will believe. - -9 I was not sent to earth to buy up faith as men buy fish and fruit -and rubbish in the streets. - -10 Men seem to think it quite a favor done to me when they confess -their faith in me and in the holy Christ. - -11 What does it matter unto me as man if you believe or disbelieve? - -12 Faith is not something you can buy with coin; it is not something -you can sell for gold. - -13 Once Mart, a beggar, followed me and cried, Give me a silver piece; -then I will believe in you. - -14 And you are like this beggar man; you offer to exchange your faith -for signs. - -15 But I will give to all the world one sign as surety that the Christ -abides with me. - -16 You all have read the parable of Jonah and the fish, wherein it -is recorded that the prophet spent three days and nights within the -stomach of the mighty fish, and then came forth. - -17 The son of man will spend three days and nights within the heart of -earth and then come forth again, and men will see and know. - -18 Behold, the light may be so bright that men cannot see anything. - -19 The Spirit light has shown so brightly over Galilee that you who -hear me now are blind. - -20 You may have read the words of prophet Azrael; he said, The light -shall shine out brightly in the darkness of the night, and men shall -comprehend it not. - -21 That time has come; the light shines forth; you see it not. - -22 The Queen of Sheba sat in darkest night and still she yearned for -light. - -23 She came to hear the words of wisdom from the lips of Solomon, and -she believed; - -24 And she became a living torch, and when she reached her home, lo, -all Arabia was filled with light. - -25 A greater far than Solomon is here; the Christ is here; the Day -Star has arisen, and you reject the light. - -26 And you remember Nineveh, the wicked city of Assyria, which God had -marked to be destroyed by shock and flame unless the people turned and -walked in ways of right. - -27 And Jonah raised his voice and said, In forty days shall Nineveh be -razed, and all her wealth shall be destroyed. - -28 The people heard and they believed; and they reformed and turned to -ways of right, and lo, their city was not razed; was not destroyed. - -29 You men of Galilee, I tell you that Arabia and Nineveh will testify -against you in the judgment day. - -30 Behold, for every one to whom I speak has in him all the fires of -God; but they are lying dead. - -31 The will is bridled by the flesh desires, and it brings not the -ethers of the fires to vibrate into light. - -32 Look, therefore, to your soul and note, Is not the light within you -dark as night? - -33 There is no breath but Holy Breath that e'er can fan your fires of -life into a living flame and make them light. - -34 And Holy Breath can raise the ethers of the fires to light in none -but hearts of purity and love. - -35 Hear, then, you men of Galilee, Make pure the heart, admit the Holy -Breath, and then your bodies will be full of light, - -36 And like a city on a hill, your light will shine afar, and thus -your light may light the way for other men. - - -CHAPTER 108. - - _Jesus rebukes the people for selfishness. The Christines - attend a feast and Jesus is censured by the Pharisee because - he washed not before he eat. Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of - the ruling classes and pronounces upon them many woes._ - -The multitudes were wild with selfish thought; none recognized the -rights and needs of any other one. - -2 The stronger pushed the weak aside, and trampled on them in their -haste to be the first to get a blessing for himself. - -3 And Jesus said, Behold the cage of beasts untamed; a den of stinging -vipers, maddened by their fiendish greed of selfish gain! - -4 I tell you, men, the benefits that come to men who see no further -than themselves are baubles in the morning light; - -5 They are unreal; they pass away. The selfish soul is fed today; the -food does not assimilate; the soul grows not, and then it must be fed -again, and then again. - -6 Behold, a selfish man obsessed by just one spirit of the air; by the -Omnific Word the spirit is cast out; - -7 It wanders through dry places, seeking rest and finding none. - -8 And then it comes again; the selfish man has failed to close and -lock the door; - -9 The unclean spirit finds the house all swept and cleaned; it enters -in and takes with it full seven other spirits more unclean than is -itself; and there they dwell. - -10 The last state of the man is more than sevenfold more wretched than -the first. - -11 And so it is with you who snatch the blessings that belong to other -men. - -12 While Jesus spoke a certain woman who stood near exclaimed, Most -blessed is the mother of this man of God! - -13 And Jesus said, Yes, blest is she; but doubly blest are they who -hear, receive and live the word of God. - -14 A Pharisee of wealth prepared a feast, and Jesus and the twelve, -together with the masters from afar, were guests. - -15 And Jesus did not wash his hands according to the strictest -Pharisaic rules, before he ate; when this the Pharisee observed he -marveled much. - -16 And Jesus said, My host, why do you marvel that I did not wash my -hands? - -17 The Pharisees wash well their hands and feet; they cleanse the body -every day when, lo, within is every form of filth. - -18 Their hearts are full of wickedness, extortions and deceit. - -19 Did not the God who made the outside of the body make the inside, -too? - -20 And then he said, Woe unto you, you Pharisees! for you tithe mint -and rue, and every herb, and pass by judgment and the love of God. - -21 Woe unto you, you Pharisees! you love the highest seats in -synagogues and courts, and bid for salutations in the market place. - -22 Woe unto you, you tinseled gentry of the land! no man would ever -think you servants of the Lord of hosts by what you do. - -23 A lawyer sitting near remarked, Rabboni, your words are harsh, and -then in what you say you censure us; and why? - -24 And Jesus said, Woe unto you, you masters of the law! you heap -great burdens on the sons of men, yea, loads by far too great for them -to bear, and you will never help to bear a feather's weight yourselves. - -25 Woe unto you! you build the tombs of prophets and of seers; they -whom your fathers killed; and you are parties to the crimes. - -26 And now behold, for God has sent again to you his holy -men-apostles, prophets, seers; and you are persecuting them. - -27 The time is near when you will plead against them in the courts; -will spurn them on the streets; will cast them into prison cells, and -kill them with a fiend's delight. - -28 I tell you, men, the blood of all the holy men of God that has been -shed from righteous Abel down to that of Zacharias, father of the holy -John, - -29 Who was struck down beside the altar in the Holy Place-- - -30 The blood of all these holy men has made more red the hands of this -ungodly generation. - -31 Woe unto you, you masters of the law! you snatch the keys of -knowledge from the hands of men; - -32 You close the doors; you enter not yourselves, and suffer not the -willing ones to enter in. - -33 His words provoked the Pharisees, the lawyers and the scribes, and -they, resenting, poured upon him torrents of abuse. - -34 The truths he spoke came like a thunderbolt from heaven; the rulers -counseled how they might ensnare him by his words; they sought a legal -way to shed his blood. - - -CHAPTER 109. - - _The Christines go to a place apart to pray. Jesus warns them - against the leaven of the Pharisees and reveals the fact - that all thoughts and deeds are recorded in God's Book of - Remembrance. Man's responsibility and God's care._ - -Now, when the feast was finished Jesus with the foreign masters and -the twelve, with Mary, Miriam and a band of loyal women who believed -in Christ, went to a place apart to pray. - -2 And when their silence ended Jesus said, Be on your guard; the -leaven of the Pharisees is being thrown in every measure of the meal -of life. - -3 It is a poison that will taint whatever it may touch; and it will -blight the soul as sure as fumes of the Diabolos; it is hypocrisy. - -4 The Pharisees seem fair in speech, but they are diabolical in heart. - -5 And then they seem to think that thought is something they can lock -within themselves. - -6 They do not seem to know that every thought and wish is photographed -and then preserved within the Book of Life to be revealed at any time -the masters will. - -7 That which is thought, or wished, or done in darkest night shall be -proclaimed in brightest day; - -8 That which is whispered in the ear within the secret place shall be -made known upon the streets. - -9 And in the judgment day when all the books are opened up, these men, -and every other man, shall be a-judged, not by what they've said or -done, - -10 But by the way in which they used the thoughts of God, and how the -ethers of eternal love were made to serve; - -11 For men may make these ethers serve the carnal self, or serve the -holy self within. - -12 Behold, these men may kill the body of this flesh; but what of -that? the flesh is but a transitory thing, and soon, by natural law, -will pass; - -13 Their slaughter only hastens nature's work a little time. - -14 And when they kill the flesh they reach their bounds of power; they -cannot kill the soul. - -15 But nature is the keeper of the soul as of the flesh, and in the -harvest time of soul, the trees of life are all inspected by the judge; - -16 And every tree that bears no fruit of good is plucked up by the -roots and cast into the flames. - -17 Who then shall you regard? Not him who has the power to kill the -flesh, and nothing more. - -18 Regard the mighty one who has the power to dissolve both soul and -body in the flames of nature's fire. - -19 But man is king; he may direct his thoughts, his loves, his life, -and gain the prize of everlasting life. - -20 And you are not abandoned in your struggle for the crown of life. -Your Father lives, and you shall live. - -21 God has a care for every living thing. He numbers stars, and suns, -and moons; - -22 He numbers angels, men, and every thing below; the birds, the -flowers, the trees; - -23 The very petals of the rose he knows by name, and every one is -numbered in his Book of Life; - -24 And every hair upon your head, and every drop of blood within your -veins, he knows by number and by rythm. - -25 He hears the birdling's call, the cricket's chirp, the glow worm's -song; and not a sparrow falls to earth without his knowledge and -consent. - -26 A sparrow seems a thing of little worth; yea, five of them are -worth two farthings in the market place, and yet God cares for every -one of them. - -27 Will he not care much more for you who bear his image in your soul? - -28 Fear not to make confession of the Christ before the sons of men, -and God will own you as his sons and daughters in the presence of the -host of heaven. - -29 If you deny the Christ before the sons of men, then God will not -receive you as his own before the hosts of heaven. - -30 And more I say, Fear not when men shall bring you up before the -rulers of the land to answer for your faith. - -31 Behold, the Holy Breath shall teach you in your hour of need what -you should say, and what is best to leave unsaid. - -32 And then the Christines went again to teach the multitudes. - - -CHAPTER 110. - - _Miriam sings a song of victory. The song. Jesus reveals the - symbolic character of the journey of Israel from Egypt to - Canaan._ - -And Miriam stood before the surging crowd, and casting up her eyes to -heaven she sung anew the song of victory: - -2 Bring forth the harp, the vina and the lyre; bring forth the highest -sounding cymbal, all ye choirs of heaven. Join in the song, the new, -new song. - -3 The Lord of hosts has stooped to hear the cries of men, and lo, the -citadel of Beelzebul is shaking as a leaf before the wind. - -4 The sword of Gideon is again unsheathed. - -5 The Lord, with his own hand has pulled far back the curtains of the -night; the sun of truth is flooding heaven and earth; - -6 The demons of the dark, of ignorance and death, are fleeing fast; -are disappearing as the dew beneath the morning sun. - -7 God is our strength and song; is our salvation and our hope, and we -will build anew a house for him; - -8 Will cleanse our hearts, and purify their chambers, every one. We -are the temple of the Holy Breath. - -9 We need no more a tent within the wilderness; no more a temple built -with hands. - -10 We do not seek the Holy Land, nor yet Jerusalem. - -11 We are the tent of God; we are his temple built without the sound -of edged tools. - -12 We are the Holy Land; we are the New Jerusalem; Allelujah, praise -the Lord! - -13 And when the song was done the multitudes exclaimed, Praise God. - -14 And Jesus said, Behold the way! - -15 The sons of men have groped for ages in the darkness of Egyptian -night. - -16 The Pharaohs of sense have bound them with their chains. - -17 But God has whispered through the mists of time and told them of a -land of liberty and love. - -18 And he has sent his Logos forth to light the way. - -19 The Red Sea rolls between the promised land and Egypt's sands. - -20 The Red Sea is the carnal mind. - -21 Behold, the Logos reaches out his hand; the sea divides; the carnal -mind is reft in twain; the sons of men walk through dry shod. - -22 The Pharaohs of sense would stay them in their flight; the waters -of the sea return; the Pharaohs of sense are lost and men are free. - -23 For just a little while men tread the wilderness of Sin; the Logos -leads the way; - -24 And when at last men stand upon the Jordan's brink, these waters -stay, and men step forth into their own. - - -CHAPTER 111. - - _Jesus teaches. A man requests him to compel his brother to - deal justly. Jesus reveals the divine law, the power of truth - and the universality of possessions. Relates the parable of - the rich man and his abundant harvest._ - -And Jesus taught the multitudes; and while he spoke a man stood forth -and said, - -2 Rabboni, hear my plea: My father died and left a large estate; my -brother seized it all, and now refuses me my share. - -3 I pray that you will bid him do the right, and give me what is mine. - -4 And Jesus said, I am not come to be a judge in such affairs; I am no -henchman of the court. - -5 God sent me not to force a man to do the right. - -6 In every man there is a sense of right; but many men regard it not. - -7 The fumes that rise from selfishness have formed a crust about their -sense of right that veils their inner light, so that they cannot -comprehend nor recognize the rights of other men. - -8 This veil you cannot tear away by force of arms, and there is naught -that can dissolve this crust but knowledge and the love of God. - -9 While men are in the mire, the skies seem far away; when men are on -the mountain top, the skies are near, and they can almost touch the -stars. - -10 Then Jesus turned and to the twelve he said, Behold the many in the -mire of carnal life! - -11 The leaven of truth will change the miry clay to solid rock, and -men can walk and find the path that leads up to the mountain top. - -12 You cannot haste; but you can scatter forth this leaven with a -generous hand. - -13 When men have learned the truth that bears upon its face the law of -right, then they will haste to give to every man his dues. - -14 Then to the people Jesus said, Take heed, and covet not. The wealth -of men does not consist in what they seem to have--in lands, in silver -and in gold. - -15 These things are only borrowed wealth. No man can corner up the -gifts of God. - -16 The things of nature are the things of God, and what is God's -belongs to every man alike. - -17 The wealth of soul lies in the purity of life, and in the wisdom -that descends from heaven. - -18 Behold, a rich man's ground brought forth abundantly; his barns -were far too small to hold his grain, and to himself he said, - -19 What shall I do? I must not give my grain away; I must not let it -go to waste; and then he said, - -20 This will I do; I will tear down these little barns and build up -larger ones; there I will store away my grain and I will say, - -21 My soul take now your ease; you have enough for many years; eat, -drink and fill yourself and be content. - -22 But God looked down and saw the man; he saw his selfish heart and -said, - -23 You foolish man, this night your soul will quit its house of flesh; -then who will have your garnered wealth? - -24 You men of Galilee, lay not up treasures in the vaults of earth; -accumulated wealth will blight your soul. - -25 God does not give men wealth to hoard away in secret vaults. Men -are but stewards of God's wealth, and they must use it for the common -good. - -26 To every steward who is true to self, to other men, to every thing -that is, the Lord will say, Well done. - - -CHAPTER 112. - - _The Christines in the home of Mary of Magdala. Jesus calls his - disciples, "Little Flock," and charges them to place their - affections on divine things. He teaches them regarding the - inner life._ - -And Jesus left the multitudes and went with his disciples up to Mary's -home; and as they sat about the board to dine he said, - -2 My little flock, fear not; it is your Father's will that you shall -rule the kingdom of the soul. - -3 A ruler in the house of God is servant of the Lord of hosts, and man -cannot serve God except by serving men. - -4 A servant in the house of God cannot be servant in the house of -wealth; nor in the synagogue of sense. - -5 If you are tied to lands, or bonds, or wealth of earth, your hearts -are knit to things of earth; for where your treasures are there are -your hearts. - -6 Dispose of all your wealth, distribute it among the poor, and put -your trust in God, and you nor yours will ever come to want. - -7 This is a test of faith, and God will not accept the service of the -faithless one. - -8 The time is ripe; your Master comes upon the clouds; the eastern sky -is glowing with his presence now. - -9 Put on reception robes; gird up your loins; trim up your lamps and -fill them well with oil, and be prepared to meet your Lord; when you -are ready, he will come. - -10 Thrice blessed are the servants who are ready to receive their Lord. - -11 Behold, for he will gird himself, and will prepare a sumptuous -feast for every one, and he himself will serve. - -12 It matters not when he shall come; it may be at the second watch; -it may be at the third; but blessed are the servants who are ready to -receive. - -13 You cannot leave your door ajar and go to sleep, and wait in -blissful ignorance of the fleeting time; - -14 For thieves will surely come and take away your goods and bind and -carry you away to robbers' dens. - -15 And if you are not carried forth, the Master when he comes will not -regard a sleeping guard as friend, but as a foe. - -16 Beloved, these are times when every man must be awake and at -his post, for none can tell the hour nor the day when man shall be -revealed. - -17 And Peter said, Lord is this parable for us, or for the multitudes? - -18 And Jesus said, Why need you ask? God is not man that he should -show respect for one and cast another off. - -19 Whoever will may come and gird himself, and trim his lamp, and find -a turret in the tower of life where he may watch, and be prepared to -meet the Lord. - -20 But you, as children of the light, have come, and you have learned -the language of the court, and may stand forth and lead the way. - -21 But you may wait, and think that you are ready to receive the Lord, -and still he does not come. - -22 And you may grow impatient and begin to long for carnal ways again, -and may begin to exercise your rule; - -23 To beat, and otherwise maltreat the servants of the house, and fill -yourselves with wine and meat. - -24 And what will say the Lord when he shall come? - -25 Behold, for he will cast the faithless servant from his house; and -many years will come and go before he can be cleansed, and be thought -worthy to receive his Lord. - -26 The servant who has come into the light, who knows the Master's -will and does it not; the trusted guard who goes to sleep within the -turret of the tower of life, - -27 Shall feel the lash of justice many times, while he who does not -know his Master's will and does it not, will not receive the graver -punishment. - -28 The man who comes and stands before the open door of opportunity -and does not enter in, but goes his way, - -29 Will come again and find the door made fast, and when he calls, the -door will open not, - -30 The guard will say, you had the pass-word once, but you threw it -away and now the Master knows you not; depart. - -31 And verily I say to you, To whom much has been given, much is -required; to whom a little has been given, a little only is required. - - -CHAPTER 113. - - _In answer to a question of Lamaas Jesus teaches a lesson on - the reign of peace and the way to it through antagonisms. - The signs of the times. Guidance of the Holy Breath. The - Christines go to Bethsaida._ - -Now, after they had dined, the guests and Jesus all were in a spacious -hall in Mary's home. - -2 And then Lamaas said, Pray, tell us Lord, is this the dawn of peace? - -3 Have we come forth unto the time when men will war no more? - -4 Are you, indeed, the Prince of Peace that holy men have said would -come? - -5 And Jesus said, Peace reigns today; it is the peace of death. - -6 A stagnant pool abides in peace. When waters cease to move they soon -are ladened with the seeds of death; corruption dwells in every drop. - -7 The living waters always leap and skip about like lambs in spring. - -8 The nations are corrupt; they sleep within the arms of death and -they must be aroused before it is too late. - -9 In life we find antagonists at work. God sent me here to stir unto -its depths the waters of the sea of life. - -10 Peace follows strife; I come to slay this peace of death. The -prince of peace must first be prince of strife. - -11 This leaven of truth which I have brought to men will stir the -demons up, and nations, cities, families will be at war within -themselves. - -12 The five that have been dwelling in a home of peace will be -divided now, and two shall war with three; - -13 The son will stand against his sire; the mother and the daughter -will contend; yea, strife will reign in every home. - -14 The self and greed and doubt will rage into a fever heat, and then, -because of me, the earth will be baptized in human blood. - -15 But right is king; and when the smoke is cleared away the nations -will learn war no more; the Prince of Peace will come to reign. - -16 Behold, the signs of what I say are in the sky; but men can see -them not. - -17 When men behold a cloud rise in the west they say, A shower of rain -will come and so it does; and when the wind blows from the south they -say, The weather will be hot; and it is so. - -18 Lo, men can read the signs of earth and sky, but they cannot -discern the signs of Holy Breath; but you shall know. - -19 The storm of wrath comes on; the carnal man will seek a cause to -hale you into court, and cast you into prison cells. - -20 And when these times shall come let wisdom guide; do not resent. -Resentment makes more strong the wrath of evil men. - -21 There is a little sense of justice and of mercy in the vilest men -of earth. - -22 By taking heed to what you do and say and trusting in the guidance -of the Holy Breath, you may inspire this sense to grow. - -23 You thus may make the wrath of men to praise the Lord. - -24 The Christines went their way, and came unto Bethsaida and taught. - - -CHAPTER 114. - - _A great storm on the sea destroys many lives. Jesus makes an - appeal for aid, and the people give with a generous hand. In - answer to a lawyer's question, Jesus gives the philosophy of - disasters._ - -As Jesus taught, a man stood forth and said, Rabboni, may I speak? - -2 And Jesus said, Say on. And then the man spoke out and said, - -3 A storm upon the sea last night wrecked many fishing boats, and -scores of men went down to death, and, lo, their wives and children -are in need; - -4 What can be done to help them in their sore distress? - -5 And Jesus said, A worthy plea. You men of Galilee, take heed. We may -not bring again to live these men, but we can succor those who looked -to them for daily bread. - -6 You stewards of the wealth of God, an opportunity has come; unlock -your vaults; bring forth your hoarded gold; bestow it with a lavish -hand. - -7 This wealth was laid aside for just such times as these; when it was -needed not, lo, it was yours to guard; - -8 But now it is not yours, for it belongs to those who are in want, -and if you give it not you simply bring upon your heads the wrath of -God. - -9 It is not charity to give to those who need; it is but honesty; it -is but giving men their own. - -10 Then Jesus turned to Judas, one of the twelve, who was the -treasurer of the band, and said, - -11 Bring forth our treasure box; the money is not ours now; turn -every farthing to the help of those in such distress. - -12 Now, Judas did not wish to give the money all to those in want, and -so he talked with Peter, James and John. - -13 He said, Lo, I will save a certain part and give the rest; that -surely is enough for us, for we are strangers to the ones in want; we -do not even know their names. - -14 But Peter said, Why, Judas, man, how do you dare to think to trifle -with the strength of right. - -15 The Lord has spoken true; this wealth does not belong to us in face -of this distress, and to refuse to give it is to steal. - -16 You need not fear; we will not come to want. - -17 Then Judas opened up the treasure box and gave the money all. - -18 And there was gold and silver, food, and raiment in abundance for -the needs of the bereaved. - -19 A lawyer said, Rabboni, if God rules the worlds and all that in -them is, did he not bring about this storm? did he not slay these men? - -20 Has he not brought this sore distress upon these people here? and -was it done to punish them for crimes? - -21 And we remember well when once a band of earnest Jews from Galilee -were in Jerusalem, and at a feast and were, for fancied crimes against -the Roman law, - -22 Cut down within the very temple court by Pontius Pilate; and their -blood became their sacrifice. - -23 Did God bring on this slaughter all because these men were doubly -vile? - -24 And then we bring to mind that once a tower called Siloam, graced -the defences of Jerusalem, and, seemingly, without a cause it tottered -and it fell to earth and eighteen men were killed. - -25 Were these men vile? and were they slain as punishment for some -great crime? - -26 And Jesus said, We cannot look upon a single span of life and judge -of anything. - -27 There is a law that men must recognize: Result depends on cause. - -28 Men are not motes to float about within the air of one short life, -and then be lost in nothingness. - -29 They are undying parts of the eternal whole that come and go, lo, -many times into the air of earth and of the great beyond, just to -unfold the God-like self. - -30 A cause may be a part of one brief life; results may not be noted -till another life. - -31 The cause of your results cannot be found within my life, nor can -the cause of my results be found in yours. - -32 I cannot reap except I sow and I must reap what e'er I sow, - -33 The law of all eternities is known to master minds: - -34 Whatever men do unto other men the judge and executioner will do to -them. - -35 We do not note the execution of this law among the sons of men. - -36 We note the weak dishonored, trampled on and slain by those men -call the strong. - -37 We note that men with wood-like heads are seated in the chairs of -state; - -38 Are kings and judges, senators and priests, while men with giant -intellects are scavengers about the streets. - -39 We note that women with a moiety of common sense, and not a whit -of any other kind, are painted up and dressed as queens, - -40 Becoming ladies of the courts of puppet kings, because they have -the form of something beautiful; while God's own daughters are their -slaves, or serve as common laborers in the field. - -41 The sense of justice cries aloud: This is a travesty on right. - -42 So when men see no further than one little span of life it is no -wonder that they say, There is no God, or if there is a God he is a -tyrant and should die. - -43 If you would judge aright of human life, you must arise and stand -upon the crest of time and note the thoughts and deeds of men as they -have come up through the ages past; - -44 For we must know that man is not a creature made of clay to turn -again to clay and disappear. - -45 He is a part of the eternal whole. There never was a time when he -was not; a time will never come when he will not exist. - -46 And now we look; the men who now are slaves were tyrants once; the -men who now are tyrants have been slaves. - -47 The men who suffer now, once stood aloft and shouted with a fiend's -delight while others suffered at their hands. - -48 And men are sick, and halt, and lame, and blind because they once -transgressed the laws of perfect life, and every law of God must be -fulfilled. - -49 Man may escape the punishment that seems but due for his misdoings -in this life; but every deed and word and thought has its own metes -and bounds, - -50 Is cause, and has its own results, and if a wrong be done, the doer -of the wrong must make it right. - -51 And when the wrongs have all been righted then will man arise and -be at one with God. - - -CHAPTER 115. - - _Jesus teaches by the sea. He relates the parable of the sower. - Tells why he teaches in parables. Explains the parable of the - sower. Relates the parable of the wheat and tares._ - -And Jesus stood beside the sea and taught; the multitudes pressed -close upon him and he went into a boat that was near by and put a -little ways from shore, and then he spoke in parables; he said, - -2 Behold, a sower took his seed and went into his field to sow. - -3 With lavish hand he scattered forth the seed and some fell in the -hardened paths that men had made, - -4 And soon were crushed beneath the feet of other men; and birds came -down and carried all the seed away. - -5 Some seed fell on rocky ground where there was little soil; they -grew and soon the blades appeared and promised much; - -6 But then there was no depth of soil, no chance for nourishment, and -in the heat of noonday sun they withered up and died. - -7 Some seed fell where thistles grew, and found no earth in which to -grow and they were lost; - -8 But other seed found lodgment in the rich and tender soil and grew -apace, and in the harvest it was found that some brought forth a -hundred fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold. - -9 They who have ears to hear may hear; they who have hearts to -understand may know. - -10 Now, his disciples were beside him in the boat, and Thomas asked, -Why do you speak in parables? - -11 And Jesus said, My words, like every master's words, are dual in -their sense. - -12 To you who know the language of the soul, my words have meanings -far too deep for other men to comprehend. - -13 The other sense of what I say is all the multitude can understand; -these words are food for them; the inner thoughts are food for you. - -14 Let every one reach forth and take the food that he is ready to -receive. - -15 And then he spoke that all might hear; he said, Hear you the -meaning of the parable: - -16 Men hear my words and understand them not, and then the carnal self -purloins the seed, and not a sign of spirit life appears. - -17 This is the seed that fell within the beaten paths of men. - -18 And others hear the words of life, and with a fiery zeal receive -them all; they seem to comprehend the truth and promise well; - -19 But troubles come; discouragements arise; there is no depth of -thought; their good intentions wither up and die. - -20 These are the seeds that fell in stony ground. - -21 And others hear the words of truth and seem to know their worth; -but love of pleasure, reputation, wealth and fame fill all the soil; -the seeds are nourished not and they are lost. - -22 These are the seeds that fell among the thistles and the thorns. - -23 But others hear the words of truth and comprehend them well; they -sink down deep into their souls; they live the holy life and all the -world is blest. - -24 These are the seeds that fell in fertile soil, that brought forth -fruit abundantly. - -25 You men of Galilee, take heed to how you hear and how you cultivate -your fields; for if you slight the offers of this day, the sower may -not come to you again in this or in the age to come. - -26 Then Jesus spoke another parable; he said: - -27 The kingdom I may liken to a field in which a man sowed precious -seed; - -28 But while he slept an evil one went forth and sowed a measure full -of darnel seed; then went his way. - -29 The soil was good, and so the wheat and darnel grew; and when the -servants saw the tares among the wheat, they found the owner of the -field and said, - -30 You surely sowed good seed; from whence these tares? - -31 The owner said, Some evil one has sown the seed of tares. - -32 The servants said, Shall we go out and pull up by the roots the -tares and burn them in the fire? - -33 The owner said, No, that would not be well. The wheat and tares -grow close together in the soil, and while you pull the tares you -would destroy the wheat. - -34 So we will let them grow together till the harvest time. Then to -the reapers I will say, - -35 Go forth and gather up the tares and bind them up and burn them in -the fire, and gather all the wheat into my barns. - -36 When he had spoken thus, he left the boat and went up to the -house, and his disciples followed him. - - -CHAPTER 116. - - _The Christines are in Philip's home. Jesus interprets the - parable of the wheat and tares. He explains the unfoldment - of the kingdom by parables: the good seed; the growth of the - tree; the leaven; the hidden treasure. He goes to a mountain - to pray._ - -The Christines were in Philip's home and Peter said to Jesus, Lord, -will you explain to us the meaning of the parables you spoke today? -The one about the wheat and tares, especially? - -2 And Jesus said, God's kingdom is a dualty; it has an outer and an -inner form. - -3 As seen by man it is composed of men, of those who make confession -of the name of Christ. - -4 For various reasons various people crowd this outer kingdom of our -God. - -5 The inner kingdom is the kingdom of the soul, the kingdom of the -pure in heart. - -6 The outer kingdom I may well explain in parables. Behold, for I have -seen you cast a great net out into the sea, - -7 And when you hauled it in, lo, it was full of every kind of fish, -some good, some bad, some great, some small; and I have seen you save -the good and throw the bad away. - -8 This outer kingdom is the net, and every kind of man is caught; but -in the sorting day the bad will all be cast away, the good reserved. - -9 Hear, then, the meaning of the parable of wheat and tares: - -10 The sower is the son of man; the field, the world; the good seed -are the children of the light; the tares, the children of the dark; -the enemy, the carnal self; the harvest day, the closing of the age; -the reapers are the messengers of God. - -11 The reckoning day will come to every man; then will the tares be -gathered up, and cast into the fire and be burned. - -12 Then will the good shine forth as suns in the kingdom of the soul. - -13 And Philip said, Must men and women suffer in the flames because -they have not found the way of life? - -14 And Jesus said, The fire purifies. The chemist throws into the fire -the ores that hold all kinds of dross. - -15 The useless metal seems to be consumed; but not a grain of gold is -lost. - -16 There is no man that has not in him gold that cannot be destroyed. -The evil things of men are all consumed in fire; the gold survives. - -17 The inner kingdom of the soul I may explain in parables: - -18 The son of man goes forth and scatters seeds of truth; God waters -well the soil; the seeds show life and grow; first comes the blade, -and then the stalk, and then the ear, and then the full wheat in the -ear. - -19 The harvest comes and, lo, the reapers bear the ripened sheaves -into the garner of the Lord. - -20 Again, this kingdom of the soul is like a little seed that men may -plant in fertile soil. - -21 (A thousand of these seeds would scarcely be a shekel's weight.) - -22 The tiny seed begins to grow; it pushes through the earth, and -after years of growth it is a mighty tree and birds rest in its leafy -bowers and men find refuge 'neath its sheltering boughs from sun and -storm. - -23 Again, the truth, the spirit of the kingdom of the soul, is like a -ball of leaven that a woman hid in measures, three, of flour and in a -little time the whole was leavened. - -24 Again, the kingdom of the soul is like a treasure hidden in a field -which one has found, and straitway goes his way and sells all that he -has and buys the field. - -25 When Jesus had thus said he went alone into a mountain pass near by -to pray. - - -CHAPTER 117. - - _A royal feast is held in Machaerus. John, the harbinger, is - beheaded. His body is buried in Hebron. His disciples mourn. - The Christines cross the sea in the night. Jesus calms a - raging storm._ - -A royal feast was held in honor of the birthday of the tetrarch in -fortified Machaerus, east of the Bitter Sea. - -2 The tetrarch, Herod, and his wife, Herodias, together with Salome -were there; and all the men and women of the royal court were there. - -3 And when the feast was done, lo, all the guests and courtiers were -drunk with wine; they danced and leaped about like children in their -play. - -4 Salome, daughter of Herodias, came in and danced before the king. -The beauty of her form, her grace and winning ways entranced the silly -Herod, then half drunk with wine. - -5 He called the maiden to his side and said, Salome, you have won my -heart, and you may ask and I will give you anything you wish. - -6 The maiden ran in childish glee and told her mother what the ruler -said. - -7 Her mother said, Go back and say, Give me the head of John, the -harbinger. - -8 The maiden ran and told the ruler what she wished. - -9 And Herod called his trusty executioner and said to him, Go to the -tower and tell the keeper that by my authority you come to execute the -prisoner known as John. - -10 The man went forth and in a little while returned and on a platter -bore the lifeless head of John, and Herod offered it unto the maiden -in the presence of the guests. - -11 The maiden stood aloof; her innocence was outraged when she saw the -bloody gift, and she would touch it not. - -12 Her mother, steeped and hardened well in crime, came up and took -the head and held it up before the guests and said, - -13 This is the fate of every man who dares to scorn, or criticize, the -acts of him who reigns. - -14 The drunken rabble gazed upon the grewsome sight with fiendish joy. - -15 The head was taken back unto the tower. The body had been given -unto holy men who had been friends of John; they placed it in a burial -case and carried it away. - -16 They bore it to the Jordan, which they crossed just at the ford -where John first preached the word; - -17 And through the passes of the Judean hills they carried it. - -18 They reached the sacred grounds near Hebron, where the bodies of -the parents of the harbinger lay in their tombs; - -19 And there they buried it; and then they went their way. - -20 Now, when the news reached Galilee that John was dead the people -met to sing the sonnets of the dead. - -21 And Jesus and the foreign masters and the twelve took ship to cross -the sea of Galilee. - -22 A scribe, a faithful friend of John, stood by the sea; he called to -Jesus and he said, Rabboni, let me follow where you go. - -23 And Jesus said, You seek a safe retreat from evil men. There is no -safety for your life with me; - -24 For evil men will take my life as they have taken John's. - -25 The foxes of the earth have safe retreats; the birds have nests -secure among the hidden rocks, but I have not a place where I may lay -my head and rest secure. - -26 Then an apostle said, Lord, suffer me to tarry here a while, that I -may take my father, who is dead, and lay him in the tomb. - -27 But Jesus said, The dead can care for those who die; the living -wait for those who live; come, follow me. - -28 The evening came; three boats put out to sea and Jesus rested in -the foremost boat; he slept. - -29 A storm came on; the boats were tossed about like toys upon the sea. - -30 The waters swept the decks; the hardy boatmen were afraid lest all -be lost. - -31 And Thomas found the master fast asleep; he called, and Jesus woke. - -32 And Thomas said, Behold the storm! have you no care for us? The -boats are going down. - -33 And Jesus stood; he raised his hand; he talked unto the spirits of -the winds and waves as men would talk with men. - -34 And, lo, the winds blew not; the waves came tremblingly and kissed -his feet; the sea was calm. - -35 And then he said, You men of faith, where is your faith? for you -can speak and winds and waves will hear and will obey. - -36 And the disciples were amazed. They said, Who is this man that even -winds and waves obey his voice? - - -CHAPTER 118. - - _The Christines are in Gadara. Jesus casts a legion of unclean - spirits out of a man. The spirits go into vicious animals - which run into the sea, and are drowned. The people are - in fear and request Jesus to leave their coast. With his - disciples, he returns to Capernaum._ - -The morning came; the Christines landed in the country of the -Geracenes. - -2 They went to Gadara, chief city of the Peracans, and here for -certain days they tarried and they taught. - -3 Now, legends hold that Gadara is sacred to the dead, and all the -hills about are known as holy ground. - -4 These are the burial grounds of all the regions round about; the -hills are full of tombs; and many dead from Galilee are here entombed. - -5 Now, spirits of the lately dead that cannot rise to higher planes, -remain about the tombs that hold the flesh and bones of what was once -their mortal homes. - -6 They sometimes take possession of the living, whom they torture in a -hundred ways. - -7 And all through Gadara were men obsessed, and there was no one -strong enough to bring relief. - -8 That they might meet these hidden foes and learn the way to -dispossess the evil ones the master took the foreign masters and the -twelve into the tombs. - -9 And as they neared the gates they met a man obsessed. A legion of -the unclean ones were in this man, and they had made him strong; - -10 And none could bind him down, no, not with chains; for he could -break the stoutest chains, and go his way. - -11 Now, unclean spirits cannot live in light; they revel in the dark. - -12 When Jesus came he brought the light of life, and all the evil -spirits were disturbed. - -13 The leader of the legion in the man called out, Thou Jesus, thou -Immanuel, we beg that thou wilt not consign it to the depths. Torment -us not before our time. - -14 And Jesus said, What is your number and your name? - -15 The evil spirit said, Our name is legion, and our number is the -number of the beast. - -16 And Jesus spoke; and with a voice that shook the very hills, he -said, Come forth; possess this man no more. - -17 Now, all the hills were filled with unclean animals that fed, and -carried forth and spread the plague among the people of the land. - -18 And when the evil spirits begged that they might not be driven -forth without a home, the master said, - -19 Go forth and take possession of the unclean quadrupeds. - -20 And they, and all the evil spirits of the tombs went forth and took -possession of the breeders of the plague, - -21 Which, wild with rage, ran down the steeps into the sea, and all -were drowned. - -22 And all the land was freed of the contagion, and the unclean -spirits came no more. - -23 But when the people saw the mighty works that Jesus did they were -alarmed. They said, - -24 If he can free the country of the plague, and drive the unclean -spirits out, he is a man of such transcendent power that he can -devastate our land at will. - -25 And then they came and prayed that he would not remain in Gadara. - -26 And Jesus did not tarry longer there, and with the other masters -and the twelve, he went aboard the boats to go away. - -27 The man who had been rescued from the unclean legion stood upon the -shore and said, Lord, let me go with you. - -28 But Jesus said, It is not well; go forth unto your home and tell -the news that men may know what man can do when he is tuned with God. - -29 And then the man went forth through all Decapolis and told the news. - -30 The Christines sailed away, re-crossed the sea and came again into -Capernaum. - - -CHAPTER 119. - - _The people of Capernaum welcome Jesus. Matthew gives a feast. - The Pharisees rebuke Jesus for eating with sinners. He tells - them that he is sent to save sinners. He gives lessons on - fasting and on the philosophy of good and evil._ - -The news soon spread through all the land that Jesus was at home and -then the people came in throngs to welcome him. - -2 And Matthew, one of the twelve, a man of wealth, whose home was in -Capernaum, spread forth a sumptuous feast, and Jesus and the foreign -masters and the twelve, and people of all shades of thought, were -guests. - -3 And when the Pharisees observed that Jesus sat and ate with -publicans and those of ill repute they said, - -4 For shame! This man who claims to be a man of God, consorts with -publicans and courtesans and with the common herd of men, For shame! - -5 When Jesus knew their thoughts he said, They who are well cannot be -healed; the pure need not be saved. - -6 They who are well are whole; they who are pure are saved. - -7 They who love justice and do right need not repent; I came not unto -them, but to the sinner I am come. - -8 A band of John's disciples who had heard that John was dead were -wearing badges for their dead; - -9 Were fasting and were praying in their hearts, which when the -Pharisees observed they came to Jesus and they said, - -10 Why fast the followers of John and your disciples do not fast? - -11 And Jesus said, Lo, you are masters of the law; you ought to know; -perhaps you will make known your knowledge to these men. - -12 What are the benefits derived from fasts? The Pharisees were mute; -they answered not. - -13 Then Jesus said, The vital force of men depends on what they eat -and drink. - -14 Is spirit-life the stronger when the vital force is weak? Is -sainthood reached by starving, self imposed? - -15 A glutton is a sinner in the sight of God, and he is not a saint -who makes himself a weakling and unfitted for the heavy tasks of life -by scorning to make use of God's own means of strength. - -16 Lo, John is dead, and his devoted followers are fasting in their -grief. - -17 Their love for him impels them on to show respect, for they have -thought, and have been taught that it is sin to lightly treat the -memory of the dead. - -18 To them it is a sin, and it is well that they should fast. - -19 When men defy their consciences and listen not to what they say, -the heart is grieved and they become unfitted for the work of life; -and thus they sin. - -20 The conscience may be taught. One man may do in conscience what -another cannot do. - -21 What is a sin for me to do may not be sin for you to do. The place -you occupy upon the way of life determines what is sin. - -22 There is no changeless law of good; for good and evil both are -judged by other things. - -23 One man may fast and in his deep sincerity of heart is blest. - -24 Another man may fast and in the faithlessness of such a task -imposed is cursed. - -25 You cannot make a bed to fit the form of every man. If you can make -a bed to fit yourself you have done well. - -26 Why should these men who follow me resort to fasting, or to -anything that would impair their strength? They need it all to serve -the race. - -27 The time will come when God will let you have your way, and you -will do to me what Herod did to John; - -28 And in the awfulness of that sad hour these men will fast. - -29 They who have ears to hear may hear; they who have hearts to feel -may understand. - - -CHAPTER 120. - - _Nicodemus is at the feast. He asks Jesus, Cannot the Christine - religion be introduced more successfully by reforming the - Jewish service? Jesus answers in the negative and gives his - reasons. Jesus heals a woman with hemorrhages. Heals Jairus' - daughter. Disappears when the people would worship him._ - -Now, Nicodemus, who once came to Jesus in the night to learn the way -of life, was one among the guests. - -2 And standing forth he said, Rabboni, it is true that Jewish laws and -Jewish practices do not agree. - -3 The priesthood needs to be reformed; the rulers should become more -merciful and kind; the lawyers should become more just; the common -people should not bear such loads. - -4 But could we not gain these reforms and not destroy the service of -the Jews? - -5 Could you not harmonize your mighty work with that of Pharisee -and scribe? Might not the priesthood be a benefit to your divine -philosophy? - -6 But Jesus said, You cannot put new wine in ancient skins, for when -it purifies itself, lo, it expands; the ancient bottles cannot bear -the strain; they burst, and all the wine is lost. - -7 Men do not mend a wornout garment with a piece of cloth unworn, -which cannot yield to suit the fabric, weak with age, and then a -greater rent appears. - -8 Old wine may be preserved in ancient skins; but new wine calls for -bottles new. - -9 This spirit-truth I bring is to this generation new, and if we put -it in the ancient skins of Jewish forms, lo, it will all be lost. - -10 It must expand; the ancient bottles cannot yield and they would -burst. - -11 Behold the kingdom of the Christ! it is as old as God himself, and -yet it is as new as morning sun; it only can contain the truth of God. - -12 And as he spoke a ruler of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came in -and bowed at Jesus' feet and said, - -13 My master, hear my prayer! My child is very sick, I fear that she -will die; but this I know that if you will but come and speak the Word -my child will live. - -14 (She was an only child, a girl twelve years of age.) - -15 And Jesus tarried not; he went out with the man, and many people -followed them. - -16 And as they went a woman who had been plagued with hemorrhage for -many years, had been a subject of experiment of doctors near and far, -and all had said, She cannot live, rose from her bed and rushed out in -the way as Jesus passed. - -17 She said within herself, If I can touch his garment, then I know I -will be well. - -18 She touched him, and at once the bleeding ceased and she was well. - -19 And Jesus felt that healing power had gone from him, and speaking -to the multitude, he said, - -20 Who was it touched my coat? - -21 And Peter said, No one can tell; the multitudes are pressing you; a -score of people may have touched your coat. - -22 But Jesus said, Some one in faith, with healing thought, did touch -my coat, for healing virtues have gone forth from me. - -23 And when the woman knew that what she did was known, she came and -knelt at Jesus' feet and told it all. - -24 And Jesus said, Your faith has made you whole, go on your way in -peace. - -25 Now, as he spoke, a servant from the home of Jairus came and said, -My master, Jairus, trouble not the Lord to come; your child is dead. - -26 But Jesus said, Jairus, man of faith, do not permit your faith to -waver in this trying hour. - -27 What is it that the servant said? The child is dead? Lo, what is -death? - -28 It is the passing of the soul out of the house of flesh. - -29 Man is the master of the soul and of its house. When man has risen -up from doubt and fear, lo, he can cleanse the empty house and bring -the tenant back again. - -30 Then taking with him Peter, James and John, Jairus and the mother -of the child, he went into the chamber of the dead. - -31 And when the doors were closed against the multitude, he spoke a -word that souls can understand, and then he took the maiden by the -hand and said, - -32 Talitha cumi, child, arise! The maiden's soul returned and she -arose and asked for food. - -33 And all the people of the city were amazed, and many would have -worshipped Jesus as a God, - -34 But, like a phantom of the night, he disappeared and went his way. - - -CHAPTER 121. - - _The Christines are in Nazareth. Miriam sings a Christine song - of praise. Jesus teaches in the synagogue. He heals a dumb - man who is obsessed. The people do not believe in him. The - Pharisees call him a tool of Beelzebul. The Christines go to - Cana._ - -It was a gala day in Nazareth. The people there had met with one -accord to celebrate some great event. - -2 And Jesus and the foreign masters and the twelve, and Mary, mother -of the Lord, and Miriam were there. - -3 And when the people were assembled in the great hall of the town, -the graceful singer, Miriam, stood forth and sung a song of praise. - -4 But few of all the multitude knew who the singer was; but instantly -she won all hearts. - -5 For many days she sung the songs of Israel, and then she went her -way. - -6 The Sabbath came and Jesus went into the synagogue. He took the book -of Psalms and read: - -7 Blest is the man who puts his trust in God, respecting not the proud -nor such as turn aside to lies. - -8 O Lord, my God, the works that thou hast done for us are wonderful; -and many are thy thoughts for us; we cannot count them all, - -9 Thou dost not call for sacrifice, nor offerings of blood; burnt -offerings and offerings for sin thou dost not want; - -10 And lo, I come to do thy will, O God; thy law is in my heart, - -11 And I have preached the word of righteousness and peace unto the -thronging multitudes; I have declared the counsel of my God in full. - -12 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared -thy faithfulness and grace. - -13 I have not kept thy loving-kindness and thy truth away from men; I -have declared them to the multitudes. - -14 O Lord, make wide my lips that I may tell thy praise; I do not -bring the sacrifice of blood, nor yet burnt offerings for sin. - -15 The sacrifices I would bring to thee, O God, are purity in life, a -contrite heart, a spirit full of faith and love; and these thou wilt -receive. - -16 And when he had thus read, he gave the book back to the keeper of -the books, and then he said, - -17 Upon these ends of earth these messages of God have come. - -18 Our people have exalted sacrificial rites and have neglected mercy, -justice and the rights of men. - -19 You Pharisees, you priests, you scribes, your God is surfeited with -blood; God does not heed your prayers; you stand before your burning -victims; but you stand in vain. - -20 Turn you unto the testimonies of the law; reform and turn to God, -and you shall live. - -21 Let not your altars be accursed again with smoke of innocence. - -22 Bring unto God as sacrifice a broken and a contrite heart. - -23 Lift from your fellow men the burdens that you have imposed. - -24 And if you hearken not, and if you turn not from your evil ways, -lo, God will smite this nation with a curse. - -25 And when he had thus said he stood aside, and all the people were -astonished, and they said, - -26 Where did this man get all his knowledge and his power? From whence -did all this wisdom come? - -27 Is not this Mary's son, whose home is out on Marmion Way? - -28 Are not his brothers, Jude and James and Simon, known among our -honored men? Are not his sisters with us here? - -29 But they were all offended by the words he spoke. - -30 And Jesus said, A prophet has no honor in his native land; he is -not well received among his kin; his foes are in his home. - -31 And Jesus wrought not many mighty works in Nazareth, because the -people had no faith in him. He did not tarry long. - -32 But as he passed from thence two blind men followed him and cried, -Thou son of David, hear! Have mercy, Lord, and open up our eyes that -we may see. - -33 And Jesus said, Do you believe that I can open up your eyes and -make you see? - -34 They said, Yea, Lord, we know that if you speak the Word then we -can see. - -35 And Jesus touched their eyes and spoke the Word; he said, According -to your faith so will it be. - -36 And they were blest; they opened up their eyes and saw. - -37 And Jesus said, Tell not this thing to any one. - -38 But they went forth and told the news through all the land. - -39 As Jesus walked along the way a man who was obsessed, and who was -dumb, was brought to him. - -40 And Jesus spoke the Word; the unclean spirit came out of the man; -his tongue was loosed; he spoke; he said, Praise God. - -41 The people were amazed; They said, This is a mighty deed; we never -saw that done before. - -42 The Pharisees were also much amazed; but they cried out and said, - -43 You men of Israel, take heed; this Jesus is a tool of Beelzebul; he -heals the sick and casts the spirits out in Satan's name. - -44 But Jesus answered not; he went his way. - -45 And with the foreign masters and the twelve he went up to the town -where he once turned the water into wine and tarried certain days. - - -CHAPTER 122. - - _The Christines spend seven days in prayer. Jesus gives his - charge to the twelve and sends them forth on their apostolic - ministry, with instructions to meet him in Capernaum._ - -The Christines prayed in silence seven days; then Jesus called the -twelve aside and said, - -2 Behold, the multitudes have thronged about us everywhere; the people -are bewildered; they wander here and there like sheep without a fold. - -3 They need a shepherd's care; they want a loving hand to lead them to -the light. - -4 The grain is ripe; the harvest is abundant, but the harvesters are -few. - -5 The time is also ripe, and you must go alone through all the -villages and towns of Galilee and teach and heal. - -6 And then he breathed upon the twelve and said, Receive the Holy -Breath. - -7 And then he gave them each the Word of power, and said, By this -Omnific Word you shall cast spirits out, shall heal the sick and bring -the dead to life again. - -8 And you shall go not in the way of the Assyrians, nor Greek; you -shall not go into Samaria; go only to your brethren of the scattered -tribes. - -9 And as you go proclaim, The kingdom of the Christ has come. - -10 You have abundantly received, and freely you shall give. - -11 But you must go in faith; provide yourselves no crutch to lean upon. - -12 Give all your gold and silver to the poor; take not two coats, nor -extra shoes; just take your wands. - -13 You are God's husbandmen and he will never suffer you to want. - -14 In every place you go search out the men of faith; with them abide -until you go from hence. - -15 You go for me; you act for me. They who receive and welcome you, -receive and welcome me; - -16 And they who shut their doors against your face, refuse to welcome -me. - -17 If you are not received in kindness in a town, bear not away an -evil thought; do not resist. - -18 An evil thought of any kind will do you harm; will dissipate your -power. - -19 When you are not received with favor, go your way, for there are -multitudes of men who want the light. - -20 Behold, I send you forth as sheep among a pack of wolves; and you -must be as wise as serpents and as harmless as the doves. - -21 In all your language be discreet, for Pharisees and scribes will -seek a cause for your arrest in what you say. - -22 And they will surely find a way by charges false to bring you into -court. - -23 And judges will declare that you are guilty of some crime, and -sentence you to scourgings and to prison cells. - -24 But when you come to stand before the judge, be not afraid; be not -disturbed about the way to act, the words to speak. - -25 The Holy Breath will guide you in that hour, and give the words -that you shall speak. - -26 Of this be full assured; It is not you who speaks; it is the Holy -Breath who gives the words and moves the lips. - -27 The gospel that you preach will not bring peace, but it will stir -the multitudes to wrath. - -28 The carnal man abhors the truth, and he would give his life to -crush the tender plant before the harvest time. - -29 And this will bring confusion in the homes that were the homes of -stagnant peace. - -30 And brother will give brother up to death; the father will stand -by and see men execute his child; and in the courts the child will -testify against the sire, and gladly see its mother put to death. - -31 And men will hate you just because you speak the name of Christ. - -32 Thrice blessed is the man who shall be faithful in this coming day -of wrath! - -33 Go now; when you are persecuted in a place, go seek another place. - -34 And when you meet a foe too great for you, behold, the son of man -is at your door, and he can speak, and all the hosts of heaven will -stand in your defense. - -35 But do not hold your present life in great esteem. - -36 The time will come when men will take my life; you need not hope to -be immune, for they will slay you in the name of God. - -37 Men call me Beelzebul and they will call you imps. - -38 Be not afraid of what men say and do; they have no power over soul; -they may abuse and may destroy the body of the flesh; but that is all. - -39 They do not know the God who holds the issues of the soul within -his hands, who can destroy the soul. - -40 The Christ is king today, and men must recognize his power. - -41 He who loves not the Christ, which is the love of God, before all -else, can never gain the prize of spirit consciousness. - -42 And they who love their parents or their children more than they -love the Christ can never wear the name of Christ. - -43 And he who loves his life more than he loves the Christ cannot -please God. - -44 And he who clings to life shall lose his life, while he who gives -his life for Christ will save his life. - -45 When Jesus had thus said he sent the twelve away by twos, and bade -them meet him in Capernaum. - -46 And they went out through all the towns of Galilee and taught and -healed in spirit and in power. - - -CHAPTER 123. - - _Jesus gives his final charge to the foreign masters and sends - them forth as apostles to the world. He goes alone to Tyre - and abides in Rachel's home. Heals an obsessed child. Goes - to Sidon and then to the mountains of Lebanon. Visits Mount - Hermon, Csarea-Philippi, Decapolis, Gadara and returns to - Capernaum. Receives the twelve, who give an account of their - work._ - -The Christine master spent a time in prayer and then he called the -foreign masters, and he said to them, - -2 Behold, I sent the twelve apostles unto Israel, but you are sent to -all the world. - -3 Our God is one, is Spirit and is truth, and every man is dear to him. - -4 He is the God of every child of India, and the farther east; of -Persia, and the farther north; of Greece and Rome and of the farther -west; of Egypt and the farther south, and of the mighty lands across -the seas, and of the islands of the seas. - -5 If God would send the bread of life to one and not to all who have -arisen to the consciousness of life and can receive the bread of life, -then he would be unjust and that would shake the very throne of heaven. - -6 So he has called you from the seven centers of the world, and he has -breathed the breath of wisdom and of power into your souls, and now he -sends you forth as bearers of the light of life, apostles of the human -race. - -7 Go on your way, and as you go proclaim the gospel of the Christ. - -8 And then he breathed upon the masters and he said, Receive the Holy -Breath; and then he gave to each the Word of power. - -9 And each went on his way, and every land was blest. - -10 Then Jesus went alone across the hills of Galilee and after certain -days he reached the coast of Tyre, and in the home of Rachel he abode. - -11 He did not advertise his coming, for he did not come to teach; he -would commune with God where he could see the waters of the Mighty Sea. - -12 But Rachel told the news and multitudes of people thronged her home -to see the Lord. - -13 A Grecian woman of Phenecia came; her daughter was obsessed. She -said, - -14 O Lord, have mercy on my home! My daughter is obsessed; but this I -know, if you will speak the Word she will be free. Thou son of David, -hear my prayer! - -15 But Rachel said, Good woman, trouble not the Lord. He did not come -to Tyre to heal; he came to talk with God beside the sea. - -16 And Jesus said, Lo, I was sent not to the Greek, nor to -Syrophenicians; I come just to my people, Israel. - -17 And then the woman fell down at his feet and said, Lord, Jesus, I -implore that you will save my child. - -18 And Jesus said, You know the common proverb well: It is not meet -that one should give the children's bread to dogs. - -19 And then the woman said, Yea, Jesus, this I know, but dogs may eat -the crumbs that fall down from their master's board. - -20 And Jesus said, Such faith I have not seen, no not among the Jews; -she is not serf, nor dog. - -21 And then he said to her, According to your faith so let it be. - -22 The woman went her way and when she came unto her child, lo, she -was healed. - -23 And Jesus tarried many days in Tyre; and then he went his way and -dwelt a time in Sidon by the sea. - -24 And then he journeyed on. In Lebanon hills and vales, and in its -groves he walked in silent thought. - -25 His earthly mission fast was drawing to a close; he sought for -strength, and what he sought he found. - -26 Mount Hermon stood beyond, and Jesus fain would kneel beside that -mountain famed in Hebrew song. - -27 And then he stood upon Mount Hermon's lofty peaks, and lifting up -his eyes to heaven he talked with God. - -28 And masters of the olden times revealed themselves and long they -talked about the kingdom of the Christ; - -29 About the mighty works that had been done; about the coming -conquest of the cross; about the victory over death. - -30 Then Jesus journeyed on; he went to Csarea-Philippi, and in -Susanna's home he tarried certain days. - -31 And then he went through all Decapolis to give encouragement to -those who knew him as the Christ, and to prepare them for the day of -Calvary. - -32 And then he went to Gadara, and many friends were there, to welcome -him. - -33 And Chuzas, steward of the house of Herod Antipas, was there, and -Jesus went aboard the royal ship with him and crossed the sea, and -came unto Capernaum. - -34 And when the people knew that Jesus was at home they came to -welcome him. - -35 In just a little while the twelve apostles came and told the master -all about their journey over Galilee. - -36 They said that by the sacred Word they had done many mighty works; -and Jesus said to them, Well done. - - - - -SECTION XVII. - -PE. - -_The Third Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 124. - - _The Christines cross the sea. Jesus gives to his disciples - lessons on secret doctrines. Teaches the people. Feeds five - thousand. The disciples start to recross the sea. A storm - arises. Jesus, walking on the waters, comes to them. Trial of - Peter's faith. They land in Gennesaret._ - -The twelve apostles now had reached the stage of spirit consciousness, -and Jesus could reveal to them the deeper meanings of his mission to -the world. - -2 Next week the great feast of the Jews would be observed, and Matthew -said, Shall we not girt ourselves and go unto Jerusalem? - -3 But Jesus said, We will not go up to the feast; the time is short -and I have many things to say to you; come you apart into a desert -place and rest a while. - -4 And then they took their boats and crossed the sea, and came into a -desert place near Julius Bethsaida. - -5 The people saw them go, and in vast multitudes they followed them. - -6 And Jesus had compassion on the anxious throng, and he stood forth -and taught them all the day, because they sought the light and were -like sheep without a fold. - -7 And as the night came on the twelve were doubting what the -multitudes would do, and Thomas said, - -8 Lord, we are in a desert place; the multitudes have naught to eat -and they are faint from lack of food; what shall we do? - -9 And Jesus said, Go to and feed the multitudes. - -10 And Judas said, Shall we go down and buy two hundred pennies' worth -of bread for them to eat? - -11 And Jesus said, Go look into our larder and see how many loaves we -have. - -12 And Andrew said, We have no bread, but we have found a lad who has -five barley loaves and two small fish; but this would not be food -enough for one in ten. - -13 But Jesus said, Command these people all to sit upon the grass in -companies of twelve; and they all sat down in companies of twelve. - -14 Then Jesus took the loaves and fish, and looking up to heaven he -spoke the sacred Word. - -15 And then he broke the bread and gave it to the twelve; he also gave -the fish unto the twelve, and said, Go to and feed the multitudes. - -16 And all the people ate and were refreshed. - -17 There were about five thousand men, a company of little ones, and -women not a few. - -18 And when the people all were filled the master said, - -19 Let not a crumb be lost; Go to and gather up the pieces of the -bread and fish for others that may want. - -20 They gathered up the fragments and they filled twelve baskets full. - -21 The people were bewildered by this wondrous act of power; they -said, And now we know that Jesus is the prophet that our prophets said -would come; and then they said, All hail the king! - -22 When Jesus heard them say, All hail the king! he called the twelve -and bade them take their boats and go before him to the other side; - -23 And he went all alone into a mountain pass to pray. - -24 The twelve were on the sea and hoped to reach Capernaum in just a -little time, when all at once a fearful storm arose, and they were at -the mercy of the waves. - -25 And in the fourth watch of the night the wind became a whirling -wind, and they were filled with fear. - -26 And in the blinding storm they saw a form move on the waves; it -seemed to be a man, and one spoke out and said, It is a ghost, a sign -of evil things. - -27 But John discerned the form and said, It is the Lord. - -28 And then the wind blew not so hard, and Peter, standing in the -midst, exclaimed, - -29 My Lord! my Lord! If this be truly you, bid me to come to you upon -the waves. - -30 The form reached forth his hand and said, Come on. - -31 And Peter stepped upon the waves and they were solid as a rock; he -walked upon the waves. - -32 He walked until he thought within himself, What if the waves should -break beneath my feet? - -33 And then the waves did break beneath his feet, and he began to -sink, and in the fearfulness of soul he cried, O save me, Lord, or I -am lost! - -34 And Jesus took him by the hand and said, O you of little faith! why -did you doubt? And Jesus led the way unto the boat. - -35 The storm had spent its force; the winds were still, and they -were near the shore, and when they landed they were in the valley of -Gennesaret. - - -CHAPTER 125. - - _The Christines are welcomed in Gennesaret. Many follow Jesus - for the loaves and fish. He tells them of the bread of - life. Speaks of his flesh and blood as symbols of the bread - and water of life. The people are offended and many of his - disciples follow him no more._ - -The news soon spread through all the valley of Gennesaret that Jesus -and the twelve had come, and many people came to see. - -2 They brought their sick and laid them at the master's feet, and all -the day he taught and healed. - -3 The multitudes upon the other side who had been fed the day before -and other multitudes, went down to see the Lord; but when they found -him not they sought him in Capernaum. - -4 And when they found him not at home, they went on to Gennesaret. -They found him there and said, Rabboni, when came you to Gennesaret? - -5 And Jesus said, Why are you come across the sea? you came not for -the bread of life; - -6 You came to gratify your selfish selves; you all were fed the other -day across the sea, and you are after more of loaves and fish. - -7 The food you ate was nourishment for flesh that soon must pass away. - -8 You men of Galilee, seek not for food that perishes, but seek for -food that feeds the soul; and, lo, I bring you food from heaven. - -9 You ate the flesh of fish, and you were satisfied, and now I bring -the flesh of Christ for you to eat that you may live forevermore. - -10 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; and then they ate the -flesh of quail, and drank the waters of a flowing spring that Moses -brought out from the rock; but all of them are dead. - -11 The manna and the quail were symbols of the flesh of Christ; the -waters of the rock were symbols of the blood. - -12 But, lo, the Christ has come; he is the bread of life that God has -given to the world. - -13 Whoever eats the flesh of Christ and drinks his blood shall never -die; and he will hunger nevermore; and he will thirst no more. - -14 And they who eat this bread of heaven, and drink these waters from -the spring of life cannot be lost; these feed the soul, and purify the -life. - -15 Behold, for God has said, When man has purified himself I will -exalt him to the throne of power. - -16 Then Jesus and the twelve went to Capernaum; and Jesus went into -the synagogue and taught. - -17 And when the Jews, who heard him in Gennesaret, were come they said, - -18 This fellow is beside himself. We heard him say, I am the bread of -life that comes from heaven; and we all know that he is but a man, the -son of man, who came from Nazareth; we know his mother, and his other -kin. - -19 And Jesus knew their thoughts; he said to them, Why murmur you, and -reason thus among yourselves? - -20 The Christ is everlasting life; he came from heaven; he has the -keys of heaven, and no man enters into heaven except he fills himself -with Christ. - -21 I came in flesh to do the will of God, and, lo, this flesh and -blood are filled with Christ; and so I am the living bread that comes -from heaven; - -22 And when you eat this flesh and drink this blood you will have -everlasting life; and if you will, you may become the bread of life. - -23 And many of the people were enraged; they said, How can this man -give us his flesh to eat, his blood to drink? - -24 And his disciples were aggrieved because he said these things, and -many turned away and followed him no more. - -25 They said, This is a fearful thing for him to say, If you eat not -my flesh and drink my blood, you cannot enter into life. - -26 They could not comprehend the parable he spoke. - -27 And Jesus said, You stumble and you fall before the truth; What -will you do when you shall see this flesh and blood transmuted into -higher form? - -28 What will you say when you shall see the son of man ascending on -the clouds of heaven? - -29 What will you say when you shall see the son of man sit on the -throne of God? - -30 The flesh is naught; the spirit is the quickening power. The words -I speak are spirit; they are life. - -31 When Jesus saw the many who had been so loud in their professions -of their faith in him, turn back and go away, he said unto the twelve, - -32 Will you desert me in this hour and go away? - -33 But Peter said, Lord, we have no place else to go; you have the -words of everlasting life; we know that you are sent to us from God. - - -CHAPTER 126. - - _Scribes and Pharisees visit Jesus. They censure him for eating - with unwashed hands. He defends his acts and teaches a lesson - on hypocrisy. Privately explains to the twelve his public - teachings._ - -A company of scribes and Pharisees came from Jerusalem to learn -wherein the power of Jesus lay. - -2 But when they learned that he and his disciples heeded not the -custom of the Jews, regarding washing of the hands before they ate, -they were amazed. - -3 And Jesus said, Hypocrisy is queen among you scribes and Pharisees. -Of you Isaiah wrote: - -4 This people honor me with lips; their hearts are far away. In vain -they worship me; their doctrines are the dogmas and the creeds of men. - -5 You men who pose as men of God, and still reject the laws of God and -teach the laws of men, - -6 Stand forth and tell when God gave unto men the ceremonial laws that -you observe; and tell these people how the spirit life is sullied if -one washes not before he eats. - -7 His critics answered not, and then he said, - -8 Hear me, you men of Israel! Defilement is a creature of the heart. -The carnal mind lays hold of thought, and makes a monstrous bride; -this bride is sin; sin is a creature of the mind. - -9 That which defiles a man is not the food he eats. - -10 The bread and fish and other things we eat, are simply cups to -carry to the cells of flesh material for the building of the human -house, and when their work is done as refuse they are cast away. - -11 The life of plant and flesh that goes to build the human house is -never food for soul. The spirit does not feed upon the carcasses of -animal, or plant. - -12 God feeds the soul direct from heaven; the bread of life comes from -above. - -13 The air we breathe is charged with Holy Breath, and he who wills -may take this Holy Breath. - -14 The soul discriminates, and he who wants the life of Christ may -breathe it in. According to your faith so let it be. - -15 Man is not a part of his abiding place; the house is not the man. - -16 The lower world builds up the house of flesh, and keeps it in -repair; the higher world provides the bread of spirit life. - -17 The loveliest lilies grow from stagnant ponds and filthiest muck. - -18 The law of flesh demands that one should keep the body clean. - -19 The law of spirit calls for purity in thought and word and deed. - -20 Now, when the evening came and they were in the house, the twelve -had many things to say, and many questions to propound. - -21 Nathaniel asked, Was what you said about the house of flesh a -parable? If so, what does it mean? - -22 And Jesus said, Can you not yet discriminate? Do you not yet -perceive that what a man takes in his mouth defiles him not? - -23 His food goes not into his soul; it is material for flesh and bone -and brawn. - -24 To spirit everything is clean. - -25 That which defiles a man wells up from carnal thoughts; and carnal -thoughts spring from the heart, and generate a host of evil things. - -26 From out the heart comes murders, thefts and foolishness. All -selfish acts and sensual deeds spring from the heart. - -27 To eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man. - -28 And Peter said, Lord, What you said today has grievously offended -scribe and Pharisee. - -29 And Jesus said, These scribes and Pharisees are not the scions of -the tree of life; they are not plants of God; they are the plants of -men, and every foreign plant shall be plucked up. - -30 Let all these men alone; they are blind guides; they lead a -multitude of people who are blind. - -31 The leaders and the led together walk; together they will fall into -the yawning pits. - - -CHAPTER 127. - - _The Christines cross the sea to Decapolis. Jesus finds a - retired place where he privately teaches the twelve. They - remain three days, then go into a village by the sea._ - -Now, Jesus took the twelve and with them crossed the sea at night and -came unto the borders of Decapolis, - -2 That he might find a secret place where, all alone, he could reveal -to them the things to come. - -3 They went into a mountain pass and spent three days in prayer. - -4 Then Jesus said, Behold, the time is near when I will walk with you -in flesh no more. - -5 Lo, I have taught that he who counts his life of so much worth that -he would give it not in willing sacrifice to save his brother man, is -worthy not to enter into life. - -6 Lo, I am come as pattern for the sons of men, and I have not -refrained from helpfulness. - -7 When I had passed the seven tests in Heliopolis, I consecrated life -and all I had, to save the world. - -8 In the Judean wilderness I fought the strongest foes of men, and -there I reaffirmed my consecration to the service of my fellow man. - -9 In troubles and in trials I have wavered not; when false accusers -came, I answered not. - -10 God gave the saving Word to me, and I have often spoken it and -healed the sick, drove unclean spirits out, and raised the dead. - -11 And I have shown you how to speak the Word; and I have given you -the Word; - -12 In just a little while we turn our faces toward Jerusalem, and one -of you who hear me now will then betray me into wicked hands. - -13 The scribes and Pharisees will bring false charges up and hale me -into court, and, by consent of Rome, I will be crucified. - -14 Then Peter said, My Lord, it shall not be. The Roman soldiers will -tread on twelve dead men before they reach our Lord. - -15 But Jesus said, A savior of the world cannot resist. - -16 I came to save the world and I have taken up your names before the -highest courts of heaven, and you have been confirmed as saviors of -the world. - -17 And not a name, excepting that of him who shall betray, will ever -be disgraced. - -18 I go my way, and though my flesh shall pass, my soul will stand -beside you all the way to guide and bless. - -19 And wicked men will seize you in the streets, and as you kneel in -prayer; will charge you with some legal crime, and think they serve -their God by putting you to death. - -20 But falter not; the load will heavy be, but with the consciousness -of duty done, the peace of God will lift the load, dispel the pain and -light the way. - -21 And we will meet where carnal executioners come not; there we will -serve the cruel men, who in their ignorance had tortured us to death. - -22 Can we prevent this outrage and this slaughter of our lives? If not -we are but creatures of the ebb and flow of carnal things. It would -not be a sacrifice of life. - -23 But we are masters of the things of time. Lo, we can speak, and -all the spirits of the fire, water, earth and air will stand in our -defense. - -24 We can command and many legions of the angel world would come and -strike our enemies to earth. - -25 But it is best that not a power of heaven or earth should come to -our relief. And it is best that even God should veil his face and seem -to hear us not. - -26 As I am pattern unto you, so you are patterns for the human race. -We show by non-resistance that we give our lives in willing sacrifice -for man. - -27 But my example will not end with death. My body will be laid within -a tomb in which no flesh has lain, symbolic of the purity of life in -death. - -28 And in the tomb I will remain three days in sweet communion with -the Christ, and with my Father-God, and Mother-God. - -29 And then, symbolic of the ascent of the soul to higher life, my -flesh within the tomb will disappear; - -30 Will be transmuted into higher form, and, in the presence of you -all, I will ascend to God. - -31 Then Jesus and the twelve went to a village by the sea. - - -CHAPTER 128. - - _Jesus goes at night to a mountain to pray. His disciples - and the villagers find him and he teaches them for three - days. Feeds four thousand people. The Christines go to - Csarea-Philippi. They consider the personality of Christ. - Peter is chosen as apostolic leader._ - -Now, in the night while the disciples slept, lo, Jesus rose and went -alone into a mountain pass, six miles away, to pray. - -2 And in the morning when the twelve awoke they could not find the -Lord, and all the people of the village sought, and when the sun had -passed its highest point they found him in the mountain pass. - -3 And multitudes of people came and brought their sick, and Jesus -taught and healed. - -4 And when the night came on the people would not go; they slept upon -the ground that they might be a-near the Lord. - -5 Three days and nights the multitudes remained, and none had aught to -eat. - -6 And Jesus had compassion and he said, If I should send the -multitudes away they might not reach their homes, for they are faint, -for some have journeyed many miles. - -7 And his disciples said, Where shall we get enough of food to feed -them all? There are four thousand men, besides the women and the -little ones. - -8 And Jesus said, How many loaves have you? - -9 They answered, Seven, and some little fish. - -10 And Jesus said, Go to, and seat the people as you seated them the -other day when all the multitudes were fed, in companies of twelve. - -11 And when the people were sat down in companies of twelve the loaves -and fish were brought. - -12 And Jesus looked to heaven and spoke the Word; and then he broke -the seven loaves in little bits, and likewise cut the fish. - -13 And every bit of bread became a loaf, and every piece of fish -became a fish. - -14 The twelve went forth and gave to every one; the people ate and -they were filled; and all the fragments that were left were gathered -up, and there were seven baskets full. - -15 And then the people went their ways, and Jesus and the twelve took -boats and came to Dalmanatha by the sea. - -16 Here they remained for many days, and Jesus told the twelve about -the inner light that cannot fail; - -17 About the kingdom of the Christ within the soul; about the power -of faith; about the secret of the resurrection of the dead; about -immortal life, and how the living may go forth and help the dead. - -18 And then they went into their boats, and came unto the northern -coast of Galilee, and in Chorazin where the kin of Thomas lived, they -left their boats and journeyed on. - -19 They came to Merom, where the crystal waters seem to catch the -images of heaven and to reflect the glory of the Lord of hosts. - -20 And here they tarried certain days in silent thought. - -21 And then they journeyed on, and came into the land of -Csarea-Philippi. - -22 And as they walked and talked among themselves, the master said, -What do the people say about the son of man? who do they think I am? - -23 And Matthew said, Some say that you are David come again; some say -that you are Enoch, Solomon, or Seth. - -24 And Andrew said, I heard a ruler of the synagogue exclaim, This man -is Jeremiah, for he speaks like Jeremiah wrote. - -25 Nathaniel said, The foreign masters who were with us for a time, -declared that Jesus is Gautama come again. - -26 James said, I think that most the master Jews believe you are the -reappearence of Elijah on the earth. - -27 And John spoke out and said, When we were in Jerusalem I heard a -seer exclaim, This Jesus is none other than Melchizedek, the king of -peace, who lived about two thousand years ago, and said that he would -come again. - -28 And Thomas said, The Tetrarch Herod thinks that you are John arisen -from the dead; - -29 But then his conscience troubles him; the spirit of the murdered -John looms up before him in his dreams, and haunts him as a specter of -the night. - -30 And Jesus asked, Who do you think I am? - -31 And Peter said, You are the Christ, the love of God made manifest -to men. - -32 And Jesus said, Thrice blessed are you, Simon, Jonas' son. You have -declared a truth that God has given you. - -33 You are a rock, and you shall be a pillar in the temple of the Lord -of hosts. - -34 And your confession is the cornerstone of faith, a rock of -strength, and on this rock the Church of Christ is built. - -35 Against it all the powers of hades and of death cannot prevail. - -36 Behold, I give to you the keys to open up the doors of safety for -the sons of men. - -37 The Holy Breath will come upon you and the ten, and in Jerusalem -you shall stand before the nations of the earth, and there proclaim -the covenant of God with men. - -38 And you shall speak the words of Holy Breath, and whatsoever God -requires of men as earnest of their faith in Christ, you shall make -known. - -39 Then turning to the twelve he said, What you have heard this day -tell not to any man. - -40 Then Jesus and the twelve went up and were Susanna's guests for -many days. - - -CHAPTER 129. - - _Jesus teaches the people. He takes Peter, James and John and - goes to a high mountain and is transfigured before them._ - -The news soon spread that Jesus and the twelve were come, and many -people came to see. - -2 And Jesus said, Behold, you come to see, but that means naught. If -you would have the benedictions of the Christ, take up your cross and -follow me. - -3 If you would give your life for selfish self, then you will lose -your life. - -4 If you will give your life in service of your fellow men, then you -will save your life. - -5 This life is but a span, a bauble of today. There is a life that -passes not. - -6 Where is your profit if you gain the world and lose your soul? What -would you take in payment for your soul? - -7 If you would find the spirit life, the life of man in God, then you -must walk a narrow way and enter through a narrow gate. - -8 The way is Christ, the gate is Christ, and you must come up by the -way of Christ. No man comes unto God but by the Christ. - -9 The kingdom of the Christ will come; yea, some of you who hear me -now will not pass through the gates of death until you see the kingdom -come in power. - -10 For seven days the master and the twelve remained in -Csarea-Philippi. - -11 Then Jesus, taking Peter, James and John, went forth unto a -mountain top to pray. - -12 And as he prayed a brilliant light appeared; his form became as -radiant as a precious stone; - -13 His face shone like the sun; his garments seemed as white as snow; -the son of man became the son of God. - -14 He was transfigured that the men of earth might see the -possibilities of man. - -15 When first the glory came the three disciples were asleep; a master -touched their eyes and said, Awake and see the glory of the Lord. - -16 And they awoke, and saw the glory of the Lord; and more, they saw -the glory of the heavenly world, for they beheld two men from thence -stand forth beside the Lord. - -17 And Peter asked the master who awakened them, Who are these men who -stand beside the Lord? - -18 The master said, These men are Moses and Elijah, who are come that -you may know that heaven and earth are one; that masters there and -masters here are one. - -19 The veil that separates the worlds is but an ether veil. For those -who purify their hearts by faith the veil is rolled aside, and they -can see and know that death is an illusive thing. - -20 And Peter said, Praise God! And then he called to Jesus and he -said, My master and my Lord, this is the gate of heaven, and it is -well that we remain. - -21 May we go down and bring three tents; a tent for you, a tent for -Moses, and for Elijah one? But Jesus answered not. - -22 And Moses and Elijah talked with Jesus on the mount. They talked -about the coming trial of the Lord; - -23 About his death, his rest within the tomb; about the wonders of the -resurrection morn; the transmutation of his flesh, and his ascension -on the clouds of light; - -24 And all symbolic of the path that every man must tread; symbolic of -the way the sons of men become the sons of God. - -25 The three disciples were amazed, and suddenly the ethers were -surcharged with song, and forms as light as air, moved all about the -mountain top. - -26 And then from out the glory of the upper world they heard a voice -that said, - -27 This is the son of man, my chosen one to manifest the Christ to -men. Let all the earth hear him. - -28 When the disciples heard the voice they were afraid; they fell upon -the ground and prayed. - -29 And Jesus came; he touched them and he said, Arise, fear not; lo, I -am here. - -30 Then they arose, and as they looked about they saw no one; the men -had gone. The master only stood with them. - -31 As Jesus and the three came from the mountain top they talked about -the meaning of the scene, and Jesus told them all; and then he said, - -32 Till I have risen from the dead tell not to any one what you have -seen. - -33 But the disciples could not comprehend the meaning of the words, -Till I have risen from the dead. - -34 And Jesus told them once again about his death, and rising from the -grave; about the kingdom of the soul that was to come in glory and in -power. - -35 But Peter said, The scribes have taught that e'er the king shall -come Elijah must appear. - -36 And Jesus said, Elijah has already come; but scribes and Pharisees -received him not; - -37 And men reviled him, bound him, cast him in a prison cell, and -shouted with a fiend's delight to see him die. - -38 What men have done to him, that they will do to me. - -39 Then the disciples understood that Jesus spoke of John whom Herod -slew. - - -CHAPTER 130. - - _Jesus and the three disciples return to Csarea-Philippi. The - nine had failed to cure an epileptic child. Jesus heals it - and rebukes his disciples for their lack of trust in God. The - Christines return to Capernaum._ - -When Jesus, Peter, James and John were come unto the city's gates a -multitude of people thronged the way. - -2 The nine apostles who went not with Jesus to the mount, had tried -to heal an epileptic child who was obsessed, and they had failed; the -people waited for the coming of the Lord. - -3 When Jesus came the father of the child knelt down before him and -implored his help. - -4 He said, My master, I beseech that you will look in pity on my son, -my only child; he is an epileptic child and suffers grievously. - -5 Sometimes he falls into the fire and is burned; again he falls into -the water and is like to drown; and many times a day he falls, he -grinds his teeth, the foam pours from his mouth. - -6 I took my child to your disciples, and they failed to give relief. - -7 And as he spoke a servant brought the child before the Lord (the -child spoke not, for he was dumb), and instantly he fell upon the -ground, he foamed, he writhed in agony. - -8 And Jesus said, How long has he been troubled thus? - -9 The father said, From infancy; and we have sought in many lands for -help, but found it not; but I believe that you can speak the Word and -heal my son. - -10 And Jesus said, Faith is the power of God. All things are possible -for him who in his heart believes. - -11 The father cried, in tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine -unbelief. - -12 And Jesus spoke the Word of power; the epileptic child lay in a -swoon; he did not breathe, and all the people said, The child is dead. - -13 But Jesus took him by the hand and said: Arise; and he arose and -spoke. - -14 The people were amazed, and many said, This surely is a man of God, -for no such power was ever given to man. - -15 Then Jesus and the twelve went to the house, and after they had -taken food and been refreshed, the nine disciples said, - -16 Lord, why could we not heal this child? We spoke the Word; but even -that was powerless. - -17 And Jesus said, Your great success in all your former work has made -you careless, and you forgot to recognize the power of God. - -18 Without the spirit of the Word, the Word is like an idle tale; and -you forgot to pray. - -19 There is no faith without the prayer of faith. Faith is the wings -of prayer; but wings alone fly not. - -20 By prayer and faith you can bring down the mountain peaks, and cast -them in the sea; the little hills will skip about like lambs at your -command. - -21 This failure may be well for you. The greatest lessons that are -learned in life come through the failures that are made. - -22 As the disciples sat in thoughtful meditation Jesus said, Let these -words sink into your hearts: - -23 The time has nearly come when you must bear your load alone; that -is, without my presence in the flesh. - -24 For I will fall into the hands of wicked men, and they will slay me -on a mount beyond Bezetha wall. - -25 And men will lay my body in a tomb where, by the sacred Word, it -will be guarded and preserved three days; then I will rise again. - -26 The twelve were sad; they did not understand, and yet they feared -to ask him to reveal the meaning of his word. - -27 Next day the Christine master and the twelve began their journey of -return, and soon were in Capernaum. - - -CHAPTER 131. - - _Jesus and Peter pay the half-shekel tax. The disciples contend - for the supremacy. Jesus rebukes them. Teaches them many - practical lessons. The parable of the good shepherd._ - -As Jesus and the twelve were resting in the house, the tax collector -came to Peter saying, Man, do Jesus and yourself pay this half-shekel -tax? - -2 And Peter said, We pay whatever is assessed. - -3 And Jesus said, From whom do publicans collect this special tax? -from strangers or from native sons? - -4 And Peter said, The strangers only are supposed to pay this tax. - -5 Then Jesus said, We all are native sons and we are free; but lest -we cause contention we will pay the tax; but neither had the shekel -wherewithal to pay. - -6 And Jesus said, Go to the sea; cast in a hook and catch a fish and -you will find within its inner parts a shekel, which take up and pay -the tax for you and me. - -7 And Peter did as Jesus said; he found the shekel and he paid the tax. - -8 Now Jesus heard the twelve dispute among themselves. The spirit of -the carnal self was moving in their hearts, and they were questioning -among themselves who was the greatest in the sight of God and man. - -9 And Jesus said, You men, for shame! the greatest is the servant of -the rest. And then he called to him a little child; he took it in his -arms and said, - -10 The greatest is the little child, and if you would be great at all -you must become as is this child in innocence, in truth, in purity in -life. - -11 Great men scorn not the little things of earth; he who regards and -honors such a child, regards and honors me, and he who scorns a child, -scorn me. - -12 If you would enter through the kingdom gate you must be humble as -this little child. - -13 Hear me, you men, This child, as every other child, has one to -plead its cause before the throne of God. - -14 You scorn it at your peril, men, for lo, I say, its counterpart -beholds the face of God at every moment, every day. - -15 And hear me once again, He who shall cause a little one to stumble -and to fall is marked, accursed; and it were better far if he had -drowned himself. - -16 Behold, offenses everywhere! Men find occasions for to sin and -fall, and they grow strong by rising when they fall; - -17 But woe to him who causes other men to stumble and to fall. - -18 Be on your guard, you men of God, lest you constrain another man to -fall; beware lest you fall into sinful ways yourselves. - -19 Now, if your hands cause you to sin, you better cut them off; for -it is better far to have no hands and not be guilty in the sight of -God and men, than to be perfect in your form and lose your soul. - -20 And if your feet should cause offense, you better cut them off; -for it is better far to enter into life without your feet than fall -beneath the curse. - -21 And if your eyes, or ears, cause you to sin, you better lose them -all than lose your soul. - -22 Your thoughts and words and deeds will all be tried by fire. - -23 Remember that you are the salt of earth; but if you lose the -virtues of the salt, you are but refuse in the sight of God. - -24 Retain the virtues of the salt of life and be at peace among -yourselves. - -25 The world is full of men who have not in themselves the salt of -life, and they are lost. I come to seek and save the lost. - -26 How think you? if a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them -has gone astray, will he not leave the ninety and the nine, - -27 And go out in the desert ways and mountain tops to seek the one -that went astray? - -28 Yes, this you know; and if he finds the one that went astray, lo, -he is glad, and he rejoices over it far more than over all the ninety -and the nine that did not go astray. - -29 And so there is rejoicing in the courts of heaven when one of human -birth who has gone forth into the ways of sin is found and brought -back to the fold; - -30 Yea, there is joy, more joy than over all the righteous men who -never went astray. - -31 And John said, Master, who may seek and save the lost? and who may -heal the sick, and cast the demons out of those obsessed? - -32 When we were on the way we saw a man who was not one of us, cast -demons out and heal the sick. - -33 He did it by the sacred Word and in the name of Christ; but we -forbade him, for he did not walk with us. - -34 And Jesus said, You sons of men, do you imagine that you own the -powers of God? - -35 And do you think that all the world must wait for you to do the -works of God? - -36 God is not man that he should have a special care for any man, and -give him special gifts. - -37 Forbid not any man to do the works of God. - -38 There is no man who can pronounce the sacred Word, and in the name -of Christ restore the sick, and cast the unclean spirits out, who is -not child of God. - -39 The man of whom you speak is one with us. Whoever gathers in the -grain of heaven is one with us. - -40 Whoever gives a cup of water in the name of Christ is one with us; -so God shall judge. - - -CHAPTER 132. - - _Jesus defends a man who has been convicted of stealing bread. - The verdict is reversed. The man goes free, and the people - supply the needs of his starving family._ - -A multitude of people thronged the streets. The officers were on the -way to court with one, a man accused of stealing bread. - -2 And in a little while the man was brought before the judge to answer -to the charge. - -3 And Jesus and the twelve were there. The man showed in his face and -hands the hard drawn lines of toil and want. - -4 A woman richly clad, the accuser of the man, stood forth and said, I -caught this man myself; I know him well, for yesterday he came to beg -for bread, - -5 And when I drove him from my door, he should have known that I would -harbor not a man like him; and then today he came and took the bread. - -6 He is a thief and I demand that he be sent to jail. - -7 The servants also testified against the man; he was adjudged a -thief, and officers were leading him away. - -8 But Jesus standing forth exclaimed, You officers and judge, be not -in haste to lead this man away. - -9 Is this a land of justice and of right? can you accuse and sentence -men to punishment for any crime until they testify themselves? - -10 The Roman law will not permit such travesty on right, and I demand -that you permit this man to speak. - -11 And then the judge recalled the man and said, If you have any tale -to tell, say on. - -12 In tears the man stood forth and said, I have a wife and little -ones and they are perishing for bread, and I have told my story oft, -and begged for bread; but none would hear. - -13 This morning when I left our cheerless hut in search of work my -children cried for bread, and I resolved to feed them or to die. - -14 I took the bread, and I appeal to God, Was it a crime? - -15 This woman snatched the loaf away and threw it to the dogs, and -called the officers and I am here. - -16 Good people, do with me whate'er you will, but save my wife and -little ones from death. - -17 Then Jesus said, Who is the culprit in this case? - -18 I charge this woman as a felon in the sight of God. - -19 I charge this judge as criminal before the bar of human rights. - -20 I charge these servants and these officers as parties to the crime. - -21 I charge the people of Capernaum with cruelty and theft, because -they heeded not the cries of poverty and want, and have withheld from -helpless ones that which is theirs by every law of right; - -22 And I appeal unto these people here, and ask, Are not my charges -based on righteousness and truth? - -23 And every man said, Yes. - -24 The accusing woman blushed for shame; the judge shrank back in -fear; the officers threw off the shackles from the man and ran away. - -25 Then Jesus said, Give this man what he needs and let him go and -feed his wife and little ones. - -26 The people gave abundantly; the man went on his way. - -27 And Jesus said, There is no standard law to judge of crime. The -facts must all be stated e'er a judgment can be rendered in a case. - -28 You men with hearts; go forth and stand where stood this man and -answer me, What would you do? - -29 The thief thinks every other man a thief and judges him accordingly. - -30 The man who judges harshly is the man whose heart is full of crime. - -31 The courtesan who keeps her wickedness concealed by what she calls -respectability, has not a word of pity for the honest courtesan who -claims to be just what she is. - -32 I tell you, men, if you would censure not till you are free from -sin, the world would soon forget the meaning of the word, accused. - - -CHAPTER 133. - - _The twelve go to the feast in Jerusalem, but Jesus remains in - Capernaum. He selects seventy disciples, and sends them out - to teach and heal. He goes alone to the feast and on his way - he heals ten lepers. He teaches in the temple._ - -The harvest feast drew near; the twelve went to Jerusalem, but Jesus -did not go with them; he tarried in Capernaum. - -2 Among the multitudes that followed him were many who went not up to -the feast; they were not Jews. - -3 And Jesus called three-score-and-ten of these disciples unto him and -said, The kingdom of the Christ is not for Jews alone; it is for every -man. - -4 Lo, I have chosen twelve to preach the gospel, first unto the Jews; -and they are Jews. - -5 Twelve is the number of the Jew and seven the number of the all, -including every man. - -6 God is the ten, the holy Jod. - -7 When God and man are multiplied we have three-score-and-ten, the -number of the brotherhood of man. - -8 And now I send you forth by twos and twos; not to the Jews alone, -but unto every nation under heaven; to Greek and to Assyrian; to the -Samaritan; to those beyond the seas; to every man. - -9 You need not go afar, for men of every land are here and in Samaria. - -10 Arise and go your way; but go in faith; and take no gold nor silver -in your purse; no extra coat or shoes. - -11 Go in the sacred name; trust God and you will never come to want. - -12 And let this be your salutation everywhere, Peace be to all; good -will to all. - -13 And if the son of peace be in the house, the door will open wide -and you will enter in; and then the holy peace will rest upon that -house. - -14 The seventy in twos went forth; they went into Samaria, and as they -went they said, Peace be to all; good will to all! - -15 Repent and turn from sin, and set your house in order, for a son of -man who bears the image of the Christ, will come, and you may see his -face. - -16 They entered every village of Samaria; they preached in Tyre and -in Sidon by the sea. Some went to Crete, and others into Greece, and -others went to Gilead and taught. - -17 And Jesus, all alone, went to the feast by the Samaria way; and as -he went through Sychar on the way, the lepers saw him and a company of -ten called from afar and said, - -18 Lord Jesus, stay and speak the Word for us that we may be made -clean. - -19 And Jesus said, Go forth and show yourselves unto the priests. - -20 They went, and as they went their leprosy was healed. One of the -ten, a native of Samaria, returned to thank the master and to praise -the Lord. - -21 And Jesus said to him, Lo, ten were cleansed; where are the nine? -Arise, and go your way; your faith has made you whole. - -22 You have revealed your heart and shown that you are worthy of the -power; behold the nine will find again their leprous hands and feet. - -23 And Jesus went his way, and while the feast was on he came into -Jerusalem, and went into the temple courts. - -24 And he rebuked the scribes and Pharisees, the priests and doctors -of the law for their hypocrisy and selfishness. - -25 The common people were amazed; they said, From whence has come the -wisdom of this man? he speaks as speaks a sage. - -26 And Jesus said, I did not learn the wisdom of the Holy One within -the schools of men; my teaching is not mine; I speak the words of him -who sent me here to do his will. - -27 If any man would know whereof I speak, lo, he must do the will of -God. No man can know except he enters into life and does the will of -God. - -28 Now, Moses gave the law; but none of you have kept the law; how can -you judge the worthiness of any man? - -29 Once in these courts I healed a man upon a Sabbath day, and in a -rage you sought to take my life; and now because I tell the truth you -seek again to take my life. - -30 A scribe spoke out and said, You foolish man, you are obsessed; who -wants to take your life? - -31 The common people said, Is this not Jesus whom the rulers long have -sought to kill? and now he comes and teaches in the temple courts. - -32 If he is guilty of such monstrous crimes, why do they not take him -away in chains? - -33 And Jesus said, You all know me, and know from whence I came; but -you know not the God who sent me here, whose words I speak. - -34 The multitudes again stood forth in his defense; they said, If this -is not the Christ whom God has promised to reveal to men, will he do -greater works when he shall come than does this man? - -35 The Pharisees and ruling priests were angered and they sent their -officers to take him e'er he went away. The officers were filled with -fear; they seized him not. - -36 And Jesus said, Lo, I am here but for a little time and then I go -my way to him who sent me here to do his will. - -37 You seek me now and you can find me now; the time will come when -you will seek and will not find, for where I go you cannot come. - -38 The people said, Where will he go that men can find him not? Will -he go forth to Greece and teach the Greeks? or will he go to Egypt or -Assyria to teach? - -39 But Jesus answered not; unnoticed by the multitudes he left the -temple courts and went his way. - - -CHAPTER 134. - - _Jesus teaches in the temple. His words enrage the rulers. - Nicodemus defends him. He spends the night in prayer on Mount - Olives. Next day he again teaches in the temple. An adultress - is brought before him for judgment._ - -Now, on the last day of the feast when multitudes were in the -courtways, Jesus said, - -2 Whoever is athirst may come to me and drink. - -3 He who believes in me and in the Christ whom God has sent, may drink -the cup of life, and from his inner parts shall streams of living -waters flow. - -4 The Holy Breath will overshadow him, and he will breathe the Breath, -and speak the words, and live the life. - -5 The people were divided in their views concerning him. Some said, -This man is prophet of the living God. - -6 And others said, He is Messiah whom our prophets said would come. - -7 And others said, He cannot be the Christ, for he came down from -Galilee; the Christ must come from Bethlehem where David lived. - -8 Again the priests and Pharisees sent officers to bring him into -court to answer for his life; but when the officers returned and -brought him not, - -9 The rulers were enraged and said, Why did you not arrest this man -and hale him into court? - -10 The officers replied, We never heard a man speak like this man -speaks. - -11 In rage the Pharisees stood forth and said, Have you gone mad? Have -you been led astray? Are you disciples of this man? - -12 Have any of the rulers, or the Pharisees believed on him? The -common people! yes, they may believe; they are accursed; they know not -anything. - -13 But Nicodemus came before the rulers and he said, Can Jewish judges -judge a man and sentence him until they hear his plea? Let Jesus stand -before this bar and testify himself. - -14 The rulers said, This Jesus is a wily man, and if we suffer him to -speak, he will rebuke us face to face, and then the multitudes will -laugh and stand in his defense. - -15 And then you know, as well as we, that prophets do not come from -Galilee. - -16 The rulers felt the force of what the officers and Nicodemus said, -and they said nothing more. - -17 And then the people went their way, each to his home; but Jesus -went unto Mount Olives where he spent the night in prayer. - -18 But in the morning when the sun had scarcely risen, Jesus came -again, and many people came to see him in the temple courts, and he -sat down and taught the multitudes. - -19 The Pharisees and scribes were still alert to find a cause whereby -they might condemn him by the words he spoke. - -20 The officers had taken in the very act of crime, a courtesan. As -Jesus taught, they brought this woman in and set her in the midst and -said, - -21 Rabboni, this vile woman has been taken in adultery. The law of -Moses says that such as she shall die, be stoned to death; what do you -say should be her punishment? - -22 And Jesus stooped and made a figure on the ground and in it placed -the number of a soul, and then he sat in silent thought. - -23 And when the priests demanded that he speak, he said, Let him who -has no sin stand forth and be the first to cast a stone at her. - -24 And then he closed his eyes, and not a word was said. When he arose -and saw the woman all alone he said, - -25 Where are the men who brought you here? they who accused? - -26 The woman said, They all are gone; no one was here who could -condemn. - -27 And Jesus said, And I condemn you not; go on your way in peace, and -sin no more. - - -CHAPTER 135. - - _Jesus teaches in the temple. He reveals some of the deeper - meanings of the Christine ministry. The rulers are greatly - enraged and attempt to stone him, but he disappears._ - -The feast was done and Jesus, Peter, James and John were sitting in -the temple treasury. - -2 The nine had gone back to Capernaum. - -3 The people thronged the temple courts and Jesus said, - -4 I am the lamp; Christ is the oil of life; the Holy Breath the fire. -Behold the light! and he who follows me shall not walk in the dark, -but he shall have the light of life. - -5 A lawyer said, You witness for yourself, your witness is not true. - -6 And Jesus said, If I do witness for myself I speak that which is -true, for I know whence I came and where I go. - -7 And no one else in flesh can testify for me, for none know whence I -came, nor where I go. - -8 My works bear witness to the truth I speak. As man I could not speak -the words I speak; they are the words of Holy Breath; and then my -Father testifies for me. - -9 The lawyer said, Where does your father live? - -10 And Jesus said, You know me not or you would know my Father, and if -you knew the Father you would know the son, because the Father and -the son are one. - -11 I go my way and you shall find me not; for where I go you cannot -come, because you do not know the way. - -12 You cannot find the way because your hearts are gross, your ears -are dull, your eyes are closed. - -13 The light of life cannot shine through the murky veil that you have -drawn about your hearts. - -14 You do not know the Christ and if the Christ be not within the -heart there is no light. - -15 I come to manifest the Christ to men and you receive me not, and -you will dwell in darkness and in the shadow of the grave till you -believe the words I speak. - -16 But you will vilify the son of man, and lift him up and laugh to -see him die. - -17 But then a little light will come and you will know that I am what -I am. - -18 The people did not comprehend the meaning of the words he spoke. - -19 And then he spoke unto the people who believed in him and said, If -you abide in Christ, and Christ abide in you, and if you keep my words -within your heart, - -20 You are the way, you are disciples in the way, and you shall know -what is the truth, and truth shall make you free. - -21 And still the people did not understand; they said, We are the seed -of Abraham and are already free; we never were the slaves of any man; -why do you say, We shall be free? - -22 And Jesus said, Do you not know that every one committing sin is -slave of sin? abides in bondage unto sin? - -23 If you sin not then you are free; but if you sin in thought, or -word, or deed, then you are slaves, and naught but truth can set you -free; if you are free through Christ, then you are free indeed. - -24 You are the seed of Abraham, and yet you seek to kill me just -because I speak the truth of Abraham. - -25 You are the children of the flesh of Abraham; but, lo, I say, There -is a spiritual Abraham whom you know not. - -26 In spirit you are children of your father, and your father is -Diabolus; you hang upon his words and do his will. - -27 He was a murderer from the first; he cannot tell the truth, and -when he tells a lie he speaks his own; he is himself a lie, and he is -father of himself. - -28 If you were children of my Father-God, then you could hear the -words of God; I speak the words of God, but you can hear them not. - -29 A Pharisee stood forth and said, This fellow is not one of us; he -is a curst Samaritan and is obsessed. - -30 But Jesus heeded not the words of Pharisee or scribe; he knew that -all the people knew he was a Jew. - -31 And then he said, Whoever keeps my words shall never die. - -32 A lawyer said, And now we know he is obsessed. Our father Abraham -is dead; the prophets all are dead, and yet this fellow says, Whoever -keeps my words shall never die. - -33 Is this man greater than our father Abraham? Is he above the -prophets? and all of them are dead. - -34 And Jesus said, Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw -it and was glad. - -35 The lawyer said, You simple man; you are not fifty years of age; -have you seen Abraham? - -36 And Jesus said, Before the days of Abraham I am. - -37 Again the scribes and Pharisees were in a rage; they took up stones -to cast at him, but, like a phantom of the night, he disappeared; the -people knew not where he went. - - -CHAPTER 136. - - _Jesus teaches in the temple. Relates the parable of the good - Samaritan. Goes to Bethany. Teaches in Lazarus' home. Rebukes - Martha for her anxiety about the things of this life._ - -And Jesus stood again within the temple courts and taught. - -2 A master of the law was sent to question him that he might find a -cause to censure and accuse him of a crime. - -3 He said, Lord, tell me what to do that I may have eternal life? - -4 And Jesus said, You know the law; what does it say? - -5 The lawyer answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your -heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind, -and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. - -6 And Jesus said, Lo, you have answered well; this do and you shall -live. - -7 The lawyer said, My neighbor, who is he? - -8 And Jesus said, A man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho, and lo, -he met with robbers on the way, who beat him, robbed him of his goods, -and left him bleeding by the way. - -9 A Pharisee was going down that way; he saw the wounded man; but then -he had no time to lose; he passed by on the other side. - -10 A Levite came and saw the man; but he was loath to soil his -sacerdotal robes, and he passed by. - -11 A lawyer on his way to Jericho observed the dying man, and then -he said, If I could make a shekel I might help the man; but he has -nothing left to give, I have no time for charity; and he passed on. - -12 And then a stranger from Samaria came that way; he saw the wounded -man; his heart was touched with pity and he stopped, dismounted from -his horse, - -13 Revived the man, and placed him on his horse and took him to an inn -and charged the keeper of the inn to nurse him back to strength. - -14 He gave the keeper all the money that he had and said, Your charges -may be more than this, but care for this unfortunate, and when I come -again I will pay all; and then he went his way. - -15 Now, master of the law, which of these four was neighbor unto him -who fell among the thieves? - -16 The lawyer said, The man who showed him mercy; he who cared for him. - -17 And Jesus said, Go on your way and likewise do, and you shall live. - -18 Now, Jesus, Peter, James and John went out to Bethany where Lazarus -lived. - -19 And Mary sat at Jesus' feet and heard him speak the words of life -while Martha served. - -20 And Martha called, but Mary would not leave the Lord to help her -serve. - -21 And Martha said to Jesus, Do you not care that Mary makes me bear -the burdens of the serving all the day? I beg that you will bid her -help. - -22 And Jesus said, You are too anxious, Martha, for your guests; you -need not trouble so about the things of life. - -23 You grow a-weary by your care for little things and slight the one -thing needed most of all. - -24 Your sister here has chosen far the better part, a part that none -can take away. - - -CHAPTER 137. - - _Jesus and his disciples go into a retired place to pray. Jesus - teaches Lazarus how to pray. The model prayer. The value of - importunate prayer. Parable of the importunate housewife._ - -Now, in the evening Jesus, Peter, James and John, with Lazarus, went -out beyond the village gates to pray. And Lazarus said, Teach me to -pray. - -2 And Jesus said, The prayer I taught the twelve to pray while we were -up in Galilee is one acceptable to God; and when you pray just say, - -3 Our Father-God who art in heaven; holy is thy name; thy kingdom -come; thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven; - -4 Give us this day our needed bread; - -5 Help us forget the debts that other people owe to us, that all our -debts may be discharged; - -6 And shield us from the tempter's snares that are too great for us to -bear; - -7 And when they come give us the strength to overcome. - -8 And Jesus said, The answer to your prayer may not appear in fulness -in a little time. - -9 Be not discouraged; pray again and then again, for God will hear. - -10 And then he spoke a parable; he said, A housewife was alone at -night and, lo, some guests arrived, and they were hungry, having had -no food for all the day. - -11 The housewife had no bread, and so at midnight she went forth and -called a friend and said, Loan me three loaves of bread, for guests -have come, and I have naught for them to eat. - -12 The friend replied, Why do you trouble me at midnight hour? My door -is shut; my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise to give you -bread; tomorrow you can be supplied. - -13 The housewife asked again, and then again, and then because she -plead, and would not be refused, the friend arose and gave her bread. - -14 Behold, I say to you, Ask firmly and you shall receive; seek -trustingly and you shall find; knock earnestly, the door will open up. - -15 All things are yours, and when you ask, not as a begging man would -ask, but as a child, you shall be satisfied. - -16 A son may ask his father for a loaf of bread; the father will not -give to him a stone; - -17 Or he may ask him for a fish; he will not give a crab; or he may -ask him for an egg; the father will not give a pebble from the brook. - -18 Behold, if men of flesh know how to give abundantly to children of -the flesh, will not your heavenly Father give abundantly to you when -you shall pray? - - -CHAPTER 138. - - _The Christines in Jerusalem. They meet a man blind from birth. - Jesus teaches a lesson on the cause of disease and disasters. - He heals the blind man._ - -The Lord with Peter, James and John were in Jerusalem; it was the -Sabbath day. - -2 And as they walked along the way they saw a man who could not see; -he had been blind from birth. - -3 And Peter said, Lord, if disease and imperfections all are caused by -sin, who was the sinner in this case? the parents or the man himself? - -4 And Jesus said, Afflictions all are partial payments on a debt, or -debts, that have been made. - -5 There is a law of recompense that never fails, and it is summarized -in that true rule of life: - -6 Whatsoever man shall do to any other man some other man will do to -him. - -7 In this we find the meaning of the Jewish law, expressed concisely -in the words, Tooth for a tooth; life for a life. - -8 He who shall injure any one in thought, or word, or deed, is judged -a debtor to the law, and some one else shall, likewise, injure him in -thought, or word or deed. - -9 And he who sheds the blood of any man will come upon the time when -his blood shall be shed by man. - -10 Affliction is a prison cell in which a man must stay until he pays -his debts unless a master sets him free that he may have a better -chance to pay his debts. - -11 Affliction is a certain sign that one has debts to pay. - -12 Behold this man! Once in another life he was a cruel man, and in a -cruel way destroyed the eyes of one, a fellow man. - -13 The parents of this man once turned their faces on a blind and -helpless man, and drove him from their door. - -14 Then Peter asked, Do we pay off the debts of other men when by the -Word we heal them, drive the unclean spirits out, or rescue them from -any form of sore distress? - -15 And Jesus said, We cannot pay the debts of any man, but by the Word -we may release a man from his afflictions and distress, - -16 And make him free, that he may pay the debts he owes, by giving up -his life in willing sacrifice for men, or other living things. - -17 Behold, we may make free this man that he may better serve the race -and pay his debts. - -18 Then Jesus called the man and said, Would you be free? would you -receive your sight? - -19 The man replied, All that I have would I most freely give if I -could see. - -20 And Jesus took saliva and a bit of clay and made a salve, and put -it on the blind man's eyes. - -21 He spoke the Word and then he said, Go to Siloam and wash, and as -you wash say, _Jahhevahe_. This do for seven times and you shall see. - -22 The man was led unto Siloam; he washed his eyes and spoke the word, -and instantly his eyes were opened and he saw. - -23 The people who had seen the man for many years sit by the way and -beg, were much surprised to see him see. - -24 They said, Is not this man the Job that was born blind, who sat -beside the way and begged? - -25 He heard them talk among themselves; he said, Yes, I am he. - -26 The people asked, How were you healed? who opened up your eyes? - -27 He said, A man whom men call Jesus, made a salve of clay and put it -on my eyes, and bade me say a word and wash in Siloam seven times; I -did as he commanded me, and now I see. - -28 A certain scribe was passing, and he saw the man and heard him say -that Jesus, by the Word, had opened up his eyes. - -29 He therefore took the man up to the synagogue, and told the story -to the priests, who asked the man about the miracle. - -30 The man replied, I never saw the light until today, for I was blind -from birth. - -31 This morning as I sat beside Siloam, a man I never knew put on my -eyes a salve that people say he made of clay; he bade me say a word -and bathe my eyes in water seven times; I did as he commanded and I -saw. - -32 A lawyer asked the man, Who was it opened up your eyes? - -33 The man replied, Some people say, His name is Jesus and that he -came from Galilee; but others say, He is the son of God. - -34 A Pharisee came up and said, This is the Sabbath day; a man who -does a work like this, regarding not the Sabbath day, is not from God. - -35 Some of the priests were much amazed and said, A wicked man could -never do a miracle like this; he must possess the power of God. And so -they strove among themselves. - -36 They asked the man, What do you think about this man from Galilee? - -37 He said, He is a prophet sent from God. - -38 Now, many of the Jews did not believe the man was blind from birth; -they said, There is no power to open up the eyes of one born blind. - -39 And then they brought the parents of the man before the Pharisees -that they might testify. - -40 They said, This is our son who was born blind; we do not know how -he received his sight; he is of age and he can tell; ask him. - -41 They were afraid to say what they believed, that Jesus is the -Christ who came to manifest the power of God, lest they offend the -priests and be cast from the synagogue. - -42 Again the rulers said, This Jesus is a wicked man. The man who had -been healed stood forth again and said, - -43 This Jesus may be sinner or be saint, I do not know; but this one -thing I know; I once was blind, but now I see. - -44 And then the scribes and Pharisees reviled the man and said, You -are a follower of this man from Galilee. We follow Moses, but this -man, we know him not, and know not whence he is. - -45 The man replied, It is a marvel that you know not whence he is, and -yet he opened up my eyes. - -46 You know that nothing but the power of God can do such things. - -47 God hears not sinners pray, and you must know that he is not a -wicked man who can employ the power of God. - -48 The Pharisees replied, You wretch! you were begotten and were born -in sin, and now you try to teach the law to us. And then they cast him -from the synagogue. - - -CHAPTER 139. - - _Jesus meets and instructs the man who was blind. Unfolds the - mysteries of the kingdom. The sheepfold. Declares himself - the shepherd. Goes to the home of Massalian, where he abides - certain days._ - -When Jesus heard what had been done and how the priests had cast the -man whom he had healed, out of the synagogue, he found the man and -said to him, - -2 Do you believe in God and in the son of God? - -3 The man replied, I do believe in God; but who is he, the son of God, -of whom you speak? - -4 And Jesus said, The son of God is he who speaks to you. - -5 The man inquired then, Why do you say, The son of God? Is there but -one? - -6 And Jesus said, All men are sons of God by birth; God is the Father -of the race; but all are not the sons of God by faith. - -7 He who attains the victory over self is son of God by faith, and -he who speaks to you has overcome, and he is called the son of God, -because he is the pattern for the sons of men. - -8 He who believes and does the will of God is son of God by faith. - -9 The man in joy exclaimed, Lord, I believe in God, and in the son of -God. - -10 And Jesus said, I came to open prison doors, to make the blind to -see; but, lo, the Pharisees are blind from birth. - -11 And when I put the salve of truth upon their eyes, and bid them go -and wash, and speak the sacred Word they will not go; they love the -dark. - -12 A multitude of people pressed about the Lord, and he stood forth -and said, - -13 You men of Israel, I say to you, The fold of God is large; its -walls are strong, it has a gateway in the east, and he who does not -enter by the gate into the fold, but climbs into the fold some other -way, is thief and comes to rob. - -14 The shepherd of the sheep stands by the gate; he gives the secret -sign; he knocks; the watchman opens up the gate. - -15 And then the shepherd calls his sheep by name; they hear his voice -and follow him; they enter through the gate into the fold. - -16 The sheep know not a stranger's voice; they will not follow him; -they flee away. - -17 The people did not understand the parable that Jesus spoke; and -then he said, - -18 Christ is the gateway of the fold; I am the shepherd of the sheep, -and he who follows me through Christ shall come into the fold where -living waters flow, and where rich pastures are. - -19 False prophets come and go; they claim to be the shepherds of the -sheep; they claim to know the way, but they know not the word of -power; the watchman opens not the gate; the sheep heed not their call. - -20 The shepherd of the sheep will give his life to save the sheep. - -21 A hireling flees to save his life when wolves infest the fold; -and then the tender lambs are snatched away, the sheep are scattered -everywhere. - -22 I am the shepherd of the sheep; I know the sheep of God; they know -my voice, as God knows me and I know him. - -23 The Father loves me with a deathless love, because I lay my life -down for the sheep. - -24 I lay my life down when I will, but I may take it up again; for -every son of God by faith has power to lay his mortal flesh aside and -take it up again. These words I have received from God. - -25 Again the people strove among themselves; they were divided in -their views concerning Christ. They could not comprehend the words -that Jesus spoke. - -26 Some said again, He is obsessed, or he is mad; why listen to his -words? - -27 And others said, His words are not the words of one obsessed. Can -unclean spirits open up the eyes of one born blind? - -28 Then Jesus left Jerusalem and with Massalian he tarried certain -days. - - -CHAPTER 140. - - _Jesus and the three disciples return to Capernaum. Jesus - receives the report of the seventy. With his disciples he - goes through all Galilee encouraging the believers. He heals - a woman. Relates the parable of the little seed and the great - tree._ - -The time had come for the return of the three score and ten whom Jesus -sent abroad to preach. - -2 And Jesus, Peter, James and John began their journey back to Galilee. - -3 They went up through Samaria; they passed through many villages and -towns, and everywhere the people thronged the ways to see the man the -seventy had told about; and Jesus taught and healed the sick. - -4 And when they reached Capernaum the seventy were there; and they -were filled with joy; they said, - -5 The Spirit of the Lord of hosts was with us all the way, and we were -filled. - -6 The power of the sacred Word was manifest in us; we healed the sick; -we caused the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the blind to see. - -7 The very devils trembled when we spoke the Word, and they were -subject unto us. - -8 And Jesus said, As you were going on your way, the heavens were -bright with light, the earth was bright, they seemed to meet and be at -one; and I beheld, and Satan fell as lightning from the heavens. - -9 Behold, for you have power to tread on serpents and on scorpions, -and these are symbols of the enemies of men. You are protected in the -way of right, and naught can harm. - -10 And as you went I heard a master say, Well done. - -11 But you may not rejoice because you have the power to heal the sick -and make the devils tremble by the Word; for such rejoicing is from -carnal self. - -12 You may rejoice because the nations of the earth have ears to hear -the Word, and eyes to see the glory of the Lord, and hearts to feel -the inner breathing of the Holy Breath. - -13 And you may well be glad because your names are written in the Book -of Life. - -14 Then Jesus looked to heaven and said, I thank thee, Father, Lord -of heaven and earth, because thou hast revealed thyself to babes, and -taught them how to light the path and lead the wise to thee. - -15 What thou hast given to me, lo, I have given to them, and through -the sacred Word I have bestowed on them the understanding heart, - -16 That they might know and honor thee through Christ, who was, and -is, and evermore shall be. - -17 And then he said aside, unto the seventy and twelve, Most blessed -are your eyes because you see the things you see; - -18 And blessed are your ears because they hear the things they hear; - -19 And blessed are your hearts because you understand. - -20 In ages that are gone the wise of earth, the prophets, seers and -kings, desired to hear and see and know what you have heard and seen -and known; but they had not attained and could not hear, and see and -know. - -21 And Jesus said again, Lo, I have gone before you many moons, and I -have given to you the bread of heaven and the cup of life; - -22 Have been your buckler and your stay; but now that you have learned -the way, and have the strength to stand alone, behold, I lay my body -down and go to him who is the All. - -23 In forty days then we will turn our faces toward Jerusalem where I -will find the altar of the Lord and give my life in willing sacrifice -for men. - -24 Let us arise and go through all the coasts of Galilee, and give a -salutation of good cheer to all the sons of God by faith. - -25 And they arose and went; they entered every town and village on the -coast, and everywhere they said, The benedictions of the Christ abide -with you forevermore. - -26 Now, in a certain town they went up to the synagogue upon the -Sabbath day, and Jesus taught. - -27 And as he spoke, two men brought on a cot a woman bent near double -with disease; she had not risen from her bed for eighteen years -without a helping hand. - -28 And Jesus laid his hand upon the woman, and he said, Arise, be free -from your infirmity. - -29 And as he spoke the Word the woman found that she was straight and -strong, and she arose and walked and said, Praise God. - -30 The ruler of the synagogue was filled with wrath because the healer -healed upon the Sabbath day. - -31 He did not censure Jesus face to face, but turning to the -multitudes he said, - -32 You men of Galilee, why do you break the laws of God? There are -six days in every week when you may work, and then you may bring the -afflicted to be healed. - -33 This is the day that God has blessed, the Sabbath day in which men -may not work. - -34 And Jesus said, You inconsistent scribes and Pharisees! Upon the -Sabbath day you take your beasts of burden from their stalls, and lead -them forth to eat and drink; is this not work? - -35 This daughter of your father Abraham, who has been bound for -eighteen years, has come in faith to be made free. - -36 Now, tell me, men, is it a crime to break her bonds and set her -free upon the Sabbath day? - -37 The ruler said no more; the people all rejoiced and said, Behold -the Christ! - -38 And Jesus spoke a parable; he said, The kingdom of the Christ is -like a little seed that one put in the ground; - -39 It grew and after many years became a mighty tree, and many people -rested in its shade, and birds built nests and reared their young -among its leafy boughs. - - -CHAPTER 141. - - _Jesus speaks words of encouragement. Rebukes an officious - Pharisee. Attends a wedding feast. Heals a dropsical man. - Rebukes guests who seek chief seats. Relates a parable of a - wedding feast._ - -And Jesus went into another town upon the coast and spoke good words -of cheer to those who followed him. - -2 And one stood forth and said, Lord, are there few that enter into -life? - -3 And Jesus said, The way is rough that leads to life; the gate is -narrow and is guarded well; but every one who seeks in faith shall -find the way, and they who know the Word may enter in. - -4 But many seek the way for selfish gain; they pound upon the gate of -life; but it is fast. - -5 The watchman from the turret says, I know you not; your speech is -that of Ashdod, and your robes are those of sin; depart and go your -way. - -6 And they will go their way with weeping and with gnashing of the -teeth. - -7 And they will be enraged when they see their father Abraham with -Isaac, Jacob and the prophets, resting in the kingdom of the Christ, -and they themselves debarred. - -8 And, lo, I say that men will come from lands afar, from east, from -west, from north, from south and sit with me in consciousness of life. - -9 Behold, I say, the last shall be the first, the first shall be the -last. - -10 All men are called unto the kingdom of the Christ; but few are -chosen, for the pure in heart alone can see the king. - -11 And as he spoke a Pharisee came up and said, You man of Galilee, if -you would save your life remain not here; flee instantly, for Herod -swears that he will take your life, and even now his officers are -seeking you. - -12 And Jesus said, Why is it that the Pharisees are so concerned about -my life? And then he said unto the man who spoke, - -13 Go forth and say to that sly fox, Behold, I heal the sick and cast -the unclean spirits out today, tomorrow, and the days to come, and -then I will attain. - -14 Go say to him, I need not fear in Galilee, for I must meet the -cruel wrath of men within Jerusalem. - -15 And while they tarried in the place a man, a Pharisee, invited -Jesus and a few of those who followed him, to dine with him upon the -Sabbath day, to celebrate the marriage of his son. - -16 Among the guests was one afflicted with a dropsical disease. - -17 And Jesus said to those who had been sent to get from his own lips -some words by which they might accuse him of a crime, - -18 You lawyers and you Pharisees, what do you say about the -lawlessness of healing on the Sabbath day? Here is a man, one of your -own, and he is sore distressed. - -19 Shall I, in God's own strength, say out the healing Word and heal -this man? - -20 The lawyers and the Pharisees were dumb; they answered not. - -21 Then Jesus spoke the healing Word and healed the man and he, -rejoicing, went his way. - -22 Then Jesus said again unto the lawyers and the Pharisees, Which one -of you who has a horse or cow, if it would fall into a pit upon the -Sabbath day would not call in his friends to help to draw it out? - -23 And not a man could answer, Here am I. - -24 As Jesus looked upon the guests who had been bidden to the feast -and saw them crowding in to get the highest seats, he said to them, - -25 You selfish men why do you strive to take the highest seats when -you are but invited guests? You do not show our host the courtesies of -life. - -26 When men are bidden to a marriage feast they should sit in the -lower seats until the host shall place them where he wills. - -27 You may, unbidden, take the highest seat; but then a man more -honorable may come and when the host shall bid you rise and take a -lower seat that he may honor his more worthy guest, you cannot help -but blush for very shame in your humility. - -28 But if you take the lowest seat and then are honored by your host -and asked to take a higher seat, you are esteemed an honored guest. - -29 In this event we note a principle in life, That he who would exalt -himself shall be abased, and he who humbles low himself shall be -exalted in the sight of men. - -30 Then Jesus spoke to all the guests; he said, When any one of you -would make a feast it should not be for friends, or kindred, or the -rich; - -31 For they consider such a courtesy loaned out, and they feel called -upon to make a greater feast for you, just in the payment of a debt. - -32 But when you make a feast invite the poor, the lame, the blind; in -this a blessing waits for you, for well you know that you will get -naught in return; but in the consciousness of helping those who need, -you will be recompensed. - -33 And then he spoke a parable: he said, A wealthy man prepared a -feast; he sent his servants forth to bid his chosen ones to come; but -they desired not to go, and they formed such excuses as they thought -would satisfy the would-be host. - -34 One said, I have just bought a piece of land, and I must go and -prove my title to the land; I pray to be excused. - -35 Another said, I must go down and prove my ownership in sheep that I -have bought; I pray to be excused. - -36 Another said, I have been married but a little time and so I cannot -go; I beg to be excused. - -37 Now, when the servants came and told the man who had prepared the -feast that those he had invited would not come, - -38 The man was grieved in heart; and then he sent his servants forth -into the streets and alleys of the town to bring up to the feast the -poor, the lame, the blind. - -39 The servants went abroad and found the poor, the lame, the blind, -and brought them in; but there was room for more. - -40 The host then sent his men of arms to bring by force the people to -his feast; and then the house was full. - -41 And God has made a feast for men. Long years ago he sent his -servants forth unto the favored sons of men. They would not hear his -call; they came not to the feast. - -42 He then sent forth his servants to the strangers and the -multitudes; they came, but there is room for more. - -43 Behold, for he will send his angels forth with mighty trumpet -blast, and men will be compelled to come up to the feast. - - -CHAPTER 142. - - _The path of discipleship, its difficulties. The cross and - its meaning. The danger of wealth. The young man who loved - wealth more than he loved Christ. Parable of the rich man and - Lazarus._ - -Now, Jesus and the twelve went to another town, and as they entered it -they said, Peace be to all; good will to all. - -2 A multitude of people followed and the master said to them, Behold, -for you are followers for selfish gain. - -3 If you would follow me in love, and be disciples of the Holy Breath, -and gain at last the crown of life, you must leave all there is of -carnal life behind. - -4 Be not deceived; stay, men, and count the cost. - -5 If one would build a tower, or a home, he first sits down and counts -the cost to be assured that he has gold enough to finish it. - -6 For well he knows that if he makes a failure of his enterprise he -may lose all his wealth, and be the butt of ridicule. - -7 And if a king desires to take the kingdom of another king, he calls -his trusted men and they consider well their strength; he will not -measure arms with one of matchless power. - -8 Count well the cost before you start to follow me; it means the -giving up of life, and all you have. - -9 If you love father, mother, wife, or child, more than you love the -Christ, you cannot follow me. - -10 If you love wealth or honor more than you love the Christ, you -cannot follow me. - -11 The paths of carnal life do not run up the mountain side towards -the top; they run around the mount of life, and if you go straight to -the upper gate of consciousness you cross the paths of carnal life; -tread in them not. - -12 And this is how men bear the cross; no man can bear another's cross. - -13 Take up your cross and follow me through Christ into the path of -true discipleship; this is the path that leads to life. - -14 This way of life is called the pearl of greatest price, and he who -finds it must put all he has beneath his feet. - -15 Behold, a man found in a certain field the croppings of a wondrous -mine of gold, and he went forth and sold his home and all he had and -bought the field; then he rejoiced in wealth. - -16 Now, there were present, scribes and Pharisees of wealth who loved -their money, and their bonds and lands, and they laughed loud to scorn -what Jesus said. - -17 Then Jesus spoke to them and said, You are the men who justify -yourselves in sight of men; God knows your wickedness of heart; - -18 And you must know, O men, that whatsoever is revered and is exalted -by the carnal mind, is an abomination in the sight of God. - -19 And Jesus went his way, and as he went a young man ran and knelt -down at his feet and said, Good master, tell me what to do that I may -have eternal life. - -20 And Jesus said, Why do you call me good? No one is truly good but -God himself. - -21 And God has said, If you would enter into life, keep the -Commandments of the law. - -22 The young man asked, To which commands did he refer? - -23 And Jesus said, You shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall -not do adulterous things; you shall not falsely testify; - -24 And you shall love your God with all your heart, and you shall love -your neighbor as yourself. - -25 The man replied, These things I have observed from youth; what lack -I yet? - -26 And Jesus said, One thing you lack; your heart is fixed on things -of earth; you are not free. - -27 Go forth and sell all that you have, and give your money to the -poor, and come and follow me, and you shall have eternal life. - -28 The man was grieved at what the master said; for he was rich; he -hid his face and went in sorrow on his way. - -29 And Jesus looked upon the sorrowing man and said, It is so hard for -men with hoarded wealth to enter through the door into the kingdom of -the soul. - -30 And his disciples were amazed at what he said. - -31 He answered them and said, I tell you, men, that they who trust in -riches cannot trust in God and cannot come into the kingdom of the -soul; - -32 Yea, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for -a man with hoarded wealth to find the way of life. And his disciples -said, Who then can find the way? Who can be saved? - -33 And Jesus said, The rich may give his gold away; the high may kiss -the dust, and God will save. - -34 Then Jesus spoke this parable to them: - -35 A rich man lived in splendid state; he wore the finest garments men -could make; his boards were loaded with the costliest viands of the -land. - -36 A beggar, blind and lame, whose name was Lazarus, was wont to sit -beside the waste gate of this home that he might share with dogs the -refuse from the rich man's boards. - -37 It came to pass that Lazarus died, and angels carried him away unto -the bosom of our father Abraham. - -38 The rich man also died, and he was buried in a costly tomb; but in -the purifying fires he opened up his eyes dissatisfied. - -39 He looked and saw the beggar resting peacefully in the bosom of his -father Abraham, and in the bitterness of his soul he cried, - -40 My father Abraham, look down in mercy on your son; I am tormented -in these flames. - -41 Send Lazarus, I beseech, that he may give me just a sup of water to -cool my parched tongue. - -42 But Abraham replied, My son, in mortal life, you had the best -things of the earth and Lazarus had the worst, and you would not give -him a cup of water there, but drove him from your door. - -43 The law must be fulfilled, and Lazarus now is comforted, and you -are paying what you owe. - -44 Besides, there is a great gulf fixed between your zone and us, and -if I would I could not send Lazarus to you, and you cannot come up to -us till you have paid your debts. - -45 Again the man in anguish said, O father Abraham, I pray, send -Lazarus back to earth, and to my father's house, that he may tell -my brothers who are yet in life, for I have five of them, about the -horrors of this place, lest they come down to me and not to you. - -46 And Abraham replied, They have the words of Moses and the seers, -let them hear them. - -47 The man replied, They will not hearken to the written word; but if -a man would go up from the grave they might believe. - -48 But Abraham replied, If they hear not the words of Moses and the -seers they would not be persuaded even though one from the dead stood -in their midst. - -49 And Peter said, Lord, we have left our all to follow you; and what -is our reward? - -50 And Jesus said, Most verily I say to you, that you who have left -all to follow me shall come into a newness of a life hid deep with -Christ in God. - -51 And you shall sit with me upon the throne of power, and judge with -me the tribes of Israel. - -52 And he who conquers carnal self, and follows me through Christ -shall have a hundred fold of that which is the wealth of life on -earth, and in the world to come, eternal life. - - -CHAPTER 143. - - _Righteousness in rewards. Jesus relates the parable of the - husbandman and the laborers. Makes known the divine law of - divorce. The mystery of marriage._ - -The Lord was standing by the sea; the multitudes were there and one -stood forth and said, - -2 Does God bestow rewards as men bestow rewards, for what is done? - -3 And Jesus said, Men never know what other men have done, this life -is such a seeming life. - -4 One man may seem to do a mighty work, and be adjudged by men as -worthy of a great reward. - -5 Another man may seem to be a failure in the harvest fields of life, -and be dishonored in the face of men. - -6 Men do not know the hearts of men; God only knows the hearts of men, -and when the day is done he may reward with life the man who fell -beneath the burdens of the day, and turn away the man who was the idol -of the hearts of men. - -7 And then he spoke a parable; he said, The kingdom of the soul is -like a man who had a vast estate, - -8 And in the morning time he went down to the market place to search -for men to gather in his grain. - -9 He found three men, and he agreed to give to each a penny for his -service for the day, and sent them to his field. - -10 Again he went down to the market place the third hour of the day -and found five men in waiting, and he said, Go down into my field and -serve, and I will pay you what is right; and they went down and served. - -11 He went again; it was the sixth hour of the day, and seven men were -waiting at the stand; he sent them to the field to serve. - -12 And at the eleventh hour he went again; twelve men stood there in -seeming idleness; he said to them, Why stand you here in idleness all -day? - -13 They said, Because we have no work to do; no man has hired us. - -14 And then he sent them to his field to serve. - -15 Now, when the evening came the man said to his steward, Call the -laborers from the field, and pay them for his services. And all were -paid, and each received a penny for his hire. - -16 Now, when the twelve, who served but from the eleventh hour, -received each one a penny for his hire, the three were sore aggrieved; -they said, - -17 These twelve have served but one short hour, and now they have an -equal share with us who have toiled through the scorching hours of -day; should we not have at least two pennies for our hire? - -18 The man replied, My friends, I do no wrong to you. Did we not have -a fast agreement when you went to work? have I not paid in full? - -19 What is it unto you if I should pay these men a smaller or a larger -sum? Take that which is your own and go your way, for I will give unto -the twelve what I will give unto the three, the five, the seven. - -20 They did their best and you could do no more than do your best. - -21 The hire of man is based upon the intent of the heart. - -22 As Jesus taught, a Pharisee came up and said, Lord, is it lawful -for a man to put away his wife? - -23 And Jesus said, You ought to know; what says the law? - -24 The Pharisee replied, The law provides that man may be divorced, -may put away his wife. - -25 And Jesus said, The hardness of the hearts of men induced the giver -of the law to make provisions such as these; but from the first it was -not so. - -26 God made a woman for a man, and they were one; and afterwards he -said, A man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave -unto his wife; they are no more divided; they are one, one flesh. - -27 What God has joined no man can part. - -28 Now, when they went up to the house, a man made free to ask again -about this matter of divorce. - -29 And Jesus said again what to the Pharisee he said; and then he gave -the higher law of marriage life: - -30 Whoever puts away his wife, except she be a courtesan, and then -shall take another wife commits adultery. - -31 The woman who shall leave a man, unless he be a libertine and -an adulterer, and then becomes the wife of any other man, commits -adultery. - -32 And Thomas asked, What is adultery? - -33 And Jesus said, The man who harbors lustful thoughts, who covets -any woman not his wife, is an adulterer. - -34 The wife who harbors lustful thoughts, and covets any man who is -not wed to her, is not her husband, is a courtesan. - -35 Men cannot make a law to bind two hearts. - -36 When two are bound in love they have no thought of lust. The woman -cannot leave the man; the man has no desire to send his wife away. - -37 When men and women harbor lustful thoughts, and covet any other -flesh, they are not one, not joined by God. - -38 And Philip said, Lord, are there few that God has joined in holy -marriage bonds? - -39 And Jesus said, God knows the pure in heart; the lustful men and -women are but creatures of the lustful self; they cannot be at one; -nor can they be at one with God. - -40 Nathaniel said, Is it not well that all men should refrain from -taking on themselves the marriage vow? - -41 And Jesus said, Men are not pure because they are unmarried men. -The man who lusts is an adulterer if he has wife or not. - -42 And then he said to all, Some things men know by being told, while -other things they know not till the gate of consciousness shall open -up for them. - -43 I speak a mystery that now you cannot understand; but you shall -some day understand. - -44 A eunuch is a man who does not lust; some men are eunuchs born, -some men are eunuchs by the power of men, and some are eunuchs by the -Holy Breath, who makes them free in God through Christ. - -45 He who is able to receive the truth I speak, let him receive. - - -CHAPTER 144. - - _The Christines at Tiberius. Jesus speaks on the inner life. - Relates the parable of the prodigal son. The resentment of - the elder brother._ - -When they had journeyed through the towns and cities of the land of -Galilee, the Lord with his disciples came to Tiberius, and here they -met a few who loved the name of Christ. - -2 And Jesus told them many things about the inner life; but when the -multitudes came up, he spoke a parable; he said, - -3 A certain man with great possessions had two sons. The youngest son -grew tired of life at home and said, - -4 My father, pray divide your wealth and give the portion that is mine -to me, and I will seek my fortune in another land. - -5 The father did as he desired, and with his wealth the young man went -into a foreign land. - -6 He was a profligate and soon had squandered all his wealth in ways -of sin. - -7 When nothing else remained for him to do he found employment in the -fields to care for swine. - -8 And he was hungry and no one gave him aught to eat, and so he ate -the carob pods that he was feeding to the swine. - -9 And after many days he found himself and said unto himself, My -father is a man of wealth; he has a score of servants who are -bountifully fed while I, his son, am starving in the fields among the -swine. - -10 I do not hope to be received again as son, but I will rise and -go straight to my father's house, and I will make confession of my -waywardness; - -11 And I will say, My father, I am come again; I am a profligate, and -I have lost my wealth in ways of sin; I am not worthy to be called -your son. - -12 I do not ask to be received again as son, but let me have a place -among your servants, where I may have a shelter from the storms and -have enough to eat. - -13 And he arose and sought his father's house, and as he came his -mother saw him while yet a great way off. - -14 (A mother's heart can feel the first faint yearning of a wandering -child.) - -15 The father came, and hand in hand they walked a-down the way to -meet the boy, and there was joy, great joy. - -16 The boy tried hard to plead for mercy and a servant's place; but -love was all too great to listen to the plea. - -17 The door was opened wide; he found a welcome in the mother's heart, -and in the father's heart. - -18 The father called the servants in, and bade them bring the finest -robe for him; the choicest sandals for his feet; a ring of purest gold -for him to wear. - -19 And then the father said, My servants, go and kill the fatted calf; -prepare a feast, for we are glad; - -20 Our son we thought was dead is here alive; a treasure that we -thought was lost is found. - -21 The feast was soon prepared and all were merry, when the eldest son -who had been serving in a distant field and knew not that his brother -had returned, came home. - -22 And when he learned the cause of all the merriment he was offended, -and would not go into the house. - -23 His father and his mother both besought him tearfully to disregard -the waywardness and folly of their son; but he would not; he said, - -24 Lo, all these years I have remained at home, have served you every -day, have never yet transgressed your most severe commands; - -25 And yet you never killed for me a kid, nor made for me a simple -feast that I might make merry with my friends; - -26 But when your son, this profligate, who has gone forth and -squandered half your wealth in ways of sin, comes home, because he -could do nothing else, you kill for him the fatted calf and make a -wondrous feast. - -27 His father said, My son, all that I have is yours and you are ever -with us in our joys; - -28 And it is well to show our gladness when your brother, who is near -and dear to us, and who we thought was dead, returns to us alive. - -29 He may have been a profligate; may have consorted with gay -courtesans and thieves, yet he is still your brother and our son. - -30 Then Jesus said so all might hear: He who has ears to hear, and -hearts to understand will comprehend the meaning of this parable. - -31 Then Jesus and the twelve came to Capernaum. - - -CHAPTER 145. - - _Jesus speaks on the establishment of the Christine kingdom - and the future coming of the Lord in power. Exhorts to - faithfulness. Parable of the unjust judge. Parable of the - Pharisee and the publican._ - -A company of Pharisees came up to speak with Jesus and they said, -Rabboni, we have heard you say, The kingdom is at hand. - -2 We read in Daniel that the God of heaven will form a kingdom, and we -ask, Is this the kingdom of the God you speak about? If so, when will -it come? - -3 And Jesus said, The prophets all have told about this kingdom of the -God, and it is just at hand; but men can never see it come. - -4 It never can be seen with carnal eyes; it is within. - -5 Lo, I have said, and now I say again, None but the pure in heart can -see the king, and all the pure in heart are subjects of the king. - -6 Reform, and turn away from sin; prepare you, O prepare! the kingdom -is at hand. - -7 And then he spoke to his disciples and he said, The seasons of the -son of man are past. - -8 The time will come when you will wish above all else to see again -one of these days; but you can see it not. - -9 And many men will say, Lo, here is Christ; lo, there is Christ. Be -not deceived; go not into their ways. - -10 For when the son of man will come again no man need point the way; -for as the lightning lights the heavens, so will the son of man light -up the heavens and earth. - -11 But, lo, I say, that many generations will have come and gone -before the son of man shall come in power; but when he comes no one -will say, Lo, here is Christ; lo, there. - -12 But as it was before the flood in Noah's day, so shall it be. The -people ate, they drank, were filled with merriment and sung for joy, - -13 And did not know their doom until the ark was done and Noah entered -in; but then the flood came on and swept them all away. - -14 So, also, in the days of Lot; the people ate and drank; they -bought, they sold, they planted and they reaped, they went their ways -in sin, and they cared not; - -15 But when the righteous Lot went from their city's gates the earth -beneath the city shook, and brimstone fires fell from heaven; - -16 The gapping jaws of earth flew wide, and swallowed up their homes, -their wealth, and they went down to rise no more. - -17 So shall it be when comes the son of man in power. - -18 I charge you men, as I will charge men then, Seek not to save your -wealth, or you will lose your lives. Go forth, and look not back upon -the crumbling walls of sin. Do not forget Lot's wife. - -19 Whoever tries to save his life will lose his life; whoever freely -gives his life in serving life will save his life. - -20 Then comes the sifting time. Two men will be in bed; one will be -called, the other left; two women will be working side by side; one -will be snatched away, the other left. - -21 And his disciples said, Explain to us this parable; or is it not a -parable? - -22 And Jesus said, The wise will understand, for where the bread -of heaven is, there you will find the pure in heart; and where the -carcass lies will gather all the birds of prey. - -23 But, lo, I say, before these days will come, the son of man will be -betrayed by one of you into the hands of wicked men, and he will give -his life for you and all the world. - -24 Yea, more; the Holy Breath will come in power and fill you with the -wisdom of the just. - -25 And you will tell the wondrous story in Judea and in Samaria and in -the farther lands of earth. - -26 And then to teach that men should pray and never faint, he told -this parable: - -27 There was a judge who feared not God, nor yet regarded man. - -28 There was a widow who oft implored the judge to right her wrongs -and to avenge her foes. - -29 At first the judge would hear her not, but after many days he said, - -30 I fear not God, and I regard not man, yet, lest this widow wear me -out by pleading every day I will avenge her on her foes. - -31 When the disciples asked the meaning of this parable, the Lord -replied, The wise can understand; the foolish have no need to know. - -32 And then to teach a lesson unto certain of his followers who -trusted in themselves and thought that they were holier than other -men, he told this parable: - -33 Two men went to the synagogue to pray; one was a Pharisee, the -other was a publican. - -34 The Pharisee stood forth and prayed thus with himself, O God, I -thank thee that I am not like other men, who are extortioners, unjust, -adulterers; - -35 Not even like this publican. I fast two times a week, and I give -tithes of all I get. - -36 The publican came not a-near; he would not lift his eyes to heaven, -but smote his breast and said, - -37 O Lord, be merciful to me; I am a sinner in thy sight; I am undone. - -38 And now, you men, I say to you, The publican knew how to pray, and -he was justified. - -39 The Pharisee knew how to talk, but still he went away condemned. - -40 Lo, every one who lauds himself shall be abased, and he who does -not praise himself shall be exalted in the sight of God. - - -CHAPTER 146. - - _Last meeting of Jesus with his disciples in Galilee. Miriam - sings a song of praise. The song. The Christines begin their - journey to Jerusalem. They rest at Enon Springs. The selfish - request of the mother of James and John. The Christines reach - Jerusalem._ - -The work of Jesus in the land of Galilee was done, and he sent forth a -message, and the many came from many towns of Galilee; came to receive -a benediction from his hand. - -2 Among the multitudes who came was Luke, a Syrian from Antioch, a -learned physician and a just and upright man. - -3 Theophilus, a Grecian senator, a minister of Csar's court, was also -there; and many other men of honor and renown. - -4 And Miriam sung: All hail the Day Star from on high! - -5 All hail the Christ who ever was, and is and evermore shall be! - -6 All hail the darkness of the shadowland! All hail the dawn of peace -on earth; good will to men! - -7 All hail triumphant king, who grapples with the tyrant Death, who -conquers in the fight, and brings to light immortal life for men! - -8 All hail the broken cross, the mutilated spear! - -9 All hail the triumph of the soul! All hail the empty tomb! - -10 All hail to him despised by men, rejected by the multitudes; for he -is seated on the throne of power! - -11 All hail! for he has called the pure in heart of every clime to sit -with him upon the throne of power! - -12 All hail, the rending veil! The way into the highest courts of God -is open for the sons of men! - -13 Rejoice, O men of earth, rejoice, and be exceeding glad! - -14 Bring forth the harp and touch its highest strings; bring forth the -lute, and sound its sweetest notes! - -15 For men who were made low, are high exalted now, and they who -walked in darkness and in the vale of death, are risen up and God and -man are one forevermore, - -16 Allelujah! praise the Lord forevermore. Amen. - -17 And Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, - -18 My Father-God, let now the benediction of thy love, thy mercy and -thy truth rest on these men. - -19 The lamp is taken from their midst, and if the inner light be not -aflame, lo, they must tread the ways of darkness and of death. - -20 And then he said to all, Farewell. - -21 Then Jesus and his mother, and the twelve, and Miriam and Mary, -mother of the two disciples, James and John, - -22 And many other loyal souls who loved the Christ, went to Jerusalem, -that they might celebrate the Jewish feast. - -23 And as they journeyed on their way they came to Enon Springs, near -unto Salim where the harbinger once taught. - -24 And as they rested by the fountain, Mary, wife of Zebedee, and -mother of the two disciples, James and John, came to the master and -she said, - -25 My Lord, I know the kingdom is about to come, and I would ask this -boon: Command that these my sons shall sit with you upon the throne, -the one upon the right, the other on the left. - -26 And Jesus said to her, You know not what you ask. - -27 And then he turned to James and John and said, Are you prepared and -are you strong enough to drink the cup that I will drink? - -28 They said, Yes, master, we are strong enough to follow where you go. - -29 Then Jesus said, You shall indeed drink of my cup; but I am not the -judge of who will sit upon my right hand or my left. - -30 The men who live the life and keep the faith will sit upon the -throne of power. - -31 Now, when the apostles heard the pleadings of the mother for her -sons, and knew that James and John were seeking special favors from -the Lord, they were indignant and they said, - -32 We surely thought that James and John had risen above the selfish -self. Who can we trust among the sons of men? - -33 And Jesus called the ten apart and said to them, How hard for men -to comprehend the nature of the kingdom of the soul! - -34 These two disciples do not seem to know that rulership in heaven is -not akin to rulership on earth. - -35 In all the kingdoms of the world, the men of power, they who exalt -themselves, show their authority, and rule with iron rule; - -36 But you must know that they who rule the sons of light are they who -seek no earthly power, but give their lives in willing sacrifice for -men. - -37 Whoever would be great must be the minister of all. The highest -seat in heaven is at the feet of him who is the lowest man of earth. - -38 I had a glory with our Father-God before the worlds were made, and -still I come to serve the race of men; to be the minister of men; to -give my life for men. - -39 And then the Christines journeyed on and came unto Jerusalem. - - -CHAPTER 147. - - _Jesus speaks to the people in the temple regarding the - messiahship. Rebukes the Jews for treachery. The Jews attempt - to stone him, but are prevented by Joseph. The Christines go - to Jericho, and later to Bethabara._ - -Now, many Jews from Galilee, Judea and Samaria were in Jerusalem and -at the feast. - -2 The porch of Solomon was filled with scribes and Pharisees and -doctors of the law, and Jesus walked with them. - -3 A scribe approaching Jesus said, Rabboni, why do you keep the people -waiting in suspense? If you are the Messiah that the prophets said -would come, will you not tell us now? - -4 And Jesus said, Lo, I have told you many times, but you believed me -not. - -5 No man can do the work that I have done and bring to men the truth -as I have brought the truth who did not come from God. - -6 What I have done and said are witnesses for me. - -7 God calls, and they whose ears have been attuned to hear the -heavenly voice have heard the call and have believed in me; because -God testifies for me. - -8 You cannot hear the voice of God, because your ears are closed. You -cannot comprehend the works of God, because your hearts are full of -self. - -9 And you are busy-bodies, mischief-makers, hypocrites. You take these -men whom God has given me into your haunts and try to poison them with -sophistries and lies, and think that you will snatch them from the -fold of God. - -10 I tell you, men, these men are tried and you can snatch not one of -them away. - -11 My Father who has given them to me is greater than you all, and he -and I are one. - -12 And then the Jews took stones to throw at him and cried, Now we -have heard enough; away with him; let him be stoned. - -13 But Joseph, member of the great Sanhedrim of the Jews, was in the -porch and he came forth and said, - -14 You men of Israel, do nothing rash; throw down those stones; your -reason is a better guide than passion in such times as these. - -15 You do not know your accusations to be true, and if this man should -prove himself to be the Christ, and you should take his life, the -wrath of God would rest upon you evermore. - -16 And Jesus said to them, Lo, I have healed your sick, have caused -your blind to see, your deaf to hear, your lame to walk, and cast out -unclean spirits from your friends; - -17 For which of these great works would you desire to take my life? - -18 The Jews replied, We would not stone you for your works of grace, -but for your vile, blasphemous words. You are but man and still you -say that you are God. - -19 And Jesus said, A prophet of your own said to the sons of men, Lo, -you are gods! - -20 Now, hark, you men, if he could say that to the men who simply -heard the word of God, why should you think that I blaspheme the name -of God because I say, I am a son of God? - -21 If you believe not what I say you must have faith in what I do, and -you should see the Father in these works, and know that I dwell in the -Father-God, and that the Father dwells in me. - -22 And then again the Jews took stones and would have stoned him in -the temple court; but he withdrew himself from sight and left the -porch and court and went his way; - -23 And with the twelve he went to Jericho, and after certain days -they crossed the Jordan and in Bethabara abode for many days. - - -CHAPTER 148. - - _Lazarus dies and Jesus and the twelve return to Bethany. The - resurrection of Lazarus, which greatly excites the rulers in - Jerusalem. The Christines go to the hills of Ephriam, and - there abide._ - -One day as Jesus and the twelve were in the silence in a home in Araba -a messenger came and said, - -2 Lord, Jesus, hear! your friend in Bethany is sick, nigh unto death; -his sisters urge that you arise and come in haste. - -3 Then turning to the twelve the master said, Lo, Lazarus has gone to -sleep, and I must go and waken him. - -4 And his disciples said, What need to go if he has gone to sleep; he -will awaken by and by? - -5 Then Jesus said, It is the sleep of death; for Lazarus is dead. - -6 But Jesus did not haste to go; he stayed two days in Araba; and then -he said, The hour has come and we must go to Bethany. - -7 But his disciples urged him not to go; they said, The Jews are -waiting your return that they may take your life. - -8 And Jesus said, Men cannot take my life till I have handed unto them -my life. - -9 And when the time shall come I will myself lay down my life; that -time is near, and God knows best; I must arise and go. - -10 And Thomas said, Then we will also go; yes, we will offer up our -lives and die with him. And they arose and went. - -11 Now, Mary, Martha, Ruth and many friends were weeping in their home -when one approached and said, The Lord has come; but Mary did not hear -the words. - -12 But Ruth and Martha heard, and they arose and went to meet the -Lord; he waited at the village gate. - -13 And when they met the master Martha said, You are too late, for -Lazarus is dead; if you had only been with us I know that he would not -have died. - -14 But even now I know that you have power over death; that by the -sacred Word you may cause life to rise from death. - -15 And Jesus said, Behold, for Lazarus shall live again. - -16 And Martha said, I know that he will rise and live again when all -the dead shall rise. - -17 And Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life; he who has -faith in me, though he be dead, yet shall he live; - -18 And he who is alive, and has a living faith in me, shall never die. -Do you believe what I have said? - -19 And Martha said, Lord, I believe that you are come to manifest the -Christ of God. - -20 Then Jesus said, Go back and call aside your sister, and my mother -and the prophetess and say that I have come; and I will stay here by -the gate till they have come to me. - -21 And Ruth and Martha did as Jesus bade them do, and in a little -while the Marys and the prophetess had met the Lord. - -22 And Mary said, Why did you tarry thus? If you had been with us our -brother, dear, would not have died. - -23 Then Jesus went up to the house and when he saw the heavy grief of -all, he was himself stirred up with grief, and said, Where is the -tomb in which he lies? - -24 They said, Lord, come and see. And Jesus wept. - -25 The people said, Behold how Jesus loved this man! - -26 And others said, Could not this Lord who opened up the eyes of one -born blind, have saved this man from death? - -27 But soon the mourners stood beside the tomb, a sepulcher hewn out -of solid rock; a massive stone closed up the door. - -28 And Jesus said, Take you away the stone. - -29 But Martha said, Lord, is it well? Behold our brother has been dead -four days; the body must be in decay, and is it well that we should -see it now? - -30 The Lord replied, Have you forgotten, Martha, what I said while we -were at the village gate? Did I not say that you should see the glory -of the Lord? - -31 And then they rolled the stone away; the flesh had not decayed; and -Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, - -32 My Father-God, thou who hast ever heard my prayers, I thank thee -now, and that these multitudes may know that thou hast sent me forth, -that I am thine and thou art mine, make strong the Word of power. - -33 And then he spoke the Word, and in a voice that souls can -comprehend, he said, O Lazarus, awake! - -34 And Lazarus arose and came out of the tomb. The grave clothes were -about him fast, and Jesus said, - -35 Loose him and let him go. - -36 The people were amazed and multitudes confessed their faith in him. - -37 And some went to Jerusalem and told the Pharisees about this -resurrection of the dead. - -38 The chief priests were confounded, and they said, What shall we do? -This man is doing many mighty deeds, and if we do not stay him in his -work, all men will look on him as king, and through the Romans he may -take the throne, and we will lose our place and power. - -39 And then the chief priests and the Pharisees in council met and -sought a plan by which they might put him to death. - -40 Caiaphas was the high priest then, and he came forth and said, You -men of Israel, do you not know the law? - -41 Do you not know that in such times as these we may give up one life -to save our nation and our laws? - -42 Caiaphas did not know that he was prophet, speaking out the words -of truth. - -43 He did not know the time had come for Jesus to be offered up a -sacrifice for every man, for Jew and Greek, and all the world. - -44 From that day forth the Jews conferred together every day, maturing -plans to put the Lord to death. - -45 Now, Jesus and the twelve did not remain in Bethany; but in the -hills of Ephriam, upon the borders of Samaria, they found a home, and -there abode for many days. - - -CHAPTER 149. - - _The Jews gather in Jerusalem to attend the feast. The - Christines go to Jericho. Jesus dines with Zaccheus. He - relates the parable of the ten talents._ - -The great passover of the Jews, the feast of spring, was calling every -loyal Jew up to Jerusalem. - -2 Ten days before the feast the Lord and his disciples left the -Ephriam hills and, by the Jordan way, went down to Jericho. - -3 And as they entered Jericho a wealthy publican came out to see the -Lord; but he was small in stature and the throng was great and he -could see him not. - -4 A tree, a sycamore, stood by the way and he climbed up the tree and -found a seat among its boughs. - -5 When Jesus came, he saw the man and said, O Zaccheus, make haste, -come down; I would abide with you today. - -6 And Zaccheus came down and joyfully received the Lord; but many of -the stricter sect called out and said, - -7 For shame! he goes to lodge with Zaccheus, the sinner and the -publican. - -8 But Jesus did not care for what they said; he went his way with -Zaccheus, who was a man of faith, and as they talked together Zaccheus -said, - -9 Lord, I have ever tried to do the right; I give unto the poor half -of my goods, and if by any means I wrong a man, I right the wrong by -paying him four fold. - -10 And Jesus said to him, Your life and faith are known to God, and -lo, the benedictions of the Lord of hosts abide with you and all your -house. - -11 Then Jesus spoke a parable to all; he said, A vassal of an emperor -was made a king, and he went to the foreign land to claim his rights -and take the kingdom to himself. - -12 Before he went he called ten trusted servants and to each he gave a -pound and said, - -13 Go forth and use these pounds as you have opportunity, that you may -gain for me more wealth. And then he went his way. - -14 And after many days he came again, and called the ten, demanding a -report. - -15 The first one came and said, Lord, I have gained for you nine -pounds; you gave me one and here are ten. - -16 The king replied, Well done, you faithful man; because you have -been faithful in a little thing I judge that you will be a faithful -servant in a greater thing; - -17 Behold, I make you ruler over nine important cities of my realm. - -18 The second came and said, Lord, I have gained for you four pounds; -you gave me one, and here are five. - -19 The king replied, and you have proven up your faithfulness. Behold, -I make you ruler over four important cities of my realm. - -20 Another came and said, Lord, I have doubled what you gave to me. -You gave one pound to me and here are two. - -21 The ruler said, And you have proved your faithfulness; Behold, I -make you ruler over one important city of my realm. - -22 Another came and said, Lord, here is what you gave to me. I knew -you were an austere man, oft reaping where you did not sow and I was -sore afraid, and so I took the pound you gave to me and hid it in a -secret place; and here it is. - -23 The king exclaimed, You slothful man! you knew what I required, -that I expected every man to do his best. - -24 If you were timid and afraid to trust your judgment in the marts of -trade, why did you not go forth and put my money out for gain, that I -could have my own with interest? - -25 Then turning to the steward of his wealth the ruler said, Take you -this pound and give it unto him who has by diligence earned nine. - -26 For lo, I say, that every one who uses what he has and gains, shall -have abundantly; but he who hides away his talent in the earth shall -forfeit what he has. - - -CHAPTER 150. - - _Jesus heals blind Bartimus. With the twelve he goes to - Bethany. The multitudes come to welcome him and to speak with - Lazarus._ - -The Christines started on their way to Bethany, and as they went, -while yet in Jericho, they passed a beggar sitting by the way; and he -was blind Bartimus. - -2 And when the beggar heard the multitude pass by he said, What is it -that I hear? - -3 The people said to him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. - -4 And instantly the man cried out, Lord Jesus, son of David, stay! -have mercy on poor blind Bartimus! - -5 The people said to him, Be quiet; hold your peace. - -6 But blind Bartimus called again, Thou son of David, hear! have -mercy on poor blind Bartimus! - -7 And Jesus stopped and said, Bring him to me. - -8 And then the people brought the blind man to the Lord, and as they -brought him up they said, Be cheerful now, Bartimus, the Lord is -calling you. - -9 And then he threw his cloak aside, and ran to Jesus as he waited by -the way. - -10 And Jesus said, What will you have, Bartimus? - -11 The blind man said, Rabboni, open up mine eyes that I may see. - -12 And Jesus said, Bartimus, look up; receive your sight; your faith -has made you whole. - -13 And he at once received his sight, and from the fullness of his -heart he said, Praise God. - -14 And all the people said, Praise God. - -15 Then Jesus and the twelve went on to Bethany. It was six days -before the feast. - -16 And when the people knew that Jesus was in Bethany they came from -near and far to see him and to hear him speak. - -17 And they were anxious all to talk with Lazarus, whom Jesus had -awakened from the dead. - -18 Now in Jerusalem the priests and Pharisees were all alert; they -said, This Jesus will be at the feast, and we must not permit that he -shall slip away again. - -19 And they commanded every man to be alert and help to apprehend the -Lord that they might take his life. - - -CHAPTER 151. - - _Jesus teaches in the synagogue. Makes his triumphal entry - into Jerusalem. The multitudes, with the children, sing his - praises, and say, Hosanna to the king! The Christines return - to Bethany._ - -It was the day before the Sabbath day, the eighth day of the Jewish -Nasan month, that Jesus came to Bethany. - -2 And on the Sabbath day he went up to the synagogue and taught. - -3 And on the morning of the first day of the week, the Sunday of the -week, he called his twelve apostles unto him and said, - -4 This day we go up to Jerusalem; be not afraid; my time has not yet -come. - -5 Now, two of you may go unto the village of Bethphage, and you will -find an ass tied to a tree, and you will see a little colt near by. - -6 Untie the ass and bring her here to me. If any one inquires why you -take the ass, just say, The master has a need of her; and then the -owner will come on with you. - -7 And the disciples went as Jesus bade them go; they found the ass and -colt a-near an open door; and when they would untie the ass the owner -said, Why would you take the ass away? - -8 And the disciples said, The master has a need of her; and then the -owner said, 'Tis well. - -9 And then they brought the animal, and on her put their coats, and -Jesus sat upon the ass and rode into Jerusalem. - -10 And multitudes of people came and filled the way, and his disciples -praised the Lord and said, - -11 Thrice blessed is the king who in the name of God is come! All -glory be to God, and peace on earth; good will to men! - -12 And many spread their garments in the way, and some tore branches -from the trees, and cast them in the way. - -13 And many children came with garlands of sweet flowers and placed -them on the Lord, or strewed them in the way, and said, All hail the -king! Long live the king! - -14 The throne of David shall be built again. Hosanna to the Lord of -hosts! - -15 Among the throng were Pharisees, who said to Jesus as he passed, -Rebuke this noisy throng; it is a shame for them to cry thus in the -street. - -16 The Lord replied, I tell you, men, if these should hold their peace -the very stones would cry aloud. - -17 And then the Pharisees conferred among themselves; they said, Our -threats are idle words. Behold, for all the world is following him. - -18 As Jesus drew a-near Jerusalem he paused and wept, and said, -Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the holy city of the Jews! yours was the glory -of the Lord; but you have cast the Lord away. - -19 Your eyes are closed, you cannot see the king; the kingdom of the -Lord of heaven and earth has come; you comprehend it not. - -20 Behold, the day will come when armies from afar will cast a bank -about your way; will compass you about, and hem you in on every side; - -21 Will dash you to the ground and slay you and your children in the -streets. - -22 And of your holy temple, and of your palaces and walls, they will -not leave a stone upon a stone, because today you spurn the offers of -the God of heaven. - -23 When Jesus and the multitude had come into Jerusalem, excitement -reigned, and people asked, Who is this man? - -24 The multitude replied, This is the king, the prophet, priest of -God; this is the man from Galilee. - -25 But Jesus tarried not; he went directly to the temple porch, and it -was filled with people pressing hard to see the king. - -26 The sick, the halt, the lame, the blind were there, and Jesus -paused, and laid his hands on them and healed them by the sacred Word. - -27 The temple and the temple courts were filled with children -praising God. They said, Hosanna to the king! The son of David is the -king! All hail the king! Praise God! - -28 The Pharisees were filled with anger when they heard the children -sing. They said to Jesus, Hear you what the children say? - -29 And Jesus said, I hear; but have you never read the words of our -own bard who said, - -30 Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise! - -31 And when the evening came the Lord and his disciples went again to -Bethany. - - -CHAPTER 152. - - _Jesus rebukes a barren fig tree. Drives the merchants out of - the temple. Teaches the people. Returns to Bethany._ - -Next day, the Monday of the week, the master with the twelve, went to -Jerusalem. - -2 And as they passed along the way they saw a fig tree full of leaves -without a sign of fruit. - -3 And Jesus spoke unto the tree; he said, You useless cumberer of the -ground; you fig tree fair to look upon, but a delusive thing. - -4 You take from earth and air the food that fruitful trees should have. - -5 Go back to earth and be yourself the food for other trees to eat. - -6 When Jesus had thus spoken to the tree he went his way. - -7 And when he reached the temple, lo, the rooms were filled with petty -merchants selling doves and animals, and other things, for sacrifice; -the temple was a mart of trade. - -8 And Jesus was indignant at the sight, and said, You men of Israel, -for shame! This is supposed to be the house of prayer; but it is now a -den of thieves. Remove this plunder from this holy place. - -9 The merchants only laughed and said, We are protected in our trade -by those who bear the rule; we will not go. - -10 Then Jesus made a scourge of cords, as he did once before, and -rushed among the merchantmen, threw all their money on the floor; - -11 Threw wide the cages of the doves, and cut the cords that held the -bleating lambs and set them free. - -12 And then he drove the merchants from the place, and with a clean, -new broom he swept the floors. - -13 Chief priests and scribes were filled with wrath, but feared to -touch or even to rebuke the Lord, for all the people stood in his -defense. - -14 And Jesus taught the people all day long and healed a multitude of -those diseased, - -15 And when the evening came he went again to Bethany. - - -CHAPTER 153. - - _The Christines go to Jerusalem. They note the withered fig - tree; its symbolic meaning. Jesus teaches in the temple. Is - censured by the priests. Relates a parable of a rich man's - feast._ - -On Tuesday, early in the day, the master and the twelve went to -Jerusalem. - -2 And as they went the twelve observed the tree to which the Lord had -talked the day before, and lo, the leaves were withered, just as if -they had been scorched with fire. - -3 And Peter said, Lord, see the tree! Its leaves are withered and the -tree seems dead. - -4 And Jesus said, So shall it be with those who bear no fruit. When -God shall call them up to give account, lo, he will breathe upon them, -and their leaves, their empty words, will wither and decay. - -5 God will not let the fruitless trees of life encumber ground, and he -will pluck them up and cast them all away. - -6 Now, you can demonstrate the power of God. Have faith in God, and -you can bid the mountains to depart, and they will crumble at your -feet; - -7 And you may talk to wind and wave, and they will hear, and will obey -what you command. - -8 God hears the prayer of faith and when you ask in faith you shall -receive. - -9 You must not ask amiss; God will not hear the prayer of any man who -comes to him with blood of other men upon his hands. - -10 And he who harbors envious thoughts, and does not love his fellow -men, may pray forever unto God, and he will hear him not. - -11 God can do nothing more for men than they would do for other men. - -12 And Jesus walked again within the temple courts. - -13 The priests and scribes were much emboldened by the council of -Caiaphas and the other men in power, and so they came to Jesus and -they said, - -14 Who gave you the authority to do as you have done? Why did you -drive the merchants from the temple yesterday? - -15 And Jesus answered them and said, If you will answer what I ask, -then I will answer you; Was John, the harbinger, a man of God, or was -he a seditious man? - -16 The scribes and Pharisees were loath to answer him; they reasoned -thus among themselves: - -17 If we shall say, John was a prophet sent from God, then he will say, - -18 John testified for me, that I am son of God; why do you not believe -his words? - -19 If we should say, John was a bold, seditious man, the people will -be angered, for they think he was a prophet of the living God. - -20 And so they answered Jesus and they said, We do not know; we cannot -tell. - -21 Then Jesus said, If you will tell me not, then I will tell you not -who gave me power to drive the robbers from the house of God. - -22 And then he spoke a parable to them; he said, A man once made a -feast inviting all the rich and honored people of the land. - -23 But when they came, they found the door into the banquet hall was -low, and they could enter not except they bowed their heads and fell -down on their knees. - -24 These people would not bow their heads and fall down on their -knees, and so they went away; they went not to the feast. - -25 And then the man sent forth his messengers to bid the common folks, -and those of low estate, to come and feast with him. - -26 These people gladly came; they bowed their heads and fell down on -their knees, and came into the banquet hall and it was full, and every -one rejoiced. - -27 And then the master said, Behold, you priests and scribes, and -Pharisees! the Lord of heaven and earth has spread a sumptuous feast, -and you were bidden first of all; - -28 But you have found the door into the banquet hall so low that you -must bow your heads and fall down on your knees to enter in, and you -have scorned the king who made the feast, refused to bow your heads -and fall down on your knees, and you have gone your way; - -29 But now God calls again; the common folks and those of low estate -have come in multitudes, have entered in unto the feast and all -rejoice. - -30 I tell you, men, that publicans and courtesans go through the gates -into the kingdom of the God of heaven, and you are left without. - -31 John came to you in righteousness; he brought the truth, but you -believed him not. - -32 But publicans and courtesans believed, and were baptized and now -have entered in unto the feast. - -33 I tell you now, as I have told you many times, The many have been -called, but chosen are the few. - - -CHAPTER 154. - - _Jesus teaches in the temple court. The parable of the - householder and wicked husbandmen. Parable of the marriage - feast and the guest without a wedding robe._ - -The multitudes would hear what Jesus had to say, and so they built -a platform in the temple court, and Jesus stood upon the place and -taught. He spoke in parables; he said, - -2 A man possessed a vast estate; he planted out a vineyard, placed a -hedge about it, built a tower, installed the press for making wine. - -3 He placed his vineyard in the hands of husbandmen and then he -journeyed to a distant land. - -4 Now, in the vintage time the man sent forth a servant to receive and -bring to him his portion of the fruitage of the vines. - -5 The husbandmen came forth and beat the man; laid forty lashes on his -back and cast him out beyond the vineyard gate. - -6 And then the owner sent another man to bring to him his own. The -husbandmen laid hold of him and sorely wounded him and cast him from -the vineyard, leaving him half dead beside the way. - -7 The owner sent another man to bring to him his own. The husbandmen -seized hold of him and with a javelin they pierced his heart; then -buried him beyond the hedge. - -8 The owner was aggrieved. He thought within himself, What shall I do? -and then he said, This will I do. My only son is here, and I will send -him to the husbandmen, - -9 They surely will respect my son and send me what is mine. - -10 He sent his son; the husbandmen took counsel with themselves; they -said, This is the only heir to all this wealth, and if we take his -life the vast inheritance is ours. - -11 They took his life and cast him out beyond the vineyard hedge. - -12 The days will come; the owner will return to reckon with the -husbandmen, and he will seize them every one, and cast them into -scorching fires where they shall stay until they pay the debts they -owe. - -13 And he will place his vineyard in the care of honest men. - -14 Then turning to the priests and scribes he said, Did not your -prophets say, - -15 The stone the builders cast away became the capstone of the arch? - -16 You men who pose as men of God, as husbandmen, lo, you have stoned -and killed the messengers of God, his prophets and his seers, and now -you seek to slay his son. - -17 I tell you men, the kingdom shall be snatched away from you, and -shall be given unto people who are not a people now, and to a nation -that is not a nation now. - -18 And men whose speech you cannot understand, will stand between the -living and the dead, and show the way to life. - -19 The chief priests and the Pharisees were deeply moved with anger -when they heard this parable, and would have seized the Lord and done -him harm, but they were sore afraid; they feared the multitude. - -20 And Jesus spoke another parable; he said, The kingdom is alike a -certain king who made a feast in honor of the marriage of his son. - -21 He sent his servants forth to call the people who had been invited -to the feast. - -22 The servants called; but then the people would not come. - -23 And then the king sent other messengers abroad to say, Behold, my -tables now are spread; my oxen and my fatlings are prepared. - -24 The choicest viands and the richest wines are on my boards; come to -the marriage feast. - -25 The people laughed and treated with disdain his call, and went -their way, one to his farm, another to his merchandise; - -26 And others seized the servants of the king; abused them shamefully; -and some of them they killed. - -27 And then the king sent forth his soldiery who slew the murderers -and burned their towns. - -28 And then the king sent other servants forth; to them he said, Go to -the corners of the streets, the partings of the ways, and to the marts -of trade and say, - -29 Whoever will may come up to the marriage feast. - -30 The servants went their way and called; and lo, the banquet hall -was filled with guests. - -31 But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man who had -not on a wedding robe; he called to him and said, - -32 Friend, why are you here without a wedding robe? Would you dishonor -thus my son? - -33 The man was dumb; he answered not. - -34 And then the king said to his guards, Take you this man and bind -him hand and foot and cast him out into the darkness of the night. - -35 The many have been called, but none are chosen to be guests who -have not clad themselves in wedding robes. - - -CHAPTER 155. - - _Jesus recognizes the justice of paying secular taxes. He - teaches a lesson on family relationships in the life beyond. - The greatest of the commandments is comprised in love. He - warns his disciples against the hypocrisy of scribes and - Pharisees._ - -As Jesus spoke, the Pharisees came up to question him; they thought to -criminate him by what he said. - -2 A strict Herodian spoke and said, My Lord, you are a man of truth; -you show the way to God, and you do not regard the personality of men; - -3 Tell us, what do you think; should we, who are the seed of Abraham, -pay tribute unto Csar? or should we not? - -4 And Jesus knew his wickedness of heart and said, Why do you come to -tempt me thus? Show me the tribute money that you speak about. - -5 The man brought forth a piece of coin on which an image was engraved. - -6 And Jesus said, Whose image and whose name is on this coin? - -7 The man replied, 'Tis Csar's image and his name. - -8 And Jesus said, Give unto Csar that which is Csar's own; but give -to God the things of God. - -9 And they who heard him said, He answers well. - -10 And then a Sadducee, who thinks there is no resurrection of the -dead, came up and said, Rabboni, Moses wrote that if a married man -shall die, and have no child, his widow shall become his brother's -wife. - -11 Now, there were seven brothers and the eldest had a wife; he died -and had no child; a brother took his widow for his wife, and then he -died; - -12 And every brother had this woman for his wife; in course of time -the woman died; - -13 Now which will have this woman for a wife in the resurrection day? - -14 And Jesus said, Here in this plane of life men marry just to -gratify their selfish selfs, or to perpetuate the race; but in the -world to come, and in the resurrection day, men do not take upon -themselves the marriage vows, - -15 But, like the angels and the other sons of God, they form not -unions for the pleasure of the self, nor to perpetuate the race. - -16 Death does not mean the end of life. The grave is not the goal of -men, no more than is the earth the goal of seeds. - -17 Life is the consequence of death. The seed may seem to die, but -from its grave the tree arises into life. - -18 So man may seem to die, but he lives on, and from the grave he -springs up into life. - -19 If you could comprehend the word that Moses spoke about the burning -bush that burned and still was not consumed, then you would know that -death cannot destroy the life. - -20 And Moses said that God is God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel. - -21 God is not God of dead men's bones, but of the living man. - -22 I tell you, men, man goes down to the grave, but he will rise again -and manifest the life; - -23 For every life is hid with Christ in God, and man shall live while -God shall live. - -24 The Pharisees and scribes who heard the Lord, exclaimed, He speaks -the truth; and they were glad to have the Sadducees discomfited. - -25 And then an honest scribe came forth and said to Jesus, Lord, you -speak as one whom God has sent, and may I ask, - -26 Which is the greatest and the first of the Commandments of the Law? - -27 And Jesus said, The first is: Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is -one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with -all your mind, with all your soul, with all your strength; - -28 And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. - -29 These are the greatest of the ten, and on them hang the Law, the -Prophets and the Psalms. - -30 The scribe replied, My soul gives witness that you speak the truth, -for love fulfills the law, and far transcends burnt offerings and -sacrifice. - -31 And Jesus said to him, Lo, you have solved a mystery; you are -within the kingdom and the kingdom is in you. - -32 To his disciples Jesus spoke, and all the people heard; he said, -Beware you of the scribes and Pharisees who pride themselves in -wearing long and richly decorated robes, - -33 And love to be saluted in the market place, and seek the highest -seats at feasts, and take the hard-earned wages of the poor to satisfy -their carnal selves, and pray in public, long and loud. - -34 These are the wolves who clothe themselves to look like sheep. - -35 And then he said to all, The scribes and Pharisees are placed by -law in Moses' seat, and by the law they may interpret law; - -36 So what they bid you do, that do; but do not imitate their deeds. - -37 They say the things that Moses taught; they do the things of -Beelzebul. - -38 They talk of mercy, yet they bind on human shoulders burdens -grievous to bear. - -39 They talk of helpfulness, and yet they put not forth the slightest -helpful efforts for their brother man. - -40 They make a show of doing things, and yet they do not anything but -show their gaudy robes, and broad phylacteries, and smile when people -call them honored masters of the law. - -41 They strut about and show their pride when people call them father, -so and so. - -42 Hear, now, you men, Call no man father here. The God of heaven and -earth, and he alone, is Father of the race of men. - -43 Christ is the hierarch, the high, exalted master of the sons of men. - -44 If you would be exalted, sit down at the master's feet and serve. -He is the greatest man who serves the best. - - -CHAPTER 156. - - _The scribes and Pharisees are angered. Jesus rebukes them for - their hypocrisy. He laments over Jerusalem. The widow's mite. - Jesus delivers his farewell address to the people in the - temple._ - -The scribes and Pharisees were wild with rage; and Jesus said, - -2 Woe unto you, you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! you stand -within the way; you block the door; you will not go into the kingdom -and you turn aside the pure in heart who are about to enter in. - -3 Woe unto you, you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! you compass -sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he has been made he is a -son of hell, just like yourselves. - -4 Woe unto you who call yourselves the guides of men! and you are -guides, blind guides; - -5 For you pay tithes of cummin, mint and dill, and leave undone the -weightier matters of the law; of judgment, justice, faith. - -6 You filter out the gnats before you drink; but then you swallow -camels and the like. - -7 Woe unto you, you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! you clean -and scour the outside of the cup, while it is full of filth, extortion -and excess. - -8 Go to and clean the inside of the cup, and then the poisonous fumes -will not defile the outside of the cup. - -9 Woe unto you, you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! you -are yourselves like whitewashed sepulchres; your outer garbs are -beautiful, but you are full of dead men's bones. - -10 You seem to men to be divine; but in your hearts you nourish lust, -hypocrisies and vile iniquities. - -11 Woe unto you, you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! you build -and then adorn the tombs of holy men of old and say, - -12 If we had lived when these men lived, we would have guarded them, -would not have acted as our fathers did, when they maltreated them and -put them to the sword. - -13 But you are sons of them who slew the holy men, and you are not a -whit more just than they. - -14 Go forth and fill the measure of your fathers who were steeped in -crime. - -15 You are the offsprings of the vipers, and how can you be but -serpents of the dust? - -16 God now has sent again to you his prophets and his seers, his wise -men and his holy men, and you will scourge them in your synagogues, -and stone them in the streets, and nail them to the cross. - -17 Woe unto you! for on your heads will come the blood of all the holy -men who have been slain upon the earth, - -18 From righteous Abel down to Zacharias, son of Barachias, who was -slain within the Holy Place before the altar of the Lord. - -19 Behold, I say that these things all shall come upon this nation and -the people of Jerusalem. - -20 And Jesus looked about and said, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou cruel -city of Jerusalem, that slays the prophets in the streets and kills -the holy men whom God has sent to you! - -21 Lo, I would oft have gathered you as children to the fold of God; -but you would not. - -22 You have rejected God, and now your house is desolate, and you -shall see me not again till you can say, - -23 Thrice blessed is the son of man who comes as son of God. - -24 Then Jesus went and sat beside the treasury and watched the people -as they paid their tithes. - -25 The rich men came and gave of their abundance; and then he saw a -poor but loyal widow come and put a farthing in the treasure box. - -26 And then he said to his disciples who were standing by, Behold, for -this poor widow who has put a farthing in the treasury has done more -than they all; - -27 For she has given all she had; the rich have given just a little -share of what they have. - -28 A company of Grecian Jews were at the feast, and they met Philip, -who could talk with them, and said, Sir, we would see the Lord, this -Jesus, who is called the Christ. - -29 And Philip led the way, and brought them to the Christ. - -30 And Jesus said, The hour has come; the son of man is ready to be -glorified, and it cannot be otherwise. - -31 Except a grain of wheat fall into earth and die it can be nothing -but a grain of wheat; but if it die it lives again, and from its grave -a hundred grains of wheat arise. - -32 My soul is troubled now; What shall I say? And then he cast his -eyes to heaven and said, - -33 My Father-God, I would not ask to be relieved of all the burdens -I must bear; I only ask for grace and strength to bear the burdens -whatso'er they be, - -34 This is the hour for which I came to earth. O Father, glorify thy -name! - -35 And then the place was lighted with a light more brilliant than the -noonday sun; the people stood a-back; they were afraid. - -36 And then a voice that seemed to come from heaven said, - -37 I have both glorified my name and yours, and I will honor them -again. - -38 The people heard the voice, and some exclaimed, Behold, a distant -thunder! Others said, An angel spoke to him. - -39 But Jesus said, This voice was not for me; it was for you, that you -might know that I am come from God. - -40 Now is the judgment of the world at hand; the prince of darkness -shall be manifest and go unto his own. - -41 The son of man will now be lifted up from earth, and he will draw -all men unto himself. - -42 The people said, The law declares that Christ abides forever more. -How can you say, The son of man will now be lifted up? Who is the son -of man? - -43 And Jesus said to them, The light is shining now; walk in the light -while you still have the light. - -44 The darkness comes; but he who walks in darkness cannot find the -way. - -45 Again I say, Walk in the light while you still have the light, that -men may know that you are sons of light. - -46 And Jesus stood out in the temple porch, and made his last appeal -unto the multitudes; he said, - -47 He who believes in me, believes in God who sent me forth to do his -will, and he who sees me now beholds my Father-God. - -48 Behold, I came a light unto the world; he who believes in me shall -walk in light, the light of life. - -49 You men who hear me now, If you believe me not, I judge you not. - -50 I am not come to judge the world, but I am come to save the world. - -51 God is the only judge of men; but what I speak will stand against -you in the day when God will judge the world; - -52 For from myself I do not speak; I speak the words that God has -given me to speak. - -53 And then he said, Jerusalem, with all your glory and your crimes, -Farewell. - - -CHAPTER 157. - - _The Christines upon Mount Olives. Jesus prophecies the - destruction of Jerusalem, and of terrible disasters that will - mark the conclusion of the age. He exhorts his disciples to - faithfulness._ - -Then Jesus with the twelve went forth and sat upon Mount Olives, just -beyond the city's gate. - -2 And his disciples said, Behold the wondrous city of Jerusalem! its -homes are all so beautiful! its temples and its shrines are clothed in -such magnificence! - -3 And Jesus said, The city is the glory of my people, Israel, but, lo, -the time will come when every stone will be cast down, and it will be -a hiss and byword for the nations of the earth. - -4 And the disciples asked, When will this desolation come? - -5 And Jesus said, This round of human life will not be full until the -armies of the conqueror will thunder at her gates, and they will enter -in, and blood will flow like water through the streets. - -6 And all the precious furnishings of temple, court and palaces will -be destroyed, or carried off to deck the palaces and courts of kings. - -7 Behold, these days are not at hand. Before they come, lo, you shall -be maltreated by the scribes and Pharisees, the high priests and the -doctors of the law. - -8 Without a cause you will be haled into the courts; you will be -stoned; you will be beaten in the synagogues; will stand condemned -before the rulers of this world, and governors and kings will sentence -you to death. - -9 But you will falter not, and you will testify for truth and -righteousness. - -10 And in these hours be anxious not about your speech; you need not -think of what to say; - -11 For, lo, the Holy Breath will overshadow you and give you words to -say. - -12 But then the carnage will go on, and men will think that they are -pleasing God by killing you, and nations far and near will hate you -for the sake of Christ. - -13 And men will stir up evil thoughts among your kin, and they will -hate you and will give you up to die. - -14 And brothers will be false to brothers; fathers will stand forth -and testify against their own, and children will drive parents to the -funeral pile. - -15 When you shall hear the Roman eagle screaming in the air, and see -his legions streaming o'er the plain, then know the desolation of -Jerusalem is near. - -16 Then let the wise wait not, but flee. Let him who is upon his house -wait not to enter in the house to gather up his wealth, but let him -flee. - -17 And he who labors in the field must not return, but leave his all -to save his life. - -18 And woe to mothers with their little children in that day; none -shall escape the sword. - -19 The tribulation of these days cannot be told in words, for such has -never been since God created man upon the earth. - -20 The conqueror will carry many of the sons of Abraham away as -captives into foreign lands, and they who know not Israel's God will -tread the highways of Jerusalem until the anti-Jewish times have been -fulfilled. - -21 But when the people have been punished for their crimes, the -tribulation days will end; but lo, the time will come when all the -world will rise, like gladiators in a ring, and fight just for the -sake of shedding blood. - -22 And men will reason not; they will not see, nor care to see a cause -for carnage, desolation, thefts; for they will war with friend or foe. - -23 The very air will seem surcharged with smoke of death; and -pestilence will follow close upon the sword. - -24 And signs that men have never seen will then appear in heaven and -earth; in sun, and moon, and stars. - -25 The seas will roar, and sounds will come from heaven that men -can never comprehend, and these will bring distress of nations with -perplexity. - -26 Hearts of the strongest men will faint in fear, in expectation of -the coming of more frightful things upon the earth. - -27 But while the conflicts rage on land and sea, the Prince of Peace -will stand above the clouds of heaven and say again: - -28 Peace, peace on earth; good will to men; and every man will throw -away his sword, and nations will learn war no more. - -29 And then the man who bears the pitcher will walk forth across an -arc of heaven; the sign and signet of the son of man will stand forth -in the eastern sky. - -30 The wise will then lift up their heads and know that the redemption -of the earth is near. - -31 Before these days shall come, behold, false Christs and poor -deluded prophets will arise in many lands. - -32 And they will show forth signs, and do a multitude of mighty works; -and they will lead astray the many who are not wise; and many of the -wise will be deceived. - -33 And now I tell you once again, When men shall say, The Christ is in -the wilderness, go you not forth. - -34 And if they say, The Christ is in the secret place, believe it not; -for when he comes the world will know that he has come. - -35 For as the morning light comes from the east and shines unto the -west; so shall be the coming of the age and son of man. - -36 The wicked of the earth will weep when they shall see the son of -man come down upon the clouds of heaven, in power. - -37 Take heed you, O take heed, for you know not the hour nor the day -when comes the son of man. - -38 Let not your hearts be overcharged with sensuous things, nor with -the cares of life, lest that day come and find you unprepared. - -39 Keep watch at every season of the year; and pray that you may meet -the Lord with joy and not with grief. - -40 Before these days shall come our Father-God will send his -messengers abroad, yea, to the corners of the earth, and they will say, - -41 Prepare you, O prepare; the Prince of Peace shall come, and now is -coming on the clouds of heaven. - -42 When Jesus had thus said, he went with his disciples back to -Bethany. - - -CHAPTER 158. - - _Jesus and the twelve at prayer in Olivet. Jesus reveals to his - disciples the deeper meanings of secret doctrines. He tells - them what to teach the people. Relates a number of parables. - They return to Bethany._ - -The morning of the Wednesday of the week was come, and Jesus with the -twelve went out to Olivet to pray; and they were lost in prayer for -seven hours. - -2 Then Jesus called the twelve close to his side and said, This day -the curtain parts and we will step beyond the veil into the secret -courts of God. - -3 And Jesus opened up to them the meaning of the hidden way, and of -the Holy Breath, and of the light that cannot fail. - -4 He told them all about the Book of Life, the Rolls of Graphael, the -Book of God's Remembrance where all the thoughts and words of men are -written down. - -5 He did not speak aloud to them; he told the secrets of the masters -in an undertone, and when he spoke the name of God there was a silence -in the courts of heaven for half an hour, for angels spoke with bated -breath. - -6 And Jesus said, These things may not be spoken out aloud; they never -may be written down; they are the messages of Silenceland; they are -the Breathings of the inner heart of God. - -7 And then the master taught the twelve the lessons they should teach -to other men. He sometimes taught in parables; he said, - -8 You call to mind the words of yesterday about the coming of the son -of man. Now, you shall teach to other men what I have spoken and am -speaking unto you; - -9 Teach them to pray and not to faint; to be prepared at every moment -of the day, for when they least expect him, then the Lord will come. - -10 A man went to a distant land and left his house and all his wealth -in care of servants; five to guard his house and five to guard his -barns and herds. - -11 The servants waited long for his return, but he came not, and they -grew careless in their work; some spent their time in revelings and -drunkenness, and some slept at their posts. - -12 And night by night the robbers came and carried off the wealth from -house and barn, and drove away the choicest of the herds. - -13 And when they knew that much of all the wealth that they were left -to guard had been purloined, they said, - -14 We cannot be to blame; if we had known the day and hour when our -lord would come again we would have guarded well his wealth, and -suffered not the thieves to carry it away; he surely is at fault -because he told us not. - -15 But after many days the lord returned, and when he knew that -thieves had robbed him of his wealth, he called his servants and he -said to them, - -16 Because you have neglected what was given you to do, have spent -your time in revelings and sleep, behold you all are debtors unto me. - -17 What I have lost by your neglect, you owe to me. And then he gave -them heavy tasks to do, and bound them to their posts with chains, -where they remained till they had paid for all the goods their lord -had lost through their neglect. - -18 Another man locked up his wealth and went to sleep, and in the -night time robbers came, unlocked his doors, and when they saw no -guard, they entered in and carried off his wealth. - -19 And when the man awoke and found his doors ajar and all his -treasures gone, he said, If I had known the hour when the thieves -would come I would have been on guard. - -20 Beware, my friends, beware! and be prepared at every hour, and if -your Lord shall come at midnight or at dawn, it matters not, for he -will find you ready to receive. - -21 And then, behold, a marriage was announced, and virgins, ten of -them, were set apart to meet the bridegroom when he came. - -22 The virgins clothed themselves in proper garbs, and took their -lamps and sat in waiting for the watch to say, Behold, the bridegroom -comes! - -23 Now, five were wise; they filled their lamps with oil; and five -were foolish, for they carried empty lamps. - -24 The groom came not at the expected time; the virgins were a-weary -with their watch and slept. - -25 At midnight came the cry, Behold, the bridegroom comes! - -26 The virgins rose; the wise ones quickly trimmed their lamps and -went forth ready to receive the groom. - -27 The foolish virgins said, We have no oil, our lamps burn not. - -28 They sought to borrow from the wise, who said, We have no oil to -spare; Go to the merchantmen and buy and fill your lamps and then come -forth to meet the groom. - -29 But while they went to purchase oil, the bridegroom came; the -virgins who were ready with their lamps all trimmed went with him to -the marriage feast. - -30 And when the foolish virgins came the door was shut, and though -they knocked and called aloud, the door was opened not. - -31 The master of the feast exclaimed, I know you not! and in disgrace -the virgins went their way. - -32 Again I say to you, and you shall say to them who follow you, - -33 Be ready every moment of the day and night, because when you expect -him not, the Lord will come. - -34 Behold, when he will come with all his messengers of light, the -Book of Life, and that of Records, shall be opened up--the books in -which the thoughts and words and deeds are written down. - -35 And every one can read the records he has written for himself, and -he will know his doom before the judge shall speak, and this will be -the sifting time. - -36 According to their records men will find their own. - -37 The judge is Righteousness, the king of all the earth, and he will -separate the multitudes as shepherds separate the sheep and goats. - -38 The sheep will find their places on the right, the goats upon the -left, and every man will know his place. - -39 And then the judge will say, to those upon the right, You blessed -of the Father-God, come unto your inheritance, which was prepared for -you from times of old. - -40 You have been servants of the race; and I was hungry and you gave -me bread; was thirsty and you gave me drink; was naked and you gave me -clothes; - -41 Was sick, you ministered to me; and was in prison and you came to -me with words of cheer; I was a stranger and in your homes I found a -home. - -42 Then will the righteous say, When did we see you hungry, thirsty, -sick, imprisoned or a stranger at our gates and ministered to you? - -43 And then the judge will say, You served the sons of men, and -whatsoever you have done for these, that you have done for me. - -44 The judge will say to those upon the left, Depart from me; you have -not served the sons of men. - -45 I was hungry and you gave me naught to eat; was thirsty and you -gave me naught to drink; I was a stranger and you drove me from your -door; I was imprisoned and was sick, you did not minister to me. - -46 Then these will say, When did we thus neglect to care for you? When -did we see you hungry, thirsty, sick, a stranger or in prison and did -not minister to you? - -47 And then the judge will say, Your life was full of self; you served -the self and not your fellow man, and when you slighted one of these, -you slighted and neglected me. - -48 Then will the righteous have the kingdom and the power, and they -who are unrighteous shall go forth to pay their debts, to suffer all -that men have suffered at their hands. - -49 They who have ears to hear and hearts to understand will comprehend -these parables. - -50 When he had finished all these parables he said, You know that in -two days the great passover feast will come, and lo, the son of man -will be betrayed into the hands of wicked men. - -51 And he will give his life upon the cross, and men will know that -he, the son of man, is son of God. - -52 Then Jesus and the twelve returned to Bethany. - - - - -SECTION XVIII. - -TZADDI. - -_The Arrest and Betrayal of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 159. - - _The Christines attend a feast in Simon's house. Mary anoints - the master with a costly balm, and Judas and others rebuked - her for profligacy. Jesus defends her. The rulers of the Jews - employ Ananias to arrest Jesus. Ananias bribes Judas to aid - him._ - -Bar-Simon, who was once a leper and was cleansed by Jesus by the -sacred Word, abode in Bethany. - -2 In honor of the Christine Lord he gave a feast, and Lazarus was -among the guests, and Ruth and Martha served. - -3 And as the guests reclined about the table, Mary took a cruse of -rich perfume and poured it out on Jesus' head and feet. - -4 And then she knelt and with her hair she wiped his feet; the odor of -the rich perfume filled all the room. - -5 Now, Judas, always looking at the selfish side of life, exclaimed, -For shame! why did you waste that costly perfume thus? - -6 We might have sold it for three hundred pence, and had the money to -supply our wants and feed the poor. - -7 (Now, Judas was the treasurer, and carried all the money of the -Christine band.) - -8 And others said, Why, Mary, what a profligate you are! you should -not throw such wealth away. - -9 But Jesus said, You men, be still; let her alone; you know not what -you say. - -10 The poor are with you constantly; at any time you can administer to -them; but I will not be with you long. - -11 And Mary knows the sadness of the coming days; she has anointed me -beforehand for my burial. - -12 The gospel of the Christ will everywhere be preached, and he who -tells the story of the Christ will tell about this day; and what was -done by Mary at this hour will be a sweet memorial to her wherever men -abide. - -13 And when the feast was over Jesus went with Lazarus to his home. - -14 Now, in Jerusalem the priests and Pharisees were busy with their -plans to seize the Lord and take his life. - -15 The high priest called in counsel all the wisest men and said, This -deed must be accomplished in a secret way. - -16 He must be taken when the multitudes are not a-near, else we may -cause a war; the common people may stand forth in his defense and thus -pollute this sacred place with human blood. - -17 And what we do, that we must do before the great day of the feast. - -18 And Ananias said, I have a plan that will succeed. The twelve with -Jesus every day go forth alone to pray; - -19 And we will find their trysting place; then we can seize the man -and bring him here without the knowledge of the multitudes. - -20 I know one of the twelve, a man who worships wealth, and for a sum -I think that he will lead the way to where the man is wont to pray. - -21 And then Caiaphas said, If you will lead the way and bribe the man -of whom you speak, to aid in seizing Jesus in a secret place, then we -will give to you a hundred silver pieces for your hire. - -22 And Ananias said, 'Tis well. - -23 And then he went to Bethany and found the twelve at Simon's house, -and calling Judas to the side he said, - -24 If you would care to make a sum of money for yourself hear me: - -25 The high priest and the other rulers in Jerusalem would like to -talk with Jesus when alone, that they may know about his claims; - -26 And if he proves himself to be the Christ, lo, they will stand in -his defense. - -27 Now, if you will but lead the way to where your master is tomorrow -night that they may send a priest to talk with him alone, there is a -sum of silver, thirty pieces, that the priests will give to you. - -28 And Judas reasoned with himself; he said, It surely may be well to -give the Lord a chance to tell the priests about his claims when he is -all alone. - -29 And if the priests would do him harm he has the power to disappear -and go his way as he has done before; and thirty pieces is a goodly -sum. - -30 And so he said to Ananias, I will lead the way, and by a kiss make -known which person is the Lord. - - -CHAPTER 160. - - _Jesus and the twelve eat the passover alone in Nicodemus' - house. Jesus washes the disciples' feet. Judas leaves the - table and goes forth to betray the Lord. Jesus teaches the - eleven. He institutes the Lord's supper._ - -On Thursday morning Jesus called to him the twelve disciples, and -he said to them, This is God's remembrance day, and we will eat the -pascal supper all alone. - -2 And then he said to Peter, James and John, Go now into Jerusalem and -there prepare the pasch. - -3 And the disciples said, Where would you have us go to find the place -where we may have the feast prepared? - -4 And Jesus said, Go by the fountain gate and you will see a man who -has a pitcher in his hand. Speak unto him and say: This is the first -day of unleavened bread; - -5 The Lord would have you set apart your banquet hall where he may eat -his last passover with the twelve. - -6 Fear not to speak; the man whom you will see is Nicodemus, a ruler -of the Jews, and yet a man of God. - -7 And the disciples went and found the man as Jesus said, and -Nicodemus hastened to his home; the banquet hall, an upper room, was -set apart, the supper was prepared. - -8 Now, in the afternoon the Lord and his disciples went up to -Jerusalem and found the feast in readiness. - -9 And when the hour had come to eat the feast, the twelve began to -strive among themselves, each anxious to secure the honored seats. - -10 And Jesus said, My friends, would you contend for self just as the -shadows of this night of gloom comes on? - -11 There is no honored seat at heaven's feast except for him who -humbly takes the lowest seat. - -12 And then the Lord arose and took a basin full of water and a towel, -and bowing down, he washed the feet of all the twelve and dried them -with the towel. - -13 He breathed upon them and he said, And may these feet walk in the -ways of righteousness forevermore. - -14 He came to Peter and was about to wash his feet, and Peter said, -Lord, would you wash my feet? - -15 And Jesus said, You do not comprehend the meaning of the thing I -do, but you will comprehend. - -16 And Peter said, My master, no, you shall not stoop to wash my feet. - -17 And Jesus said, My friend, if I wash not your feet you have no part -with me. - -18 And Peter said, Then, O my Lord, wash both my feet, my hands, my -head. - -19 And Jesus said to him, He who has taken first his bath is clean, -and has no need to wash, except his feet. - -20 The feet are truly symbols of the understanding of the man, and he -who would be clean must, in the living stream of life, wash well his -understanding every day. - -21 Then Jesus sat with his disciples at the table of the feast and -said, Behold the lesson of the hour: - -22 You call me master; such I am. If, then, your Lord and master kneel -and wash your feet, should you not wash each other's feet and thus -show forth your willingness to serve? - -23 You know these things, and if you do them, blessed thrice are you. - -24 And then he said, This is an hour when I can truly praise the name -of God, for I have greatly wished to eat with you this feast before I -pass the veil; - -25 For I will eat it not again until anew I eat it with you in the -kingdom of our Father-God. - -26 And then they sung the Hebrew song of praise that Jews were wont to -sing before the feast. - -27 And then they ate the pasch and as they ate, the master said, -Behold, for one of you will turn away this night and will betray me -into wicked hands. - -28 And the disciples were amazed at what he said; they looked into -each other's face in wonderment; they all exclaimed, Lord, is it I? - -29 And Peter said to John, who sat beside the Lord, To whom does he -refer? - -30 And John put forth his hand and touched the master's hand and said, -Which one of us is so depraved as to betray his Lord? - -31 And Judas said, Lord, is it I? - -32 And Jesus said, He is the one who now has put his hand with mine -into the dish. They looked, and Judas' hand was with the hand of Jesus -in the dish. - -33 And Jesus said, The prophets cannot fail; the son of man must be -betrayed, but woe to him who shall betray his Lord. - -34 And from the table Judas rose at once; his hour had come. - -35 And Jesus said to him, Do quickly what you are to do. And Judas -went his way. - -36 And when the pasch was done the Lord with the eleven sat a while in -silent thought. - -37 Then Jesus took a loaf of bread that had been broken not and said, -This loaf is symbol of my body, and the bread is symbol of the bread -of life; - -38 And as I break this loaf, so shall my flesh be broken as a pattern -for the sons of men; for men must freely give their bodies up in -willing sacrifice for other men. - -39 And as you eat this bread, so shall you eat the bread of life, and -never die. And then he gave to each a piece of bread to eat. - -40 And then he took a cup of wine and said, Blood is the life; this is -the life-blood of the grape; it is the symbol of the life of him who -gives his life for men. - -41 And as you drink this wine, if you shall drink in faith, you drink -the life of Christ. - -42 And then he supped and passed the cup, and the disciples supped; -and Jesus said, This is the feast of life, the great passover of the -son of man, the Supper of the Lord, and you shall often eat the bread -and drink the wine. - -43 From henceforth shall this bread be called Remembrance bread; this -wine shall be Remembrance wine; and when you eat this bread and drink -this wine remember me. - - -CHAPTER 161. - - _Jesus teaches the eleven. Tells them that they will all be - estranged from him, and that Peter will deny him thrice - before the morning. He speaks final words of encouragement. - Promises the Comforter._ - -Now, after Judas had gone forth to meet the emissaries of the priests -and to betray his Lord, - -2 The master said, The hour has come, the son of man will now be -glorified. - -3 My little children, I am with you yet a little while; soon you will -seek me and will find me not, for where I go you cannot come. - -4 I give to you a new command: As I love you and give my life for you, -so shall you love the world, and give your life to save the world. - -5 Love one another as you love yourselves, and then the world will -know that you are sons of God, disciples of the son of man whom God -has glorified. - -6 And Peter said, Lord, where you go there I will go, for I would lay -my life down for my Lord. - -7 And Jesus said, Boast not of bravery, my friend; you are not strong -enough tonight to follow me. - -8 Now, Peter, hear! you will deny me thrice before the cock shall crow -tomorrow morn. - -9 And then he looked upon the eleven and said, You all will be -estranged from me this night. - -10 The prophet said, Lo, he will smite the shepherd of the sheep; the -sheep will flee and hide away. - -11 But after I am risen from the dead, lo, you will come again, and I -will go before you into Galilee. - -12 And Peter said, My Lord, though every other man forsake you I will -not. - -13 And Jesus said, O Simon Peter, lo, your zeal is greater than your -fortitude! Behold, for Satan cometh up to sift you as a pan of wheat, -but I have prayed that in your faith you shall not fail; that after -trial you may stand a tower of strength. - -14 And the disciples all exclaimed, There is no power on earth that -can estrange, or cause us to deny our Lord. - -15 And Jesus said, Let not your hearts be sad; you all believe in God; -believe in me. - -16 Behold, for there are many mansions in my Fatherland. If there were -not I would have told you so. - -17 I go unto my Fatherland, and will prepare a place for you that -where I am there you may be. But now you do not know the way unto my -Fatherland. - -18 And Thomas said, We do not know where you intend to go; how could -we know the way? - -19 And Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, the life; I manifest the -Christ of God. No man can reach my Fatherland except he comes with me -through Christ. - -20 If you had known and comprehended me, then you would know my -Father-God. - -21 And Philip said, Show us the Father and we will be satisfied. - -22 And Jesus said, Have I been with you all these years and still you -know me not? - -23 He who has seen the son has seen the Father, for in the son the -Father has revealed himself. - -24 Lo, I have told you many times that what I speak and what I do are -not the words and works of man; - -25 They are the words and works of God, who lives in me and I in him. - -26 Hear me, you faithful men: He who believes in me and in my -Father-God shall say and do what I have said and done. - -27 Yea, more, he shall do greater works than I have ever done, because -I go to him whose works we do, and then I can reach forth my hand in -helpfulness. - -28 And in my name, through Christ, you may petition God and he will -grant you your request. - -29 Do you believe what I have said? Yes, you believe, and if you love -the Christ and follow me then you will keep my words. - -30 I am the vine; you are the branches of the vine; my Father is the -husbandman, - -31 The branches that are worthless, bearing naught but leaves, the -husbandman will cut away and cast into the fire to be burned. - -32 And he will prune the branches that bear fruit that they may yield -abundantly. - -33 The branch cannot bear fruit if separated from the vine; and you -cannot bear fruit when separate from me. - -34 Abide in me, and do the works that God, through me, has taught you -how to do, and you will bear much fruit, and God will honor you as he -has honored me. - -35 And now I go my way, but I will pray my Father-God and he will send -another Comforter to you, who will abide with you. - -36 Behold, this Comforter of God, the Holy Breath, is one with God, -but she is one the world cannot receive because it sees her not; it -knows her not. - -37 But you know her, and will know her, because she will abide within -your soul. - -38 I will not leave you desolate, but in the Christ, which is the love -of God made manifest to men, I will be with you all the way. - - -CHAPTER 162. - - _Jesus reveals more fully the mission of the Holy Breath. Tells - his disciples plainly that he is about to die, and they are - sad. He prays for them and all the world of believers. They - leave the banquet hall._ - -Now, John was deeply grieved because the master said, I go away, and -where I go you cannot come. - -2 He wept and said, Lord, I would go with you through every trial and -to death. - -3 And Jesus said, And you shall follow me through trials and through -death; but now you cannot go where I will go; but you shall come. - -4 And Jesus spoke again unto the eleven and said, Grieve not because -I go away, for it is best that I should go away. If I go not the -Comforter will not come to you. - -5 These things I speak while with you in the flesh, but when the Holy -Breath shall come in power, lo, she will teach you more and more, and -bring to your remembrance all the words that I have said to you. - -6 There are a multitude of things yet to be said; things that this age -cannot receive, because it cannot comprehend. - -7 But, lo, I say, Before the great day of the Lord shall come, the -Holy Breath will make all mysteries known-- - -8 The mysteries of the soul, of life, of death, of immortality; the -oneness of a man with every other man and with his God. - -9 Then will the world be led to truth, and man will be the truth. - -10 When she has come, the Comforter, she will convince the world of -sin, and of the truth of what I speak, and of the rightness of the -judgment of the just; and then the prince of carnal life will be cast -out. - -11 And when the Comforter shall come I need not intercede for you; for -you will stand approved, and God will know you then as he knows me. - -12 The hour has come when you will weep; the wicked will rejoice, -because I go away; but I will come again, and all your sorrows shall -be turned to joy; - -13 Yea, verily, you will rejoice as one who welcomes back a brother -from the dead. - -14 And the disciples said, Our Lord, speak not in proverbs any more; -speak plainly unto us; we know that you are wise and know all things. - -15 What is the meaning of your words, I go away, but I will come again? - -16 And Jesus said, The hour is come when you will all be scattered -forth, and every man will be afraid; - -17 Will flee to save his life and leave me all alone; yet I will not -be all alone; my Father-God is with me all the way. - -18 And wicked men will take me to the judgment seat of wicked men, and -in the presence of the multitudes I will give up my life, a pattern -for the sons of men. - -19 But I will rise again and come to you. - -20 These things I speak that you may be established in the faith when -they shall come to pass. - -21 And you shall bear the buffetings of men, and follow in the thorny -path I tread. - -22 Be not dismayed; be of good cheer. Lo, I have overcome the world, -and you shall overcome the world. - -23 Then Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, My Father-God, -the hour has come; - -24 The son of man must now be lifted from the earth, and may he falter -not, that all the world may know the power of sacrifice; - -25 For as I give my life for men, lo, men must give their lives for -other men. - -26 I came to do thy will, O God, and in the sacred name, the Christ is -glorified, that men may see the Christ as life, as light, as love, as -truth, - -27 And through the Christ become themselves the life, the light, the -love, the truth. - -28 I praise thy name because of these whom thou hast given me, for -they have honored thee and they will honor thee; - -29 And none of them are lost, and none are gone away, except the -blinded son of carnal life, who hath gone forth to sell his Lord. - -30 O God, forgive this man, because he knows not what he does. - -31 And now, O God, I come to thee, and am no more in mortal life; keep -thou these men to whom I have made known thy wisdom and thy love. - -32 As they believe in me, and in the words I speak, may all the world -believe in them and in the words they speak. - -33 As thou hast sent me forth into the world, so I have sent them -forth. I pray that thou wouldst honor them as thou hast honored me. - -34 I do not pray that thou wouldst take them from the world, but that -they may be guarded from the evil of the world, and not be subject to -temptations that are too great for them to bear. - -35 They once were of the world, but now are of the world no more, as I -am of the world no more. - -36 Thy word is truth, O God, and by thy word let them be sanctified. - -37 I do not pray for these alone, O God; I also pray for all who will -believe on me, and will accept the Christ because of what they do and -say, that they may all be one. - -38 As I am one with thee, and thou art one with me, may they be one -with us, - -39 That all the world may know that thou hast sent me forth to do thy -will, and that thou lovest them as thou hast ever loved me. - -40 When Jesus had thus said, they sung the Jewish song of praise, and -then arose and went their way. - - -CHAPTER 163. - - _Jesus visits Pilate, who urges him to flee from the country to - save his life. Jesus refuses to do so. He meets his disciples - in Massalian's orchard. The scene in Gethsemane. The Jewish - mob led by Judas appears._ - -As Jesus and the eleven went out, a Roman guard approached and said, -All hail! Is one of you the man from Galilee? - -2 And Peter said, We all are men from Galilee; whom do you seek? - -3 The guard replied, I seek for Jesus, who is called the Christ. - -4 And Jesus answered, Here am I. - -5 The guard spoke out and said, I do not come in an official way; I -bear to you a message from the governor. - -6 Jerusalem is all alive with vengeful Jews who swear that they will -take your life, and Pilate would confer with you, and he would have -you come to him without delay. - -7 And Jesus said to Peter and the rest, Go to the vale, and by the -Kidron wait for me, and I will go alone and see the governor. - -8 And Jesus went up with the guard, and when he reached the palace, -Pilate met him at the gate and said, - -9 Young man, I have a word to say that may be well for you. I have -observed your works and words three years and more; - -10 And I have often stood in your defense when your own countrymen -would fain have stoned you as a criminal. - -11 But now the priests, the scribes and Pharisees have stirred the -common people to a stage of frenzied wantonness and cruelty, and they -intend to take your life, - -12 Because, they say, that you have sworn to tear their temple down; -to change the laws that Moses gave; to exile Pharisee and priest and -seat yourself upon a throne. - -13 And they aver that you are full in league with Rome. - -14 The streets of all Jerusalem are filled this moment with a horde of -madmen all intent to shed your blood. - -15 There is no safety for you but in flight; wait not until the -morning sun. You know the way to reach the border of this cursed land. - -16 I have a little band of guards, well horsed and armed, and they -will take you out beyond the reach of harm. - -17 You must not tarry here, young man, you must arise and go. - -18 And Jesus said, A noble prince has Csar in his Pilate Pontius, and -from the point of carnal man your words are seasoned with the wise -man's salt; but from the point of Christ your words are foolishness. - -19 The coward flees when danger comes; but he who comes to seek and -save the lost must give his life in willing sacrifice for those he -comes to seek and save. - -20 Before the pasch has been consumed, lo, all this nation will be -cursed by shedding blood of innocence; and even now the murderers are -at the door. - -21 And Pilate said, It shall not be; the sword of Rome will be -unsheathed to save your life. - -22 And Jesus said, Nay, Pilate, nay; there are no armies large enough -in all the world to save my life. - -23 And Jesus bade the governor farewell, and went his way; but Pilate -sent a double guard with him lest he should fall into the hands of -those who were alert to take his life. - -24 But in a moment Jesus disappeared; the guards saw him no more, and -in a little while he reached the brook of Kidron where the eleven were. - -25 Now, just beyond the brook there was an orchard and a home where -one, Massalian, lived, where Jesus oft had been. - -26 Massalian was his friend, and he believed that Jesus was the Christ -that Jewish prophets long ago had said would come. - -27 Now, in the orchard was a sacred knoll; Massalian called the place -Gethsemane. - -28 The night was dark, but in the orchard it was doubly dark and Jesus -bade the eight disciples tarry by the brook, - -29 While he, with Peter, James and John went to Gethsemane to pray. - -30 They sat beneath an olive tree, and Jesus opened up the mysteries -of life to Peter, James and John. He said, - -31 The Spirit of eternity is One unmanifest; and this is God the -Father, God the Mother, God the Son in One. - -32 In life of manifests the One became the Three, and God the Father -is the God of might; and God the Mother is omniscient God, and God the -Son is love. - -33 And God the Father is the power of heaven and earth; and God the -Mother is the Holy Breath, the thought of heaven and earth; and God -the Son, the only son, is Christ, and Christ is love. - -34 I came as man to manifest this love to men, - -35 As man I have been subject unto all the trials and temptations of -the human race; but I have overcome the flesh, with all its passions -and its appetites. - -36 What I have done all men can do. - -37 And I am now about to demonstrate the power of man to conquer -death; for every man is God made flesh. - -38 I will lay down my life, and I will take it up again, that you may -know the mysteries of life, of death, and of the resurrection of the -dead. - -39 I lay me down in flesh, but I will rise in spirit form with power -to manifest myself so mortal eyes can see. - -40 So in a trinity of days I will show forth the all of life, the all -of death, the meaning of the resurrection of the dead. - -41 And what I do all men can do. - -42 And you, my three, who constitute the inner circle of the Church of -Christ, will show to men the attributes of all the Gods. - -43 And Peter shall make known the Power of God; and James shall show -the Thought of God; and John shall demonstrate the Love of God. - -44 Be not afraid of men, for you have been sent forth to do the mighty -works of God the Father, God the Mother, God the Son. - -45 And all the powers of carnal life cannot destroy your life until -your work is done. - -46 I leave you now, and I will go out in the darkness all alone and -talk with God. - -47 By sorrow I am overwhelmed. I leave you here to watch with me. - -48 Then Jesus went three hundred cubits toward the east, and fell upon -his face and prayed; he said, - -49 My God! my God! is there a way by which I may escape the horrors of -the coming hours? My human flesh shrinks back; my soul is firm; so not -my will, but thine, O God, be done. - -50 In agony he prayed; the strain upon the human form was great; his -veins were burst asunder, and his brow was bathed in blood. - -51 And then he went back to the three, and found them all asleep; he -said, - -52 O Simon, Simon, do you sleep! Could you not watch with me a single -hour? Be vigilant, and watch and pray that your temptations be not too -great for you to bear. - -53 I know the spirit is alert and willing; but the flesh is weak. - -54 And then he went again and prayed, O Father, God! if I must drink -this bitter cup, give me the strength of body, as I have the strength -of soul; for not my will, but thine be done. - -55 And when he went again to his disciples; lo, he found them still -asleep. He wakened them and said to James, - -56 Have you been sleeping while your master has been wrestling with -the greatest foe of men? Could you not watch with me a single hour? - -57 And then he went again and prayed. O God, I yield to thee; thy will -be done. - -58 And then again he went back to the three, and still they slept. He -said to John, - -59 With all the love you have for me, could you not watch with me a -single hour? - -60 And then he said, It is enough; the hour has come, and my betrayer -is at hand; arise and let us go. - -61 And when they came again to Kidron, lo, the eight disciples were -asleep, and Jesus said, You men, awake; behold, for the betrayer of -the son of man is come. - - -CHAPTER 164. - - _Judas betrays his Lord with a kiss. Jesus is seized by the mob - and the disciples flee to save their lives. Jesus is taken - unto Jerusalem. Peter and John follow the mob._ - -The Lord with the eleven were in the orchard of Massalian, and as they -talked they saw a band of men with lanterns and with swords and clubs -approaching them. - -2 And Jesus said, Behold the emissaries of the evil one! and Judas -leads the way. - -3 And the disciples said, Lord, let us flee to save our lives. - -4 But Jesus said, Why should we flee to save our lives when this is -the fulfillment of the words of prophets and of seers? - -5 And Jesus went alone to meet the men; and as they came he said, Why -are you here, you men? whom do you seek? - -6 And they replied, We seek the man from Galilee. We seek for Jesus, -one who calls himself the Christ. - -7 And Jesus answered, Here am I. - -8 And then he raised his hands and with a mighty thought he brought -the ethers to the state of light; and all the orchard was aglow with -light. - -9 The frenzied men were driven back and many fled and tarried not -until they reached Jerusalem; and others fell upon their faces on the -ground. - -10 The bravest men, and they with hardest hearts, remained, and when -the light had paled, the Lord again inquired, Whom do you seek? - -11 And Ananias said, We seek the man from Galilee; we seek for Jesus, -he who calls himself the Christ. - -12 And Jesus answered him and said, I told you once before; but now I -tell you once again that I am he. - -13 By Ananias, Judas stood; but in a moment he had gone and coming up -behind the Lord he said, My Lord; and then he kissed him as a sign -that he was Jesus whom they sought. - -14 And Jesus said, Do you, Iscariot, come and thus betray your master -with a kiss? - -15 This thing must need be done; but woe to him who does betray his -Lord. - -16 Your carnal greed has seared your conscience and you know not what -you do; but in a little time your conscience will assert itself, and -in remorse, lo, you will close your span and take your life. - -17 Then the eleven came, laid hold of Judas and would have done him -harm; but Jesus said, - -18 You must not harm this man; you have no right to judge this man; -his conscience is his judge, will sentence him and he will execute -himself. - -19 And then the mob led on by Malchus, servant of Caiaphas, laid hold -of Jesus, and was binding him with chains. - -20 And Jesus said, Why do you come in dead of night with swords and -clubs to take me in this sacred place? - -21 Have I not spoken in the public places of Jerusalem? Have I not -healed your sick, and opened up your blinded eyes, and made your lame -to walk, your deaf to hear? You could have found me any day. - -22 And now you try to bind me down with chains; what are these chains -but links of reeds? And then he raised his hands; the chains were -broken and they fell to earth. - -23 And Malchus thought the Lord would flee to save his life, and with -a club he fain would smite him in the face. - -24 But Peter had a sword, and rushing up he smote the man and wounded -him. - -25 But Jesus said, Stay, Peter, stay; put up your sword; you are not -called to fight with swords and clubs. Whoever wields the sword shall -perish by the sword. - -26 I do not need protection by the sons of men, for I could call this -moment and a legion, yea, twelve legions of the messengers of God, -would come and stand in my defense; but then it is not well. - -27 And then he said to Malchus, Man, I would not have you harmed. -And then he laid his hand upon the wound that Peter made, and it was -healed. - -28 Then Jesus said, Be not concerned lest I should tear myself away -from you and flee to save my life. I have no wish to save my life; do -with me as you wish. - -29 And then the mob rushed up to seize the eleven to take them back to -stand for trial as the aids of Jesus in his crimes. - -30 But the disciples, every one of them, deserted Jesus, and they fled -to save their lives. - -31 Now, John was last to flee; the mob laid hold of him and tore his -garments all to shreds; but he escaped in nakedness. - -32 Massalian saw the man, and took him to his home and gave him other -clothes; and then he followed after them who led the Lord away. - -33 And Peter was ashamed because of his weak cowardice, and when he -was himself again he joined with John and followed close behind the -mob, and came into Jerusalem. - - - - -SECTION XIX. - -KOPH. - -_The Trial and Execution of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 165. - - _Jesus before Caiaphas. Peter denies his Lord thrice. The - indictment, signed by seven ruling Jews. A hundred perjured - witnesses testify to the truth of the charges._ - -Caiaphas was the high priest of the Jews; the mob led Jesus to his -palace hall. - -2 The court had been convened, and all the galleries were packed with -scribes and Pharisees already sworn as witnesses against the Lord. - -3 The maid who kept the palace door knew John, and this disciple asked -that he and Peter be admitted to the hall. - -4 The maid permitted them to enter in, and John went in; but Peter was -afraid and tarried in the outer court. - -5 The woman said to Peter, as he stood beside the door, Are you a -follower of this man from Galilee? - -6 And Peter said, No, I am not. - -7 The men who had brought Jesus to the hall sat by a fire in the outer -court, because the night was cool, and Peter sat with them. - -8 Another maid who waited in the place saw Peter and she said to him, -You surely are from Galilee; your speech is that of Galilee; you are a -follower of this man. - -9 And Peter said, I know not what you mean; I do not even know this -man. - -10 And then a servant of Caiaphas, one of those who seized the Lord -and brought him to the court, saw Peter and he said to him, - -11 Did I not see you in the orchard of Massalian with this seditious -Nazarene? I'm sure I did, and you are one of those who followed him. - -12 Then Peter rose and stamped upon the floor, and swore by every -sacred thing, that he knew not the criminal. - -13 Now, John was standing near and when he heard the words and knew -that Peter had denied his Lord, he looked at him in sheer astonishment. - -14 Just then a cock crew loud beneath the court, and Peter called to -mind the words the Lord had said, - -15 Before the cock shall crow tomorrow morn you will deny me thrice. - -16 And Peter's conscience smote him heavily, and he went out into the -night and wept. - -17 Caiaphas sat in state; before him stood the man from Galilee. - -18 Caiaphas said, You people of Jerusalem, who is the man that you -accuse? - -19 They answered: In the name of every loyal Jew we do accuse this man -from Galilee, this Jesus, who assumes to be our king, as enemy of God -and man. - -20 Caiaphas said to Jesus, Man, you are permitted now to speak and -tell about your doctrines and your claims. - -21 And Jesus said, You priest of carnal man, why do you ask about my -words and works? - -22 Lo, I have taught the multitudes in every public place; I have -restored your sick to health: have opened up your blinded eyes; have -caused your deaf to hear, your lame to walk, and I have brought your -dead to life again. - -23 My works have not been done in secret place but in your public -halls and thoroughfares. - -24 Go ask the people, who have not been bought with gold or glittering -promises, to tell about my words and works. - -25 When Jesus had thus said a Jewish guard came up and smote him in -the face and said, How dare you speak thus unto him, the high priest -of the Jews? - -26 And Jesus said, If I have spoken falsely bear witness unto what I -say; if I have told the truth why did you smite me thus? - -27 And then Caiaphas said, What'er you do, do in a legal way, for we -must answer to a higher court for everything we do or say. - -28 Let the accusers of this man present their charges in a legal form. - -29 And then Caiaphas' scribe stood forth and said, I have the -accusations here in legal form; the charges made and signed by scribes -and priests and Pharisees. - -30 Caiaphas said, Be still, you men, and hear the charges read. The -scribe took up a roll and read: - -31 To the Sanhedrim of the Jews and to Caiaphas the high priest, most -honored men: - -32 The highest duty man can render to his nation and his own is to -protect them from their foes. - -33 The people of Jerusalem are conscious that a mighty foe is in their -very midst. - -34 A man named Jesus has come forth and claims to be the heir to -David's throne. - -35 As an impostor he is foe, and in the name of every loyal Jew we -here submit these charges, which we are competent to prove: - -36 And first, he blasphemes God; he says he is the son of God; that he -and God are one; - -37 And he profanes our holy days by healing, and by doing other work -upon the Sabbath days; - -38 And he proclaims himself the king, successor of our David and our -Solomon; - -39 And he declares that he will tear our temple down and build it up -again in form more glorious in three days; - -40 And he declares that he will drive the people from Jerusalem, as he -drove out the merchants from the temple court; and bring to occupy our -sacred hills a tribe of men that know not God; - -41 And he avers that every doctor, scribe and Pharisee and Sadducee, -shall go in exile, and shall nevermore return; - -42 And to these charges we do set our hands and seals. - - Annas. - Abinadab. - Joash. - Simon. - Annanias. - Azaniah. - Hezekiah. - -43 Now, when the scribe had read the charges, all the people called -for blood; they said, Let such a wretch be stoned; let him be -crucified. - -44 Caiaphas said, You men of Israel, do you sustain the charges of -these men? - -45 A hundred men who had been bribed, stood forth to testify; they -swore that every charge was true. - -46 Caiaphas said to Jesus, Man, have you a word to say? are you the -son of God? - -47 And Jesus said, So you have said; and then he said no more. - - -CHAPTER 166. - - _Jesus before the Sanhedrim. Nicodemus pleads for justice; he - shows the incompetency of the witnesses. The council fail - to declare Jesus guilty, but Caiaphas, the presiding judge, - declares him guilty. The mob maltreat Jesus. He is taken to - Pilate's court._ - -When Jesus would not speak, Caiaphas stood before the Jewish mob and -said, - -2 Bind fast the prisoner, for he must go before the great Sanhedrim of -the Jews to answer for his life. - -3 We cannot execute a criminal until our findings have been verified -by this, the highest council of the Jews. - -4 As soon as it was day the highest council of the people met; the -Lord and his accusers stood before the bar. - -5 Caiaphas was the chief; he rose and said, Let the accusers of this -man from Galilee bring forth their charges and their evidence. - -6 Caiaphas' scribe stood forth and read the charges and the names of -those who had accused the man from Galilee. - -7 And all the witnesses were made to stand and testify before the -council of the Jews. - -8 And then the lawyers weighed the evidence, and Nicodemus stood among -the men who plead. - -9 He raised his hands and said, Let justice now be done, though every -scribe and Pharisee and priest and Sadducee, as well as Jesus, the -accused, be judged a liar. - -10 If we can prove this Jesus to be foe and traitor to our laws and -land, let him be judged a criminal and suffer for his crimes. - -11 If it be proved that these who testify are perjurers in the sight -of God and man, then let them be adjudged as criminals, and let the -man from Galilee go free. - -12 And then he brought the testimonies of the witnesses before the -judges of the law; no two of them agreed. In heat of passion, or for -gain, the men had testified. - -13 The council would have gladly judged that Jesus was a criminal and -sentence him to death; but in the face of all the evidence they were -afraid. - -14 And then Caiaphas said, You man from Galilee, Before the living -God, I now command that you shall answer me, Are you the Christ, the -son of God? - -15 And Jesus said, If I would answer, Yes, you would not hear, nor yet -believe, - -16 If I would answer, No, I would be like your witnesses, and stand a -liar in the sight of man and God. But this I say, - -17 The time will come when you will see the son of man upon the throne -of power and coming in the clouds of heaven. - -18 And then Caiaphas rent his clothes and said, Have you not heard -enough? Did you not hear his vile blasphemous words? What further need -have we of witnesses? What shall we do with him? - -19 The people said, Put him to death. And then the mob rushed up and -spit into his face, and struck him with their hands. - -20 And then they bound a cloth about his eyes and smote him in the -face and said, You are a prophet; tell us who it was who smote you in -the face. - -21 And Jesus answered not and like a lamb before his shearer he, the -man from Galilee, resisted not. - -22 Caiaphas said, We cannot put a man to death until the Roman ruler -shall confirm the sentence of this court; - -23 So take this criminal away and Pilate will endorse what we have -done. - -24 And then was Jesus dragged along the way up to the palace of the -Roman governor. - - -CHAPTER 167. - - _Jesus before Pilate. Is pronounced not guilty. Jesus before - Herod and is tortured and returned to Pilate, who again - declares him innocent. The Jews demand his death. Pilate's - wife urges her husband to have nothing to do with the - punishment of Jesus. Pilate weeps._ - -Into the palace of the Roman governor the Jews would enter not lest -they become defiled and be unworthy to attend the feast; but they led -Jesus to the palace court, and Pilate met them there. - -2 And Pilate said, Why this commotion in the early day? What is your -prayer? - -3 The Jews replied, We bring before you one, an evil and seditious man. - -4 He has been tried before the highest council of the Jews and has -been proven traitor to our laws, our state and to the government of -Rome. - -5 We pray that you will sentence him to death upon the cross. - -6 And Pilate said, Why do you bring him unto me? Go to, and judge him -for yourselves. - -7 You have a law, and by the sanction of the Roman law, you have a -right to judge and right to execute. - -8 The Jews replied, We have no right to execute a man upon the cross, -and since this man is traitor to Tiberius, our counsellors believe -that he should meet the most humiliating death--the death upon the -cross. - -9 But Pilate said, No man can be found guilty of a crime by Roman law -until the testimony all is in, and the accused has been permitted to -defend himself; - -10 So I will take your bill of charges, with the evidence you have, -and judge by Roman law. - -11 The Jews had made a copy of the accusations in the language of the -Roman court, and they had added to the bill: - -12 We charge that Jesus is an enemy of Rome; that he demands that men -shall pay no tribute to Tiberius. - -13 And Pilate took the bill; his guards led Jesus up the steps into -the palace hall. - -14 And Jesus stood before the Roman governor, and Pilate read to him -the charges of the Jews, and said, - -15 What is your answer to this bill? These charges, are they true or -false? - -16 And Jesus said, Why should I plead before an earthly court? The -charges have been verified by perjured men; what need I say? - -17 Yes, I am king; but carnal men cannot behold the king, nor see the -kingdom of the God; it is within. - -18 If I had been a king as carnal man is king, my servants would have -stood in my defense, and I would not have willingly surrendered to the -minions of the Jewish law. - -19 I have no testimony from the sons of men. God is my witness, and my -words and deeds bear witness to the truth; - -20 And every man who comprehends the truth will hearken to my words, -and in his soul give witness unto me. - -21 And Pilate said, What is the truth? - -22 And Jesus said, Truth is the God who knows. It is the changeless -one. The Holy Breath is truth; she changes not and cannot pass away. - -23 And Pilate went again unto the Jews and said, This man is guilty of -no crime; I cannot sentence him to death. - -24 And then the Jews grew boisterous; they cried aloud and said, Our -council surely knows. The wisest men of all the land have found him -guilty of a score of crimes. - -25 He would pervert the nation of the Jews; would overthrow the Roman -rule and make himself the king. He is a culprit come from Galilee; he -must be crucified. - -26 And Pilate said, If Jesus is from Galilee he is a subject of the -governor of Galilee, who should be judge. - -27 Now, Herod had come down from Galilee and with his suite was in -Jerusalem. - -28 And Pilate sent to him the Lord in chains; he also sent a copy of -the charges, and of the testimonies of the Jews, and asked that he -would pass in judgment on the case. - -29 And Herod said, I have heard much about this man and I am pleased -to see him in my court. - -30 And then he asked the Lord about his claims, about his doctrines -and his aims. - -31 And Jesus answered not a word; and Herod was enraged; he said, Do -you insult the ruler of the land by answering not? - -32 And then he called his guards and said, Take you this man and -torture him until he answers me. - -33 The guards took Jesus and they smote him; mocked him; wrapped him -in a royal robe; they made a crown of thorns and put it on his head; -they put a broken reed into his hands; - -34 And then they said deridingly, All hail, thou royal king! Where are -your armies and your guards? Where are your subjects and your friends? - -35 But Jesus answered not a word. Then Herod sent him back to Pilate -with this note of courtesy: - -36 Most worthy counsellor of Rome, I have examined all the charges and -the testimonies that you sent to me regarding this seditious man from -Galilee, and while I might adjudge him guilty of the crimes as charged, - -37 I yield to you my rights as judge, because you are superior to me -in power. I will approve of any judgment you may render in this case. - -38 Now, Pilate and the tetrarch had been foes, but the experience of -this hour destroyed their enmity and they were friends in after days. - -39 When Jesus had been brought again to Pilate's court, the Roman -governor stood forth before the accusers of the Lord and said, - -40 I cannot find this Nazarene to be a criminal as charged; there is -no evidence that he should suffer death; so I will scourge him well -and let him go. - -41 The Jews cried angrily, It is not mete that such a dangerous man -should live; he must be crucified. - -42 Then Pilate said, I bid you wait a little time. And then he went -into an inner room and sat in silent thought. - -43 And as he mused his wife, a godly woman, chosen from among the -Gauls, came in and said, - -44 I pray you, Pilate, hearken unto me: Beware of what you do this -hour. Touch not this man from Galilee; he is a holy man. - -45 If you should scourge this man you scourge the son of God. Last -night I saw it all in vision far too vivid to be set aside as idle -dream. - -46 I saw this man walk on the waters of the sea; I heard him speak and -calm an angry storm; I saw him flying with the wings of light; - -47 I saw Jerusalem in blood; I saw the statues of the Csars fall; I -saw a veil before the sun, and day was dark as night. - -48 The earth on which I stood was shaken like a reed before the wind. -I tell you, Pilate, if you bathe your hands in this man's blood then -you may dread the frowns of great Tiberius, and the curses of the -senators of Rome. - -49 And then she left, and Pilate wept. - - -CHAPTER 168. - - _Pilate's final effort to release Jesus fails. He washes his - hands in feigned innocence. Delivers Jesus to the Jews for - execution. The Jewish soldiers drive him to Calvary._ - -A superstitious people are the Jews. They have a faith that they have -borrowed from the idol worshippers of other lands, that at the end of -every year, - -2 They may heap all their sins upon the head of some man set apart to -bear their sins. - -3 The man becomes a scapegoat for the multitudes; and they believe -that when they drive him forth into the wilds, or into foreign lands, -they are released from sin. - -4 So every spring before the feast they chose a prisoner from the -prisons of the land, and by a form their own, they fain would make him -bear their sins away. - -5 Among the Jewish prisoners in Jerusalem were three who were the -leaders of a vile, seditious band, who had engaged in thefts and -murders and rapine, and had been sentenced to be crucified. - -6 Barabbas bar Jezia was among the men who were to die; but he was -rich and he had bought of priests the boon to be the scapegoat for the -people at the coming feast, and he was anxiously in waiting for his -hour to come. - -7 Now, Pilate thought to turn this superstition to account to save the -Lord, and so he went again before the Jews and said, - -8 You men of Israel, according to my custom I will release to you -today a prisoner who shall bear your sins away. - -9 This man you drive into the wilds or into foreign lands, and you -have asked me to release Barabbas, who has been proven guilty of the -murder of a score of men. - -10 Now, hear me men, Let Jesus be released and let Barabbas pay his -debt upon the cross; then you can send this Jesus to the wilds and -hear no more of him. - -11 At what the ruler said the people were enraged, and they began to -plot to tear the Roman palace down and drive in exile Pilate, and his -household and his guards. - -12 When Pilate was assured that civil war would follow if he heeded -not the wishes of the mob, he took a bowl of water and in the -presence of the multitude he washed his hands and said, - -13 This man whom you accuse, is son of the most holy Gods, and I -proclaim my innocence. - -14 If you would shed his blood, his blood is on your hands and not on -mine. - -15 And then the Jews exclaimed, And let his blood be on our hands and -on our children's hands. - -16 And Pilate trembled like a leaf, in fear. Barabbas he released and -as the Lord stood forth before the mob the ruler said, Behold your -king! And would you put to death your king? - -17 The Jews replied, He is no king; we have no king but great Tiberius. - -18 Now, Pilate would not give consent that Roman soldiers should -imbue their hands in blood of innocence, and so the chief priests and -the Pharisees took counsel what to do with Jesus, who was called the -Christ. - -19 Caiaphas said, We cannot crucify this man; he must be stoned to -death and nothing more. - -20 And then the rabble said, Make haste! let him be stoned. And then -they led him forth toward the hill beyond the city's gates, where -criminals were put to death. - -21 The rabble could not wait until they reached the place of skulls. -As soon as they had passed the city's gate, they rushed upon him, -smote him with their hands, they spit upon him, stoned him and he fell -upon the ground. - -22 And one, a man of God, stood forth and said, Isaiah said, He shall -be bruised for our transgressions and by his stripes we shall be -healed. - -23 As Jesus lay all bruised and mangled on the ground a Pharisee -called out, Stay, stay you men! behold, the guards of Herod come and -they will crucify this man. - -24 And there beside the city's gate they found Barabbas' cross; and -then the frenzied mob cried out, Let him be crucified. - -25 Caiaphas and the other ruling Jews came forth and gave consent. - -26 And then they lifted Jesus from the ground, and at the point of -swords they drove him on. - -27 A man named Simon, from Cyrene, a friend of Jesus, was a-near the -scene and since the bruised and wounded Jesus could not bear his -cross, they laid it on the shoulders of this man and made him bear it -on to Calvary. - - -CHAPTER 169. - - _Judas is filled with remorse. Hurries to the temple and throws - the thirty pieces of silver at the feet of the priests who - take it and buy a potter's field. Judas hangs himself. His - body is buried in the potter's field._ - -Now, Judas who betrayed his Lord, was with the mob; but all the time -he thought that Jesus would assert his power and demonstrate the -strength of God that he possessed, and strike to earth the fiendish -multitudes and free himself; - -2 But when he saw his master on the ground and bleeding from a score -of wounds, he said, - -3 O God, what have I done? I have betrayed the son of God; the curse -of God will rest upon my soul. - -4 And then he turned and ran with haste until he reached the temple -door; he found the priests, who gave to him the thirty silver pieces -to betray the Lord, and said, - -5 Take back your bribe; it is the cost price of my soul; I have -betrayed the son of God. - -6 The priests replied, That matters not to us. - -7 Then Judas threw the silver on the floor, and, bowed with grief, he -went away, and on a ledge beyond the city's walls he hanged himself -and died. - -8 In time the fastenings gave way, his body fell into the Hinnon vale -and after many days they found it there a shapeless mass. - -9 The rulers could not put the price of blood into the treasury, -and so they took the thirty silver pieces with which they bought a -potter's field, - -10 Where they might bury those who had no rights to lie within their -sacred burial grounds. - -11 And there they put the body of the man who sold his Lord. - - -CHAPTER 170. - - _The crucifixion. Jesus prays for his murderers. Pilate puts - an inscription above the cross. Jesus speaks words of - encouragement to the penitent thief. Commits to John the care - of his mother and Miriam. The soldiers divide his garments - among themselves._ - -The Jewish mob pushed on toward Calvary and as they went the Marys, -Miriam, and other women not a few, were close beside the Lord. - -2 They wept aloud. When Jesus saw them weeping and lamenting thus he -said, - -3 Weep not for me, for though I go away, go through the gateway of the -cross, yet on the next day of the sun, lift up your hearts, for I will -meet you at the sepulchre. - -4 The great procession came to Calvary. The Roman soldiers had already -bound the two state prisoners to the cross. - -5 (They were not nailed, but simply bound.) - -6 Four soldiers of the Roman guard that Herod brought from Galilee -were called to execute the orders of the court. - -7 These were the men who had been set apart to torture Jesus and -secure from him confession of his guilt. - -8 These were the men who scourged him, put a crown of thorns upon his -head, a broken reed into his hands, and wrapped him in a royal robe, -and bowed in mockery, before him as a king. - -9 These soldiers took the Lord and stripped him, laid him on the cross -and would have bound him there with cords; but this would not suffice. - -10 The cruel Jews were near with hammer and with nails; they cried, -not cords, but nails; drive fast the nails and hold him to the cross. - -11 And then the soldiers took the nails and drove them through his -feet and hands. - -12 They offered him a sedative to drink, a draught of vinegar and -myrrh; but he refused to drink the draught. - -13 The soldiers had prepared a place in which to plant Barabbas' cross -between the other criminals; and here they raised the cross of Jesus, -who was called the Christ; - -14 And then the soldiers and the mob sat down to watch him die. - -15 And Jesus said, My Father-God, forgive these men; they know not -what they do. - -16 Now, Pilate had prepared a tablet to be placed upon the cross on -which was written in the tongues of Hebrew, Latin and the Greek these -words of truth: JESUS THE CHRIST, KING OF THE JEWS. - -17 And this was placed upon the cross. The priests were angered when -they read these words upon the tablet of the cross. - -18 And then they prayed that Pilate would not say, He is the Christ, -king of the Jews; but say, He claims to be the Christ, king of the -Jews. - -19 But Pilate said, What I have written, I have written; let it stand. - -20 The Jewish multitudes who saw the Lord upon the cross were wild -with joy; they said, All hail, fake king! - -21 You who would tear the temple down and in three days would build it -up again, why don't you save yourself? - -22 If you are Christ, the son of God, come from the cross; then all -men will believe. - -23 The priests and scribes and Pharisees looked on the scene and -scoffed; they said, He rescued others from the grave; why don't he -save himself? - -24 The Jewish soldiers and the Roman guards who came from Galilee were -loud in mocking and deriding him. - -25 One of the other men upon the cross joined in the mockery; he said, -If you are Christ, you have the power; just speak the Word, and save -yourself and me. - -26 The other man upon the cross rebuked the man; he said, You wretch! -have you no fear of God? - -27 This man is innocent of any crime while you and I are guilty and -are paying up the debts we owe. - -28 And then he said to Jesus, Lord, I know thy kingdom comes, the -kingdom that the world can never comprehend; - -29 And when thou comest on the clouds of heaven, remember me. - -30 And Jesus said, Behold, for I will meet you in the realm of souls -this day. - -31 Now, standing near unto the cross were many women from Judea and -from Galilee. Among them were the mother of the Lord and Miriam, - -32 And Mary, mother of the two apostles, James and John, and Mary -Magdalene, and Martha, Ruth and Mary, and Salome. - -33 When Jesus saw his mother and the singer Miriam standing close -beside the cross and John a-near, he said to John, - -34 In your most tender care I leave my mother and my sister Miriam. - -35 And John replied, While they shall live my home shall be the home -of your thrice blessed mother and your sister Miriam. - -36 According to a custom of the Jews, to those who were the -executioners of law and took the lives of criminals, belonged the -garments of the criminals. - -37 So when the Lord was crucified, the Roman guards divided up among -themselves the garments of the Lord. - -38 But when they found his coat it was a seamless coat and highly -prized. - -39 For it the guards cast lots, and thus determined who should have -the prize. - -40 And thus the scripture was fulfilled, which said, And they divided -all my robes among themselves, and for my vesture they cast lots. - - -CHAPTER 171. - - _Concluding scenes of the crucifixion. Joseph and Nicodemus, - by consent of Pilate, take the body of Jesus from the cross - and lay it in Joseph's tomb. A guard of one hundred Jewish - soldiers are placed about the sepulcher._ - -Now, at the sixth hour of the day, although the sun was at its height, -the day became as dark as night; - -2 And men sought lanterns and they builded fires upon the hills that -they might see. - -3 And when the sun refused to shine and darkness came, the Lord -exclaimed, _Heloi! Heloi! lama sabachthani?_ (Thou sun! thou sun! why -hast thou forsaken me?) - -4 The people did not understand the words he spoke; they thought he -spoke the name Elijah and they said, - -5 He calls upon Elijah in his hour of need; now we will see if he will -come. - -6 And Jesus said, I thirst. A Roman soldier dipped a sponge in vinegar -and myrrh, and placed it to his lips. - -7 Now, at the ninth hour of the day the earth began to quake, and in -the darkness of that sunless day, a flood of golden light appeared -above the cross; - -8 And from the light a voice was heard which said, Lo, it is done. - -9 And Jesus said, My Father-God, into thy hands I give my soul. - -10 A Roman soldier in compassion said, This agony is all too great; -relief shall come. And with a spear he pierced his heart and it was -done; the son of man was dead. - -11 And then the earth was shocked again; the city of Jerusalem rocked -to and fro; the hills were rent and tombs were opened up; - -12 And people thought they saw the dead arise and walk the streets. - -13 The temple quivered and the veil between the sanctuary and the Holy -Place was rent in twain, and consternation reigned through all the -place. - -14 The Roman guard who watched the body on the cross exclaimed, This -surely was the son of God who died. - -15 And then the people hurried down from Calvary. The priests, the -Pharisees and scribes were filled with fear. - -16 They sought the cover of their synagogues and homes and said, -Behold, the wrath of God! - -17 The great day of the Jewish pasch was near, and Jews could not by -law permit a criminal to hang upon the cross upon the Sabbath day. - -18 And so they prayed that Pilate would remove the bodies of the men -that had been crucified. - -19 And Pilate sent his guards to Calvary to note if all the men were -dead. - -20 And when the guards were gone, two aged Jews came to the palace -door to see the governor, and they were members of the highest council -of the Jews; - -21 Yet they believed that Jesus was a prophet sent from God. - -22 The one was Rabbi Joseph, the Arimathean counsellor, and he was -just and loved the law of God. - -23 And Nicodemus was the other one who came. - -24 These men fell down at Pilate's feet and prayed that they might -take the body of the Nazarene and lay it in a tomb. - -25 And Pilate gave consent. - -26 Now, Joseph had prepared a costly mixture to embalm the body of -the Lord, about a hundred pounds of aloes and of myrrh, and this they -took and hastened out to Calvary. - -27 And when the guards returned they said, The Nazarene is dead; the -malefactors are alive. - -28 And Pilate told the guards to go and smite the living men so they -would die, and then to give their bodies to the flames; but give the -body of the Nazarene to rabbis who would call for it. - -29 The soldiers did as Pilate said. - -30 The rabbis came and took away the body of the Lord and when they -had prepared it with the spices they had bought, - -31 They laid it in the new-made tomb that had been made for Joseph in -a solid rock. - -32 And then they rolled a stone up to the sepulcher. - -33 The priests were fearful lest the friends of Jesus would go forth -at night and take away the body of the Nazarene, and then report that -he had risen from the dead, as he had said; - -34 And they requested that the governor would send his soldiers to the -tomb to guard the body of the dead. - -35 But Pilate said, I will not send a Roman guard; but you have Jewish -soldiers and may send a hundred men with a centurion to guard the tomb. - -36 And then they sent a hundred soldiers out to guard the tomb. - - - - -SECTION XX. - -RESH. - -_The Resurrection of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 172. - - _Pilate places the Roman seal upon the stone door of the tomb. - At midnight a company of the silent brothers march about the - tomb. The soldiers are alarmed. Jesus preaches to the spirits - in prison. Early Sunday morning he rises from the tomb. The - soldiers are bribed by the priests to say that the disciples - had stolen the body._ - -The tomb in which they laid the body of the Lord was in a garden, rich -with flowers, the garden of Siloam, and Joseph's home was near. - -2 Before the watch began Caiaphas sent a company of priests out to -the garden of Siloam that they might be assured that Jesus' body was -within the tomb. - -3 They rolled away the stone; they saw the body there, and then they -placed the stone again before the door. - -4 And Pilate sent his scribe who placed upon the stone the seal of -Rome, in such a way that he who moved the stone would break the seal. - -5 To break this Roman seal meant death to him who broke the seal. - -6 The Jewish soldiers all were sworn to faithfulness; and then the -watch began. - -7 At midnight all was well, but suddenly the tomb became a blaze -of light, and down the garden walk a troupe of white clad soldiers -marched in single file. - -8 They came up to the tomb and marched and countermarched before the -door. - -9 The Jewish soldiers were alert; they thought the friends had come to -steal the body of the Nazarene. The captain of the guard cried out to -charge. - -10 They charged; but not a white clad soldier fell. They did not even -stop; they marched and countermarched among the frightened men. - -11 They stood upon the Roman seal; they did not speak; they unsheathed -not their swords; it was the Silent Brotherhood. - -12 The Jewish soldiers fled in fear; they fell upon the ground. - -13 They stood apart until the white clad soldiers marched away, and -then the light about the tomb grew dim. - -14 Then they returned; the stone was in its place; the seal was not -disturbed, and they resumed their watch. - -15 Now, Jesus did not sleep within the tomb. The body is the manifest -of soul; but soul is soul without its manifest. - -16 And in the realm of souls, unmanifest, the Lord went forth and -taught. - -17 He opened up the prison doors and set the prisoners free; - -18 He broke the chains of captive souls, and led the captives to the -light; - -19 He sat in council with the patriarchs and prophets of the olden -times; - -20 The masters of all times and climes he met, and in the great -assemblies he stood forth and told the story of his life on earth, and -of his death in sacrifice for man, - -21 And of his promises to clothe himself again in garb of flesh and -walk with his disciples, just to prove the possibilities of man; - -22 To give to them the key of life, of death, and of the resurrection -of the dead. - -23 In council all the masters sat and talked about the revelations of -the coming age, - -24 When she, the Holy Breath, shall fill the earth and air with holy -breath, and open up the way of man to perfectness and endless life. - -25 The garden of Siloam was silent on the Sabbath day; the Jewish -soldiers watched and no one else approached the tomb; but on the -following night the scene was changed. - -26 At midnight every Jewish soldier heard a voice which said, _Adon -Mashich Cumi_, which meant, Lord Christ arise. - -27 And they supposed again that friends of Jesus were alert, were -coming up to take the body of their Lord away. - -28 The soldiers were alert with swords unsheathed and drawn, and then -they heard the words again. - -29 It seemed as though the voice was everywhere, and yet they saw no -man. - -30 The soldiers blanched with fear, and still to flee meant death for -cowardice, and so they stood and watched. - -31 Again, and this was just before the sun arose, the heavens blazed -with light, a distant thunder seemed to herald forth a coming storm; - -32 And then the earth began to quake and in the rays of light they saw -a form descend from heaven, They said, Behold an angel comes. - -33 And then they heard again, _Adon Mashich Cumi_. - -34 And then the white-robed form tramped on the Roman seal, and then -he tore it into shreds; he took the mighty stone in hand as though it -were a pebble from the brook, and cast it to the side. - -35 And Jesus opened up his eyes and said, All hail the rising sun! the -coming of the day of righteousness! - -36 And then he folded up his burial gown, his head bands and his -coverings and laid them all aside. - -37 He rose, and for a moment stood beside the white-robed form. - -38 The weaker soldiers fell upon the ground, and hid their faces in -their hands; the stronger stood and watched. - -39 They saw the body of the Nazarene transmute; they saw it change -from mortal to immortal form, and then it disappeared. - -40 The soldiers heard a voice from somewhere; yea, from everywhere, it -said, - -41 Peace, peace on earth; good will to men. - -42 They looked, the tomb was empty and the Lord had risen as he said. - -43 The soldiers hastened to Jerusalem, and to the priests, and said, - -44 Behold, the Nazarene has risen as he said; the tomb is empty and -the body of the man is gone; we know not where it is. And then they -told about the wonders of the night. - -45 Caiaphas called a council of the Jews; he said, the news must not -go forth that Jesus has arisen from the dead; - -46 For if it does all men will say, He is the son of God, and all our -testimonies will be proven false. - -47 And then they called the hundred soldiers in and said to them, - -48 You know not where the body of the Nazarene is resting now, so if -you will go forth and say that his disciples came and stole the body -while you slept, - -49 Each one of you shall have a silver piece, and we will make it -right with Pilate for the breaking of the Roman seal. - -50 The soldiers did as they were paid to do. - - - - -SECTION XXI. - -SCHIN. - -_Materialization of the Spiritual Body of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 173. - - _Jesus appears, fully materialized, to his mother, Miriam, Mary - of Magdala and to Peter, James and John._ - -Now, when the rabbis took the body of the Lord and laid it in the tomb -the mother of the Lord, and Mary Magdalene, and Miriam were there. - -2 And when the body was entombed they went to Joseph's home and there -abode. - -3 They did not know that Jewish soldiers had been sent to guard the -tomb, nor that the Roman seal was placed upon the stone; - -4 So in the morning of the first day of the week they hastened to the -tomb with spices to embalm the Lord. - -5 But when they reached the tomb they found the terror-stricken -soldiers running frantically about. - -6 The women did not know the cause; but when they found an empty tomb -they were excited and aggrieved. - -7 The soldiers did not know what had transpired; they could not tell -who took the body of the Lord away. - -8 And Mary Magdalene ran with haste toward Jerusalem to tell the news -to Peter and the rest. - -9 She met, just by the gateway, Peter, James and John; she said, Some -one has rolled away the stone and carried off the body of the Lord. - -10 And then the three disciples ran toward the tomb; but John was -fleet of foot and was the first to reach the tomb; he found it empty; -the body of his Lord was gone. - -11 When Peter came he went into the tomb, and found the grave clothes -neatly folded up and laid aside. - -12 Now, the disciples did not comprehend the scene. They did not know -the meaning of their Lord when he informed them just before his death -that he would rise from death upon the first day of the week. - -13 The three disciples went back to Jerusalem; the mother of the Lord -and Miriam went not away. - -14 And Mary looked within the tomb, and saw two masters sitting there; -they said, Why do you weep? - -15 And Mary said, Because my Lord is gone; some one has carried off -the body of my Lord; I know not where it is. - -16 Then she arose and looked around; a man stood near and said, Why do -you weep? whom do you seek? - -17 And Mary thought it was the gardener and said, If you have borne -away the body of my Lord, O tell me where it is that I may lay it in a -sacred tomb. - -18 And then the man came near and said, My mother! and Mary said, My -Lord! - -19 The eyes of Miriam were opened up and she beheld the Lord. - -20 And Jesus said, Behold, I told you as we walked along the way up to -the cross that I would meet you at the sepulcher upon the first day of -the week. - -21 Now, Mary Magdalene was sitting not a great way off, and Jesus went -to her and said, - -22 Why seek the living 'mong the dead? Your Lord has risen as he said. -Now, Mary, look! behold my face! - -23 Then Mary knew it was the Lord; that he had risen from the dead. - -24 And then Salome, and Mary, mother of the two disciples, James and -John, Joanna, and the other women who had come out to the tomb, saw -Jesus, and they talked with him. - -25 And Mary Magdalene was filled with joy. She sought again for Peter, -James and John; she found them and she said, - -26 Lo, I have seen the Lord; and Miriam has seen the Lord; the mother -of the Lord has seen the Lord; and many more have seen his face; for -he has risen from the dead. - -27 But the disciples thought that she had simply seen a vision of the -Lord. They did not think that he had risen from the dead. - -28 Then Mary found the other members of the company and told them all -about the risen Lord; but none of them believed. - -29 Now, Peter, James and John were in the garden of Siloam; were -talking with the gardener about the happenings of the day when John -beheld a stranger coming up the walk. - -30 The stranger lifted up his hands and said, I am. Then the -disciples knew it was the Lord. - -31 And Jesus said, Behold, for human flesh can be transmuted into -higher form, and then that higher form is master of things manifest, -and can, at will, take any form. - -32 And so I come to you in form familiar unto you. - -33 Go speak to Thomas, and the other men whom I have called to be -apostles unto men, and say to them, - -34 That he whom Jews and Romans thought was dead is walking in the -garden of Siloam; - -35 Will stand again before the priests and Pharisees within the temple -in Jerusalem; - -36 And will appear unto the sages of the world. - -37 Tell them that I will go before them into Galilee. - -38 Then Peter, James and John went forth and found their brethren, and -said, Behold, the Lord is risen from the dead, and we have seen him -face to face. - -39 The brethren were amazed at what the three disciples said; but -still they looked upon their words as idle talk and they believed them -not. - - -CHAPTER 174. - - _Jesus appears, fully materialized, to Zachus and Cleophas as - they journey to Emmaus, but they know him not. He tells them - many things about Christ. He eats the evening meal with them, - and reveals himself to them. They go to Jerusalem and tell - the news._ - -Towards the evening of the resurrection day, two friends of Jesus, -Zachus and Cleophas of Emmaus, seven miles away, were going to their -home. - -2 And as they walked and talked about the things that had occurred a -stranger joined their company. - -3 He said, My friends, you seem discouraged and are sad. Has some -great grief upon you come? - -4 Cleophas said, Are you a stranger in Judea, and know not of the -thrilling things that have transpired here? - -5 The stranger said, What things? To what do you refer? - -6 Cleophas said, Have you not heard about the man from Galilee who was -a prophet mighty in both word and deed? - -7 A man whom many thought had come to found again the kingdom of the -Jews, and drive the Romans from the city of Jerusalem and be himself -the king? - -8 The stranger said, Tell me about this man. - -9 Cleophas said, His name was Jesus; he was born in Bethlehem; his -home was up in Galilee. He loved the people as he loved himself. - -10 He was, in truth, a master sent from God, for he had matchless -power. He healed the sick and made the deaf to hear, the blind to see, -the lame to walk, and even raised the dead. - -11 The Jewish scribes and Pharisees were jealous of his fame and -power, and they arrested him; by perjured witnesses they proved him -guilty of a score of crimes, - -12 And on last Friday he was taken to the place of skulls and -crucified. - -13 He died and he was buried in a rich man's tomb, out in the garden -of Siloam. - -14 This very morning when his friends went to the tomb they found it -empty; the body of the Lord was gone. - -15 And now the news has spread abroad that he has risen from the dead. - -16 The stranger said, Yes, I have heard about this man; but it seems -strange that after all the things that Jewish prophets long ago -foretold concerning him that when he came men knew him not. - -17 This man was born to demonstrate the Christ to men, and it is just -to say that Jesus is the Christ. - -18 According to the Word, this Jesus came to suffer at the hands of -men, to give his life as pattern for the sons of men; - -19 To rise from death that men might know the way to rise from death. - -20 And then the stranger told the two disciples all about the Law, the -Prophets and the Psalms, and read to them a multitude of things that -had been written of this man from Galilee. - -21 And now the men had reached their home and as the night was near -they importuned the stranger to abide with them. - -22 And he went in with them and as they sat about the table at the -evening meal, he took a piece of bread, and blessed it in the name of -Christ. - -23 And instantly their eyes were opened up, and they perceived that -he, the stranger, was the Lord, the man from Galilee; that he had -risen from the dead; and then the form of Jesus disappeared. - -24 When he had gone, the two disciples were amazed. They said, Did not -our hearts burn with delight while he was talking to us by the way and -opening up the testimonies of the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms? - -25 Then Zachus and Cleopas went back to Jerusalem, and everywhere they -went they said, Lo, we have seen the Lord; - -26 He walked with us to Emmaus; he ate with us the evening meal, and -broke for us the bread of life. - - -CHAPTER 175. - - _Jesus appears, fully materialized, to the ten apostles in - Simon's house, and to Lazarus and his sisters._ - -The evening of the resurrection day had come; the ten apostles were in -Simon's house in Bethany. The lawyer, Thomas, was not there. - -2 The doors were closed and barred, because the Jews had said that -they would drive the Galileans from the land. - -3 And as they talked, lo, Jesus came and stood forth in their midst, -and said, Peace! peace! - -4 And the disciples shrank in fear; they thought it was a phantom that -they saw. - -5 And Jesus said, Why are you troubled thus? why do you fear? I am no -phantom form. I am your Lord, and I have risen from the dead. - -6 I often said, I will arise; but you believed me not; and now come -here and see. A phantom has not flesh and bones and brawn, like I -possess. - -7 Come now, and clasp my hands, and touch my feet, and lay your hands -upon my head. - -8 And every one came up and clasped his hands, and touched his feet, -and laid his hands upon his head. - -9 And Jesus said, Have you here anything to eat? - -10 And they brought out a fragment of a fish; he ate it in the -presence of them all, and then the ten believed. - -11 Nathaniel said, And now we know that he has risen from the dead; he -stands a surety of the resurrection of the dead. And Jesus disappeared. - -12 Now, Mary, Martha, Ruth and Lazarus were in their home, and they -had heard the rumor that their Lord had risen from the dead, and -Martha said, - -13 It cannot be, for such a thing has never happened since the world -began. - -14 But Mary said, Did not the Lord bring back our brother from the -dead? and he could surely bring himself to life again. - -15 And as they talked, the Lord stood in their midst and said, - -16 All hail! for I am risen from the dead, first fruitage of the grave! - -17 And Martha ran and brought the chair in which the Lord had ever -loved to sit, and Jesus sat down on the chair. - -18 And for a long, long time they talked about the trial, and the -scenes of Calvary and of the garden of Siloam. - -19 Then Jesus said, Fear not, for I will be your boon companion all -the way; and then he disappeared. - - -CHAPTER 176. - - _Jesus appears, fully materialized, to the eastern sages in the - palace of Prince Ravanna in India. To the magian priests in - Persia. The three wise men speak in praise of the personality - of the Nazarene._ - -Ravanna, prince of India, gave a feast. His palace in Orissa was the -place where men of thought from all the farther East were wont to meet. - -2 Ravanna was the prince with whom child Jesus went to India many -years ago. - -3 The feast was made in honor of the wise men of the East. - -4 Among the guests were Meng-ste, Vidyapati and Lamaas. - -5 The wise men sat about the table talking of the needs of India and -the world. - -6 The door unto the banquet hall was in the east; a vacant chair was -at the table to the east. - -7 And as the wise men talked a stranger entered, unannounced, and -raising up his hands in benediction said, All hail! - -8 A halo rested on his head, and light, unlike the light of sun, -filled all the room. - -9 The wise men rose and bowed their heads and said, All hail! - -10 And Jesus sat down in the vacant chair; and then the wise men knew -it was the Hebrew prophet who had come. - -11 And Jesus said, Behold, for I am risen from the dead. Look at my -hands, my feet, my side. - -12 The Roman soldiers pierced my hands and feet with nails; and then -one pierced my heart. - -13 They put me in a tomb, and then I wrestled with the conqueror of -men. I conquered death, I stamped upon him and arose; - -14 Brought immortality to light and painted on the walls of time a -rainbow for the sons of men; and what I did all men shall do. - -15 This gospel of the resurrection of the dead is not confined to Jew -and Greek; it is the heritage of every man of every time and clime; -and I am here a demonstration of the power of man. - -16 Then he arose and pressed the hand of every man and of the royal -host, and said, - -17 Behold, I am not myth made of the fleeting winds, for I am flesh -and bone and brawn; but I can cross the borderland at will. - -18 And then they talked together there a long, long time. Then Jesus -said, - -19 I go my way, but you shall go to all the world and preach the -gospel of the omnipotence of man, the power of truth, the resurrection -of the dead; - -20 He who believes this gospel of the son of man shall never die; the -dead shall live again. - -21 Then Jesus disappeared, but he had sown the seed. The words of life -were spoken in Orissa, and all of India heard. - -22 The magian priests were in the silence in Persepolis, and Kaspar, -and the magian masters who were first to greet the child of promise in -the shepherd's home in Bethlehem, were with the priests. - -23 And Jesus came and sat with them; a crown of light was on his head. - -24 And when the silence ended Kaspar said, A master from the royal -council of the Silent Brotherhood is here; let us give praise. - -25 And all the priests and masters stood and said, All hail! What -message from the royal council do you bring? - -26 And Jesus said, My brothers of the Silent Brotherhood, peace, peace -on earth; good will to men! - -27 The problem of the ages has been solved; a son of man has risen -from the dead; has shown that human flesh can be transmuted into flesh -divine. - -28 Before the eyes of men this flesh in which I come to you was -changed with speed of light from human flesh. And so I am the message -that I bring to you. - -29 To you I come, the first of all the race to be transmuted to the -image of the AM. - -30 What I have done, all men will do; and what I am, all men will be. - -31 But Jesus said no more. In one short breath he told the story of -his mission to the sons of men, and then he disappeared. - -32 The magi said, Some time ago we read this promise, now fulfilled, -upon the dial plate of heaven. - -33 And then we saw this man who has just demonstrated unto us the -power of man to rise from carnal flesh and blood to flesh of God, a -babe in Bethlehem. - -34 And after many years he came and sat with us in these same groves; - -35 He told the story of his human life, of trials, sore temptations, -buffetings and woes. - -36 He pressed along the thorny way of life till he had risen and -o'erthrown the strongest foes of God and man; and he is now the only -master of the human race whose flesh has been transmuted into flesh -divine. - -37 He is the God-man of today; but every one of earth shall overcome -and be like him, a son of God. - - -CHAPTER 177. - - _Jesus appears, fully materialized, in the temple in Jerusalem. - Rebukes the rulers of the Jews for their hypocrisy. Reveals - himself to them and they fall back in fear. He appears to the - apostles in Simon's house. Thomas is convinced._ - -It was the Sabbath day and many priests and scribes and Pharisees were -in the temple in Jerusalem. Caiaphas, Annas and some other ruling -Jews were there. - -2 A stranger came in garb of fisherman and asked, What has become of -Jesus who is called the Christ? Is he not teaching in the temple now? - -3 The Jews replied, That man from Galilee was crucified a week ago, -because he was a dangerous man, a vile, seditious man. - -4 The stranger asked, Where did you put the body of this man from -Galilee? where is his tomb? - -5 The Jews replied, We do not know. His followers came at night and -stole the body from the tomb in which it lay and carried it away, and -then declared that he had risen from the dead. - -6 The stranger asked, How do you know that his disciples stole the -body from the tomb? was any one a witness of the theft? - -7 The Jews replied, We had a hundred soldiers at the place, and every -one of them declares that his disciples stole the body from the tomb. - -8 The stranger asked, Will any one of all your hundred men stand forth -and say, I saw the body stolen from the tomb? - -9 The Jews replied, We do not know; these men are men of truth; we -cannot doubt their word. - -10 The stranger said, You priests and scribes and Pharisees hear me: -I was a witness of the facts, was in the garden of Siloam, and stood -among your hundred men. - -11 And this I know that not a man among your hundred men, will say, I -saw the body stolen from the tomb. - -12 And I will testify before the God of heaven and earth, The body was -not stolen from the tomb; the man from Galilee is risen from the dead. - -13 And then the priests and scribes and Pharisees rushed up to seize -the man and cast him out. - -14 But instantly the fisherman became a radiant form of light, and -priests and scribes and Pharisees fell back in deadly fear; they saw -the man from Galilee. - -15 And Jesus looked upon the frightened men and said, This is the body -that you stoned beyond the city's gates and crucified on Calvary. - -16 Behold my hands, my feet, my side and see the wounds the soldiers -made. - -17 If you believe that I am phantom made of air, come forth and handle -me; ghosts do not carry flesh and bones. - -18 I came to earth to demonstrate the resurrection of the dead, the -transmutation of the flesh of carnal man to flesh of man divine. - -19 Then Jesus raised his hands and said, Peace be to every one of you; -good will to all mankind. And then he disappeared. - -20 Now, Thomas had not seen the Lord since he had risen from the dead, -and when the ten averred that they had seen and talked with him he -said, - -21 Until I see the nail prints in his hands and feet, the spear wound -in his side, and talked with him as I have talked with him before, I -cannot have a reason to believe that he is risen from the dead. - -22 At Simon's house in Bethany the men from Galilee had met. It was -the evening of the first day of the week, and on the morrow all would -turn their faces toward their homes. - -23 The eleven apostles all were there; the doors were closed and -barred, and Jesus came and said, Peace be to all! - -24 And then he said to Thomas, friend, you do not know that I have -risen from the dead; the time has come for you to know. - -25 Come here and see the nail prints in my hands, the spear wound in -my side, and talk with me as you have often talked with me. - -26 And Thomas came and saw, and then exclaimed, My master, and my -Lord! I do not now believe, I know that you are risen from the dead. - -27 And Jesus said, Because you see me you believe, and blessed are -your eyes; - -28 But blessed thrice are they who see me not and yet believe. - -29 Then Jesus vanished from their sight, but the disciples were -established in their faith. - - -CHAPTER 178. - - _Jesus appears, fully materialized, before Apollo and the - Silent Brotherhood in Greece. Appears to Claudas and Juliet - on the Tiber near Rome. Appears to the priests in the - Egyptian temple at Heliopolis._ - -Apollo, with the Silent Brotherhood of Greece, was sitting in a -Delphian grove. The Oracle had spoken loud and long. - -2 The priests were in the sanctuary and as they looked the Oracle -became a blaze of light; it seemed to be on fire, and all consumed. - -3 The priests were filled with fear. They said, A great disaster is to -come; our gods are mad; they have destroyed our Oracle. - -4 But when the flames had spent themselves, a man stood on the orac -pedestal and said; - -5 God speaks to man, not by an oracle of wood and gold, but by the -voice of man. - -6 The gods have spoken to the Greeks, and kindred tongues, through -images made by man; but God, the One, now speaks to man through Christ -the only son, who was, and is and evermore will be. - -7 This Oracle shall fail; the Living Oracle of God, the One, will -never fail. - -8 Apollo knew the man who spoke; he knew it was the Nazarene who once -had taught the wise men in the Acropolis and had rebuked the idol -worshippers upon the Athen's beach; - -9 And in a moment Jesus stood before Apollo and the Silent -Brotherhood, and said, - -10 Behold, for I have risen from the dead with gifts for men. I bring -to you the title of your vast estate. - -11 All power in heaven and earth is mine; to you I give all power in -heaven and earth. - -12 Go forth and teach the nations of the earth the gospel of the -resurrection of the dead and of eternal life through Christ, the love -of God made manifest to men. - -13 And then he clasped Apollo's hand and said, My human flesh was -changed to higher form by love divine and I can manifest in flesh, or -in the higher planes of life, at will. - -14 What I can do all men can do. Go preach the gospel of the -omnipotence of man. - -15 Then Jesus disappeared; but Greece and Crete and all the nations -heard. - -16 Claudas and Juliet, his wife, lived on the Palatine in Rome and -they were servants of Tiberius; but they had been in Galilee; - -17 Had walked with Jesus by the sea, had heard his words and seen his -power; and they believed that he was Christ made manifest. - -18 Now Claudas and his wife were on the Tiber in a little boat; a -storm swept from the sea, the boat was wrecked and Claudas and his -wife were sinking down to death. - -19 And Jesus came and took them by the hands and said, Claudas and -Juliet, arise and walk with me upon the waves. - -20 And they arose and walked with him upon the waves. - -21 A thousand people saw the three walk on the waves, and saw them -reach the land, and they were all amazed. - -22 And Jesus said, You men of Rome, I am the resurrection and the -life. They that are dead shall live, and many that shall live will -never die. - -23 By mouth of gods and demigods God spoke unto your fathers long ago; -but now he speaks to you through perfect man. - -24 He sent his son, the Christ, in human flesh, to save the world, and -as I lifted from the watery grave and saved these servants of Tiberius, - -25 So Christ will lift the sons and daughters of the human race, yea, -every one of them, from darkness and from graves of carnal things, to -light and everlasting life. - -26 I am the manifest of love raised from the dead; Behold my hands, my -feet, my side which carnal men have pierced. - -27 Claudas and Juliet, whom I have saved from death, are my -ambassadors to Rome. - -28 And they will point the way and preach the gospel of the Holy -Breath and of the resurrection of the dead. - -29 And that was all he said, but Rome and all of Italy heard. - -30 The priests of Heliopolis were in their temple met to celebrate the -resurrection of their brother Nazarite; they knew that he had risen -from the dead. - -31 The Nazarite appeared and stood upon a sacred pedestal on which no -man had ever stood. - -32 This was an honor that had been reserved for him who first would -demonstrate the resurrection of the dead. - -33 And Jesus was the first of all the human race to demonstrate the -resurrection of the dead. - -34 When Jesus stood upon the sacred pedestal the masters stood and -said, All hail! The great bells of the temple rang and all the temple -was ablaze with light. - -35 And Jesus said, All honor to the masters of this Temple of the Sun. - -36 In flesh of man there is the essence of the resurrection of the -dead. This essence, quickened by the Holy Breath, will raise the -substance of the body to a higher tone, - -37 And make it like the substance of the bodies of the planes above, -which human eyes cannot behold. - -38 There is a holy ministry in death. The essence of the body cannot -be quickened by the Holy Breath until the fixed is solved; the body -must disintegrate, and this is death. - -39 And then upon these pliant substances God breathes, just as he -breathed upon the chaos of the deep when worlds were formed, - -40 And life springs forth from death; the carnal form is changed to -form divine. - -41 The will of man makes possible the action of the Holy Breath. When -will of man and will of God are one, the resurrection is a fact. - -42 In this we have the chemistry of mortal life, the ministry of -death, the mystery of deific life. - -43 My human life was wholly given to bring my will to tune with the -deific will; when this was done my earth-tasks all were done. - -44 And you, my brothers, know full well the foes I had to meet; you -know about my victories in Gethsemane; my trials in the courts of men; -my death upon the cross. - -45 You know that all my life was one great drama for the sons of men; -a pattern for the sons of men. I lived to show the possibilities of -man. - -46 What I have done all men can do, and what I am all men shall be. - -47 The masters looked; the form upon the sacred pedestal had gone, but -every temple priest, and every living creature said, Praise God. - - -CHAPTER 179. - - _Jesus appears, fully materialized, to the apostles at the - sea of Galilee. Appears to a multitude of people. Tells his - apostles to go again to Jerusalem and he would meet them - there._ - -Now, the apostles were at home in Galilee; the women tarried in Judea -until the Pentecost, - -2 And Peter, James and John, and Andrew, Philip and Nathaniel were in -Capernaum. They joined with Jonah and with Zebedee, and in their boats -went out to fish, - -3 They toiled all night and when the morning came they had no fish. - -4 And as they neared the shore a man stood on the shore and said, How -many fish have you? - -5 And Peter answered, None. - -6 Again the man called out and said, A school of fish is passing now -upon the right side of your boat; cast out your net. - -7 They cast their net, and it was filled; and John exclaimed, It is -the Lord who stands upon the shore. - -8 And Peter plunged into the sea and swam to shore. The other men -brought in the net, and it contained a hundred fifty and three fish -and yet it did not break. - -9 And Jesus said, My children, let us break our fast together here. - -10 They found some living coals upon the beach and Peter brought and -dressed the fish; they had some bread. - -11 And when the meal had been prepared they broke their fast, and -Jesus ate of both the fish and bread. - -12 Now, after breakfast all the men were sitting on the beach, and -Jesus said to Peter, Do you love the Lord your God with all your -heart, and do you love your neighbor as you love yourself? - -13 And Peter said, Yea, Lord, I love the Lord my God with all my -heart; I love my neighbor as I love myself. - -14 And Jesus said, Then feed my sheep. - -15 And then he said to James, Do you love her, the Holy Breath, with -all your heart, and do you love your neighbor as you love yourself? - -16 And James replied, Yea, Lord, I love the Holy Breath with all my -heart; I love my neighbor as I love myself. - -17 Then Jesus said, Protect my sheep. - -18 And then he said to John, Do you love Christ, the love divine made -manifest, with all your heart, and do you love your neighbor as you -love yourself? - -19 And John replied, Yea, Lord, I love the Christ with all my heart; I -love my neighbor as I love myself. - -20 And Jesus said, Then feed my lambs. - -21 Then Jesus rose and said to Peter, Follow me. And Peter followed -him. - -22 When Peter saw that John was following him he said to Jesus, Lord, -behold, John follows you! What shall he do? - -23 Now Peter did not hear the master when he said to John, Then feed -my lambs. - -24 And Jesus spoke to Peter and he said, It matters not to you what -John shall do; not even though I will that he remain until I come -again. - -25 Just do your duty; follow me. - -26 And Jesus passed, they knew not where he went. - -27 The news soon spread through all Capernaum that Jesus had arisen -from the dead, that he had walked with his disciples by the sea, and -ate with them the morning meal. The multitudes came forth to see. - -28 Now Peter, James and John, together with the other men who had -been called to be apostles of the Lord, went to the mountains near -Capernaum to pray, - -29 And as they prayed the master came; they saw him and they talked -with him. - -30 He said to them, The Pentecost is near at hand; go to Jerusalem and -I will meet you there. - -31 And as he talked, a multitude of people came; they saw the Lord; -they said, - -32 Behold, for now we know that he, the Nazarene, has risen from the -dead for we have seen him face to face. - - -CHAPTER 180. - - _Jesus appears, fully materialized, to the apostles in - Jerusalem. Gives them his instructions. Promises them a - special endowment for their work on Pentecost. Goes to Mount - Olives and in full view of many disciples ascends to heaven. - The disciples return to Jerusalem._ - -The eleven apostles of the Lord were in Jerusalem and in a spacious -room that they had chosen by the Lord's command. - -2 And as they prayed the Lord appeared to them and said, - -3 Peace be to all; good will to every living thing. And then he talked -with them a long, long time. - -4 And the disciples asked, Will you restore the kingdom unto Israel -now? - -5 And Jesus said, Be not concerned about the governments of men; the -masters will direct. - -6 Do that which has been given you to do, and wait and murmur not. - -7 All power in heaven and earth is given unto me, and now I bid you go -to all the world and preach the gospel of the Christ, the unity of God -and man, the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal life. - -8 And as you go and preach, baptize the people in the name of Christ. - -9 They who believe and are baptized shall rise up in the newness of -the life of Christ, and they who disbelieve shall rise not in the -newness of the life of Christ. - -10 And you shall give to men the power I give to you. - -11 They who believe and are baptized shall heal the sick; shall cause -the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk; - -12 Shall cast the unclean spirits out of those obsessed; shall tread -on deadly serpents and be not harmed; shall pass through flames and -not be burned; and if they drink a poisonous draught it shall not kill. - -13 You know the sacred Word, which is the word of power. - -14 The secret things that I have told to you that may not now be told -to all the world, you shall make known to faithful men who shall in -turn reveal them unto other faithful men, - -15 Until the time shall come when all the world may hear and -comprehend the words of truth and power. - -16 And now I will ascend to God, as you and all the world will rise to -God. - -17 Behold, upon the day of Pentecost you all shall be endowed with -power from on high. - -18 But here you shall remain till then in holy thought and prayer. - -19 Then Jesus went to Olivet, and his disciples followed him, and in a -place not far removed from Bethany, he met the Marys and Salome; - -20 Met Martha, Ruth and Miriam; met Lazarus and a host of others who -had come from Galilee. - -21 And Jesus stood apart and raised his hands and said, - -22 The benedictions of the Holy Ones, of the Almighty God, and of the -Holy Breath, of Christ the love of God made manifest, - -23 Will rest upon you all the way till you shall rise and sit with me -upon the throne of power. - -24 And then they saw him rise upon the wings of light; a wreath -encircled him about; and then they saw his form no more. - -25 But as they gazed up into heaven two men, in robes of white, -appeared and said, - -26 You men of Galilee, why gaze you thus so anxiously upon the -ascending Lord? Lo, he will come again from heaven as you have seen -him go to heaven. - -27 Then the eleven and Lazarus, and the other men from Galilee, -together with the faithful women, not a few, returned unto Jerusalem -and there abode. - -28 And they were constantly in prayer and holy thought. They waited -for the Holy Breath, and for the coming of the promised power from on -high. - - - - -SECTION XXII. - -TAU. - -_Establishment of the Christine Church._ - - -CHAPTER 181. - - _The eleven apostles make choice of Matthias to fill the place - made vacant by the deflection of Judas. The Christines are - glad. Miriam sings a song of praise. Apostolic roster._ - -The fact that Jesus had arisen from the dead was not denied by many of -the rulers of the Jews. - -2 And Pilate gave an order that the followers of the Nazarene be not -molested in their worship any place in his domain. - -3 The day of Pentecost was near at hand and every one was looking for -a manifest of Spirit power. - -4 Now, in Jerusalem the eleven had met to choose a man to fill the -place of Judas who betrayed his Lord. - -5 And Peter said, The Lord called to this ministry twelve men as -twelve foundation stones on which the Christine temple should be built. - -6 This Judas, who betrayed his Lord, has gone to his own place beyond -the veil. - -7 Of him the prophet wrote: His habitation shall be desolate; no man -shall dwell therein; his office let another take. - -8 From those who have accompanied us from Gilgal, where the harbinger -baptized, until this day, shall one be chosen to complete the number -twelve, to fill the place from which our brother by transgression fell. - -9 And then the eleven spent a long, long time in prayer, and when they -cast their lots, Matthias, from the valley of the Nile, was chosen for -the place. - -10 Matthias was an Israelite indeed; but he was learned in all the -wisdom of Egyptian schools, and he had taught the mysteries of Mizraim -in Jericho. - -11 He was among the first to greet the harbinger; among the first to -recognize the Nazarene as Christ, the son of God; - -12 He had been with the Christine band in all their journeys in the -land of Galilee, Judea and Samaria. - -13 A messenger was sent who found Matthias, and he came and joined the -eleven, and for a time the twelve were lost in silent prayer. - -14 The Christines who had come from Galilee and places in Judea, about -six score, were there, and Peter told them of Matthias, and how, by -lot, he had been chosen an apostle of the Lord. - -15 The Christines all were glad and praised the name of God; and -Miriam sung a song of praise. - -16 These are the names of the apostles of the Lord: Peter, John and -James; Philip, Andrew and Nathaniel; - -17 Thomas, James the son of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes; Matthew, Jude, -the son of Alpheus and Matthias. - - -CHAPTER 182. - - _Events of the day of Pentecost. Endowment of the apostles. - The Christine Church is established. Peter preaches the - introductory sermon. The sermon. Three thousand people are - baptized and become members of the church._ - -Now, when the day of Pentecost had come Jerusalem was filled with -pious Jews and proselytes from many lands. - -2 The Christines all were met and were in perfect harmony. - -3 And as they sat in silent prayer they heard a sound a-like the -distant murmur of a coming storm. - -4 The sound grew loud, and louder still, until, like thunder peals, it -filled the room where the apostles sat. - -5 A brilliant light appeared, and many thought, The building is afire. - -6 Twelve balls, that seemed like balls of fire, fell from heaven--a -ball from every sign of all the circle of the heavens, and on the head -of each apostle there appeared a flaming ball of fire. - -7 And every ball sent seven tongues of fire toward heaven, and each -apostle spoke in seven dialects of earth. - -8 The ignorant rabble treated lightly what they heard and saw; they -said, These men are drunk, and know not what they say. - -9 But men of learning were amazed; they said, Are not these men who -speak all Jews? how is it that they speak in all the languages of -earth? - -10 And Peter said, You people of Jerusalem, and you who live beyond -the city's gates; Peace be to you, and all mankind. - -11 This is the time that holy men of old desired to see; by faith they -saw this hour, and now they stand with us in ecstasy. - -12 The prophet Joel in the olden times told of the things you see and -hear. The Holy Breath spoke with his tongue and said, - -13 And it shall come to pass in latter days, that I will breathe upon -the sons of men, and fill them with the blessedness of holiness. - -14 Your sons and daughters will stand forth and prophesy; your young -men will be seers; your old men will dream dreams. - -15 And I will show forth wonders in the heavens above, and marvelous -signs in earth. - -16 Sounds will proceed from heaven and voices will be heard that men -will fail to comprehend. - -17 The sun will fail to shine, the moon will wade in blood before the -coming of the great day of the Lord. - -18 And it will come to pass that they who call upon the name of God in -faith shall be redeemed. - -19 This is the day of Christine power; the day that he, the man from -Galilee, is glorified. - -20 He came as babe in Bethlehem and from his day of birth the kings of -earth went forth intent to take his life. - -21 God held him in the hollow of his hand. - -22 Men called him Jesus, and they called him well, for he was sent to -seek and save the lost. - -23 And Jesus grew to manhood and was subject unto all the trials and -temptations of the sons of men, that he might know the loads that men -must bear, and know the way to succor them. - -24 In distant lands he lived and by the sacred Word he healed the -sick, threw prison doors ajar, and set the prisoners free, and -everywhere he was proclaimed, Immanuel. - -25 But wicked men despised him and rejected him, and by bribed men -they proved him guilty of a score of crimes; - -26 And in the presence of a multitude of men who hear me now, they -nailed him to a cross; - -27 They sealed him with the seal of death; but death was all too weak -to hold him in the tomb and when immortal masters said, Adon mashich -cumi, he burst the bands of death, and rose again to life. - -28 He showed himself alive, not only to the rulers in Jerusalem, but -to the many in the distant parts of earth; - -29 And then, before the wondering eyes of many who now hear me speak, -attended by a retinue of courtiers of the angel world, he ascended to -the throne of God. - -30 And being now exalted high, and having breathed to full the Holy -Breath, he breathes again on us, and thus sheds forth what you now see -and hear. - -31 You men of Israel, know that God has made this man from Galilee -whom you abused and crucified, both Lord and Christ. - -32 And then the people said, What shall we do? - -33 And Peter said, This Christine Lord has sent us forth to open up -the gates of dawn. Through Christ all men may enter into light and -life. - -34 The Christine Church stands on the postulates that Jesus is the -love of God made manifest; that love is savior of the sons of men. - -35 This Christine Church is but the kingdom of the Holy One within the -soul, made manifest. - -36 This day the Christine Church is opened up, and whosoever will may -enter in, and, by the boundless grace of Christ, be saved. - -37 Again the people said, How may we enter in that we may share the -boundless grace of Christ? - -38 And Peter said, Reform and be baptized, and turn away from sin and -lead the life deep hid with Christ in God, and you shall enter in and -be redeemed. - -39 Three thousand people turned away from sin and were baptized and -sought to lead the life deep hid with Christ in God. - -40 And in one day the Christine Church became a mighty power; and -Christ became a mighty word that thrilled the multitudes in many lands. - -[Illustration] - - - - -Transcriber's Notes: - - -Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant -preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed. - -Simple typographical errors were corrected; occasional unbalanced -quotation marks retained. - -Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained. - -Alphabetization errors in the Index have not been changed. - -Text uses both "rythm" and "rhythm"; "fleshy" and "fleshly". - -Page 9: Paragraph beginning "Jesus was the name of the man" has no -closing quotation mark. - -Page 23: "Thankfulness of Jesus, 194" refers to a non-existent chapter. -It is possible that the correct reference would be to "104". - -Page 117 Chapter 84, verse 19: comma may be missing after "astonished". - -Page 126 Chapter 91, verse 34: "went his away" may be typographical -error for "way". - -Page 148 Chapter 108, verse 26: "holy men-apostles" perhaps should be -"holy men--apostles". - -Page 158 Chapter 116, verse 2: "dualty" may be typographical error for -"duality". - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, by -Levi H. 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Dowling. @@ -257,48 +257,7 @@ span.locked {white-space: nowrap;} </head> <body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, by -Levi H. Dowling - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ - The Philosophic and Practical Basis of the Religion of the - Aquarian Age of the World and of The Church Universal - -Author: Levi H. Dowling - -Release Date: October 30, 2013 [EBook #44073] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AQUARIAN GOSPEL OF JESUS *** - - - - -Produced by Tor Martin Kristiansen, Jon Noring, Charlie -Howard, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44073 ***</div> <div class="transnote"> <p class="covernote">Cover created by Transcriber and placed in the Public Domain.</p> @@ -3598,7 +3557,7 @@ the priests. His prophecy. Mary abides in the temple. Is betrothed to Joseph.</i></p></blockquote> -<p class="drop-cap5"><span class="smcap">Augustus</span> Csar reigned and +<p class="drop-cap5"><span class="smcap">Augustus</span> Cæsar reigned and Herod Antipas was ruler of Jerusalem.</p> @@ -12621,7 +12580,7 @@ upon them all.</p> whom God sends forth to earth.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">10</span> I am not sent to sit upon a -throne to rule as Csar rules; and +throne to rule as Cæsar rules; and you may tell the ruler of the Jews that I am not a claimant for his throne.</p> @@ -13291,10 +13250,10 @@ Why do you pose as king?</p> <p><span class="leadnum">27</span> And Jesus said, No man has ever heard me say that I am king. -I could not sit in Csar’s place and +I could not sit in Cæsar’s place and be the Christ.</p> -<p><span class="leadnum">28</span> Give unto Csar what belongs +<p><span class="leadnum">28</span> Give unto Cæsar what belongs to him; give unto God the treasures of your heart.</p> @@ -15121,7 +15080,7 @@ Greeks.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">24</span> And Jesus said to him, Hail, Matthew, trusted servant of the -Csars, hail! the masters call us to +Cæsars, hail! the masters call us to the tribute house of souls; I go and you may follow me. And Matthew followed him.</p> @@ -17744,7 +17703,7 @@ by the Omnific Word which Jesus spoke;</p> <p><span class="leadnum">3</span> Susanna, who owned vast estates -at Csarea-Philippi;</p> +at Cæsarea-Philippi;</p> <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span> <span class="leadnum">4</span> Johanna, wife of Chuza, one of @@ -20829,7 +20788,7 @@ goes alone to Tyre and abides in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Pag Rachel’s home. Heals an obsessed child. Goes to Sidon and then to the mountains of Lebanon. Visits -Mount Hermon, Csarea-Philippi, +Mount Hermon, Cæsarea-Philippi, Decapolis, Gadara and returns to Capernaum. Receives the twelve, who give an account of their @@ -20981,7 +20940,7 @@ conquest of the cross; about the victory over death.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">30</span> Then Jesus journeyed on; -he went to Csarea-Philippi, and in +he went to Cæsarea-Philippi, and in Susanna’s home he tarried certain days.</p> @@ -21702,7 +21661,7 @@ pray. His disciples and the villagers find him and he teaches them for three days. Feeds four thousand people. The Christines go to -Csarea-Philippi. They consider +Cæsarea-Philippi. They consider the personality of Christ. Peter is chosen as apostolic leader.</i></p></blockquote> @@ -21809,7 +21768,7 @@ the glory of the Lord of hosts.</p> days in silent thought.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">21</span> And then they journeyed on, -and came into the land of Csarea-Philippi.</p> +and came into the land of Cæsarea-Philippi.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">22</span> And as they walked and talked among themselves, the master @@ -21956,7 +21915,7 @@ the gates of death until you see the kingdom come in power.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">10</span> For seven days the master -and the twelve remained in Csarea-Philippi.</p> +and the twelve remained in Cæsarea-Philippi.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">11</span> Then Jesus, taking Peter, James and John, went forth unto a @@ -22105,7 +22064,7 @@ whom Herod slew.</p> <blockquote> <p class="hang"><i>Jesus and the three disciples return -to Csarea-Philippi. The nine +to Cæsarea-Philippi. The nine had failed to cure an epileptic child. Jesus heals it and rebukes his disciples for their lack of trust in God. @@ -25141,7 +25100,7 @@ a learned physician and a just and upright man.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">3</span> Theophilus, a Grecian senator, -a minister of Csar’s court, was +a minister of Cæsar’s court, was also there; and many other men of honor and renown.</p> @@ -25825,7 +25784,7 @@ shall forfeit what he has.</p> <blockquote> -<p class="hang"><i>Jesus heals blind Bartimus. With +<p class="hang"><i>Jesus heals blind Bartimæus. With the twelve he goes to Bethany. The multitudes come to welcome him and to speak with Lazarus.</i></p></blockquote> @@ -25834,7 +25793,7 @@ and to speak with Lazarus.</i></p></blockquote> way to Bethany, and as they went, while yet in Jericho, they passed a beggar sitting by the way; -and he was blind Bartimus.</p> +and he was blind Bartimæus.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">2</span> And when the beggar heard the multitude pass by he said, @@ -25845,14 +25804,14 @@ of Nazareth is passing by.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">4</span> And instantly the man cried out, Lord Jesus, son of David, stay! -have mercy on poor blind Bartimus!</p> +have mercy on poor blind Bartimæus!</p> <p><span class="leadnum">5</span> The people said to him, Be quiet; hold your peace.</p> -<p><span class="leadnum">6</span> But blind Bartimus called +<p><span class="leadnum">6</span> But blind Bartimæus called again, Thou son of David, hear! -have mercy on poor blind Bartimus!</p> +have mercy on poor blind Bartimæus!</p> <p><span class="leadnum">7</span> And Jesus stopped and said, Bring him to me.</p> @@ -25860,7 +25819,7 @@ Bring him to me.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">8</span> And then the people brought the blind man to the Lord, and as they brought him up they said, Be -cheerful now, Bartimus, the Lord +cheerful now, Bartimæus, the Lord is calling you.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">9</span> And then he threw his cloak @@ -25868,13 +25827,13 @@ aside, and ran to Jesus as he waited by the way.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">10</span> And Jesus said, What will -you have, Bartimus?</p> +you have, Bartimæus?</p> <p><span class="leadnum">11</span> The blind man said, Rabboni, open up mine eyes that I may see.</p> -<p><span class="leadnum">12</span> And Jesus said, Bartimus, +<p><span class="leadnum">12</span> And Jesus said, Bartimæus, look up; receive your sight; your faith has made you whole.</p> @@ -26538,7 +26497,7 @@ of men;</p> <p><span class="leadnum">3</span> Tell us, what do you think; should we, who are the seed of -Abraham, pay tribute unto Csar? +Abraham, pay tribute unto Cæsar? or should we not?</p> <p><span class="leadnum">4</span> And Jesus knew his wickedness @@ -26554,11 +26513,11 @@ engraved.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">6</span> And Jesus said, Whose image and whose name is on this coin?</p> -<p><span class="leadnum">7</span> The man replied, ’Tis Csar’s +<p><span class="leadnum">7</span> The man replied, ’Tis Cæsar’s image and his name.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">8</span> And Jesus said, Give unto -Csar that which is Csar’s own; +Cæsar that which is Cæsar’s own; but give to God the things of God.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">9</span> And they who heard him said, @@ -28424,7 +28383,7 @@ of harm.</p> young man, you must arise and go.</p> <p><span class="leadnum">18</span> And Jesus said, A noble -prince has Csar in his Pilate Pontius, +prince has Cæsar in his Pilate Pontius, and from the point of carnal man your words are seasoned with the wise man’s salt; but from the @@ -29461,7 +29420,7 @@ saw him flying with the wings of light;</p> <p><span class="leadnum">47</span> I saw Jerusalem in blood; I -saw the statues of the Csars fall; +saw the statues of the Cæsars fall; I saw a veil before the sun, and day was dark as night.</p> @@ -32044,384 +32003,6 @@ but links to Chapter <a href="#CHAPTER_104">104</a>, which contains a relevant v “duality”.</p> </div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, by -Levi H. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ - The Philosophic and Practical Basis of the Religion of the - Aquarian Age of the World and of The Church Universal - -Author: Levi H. Dowling - -Release Date: October 30, 2013 [EBook #44073] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AQUARIAN GOSPEL OF JESUS *** - - - - -Produced by Tor Martin Kristiansen, Jon Noring, Charlie -Howard, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: PALESTINE FROM THE RAISED MAP constructed from the -Surveys of the PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND BY GEORGE ARMSTRONG ESQr -Secretary to the Fund] - - - THE AQUARIAN GOSPEL - _of_ - JESUS THE CHRIST - - _The Philosophic and Practical Basis of the Religion - of the Aquarian Age of the World_ - - AND OF - - THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL - - TRANSCRIBED FROM THE BOOK OF GOD'S REMEMBRANCES, - KNOWN AS THE AKASHIC RECORDS, - - BY - LEVI - - WITH - INTRODUCTION - BY - EVA S. DOWLING, A. Ph. D. - - LONDON: - L. N. FOWLER AND COMPANY - - E. S. DOWLING, PUBLISHER, - Los Angeles, California - 1911 - - FOR SALE BY - E. S. DOWLING - Los Angeles, California. - - Copyright 1911, by - MRS. EVA S. DOWLING - - Copyright in England, 1911 - Entered at Stationers' Hall, London - - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - including rights of translation - - M. A. DONOHUE & CO. - PRINTERS AND BINDERS - CHICAGO - - - - -CONTENTS - - - SECTION I.--_Birth and Early Life of Mary, Mother of Jesus._--Chapter - 1. - - SECTION II.--_Birth and Infancy of John the Harbinger, and of - Jesus._--Chapters 2-6. - - SECTION III.--_Education of Mary and Elizabeth in Zoan._--Chapters - 7-12. - - SECTION IV.--_Childhood and Early Education of John the - Harbinger._--Chapters 13-15. - - SECTION V.--_Childhood and Early Education of Jesus._--Chapters 16-20. - - SECTION VI.--_Life and Works of Jesus in India._--Chapters 21-35. - - SECTION VII.--_Life and Works of Jesus in Tibet and Western - India._--Chapters 36-37. - - SECTION VIII.--_Life and Works of Jesus in Persia._--Chapters 38-41. - - SECTION IX.--_Life and Works of Jesus in Assyria._--Chapters 42-43. - - SECTION X.--_Life and Works of Jesus in Greece._--Chapters 44-46. - - SECTION XI.--_Life and Works of Jesus in Egypt._--Chapters 47-55. - - SECTION XII.--_The Council of the Seven Sages of the - World._--Chapters 56-60. - - SECTION XIII.--_The Ministry of John the Harbinger._--Chapters 61-64. - - SECTION XIV.--_The Christine Ministry of Jesus._--_Introductory - Epoch._--Chapters 65-71. - - SECTION XV.--_The First Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of - Jesus._--Chapters 72-90. - - SECTION XVI.--_The Second Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of - Jesus._--Chapters 91-123. - - SECTION XVII.--_The Third Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of - Jesus._--Chapters 124-158. - - SECTION XVIII.--_The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus._--Chapters 159-164. - - SECTION XIX.--_The Trial and Execution of Jesus._--Chapters 165-171. - - SECTION XX.--_The Resurrection of Jesus._--Chapter 172. - - SECTION XXI.--_Materialization of the Spiritual Body of - Jesus._--Chapters 173-180. - - SECTION XXII.--_Establishment of the Christine Church._--Chapters - 181-182. - - - - -INTRODUCTION - -BY - -EVA S. DOWLING, A. Ph.D., - -SCRIBE TO THE MESSENGER. - - -_THE BOOK._ - -The full title of this book is "The Aquarian Age Gospel of Jesus, -the Christ of the Piscean Age," and the critical reader is apt to -ask a number of pertinent questions concerning it. Among the many -anticipated questions these are perhaps the most important: - - 1 What is an Age? - 2 What is the Piscean Age? - 3 What is the Aquarian Age? - 4 What is meant by the Christ as the word is used in this book? - 5 What relationship existed between Jesus of Nazareth and the Christ? - 6 Who is Levi, the transcriber of this book? - 7 What are the Akashic Records? - -1 _What is an Age?_ Astronomers tell us that our sun and his family -of planets revolve around a central sun, which is millions of miles -distant, and that it requires something less than 26,000 years to make -one revolution. His orbit is called the Zodiac, which is divided into -twelve signs, familiarly known as Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, -Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. -It requires our Solar System a little more than 2100 years to pass -through one of these signs, and this time is the measurement of an Age -or Dispensation. Because of what Astronomers call "the precession of -the Equinoxes" the movement of the sun through the signs of the Zodiac -is in order reverse from that given above. - -_Exact Time of the Beginning of an Age._ Regarding this matter there -is a disagreement among astronomers; but in this Introduction we are -not called upon to give the reasons of the various investigators for -their opinions; there are enough well authenticated facts for our -present purposes. It is conceded by all critical students that the sun -entered the zodiacal sign Taurus in the days of our historic Adam when -the Taurian Age began; that Abraham lived not far from the beginning -of the Arian Age, when the sun entered the sign Aries. About the time -of the rise of the Roman empire the sun entered the sign Pisces, the -Fishes, and the Piscean Age began, so that early in this Age Jesus of -Nazareth lived. - -2 _What is the Piscean Age?_ This question requires further -consideration. The Piscean Age is identical with the Christian -Dispensation. The word Pisces means fish. The sign is known as a water -sign, and the Piscean Age has been distinctly the age of the fish and -its element, water. - -In the establishment of their great institutions John the Harbinger -and Jesus both introduced the rite of water baptism, which has been -used in some form in all the so-called Christian Churches and cults, -even to the present time. Water is the true symbol of purification. -Jesus himself said to the Harbinger before he was baptized: "All men -must be washed, symbolic of the cleansing of the soul." (Aquarian -Gospel 64:7.) - -_Fish was a Christian Symbol._ In the earlier centuries of the -Christian Dispensation the fish was everywhere used as a symbol. In -his remarkable book, "Christian Iconography," Didron says: - -"The fish, in the opinion of antiquarians generally, is the symbol -of Jesus Christ. The fish is sculptured upon a number of Christian -monuments, and more particularly upon the ancient sarcophagi. It -is also upon medals, bearing the name of our Savior and also upon -engraved stones, cameos and intaglios. The fish is also to be remarked -upon the amulets worn suspended from the necks by children, and upon -ancient glasses and sculptured lamps. - -"Baptismal fonts are more particularly ornamented with the fish. The -fish is constantly exhibited placed upon a dish in the middle of the -table, at the Last Supper, among the loaves, knives and cups used at -the banquet." - -In the writings of Tertullian we find this statement: "We are little -fishes in Christ our great fish." - -The last two thousand years, comprising the Piscean Age, has certainly -been one of water and the many uses of that element have been -emphasized, and sea and lake and river navigation has been brought to -a high degree of efficiency. - -3 _What is the Aquarian Age?_ The human race is today standing upon -the cusp of the Piscean-Aquarian Ages. Aquarius is an air sign and the -New Age is already noted for remarkable inventions for the use of air, -electricity, magnetism, etc. Men navigate the air as fish do the sea, -and send their thoughts spinning around the world with the speed of -lightning. - -The word Aquarius is derived from the Latin word aqua, meaning water. -Aquarius is, however, the _water bearer_, and the symbol of the sign, -which is the eleventh sign of the Zodiac, is a man carrying in his -right hand a pitcher of water. Jesus referred to the beginning of the -Aquarian Age in these words: - -"And then the man who bears the pitcher will walk forth across an arc -of heaven; the sign and signet of the Son of Man will stand forth in -the eastern sky. The wise will then lift up their heads and know that -the redemption of the earth is near." (Aquarian Gospel 157:29, 30.) - -The Aquarian Age is pre-eminently a spiritual age, and the spiritual -side of the great lessons that Jesus gave to the world may now be -comprehended by multitudes of people for the many are now coming into -an advanced stage of spiritual consciousness; so with much propriety -this book is called "The Aquarian (or Spiritual) Gospel of Jesus, the -Christ." - -_An Important Event._ The transfer of dominion from one Age to another -is an important event in the world of Cherubim and Seraphim. Among the -manuscripts of Levi we have found a most remarkable paper describing -the transfer of dominion from the Piscean Age to the Aquarian Age, but -it is difficult to determine whether it is a recital of facts or a -prophetic statement. We reproduce the paper in full. - - THE CUSP OF THE AGES. - - "In Spirit I was caught away into the realms of Akasha; I stood - alone within the circle of the sun. - - "And there I found the secret spring that opens up the door to - Wisdom and an understanding heart. - - "I entered in and then I knew. - - "I saw the four and twenty Cherubim and Seraphim that guard - the circle of the sun, the mighty ones who were proclaimed by - masters long ago 'the four and twenty ancient ones.' - - "I heard the names of every Cherubim and Seraphim, and learned - that every sign in all the Zodiac is ruled by two--a Cherubim - and Seraphim. - - "And then I stood upon the cusp where Ages meet. The Piscean - Age had passed; the Aquarian Age had just begun. - - "I saw the guardian Spirits of the Piscean Age; Ramasa is the - Cherubim; Vacabiel is Seraphim. - - "I saw the guardian Spirits of the Aquarian Age, and Archer is - the Cherubim; Sakmaquil is the Seraphim. - - "These four great spirits of the Triune God stood close - together on the cusp, and in the presence of the sacred - Three--the God of Might, the God of Wisdom, and the God of - Love--the scepter of Domain, of Might, of Wisdom and of Love - was there transferred. - - "I heard the charges of the Triune God; but these I may not now - reveal. - - "I heard the history of the Piscean Age from Piscean Cherubim - and Seraphim, and when I took my pen to write Ramasa said: - - "Not now, my son, not now; but you may write it down for men - when men have learned the sacred laws of Brotherhood, of Peace - on earth, good-will to every living thing. - - "And then I heard the Aquarian Cherubim and Seraphim proclaim - the Gospel of the coming Age, the age of Wisdom, of the Son of - Man. - - "And when the crown was lifted from the head of Ramasa and - placed upon the head of Archer of the Aquarian Age; and when - the royal scepter was transferred from Seraphim Vacabiel to - Seraphim Sakmaquil there was deep silence in the courts of - heaven. - - "And then the goddess Wisdom spoke, and with her hands - outstretched she poured the benedictions of the Holy Breath - upon the rulers of Aquarius. - - "I may not write the words she spoke, but I may tell the Gospel - of the coming age that Archer told when he received the crown. - - "And I may breathe to men the song of praise that Seraphim - Sakmaquil sung when she received the royal scepter of the - newborn age. - - "This Gospel I will tell, and I will sing this song in every - land, to all the people, tribes and tongues of earth." - -4 _What is Meant by "the Christ," as the Word is Used in This Book?_ -The word Christ is derived from the Greek word Kristos and means -anointed. It is identical with the Hebrew word Messiah. The word -Christ, per se, does not refer to any particular person; every -anointed person is christed. When the definite article "the" is placed -before the word christ a definite personality is indicated, and this -personality is none other than a member of the Trinity, the Son who -had a glory with the Father-Mother before the worlds were formed. - -According to the teachings of all ancient masters this Son is Love; so -the Christ is Love, and Love is God, since God is Love. - -Another remarkable manuscript found in Levi's Akashic portfolio -gives the clearest possible ideal of the Christ, or Love of God. It -is presumed that this manuscript is a direct transcription from the -Akashic Records and its importance demands its reproduction here in -full. - - THE CHRIST - - "Before creation was the Christ walked with the Father God and - Mother God in Akasha. - - "The Christ is son, the only son begotten by Almighty God, the - God of Force and God omniscient, God of thought; and Christ is - God, the God of Love. - - "Without the Christ there was no light. Through Christ all life - was manifest; and so through him all things were done, and - naught was done in forming worlds or peopling worlds without - the Christ. - - "Christ is the Logos of Infinities and through the word alone - are Thought and Force made manifest. - - "The Son is called the Christ, because the Son, the Love, the - universal Love, was set apart, ordained to be creator, Lord, - preserver and redeemer of all things, of everything that is, or - evermore will be. - - "Through Christ, the protoplast, the earth, the plant, the - beast, the man, the angel and the cherubim took up their - stations on their planes of life. - - "Through Christ they are preserved; and if they fall it is the - Christ who lifts them up; and if they sell themselves to sin - the Christ redeems. - - "Now Christ, the universal Love, pervades all spaces of - infinity, and so there is no end to love. - - "From the great heart of Love unnumbered spirits were sent - forth to demonstrate the height, the depth, the width, the - boundlessness of Love. - - "To every world and star and moon and sun a master spirit of - this Love divine was sent; and all were full anointed with the - oil of helpfulness, and each became a Christ. - - "All glorious in his majesty is Christ, who spread the pure - white robe of Love o'er all the planes of earth--The Christ of - earth, its heaven, its graves. - - "In course of time the protoplast, the earth, the plant, the - beast, the man sold out their birthrights unto sin; but Christ - was present to redeem. - - "Hid in the holiest place in all infinities is locked the - scroll that bears the record of the purposes of God, the Triune - God, and there we read: - - "Perfection is the ultimate of life. A seed is perfect in its - embryotic life, but it is destined to unfold, to grow. - - "Into the soil of every plane these seeds, which were the - Thoughts of God, were cast--the seeds of protoplast, of earth, - of plant, of beast, of man, of angel and of cherubim, and they - who sowed the seeds, through Christ, ordained that they should - grow, and should return at last, by effort of unnumbered years, - to the great granary of thought, and each be a perfection of - its kind. - - "And in the boundless blessedness of Love the man was made the - Lord of protoplast, of earth, of plant, of beast; and Christ - proclaimed: Man shall have full dominion over everything that - is upon these planes of life; and it was so. - - "And he who gave the lordship unto man declared that he must - rule by Love. - - "But men grew cruel and they lost their power to rule, and - protoplast, and earth, and plant and beast became at enmity - with man; he lost his heritage; but Christ was present to - redeem. - - "But man had lost his consciousness of right; he could no - longer comprehend the boundlessness of Love; he could see - naught but self, and things of self; but Christ was there to - seek the lost and save. - - "So that he might be close to man in all the ways of life, that - man might comprehend the mighty spirit of the Love, the Christ - of earth made manifest to human eyes and ears by taking his - abode in some pure person, well prepared by many lives to be a - fit abiding place of Love. - - "Thus Christ made manifest Love's power to save; but men forgot - so soon, and so Christ must manifest again, and then again. - - "And ever since man took his place in form of flesh the Christ - has been manifest in flesh at first of every age." - -5 _What relationship existed between Jesus of Nazareth and the -Christ?_ Orthodox Christian ecclesiastics tell us that Jesus of -Nazareth and the Christ were one; that the true name of this -remarkable person was Jesus Christ. They tell us that this man of -Galilee was the very eternal God clothed in flesh of man that men -might see his glory. Of course this doctrine is wholly at variance -with the teachings of Jesus himself and of his apostles. The Aquarian -Masters in council have formulated an answer to this question that so -well covers all the information required that we give it in full: - - "Jesus was an ideal Jew, born in Bethlehem of Judea. His mother - was a beautiful Jewish girl named Mary. As a child Jesus - differed but little from other children only that in past lives - he had overcome carnal propensities to such an extent that he - could be tempted like others and not yield. Paul was right when - to the Hebrews he said: 'He was in all points tempted like as - we are, yet without sin.'--Hebrews 4:15. - - "Jesus suffered as other men suffer, and was made perfect - through suffering; for this is the only way to perfection. His - life was an example of attainment by the way of crosses and - cruel treatment. Paul was right again when he said: 'It became - him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in - bringing many sons into glory to make the captain of their - salvation perfect through suffering.'--Hebrews 2:10. - - "In many respects Jesus was a remarkable child, for by ages - of strenuous preparation he was qualified to be an avatar, a - savior of the world, and from childhood he was endowed with - superior wisdom and was conscious of the fact that he was - competent to lead the race into the higher ways of spiritual - living. But he was conscious also of the fact that he must - attain the mastery by trials, bufferings, temptations and - sufferings. And all his life was spent in attaining. After his - death, burial and resurrection he appeared in materialized form - before the Silent Brothers in the temple of Heliopolis, in - Egypt, and said: - - "'My human life was wholly given to bring my will to tune with - the deific will; when this was done my earth-tasks all were - done. - - "'You know that all my life was one great drama for the sons - of men; a pattern for the sons of men. I lived to show the - possibilities of man. - - "'What I have done all men can do, and what I am all men shall - be.'"--Aquarian Gospel 178:43, 46. - - "Jesus was the name of the man and it was the only appropriate - name for this kind of a man. The word means Savior and Jesus - was in more senses than one a savior. - - The word Christ means "the anointed one," and then it is an - official title. It means, The Master of Love. When we say - "Jesus the Christ" we refer to the man and to his office; - just as we do when we say Edward, the King, or Lincoln, the - President. Edward was not always King, and Lincoln was not - always President, and Jesus was not always Christ. Jesus won - his Christship by a strenuous life, and in the Aquarian Gospel, - chapter 55, we have a record of the events of his christing, - or receiving the degree Christ. Here is where he was coronated - by the highest earth authorities as the Christ-King; properly - speaking, 'The Master of Love'; and after this was done he - entered at once upon his Judean and Galilean ministry. - - "We recognize the facts that Jesus was man and that Christ was - God, so that in very truth Jesus the Christ was the God-man of - the ages." - - The Nazarene's Testimony. Jesus himself made the matter clear. - Once when he was speaking to a congregation in Bethany the - people called him King and he stood forth and said: - - "'I am not sent to sit upon a throne to rule as Caesar rules; - and you may tell the ruler of the Jews that I am not a claimant - for his throne. - - "'Men call me Christ, and God has recognized the name; but - Christ is not a man. The Christ is universal Love, and Love is - King. - - "'This Jesus is but man who has been fitted by temptations - overcome, by trials multiform, to be the temple through which - the Christ can manifest to men. - - "'Then hear, you men of Israel, hear! Look not upon the flesh; - it is not king. Look to the Christ within who shall be formed - in every one of you, as he is formed in me. - - "'When you have purified your hearts by faith, the king will - enter in and you will see his face.'"--Aquarian Gospel 68:10-14. - -Surely this question has been answered. Jesus was man; Christ was -Divine Love--the Love of God, and after thirty years of strenuous life -the man had made his body fit to be the temple of the holy breath and -Love took full possession, and John well said when he declared: - -"'And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld the -glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.'" - -6 _Who was Levi, the Transcriber of this Book?_ Regarding the -personality of Levi we are permitted to write but little. Suffice it -to say that he is an American citizen, and has been a close student -of the religions of the world from childhood. When but a boy he was -impressed with the sensitiveness of the finer ethers and believed -that in some manner they were sensitized plates on which sounds, -even thoughts, were recorded. With avidity he entered into the -deeper studies of etheric vibration, determined to solve the great -mysteries of the heavens for himself. Forty years he spent in study -and silent meditation, and then he found himself in that stage of -spiritual consciousness that permitted him to enter the domain of -these superfine ethers and become familiar with their mysteries. He -then learned that the imaginings of his boyhood days were founded upon -veritable facts, and that every thought of every living thing is there -recorded. - -In his manuscript entitled "The Cusp of the Ages," a part of which we -have already reproduced in this Introduction, we find the following -copy of the Commission, which Levi received from Visel, the Goddess of -Wisdom, or the Holy Breath. - - LEVI'S COMMISSION. - - "And then Visel the holy one stood forth and said: - - "O Levi, son of man, behold, for you are called to be the - message bearer of the coming age--the age of spirit blessedness. - - "Give heed, O son of man, for men must know the Christ, the - Love of God; for Love is sovereign balm for all the wounds of - men, the remedy for every ill. - - "And man must be endowed with Wisdom and with Power and with an - Understanding heart. - - "Behold the Akasha! Behold the Record Galleries of Visel where - every thought and word and deed of every living thing is - written down. - - "The needs of men are manifold, and men must know their needs. - - "Now, Levi, hearken to my words: go forth into these mystic - Galleries and read. There you will find a message for the - world; for every man; for every living thing. - - "I breathe upon you now the Holy Breath; you will discriminate, - and you will know the lessons that these Record Books of God - are keeping now for men of this new age. - - "This age will be an age of splendor and of light, because - it is the home age of the Holy Breath; and Holy Breath will - testify anew for Christ, the Logos of eternal Love. - - "At first of every age this Logos is made manifest in flesh so - man can see and know and comprehend a Love that is not narrow, - circumscribed. - - "Twelve times in every revolution of the sun this christed Love - of God is made full manifest in flesh upon the planes of earth, - and you may read in Akasha the wondrous lessons that these - Christs have taught to men; but you shall publish not to men - the lessons of the Christs of ancient times. - - "Now, Levi, message bearer of the Spirit Age, take up your pen - and write. - - "Write full the story of The Christ who built upon the Solid - Rock of yonder circle of the sun--the Christ who men have known - as Enoch the Initiate. - - "Write of his works as prophet, priest and seer; write of his - life of purity and love, and how he changed his carnal flesh to - flesh divine without descending through the gates of death. - - "And you may write the story of Melchizedec, the Christ who - lived when Abram lived, and pointed out to men the way to life - through sacrifice; who gave his life a willing sacrifice for - men. - - "And you may write the story of the Prince of Peace, The Christ - who came as babe in Bethlehem, and traveled every way of life - that man must tread. - - "He was despised, rejected and abused; was spit upon, was - crucified, was buried in a tomb; but he revived and rose a - conqueror over death that he might show the possibilities of - man. - - "A thousand times he said to men; 'I came to show the - possibilities of man; what I have done all men may do, and what - I am all men shall be.' - - "These stories of The Christ will be enough, for they contain - the true philosophy of life, of death and of the resurrection - of the dead. - - "They show the spiral journey of the soul until the man of - earth and God are one forevermore." - -_Levi in Prophecy._ About two thousand years ago Elihu, who conducted -a school of the prophets in Zoan, Egypt, referred to Levi thus: - - "This age will comprehend but little of the works of Purity - and Love; but not a word is lost, for in the Book of God's - Remembrance a registry is made of every thought and word and - deed; - - "And when the world is ready to receive, lo, God will send a - messenger to open up the book and copy from its sacred pages - all the messages of Purity and Love. - - "Then every man of earth will read the words of life in the - language of his native land, and men will see the light. - - "And man again will be at one with God."--Aquarian Gospel - 7:25-28. - -Further references to the personality of Levi are, seemingly, -unnecessary. It matters but little who he is; his work in the -transcription of the Aquarian Gospel of Jesus, the Christ, stands -unimpeachable. The lessons of this book all bear the stamp of the -Nazarene, for no man except the world's greatest master could have -touched the high chords of divine Love and Wisdom which characterize -the pages of this marvelous book. - -7 _What are the Akashic Records?_ Akasha is a Sanskrit word, and -means "Primary substance," that out of which all things are formed. -According to Aquarian philosophy, it is the first stage of the -crystallization of spirit. This philosophy recognizes the fact that -all primordial substance is spirit; that matter is spirit moving at -a lower rate of vibration, becoming, as one master expressed it, a -coagulum. - -This Akashic, or primary substance, is of exquisite fineness and is so -sensitive that the slightest vibrations of an ether any place in the -universe registers an indelible impression upon it. - -This primal substance is not relegated to any particular part of the -universe, but is everywhere present. It is in very fact the "Universal -Mind" of which our metaphysicians speak. - -When the mind of man is in exact accord with the Universal Mind man -enters into a conscious recognition of these Akashic impressions, and -may collect them and translate them into any language of earth with -which he is familiar. - -In the infinite One manifest we note the attributes of Force, -Intelligence and Love, and a person may be in full accord with one of -these attributes and not with the others. One may enter fully into -the spirit of the God of Force and not be imbued with the spirit of -Intelligence; or one may be wholly absorbed with the spirit of Divine -Love and be far removed from both Intelligence and Force. Furthermore, -a person may enter fully into the consciousness of Holy Breath, or -Supreme Intelligence, and be not at all in rapport with either Love or -Force. Knowledge is not gained through the spirit of either Force or -Love. It is only from Universal Mind, which is Supreme Intelligence, -called by Oriental scholars the Akashic Records, and by Hebrew -masters, the Book of God's Remembrance, that knowledge of any kind can -be obtained. - - _Consciousness_; we note three phases of it: - - 1 Consciousness of the omnipotence of God and man. - - 2 Christ consciousness, or consciousness of Divine Love. - - 3 Consciousness of the Holy Breath, or of Supreme Intelligence. - -We must bear in mind that one of these phases of consciousness does -not necessarily imply either of the others. People are frequently -found who are completely filled with the Love of God, are far advanced -in the science of Christ consciousness, who are absolutely ignorant; -have not the slightest conception of the laws of natural things or of -spiritual things; are not in rapport with the great Teacher which is -the Holy Spirit. - -_The Akashic Records._ The imperishable records of life, known as the -Akashic Records, are wholly in the domain of Supreme Intelligence, or -Universal Mind, and the Akashic Record reader must be in such close -touch with the Holy Spirit, or the Holy Breath, as the ancient masters -call this spirit of Supreme Intelligence, that every thought vibration -is instantly felt in every fibre of his being. - -_Differentiation._ Since all space is charged with the vibrations of -thoughts of all kinds how may the Akashic Record reader differentiate -and gather only the thoughts and life events of a particular person or -group of persons? - -Every person has his own distinct vibration and when the reader fully -understands the law of discrimination his whole being is tuned for the -reception of the one particular tone and rhythm, and it is impossible -for any other tone or rhythm to make the slightest impression upon -him. This principle is demonstrated in wireless telegraphy. - -It required many years for Levi to learn the Law of Differentiation, -and to come in rapport with the tones and rhythms of Jesus of -Nazareth, Enoch and Melchizedec and their co-laborers. But under the -direction of the Spirit of Supreme Intelligence, he has attained unto -this accomplishment, and now he instantly feels in all his being the -slightest vibrations that come from any of these great centers and, of -course, all of his transcriptions are true to the letter. - - -MAN. - -"What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou -visiteth him?" This was the earnest question of David, the Hebrew -Psalmist, and the 8th Psalm is given wholly to the contemplation of -man, the crowning work of manifest creation. Among the many great -lessons that Levi has been permitted to gather from the Akashic -Records, or the Universal Mind, we find one on _Man_ in which his -descent into physical matter and his final ascent into an eternal -oneness with God is so graphically described that it certainly merits -a place in this Introduction, and we give it in full: - - "Time never was when man was not. - - "If life of man at any time began a time would come when it - would end. - - "The thoughts of God cannot be circumscribed. No finite mind - can comprehend things infinite. - - "All finite things are subject unto change. All finite things - will cease to be, because there was a time when they were not. - - "The bodies and the soul of men are finite things, and they - will change, yea, from the finite point of view the time will - come when they will be no more. - - "But man himself is not the body, nor the soul; he is a spirit - and is part of God. - - "Creative Fiat gave to man, to spirit man, a soul that he might - function on the plane of soul; gave him a body of the flesh, - that he might function on the plane of things made manifest. - - "Why did creative Fiat give to spirit man a soul that he might - function on the plane of soul? - - "Why did creative Fiat give to soul a body of the flesh that it - might function on the plane of things that are made manifest? - - "Hear, now, ye worlds, dominions, powers and thrones! - - "Hear, now, ye cherubim, ye seraphim, ye angels and ye men! - - "Hear, now, O protoplast, and earth, and plant and beast! - - "Hear, now, ye creeping things of earth, ye fish that swim, ye - birds that fly! - - "Hear, now, ye winds that blow, ye thunders and ye lightnings - of the sky! - - "Hear, now, ye spirits of the fire, of water, earth and air! - - "Hear, now, O everything that is, or was, or evermore will be, - for Wisdom speaks from out the highest plane of spirit life: - - "Man is a thought of God; all thoughts of God are infinite; - they are not measured up by time, for things that are concerned - with time begin and end. - - "The thoughts of God are from the everlasting of the past unto - the never ending days to come--And so is man, the Spirit-man. - - "But man, like every other thought of God, was but a seed, a - seed that held within itself the potencies of God, just as - the seed of any plant of earth holds deep within itself the - attributes of every part of that especial plant. - - "So spirit-man, as seed of God, held deep within himself the - attributes of every part of God. - - "Now, seeds are perfect, yea, as perfect as the source from - which they come; but they are not unfolded into life made - manifest. - - "The child in utero is perfect as the mother is. - - "So man, the seed, must be deep planted in a soil that he might - grow, unfold, as does the bud unfold to show the flower. - - "The human seed that came forth from the heart of God was full - ordained to be the lord of plane of soul, and of the plane of - things made manifest. - - "So God, the husbandman of every thing that is, threw forth - this human seed into the soil of soul; it grew apace, and man - became a living soul; and he became the lord of all the kingdom - of the soul. - - "Hark, now, let every creature hear, The plane of soul is but - the ether of the spirit plane vibrating not so fast, and in the - slower rhythm of this plane the essences of life are manifest; - the perfumes and the odors, the true sensations and the all of - love are manifest. - - "And these soul attributes become a body beautiful. - - "A multitude of lessons man must learn upon the plane of soul; - and here he tarries many ages until his lessons are all learned. - - "Upon the boundary of the plane of soul the ether began to - vibrate slower still, and then the essences took on a garb; the - perfumes and the odors and the true sensations and the all of - love were clothed in flesh; and man was clothed in flesh. - - "Perfected man must pass through all the ways of life, and so - a carnal nature was full manifest, a nature that sprang forth - from fleshly things. - - "Without a foe a soldier never knows his strength, and thought - must be developed by the exercise of strength. - - "And so this carnal nature soon became a foe that man must - fight, that he might be the strength of God made manifest. - - "Let every living thing stand still and hear! - - "Man is the lord of all the plane of manifests; of protoplast, - of mineral, of plant, of beast; but he has given up his - birthright, just to gratify his lower self, his carnal self. - - "But man will full regain his lost estate, his heritage; but he - must do it in a conflict that cannot be told in words. - - "Yea, he must suffer trials and temptations manifold; but let - him know that cherubim and seraphim that rule the stations - of the sun, and spirits of the mighty God who rule the solar - stars are his protectors and his guides, and they will lead to - victory. - - "Man will be fully saved, redeemed, perfected by the things he - suffers on the plane of flesh, and on the plane of soul. - - "When man has conquered carnal things his garb of flesh will - then have served its purpose well and it will fall, will be no - more. - - "Then he will stand untrammeled on the plane of soul where he - must full complete his victories." - - "Unnumbered foes will stand before the man upon the plane of - soul; there he must overcome, yea, overcome them every one. - - "Thus hope will ever be his beacon light; there is no failure - for the human soul, for God is leading on and victory is sure. - - "Man cannot die; the spirit man is one with God, and while God - lives man cannot die. - - "When man has conquered every foe upon the plane of soul the - seed will have full opened out, will have unfolded in the Holy - Breath. - - "The garb of soul will then have served its purpose well, and - man will need it never more, and it will pass and be no more. - - "And man will then attain unto the blessedness of perfectness - and be at one with God." - - - - -SUBJECT INDEX - -A general outline of the incidents and topics of the book will be -found in the Contents which appears in the first part of the volume. - - - A - CHAP. - Abram, Sketch of life 10 - Account must be given 105 - Accusers are the greatest sinners 132 - Address of Jesus at magian feast 39 - Address of Jesus to Chaldeans 42 - Address of Jesus to Atheneans 44 - Address of Delphic Oracle 44 - Address of Jesus, final to Atheneans 46 - Address of Jesus at Jordan ford 64 - Address of Jesus in Bethany 68 - Address of Jesus concerning John 67 - Address of Jesus in Bethlehem 76 - Address of John on Jesus and the Christ 80 - Address of Jesus at Jacob's well 82 - Adultery defined by man 98 - Adultery lies in the desire 98 - Adulterer, the one who lusts 143 - Adon Mashich Cumi 172 - Afraid of Jesus' power, priests 31 - Afflictions partial payments on debts 138 - Afflictions, lesson of Jesus 138 - Afflictions merited; the law (V. 5, 6) 138 - Age, Messiah comes at first of every 73 - Ajainin; Jesus his guest 37 - Ajainin in Benares to see Jesus 29 - Ajainin visits Jesus 29 - Almsgiving, lesson of Jesus on 94 - Almighty God, the Father; Omniscient God, the Mother 97 - Alarmed at power of Jesus, Gadarines 118 - Alone on mountain, Jesus prays 128 - Alertness of Pharisees to apprehend Jesus 150 - Altars of Grecian gods 46 - Amazed at resurrection of Lazarus 148 - Amphitheater, Jesus and Apollo in 44 - Angered at Jesus' words about castes, priests 24 - Anger a crime 97 - Anxiety about earthly things 99 - Anxious Martha 136 - Anointed Jesus with perfumes, Mary 159 - Ananias bribes Judas to betray Jesus 159 - Ananias, leader of arresting party 164 - Answering prayer: how God helps 46 - Appeal of Jesus to the mob 164 - Apollo opens up door of Greek lore to Jesus 44 - Apollo states needs of Greece 57 - Apostles are chosen 88 - Apostles, all at Jesus' home 89 - Apostles and Jesus at Capernaum 123 - Apostles confirmed as saviors 127 - Apostles flee to avoid arrest 164 - Apostolic charge of Jesus 89 - Archelaus, ruler in Jerusalem 7 - Ashamed of his cowardice, Peter 164 - Ashbina recognizes Jesus 42 - Ashbina states needs of Assyria 57 - Asher's Inn, Jesus at 78 - Ask in faith; God answers 137 - Assassination of Zacharias 6 - Athens, Jesus meets the masters 44 - Athens beach, storm on 46 - Attainment possible 101 - Augustus Caesar 1 - Author of misfortune, is God? 114 - Avesta 10 - Awaiting coming of Holy Breath 181 - - - B - - Baal, Assyrian Idol 43 - Babylon, Jesus and Ashbina in 43 - Babylon, its wicked kings 43 - Balm of life, the air we breathe 41 - Baptism instituted 15 - Baptism of Jesus by the Harbinger 64 - Baptism of many people by the Harbinger 64 - Baptism adopted by Jesus as disciples' pledge 78 - Baptism by Jesus of six disciples 78 - Baptized, John the Harbinger 15 - Barachia, Rabi, teacher of Jesus 17 - Barato Arabo, friend of Jesus 32 - Bartimeus, healed by Jesus 150 - Barren fig tree withered 152 - Barabbas appointed scapegoat 168 - Bar-Simon's feast 159 - Beatitudes, formulated by Jesus 95 - Belus, monument of folly 43 - Benediction of Jesus on his kindred 69 - Benediction of Jesus on all 180 - Benediction of Jesus on the seventy 140 - Benediction of Jesus on Ladak 36 - Benediction of Elihu and Salome 47 - Best servant, the best ruler 146 - Bethlehem, Jesus born in 3 - Bethlehem, Jesus in 76 - Bethany, Jesus in 77 - Bethany, home of Lazarus 77 - Bethany, Jesus at Lazarus' house 137 - Bethany, Christines returned to 148 - Bethesda, Jesus surrounded by the sick 91 - Bethabara, Jesus in 147 - Betrayal by Judas 160 - Betrayal of Jesus by a kiss 164 - Birth, of Holy Breath 75 - Birth, of water 75 - Birthday feast of child Jesus 16 - Birthday feast of Herod 117 - Blessed is the Son of Man 156 - Blessedness of living the word of God 108 - Blind leaders and their followers 100 - Blind man healed by Jesus 138 - Blind man's story of his healing 138 - Blind guides 126 - Book of God's Remembrance 7, 158 - Book of Life 58, 109, 158 - Brahm, Elihu's lesson on 10 - Brahmic priests seeking wisdom 21 - Brahmic philosophy, Elihu's lesson 10 - Bread from heaven 82 - Broad is the way of wickedness 101 - Brotherhood of life 34 - Brotherhood of Right 83 - Buddha, Life and works of 11, 34 - Buddhist temple open for Jesus 31 - Building on sand cannot stand 101 - Building on rock stands forever 101 - Burial of the Harbinger in Hebron 117 - Burial of Jesus in Joseph's tomb 171 - Busybodies seek faults in others 100 - - - C - - Caesarea--Philippi, Christines in 128 - Caiaphas, Jesus in palace of 165 - Camel, a present to Jesus 37 - Capernaum, Christines in 71 - Car of Jagernath at Katak 26 - Carnal man's rule of life 100 - Carnal thoughts defile the mind 126 - Carnal self, Jesus' temptation 65 - Care of God for every thing 109 - Caring for the helpless 74 - Carpenter, Jesus serves as 20 - Castes, Brahmic priest explains 24 - Castes, Jesus reveals injustice of 24 - Cause of afflictions 138 - Censures Jesus for healing, Priest 140 - Ceremonial forms are symbols 35 - Comforter, Holy Breath, promised 161 - Coming Age, its needs 35 - Coming trials of Apostles, Jesus foretold 127 - Commits to John care of his Mother and Miriam, Jesus 170 - Common people, Jesus abides with 24 - Common people become guests 153 - Common people receive Jesus 73 - Courtesans and thieves, Jesus sits with 27 - Conclusion of Jesus' Galilean ministry 149 - Confession of faith, Andrew 66 - Confession of faith, Nathaniel 66 - Confession of faith, Philip 66 - Confession of faith, Peter 66 - Confession of faith, the people 68 - Confession of faith, Lamaas 80 - Confession of faith, Bethlehemites 77 - Confession of faith, Samaritan woman 81 - Confession of faith, Samaritans 82 - Confession of faith essential 109 - Confession of faith not to be bought 107 - Confession of faith, the healed blind man 139 - Confession of Peter: "Thou art the Christ" 128 - Chaldea, Jesus in 42 - Charge to Mary and Elizabeth by Elihu 7 - Charge, the final to Mary and Elizabeth by Elihu 12 - Charge to Jesus by Brotherhood Hierophant 48 - Charge to the Apostles 122 - Charge to the foreign Masters 122 - Charge to the seventy 133 - Charges against Jesus read 165 - Child the symbol of greatness 131 - Children sing praises of Jesus 151 - Christ; theme of sixth postulate, Matheno 59 - Christ in Jesus eulogized 79 - Christ in Jesus explained by John 79 - Christ in the heart essential 79 - Christ the Bread of Life 125 - Christ flesh and blood 125 - Christ the Rock 128 - Christ recognized by voice from heaven 129 - Christ a name of power 182 - Christ the shepherd 136 - Christine consciousness 71 - Christines in Nazareth Synagogue 86 - Christines in Cana 87 - Christines in Capernaum 93, 118 - Christines in Jesus' house 102 - Christines in Mary's home 112 - Christines in Philip's house 116 - Christines in Nazareth 121 - Christine church opened 182 - Christines in Jericho 149 - Christines on Mount of Olives 157 - Chuzas and Jesus 123 - Conflicts precede peace 113 - Congratulates his disciples, Jesus 140 - Conqueror of carnal self 142 - Consecration of Jesus 4 - Consecration, Jesus' lesson to disciples on 112 - Consecration of Apostles 89 - Conscience stricken Judas returns bribe money 169 - Constant preparation 157 - Courtesan at feast in Simon's house 104 - Courtesan shows gratitude 104 - Courtesan's sins forgiven 104 - Courtesan brought before Jesus 134 - Courtesan and Publicans at feast of God 153 - Covetousness is theft 98 - Coward, the man who fights 97 - Circle; its meaning 48 - Cross must be borne 129 - Cross, each must bear his own 142 - Cross the sea, Christines 117, 124 - Crippled healed tells the news 91 - Crippled man sought healing waters 91 - Crucifixion not permitted 168 - Crucifixion, Jesus' secret lesson on 127 - Cruelty of sacrifice 19 - Crumbs, twelve baskets full gathered 124 - - - D - - Darkness intense on Calvary 171 - David's cave home of the Harbinger 1 - Dawn of Peace, Lamaas' question 113 - Day of the Lord 157 - Day Star 14, 88 - Death of Jesus' father 30 - Death and burial of Elizabeth 15 - Death, Matheno's lesson on 15 - Death, Jesus defines it 120 - Dead should care for the dead 117 - Deeds are seeds that grow 100 - Defends Judas, Jesus 164 - Defends Mary's act 159 - Defends a man for taking bread 132 - Defends healing on the Sabbath 141 - Defilement creature of the heart 129 - Delphic Oracle speaks 45 - Demonstration an illusion 107 - Demonstration, Jesus promises one 107 - Denies his Lord thrice, Peter 165 - Denial of Peter, Jesus' prophecy 161 - Departure of Jesus foretold 162 - Departs by night from Benares 31 - Departing glory of Jerusalem, lamentation 151 - Destruction of Jerusalem foretold 157 - Destruction of life on Athens beach 46 - Descent of man, Third Postulate 58 - Desire inspires words and deeds 101 - Devil the lower self of man 8 - Devil, man the maker 39 - Diamond Rule (V. 10) 101 - Disappears suddenly, Jesus 84 - Disciples deserted their Lord 125 - Disease defined by Jesus 74 - Divided service, Jesus' lesson 105 - Divided house cannot stand 106 - Division of the prepared and the unprepared 145 - Door to feast hall low 153 - Dog wounded, cared for by Jesus 74 - Double-hearted man 99 - Doubt causes Peter to sink 124 - Dove symbol of peace 76 - Drunkard's child calls on Jesus for help 92 - Drunkard saved by Jesus 92 - Drowned child restored by Jesus 74 - Duality of the one God 97 - Dues, give to Caesar his own 73 - - - E - - Earthquake shakes Calvary 171 - Eat grain on Sabbath, Christines 93 - Eating flesh of Christ 125 - Education of John finished 61 - Effort, not result, receives credit 143 - Egotism of Pharisees 155 - Egypt, Jesus goes to 46 - Elder brother of the prodigal son 144 - Elihu and Salome entertain Joseph, Mary and Jesus 5 - Elijah reincarnates as the Harbinger 129 - Embalmed body of Jesus 171 - Empty tomb found by woman 173 - Ensnare Jesus by his words, plan to 108 - Ephraim hills, Christines in 148 - Epileptic obsessed child 130 - Epileptic obsessed child healed by Jesus 123 - Escape from Herod, Elizabeth and John 6 - Esoteric lesson from the carpenter's tools 20 - Eulogises the children 151 - Euphrates, Jesus crosses the 42 - Events all part of God's plan 85 - Evil, its cause 31 - Evil a myth 8 - Evil things transmuted by fire 116 - Evolution explained by Jesus 32 - Evolution of sacred scriptures 14 - Exaltation, philosophy of 9 - Exaltation for those who live the life 146 - Exaltation of her sons, request of Mary 146 - Examination of Jesus before Pilate 167 - Excuses of invited guests 141 - Extremity of Peter Jesus' opportunity 124 - - - F - - Failure of the apostles to heal due to carelessness 130 - Faith, its power demonstrated 41 - Faith saved child from death 36 - Faith defined 22 - Faith the key to all good 101 - Faith, the healing balm 102 - Faith heals the nobleman's son 87 - Faith the wings of prayer 130 - Faith the power of God 130 - Faith cannot be bought nor sold 107 - Faithfulness of Apostles 147 - Fall of man explained 32 - False witnesses testify; Jesus adjudged guilty 165 - False Christs will deceive many 157 - Farewell address to Pilate, Jesus' 163 - Farmer, Jesus abides with one 28 - Fast, theme of Jesus' address 94, 119 - Fasting may do one good, another harm 119 - Father gives his son to save 36 - Feast in Jerusalem 124, 133 - Feast of God, all people must be guests 141 - Feast of Pharisee in Magdala 108 - Feast for Christines, Matthew's 119 - Feast for Christines, Lazarus' 92 - Feast at home of Simon, a Pharisee 104 - Feast of God 153 - Feast to Magian god 39 - Feast of Joachim and Anna 16 - Feast in Jerusalem, Jesus present at 18, 19 - Feast, Mary makes for Jesus 43 - Feast of Ravanna in Nazareth 21 - Feast of Ach at Bahar 27 - Feast of Udraka 28 - Feast, Paschal at Jerusalem 72 - Fear and unbelief asses that bind man's will 92 - Festival at Jerusalem 90 - Final lessons of Jesus 163 - Fire, Bethany in flames 92 - Fire controlled by Jesus' word 92 - Fish, a multitude caught 88 - Five thousand fed 124 - Flesh not immortal, may be dissolved 109 - Flowing spring near Persepolis 41 - Fly across the sea, demand of Pharisees 107 - Foe of John, is Jesus one? 79 - Followers of John become disciples 66 - Food does not defile the mind 126 - Force, Intelligence and Love 58 - Foreign plants are Scribes and Pharisees 126 - Forerunner of Jesus, John 63 - Forgiveness of sins is healing 90 - Forgiveness the paying of debts 94 - Forgiveness, its meaning 13, 36 - Found in the Temple, Jesus 20 - Fountain of the temple, Jesus bathes in 47 - Four thousand fed 128 - Freed, all Gadara was 118 - Freedom, theme of Jesus' address 86 - Friendship result of kindness 83 - Fruitless fig tree made to wither 105 - Fulfilling the law 95 - - - G - - Gadara, Christines in 118 - Garden of Siloam, Jesus' tomb 172 - Garments divided by soldiers 170 - Gethsemane, Jesus in 163 - Gennesaret, Christines in valley of 128 - Geracines, Christines in 114 - Gift of anything, Herod's offer to Salome 117 - Give Caesar his own: give God his own 155 - God; the One, the three, the seven 9 - God's remembrance day, Thursday 160 - God is spirit 81 - Golden Rule 68, 97 - Good and Evil 119 - Greatest master yet to come 14 - Greatest in the sight of God 131 - Greatest commandment 155 - Greatness, Jesus' lesson on 131 - Grecian masters, Jesus teaches 45 - Grecian Jews call on Jesus 156 - Greece, Jesus in 44 - Groves of Cyrus, Jesus in 40 - Growth of man in carnal soul 58 - Guards of Herod torture Jesus 167 - Guardian spirit for every child 131 - Guests of child Jesus at feast 16 - Guest without a wedding robe 154 - - - H - - Hair, Mary wipes Jesus' feet with her 159 - Happiness is near for man of faith 33 - Harbinger John, Matheno's charge to 15 - Harbinger paves the way 62 - Haughty guests would not kneel 153 - Healing art; Jesus teaches Ajainin 37 - Healing fount of Persepolis 41 - Healing art; Udraka's lesson 23 - Healing not paying debts 138 - Healing on Sabbath defended 74, 91, 93, 140 - Heals in Gennesaret 125 - Heals infant in Leh, Jesus 36 - Heals child by Persian fount 41 - Heals a woman 140 - Heals in the temple 74, 152 - Heals withered hand 93 - Healing virtue of Bethesda 91 - Healing virtue is faith 91 - Healing on Sabbath resented 74, 93 - Healing methods described 74 - Head of John given to Salome 117 - Hebron, Jesus in 77 - Heliopolis, Jesus in temple of 47 - Hell, here and now 33 - Herod Antipas 1, 85 - Herod and the wise men 5 - Herod hears charges 167 - Herod sends John to Pilate 167 - Herod orders Jesus crucified 168 - Herod's death 6 - Herodias, immoral woman 85 - Hero, man who answers not 97 - Heresy of John 85 - Henchman of courts 111 - Helpfulness to others 100 - Help for storm-wrecked sailors 114 - Hierophant receives Jesus 47 - History of Jesus told by Hillel 21 - Historic address by Peter 182 - Holy Breath as a dove 64 - Holy Breath, thought of heaven 9 - Holy Breath, fill this child 36 - Holy Breath, mission to the world 162 - Holy Breath fills the air 126 - Holy Breath, the teacher 109, 128 - Holy Breath will come again 105 - Holy Breath, Jesus bathes in 79 - Holy Breath consciousness 65 - Home life, Ruth's lesson 77 - Homeless boy cared for by Jesus 74 - Home of Jesus in Capernaum 87 - Honor to Father and Mother 97 - Hypocrisy, Jesus' lesson on 126 - Hypocrisy will blight soul 105 - Hypocrisy of Pharisees 108 - Hungry in wilderness 65 - - - I - - Identity of Jesus considered 128 - Idolatry condemned 96 - Ignorant learned men 104 - Impartial God cares for all 99 - Impartiality of God 82 - Impartiality of God, child Jesus' lesson 17 - Imprisonment of the Harbinger 85 - Incessant work of Jesus 105 - Indignation of ten Apostles 146 - Infant saved from flames by Jesus 92 - Inn at Mount Olives 91 - Inner light that cannot fail 128 - Inner life revealed to disciples 144 - Inscription above the cross 170 - - - J - - Jaganath, Jesus in 22 - Jairus' daughter dies 120 - Jealous brothers of Jesus 43 - Jealousy unknown in Brotherhood of Right 83 - Jericho, John with Alpheus in 63 - Jerusalem, Jesus' prophetic address 157 - Jesus, birth of 3 - Jesus meets the Harbinger 64 - Jesus a man, not a God 26 - Jewish mob demand Jesus' death 168 - Jewish soldiers guard Jesus' tomb 171 - John, birth and childhood 2 - John in the trial chamber 165 - John with Massalian 164 - Johavehe 138 - Jonah and the fish 107 - Journey to Egypt 5 - Journey to their homes, Joseph, Mary, Jesus, Elizabeth, John 12 - Journey through Sidon and Lebanon hills 12 - Journey of Jesus through Caesarea 123 - Joseph stands in Jesus' defense 147 - Joseph and Nicodemus bury Jesus 171 - Jubilee in Kapavista 34 - Judas censures Mary 159 - Judas treasurer of Christines 159 - Judas with mob that abused Jesus 169 - Judas hangs himself on city walls 169 - Jude, Jesus at home of in Jerusalem 72 - - - K - - Kashmar, Jesus in vale of 37 - Kaspar, Persian Sage 38 - Kaspar states needs of Persia 56 - Kaspar's home by Caspian Sea 42 - Kedron, Jesus and the twelve meet at 163 - Keys of safety for men given to Peter 128 - King, people believe that Jesus was born to be 72 - Kingdom of the soul 71, 129 - Kingdom, Jesus' address on 145 - Kingdom to a new people 154 - Kingdom, Jesus tells Ajainin about it 29 - Kingdom; its gate is low 29 - Kingdom, subjects must be pure 29 - Kiss, sign of identity 159 - Knowledge measure of crime 100 - - - L - - Ladak, Jesus in Leh 36 - Lahore, Jesus in the city of 37 - Lamaas meets John at Salem 80 - Lamaas meets Jesus at Jordan ford 80 - Lamaas friend of Jesus 22 - Lamb, symbol of innocence 76 - Lamps of God, the disciples 95 - Last passover of Jesus and the twelve 160 - Law of God recognizes desires only 95 - Law, its letter forbids killing 97 - Law, its spirit recognizes the desire to kill, the sin 97 - Law, universal application 14 - Lawyers' injustice exposed by Jesus 108 - Lawyers for gain plead against innocence 108 - Lawyers argue in Jesus' trial 166 - Lazarus sick in Bethany 148 - Lazarus dead, Jesus tells Apostles 148 - League with Beelzebul 106 - Leaven of Pharisees; Jesus' lesson 109 - Letter of Jesus to his mother 30 - Liberates birds and lambs 72, 152 - Light about Jesus not comprehended 40 - Listening, Mary chose the better part 136 - Living Oracle 45 - Living people may help the dead 128 - Logos as Love manifest 65 - Logos, the perfect word 48 - Logos in the council of the sages 57 - Lost; Jesus not with kindred 20 - Love manifest by Jesus 7 - Love the savior of the world 8, 75 - Love the balm of life 41 - Love, Jesus' Paschal address on 161 - Love defined by spiritual law 98 - Love fulfils the law 155 - Love banishes lustful thoughts 143 - Lying defined by the laws of man 99 - Lying defined by spiritual law 99 - Lying possible by look or act 99 - - - M - - Magdala, Christines in 106 - Malchus; Peter wounds him 164 - Man with a pitcher 160 - Man of faith breathes in Christ 126 - Man has powers of God 92 - Man defined by Jesus 22 - Manuscripts of Lassa 36 - Many called; few chosen 153 - Marriage feast of Pharisee 141 - Marriage feast in Cana 70 - Marriage defined by man 98 - Marriage defined by God 98 - Marriage, man's relation to 143 - Marriage, Jesus' lesson on 70 - Marriage and lust 143 - Mars, a Cretan vessel 46 - Mart, the beggar 107 - Mary's birth and childhood 1 - Mary and Miriam at tomb 173 - Massalian, Jesus with 139 - Massacre of young children 6 - Masters of old and Jesus 123 - Master at resurrection 172 - Master tells of Jesus' return 180 - Master minds; Delphic Oracle 45 - Materialization of Jesus, appearances after death 173, 180 - To his mother and Miriam 173 - To the other women 173 - To Peter, James and John 173 - To disciples at Emmaus 174 - To ten apostles in Simon's house 175 - To Lazarus, Mary, Martha and Ruth 175 - To Ravanna and other teachers in India 176 - To the Magian priests in Persepolis 176 - To the priests in the temple at Jerusalem 177 - To Thomas and the other apostles at Simon's house 177 - To Apollo and the Silent Brotherhood in Greece 7 - To Claudas and Juliet in Rome 178 - To the priests in temple Heliopolis, Egypt 178 - To the apostles at Sea of Galilee 179 - To multitudes of people in Galilee 179 - To Peter, James and John in Galilee 179 - To the apostles in Jerusalem 180 - To the Marys and others on Mount Olives 180 - Matheno, John's teacher 13 - Matheno states Egypt's needs 57 - Mathias chosen an apostle 181 - Memorial, Mary's act 159 - Memorial Supper 160 - Meng-ste with Jesus 36 - Meng-ste states China's needs 56 - Men of faith control storm 117 - Melzone, Persian wise man 38 - Merchants driven out of temple 152 - Merchants of Kashmar 37 - Merom, Christines at 128 - Message from John to Jesus 103 - Messages of John 61, 62 - Message of John at Bethany 62 - Messages of Silence land 158 - Messengers from John 108 - Messenger, prophecy of Elihu 7 - Messiah defined 73 - Mighty works of wicked men 101 - Mind, sin a creature of 126 - Mission of Jesus to save lost 66 - Mission of Jesus 135 - Mission of John 103 - Missionary tours 90, 102, 105, 140 - Misfortune their causes 114 - Miriam calls on Jesus 106 - Miriam's reincarnation 106 - Miriam's song 106, 110, 121, 140, 181 - Model prayer 94, 137 - Model feast 141 - Mood, their philosophy 9 - Monks of Leh 36 - Money changers driven out 72 - Mother and brothers of Jesus 106 - Mother-in-law of Peter healed 89 - Multitude seek Jesus 124 - Multitude defends Jesus 133 - Murder, Brahmic priests try 31 - Mystery of marriage 155 - - - N - - Name of God not revealed 96 - Name of Jesus in temple 48 - Narrow is the perfect way 101 - Narrow way to life 141 - Nazarite, John the Harbinger 15 - Nazareth, Jesus would not teach in 69 - Nazareth, Jesus at home 43 - Necessity above law 93 - Neglected opportunities 103 - Neighbor the one who shows mercy 136 - New Age creeds 36 - New wine burst old bottles 120 - Nicodemus visits Jesus 75 - Nicodemus sees the light 75 - Nicodemus in Jesus' defense 134 - Nicodemus' home, supper to the Lord 160 - Nicodemus pleads for Jesus in trial 166 - Non-resistance, law of spiritual life 97 - Non-resistance, evidence of willing sacrifice 127 - Not guilty; Pilate's verdict 167 - Number and name of an evil spirit 118 - Number of a soul 134 - - - O - - Oaths change no conditions 99 - Obsessed man freed by Jesus 83, 89, 106, 121 - Obsessed man met Christines 118 - Obsessed girl freed by Jesus 123 - Omnific word heard by apostles 89 - Omnipotence of faith 153 - One cleansed leper thankful 133 - One thing lacking 142 - Offence of causing people to fall 131 - Opportunities; theme of Jesus' address 105 - Outer man seen by carnal man 71 - Overcoming; promise to disciples 162 - - - P - - Palestine under Roman rule 1 - Paying debts by healing 138 - Parable, Gold mine 142 - Parable, Good Samaritan 136 - Parable, Good Seed and Tares 116 - Parable, Householder and Laborers 143 - Parable, Householder and Servants 158 - Parable, Importunate Housewife 137 - Parable, Importunate Widow 145 - Parable, King and Vast Domain 73 - Parable, Laborer and Rich Field 33 - Parable, Leaven 116 - Parable, Lost Sheep 131 - Parable, Marriage Feast 154 - Parable, Nobleman and Unjust Sons 25 - Parable, Pharisee and Publican 145 - Parable, Prodigal Son 144 - Parable, Rich man and Great Harvest 111 - Parable, Rich Man's Feast 153 - Parable, Rich Man and His Feast 141 - Parable, Rich Man and Lazarus 142 - Parable, Righteous King and Sons 36 - Parable, Seed and its Growth 140, 116 - Parable, Sower 116 - Parable, Ten Servants and Pounds 149 - Parable, Ten Virgins 158 - Parable, Treasures in Field 116 - Parable, Stalks with Broken Blades 27 - Parable, Unkept Vineyard 34 - Parable, Wheat and Tares explained 116 - Paschal Supper, preparation 160 - Password of man is character 95 - Patience and readiness 111 - Parting words of Jesus 161 - Patron of Jesus, Ravanna 21 - Peace, Jesus' address on 113 - Pearl of greatest price 142 - Pentecost 182 - Perfect man, Jesus 59 - Perfect age; no rites 35 - Perfect age; all people priests 35 - Perfection of man, Seventh Postulate 59 - Persia, Persepolis, Jesus in 38 - Peter afraid in outer court 165 - Peter walks on the water 124 - Pharisees censure Christines 93 - Phenomena hunters carnal 107 - Phenomena of Holy Breath 182 - Philo states Jewish needs 57 - Philo pleads for Jesus 72 - Physical body not the man 126 - Picture of Holy Breath 96 - Pilate protects Christines 181 - Pilate would save Jesus' life 163 - Pilate, Jesus taken before 166 - Pillars of the Church 95 - Plea for help in home affairs 111 - Plea of Pilate for Jesus to flee 163 - Plea of Jesus before Caiaphas 166 - Platform from which Jesus speaks 154 - Potter's field bought 169 - Porch of temple, great meeting in 147 - Power of Jesus 31 - Power defined by Jesus 22 - Power of faith 130 - Power of God not recognized 130 - Power of God casting evil spirits out 106 - Pray, Christines go apart to 94, 109 - Pray, Jesus teaches Lazarus to 137 - Prayed in sacred grove, Jesus 84 - Prayer to idols for help 46 - Prayer no sign of saintship 101 - Prayer, effectual 46 - Prayer of the envious not heard 153 - Prayer of Jesus for disciples 140, 150, 162 - Prayer, power demonstrated 89 - Prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane 163 - Prayer of Jesus for his murderers 170 - Prayer, importunate 137 - Prayer, unceasing 145 - Prayer, Jesus' address on 94 - Prayer of consecration 89 - Prayer, Salome's lesson on 12 - Prayer, the Samaritan's 84 - Praying alone, Jesus 90 - Preaches at Jordan ford, Jesus 78 - Priesthood can not be reformed 120 - Priests enraged at Jesus 91 - Prince of Peace will come 157 - Proof of Jesus' messiahship 69 - Prophecy concerning Chaldea 42 - Prophecies of Gabriel 2 - Prophecy of aged widow 1 - Prophet without honor 69 - Protects, Jesus, Lamaas 24 - Pruner, blessed work 34 - Pupils at Zoan--Mary and Elizabeth 7 - Purity essential 68 - Purity demanded 126 - Purity manifest by John 7 - Purifying fires 116 - - - Q - - Questions at Jesus' trial 165 - - - R - - Raising the widow's son 102 - Ravanna with Jesus in Nazareth 21 - Reads the scriptures in the temple 68 - Readiness to meet the Lord 145 - Rebukes wealthy Pharisee 140 - Reception Robes 112 - Reconciliation 97 - Reform the priesthood, Nicodemus' plea 120 - Reincarnation affirmed by Jesus 37 - Rejected stone becomes capstone 154 - Repudiates claim to carnal kingship 72 - Reputation an illusion 27 - Request of Mary not granted 146 - Resentment strengthens wrath 113 - Resistance the sire of anger 97 - Responsible for use of thought 109 - Restores Jairus' child to life 120 - Rested in desert place, Christines 124 - Resurrection of Lazarus 148 - Resurrection of Lazarus perturbs priests 148 - Resurrection of Jesus 172 - Responsibility of man 14 - Revealers of light--Jesus and John 7 - Revolution feared by Brahmic priests 31 - Rewards, God's method of giving 143 - Rich young man seeks Jesus 142 - Right is king and will at last reign 113 - Righteousness the Judge 158 - Rock, Jesus calls Peter the 66 - Rolls of Graphael 158 - Roman seal on tomb of Jesus 172 - Roman captain's servant healed 102 - Ruth distressed 77 - Ruth and Asher at Lazarus' feast 92 - - - S - - Sacrifice, giving to the needy 28 - Sacrifice, serving everything 28 - Sacrifice of self 35 - Sacrifice, Jesus' address on 121 - Sad toilers in India 33 - Safe retreat, Jesus had none 117 - Sages at Philo's home 56 - Sakara, Egyptian school 15 - Salim, John preaching at 79 - Salim springs 146 - Salome's dance pleases Herod 117 - Salvation defined 22 - Samaria, Christines in 81, 84 - Samaritans at Jacob's well 82 - Sanhedrim hear charges 166 - Save the lost, Jesus' mission 131 - Saving sinners, Jesus' address on 119 - Saving life by giving life 129 - Savior of the world, resist not 127 - Scheme to apprehend Jesus 159 - School, Elihu and Salome 7 - School of Chris 87, 103 - Schools of Egypt 11 - Scroll of temple brotherhood 48 - Scribes question Jesus 126 - Scribes and Pharisees try to kill Jesus 135 - Sea of Galilee, Christines by 88 - Searching for Jesus in mountain 128 - Secret lesson to apostles 128, 158 - Secret sins exposed 27 - Secret place for prayer, Jesus' 39 - Secret place in Decapolis 127 - Seize Judas, Apostles 164 - Self exaltation, Jesus' lesson on 141, 146 - Self laudation brings abasement 145 - Selfs, the two 8 - Selfish ones find gate locked 141 - Selfishness, Jesus' lesson on selfishness of the people 108, 125 - Sense of right in every man 111 - Senses sense what seems to be 71 - Seven, the number of all 133 - Seven hours in prayer 158 - Seven days' silence, the Sages' 56 - Seven days' silence, the Harbinger 61 - Seven postulates 58 - Seven, its meaning 48 - Seven days prayer, the Christines 122 - Seven baskets full taken up 128 - Seven, number of Holy Breath 96 - Sevens of time in God's hands 96 - Seventy sent out 133 - Seventy return 140 - Seventy, number of God and man 133 - Seventy's missionary tour 133 - Sermon on the Mount 95, 101 - Service basis of Judgment 158 - Service, acceptable 26 - Serve God by serving man 96 - Serving two masters 99 - Sheep gate 91 - Sheep and Goats 158 - Shepherds in hills, Jesus with 76 - Shepherd's home in Bethlehem 76 - Shinar, Plains of 43 - Sick healed in Bethlehem 76 - Sick servant of Asher healed 78 - Sick healed at Sychar 83 - Sick woman healed by thought 84 - Sick son of nobleman healed 87 - Sick and obsessed healed at Capernaum 89 - Signs not seen before 157 - Signs demanded of Jesus 86 - Silence, Jesus' lesson on 40 - Silence in the courts of Heaven 158 - Silence, Jesus and disciples sit in 66 - Silent Brotherhood 38, 87, 172 - Silent prayer, Christines 182 - Simeon's prophecy 4 - Simon of Cyrene, cross bearer 168 - Sin against Holy Breath 105 - Sin and sickness synonymous 90 - Sins of priesthood, Jesus' lesson 72 - Sinless man called to stand 134 - Sinless man not found 134 - Sin, Jesus crosses 37 - Sleeping disciples 163 - Sly fox, Jesus calls Herod 141 - Soldiers charge Silent Brotherhood 172 - Soldiers bribed by priests 172 - Son of man will come 145 - Sons of God, Jesus' lesson on 91, 147 - Songs on the mount 129 - Sonnets of the dead 117 - Sorrowing rich young man 142 - Soul communion 84 - Soul not immortal 109 - Soul of Jesus with apostles 127 - Specialists in sin 68 - Spirit truth is new, must expand 120 - Spirit consciousness 124 - Spirit law abhorred by man 100 - Spirit control, the law revealed 37 - Spirit, light and purity 107 - Spirit immortal 109 - Spirits of wind and wave 117 - Spiritual man, ethics of 100 - Standard law of judging crime, no 132 - Statement of Jesus before Pilate 167 - Stealing bread, trial of man for 132 - Stewards of God's wealth 111 - Stone Jesus, Jews attempt to 147 - Storm on Sea of Galilee 117, 124 - Strength through effort 46 - Strength and wisdom fill Jesus 104 - Striving of the apostles 160 - Substitute for Holy Name 96 - Susanna's guests, Christines 128 - Swearing prohibited 99 - Sychar, Jesus teaches in 83 - - - T - - Tao, God of the Orient 9 - Tax paid by Jesus and Peter 131 - Tax money in fish's mouth 131 - Teacher of Jesus, Mary 16 - Teacher of Jesus, Barachia 17 - Teaches doctors and lawyers, Jesus 19 - Teaches from a boat, Jesus 115 - Teacher who is wise 101 - Temple courts, Jesus teaches in 133, 130 - Temple of God is the heart 81 - Temple priests invite Jesus 29 - Temperance lesson by John 62 - Temperance lesson by Jesus 92 - Temptations of Jesus in Egypt 48-55 - First temptation--Hypocrisy 48 - First victory 48 - First Brotherhood degree--Sincerity 48 - Second temptation--Prejudice 49 - Second victory 49 - Second Brotherhood degree 49 - Third temptation--Unbelief 50 - Third victory 50 - Third Brotherhood degree--Faith 50 - Fourth temptation--Selfishness 51 - Fourth victory 51 - Fourth Brotherhood degree--Philanthropy 51 - Fifth temptation--Fear 52 - Fifth victory 52 - Fifth Brotherhood degree 52 - Sixth temptation--Carnal love 53 - Sixth victory 53 - Sixth Brotherhood degree 53 - Seventh temptation--Emotion 54 - Seventh victory 54 - Seventh Brotherhood degree--The Christ 55 - Temptations of Jesus in the Wilderness 65 - First; to demonstrate power over earth substances. - Second; to demonstrate power over the air. - Third; to demonstrate power over men through wealth. - Tempting thoughts 65 - Ten Commands; is there a greatest 17 - Ten Commandments 96 - Ten is the number of God 133 - Ten lepers cleansed 13 - Testimonies must all be in 167 - Thanks to God 140 - Thankfulness of Jesus 194 - Theft defined by man 98 - Theft defined by God 98 - Thirty pieces of silver 159 - Thought--the First Postulate 58 - Thought the greatest power on earth 84 - Thought, Jesus' lesson on 84 - Three thousand baptized 182 - Tibet, Jesus in 36 - Tigres and Euphrates 42 - Toil should bring happiness 33 - Tombs of Gadara 118 - Tongues of fire 182 - Transfiguration of Jesus 129 - Treasures in heaven 99 - Treasures, anchor of the soul 99 - Tree without fruit cut down 105 - Treasure box of Christines 114 - Tree known by its fruit 101 - Trial hour for apostles 161 - Triumphant entry into Jerusalem 151 - Tribute to Caesar 155 - Tribulations indescribable 157 - Trust in God; He will care 99 - Truth, defined by Jesus 22 - Truth, the leavening power 10 - Truth, spoken in kindness 111 - Tuesday, Jesus in Jerusalem 153 - Twelve is the number of the Jew 133 - Tyre, Jesus in 123 - - - U - - Unbelief precludes great work 86 - Unclean spirits afraid of Jesus 118 - Unclean spirits obey Jesus 118 - Unclean spirits in animals 118 - Unclean animals drowned in sea 118 - Unfoldment, Jesus' lesson on 25 - Unity of God and man 84 - Unity of God, foundation of law 96 - Universal Brotherhood 28, 81 - Universal Fatherhood 28 - Universal Church 60 - Universal family 106 - Unrest in Jerusalem 134 - Ur of Chaldea, Jesus in 42 - Unsuccessful fishermen 88 - Upbraids disciples for striving 160 - Upbraids Judas for treachery 164 - Upper gate of consciousness 142 - - - V - - Vidyapati endorses Jesus 32 - Vidyapati states needs of India 56 - Vigilance essential 112 - Vine and branches 87, 161 - Virtue of healing waters 41 - Virtue the salt of life 131 - Virtueless people lost 131 - Vision of Pilate's wife 167 - Vision of Jesus 16 - Voice from heaven testifies 64 - Vow of Secret Brotherhood 47 - - - W - - Wages based on intent 143 - Walked on water, Jesus 124 - Walked on water, Peter 124 - Wandering musicians 37 - Washes his hands in innocence, Pilate 168 - Washed not hands before eating 108 - Way to Christ, Jesus' address on 129 - Wealth of earth hinders progress 112 - Wealth within the heart 33 - Wealth of soul is purity 111 - Wednesday, Jesus and twelve in Mount Olives 158 - Wept over Jerusalem, Jesus 151 - White, symbol of virtue and purity 76 - Wicked spirit sent to its own place 83 - Wife of Pilate urges non-interference 167 - Will, faith, helpfulness and love, Fifth Postulate 59 - Wilderness, place of Jesus' self-examination 65 - Wine, water changed into 70 - Wise men visit Jesus 5 - Wise men return home 5 - Wise men meet Jesus in Persepolis 38 - Wisdom defined by Jesus 22 - Wisdom of Jesus attracts Ravanna 21 - Withered fig tree, Jesus' lesson on 153 - Woes described by Jesus 95 - Woes on cities of Galilee 103, 156 - Wolves in sheep's clothing 101 - Woman with hemorrhage healed 120 - Woman of Samaria at Jacob's well 81 - Words may hide a lie 99 - Words of Jesus upon the cross 171 - Work of seven sages 56 - Worth of a soul 129 - Worth of the soul, its measure 111 - Wounded Malchus healed by Jesus 164 - - - Y - - Yoke of Christ easy 104 - - - Z - - Zacharias and Elizabeth home, near Hebron 2 - Zaccheus called to entertain Jesus 149 - Zaccheus tells story of own life 149 - Zarathustra; philosophy and works 10 - Zara, Persian wise man 38 - Zoan, Jesus in 47 - - - - -THE AQUARIAN GOSPEL - -OF JESUS THE CHRIST. - - - - -SECTION I. - -ALEPH. - -_Birth and Early Life of Mary, Mother of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 1. - - _Palestine. Birth of Mary. Joachim's feast. Mary is blest by - the priests. His prophecy. Mary abides in the temple. Is - betrothed to Joseph._ - -Augustus Caesar reigned and Herod Antipas was ruler of Jerusalem. - -2 Three provinces comprised the land of Palestine: Judea, and Samaria, -and Galilee. - -3 Joachim was a master of the Jewish law, a man of wealth; he lived in -Nazareth of Galilee; and Anna, of the tribe of Judah, was his wife. - -4 To them was born a child, a goodly female child, and they were glad; -and Mary was the name they gave the child. - -5 Joachim made a feast in honor of the child; but he invited not the -rich, the honored and the great; he called the poor, the halt, the -lame, the blind, and to each one he gave a gift of raiment, food, or -other needful thing. - -6 He said, The Lord has given me this wealth; I am his steward by his -grace, and if I give not to his children when in need, then he will -make this wealth a curse. - -7 Now, when the child was three years old her parents took her to -Jerusalem, and in the temple she received the blessings of the priests. - -8 The high priest was a prophet and a seer, and when he saw the child -he said, - -9 Behold, this child will be the mother of an honored prophet and a -master of the law; she shall abide within this holy temple of the Lord. - -10 And Mary did abide within the temple of the Lord; and Hillel, chief -of the Sanhedrim, taught her all the precepts of the Jews, and she -delighted in the law of God. - -11 When Mary reached the age of womanhood she was betrothed to Joseph, -son of Jacob, and a carpenter of Nazareth. - -12 And Joseph was an upright man; and a devoted Essenes. - - - - -SECTION II. - -BETH. - -_Birth and Infancy of John, the Harbinger, and of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 2. - - _Zacharias and Elizabeth. Prophetic messages of Gabriel to - Zacharias, Elizabeth and Mary. Birth of John. Prophecy of - Zacharias._ - -Near Hebron in the hills of Judah, Zacharias and Elizabeth abode. - -2 They were devout and just, and every day they read the Law, the -Prophets and the Psalms which told of one to come, strong to redeem; -and they were waiting for the king. - -3 Now, Zacharias was a priest, and in his turn he led the temple -service in Jerusalem. - -4 It came to pass as Zacharias stood before the Lord and burned the -incense in the Holy Place, that Gabriel came and stood before his face. - -5 And Zacharias was afraid; he thought that some great evil was about -to come upon the Jews. - -6 But Gabriel said, O man of God, fear not; I bring to you, and all -the world, a message of good will, and peace on earth. - -7 Behold, the Prince of Peace, the king you seek, will quickly come. - -8 Your wife will bear to you a son, a holy son, of whom the prophet -wrote, - -9 Behold, I send Elijah unto you again before the coming of the Lord; -and he will level down the hills and fill the valleys up, and pave the -way for him who shall redeem. - -10 From the beginning of the age your son has borne the name of John, -the mercy of the Lord; his name is John. - -11 He will be honored in the sight of God, and he will drink no wine, -and from his birth he will be filled with Holy Breath. - -12 And Gabriel stood before Elizabeth as she was in the silence in -her home, and told her all the words that he had said to Zacharias in -Jerusalem. - -13 When he had done the service of his course, the priest went home, -and with Elizabeth rejoiced. - -14 Five months passed by and Gabriel came to Mary in her home in -Nazareth and said, - -15 Hail Mary, hail! Once blessed in the name of God; twice blessed in -the name of Holy Breath; thrice blessed in the name of Christ; for you -are worthy, and will bear a son who shall be called Immanuel. - -16 His name is Jesus, for he saves his people from their sins. - -17 When Joseph's daily task was done he came, and Mary told him all -the words that Gabriel spoke to her, and they rejoiced; for they -believed that he, the man of God, had spoken words of truth. - -18 And Mary went with haste to tell Elizabeth about the promises of -Gabriel; together they rejoiced. - -19 And in the home of Zacharias and Elizabeth did Mary tarry ninety -days; then she returned to Nazareth. - -20 To Zacharias and Elizabeth a son was born, and Zacharias said, - -21 Most blessed be the name of God, for he has opened up the fount of -blessings for his people, Israel. - -22 His promises are verified; for he has brought to pass the words -which holy prophets spoke in olden times. - -23 And Zacharias looked upon the infant John, and said, - -24 You will be called the prophet of the Holy One; and you will go -before his face, and will prepare his way. - -25 And you will give a knowledge of salvation unto Israel; and you -will preach the gospel of repentance and the blotting out of sins. - -26 Behold, for soon the Day Star from on high will visit us, to light -the way for those who sit within the darkness of the shadowland, and -guide our feet unto the ways of peace. - - -CHAPTER 3. - - _Birth of Jesus. Masters honor the child. The shepherds - rejoice. Zacharias and Elizabeth visit Mary. Jesus is - circumcised._ - -The time was nearly due for Jesus to be born, and Mary longed to see -Elizabeth, and she and Joseph turned their faces toward the Judean -hills. - -2 And when upon their way they came to Bethlehem the day was done, and -they must tarry for the night. - -3 But Bethlehem was thronged with people going to Jerusalem; the inns -and homes were filled with guests, and Joseph and his wife could find -no place to rest but in a cave where animals were kept; and there they -slept. - -4 At midnight came a cry, A child is born in yonder cave among the -beasts. And lo, the promised son of man was born. - -5 And strangers took the little one and wrapped him in the dainty -robes that Mary had prepared and laid him in a trough from which the -beasts of burden fed. - -6 Three persons clad in snow-white robes came in and stood before the -child and said, - -7 All strength, all wisdom and all love be yours, Immanuel. - -8 Now, on the hills of Bethlehem were many flocks of sheep with -shepherds guarding them. - -9 The shepherds were devout, were men of prayer, and they were waiting -for a strong deliverer to come. - -10 And when the child of promise came a man in snow-white robe -appeared to them, and they fell back in fear. The man stood forth and -said, - -11 Fear not! behold I bring you joyful news. At midnight in a cave in -Bethlehem was born the prophet and the king that you have long been -waiting for. - -12 And then the shepherds all were glad; they felt that all the hills -were filled with messengers of light, who said, - -13 All glory be to God on high; peace, peace on earth, good will to -men. - -14 And then the shepherds came with haste to Bethlehem and to the -cave, that they might see and honor him whom men had called Immanuel. - -15 Now, when the morning came, a shepherdess whose home was near, -prepared a room for Mary, Joseph and the child; and here they tarried -many days. - -16 And Joseph sent a messenger in haste to Zacharias and Elizabeth to -say, The child is born in Bethlehem. - -17 And Zacharias and Elizabeth took John and came to Bethlehem with -words of cheer. - -18 And Mary and Elizabeth recounted all the wondrous things that had -transpired. The people joined with them in praising God. - -19 According to the custom of the Jews, the child was circumcised; and -when they asked, What will you call the child? the mother said, His -name is Jesus, as the man of God declared. - - -CHAPTER 4. - - _Consecration of Jesus. Mary offers sacrifices. Simeon and Anna - prophesy. Anna is rebuked for worshipping the child. The - family returns to Bethlehem._ - -Now, Mary took her son, when he was forty days of age, up to the -temple in Jerusalem, and he was consecrated by the priest. - -2 And then she offered purifying sacrifices for herself, according to -the custom of the Jews; a lamb and two young turtle doves. - -3 A pious Jew named Simeon was in the temple serving God. - -4 From early youth he had been looking for Immanuel to come, and he -had prayed to God that he might not depart until his eyes had seen -Messiah in the flesh. - -5 And when he saw the infant Jesus he rejoiced and said, I now am -ready to depart in peace, for I have seen the king. - -6 And then he took the infant in his arms and said, Behold, this child -will bring a sword upon my people, Israel, and all the world; but he -will break the sword and then the nations will learn war no more. - -7 The master's cross I see upon the forehead of this child, and he -will conquer by this sign. - -8 And in the temple was a widow, four and eighty years of age, and she -departed not, but night and day she worshipped God. - -9 And when she saw the infant Jesus she exclaimed, Behold Immanuel! -Behold the signet cross of the Messiah on his brow! - -10 And then the woman knelt to worship him, as God with us, Immanuel; -but one, a master clothed in white, appeared and said, - -11 Good woman, stay; take heed to what you do; you may not worship -man; this is idolatry. - -12 This child is man, the son of man, and worthy of all praise. You -shall adore and worship God; him only shall you serve. - -13 The woman rose and bowed her head in thankfulness and worshipped -God. - -14 And Mary took the infant Jesus and returned to Bethlehem. - - -CHAPTER 5. - - _Three magian priests honor Jesus. Herod is alarmed. Calls a - council of the Jews. Is told that prophets had foretold the - coming of a king. Herod resolves to kill the child. Mary and - Joseph take Jesus and flee into Egypt._ - -Beyond the river Euphrates the magians lived; and they were wise, -could read the language of the stars and they divined that one, a -master soul, was born; they saw his star above Jerusalem. - -2 And there were three among the magian priests who longed to see the -master of the coming age; and they took costly gifts and hastened to -the West in search of him, the new-born king, that they might honor -him. - -3 And one took gold, the symbol of nobility; another myrrh, the symbol -of dominion and of power; gum-thus the other took, the symbol of the -wisdom of the sage. - -4 Now when the magians reached Jerusalem the people were amazed, and -wondered who they were and why they came. - -5 And when they asked, Where is the child that has been born a king? -the very throne of Herod seemed to shake. - -6 And Herod sent a courtier forth to bring the magians to his court. - -7 And when they came they asked again, Where is the new born king? And -then they said, While yet beyond the Euphrates we saw his star arise, -and we have come to honor him. - -8 And Herod blanched with fear. He thought, perhaps, the priests were -plotting to restore the kingdom of the Jews, and so he said within -himself, I will know more about this child that has been born a king. - -9 And so he told the magian priests to tarry in the city for a while -and he would tell them all about the king. - -10 He called in council all the Jewish masters of the law and asked, -What have the Jewish prophets said concerning such a one? - -11 The Jewish masters answered him and said, The prophets long ago -foretold that one would come to rule the tribes of Israel; that this -Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. - -12 They said, The prophet Micah wrote, O Bethlehem Judea, a little -place among the Judean hills, yet out of you will one come forth to -rule my people, Israel; yea, one who lived in olden times, in very -ancient days. - -13 Then Herod called the magian priests again and told them what the -masters of the Jewish law had said; and then he sent them on the way -to Bethlehem. - -14 He said, Go search, and if you find the child that has been born a -king, return and tell me all, that I may go and honor him. - -15 The magians went their way and found the child with Mary in the -shepherd's home. - -16 They honored him; bestowed upon him precious gifts and gave him -gold, gum-thus and myrrh. - -17 These magian priests could read the hearts of men; they read the -wickedness of Herod's heart, and knew that he had sworn to kill the -new born king. - -18 And so they told the secret to the parents of the child, and bid -them flee beyond the reach of harm. - -19 And then the priests went on their homeward way; they went not -through Jerusalem. - -20 And Joseph took the infant Jesus and his mother in the night and -fled to Egypt land, and with Elihu and Salome in ancient Zoan they -abode. - - -CHAPTER 6. - - _Herod learns of the supposed mission of John. The infants of - Bethlehem are massacred by Herod's order. Elizabeth escapes - with John. Because Zacharias cannot tell where his son is - hidden, he is murdered. Herod dies._ - -Now, when the magian priests did not return to tell him of the child -that had been born a king, King Herod was enraged. - -2 And then his courtiers told him of another child in Bethlehem, one -born to go before and to prepare the people to receive the king. - -3 This angered more and more the king; he called his guards and bid -them go to Bethlehem and slay the infant John, as well as Jesus who -was born to be a king. - -4 He said, Let no mistake be made, and that you may be sure to slay -these claimants to my throne, slay all male children in the town not -yet two years of age. - -5 The guards went forth and did as Herod bade them do. - -6 Elizabeth knew not that Herod sought to slay her son, and she and -John were yet in Bethlehem; but when she knew, she took the infant -John and hastened to the hills. - -7 The murderous guards were near; they pressed upon her hard; but then -she knew the secret caves in all the hills, and into one she ran and -hid herself and John until the guards were gone. - -8 Their cruel task was done; the guards returned and told the story to -the king. - -9 They said, We know that we have slain the infant king; but John, his -harbinger, we could not find. - -10 The king was angry with his guards because they failed to slay the -infant John; he sent them to the tower in chains. - -11 And other guards were sent to Zacharias, father of the harbinger, -while he was serving in the Holy Place, to say, The king demands that -you shall tell where is your son. - -12 But Zacharias did not know, and he replied, I am a minister of God, -a servant in the Holy Place; how could I know where they have taken -him? - -13 And when the guards returned and told the king what Zacharias said, -he was enraged and said, - -14 My guards, go back and tell that wily priest that he is in my -hands; that if he does not tell the truth, does not reveal the hiding -place of John, his son, then he shall die. - -15 The guards went back and told the priest just what the king had -said. - -16 And Zacharias said, I can but give my life for truth; and if the -king does shed my blood the Lord will save my soul. - -17 The guards again returned and told the king what Zacharias said. - -18 Now, Zacharias stood before the altar in the Holy Place engaged in -prayer. - -19 A guard approached and with a dagger thrust him through; he fell -and died before the curtain of the sanctuary of the Lord. - -20 And when the hour of salutation came, for Zacharias daily blessed -the priests, he did not come. - -21 And after waiting long the priests went to the Holy Place and found -the body of the dead. - -22 And there was grief, deep grief, in all the land. - -23 Now Herod sat upon his throne; he did not seem to move; his -courtiers came; the king was dead. His sons reigned in his stead. - - - - -SECTION III. - -GIMEL. - -_Education of Mary and Elizabeth in Zoan._ - - -CHAPTER 7. - - _Archelaus reigns. Mary and Elizabeth with their sons are in - Zoan and are taught by Elihu and Salome. Elihu's introductory - lesson. Tells of an interpreter._ - -The son of Herod, Archelaus, reigned in Jerusalem. He was a selfish, -cruel king; he put to death all those who did not honor him. - -2 He called in council all the wisest men and asked about the infant -claimant to his throne. - -3 The council said that John and Jesus both were dead; then he was -satisfied. - -4 Now Joseph, Mary and their son were down in Egypt in Zoan, and John -was with his mother in the Judean hills. - -5 Elihu and Salome sent messengers in haste to find Elizabeth and -John. They found them and they brought them to Zoan. - -6 Now, Mary and Elizabeth were marveling much because of their -deliverance. - -7 Elihu said, It is not strange; there are no happenings; law governs -all events. - -8 From olden times it was ordained that you should be with us, and in -this sacred school be taught. - -9 Elihu and Salome took Mary and Elizabeth out to the sacred grove -near by where they were wont to teach. - -10 Elihu said to Mary and Elizabeth, You may esteem yourselves thrice -blest, for you are chosen mothers of long promised sons, - -11 Who are ordained to lay in solid rock a sure foundation stone on -which the temple of the perfect man shall rest--a temple that shall -never be destroyed. - -12 We measure time by cycle ages, and the gate to every age we deem a -mile stone in the journey of the race. - -13 An age has passed; the gate unto another age flies open at the -touch of time. This is the preparation age of soul, the kingdom of -Immanuel, of God in man; - -14 And these, your sons, will be the first to tell the news, and -preach the gospel of good will to men, and peace on earth. - -15 A mighty work is theirs; for carnal men want not the light; they -love the dark, and when the light shines in the dark they comprehend -it not. - -16 We call these sons, Revealers of the Light; but they must have the -light before they can reveal the light. - -17 And you must teach your sons, and set their souls on fire with love -and holy zeal, and make them conscious of their missions to the sons -of men. - -18 Teach them that God and man were one; but that through carnal -thoughts and words and deeds, man tore himself away from God; debased -himself. - -19 Teach that the Holy Breath would make them one again, restoring -harmony and peace; - -20 That naught can make them one but love; that God so loved the world -that he has clothed his son in flesh that man may comprehend. - -21 The only Savior of the world is love, and Jesus, son of Mary, -comes to manifest that love to men. - -22 Now, love cannot be manifest until its way has been prepared, and -naught can rend the rocks and bring down lofty hills and fill the -valleys up, and thus prepare the way, but purity. - -23 But purity in life men do not comprehend; and so, it, too, must -come in flesh. - -24 And you, Elizabeth, are blest because your son is purity made -flesh, and he shall pave the way for love. - -25 This age will comprehend but little of the works of Purity and -Love; but not a word is lost, for in the Book of God's Remembrance a -registry is made of every thought, and word, and deed; - -26 And when the world is ready to receive, lo, God will send a -messenger to open up the book and copy from its sacred pages all the -messages of Purity and Love. - -27 Then every man of earth will read the words of life in language of -his native land, and men will see the light, walk in the light and be -the light. - -28 And man again will be at one with God. - - -CHAPTER 8. - - _Elihu's lessons. The unity of life. The two selfs. The devil. - Love the savior of men. The David of the light. Goliath of - the dark._ - -Again Elihu met his pupils in the sacred grove and said, - -2 No man lives unto himself; for every living thing is bound by cords -to every other living thing. - -3 Blest are the pure in heart; for they will love and not demand love -in return. - -4 They will not do to other men what they would not have other men do -unto them. - -5 There are two selfs; the higher and the lower self. - -6 The higher self is human spirit clothed with soul, made in the form -of God. - -7 The lower self, the carnal self, the body of desires, is a reflexion -of the higher self, distorted by the murky ethers of the flesh. - -8 The lower self is an illusion, and will pass away; the higher self -is God in man, and will not pass away. - -9 The higher self is the embodiment of truth; the lower self is truth -reversed, and so is falsehood manifest. - -10 The higher self is justice, mercy, love and right; the lower self -is what the higher self is not. - -11 The lower self breeds hatred, slander, lewdness, murders, theft, -and everything that harms; the higher self is mother of the virtues -and the harmonies of life. - -12 The lower self is rich in promises, but poor in blessedness and -peace; it offers pleasure, joy and satisfying gains; but gives unrest -and misery and death. - -13 It gives men apples that are lovely to the eye and pleasant to the -smell; their cores are full of bitterness and gall. - -14 If you would ask me what to study I would say, yourselfs; and when -you well had studied them, and then would ask me what to study next, I -would reply, yourselfs. - -15 He who knows well his lower self, knows the illusions of the world, -knows of the things that pass away; and he who knows his higher self, -knows God; knows well the things that cannot pass away. - -16 Thrice blessed is the man who has made purity and love his very -own; he has been ransomed from the perils of the lower self and is -himself his higher self. - -17 Men seek salvation from an evil that they deem a living monster of -the nether world; and they have gods that are but demons in disguise; -all powerful, yet full of jealousy and hate and lust; - -18 Whose favors must be bought with costly sacrifice of fruits, and of -the lives of birds, and animals, and human kind. - -19 And yet these gods possess no ears to hear, no eyes to see, no -heart to sympathize, no power to save. - -20 This evil is a myth; these gods are made of air, and clothed with -shadows of a thought. - -21 The only devil from which men must be redeemed is self, the lower -self. If man would find his devil he must look within; his name is -self. - -22 If man would find his savior he must look within; and when the -demon self has been dethroned the savior, Love, will be exalted to the -throne of power. - -23 The David of the light is Purity, who slays the strong Goliath of -the dark, and seats the savior, Love, upon the throne. - - -CHAPTER 9. - - _Salome's lessons. The man and the woman. Philosophy of human - moods. The triune God. The Septonate. The God Tao._ - -Salome taught the lesson of the day. She said, All times are not -alike. Today the words of man may have the greatest power; tomorrow -women teaches best. - -2 In all the ways of life the man and woman should walk hand in hand; -the one without the other is but half; each has a work to do. - -3 But all things teach; each has a time and season for its own. The -sun, the moon have lessons of their own for men; but each one teaches -at the appointed time. - -4 The lessons of the sun fall down on human hearts like withered -leaves upon a stream, if given in the season of the moon; and so with -lessons of the moon and all the stars. - -5 Today one walks in gloom, downhearted and oppressed; tomorrow that -same one is filled with joy. - -6 Today the heavens seem full of blessedness and hope; tomorrow hope -has fled, and every plan and purpose comes to naught. - -7 Today one wants to curse the very ground on which he treads; -tomorrow he is full of love and praise. - -8 Today one hates and scorns and envies and is jealous of the child he -loves; tomorrow he has risen above his carnal self, and breathes forth -gladness and good will. - -9 A thousand times men wonder why these heights and depths, these -light hearts and these sad, are found in every life. - -10 They do not know that there are teachers everywhere, each busy with -a God-appointed task, and driving home to human hearts the truth. - -11 But this is true, and every one receives the lessons that he needs. - -12 And Mary said, Today I am in exaltation great; my thoughts and all -my life seem lifted up; why am I thus inspired? - -13 Salome replied, This is a day of exaltation; day of worship and of -praise; a day when, in a measure, we may comprehend our Father-God. - -14 Then let us study God, the One, the Three, the Seven. - -15 Before the worlds were formed all things were One; just Spirit, -Universal Breath. - -16 And Spirit breathed, and that which was not manifest became the -Fire and Thought of heaven, the Father-God, the Mother-God. - -17 And when the Fire and Thought of heaven in union breathed, their -son, their only son, was born. This son is Love whom men have called -the Christ. - -18 Men call the Thought of heaven the Holy Breath. - -19 And when the Triune God breathed forth, lo, seven Spirits stood -before the throne. These are the Elohim, creative spirits of the -universe. - -20 And these are they who said, Let us make man; and in their image -man was made. - -21 In early ages of the world the dwellers in the farther East said, -Tao is the name of Universal Breath; and in the ancient books we read, - -22 No manifesting form has Tao Great, and yet he made and keeps the -heavens and earth. - -23 No passion has our Tao Great, and yet he causes sun and moon and -all the stars to rise and set. - -24 No name has Tao Great, and yet he makes all things to grow; he -brings in season both the seed time and the harvest time. - -25 And Tao Great was One; the One became the Two; the Two became the -Three, the Three evolved the Seven, which filled the universe with -manifests. - -26 And Tao Great gives unto all, the evil and the good, the rain, the -dew, the sunshine and the flowers; from his rich stores he feeds them -all. - -27 And in the same old book we read of man: He has a spirit knit to -Tao Great; a soul which lives within the seven Breaths of Tao Great; a -body of desires that springs up from the soil of flesh. - -28 Now spirit loves the pure, the good, the true; the body of desires -extols the selfish self; the soul becomes the battle ground between -the two. - -29 And blessed is the man whose spirit is triumphant and whose lower -self is purified; whose soul is cleansed, becoming fit to be the -council chamber of the manifests of Tao Great. - -30 Thus closed the lesson of Salome. - - -CHAPTER 10. - - _Elihu's lessons. The Brahmic religion. Life of Abram. Jewish - sacred books. The Persian religion._ - -Elihu taught; he said, In ancient times a people in the East were -worshippers of God, the One, whom they called Brahm. - -2 Their laws were just; they lived in peace; they saw the light -within; they walked in wisdom's ways. - -3 But priests with carnal aims arose, who changed the laws to suit the -carnal mind; bound heavy burdens on the poor, and scorned the rules of -right; and so the Brahms became corrupt. - -4 But in the darkness of the age a few great masters stood unmoved; -they loved the name of Brahm; they were great beacon lights before the -world. - -5 And they preserved inviolate the wisdom of their holy Brahm, and -you may read this wisdom in their sacred books. - -6 And in Chaldea, Brahm was known. A pious Brahm named Terah lived in -Ur; his son was so devoted to the Brahmic faith that he was called -A-Brahm; and he was set apart to be the father of the Hebrew race. - -7 Now, Terah took his wife and sons and all his flocks and herds to -Haran in the West; here Terah died. - -8 And Abram took the flocks and herds, and with his kindred journeyed -further west; - -9 And when he reached the Oaks of Morah in the land of Canaan, he -pitched his tents and there abode. - -10 A famine swept the land and Abram took his kindred and his flocks -and herds and came to Egypt, and in these fertile plains of Zoan -pitched his tent, and here abode. - -11 And men still mark the place where Abram lived--across the plain. - -12 You ask why Abram came to Egypt land? This is the cradleland of the -initiate; all secret things belong to Egypt land; and this is why the -masters come. - -13 In Zoan Abram taught his science of the stars, and in that sacred -temple over there he learned the wisdom of the wise. - -14 And when his lessons all were learned, he took his kindred and his -flocks and herds and journeyed back to Canaan, and in the plains of -Mamre pitched his tent, and there he lived, and there he died. - -15 And records of his life and works and of his sons, and of the -tribes of Israel, are well preserved in Jewish sacred books. - -16 In Persia Brahm was known, and feared. Men saw him as the One, the -causeless Cause of all that is, and he was sacred unto them, as Tao to -the dwellers of the farther East. - -17 The people lived in peace, and justice ruled. - -18 But, as in other lands, in Persia priests arose imbued with self -and self desires, who outraged Force, Intelligence and Love; - -19 Religion grew corrupt, and birds and beasts and creeping things -were set apart as gods. - -20 In course of time a lofty soul, whom men called Zarathustra, came -in flesh. - -21 He saw the causeless Spirit, high and lifted up; he saw the -weakness of all man appointed gods. - -22 He spoke and all of Persia heard; and when he said, One God, one -people and one shrine, the altars of the idols fell, and Persia was -redeemed. - -23 But men must see their God with human eyes, and Zarathustra said, - -24 The greatest of the Spirits standing near the throne is the Ahura -Mazda, who manifests in brightness of the sun. - -25 And all the people saw Ahura Mazda in the sun, and they fell down -and worshipped him in temples of the sun. - -26 And Persia is the magian land where live the priests who saw the -star arise to mark the place where Mary's son was born, and were the -first to greet him as the Prince of Peace. - -27 The precepts and the laws of Zarathustra are preserved in the -Avesta which you can read and make your own. - -28 But you must know that words are naught till they are made alive; -until the lessons they contain become a part of head and heart. - -29 Now truth is one; but no one knows the truth until he is the truth. -It is recorded in an ancient book, - -30 Truth is the leavening power of God; it can transmute the all of -life into itself; and when the all of life is truth, then man is truth. - - -CHAPTER 11. - - _Elihu's lessons. Buddhism and the precepts of Buddha. The - mysteries of Egypt._ - -Again Elihu taught; he said, The Indian priests became corrupt; Brahm -was forgotten in the streets; the rights of men were trampled in the -dust. - -2 And then a mighty master came, a Buddha of enlightenment, who turned -away from wealth and all the honors of the world, and found the -Silence in the quiet groves and caves; and he was blest. - -3 He preached a gospel of a higher life, and taught man how to honor -man. - -4 He had no doctrine of the gods to teach; he just knew man, and so -his creed was justice, love and righteousness. - -5 I quote for you a few of many of the helpful words which Buddha -spoke: - -6 Hate is a cruel word. If men hate you, regard it not; and you can -turn the hate of men to love and mercy and good will, and mercy is as -large as all the heavens. - -7 And there is good enough for all. With good destroy the bad; with -generous deeds make avarice ashamed; with truth make straight the -crooked lines that error draws, for error is but truth distorted, gone -astray. - -8 And pain will follow him who speaks or acts with evil thoughts, as -does the wheel the foot of him who draws the cart. - -9 He is a greater man who conquers self than he who kills a thousand -men in war. - -10 He is the noble man who is himself what he believes that other men -should be. - -11 Return to him who does you wrong your purest love, and he will -cease from doing wrong; for love will purify the heart of him who is -beloved as truly as it purifies the heart of him who loves. - -12 The words of Buddha are recorded in the Indian sacred books; attend -to them, for they are part of the instructions of the Holy Breath. - -13 The land of Egypt is the land of secret things. - -14 The mysteries of the ages lie lock-bound in our temples and our -shrines. - -15 The masters of all times and climes come here to learn; and when -your sons have grown to manhood they will finish all their studies in -Egyptian schools. - -16 But I have said enough. Tomorrow at the rising of the sun we meet -again. - - -CHAPTER 12. - - _Salome's lessons. Prayer. Elihu's concluding lessons. Sums up - the three years' course of study. The pupils return to their - homes._ - -Now, when the morning sun arose the masters and their pupils all were -in the sacred grove. - -2 Salome was the first to speak; she said, Behold the sun! It -manifests the power of God who speaks to us through sun and moon and -stars; - -3 Through mountain, hill and vale; through flower, and plant and tree. - -4 God sings for us through bird, and harpsichord, and human voice; he -speaks to us through wind and rain and thunder roll; why should we not -bow down and worship at his feet? - -5 God speaks to hearts apart; and hearts apart must speak to him; and -this is prayer. - -6 It is not prayer to shout at God, to stand, or sit, or kneel and -tell him all about the sins of men. - -7 It is not prayer to tell the Holy One how great he is, how good he -is, how strong and how compassionate. - -8 God is not man to be bought up by praise of man. - -9 Prayer is the ardent wish that every way of life be light; that -every act be crowned with good; that every living thing be prospered -by our ministry. - -10 A noble deed, a helpful word is prayer; a fervent, an effectual -prayer. - -11 The fount of prayer is in the heart; by thought, not words, the -heart is carried up to God, where it is blest. Then let us pray. - -12 They prayed, but not a word was said; but in that holy Silence -every heart was blest. - -13 And then Elihu spoke. He said to Mary and Elizabeth, Our words are -said; you need not tarry longer here; the call has come; the way is -clear, you may return unto your native land. - -14 A mighty work is given you to do; you shall direct the minds that -will direct the world. - -15 Your sons are set apart to lead men up to righteous thoughts, and -words, and deeds; - -16 To make men know the sinfulness of sin; to lead them from the -adoration of the lower self, and all illusive things, and make them -conscious of the self that lives with Christ in God. - -17 In preparation for their work your sons must walk in many thorny -paths. - -18 Fierce trials and temptations they will meet, like other men; their -loads will not be light, and they will weary be, and faint. - -19 And they will know the pangs of hunger and of thirst; and without -cause they will be mocked, imprisoned, scourged. - -20 To many countries they will go, and at the feet of many masters -they will sit, for they must learn like other men. - -21 But we have said enough. The blessings of the Three and of the -Seven, who stand before the throne, will surely rest upon you evermore. - -22 Thus closed the lessons of Elihu and Salome. Three years they -taught their pupils in the sacred grove, and if their lessons all were -written in a book, lo, it would be a mighty book; of what they said we -have the sum. - -23 Now, Mary, Joseph and Elizabeth with Jesus and his harbinger, -set forth upon their homeward way. They went not by Jerusalem, for -Archelaus reigned. - -24 They journeyed by the Bitter Sea, and when they reached Engedi -hills they rested in the home of Joshua, a near of kin; and here -Elizabeth and John abode. - -25 But Joseph, Mary and their son went by the Jordan way, and after -certain days they reached their home in Nazareth. - - - - -SECTION IV. - -DALETH. - -_Childhood and Early Education of John the Harbinger._ - - -CHAPTER 13. - - _Elizabeth in Engedi. Teaches her son. John becomes the pupil - of Matheno, who reveals to him the meaning of sin and the law - of forgiveness._ - -Elizabeth was blest; she spent her time with John, and gave to him the -lessons that Elihu and Salome had given her. - -2 And John delighted in the wildness of his home and in the lessons -that he learned. - -3 Now in the hills were many caves. The cave of David was a-near in -which the Hermit of Engedi lived. - -4 This hermit was Matheno, priest of Egypt, master from the temple of -Sakara. - -5 When John was seven years of age Matheno took him to the wilderness -and in the cave of David they abode. - -6 Matheno taught, and John was thrilled with what the master said, and -day by day Matheno opened up to him the mysteries of life. - -7 John loved the wilderness; he loved his master and his simple fare. -Their food was fruits, and nuts, wild honey and the carob bread. - -8 Matheno was an Israelite, and he attended all the Jewish feasts. - -9 When John was nine years old Matheno took him to a great feast in -Jerusalem. - -10 The wicked Archelaus had been deposed and exiled to a distant land -because of selfishness and cruelty, and John was not afraid. - -11 John was delighted with his visit to Jerusalem. Matheno told him -all about the service of the Jews; the meaning of their sacrifices and -their rites. - -12 John could not understand how sin could be forgiven by killing -animals and birds and burning them before the Lord. - -13 Matheno said, The God of heaven and earth does not require -sacrifice. This custom with its cruel rites was borrowed from the idol -worshippers of other lands. - -14 No sin was ever blotted out by sacrifice of animal, of bird, or man. - -15 Sin is the rushing forth of man into the fens of wickedness. If one -would get away from sin he must retrace his steps, and find his way -out of the fens of wickedness. - -16 Return and purify your hearts by love and righteousness and you -shall be forgiven. - -17 This is the burden of the message that the harbinger shall bring to -men. - -18 What is forgiveness? John inquired. - -19 Matheno said, It is the paying up of debts. A man who wrongs -another man can never be forgiven until he rights the wrong. - -20 The Vedas says that none can right the wrong but him who does the -wrong. - -21 John said, If this be true where is the power to forgive except the -power that rests in man himself? Can man forgive himself? - -22 Matheno said, The door is wide ajar; you see the way of man's -return to right, and the forgiveness of his sins. - - -CHAPTER 14. - - _Matheno's lessons. The doctrine of universal law. The power - of man to choose and to attain. The benefits of antagonisms. - Ancient sacred books. The place of John and Jesus in the - world's history._ - -Matheno and his pupil, John, were talking of the sacred books of olden -times, and of the golden precepts they contained, and John exclaimed, - -2 These golden precepts are sublime; what need have we of other sacred -books? - -3 Matheno said, The Spirits of the Holy One cause every thing to come -and go in proper time. - -4 The sun has his own time to set, the moon to rise, to wax and wane, -the stars to come and go, the rain to fall, the winds to blow; - -5 The seed times and the harvest times to come; man to be born and man -to die. - -6 These mighty Spirits cause the nations to be born; they rock them in -their cradles, nurture them to greatest power, and when their tasks -are done they wrap them in their winding sheets and lay them in their -tombs. - -7 Events are many in a nation's life, and in the life of man, that are -not pleasant for the time; but in the end the truth appears: whatever -comes is for the best. - -8 Man was created for a noble part; but he could not be made a free -man filled with wisdom, truth and might. - -9 If he were hedged about, confined in straits from which he could not -pass, then he would be a toy, a mere machine. - -10 Creative spirits gave to man a will; and so he has the power to -choose. - -11 He may attain the greatest heights, or sink to deepest depths; for -what he wills to gain he has the power to gain. - -12 If he desires strength he has the power to gain that strength; but -he must overcome resistances to reach the goal; no strength is ever -gained in idleness. - -13 So, in the whirl of many-sided conflicts man is placed where he -must strive to extricate himself. - -14 In every conflict man gains strength; with every conquest he -attains to greater heights. With every day he finds new duties and new -cares. - -15 Man is not carried over dangerous pits, nor helped to overcome his -foes. He is himself his army, and his sword and shield; and he is -captain of his hosts. - -16 The Holy Ones just light his way. Man never has been left without a -beacon light to guide. - -17 And he has ever had a lighted lamp in hand that he may see the -dangerous rocks, the turbid streams and treacherous pits. - -18 And so the Holy Ones have judged; when men have needed added light -a master soul has come to earth to give that light. - -19 Before the Vedic days the world had many sacred books to light the -way; and when man needed greater light the Vedas, the Avesta and the -books of Tao Great appeared to show the way to greater heights. - -20 And in the proper place the Hebrew Bible, with its Law, its -Prophets and its Psalms, appeared for man's enlightenment. - -21 But years have passed and men have need of greater light. - -22 And now the Day Star from on high begins to shine; and Jesus is the -flesh-made messenger to show that light to men. - -23 And you, my pupil, you have been ordained to harbinger the coming -day. - -24 But you must keep that purity of heart you now possess; and you -must light your lamp directly from the coals that burn upon the altar -of the Holy Ones. - -25 And then your lamp will be transmuted to a boundless flame, and you -will be a living torch whose light will shine wherever man abides. - -26 But in the ages yet to come, man will attain to greater heights, -and lights still more intense will come. - -27 And then, at last, a mighty master soul will come to earth to light -the way up to the throne of perfect man. - - -CHAPTER 15. - - _Death and burial of Elizabeth. Matheno's lessons. The ministry - of death. The mission of John. Institution of the rite of - baptism. Matheno takes John to Egypt, and places him in the - temple at Sakara, where he remains eighteen years._ - -When John was twelve years old his mother died, and neighbors laid her -body in a tomb among her kindred in the Hebron burying ground, and -near to Zacharias' tomb. - -2 And John was deeply grieved; he wept. Matheno said, It is not well -to weep because of death. - -3 Death is no enemy of man; it is a friend who, when the work of life -is done, just cuts the cord that binds the human boat to earth, that -it may sail on smoother seas. - -4 No language can describe a mother's worth, and yours was tried and -true. But she was not called hence until her tasks were done. - -5 The calls of death are always for the best, for we are solving -problems there as well as here; and one is sure to find himself where -he can solve his problems best. - -6 It is but selfishness that makes one wish to call again to earth -departed souls. - -7 Then let your mother rest in peace. Just let her noble life be -strength and inspiration unto you. - -8 A crisis in your life has come, and you must have a clear conception -of the work that you are called to do. - -9 The sages of the ages call you harbinger. The prophets look to you -and say, He is Elijah come again. - -10 Your mission here is that of harbinger; for you will go before -Messiah's face to pave his way, and make the people ready to receive -their king. - -11 This readiness is purity of heart; none but the pure in heart can -recognize the king. - -12 To teach men to be pure in heart you must yourself be pure in -heart, and word, and deed. - -13 In infancy the vow for you was made and you became a Nazarite. The -razor shall not touch your face nor head, and you shall taste not wine -nor fiery drinks. - -14 Men need a pattern for their lives; they love to follow, not to -lead. - -15 The man who stands upon the corners of the paths and points the -way, but does not go, is just a pointer; and a block of wood can do -the same. - -16 The teacher treads the way; on every span of ground he leaves his -footprints clearly cut, which all can see and be assured that he, -their master, went that way. - -17 Men comprehend the inner life by what they see and do. They come to -God through ceremonies and forms. - -18 And so when you would make men know that sins are washed away by -purity in life, a rite symbolic may be introduced. - -19 In water wash the bodies of the people who would turn away from sin -and strive for purity in life. - -20 This rite of cleansing is a preparation rite and they who thus are -cleansed comprise the Church of Purity. - -21 And you shall say, You men of Israel, hear; Reform and wash; become -the sons of purity, and you shall be forgiven. - -22 This rite of cleansing and this church are but symbolic of the -cleansing of the soul by purity in life, and of the kingdom of the -soul, which does not come with outward show, but is the church within. - -23 Now, you may never point the way and tell the multitudes to do what -you have never done; but you must go before and show the way. - -24 You are to teach that men must wash; so you must lead the way, your -body must be washed, symbolic of the cleansing of the soul. - -25 John said, Why need I wait? May I not go at once and wash? - -26 Matheno said, 'Tis well, and then they went down to the Jordan -ford, and east of Jericho, just where the hosts of Israel crossed when -first they entered Canaan, they tarried for a time. - -27 Matheno taught the harbinger, and he explained to him the inner -meaning of the cleansing rite and how to wash himself and how to wash -the multitude. - -28 And in the river Jordan John was washed; then they returned unto -the wilderness. - -29 Now in Engedi's hills Matheno's work was done and he and John went -down to Egypt. They rested not until they reached the temple of Sakara -in the valley of the Nile. - -30 For many years Matheno was a master in this temple of the -Brotherhood, and when he told about the life of John and of his -mission to the sons of men, the hierophant with joy received the -harbinger and he was called the Brother Nazarite. - -31 For eighteen years John lived and wrought within these temple -gates; and here he conquered self, became a master mind and learned -the duties of the harbinger. - - - - -SECTION V. - -HE. - -_Childhood and Early Education of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 16. - - _The home of Joseph. Mary teaches her son. Jesus' grandparents - give a feast in his honor. Jesus has a dream. His - grandmother's interpretation. His birthday gift._ - -The home of Joseph was on Marmion Way in Nazareth; here Mary taught -her son the lessons of Elihu and Salome. - -2 And Jesus greatly loved the Vedic hymns and the Avesta; but more -than all he loved to read the Psalms of David and the pungent words of -Solomon. - -3 The Jewish books of prophecy were his delight; and when he reached -his seventh year he needed not the books to read, for he had fixed in -memory every word. - -4 Joachim and his wife, grandparents of child Jesus, made a feast in -honor of the child, and all their near of kin were guests. - -5 And Jesus stood before the guests and said, I had a dream, and in my -dream I stood before a sea, upon a sandy beach. - -6 The waves upon the sea were high; a storm was raging on the deep. - -7 Some one above gave me a wand. I took the wand and touched the sand, -and every grain of sand became a living thing; the beach was all a -mass of beauty and of song. - -8 I touched the waters at my feet, and they were changed to trees, and -flowers, and singing birds, and every thing was praising God. - -9 And some one spoke, I did not see the one who spoke, I heard the -voice, which said, There is no death. - -10 Grandmother Anna loved the child; she laid her hand on Jesus' head -and said, I saw you stand beside the sea; I saw you touch the sand and -waves; I saw them turn to living things and then I knew the meaning of -the dream. - -11 The sea of life rolls high; the storms are great. The multitude of -men are idle, listless, waiting, like dead sand upon the beach. - -12 Your wand is truth. With this you touch the multitudes, and every -man becomes a messenger of holy light and life. - -13 You touch the waves upon the sea of life; their turmoils cease; the -very winds become a song of praise. - -14 There is no death, because the wand of truth can change the dryest -bones to living things, and bring the lovliest flowers from stagnant -ponds, and turn the most discordant notes to harmony and praise. - -15 Joachim said, My son, today you pass the seventh milestone of your -way of life, for you are seven years of age, and we will give to you, -as a remembrance of this day, whatever you desire; choose that which -will afford you most delight. - -16 And Jesus said, I do not want a gift, for I am satisfied. If I -could make a multitude of children glad upon this day I would be -greatly pleased. - -17 Now, there are many hungry boys and girls in Nazareth who would be -pleased to eat with us this feast and share with us the pleasures of -this day. - -18 The richest gift that you can give to me is your permission to go -out and find these needy ones and bring them here that they may feast -with us. - -19 Joachim said, 'Tis well; go out and find the needy boys and girls -and bring them here; we will prepare enough for all. - -20 And Jesus did not wait; he ran; he entered every dingy hut and -cabin of the town; he did not waste his words; he told his mission -everywhere. - -21 And in a little time one hundred and three-score of happy, ragged -boys and girls were following him up Marmion Way. - -22 The guests made way; the banquet hall was filled with Jesus' -guests, and Jesus and his mother helped to serve. - -23 And there was food enough for all, and all were glad; and so the -birthday gift of Jesus was a crown of righteousness. - - -CHAPTER 17. - - _Jesus talks with the rabbi of the synagogue of Nazareth. He - criticises the narrowness of Jewish thought._ - -Now, Rabbi Barachia of the synagogue of Nazareth, was aid to Mary in -the teaching of her son. - -2 One morning after service in the synagogue the rabbi said to Jesus -as he sat in silent thought, Which is the greatest of the Ten Commands? - -3 And Jesus said, I do not see a greatest of the Ten Commands. I see -a golden cord that runs through all the Ten Commands that binds them -fast and makes them one. - -4 This cord is love, and it belongs to every word of all the Ten -Commands. - -5 If one is full of love he can do nothing else than worship God; for -God is love. - -6 If one is full of love, he cannot kill; he cannot falsely testify; -he cannot covet; can do naught but honor God and man. - -7 If one is full of love he does not need commands of any kind. - -8 And Rabbi Barachia said, Your words are seasoned with the salt of -wisdom that is from above. Who is the teacher who has opened up this -truth to you? - -9 And Jesus said, I do not know that any teacher opens up this truth -for me. It seems to me that truth was never shut; that it was always -opened up, for truth is one and it is everywhere. - -10 And if we open up the windows of our minds the truth will enter -in and make herself at home; for truth can find her way through any -crevice, any window, any open door. - -11 The rabbi said, What hand is strong enough to open up the windows -and the doors of mind so truth can enter in? - -12 And Jesus said, It seems to me that love, the golden cord that -binds the Ten Commands in one, is strong enough to open any human door -so that the truth can enter in and cause the heart to understand. - -13 Now, in the evening Jesus and his mother sat alone, and Jesus said, - -14 The rabbi seems to think that God is partial in his treatment of -the sons of men; that Jews are favored and are blest above all other -men. - -15 I do not see how God can have his favorites and be just. - -16 Are not Samaritans and Greeks and Romans just as much the children -of the Holy One as are the Jews? - -17 I think the Jews have built a wall about themselves, and they see -nothing on the other side of it. - -18 They do not know that flowers are blooming over there; that sowing -times and reaping times belong to anybody but the Jews. - -19 It surely would be well if we could break these barriers down so -that the Jews might see that God has other children that are just as -greatly blest. - -20 I want to go from Jewry land and meet my kin in other countries of -my Fatherland. - - -CHAPTER 18. - - _Jesus at a feast in Jerusalem. Is grieved by the cruelties of - the sacrificers. Appeals to Hillel, who sympathizes with him. - He remains in the temple a year._ - -The great feast of the Jews was on, and Joseph, Mary and their son, -and many of their kin, went to Jerusalem. The child was ten years old. - -2 And Jesus watched the butchers kill the lambs and birds and burn -them on the altar in the name of God. - -3 His tender heart was shocked at this display of cruelty; he asked -the serving priest, What is the purpose of this slaughter of the -beasts and birds? Why do you burn their flesh before the Lord? - -4 The priest replied, This is our sacrifice for sin. God has commanded -us to do these things, and said that in these sacrifices all our sins -are blotted out. - -5 And Jesus said, Will you be kind enough to tell when God proclaimed -that sins are blotted out by sacrifice of any kind? - -6 Did not David say that God requires not a sacrifice for sin? that it -is sin itself to bring before his face burnt offerings, as offerings -for sin? Did not Isaiah say the same? - -7 The priest replied, My child, you are beside yourself. Do you know -more about the laws of God than all the priests of Israel? This is no -place for boys to show their wit. - -8 But Jesus heeded not his taunts; he went to Hillel, chief of the -Sanhedrim, and he said to him, - -9 Rabboni, I would like to talk with you; I am disturbed about this -service of the pascal feast. I thought the temple was the house of God -where love and kindness dwell. - -10 Do you not hear the bleating of those lambs, the pleading of those -doves that men are killing over there? Do you not smell that awful -stench that comes from burning flesh? - -11 Can man be kind and just, and still be filled with cruelty? - -12 A God that takes delight in sacrifice, in blood and burning flesh, -is not my Father-God. - -13 I want to find a God of love, and you, my master, you are wise, and -surely you can tell me where to find the God of love. - -14 But Hillel could not give an answer to the child. His heart was -stirred with sympathy. He called the child to him; he laid his hand -upon his head and wept. - -15 He said, There is a God of love, and you shall come with me; and -hand in hand we will go forth and find the God of love. - -16 And Jesus said, Why need we go? I thought that God is everywhere. -Can we not purify our hearts and drive out cruelty, and every wicked -thought, and make within, a temple where the God of love can dwell? - -17 The master of the great Sanhedrim felt as though he was himself the -child, and that before him stood Rabboni, master of the higher law. - -18 He said within himself, This child is surely prophet sent from God. - -19 Then Hillel sought the parents of the child, and asked that Jesus -might abide with him, and learn the precepts of the law, and all the -lessons of the temple priests. - -20 His parents gave consent, and Jesus did abide within the holy -temple in Jerusalem, and Hillel taught him every day. - -21 And every day the master learned from Jesus many lessons of the -higher life. - -22 The child remained with Hillel in the temple for a year, and then -returned unto his home in Nazareth; and there he wrought with Joseph -as a carpenter. - - -CHAPTER 19. - - _Jesus at the age of twelve in the temple. Disputes with the - doctors of the law. Reads from a book of prophecy. By request - of Hillel he interprets the prophecies._ - -Again the great feast in Jerusalem was on, and Joseph, Mary and their -son were there. The child was twelve years old. - -2 And there were Jews and proselytes from many countries in Jerusalem. - -3 And Jesus sat among the priests and doctors in the temple hall. - -4 And Jesus opened up a book of prophecy and read: - -5 Woe, woe, to Ariel, the town where David dwelt! I will dismantle -Ariel, and she shall groan and weep: - -6 And I will camp against her round about with hostile posts; - -7 And I will bring her low and she shall speak out of the earth; with -muffled voice like a familiar spirit shall she speak; yea, she shall -only whisper forth her speech; - -8 And foes unnumbered, like the grains of dust, shall come upon her -suddenly. - -9 The Lord of hosts will visit her with thunder and with tempest, and -with storm; with earthquake, and with devouring flames. - -10 Lo, all these people have deserted me. They draw to me with speech, -and with their lips they honor me; their hearts are far removed from -me; their fear for me is that inspired by man. - -11 And I will breathe an adverse breath upon my people, Israel; the -wisdom of their wise men shall be lost; the understanding of their -prudent men shall not be found. - -12 My people seek to hide their counsel from the Lord, so that their -works may not be seen. They fain would cover up their works with -darkness of the night, and say, Who sees us now? Who knows us now? - -13 Poor, foolish men! shall that which has been made say of its maker, -He is naught, I made myself? - -14 Or shall the pot speak out and say to him, who made the pot, You -have no skill; you do not know? - -15 But this will not forever be; the time will come when Lebanon will -be a fruitful field, and fruitful fields will be transformed to groves. - -16 And on that day the deaf will hear the words of God; the blind will -read the Book of God's Remembrance. - -17 And suffering ones will be relieved, and they will have abundant -joy; and every one that needs will be supplied; and it will come to -pass that all the foolish will be wise. - -18 The people will return and sanctify the Holy One, and in their -heart of hearts, lo, they will reverence him. - -19 When Jesus had thus read he put aside the book and said, You -masters of the law, will you make plain for us the prophet's words? - -20 Now, Hillel sat among the masters of the law, and he stood forth -and said, Perhaps our young rabboni who has read the word will be -interpreter. - -21 And Jesus said, The Ariel of the prophet is our own Jerusalem. - -22 By selfishness and cruelty this people has become a stench unto the -Elohim. - -23 The prophet saw these days from far, and of these times he wrote. - -24 Our doctors, lawyers, priests and scribes oppress the poor, while -they themselves in luxury live. - -25 The sacrifices and the offerings of Israel are but abomination unto -God. The only sacrifice that God requires is self. - -26 Because of this injustice and this cruelty of man to man, the Holy -One has spoken of this commonwealth: - -27 Lo, I will overturn, yes, I will overturn, it shall be overturned, -and it shall be no more until he comes whose right it is and I will -give it unto him. - -28 In all the world there is one law of right, and he who breaks that -law will suffer grief; for God is just. - -29 And Israel has gone far astray; has not regarded justice, nor the -rights of man, and God demands that Israel shall reform, and turn -again to ways of holiness. - -30 And if our people will not hear the voice of God, lo, nations from -afar will come and sack Jerusalem, and tear our temple down, and take -our people captive into foreign lands. - -31 But this will not forever be; though they be scattered far and -wide, and wander here and there among the nations of the earth, like -sheep that have no shepherd guide, - -32 The time will come when God will bring again the captive hosts; for -Israel shall return and dwell in peace. - -33 And after many years our temple shall be built again, and one whom -God will honor, one in whom the pure in heart delights will come and -glorify the house of God, and reign in righteousness. - -34 When Jesus had thus said, he stepped aside, and all the people were -amazed and said, This surely is the Christ. - - -CHAPTER 20. - - _After the feast. The homeward journey. The missing Jesus. The - search for him. His parents find him in the temple. He goes - with them to Nazareth. Symbolic meaning of carpenter's tools._ - -The great feast of the pasch was ended and the Nazarenes were -journeying toward their homes. - -2 And they were in Samaria, and Mary said, Where is my son? No one had -seen the boy. - -3 And Joseph sought among their kindred who were on their way to -Galilee; but they had seen him not. - -4 Then Joseph, Mary, and a son of Zebedee, returned and sought through -all Jerusalem, but they could find him not. - -5 And then they went up to the temple courts and asked the guards, -Have you seen Jesus, a fair-haired boy, with deep blue eyes, twelve -years of age, about these courts? - -6 The guards replied, Yes, he is in the temple now disputing with the -doctors of the law. - -7 And they went in, and found him as the guards had said. - -8 And Mary said, Why Jesus, why do you treat your parents thus? Lo, -we have sought two days for you. We feared that some great harm had -overtaken you. - -9 And Jesus said, Do you not know that I must be about my Father's -work? - -10 But he went round and pressed the hand of every doctor of the law -and said, I trust that we may meet again. - -11 And then he went forth with his parents on their way to Nazareth; -and when they reached their home he wrought with Joseph as a carpenter. - -12 One day as he was bringing forth the tools for work he said, - -13 These tools remind me of the ones we handle in the workshop of the -mind where things are made of thought and where we build up character. - -14 We use the square to measure all our lines, to straighten out the -crooked places of the way, and make the corners of our conduct square. - -15 We use the compass to draw circles round our passions and desires -to keep them in the bounds of righteousness. - -16 We use the ax to cut away the knotty, useless and ungainly parts -and make the character symmetrical. - -17 We use the hammer to drive home the truth, and pound it in until it -is a part of every part. - -18 We use the plane to smooth the rough, uneven surfaces of joint, and -block, and board that go to build the temple for the truth. - -19 The chisel, line, the plummet and the saw all have their uses in -the workshop of the mind. - -20 And then this ladder with its trinity of steps, faith, hope and -love; on it we climb up to the dome of purity in life. - -21 And on the twelve-step ladder we ascend until we reach the pinnacle -of that which life is spent to build--the Temple of Perfected Man. - - - - -SECTION VI. - -VAU. - -_Life and Works of Jesus in India._ - - -CHAPTER 21. - - _Ravanna sees Jesus in the temple and is captivated. Hillel - tells him about the boy. Ravanna finds Jesus in Nazareth and - gives a feast in his honor. Ravanna becomes patron of Jesus, - and takes him to India to study the Brahmic religion._ - -A royal prince of India, Ravanna of Orissa in the south, was at the -Jewish feast. - -2 Ravanna was a man of wealth; and he was just, and with a band of -Brahmic priests sought wisdom in the West. - -3 When Jesus stood among the Jewish priests and read and spoke, -Ravanna heard and was amazed. - -4 And when he asked who Jesus was, from whence he came and what he -was, chief Hillel said, - -5 We call this child the Day Star from on high, for he has come to -bring to men a light, the light of life; to lighten up the way of men -and to redeem his people, Israel. - -6 And Hillel told Ravanna all about the child; about the prophecies -concerning him; about the wonders of the night when he was born; about -the visit of the magian priests; - -7 About the way in which he was protected from the wrath of evil men; -about his flight to Egypt-land, and how he then was serving with his -father as a carpenter in Nazareth. - -8 Ravanna was entranced, and asked to know the way to Nazareth, that -he might go and honor such a one as son of God. - -9 And with his gorgeous train he journeyed on the way and came to -Nazareth of Galilee. - -10 He found the object of his search engaged in building dwellings for -the sons of men. - -11 And when he first saw Jesus he was climbing up a twelve-step -ladder, and he carried in his hands a compass, square and ax. - -12 Ravanna said, All hail, most favored son of heaven! - -13 And at the inn Ravanna made a feast for all the people of the town; -and Jesus and his parents were the honored guests. - -14 For certain days Ravanna was a guest in Joseph's home on Marmion -Way; he sought to learn the secret of the wisdom of the son; but it -was all too great for him. - -15 And then he asked that he might be the patron of the child; might -take him to the East where he could learn the wisdom of the Brahms. - -16 And Jesus longed to go that he might learn: and after many days his -parents gave consent. - -17 Then, with proud heart, Ravanna with his train, began the journey -toward the rising sun; and after many days they crossed the Sind, and -reached the province of Orissa, and the palace of the prince. - -18 The Brahmic priests were glad to welcome home the prince; with -favor they received the Jewish boy. - -19 And Jesus was accepted as a pupil in the temple Jagannath; and here -he learned the Vedas and the Manic laws. - -20 The Brahmic masters wondered at the clear conceptions of the child, -and often were amazed when he explained to them the meaning of the -laws. - - -CHAPTER 22. - - _The friendship of Jesus and Lamaas. Jesus explains to Lamaas - the meaning of truth, man, power, understanding, wisdom, - salvation and faith._ - -Among the priests of Jagannath was one who loved the Jewish boy. -Lamaas Bramas was the name by which the priest was known. - -2 One day as Jesus and Lamaas walked alone in plaza Jagannath, Lamaas -said, My Jewish master, what is truth? - -3 And Jesus said, Truth is the only thing that changes not. - -4 In all the world there are two things; the one is truth; the other -falsehood is; and truth is that which is, and falsehood that which -seems to be. - -5 Now truth is aught, and has no cause, and yet it is the cause of -everything. - -6 Falsehood is naught, and yet it is the manifest of aught. - -7 Whatever has been made will be unmade; that which begins must end. - -8 All things that can be seen by human eyes are manifests of aught, -are naught, and so must pass away. - -9 The things we see are but reflexes just appearing, while the ethers -vibrate so and so, and when conditions change they disappear. - -10 The Holy Breath is truth; is that which was, and is, and evermore -shall be; it cannot change nor pass away. - -11 Lamaas said, You answer well; now, what is man? - -12 And Jesus said, Man is the truth and falsehood strangely mixed. - -13 Man is the Breath made flesh; so truth and falsehood are conjoined -in him; and then they strive, and naught goes down and man as truth -abides. - -14 Again Lamaas asked, What do you say of power? - -15 And Jesus said, It is a manifest; is the result of force; it is but -naught; it is illusion, nothing more. Force changes not, but power -changes as the ethers change. - -16 Force is the will of God and is omnipotent, and power is that will -in manifest, directed by the Breath. - -17 There is a power in the winds, a power in the waves, a power in the -lightning's stroke, a power in the human arm, a power in the eye. - -18 The ethers cause these powers to be, and thought of Elohim, of -angel, man, or other thinking thing, directs the force; when it has -done its work the power is no more. - -19 Again Lamaas asked, Of understanding what have you to say? - -20 And Jesus said, It is the rock on which man builds himself; it is -the gnosis of the aught and of the naught, of falsehood and of truth. - -21 It is the knowledge of the lower self; the sensing of the powers of -man himself. - -22 Again Lamaas asked, Of wisdom what have you to say? - -23 And Jesus said, It is the consciousness that man is aught; that God -and man are one; - -24 That naught is naught; that power is but illusion; that heaven and -earth and hell are not above, around, below, but in; which in the -light of aught becomes the naught, and God is all. - -25 Lamaas asked, Pray, what is faith? - -26 And Jesus said, Faith is the surety of the omnipotence of God and -man; the certainty that man will reach deific life. - -27 Salvation is a ladder reaching from the heart of man to heart of -God. - -28 It has three steps; Belief is first, and this is what man thinks, -perhaps, is truth. - -29 And faith is next, and this is what man knows is truth. - -30 Fruition is the last, and this is man himself, the truth. - -31 Belief is lost in faith; and in fruition faith is lost; and man is -saved when he has reached deific life; when he and God are one. - - -CHAPTER 23. - - _Jesus and Lamaas among the sudras and visyas. In Benares. - Jesus becomes a pupil of Udraka. The lessons of Udraka._ - -Now, Jesus with his friend Lamaas went through all the regions of -Orissa, and the valley of the Ganges, seeking wisdom from the sudras -and the visyas and the masters. - -2 Benares of the Ganges was a city rich in culture and in learning; -here the two rabbonis tarried many days. - -3 And Jesus sought to learn the Hindu art of healing, and became the -pupil of Udraka, greatest of the Hindu healers. - -4 Udraka taught the uses of the waters, plants and earths; of heat and -cold; sunshine and shade; of light and dark. - -5 He said, The laws of nature are the laws of health, and he who lives -according to these laws is never sick. - -6 Transgression of these laws is sin, and he who sins is sick. - -7 He who obeys the laws, maintains an equilibrium in all his parts, -and thus insures true harmony; and harmony is health, while discord is -disease. - -8 That which produces harmony in all the parts of man is medicine, -insuring health. - -9 The body is a harpsichord, and when its strings are too relaxed, or -are too tense, the instrument is out of tune, the man is sick. - -10 Now, everything in nature has been made to meet the wants of man; -so everything is found in medical arcanes. - -11 And when the harpsichord of man is out of tune the vast expanse of -nature may be searched for remedy; there is a cure for every ailment -of the flesh. - -12 Of course the will of man is remedy supreme; and by the vigorous -exercise of will, man may make tense a chord that is relaxed, or may -relax one that is too tense, and thus may heal himself. - -13 When man has reached the place where he has faith in God, in nature -and himself, he knows the Word of power; his word is balm for every -wound, is cure for all the ills of life. - -14 The healer is the man who can inspire faith. The tongue may speak -to human ears, but souls are reached by souls that speak to souls. - -15 He is the forceful man whose soul is large, and who can enter into -souls, inspiring hope in those who have no hope, and faith in those -who have no faith in God, in nature, nor in man. - -16 There is no universal balm for those who tread the common walks of -life. - -17 A thousand things produce inharmony and make men sick; a thousand -things may tune the harpsichord, and make men well. - -18 That which is medicine for one is poison for another one; so one is -healed by what would kill another one. - -19 An herb may heal the one; a drink of water may restore another one; -a mountain breeze may bring to life one seeming past all help; - -20 A coal of fire, or bit of earth, may cure another one; and one may -wash in certain streams, or pools, and be made whole. - -21 The virtue from the hand or breath may heal a thousand more; but -love is queen. Thought, reinforced by love, is God's great sovereign -balm. - -22 But many of the broken chords in life, and discords that so vex the -soul, are caused by evil spirits of the air that men see not; that -lead men on through ignorance to break the laws of nature and of God. - -23 These powers act like demons, and they speak; they rend the man; -they drive him to despair. - -24 But he who is a healer, true, is master of the soul, and can, by -force of will, control these evil ones. - -25 Some spirits of the air are master spirits and are strong, too -strong for human power alone; but man has helpers in the higher realms -that may be importuned, and they will help to drive the demons out. - -26 Of what this great physician said, this is the sum. And Jesus bowed -his head in recognition of the wisdom of this master soul, and went -his way. - - -CHAPTER 24. - - _The Brahmic doctrine of castes. Jesus repudiates it and - teaches human equality. The priests are offended and drive - him from the temple. He abides with the sudras and teaches - them._ - -Four years the Jewish boy abode in temple Jagannath. - -2 One day he sat among the priests and said to them, Pray, tell me all -about your views of castes; why do you say that all men are not equal -in the sight of God? - -3 A master of their laws stood forth and said, The Holy One whom we -call Brahm, made men to suit himself, and men should not complain. - -4 In the beginning days of human life Brahm spoke, and four men stood -before his face. - -5 Now, from the mouth of Parabrahm the first man came; and he was -white, was like the Brahm himself; a brahman he was called. - -6 And he was high and lifted up; above all want he stood; he had no -need of toil. - -7 And he was called the priest of Brahm, the holy one to act for Brahm -in all affairs of earth. - -8 The second man was red, and from the hand of Parabrahm he came; and -he was called shatriya. - -9 And he was made to be the king, the ruler and the warrior, whose -highest ordained duty was, protection of the priest. - -10 And from the inner parts of Parabrahm the third man came; and he -was called a visya. - -11 He was a yellow man, and his it was to till the soil, and keep the -flocks and herds. - -12 And from the feet of Parabrahm the fourth man came; and he was -black; and he was called the sudras, one of low estate. - -13 The sudras is the servant of the race of men; he has no rights that -others need respect; he may not hear the Vedas read, and it means -death to him to look into the face of priest, or king, and naught but -death can free him from his state of servitude. - -14 And Jesus said, Then Parabrahm is not a God of justice and of -right; for with his own strong hand he has exalted one and brought -another low. - -15 And Jesus said no more to them, but looking up to heaven he said, - -16 My Father-God, who was, and is, and ever more shall be; who holds -within thy hands the scales of justice and of right; - -17 Who in the boundlessness of love has made all men to equal be. The -white, the black, the yellow and the red can look up in thy face and -say, Our Father-God. - -18 Thou Father of the human race, I praise thy name. - -19 And all the priests were angered by the words which Jesus spoke; -they rushed upon him, seized him, and would have done him harm. - -20 But then Lamaas raised his hand and said, You priests of Brahm, -beware! you know not what you do; wait till you know the God this -youth adores. - -21 I have beheld this boy at prayer when light above the light of sun -surrounded him, Beware! his God may be more powerful than Brahm. - -22 If Jesus speaks the truth, if he is right, you cannot force him -to desist; if he is wrong and you are right, his words will come to -naught, for right is might, and in the end it will prevail. - -23 And then the priests refrained from doing Jesus harm; but one spoke -out and said, - -24 Within this holy place has not this reckless youth done violence to -Parabrahm? The law is plain; it says, He who reviles the name of Brahm -shall die. - -25 Lamaas plead for Jesus' life; and then the priests just seized a -scourge of cords and drove him from the place. - -26 And Jesus went his way and found a shelter with the black and -yellow men, the servants and the tillers of the soil. - -27 To them he first made known the gospel of equality; he told them of -the Brotherhood of Man, the Fatherhood of God. - -28 The common people heard him with delight, and learned to pray, Our -Father-God who art in heaven. - - -CHAPTER 25. - - _Jesus teaches the sudras and farmers. Relates a parable of a - nobleman and his unjust sons. Makes known the possibilities - of all men._ - -When Jesus saw the sudras and the farmers in such multitudes draw near -to hear his words, he spoke a parable to them; he said: - -2 A nobleman possessed a great estate; he had four sons, and he would -have them all grow strong by standing forth and making use of all the -talents they possessed. - -3 And so he gave to each a share of his great wealth, and bade them go -their way. - -4 The eldest son was full of self; he was ambitious, shrewd and quick -of thought. - -5 He said within himself, I am the oldest son, and these, my brothers, -must be servants at my feet, - -6 And then he called his brothers forth; and one he made a puppet -king; gave him a sword and charged him to defend the whole estate. - -7 To one he gave the use of lands and flowing wells, and flocks and -herds, and bade him till the soil, and tend the flocks and herds and -bring to him the choicest of his gains. - -8 And to the other one he said, You are the youngest son; the broad -estate has been assigned; you have no part nor lot in anything that is. - -9 And then he took a chain and bound his brother to a naked rock upon -a desert plain, and said to him, - -10 You have been born a slave; you have no rights, and you must be -contented with your lot, for there is no release for you until you die -and go from hence. - -11 Now, after certain years the day of reckoning came; the nobleman -called up his sons to render their accounts. - -12 And when he knew that one, his eldest son, had seized the whole -estate and made his brothers slaves, - -13 He seized him, tore his priestly robes away and put him in a prison -cell, where he was forced to stay until he had atoned for all the -wrongs that he had done. - -14 And then, as though they were but toys, he threw in air the throne -and armor of the puppet king; he broke his sword, and put him in a -prison cell. - -15 And then he called his farmer son and asked him why he had not -rescued from his galling chains his brother on the desert sands. - -16 And when the son made answer not, the father took unto himself the -flocks and herds, the fields and flowing wells, - -17 And sent his farmer son to live out on the desert sands, until he -had atoned for all the wrongs that he had done. - -18 And then the father went and found his youngest son in cruel -chains; with his own hands he broke the chains and bade his son to go -in peace. - -19 Now, when the sons had all paid up their debts they came again and -stood before the bar of right. - -20 They all had learned their lessons, learned them well; and then the -father once again divided the estate. - -21 He gave to each an equal share, and bade them recognize the law of -equity and right, and live in peace. - -22 And one, a sudras, spoke and said, May we who are but slaves, who -are cut down like beasts to satisfy the whims of priests--may we have -hope that one will come to break our chains and set us free? - -23 And Jesus said, The Holy One has said, that all his children shall -be free; and every soul is child of God. - -24 The sudras shall be free as priest; the farmer shall walk hand in -hand with king; for all the world will own the brotherhood of man. - -25 O men, arise! be conscious of your powers, for he who wills need -not remain a slave. - -26 Just live as you would have your brother live; unfold each day as -does the flower; for earth is yours, and heaven is yours, and God will -bring you to your own. - -27 And all the people cried, Show us the way that like the flower we -may unfold and come unto our own. - - -CHAPTER 26. - - _Jesus at Katak. The car of Jagannath. Jesus reveals to the - people the emptiness of Brahmic rites, and how to see God in - man. Teaches them the divine law of sacrifice._ - -In all the cities of Orissa Jesus taught. At Katak, by the river side, -he taught, and thousands of the people followed him. - -2 One day a car of Jagannath was hauled along by scores of frenzied -men, and Jesus said, - -3 Behold, a form without a spirit passes by; a body with no soul; a -temple with no altar fires. - -4 This car of Krishna is an empty thing, for Krishna is not there. - -5 This car is but an idol of a people drunk on wine of carnal things. - -6 God lives not in the noise of tongues; there is no way to him from -any idol shrine. - -7 God's meeting place with man is in the heart, and in a still small -voice he speaks; and he who hears is still. - -8 And all the people said, Teach us to know the Holy One who speaks -within the heart, God of the still small voice. - -9 And Jesus said, The Holy Breath cannot be seen with mortal eyes; nor -can men see the Spirits of the Holy One; - -10 But in their image man was made, and he who looks into the face of -man, looks at the image of the God who speaks within. - -11 And when man honors man he honors God, and what man does for man, -he does for God. - -12 And you must bear in mind that when man harms in thought, or word -or deed another man, he does a wrong to God. - -13 If you would serve the God who speaks within the heart, just serve -your near of kin, and those that are no kin, the stranger at your -gates, the foe who seeks to do you harm; - -14 Assist the poor, and help the weak; do harm to none, and covet not -what is not yours; - -15 Then, with your tongue the Holy One will speak; and he will smile -behind your tears, will light your countenance with joy, and fill your -hearts with peace. - -16 And then the people asked, To whom shall we bring gifts? Where -shall we offer sacrifice? - -17 And Jesus said, Our Father-God asks not for needless waste of -plant, of grain, of dove, of lamb. - -18 That which you burn on any shrine you throw away. No blessings can -attend the one who takes the food from hungry mouths to be destroyed -by fire. - -19 When you would offer sacrifice unto our God, just take your gift of -grain, or meat and lay it on the table of the poor. - -20 From it an incense will arise to heaven, which will return to you -with blessedness. - -21 Tear down your idols; they can hear you not; turn all your -sacrificial altars into fuel for the flames. - -22 Make human hearts your altars, and burn your sacrifices with the -fire of love. - -23 And all the people were entranced, and would have worshipped Jesus -as a God; but Jesus said, - -24 I am your brother man just come to show the way to God; you shall -not worship man; praise God, the Holy One. - - -CHAPTER 27. - - _Jesus attends a feast in Behar. Preaches a revolutionary - sermon on human equality. Relates the parable of the broken - blades._ - -The fame of Jesus as a teacher spread through all the land, and people -came from near and far to hear his words of truth. - -2 At Behar, on the sacred river of the Brahms, he taught for many days. - -3 And Ach, a wealthy man of Behar, made a feast in honor of his guest, -and he invited every one to come. - -4 And many came; among them thieves, extortioners, and courtesans. And -Jesus sat with them and taught; but they who followed him were much -aggrieved because he sat with thieves and courtesans. - -5 And they upbraided him; they said, Rabboni, master of the wise, this -day will be an evil day for you. - -6 The news will spread that you consort with courtesans and thieves, -and men will shun you as they shun an asp. - -7 And Jesus answered them and said, A master never screens himself -for sake of reputation or of fame. - -8 These are but worthless baubles of the day; they rise and sink, like -empty bottles on a stream; they are illusions and will pass away; - -9 They are the indices to what the thoughtless think; they are the -noise that people make; and shallow men judge merit by the noise. - -10 God and all master men judge men by what they are and not by what -they seem to be; not by their reputation and their fame. - -11 These courtesans and thieves are children of my Father-God; their -souls are just as precious in his sight as yours, or of the Brahmic -priests. - -12 And they are working out the same life sums that you, who pride -yourselves on your respectability and moral worth, are working out. - -13 And some of them have solved much harder sums than you have solved, -you men who look at them with scorn. - -14 Yes, they are sinners, and confess their guilt, while you are -guilty, but are shrewd enough to have a polished coat to cover up your -guilt. - -15 Suppose you men who scorn these courtesans, these drunkards and -these thieves, who know that you are pure in heart and life, that you -are better far than they, stand forth that men may know just who you -are. - -16 The sin lies in the wish, in the desire, not in the act. - -17 You covet other people's wealth; you look at charming forms, and -deep within your hearts you lust for them. - -18 Deceit you practice every day, and wish for gold, for honor and for -fame, just for your selfish selves. - -19 The man who covets is a thief, and she who lusts is courtesan. You -who are none of these speak out. - -20 Nobody spoke; the accusers held their peace. - -21 And Jesus said, The proof this day is all against those who have -accused. - -22 The pure in heart do not accuse. The vile in heart who want to -cover up their guilt with holy smoke of piety are ever loathing -drunkard, thief and courtesan. - -23 This loathing and this scorn is mockery, for if the tinseled coat -of reputation could be torn away, the loud professor would be found to -revel in his lust, deceit, and many forms of secret sin. - -24 The man who spends his time in pulling other people's weeds can -have no time to pull his own, and all the choicest flowers of life -will soon be choked and die, and nothing will remain but darnel, -thistles, burs. - -25 And Jesus spoke a parable: he said, Behold, a farmer had great -fields of ripened grain, and when he looked he saw that blades of many -stalks of wheat were bent and broken down. - -26 And when he sent his reapers forth he said, We will not save the -stalks of wheat that have the broken blades. - -27 Go forth and cut and burn the stalks with broken blades. - -28 And after many days he went to measure up his grain, but not a -kernel could he find. - -29 And then he called the harvesters and said to them, Where is my -grain? - -30 They answered him and said, We did according to your word; we -gathered up and burned the stalks with broken blades, and not a stalk -was left to carry to the barn. - -31 And Jesus said, If God saves only those who have no broken blades, -who have been perfect in his sight, who will be saved? - -32 And the accusers hung their heads in shame; and Jesus went his way. - - -CHAPTER 28. - - _Udraka gives a feast in Jesus' honor. Jesus speaks on the - unity of God and the brotherhood of life. Criticises the - priesthood. Becomes the guest of a farmer._ - -Benares is the sacred city of the Brahms, and in Benares Jesus taught; -Udraka was his host. - -2 Udraka made a feast in honor of his guest, and many high born Hindu -priests and scribes were there. - -3 And Jesus said to them, With much delight I speak to you concerning -life--the brotherhood of life. - -4 The universal God is one, yet he is more than one; all things are -God; all things are one. - -5 By the sweet breaths of God all life is bound in one; so if you -touch a fiber of a living thing you send a thrill from center to the -outer bounds of life. - -6 And when you crush beneath your foot the meanest worm, you shake the -throne of God, and cause the sword of right to tremble in its sheath. - -7 The bird sings out its song for men, and men vibrate in unison to -help it sing. - -8 The ant constructs her home, the bee its sheltering comb, the spider -weaves her web, and flowers breathe to them a spirit in their sweet -perfumes that gives them strength to toil. - -9 Now, men and birds and beasts and creeping things are deities, made -flesh; and how dare men kill anything? - -10 'Tis cruelty that makes the world awry. When men have learned that -when they harm a living thing they harm themselves, they surely will -not kill, nor cause a thing that God has made to suffer pain. - -11 A lawyer said, I pray you, Jesus, tell who is this God you speak -about; where are his priests, his temples and his shrines? - -12 And Jesus said, The God I speak about is every where; he cannot be -compassed with walls, nor hedged about with bounds of any kind. - -13 All people worship God, the One; but all the people see him not -alike. - -14 This universal God is wisdom, will and love. - -15 All men see not the Triune God. One sees him as the God of might; -another as the God of thought; another as the God of love. - -16 A man's ideal is his God, and so, as man unfolds, his God unfolds. -Man's God today, tomorrow is not God. - -17 The nations of the earth see God from different points of view, and -so he does not seem the same to every one. - -18 Man names the part of God he sees, and this to him is all of God; -and every nation sees a part of God, and every nation has a name for -God. - -19 You Brahmans call him Parabrahm; in Egypt he is Thoth; and Zeus is -his name in Greece; Jehovah is his Hebrew name; but everywhere he is -the causeless Cause, the rootless Root from which all things have -grown. - -20 When men become afraid of God, and take him for a foe, they dress -up other men in fancy garbs and call them priests, - -21 And charge them to restrain the wrath of God by prayers; and when -they fail to win his favor by their prayers, to buy him off with -sacrifice of animal, or bird, - -22 When man sees God as one with him, as Father-God, he needs no -middle man, no priest to intercede; - -23 He goes straight up to him and says, My Father-God! and then he -lays his hand in God's own hand, and all is well. - -24 And this is God. You are, each one, a priest, just for yourself; -and sacrifice of blood God does not want. - -25 Just give your life in sacrificial service to the all of life, and -God is pleased. - -26 When Jesus had thus said he stood aside; the people were amazed, -but strove among themselves. - -27 Some said, He is inspired by Holy Brahm; and others said, He is -insane; and others said, He is obsessed; he speaks as devils speak. - -28 But Jesus tarried not. Among the guests was one, a tiller of the -soil, a generous soul, a seeker after truth, who loved the words that -Jesus spoke; and Jesus went with him, and in his home abode. - - -CHAPTER 29. - - _Ajainin, a priest from Lahore, comes to Benares to see Jesus, - and abides in the temple. Jesus refuses an invitation to - visit the temple. Ajainin visits him at night in the farmer's - home, and accepts his philosophy._ - -Among Benares' temple priests was one, a guest, Ajainin, from Lahore. - -2 By merchantmen Ajainin heard about the Jewish boy, about his words -of wisdom, and he girt himself and journeyed from Lahore that he might -see the boy, and hear him speak. - -3 The Brahmic priests did not accept the truth that Jesus brought, and -they were angered much by what he said at the Udraka feast. - -4 But they had never seen the boy, and they desired much to hear him -speak, and they invited him to be a temple guest. - -5 But Jesus said to them, The light is most abundant, and it shines -for all; if you would see the light come to the light. - -6 If you would hear the message that the Holy One has given me to give -to men, come unto me. - -7 Now, when the priests were told what Jesus said they were enraged. - -8 Ajainin did not share their wrath, and he sent forth another -messenger with costly gifts to Jesus at the farmer's home; he sent -this message with the gifts: - -9 I pray you, master, listen to my words; The Brahmic law forbids that -any priest shall go into the home of any one of low estate; but you -can come to us; - -10 And I am sure these priests will gladly hear you speak. I pray that -you will come and dine with us this day. - -11 And Jesus said, The Holy One regards all men alike; the dwelling of -my host is good enough for any council of the sons of men. - -12 If pride of caste keeps you away, you are not worthy of the light. -My Father-God does not regard the laws of man. - -13 Your presents I return; you cannot buy the knowledge of the Lord -with gold, or precious gifts. - -14 These words of Jesus angered more and more the priests, and they -began to plot and plan how they might drive him from the land. - -15 Ajainin did not join with them in plot and plan; he left the temple -in the night, and sought the home where Jesus dwelt. - -16 And Jesus said, There is no night where shines the sun; I have no -secret messages to give; in light all secrets are revealed. - -17 Ajainin said, I came from far-away Lahore, that I might learn about -this ancient wisdom, and this kingdom of the Holy One of which you -speak. - -18 Where is the kingdom? where the king? Who are the subjects? what -its laws? - -19 And Jesus said, This kingdom is not far away, but man with mortal -eyes can see it not; it is within the heart. - -20 You need not seek the king in earth, or sea, or sky; he is not -there, and yet is everywhere. He is the Christ of God; is universal -love. - -21 The gate of this dominion is not high, and he who enters it must -fall down on his knees. It is not wide, and none can carry carnal -bundles through. - -22 The lower self must be transmuted into spirit-self; the body must -be washed in living streams of purity. - -23 Ajainin asked, Can I become a subject of this king? - -24 And Jesus said, You are yourself a king, and you may enter through -the gate and be a subject of the King of kings. - -25 But you must lay aside your priestly robes; must cease to serve the -Holy One for gold; must give your life, and all you have, in willing -service to the sons of men. - -26 And Jesus said no more; Ajainin went his way; and while he could -not comprehend the truth that Jesus spoke, he saw what he had never -seen before. - -27 The realm of faith he never had explored; but in his heart the -seeds of faith and universal brotherhood had found good soil. - -28 And as he journeyed to his home he seemed to sleep, to pass through -darkest night, and when he woke the Sun of Righteousness had arisen; -he had found the king. - -29 Now, in Benares Jesus tarried many days and taught. - - -CHAPTER 30. - - _Jesus receives news of the death of his father. He writes a - letter to his mother. The letter. He sends it on its way by a - merchant._ - -One day as Jesus stood beside the Ganges busy with his work, a -caravan, returning from the West, drew near. - -2 And one, approaching Jesus, said, We come to you just from your -native land and bring unwelcome news. - -3 Your father is no more on earth; your mother grieves; and none can -comfort her. She wonders whether you are still alive or not; she longs -to see you once again. - -4 And Jesus bowed his head in silent thought; and then he wrote. Of -what he wrote this is the sum: - -5 My mother, noblest of woman kind; A man just from my native land has -brought me word that father is no more in flesh, and that you grieve, -and are disconsolate. - -6 My mother, all is well; is well for father and is well for you. - -7 His work in this earth-round is done, and it is nobly done. - -8 In all the walks of life men cannot charge him with deceit, -dishonesty, nor wrong intent. - -9 Here in this round he finished many heavy tasks, and he has gone -from hence prepared to solve the problems of the round of soul. - -10 Our Father-God is with him there, as he was with him here; and -there his angel guards his footsteps lest he goes astray. - -11 Why should you weep? Tears cannot conquer grief. There is no power -in grief to mend a broken heart. - -12 The plane of grief is idleness; the busy soul can never grieve; it -has no time for grief. - -13 When grief comes trooping through the heart, just lose yourself; -plunge deep into the ministry of love, and grief is not. - -14 Yours is a ministry of love, and all the world is calling out for -love. - -15 Then let the past go with the past; rise from the cares of carnal -things and give your life for those who live. - -16 And if you lose your life in serving life you will be sure to find -in it the morning sun, the evening dews, in song of bird, in flowers, -and in the stars of night. - -17 In just a little while your problems of this earth-round will be -solved; and when your sums are all worked out it will be pleasure -unalloyed for you to enter wider fields of usefulness, to solve the -greater problems of the soul. - -18 Strive, then, to be content, and I will come to you some day and -bring you richer gifts than gold or precious stones. - -19 I'm sure that John will care for you, supplying all your needs; and -I am with you all the way, Jehoshua. - -20 And by the hand of one, a merchant, going to Jerusalem, he sent -this letter on its way. - - -CHAPTER 31. - - _Brahmic priests are enraged because of Jesus' teaching and - resolve to drive him from India. Lamaas pleads for him. - Priests employ a murderer to kill him. Lamaas warns him and - he flees to Nepel._ - -The words and works of Jesus caused unrest through all the land. - -2 The common people were his friends, believed in him, and followed -him in throngs. - -3 The priests and rulers were afraid of him; his very name sent terror -to their hearts. - -4 He preached the brotherhood of life, the righteousness of equal -rights, and taught the uselessness of priests, and sacrificial rites. - -5 He shook the very sand on which the Brahmic system stood; he made -the Brahmic idols seem so small, and sacrifice so fraught with sin, -that shrines and wheels of prayer were all forgot. - -6 The priests declared that if this Hebrew boy should tarry longer in -the land a revolution would occur; the common people would arise and -kill the priests, and tear the temples down. - -7 And so they sent a call abroad, and priests from every province -came. Benares was on fire with Brahmic zeal. - -8 Lamaas from the temple Jagannath, who knew the inner life of Jesus -well, was in their midst, and heard the rantings of the priests, - -9 And he stood forth and said, My brother priests, take heed, be -careful what you do; this is a record-making day. - -10 The world is looking on; the very life of Brahmic thought is now on -trial. - -11 If we are reason-blind; if prejudice be king today; if we resort to -beastly force, and dye our hands in blood that may, in sight of Brahm, -be innocent and pure, - -12 His vengeance may fall down on us; the very rock on which we stand -may burst beneath our feet; and our beloved priesthood, and our laws -and shrines will go into decay. - -13 But they would let him speak no more. The wrathful priests rushed -up and beat him, spit upon him, called him traitor, threw him, -bleeding, to the street. - -14 And then confusion reigned; the priests became a mob; the sight of -human blood led on to fiendish acts, and called for more. - -15 The rulers, fearing war, sought Jesus, and they found him calmly -teaching in the market-place. - -16 They urged him to depart, that he might save his life; but he -refused to go. - -17 And then the priests sought cause for his arrest; but he had done -no crime. - -18 And then false charges were preferred; but when the soldiers went -to bring him to the judgment hall they were afraid, because the people -stood in his defense. - -19 The priests were baffled, and they resolved to take his life by -stealth. - -20 They found a man who was a murderer by trade, and sent him out by -night to slay the object of their wrath. - -21 Lamaas heard about their plotting and their plans, and sent a -messenger to warn his friend; and Jesus hastened to depart. - -22 By night he left Benares, and with haste he journeyed to the north; -and everywhere, the farmers, merchants and the sudras helped him on -his way. - -23 And after many days he reached the mighty Himalayas, and in the -city Kapivastu he abode. - -24 The priests of Buddha opened wide their temple doors for him. - - -CHAPTER 32. - - _Jesus and Barata. Together they read the sacred books. Jesus - takes exception to the Buddhist doctrine of evolution and - reveals the true origin of man. Meets Vidyapati, who becomes - his co-laborer._ - -Among the Buddhist priests was one who saw a lofty wisdom in the words -that Jesus spoke. It was Barata Arabo. - -2 Together Jesus and Barata read the Jewish Psalms and Prophets; read -the Vedas, the Avesta and the wisdom of Guatama. - -3 And as they read and talked about the possibilities of man, Barata -said, - -4 Man is the marvel of the universe. He is a part of everything, for -he has been a living thing on every plane of life. - -5 Time was when man was not; and then he was a bit of formless -substance in the molds of time; and then a protoplast. - -6 By universal law all things tend upward to a state of perfectness. -The protoplast evolved, becoming worm, then reptile, bird and beast, -and then at last it reached the form of man. - -7 Now, man himself is mind, and mind is here to gain perfection by -experience; and mind is often manifest in fleshy form, and in the -form best suited to its growth. So mind may manifest as worm, or bird, -or beast, or man. - -8 The time will come when everything of life will be evolved unto the -state of perfect man. - -9 And after man is man in perfectness, he will evolve to higher forms -of life. - -10 And Jesus said, Barata Arabo, who taught you this, that mind, which -is the man, may manifest in flesh of beast, or bird, or creeping thing? - -11 Barata said, From times which man remembers not our priests have -told us so, and so we know. - -12 And Jesus said, Enlightened Arabo, are you a master mind and do not -know that man knows naught by being told? - -13 Man may believe what others say; but thus he never knows. If man -would know, he must himself be what he knows. - -14 Do you remember, Arabo, when you was ape, or bird, or worm? - -15 Now, if you have no better proving of your plea than that the -priests have told you so, you do not know; you simply guess. - -16 Regard not, then, what any man has said; let us forget the flesh, -and go with mind into the land of fleshless things; mind never does -forget. - -17 And backward through the ages master minds can trace themselves; -and thus they know. - -18 Time never was when man was not. - -19 That which begins will have an end. If man was not, the time will -come when he will not exist. - -20 From God's own Record Book we read: The Triune God breathed forth, -and seven Spirits stood before his face. (The Hebrews call these seven -Spirits, Elohim.) - -21 And these are they who, in their boundless power, created -everything that is, or was. - -22 These Spirits of the Triune God moved on the face of boundless -space and seven ethers were, and every ether had its form of life. - -23 These forms of life were but the thoughts of God, clothed in the -substance of their ether planes. - -24 (Men call these ether planes the planes of protoplast, of earth, of -plant, of beast, of man, of angel and of cherubim.) - -25 These planes with all their teeming thoughts of God, are never seen -by eyes of man in flesh; they are composed of substance far too fine -for fleshly eyes to see, and still they constitute the soul of things; - -26 And with the eyes of soul all creatures see these ether planes, and -all the forms of life. - -27 Because all forms of life on every plane are thoughts of God, all -creatures think, and every creature is possessed of will, and, in its -measure, has the power to choose, - -28 And in their native planes all creatures are supplied with -nourishment from the ethers of their planes. - -29 And so it was with every living thing until the will became a -sluggish will, and then the ethers of the protoplast, the earth, the -plant, the beast, the man, began to vibrate very slow. - -30 The ethers all became more dense, and all the creatures of these -planes were clothed with coarser garbs, the garbs of flesh, which men -can see; and thus this coarser manifest, which men call physical, -appeared. - -31 And this is what is called the fall of man; but man fell not alone -for protoplast, and earth, and plant and beast were all included in -the fall. - -32 The angels and the cherubim fell not; their wills were ever strong, -and so they held the ethers of their planes in harmony with God. - -33 Now, when the ethers reached the rate of atmosphere, and all the -creatures of these planes must get their food from atmosphere, the -conflict came; and then that which the finite man has called, survival -of the best, became a law, - -34 The stronger ate the bodies of the weaker manifests; and here is -where the carnal law of evolution had its rise. - -35 And now man, in his utter shamelessness, strikes down and eats the -beasts, the beast consumes the plant, the plant thrives on the earth, -the earth absorbs the protoplast. - -36 In yonder kingdom of the soul this carnal evolution is not known, -and the great work of master minds is to restore the heritage of man, -to bring him back to his estate that he has lost, when he again will -live upon the ethers of his native plane. - -37 The thoughts of God change not; the manifests of life on every -plane unfold into perfection of their kind; and as the thoughts of God -can never die, there is no death to any being of the seven ethers of -the seven Spirits of the Triune God. - -38 And so an earth is never plant; a beast, or bird, or creeping thing -is never man, and man is not, and cannot be, a beast, or bird, or -creeping thing. - -39 The time will come when all these seven manifests will be absorbed, -and man, and beast, and plant, and earth and protoplast will be -redeemed. - -40 Barata was amazed; the wisdom of the Jewish sage was revelation -unto him. - -41 Now, Vidyapati, wisest of the Indian sages, chief of temple -Kapavistu, heard Barata speak to Jesus of the origin of man, and heard -the answer of the Hebrew prophet, and he said, - -42 You priests of Kapavistu, hear me speak: We stand today upon a -crest of time. Six times ago a master soul was born who gave a glory -light to man, and now a master sage stands here in temple Kapavistu. - -43 This Hebrew prophet is the rising star of wisdom, deified. He -brings to us a knowledge of the secret things of God; and all the -world will hear his words, will heed his words, and glorify his name. - -44 You priests of temple Kapavistu, stay! be still and listen when he -speaks; he is the Living Oracle of God. - -45 And all the priests gave thanks, and praised the Buddha of -enlightenment. - - -CHAPTER 33. - - _Jesus teaches the common people at a spring. Tells them how to - attain unto happiness. Relates the parable of the rocky field - and the hidden treasure._ - -In silent meditation Jesus sat beside a flowing spring. It was a holy -day, and many people of the servant caste were near the place. - -2 And Jesus saw the hard drawn lines of toil on every brow, in every -hand. There was no look of joy in any face. Not one of all the group -could think of anything but toil. - -3 And Jesus spoke to one and said, Why are you all so sad? Have you -no happiness in life? - -4 The man replied, We scarcely know the meaning of that word. We toil -to live, and hope for nothing else but toil, and bless the day when -we can cease our toil and lay us down to rest in Buddha's city of the -dead. - -5 And Jesus' heart was stirred with pity and with love for these poor -toilers, and he said, - -6 Toil should not make a person sad; men should be happiest when they -toil. When hope and love are back of toil, then all of life is filled -with joy and peace, and this is heaven. Do you not know that such a -heaven is for you? - -7 The man replied, Of heaven we have heard; but then it is so far -away, and we must live so many lives before we reach that place! - -8 And Jesus said, My brother, man, your thoughts are wrong; your -heaven is not far away; and it is not a place of metes and bounds, is -not a country to be reached; it is a state of mind. - -9 God never made a heaven for man; he never made a hell; we are -creators and we make our own. - -10 Now, cease to seek for heaven in the sky; just open up the windows -of your hearts, and, like a flood of light, a heaven will come and -bring a boundless joy; then toil will be no cruel task. - -11 The people were amazed, and gathered close to hear this strange -young master speak, - -12 Imploring him to tell them more about the Father-God; about the -heaven that men can make on earth; about the boundless joy. - -13 And Jesus spoke a parable; he said, A certain man possessed a -field; the soil was hard and poor. - -14 By constant toil he scarcely could provide enough of food to keep -his family from want. - -15 One day a miner who could see beneath the soil, in passing on his -way, saw this poor man and his unfruitful field. - -16 He called the weary toiler and he said, My brother, know you not -that just below the surface of your barren field rich treasures lie -concealed? - -17 You plow and sow and reap in scanty way, and day by day you tread -upon a mine of gold and precious stones. - -18 This wealth lies not upon the surface of the ground; but if you -will but dig away the rocky soil, and delve down deep into the earth, -you need no longer till the soil for naught. - -19 The man believed. The miner surely knows; he said, and I will find -the treasures hidden in my field. - -20 And then he dug away the rocky soil, and deep down in the earth he -found a mine of gold. - -21 And Jesus said, The sons of men are toiling hard on desert plains, -and burning sands and rocky soils; are doing what their fathers did, -not dreaming they can do aught else. - -22 Behold, a master comes, and tells them of a hidden wealth; that -underneath the rocky soil of carnal things are treasures that no man -can count; - -23 That in the heart the richest gems abound; that he who wills may -open up the door and find them all. - -24 And then the people said, Make known to us the way that we may find -the wealth that lies within the heart. - -25 And Jesus opened up the way; the toilers saw another side of life, -and toil became a joy. - - -CHAPTER 34. - - _The Jubilee in Kapavistu. Jesus teaches in the plaza and the - people are astonished. He relates the parable of the unkept - vineyard and the vine dresser. The priests are angered by his - words._ - -It was a gala day in sacred Kapavistu; a throng of Buddhist -worshippers had met to celebrate a Jubilee. - -2 And priests and masters from all parts of India were there; they -taught; but they embellished little truth with many words. - -3 And Jesus went into an ancient plaza and he taught; he spoke of -Father-Mother-God; he told about the brotherhood of life. - -4 The priests and all the people were astounded at his words and said, -Is this not Buddha come again in flesh? No other one could speak with -such simplicity and power. - -5 And Jesus spoke a parable; he said, There was a vineyard all unkept; -the vines were high, the growth of leaves and branches great. - -6 The leaves were broad and shut the sunlight from the vines; the -grapes were sour, and few, and small. - -7 The pruner came; with his sharp knife he cut off every branch, and -not a leaf remained; just root and stalk, and nothing more. - -8 The busy neighbors came with one accord and were amazed, and said to -him who pruned, You foolish man! the vineyard is despoiled. - -9 Such desolation! There is no beauty left, and when the harvest time -shall come the gatherers will find no fruit. - -10 The pruner said, Content yourselves with what you think, and come -again at harvest time and see. - -11 And when the harvest time came on the busy neighbors came again; -they were surprised. - -12 The naked stalks had put forth branch and leaf, and heavy clusters -of delicious grapes weighed every branch to earth. - -13 The gatherers rejoiced as, day by day, they carried the rich -fruitage to the press. - -14 Behold, the vineyard of the Lord! the earth is spread with human -vines. - -15 The gorgeous forms and rites of men are branches, and their words -are leaves; and these have grown so great that sunlight can no longer -reach the heart; there is no fruit. - -16 Behold, the pruner comes, and with a two-edged knife he cuts away -the branches and the leaves of words, - -17 And naught is left but unclothed stalks of human life. - -18 The priests and they of pompous show, rebuke the pruner, and would -stay him in his work. - -19 They see no beauty in the stalks of human life; no promises of -fruit. - -20 The harvest time will come and they who scorned the pruner will -look on again and be amazed, for they will see the human stalks that -seemed so lifeless, bending low with precious fruit. - -21 And they will hear the harvesters rejoice, because the harvest is -so great. - -22 The priests were not well pleased with Jesus' words; but they -rebuked him not; they feared the multitude. - - -CHAPTER 35. - - _Jesus and Vidyapati consider the needs of the incoming age of - the world._ - -The Indian sage and Jesus often met and talked about the needs of -nations and of men; about the sacred doctrines, forms and rites best -suited to the coming age. - -2 One day they sat together in a mountain pass, and Jesus said, The -coming age will surely not require priests, and shrines, and sacrifice -of life. - -3 There is no power in sacrifice of beast, or bird, to help a man to -holy life. - -4 And Vidyapati said, All forms and rites are symbols of the things -that men must do within the temple of the soul. - -5 The Holy One requires man to give his life in willing sacrifice for -men, and all the so-called offerings on altars and on shrines that -have been made since time began, were made to teach man how to give -himself to save his brother man; for man can never save himself except -he lose his life in saving other men. - -6 The perfect age will not require forms and rites and carnal -sacrifice. The coming age is not the perfect age, and men will call -for object lessons and symbolic rites. - -7 And in the great religion you shall introduce to men, some simple -rites of washings and remembrances will be required; but cruel -sacrifice of animals, and birds the gods require not. - -8 And Jesus said, Our God must loathe the tinseled show of priests and -priestly things. - -9 When men array themselves in showy garbs to indicate that they are -servants of the gods, and strut about like gaudy birds to be admired -by men, because of piety or any other thing, the Holy One must surely -turn away in sheer disgust. - -10 All people are alike the servants of our Father-God, are kings and -priests. - -11 Will not the coming age demand complete destruction of the priestly -caste, as well as every other caste and inequality among the sons of -men? - -12 And Vidyapati said, The coming age is not the age of spirit life -and men will pride themselves in wearing priestly robes, and chanting -pious chants to advertise themselves as saints. - -13 The simple rites that you will introduce will be extolled by those -who follow you, until the sacred service of the age will far outshine -in gorgeousness the priestly service of the Brahmic age. - -14 This is a problem men must solve. - -15 The perfect age will come when every man will be a priest and men -will not array themselves in special garb to advertise their piety. - - - - -SECTION VII. - -ZAIN. - -_Life and Works of Jesus in Tibet and Western India._ - - -CHAPTER 36. - - _Jesus in Lassa. He meets Meng-ste who aids him in reading the - ancient manuscripts. He goes to Ladak. Heals a child. Relates - the parable of the king's son._ - -In Lassa of Tibet there was a master's temple, rich in manuscripts of -ancient lore. - -2 The Indian sage had read these manuscripts, and he revealed to Jesus -many of the secret lessons they contained; but Jesus wished to read -them for himself. - -3 Now, Meng-ste, greatest sage of all the farther East, was in this -temple of Tibet. - -4 The path across Emodus heights was difficult; but Jesus started on -his way, and Vidyapati sent with him a trusted guide. - -5 And Vidyapati sent a message to Meng-ste, in which he told about the -Hebrew sage, and spoke for him a welcome by the temple priests. - -6 Now, after many days, and perils great, the guide and Jesus reached -the Lassa temple in Tibet. - -7 And Meng-ste opened wide the temple doors, and all the priests and -masters gave a welcome to the Hebrew sage. - -8 And Jesus had access to all the sacred manuscripts, and, with the -help of Meng-ste, read them all. - -9 And Meng-ste often talked with Jesus of the coming age, and of the -sacred service best adapted to the people of the age. - -10 In Lassa Jesus did not teach. When he had finished all his studies -in the temple schools he journeyed toward the West. In many villages -he tarried for a time and taught. - -11 At last he reached the pass, and in the Ladak city, Leh, he was -received with favor by the monks, the merchants, and the men of low -estate. - -12 And in the monastery he abode, and taught; and then he sought the -common people in the marts of trade; and there he taught. - -13 Not far away a woman lived, whose infant son was sick nigh unto -death. The doctors had declared, There is no hope; the child must die. - -14 The woman heard that Jesus was a teacher sent from God, and she -believed that he had power to heal her son. - -15 And so she clasped the dying infant in her arms and ran with haste -and asked to see the man of God. - -16 When Jesus saw her faith he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, - -17 My Father-God, let power divine o'ershadow me, and let the Holy -Breath fill full this child that it may live. - -18 And in the presence of the multitude he laid his hand upon the -child and said, - -19 Good woman you are blest; your faith has saved your son. And then -the child was well. - -20 The people were astonished and they said, This surely is the Holy -One made flesh, for man alone cannot rebuke a fever thus and save a -child from death. - -21 Then many of the people brought their sick, and Jesus spoke the -Word, and they were healed. - -22 Among the Ladaks Jesus tarried many days; he taught them how to -heal; how sins are blotted out, and how to make on earth a heaven of -joy. - -23 The people loved him for his words and works, and when he must -depart they grieved as children grieve when mother goes away. - -24 And on the morning when he started on his way the multitudes were -there to press his hand. - -25 To them he spoke a parable; he said, A certain king so loved the -people of his land that he sent forth his only son with precious gifts -for all. - -26 The son went everywhere and scattered forth the gifts with lavish -hand. - -27 But there were priests who ministered at shrines of foreign gods, -who were not pleased because the king did not through them bestow the -gifts. - -28 And so they sought to cause the people all to hate the son. They -said, These gifts are not of any worth; they are but counterfeits. - -29 And so the people threw the precious gems, and gold and silver in -the streets. They caught the son and beat him, spit upon him, drove -him from their midst. - -30 The son resented not their insults and their cruelties; but thus he -prayed, My Father-God, forgive these creatures of thy hand; they are -but slaves; they know not what they do. - -31 And while they yet were beating him he gave them food, and blest -them with a boundless love. - -32 In certain cities was the son received with joy, and he would -gladly have remained to bless the homes; but he could tarry not, for -he must carry gifts to every one in all the king's domain. - -33 And Jesus said, My Father-God is king of all mankind, and he -has sent me forth with all the bounties of his matchless love and -boundless wealth. - -34 To all the people of all lands, lo, I must bear these gifts--this -water and this bread of life. - -35 I go my way, but we will meet again; for in my Fatherland is room -for all; I will prepare a place for you. - -36 And Jesus raised his hand in silent benediction; then he went his -way. - - -CHAPTER 37. - - _Jesus is presented with a camel. He goes to Lahore where he - abides with Ajainin, whom he teaches. Lesson of the wandering - musicians. Jesus resumes his journey._ - -A caravan of merchantmen were journeying through the Kashmar vale as -Jesus passed that way, and they were going to Lahore, a city of the -Hand, the five-stream land. - -2 The merchantmen had heard the prophet speak, had seen his mighty -works in Leh, and they were glad to see him once again. - -3 And when they knew that he was going to Lahore and then across the -Sind, through Persia and the farther West, and that he had no beast on -which to ride, - -4 They freely gave to him a noble bactrian beast, well saddled and -equipped, and Jesus journeyed with the caravan. - -5 And when he reached Lahore, Ajainin and some other Brahmic priests, -received him with delight. - -6 Ajainin was the priest who came to Jesus in the night time in -Benares many months before, and heard his words of truth. - -7 And Jesus was Ajainin's guest; he taught Ajainin many things; -revealed to him the secrets of the healing art. - -8 He taught him how he could control the spirits of the air, the fire, -the water and the earth; and he explained to him the secret doctrine -of forgiveness, and the blotting out of sins. - -9 One day Ajainin sat with Jesus in the temple porch; a band of -wandering singers and musicians paused before the court to sing and -play. - -10 Their music was most rich and delicate, and Jesus said, Among the -high-bred people of the land we hear no sweeter music than that these -uncouth children of the wilderness bring here to us. - -11 From whence this talent and this power? In one short life they -surely could not gain such grace of voice, such knowledge of the laws -of harmony and tone. - -12 Men call them prodigies. There are no prodigies. All things result -from natural law. - -13 These people are not young. A thousand years would not suffice to -give them such divine expressiveness, and such purity of voice and -touch. - -14 Ten thousand years ago these people mastered harmony. In days of -old they trod the busy thoroughfares of life, and caught the melody of -birds, and played on harps of perfect form. - -15 And they have come again to learn still other lessons from the -varied notes of manifests. - -16 These wandering people form a part of heaven's orchestra, and in -the land of perfect things the very angels will delight to hear them -play and sing. - -17 And Jesus taught the common people of Lahore; he healed their sick, -and showed to them the way to rise to better things by helpfulness. - -18 He said, We are not rich by what we get and hold; the only things -we keep are those we give away. - -19 If you would live the perfect life, give forth your life in service -for your kind, and for the forms of life that men esteem the lower -forms of life. - -20 But Jesus could not tarry longer in Lahore; he bade the priests and -other friends farewell; and then he took his camel and he went his way -toward the Sind. - - - - -SECTION VIII. - -CHETH. - -_Life and Works of Jesus in Persia._ - - -CHAPTER 38. - - _Jesus crosses Persia. Teaches and heals in many places. Three - magian priests meet him as he nears Persepolis. Kaspar, and - two other Persian masters, meet him in Persepolis. The seven - masters sit in silence seven days._ - -Four-and-twenty years of age was Jesus when he entered Persia on his -homeward way. - -2 In many a hamlet, town and neighborhood he paused a while and taught -and healed. - -3 The priests and ruling classes did not welcome him, because he -censured them for cruelty to those of low estate. - -4 The common people followed him in throngs. - -5 At times the chiefs made bold to try to hinder him, forbidding him -to teach or heal the sick. But he regarded not their angry threats; he -taught, and healed the sick. - -6 In time he reached Persepolis, the city where the kings of Persia -were entombed; the city of the learned magi, Hor, and Lun, and Mer, -the three wise men, - -7 Who, two-and-twenty years before, had seen the star of promise -rise above Jerusalem, and who had journeyed to the West to find the -new-born king; - -8 And were the first to honor Jesus as the master of the age, and gave -him gifts of gold, gum-thus and myrrh. - -9 These magi knew, by ways that masters always know, when Jesus -neared Persepolis; and then they girt themselves, and went to meet him -on the way. - -10 And when they met, a light much brighter than the light of day, -surrounded them, and men who saw the four stand in the way declared -they were transfigured; seeming more like gods than men. - -11 Now, Hor and Lun were aged men, and Jesus placed them on his beast -to ride into Persepolis; while he and Mer led on the way. - -12 And when they reached the magi's home they all rejoiced. And Jesus -told the thrilling story of his life, and Hor and Lun and Mer spoke -not; they only looked to heaven, and in their hearts praised God. - -13 Three wise men from the North were in Persepolis; and they were -Kaspar, Zara and Melzone; and Kaspar was the wisest master of the -magian land. These three were at the home of Hor and Lun and Mer when -Jesus came. - -14 For seven days these seven men spoke not; they sat in silence in -the council hall in close communion with the Silent Brotherhood. - -15 They sought for light, for revelation and for power. The laws and -precepts of the coming age required all the wisdom of the masters of -the world. - - -CHAPTER 39. - - _Jesus attends a feast in Persepolis. Speaks to the people, - reviewing the magian philosophy. Explains the origin of evil. - Spends the night in prayer._ - -A feast in honor of the magian God was being held, and many men were -gathered in Persepolis. - -2 And on the great day of the feast the ruling magian master said, -Within these sacred walls is liberty; whoever wills to speak may speak. - -3 And Jesus standing in the midst of all the people, said, My -brothers, sisters, children of our Father-God: - -4 Most blest are you among the sons of men today, because you have -such just conceptions of the Holy One and man. - -5 Your purity in worship and in life is pleasing unto God; and to your -master, Zarathustra, praise is due. - -6 Well say you all, There is one God from whose great being there came -forth the seven Spirits that created heaven and earth; and manifest -unto the sons of men are these great Spirits in the sun, and moon, and -stars. - -7 But in your sacred books we read that two among these seven are of -superior strength; that one of these created all the good; the other -one created all that evil is. - -8 I pray you, honored masters, tell me how that evil can be born of -that which is all good? - -9 A magus rose and said, If you will answer me, your problem will be -solved. - -10 We all do recognize the fact that evil is. Whatever is, must have a -cause. If God, the One, made not this evil, then, where is the God who -did? - -11 And Jesus said, Whatever God, the One, has made is good, and like -the great first Cause, the seven Spirits all are good, and everything -that comes from their creative hands is good, - -12 Now, all created things have colors, tones and forms their own; but -certain tones, though good and pure themselves, when mixed, produce -inharmonies, discordant tones. - -13 And certain things, though good and pure, when mixed, produce -discordant things, yea, poisonous things, that men call evil things. - -14 So evil is the inharmonious blending of the colors, tones, or forms -of good. - -15 Now, man is not all-wise, and yet has will his own. He has the -power, and he uses it, to mix God's good things in a multitude of -ways, and every day he makes discordant sounds, and evil things. - -16 And every tone and form, be it of good, or ill, becomes a living -thing, a demon, sprite, or spirit of a good or vicious kind. - -17 Man makes his devil thus; and then becomes afraid of him and flees; -his devil is emboldened, follows him away and casts him into torturing -fires. - -18 The devil and the burning fires are both the works of man, and none -can put the fires out and dissipate the evil one, but man who made -them both. - -19 Then Jesus stood aside, and not a magus answered him. - -20 And he departed from the throng and went into a secret place to -pray. - - -CHAPTER 40. - - _Jesus teaches the magians. Explains the Silence and how to - enter it. Kaspar extols the wisdom of Jesus. Jesus teaches in - the groves of Cyrus._ - -Now, in the early morning Jesus came again to teach and heal. A -light not comprehended shown about, as though some mighty spirit -overshadowed him. - -2 A magus noted this and asked him privately to tell from whence his -wisdom came, and what the meaning of the light. - -3 And Jesus said, There is a Silence where the soul may meet its God, -and there the fount of wisdom is, and all who enter are immersed in -light, and filled with wisdom, love and power. - -4 The magus said, Tell me about this Silence and this light, that I -may go and there abide. - -5 And Jesus said, The Silence is not circumscribed; is not a place -closed in with wall, or rocky steeps, nor guarded by the sword of man. - -6 Men carry with them all the time the secret place where they may -meet their God. - -7 It matters not where men abide, on mountain top, in deepest vale, in -marts of trade, or in the quiet home; they may at once, at any time, -fling wide the door, and find the Silence, find the house of God; it -is within the soul. - -8 One may not be so much disturbed by noise of business, and the -words and thoughts of men if he goes all alone into the valley or the -mountain pass. - -9 And when life's heavy load is pressing hard, it is far better to go -out and seek a quiet place to pray and meditate. - -10 The Silence is the kingdom of the soul which is not seen by human -eyes. - -11 When in the Silence, phantom forms may flit before the mind; but -they are all subservient to the will; the master soul may speak and -they are gone. - -12 If you would find this Silence of the soul you must yourself -prepare the way. None but the pure in heart may enter here. - -13 And you must lay aside all tenseness of the mind, all business -cares, all fears, all doubts and troubled thoughts. - -14 Your human will must be absorbed by the divine; then you will come -into a consciousness of holiness. - -15 You are within the Holy Place, and you will see upon a living -shrine the candle of the Lord aflame. - -16 And when you see it burning there, look deep within the temple of -your brain, and you will see it all aglow. - -17 In every part, from head to foot, are candles all in place, just -waiting to be lighted by the flaming torch of love. - -18 And when you see the candles all aflame, just look, and you will -see, with eyes of soul, the waters of the fount of wisdom rushing on; -and you may drink, and there abide. - -19 And then the curtains part, and you are in the Holiest of All, -where rests the Ark of God, whose covering is the Mercy Seat. - -20 Fear not to lift the sacred board; the Tables of the Law are in the -Ark concealed. - -21 Take them and read them well; for they contain all precepts and -commands that men will ever need. - -22 And in the Ark, the magic wand of prophecy lies waiting for your -hand; it is the key to all the hidden meanings of the present, future, -past. - -23 And then, behold, the manna there, the hidden bread of life; and he -who eats shall never die. - -24 The cherubim have guarded well for every soul this treasure box, -and whosoever will may enter in and find his own. - -25 Now Kaspar heard the Hebrew master speak and he exclaimed, Behold, -the wisdom of the gods has come to men! - -26 And Jesus went his way, and in the sacred groves of Cyrus, where -the multitudes were met, he taught and healed the sick. - - -CHAPTER 41. - - _Jesus stands by a healing fountain. Reveals the fact that - faith is the potent factor in healing and many are healed by - faith. A little child teaches a great lesson of faith._ - -A flowing spring that people called the Healing Fount, was near -Persepolis. - -2 And all the people thought that at a certain time of year their -deity came down and gave a virtue to the waters of the fount, and that -the sick who then would plunge into the fount and wash would be made -whole. - -3 About the fount a multitude of people were in waiting for the Holy -One to come and potentize the waters of the fount. - -4 The blind, the lame, the deaf, the dumb, and those obsessed were -there. - -5 And Jesus, standing in the midst of them, exclaimed, Behold the -spring of life! These waters that will fail are honored as the special -blessing of your God. - -6 From whence do healing virtues come? Why is your God so partial with -his gifts? Why does he bless this spring today, and then tomorrow take -his blessings all away? - -7 A deity of power could fill these waters full of healing virtue -every day. - -8 Hear me, you sick, disconsolate: The virtue of this fount is not a -special gift of God. - -9 Faith is the healing power of every drop of all the waters of this -spring. - -10 He who believes with all his heart that he will be made whole by -washing in this fount will be made whole when he has washed; and he -may wash at any time. - -11 Let every one who has this faith in God and in himself plunge in -these waters now and wash. - -12 And many of the people plunged into the crystal fount; and they -were healed. - -13 And then there was a rush, for all the people were inspired with -faith, and each one strove to be among the first to wash, lest all the -virtue be absorbed. - -14 And Jesus saw a little child, weak, faint and helpless, sitting all -alone beyond the surging crowd; and there was none to help her to the -fount. - -15 And Jesus said, My little one, why do you sit and wait? Why not -arise and hasten to the fount and wash, and be made well? - -16 The child replied, I need not haste; the blessings of my Father in -the sky are measured not in tiny cups; they never fail; their virtues -are the same forevermore. - -17 When these whose faith is weak must haste to wash for fear their -faith will fail, have all been cured, these waters will be just as -powerful for me. - -18 Then I can go and stay a long, long time within the blessed waters -of the spring. - -19 And Jesus said, Behold a master soul! She came to earth to teach to -men the power of faith. - -20 And then he lifted up the child and said, Why wait for anything? -The very air we breathe is filled with balm of life. Breathe in this -balm of life in faith and be made whole. - -21 The child breathed in the balm of life in faith, and she was well. - -22 The people marveled much at what they heard and saw; they said, -This man must surely be the god of health made flesh. - -23 And Jesus said, The fount of life is not a little pool; it is as -wide as are the spaces of the heavens. - -24 The waters of the fount are love; the potency is faith, and he who -plunges deep into the living springs, in living faith, may wash away -his guilt and be made whole, and freed from sin. - - - - -SECTION IX. - -TETH. - -_Life and Works of Jesus in Assyria._ - - -CHAPTER 42. - - _Jesus bids the magians farewell. Goes to Assyria. Teaches the - people in Ur of Chaldea. Meets Ashbina, with whom he visits - many towns and cities, teaching and healing the sick._ - -In Persia Jesus' work was done and he resumed his journey towards his -native land. - -2 The Persian sage went with him to the Euphrates; then with a pledge -that they would meet again in Egypt land the masters said, Farewell. - -3 And Kaspar went his way unto his home beside the Caspian Sea; and -Jesus soon was in Chaldea, cradle land of Israel. - -4 In Ur, where Abraham was born, he tarried for a time; and when he -told the people who he was, and why he came, they came from near and -far to speak to him. - -5 He said to them, We all are kin. Two thousand years and more ago, -our Father Abraham lived here in Ur, and then he worshipped God the -One, and taught the people in these sacred groves. - -6 And he was greatly blessed; becoming father of the mighty hosts of -Israel. - -7 Although so many years have passed since Abraham and Sarah walked -these ways, a remnant of their kindred still abide in Ur. - -8 And in their hearts the God of Abraham is still adored, and faith -and justice are the rocks on which they build. - -9 Behold this land! It is no more the fruitful land that Abraham loved -so well; the rains come not as in the former times; the vine is not -productive now, and withered are the figs. - -10 But this shall not forever be; the time will come when all your -deserts will rejoice; when flowers will bloom; when all your vines -will bend their heads with luscious fruit; your shepherds will again -be glad. - -11 And Jesus preached to them the gospel of good will, and peace on -earth. He told them of the brotherhood of life, and of the inborn -powers of man, and of the kingdom of the soul. - -12 And as he spoke, Ashbina, greatest sage of all Assyria, stood -before his face. - -13 The people knew the sage, for he had often taught them in their -sacred halls and groves, and they rejoiced to see his face. - -14 Ashbina said, My children of Chaldea, hear! Behold, for you are -greatly blest today, because a prophet of the living God has come to -you. - -15 Take heed to what this master says, for he gives forth the words -that God has given him. - -16 And Jesus and the sage went through the towns and cities of Chaldea -and of the lands between the Tigris and the Euphrates; - -17 And Jesus healed a multitude of people who were sick. - - -CHAPTER 43. - - _Jesus and Ashbina visit Babylon and remark its desolation. The - two masters remain in company seven days; then Jesus resumes - his homeward journey. Arrives in Nazareth. His mother gives a - feast in his honor. His brothers are displeased. Jesus tells - his mother and aunt the story of his journeys._ - -The ruined Babylon was near, and Jesus and the sage went through her -gates and walked among her fallen palaces. - -2 They trod the streets where Israel once was held in base captivity. - -3 They saw where Judah's sons and daughters hung their harps upon the -willows, and refused to sing. - -4 They saw where Daniel and the Hebrew children stood as living -witnesses of faith. - -5 And Jesus lifted up his hands and said, Behold the grandeur of the -works of man! - -6 The king of Babylon destroyed the temple of the Lord in old -Jerusalem; he burned the holy city, bound in chains my people and my -kin, and brought them here as slaves. - -7 But retribution comes; for whatsoever men shall do to other men the -righteous Judge will do to them. - -8 The sun of Babylon has gone down; the songs of pleasure will be -heard no more within her walls. - -9 And every kind of creeping thing and unclean bird will, in these -ruins, find their homes. - -10 And in the temple Belus, Jesus and Ashbina stood in silent thought. - -11 Then Jesus spoke and said, Behold this monument of folly and of -shame. - -12 Man tried to shake the very throne of God, and he assayed to build -a tower to reach to heaven, when, lo, his very speech was snatched -away, because in lofty words he boasted of his power. - -13 And on these heights the heathen Baal stood--the god wrought out by -hands of man. - -14 Upon yon altar, birds, and beasts, and men, yea children have been -burned in awful sacrifice to Baal. - -15 But now the gory priests are dead; the very rocks have shuddered -and have fallen down; the place is desolate. - -16 Now, in the plains of Shinar Jesus tarried yet for seven days, and, -with Ashbina, meditated long upon the needs of men, and how the sages -could best serve the coming age. - -17 Then Jesus went his way, and after many days he crossed the Jordan -to his native land. At once he sought his home in Nazareth. - -18 His mother's heart was filled with joy; she made a feast for him, -inviting all her kindred and her friends. - -19 But Jesus' brothers were not pleased that such attention should be -paid to one they deemed a sheer adventurer, and they went not in to -the feast. - -20 They laughed their brother's claims to scorn; they called him -indolent, ambitious, vain; a worthless fortune hunter; searcher of the -world for fame, who, after many years returns to mother's home with -neither gold, nor any other wealth. - -21 And Jesus called aside his mother and her sister, Miriam, and told -them of his journey to the East. - -22 He told them of the lessons he had learned, and of the works that -he had done. To others he told not the story of his life. - - - - -SECTION X. - -JOD. - -_Life and Works of Jesus in Greece._ - - -CHAPTER 44. - - _Jesus visits Greece and is welcomed by the Athenians. Meets - Apollo. Addresses the Grecian masters in the Amphitheater. - The address._ - -The Greek philosophy was full of pungent truth, and Jesus longed to -study with the masters in the schools of Greece. - -2 And so he left his home in Nazareth and crossed the Carmel hills, -and at the port took ship, and soon was in the Grecian capital. - -3 Now, the Athenians had heard of him as teacher and philosopher, and -they were glad to have him come to them that they might hear his words -of truth. - -4 Among the masters of the Greeks was one, Apollo, who was called, -Defender of the Oracle, and recognized in many lands as Grecian sage. - -5 Apollo opened up for Jesus all the doors of Grecian lore, and in the -Areopagus he heard the wisest masters speak. - -6 But Jesus brought to them a wisdom greater far than theirs; and so -he taught. - -7 Once in the Amphitheater he stood, and when Apollo bade him speak he -said, - -8 Athenian masters, hear! In ages long ago, men, wise in nature's -laws, sought out and found the place on which your city stands. - -9 Full well you know that there are parts of earth where its great -beating heart throws heavenward etheric waves that meet the ethers -from above; - -10 Where spirit-light and understanding, like the stars of night, -shine forth. - -11 Of all the parts of earth there is no place more sensitized, more -truly spirit-blest, than that where Athens stands. - -12 Yea, all of Greece is blest. No other land has been the homeland of -such mighty men of thought as grace your scrolls of fame. - -13 A host of sturdy giants of philosophy, of poetry, of science, and -of art, were born upon the soil of Greece, and rocked to manhood in -your cradle of pure thought. - -14 I come not here to speak of science, of philosophy, or art; of -these you are the world's best masters now. - -15 But all your high accomplishments are but stepping stones to worlds -beyond the realm of sense; are but illusive shadows flitting on the -walls of time. - -16 But I would tell you of a life beyond, within; a real life that can -not pass away. - -17 In science and philosophy there is no power strong enough to fit a -soul to recognize itself, or to commune with God. - -18 I would not stay the flow of your great streams of thought; but I -would turn them to the channels of the soul. - -19 Unaided by the Spirit-breath, the work of intellection tends to -solve the problems of the things we see, and nothing more. - -20 The senses were ordained to bring into the mind mere pictures of -the things that pass away; they do not deal with real things; they do -not comprehend eternal law. - -21 But man has something in his soul, a something that will tear the -veil apart that he may see the world of real things. - -22 We call this something, spirit consciousness; it sleeps in every -soul, and cannot be awakened till the Holy Breath becomes a welcome -guest. - -23 This Holy Breath knocks at the door of every soul, but cannot enter -in until the will of man throws wide the door. - -24 There is no power in intellect to turn the key; philosophy and -science both have toiled to get a glimpse behind the veil; but they -have failed. - -25 The secret spring that throws ajar the door of soul is touched by -nothing else than purity in life, by prayer and holy thought. - -26 Return, O mystic stream of Grecian thought, and mingle your -clear waters with the flood of Spirit-life; and then the spirit -consciousness will sleep no more, and man will know, and God will -bless. - -27 When Jesus had thus said he stepped aside. The Grecian masters were -astonished at the wisdom of his words; they answered not. - - -CHAPTER 45. - - _Jesus teaches the Greek masters. Goes with Apollo to Delphi - and hears the Oracle speak. It testifies for him. He abides - with Apollo, and is recognized as the Living Oracle of God. - Explains to Apollo the phenomenon of oracular speech._ - -For many days the Grecian masters listened to the clear incisive words -that Jesus spoke, and while they could not fully comprehend the things -he said, they were delighted and accepted his philosophy. - -2 One day as Jesus and Apollo walked beside the sea, a Delphic courier -came in haste and said, Apollo, master, come; the Oracle would speak -with you. - -3 Apollo said to Jesus, Sir, if you would see the Delphic Oracle, and -hear it speak, you may accompany me. And Jesus did accompany him. - -4 The masters went in haste; and when they came to Delphi, great -excitement reigned. - -5 And when Apollo stood before the Oracle it spoke and said: - -6 Apollo, sage of Greece, the bell strikes twelve; the midnight of the -ages now has come. - -7 Within the womb of nature ages are conceived; they gestate and are -born in glory with the rising sun, and when the agic sun goes down the -age disintegrates and dies. - -8 The Delphic age has been an age of glory and renown; the gods have -spoken to the sons of men through oracles of wood, and gold, and -precious stone. - -9 The Delphic sun has set; the Oracle will go into decline; the time -is near when men will hear its voice no more. - -10 The gods will speak to man by man. The Living Oracle now stands -within these sacred groves; the Logos from on high has come. - -11 From henceforth will decrease my wisdom and my power; from -henceforth will increase the wisdom and the power of him, Immanuel. - -12 Let all the masters stay; let every creature hear and honor him, -Immanuel. - -13 And then the Oracle spoke not again for forty days, and priests and -people were amazed. They came from near and far to hear the Living -Oracle speak forth the wisdom of the gods. - -14 And Jesus and the Grecian sage returned; and in Apollo's home the -Living Oracle spoke forth for forty days. - -15 One day Apollo said to Jesus as they sat alone, This sacred Delphic -Oracle has spoken many a helpful word for Greece. - -16 Pray tell me what it is that speaks. Is it an angel, man, or living -god? - -17 And Jesus said, It is not angel, man, nor god that speaks. It is -the matchless wisdom of the master minds of Greece, united in a master -mind. - -18 This giant mind has taken to itself the substances of soul, and -thinks, and hears, and speaks. - -19 It will remain a living soul while master minds feed it with -thought, with wisdom and with faith and hope. - -20 But when the master minds of Greece shall perish from the land, -this giant master mind will cease to be, and then the Delphic Oracle -will speak no more. - - -CHAPTER 46. - - _A storm on the sea. Jesus rescues many drowning men. The - Athenians pray to idols. Jesus rebukes their idolatry and - tells how God helps. His last meeting with the Greeks. Sails - on the vessel Mars._ - -It was a holy day and Jesus walked upon the Athens' beach. - -2 A storm was on and ships were being tossed about like toys upon the -bosom of the sea. - -3 The sailors and the fishermen were going down to watery graves; the -shores were strewn with bodies of the dead. - -4 And Jesus halted not, but with a mighty power he rescued many a -helpless one, oft bringing back to life the seeming dead. - -5 Now, on these shores were altars sacred to the gods supposed to rule -the seas. - -6 And men and women, heedless of the cries of drowning men, were -crowding all about these altars, calling on their gods for help. - -7 At length the storm was done, and all the sea was calm, and men -could think again; and Jesus said, - -8 You worshippers of wooden gods, how has the fury of this storm been -lessened by your frantic prayers? - -9 Where is the strength of these poor, weather-beaten gods with -painted swords and crowns? - -10 A god that could abide in such a little house could hardly hold a -frantic fly, and who could hope that he could hold at bay the Lords of -winds and waves? - -11 The mighty powers of worlds unseen do not give forth their help -till men have done their best; they only help when man can do no more. - -12 And you have agonized and prayed around these shrines, and let men -sink to death who might have been, by your assistance, saved. - -13 The God that saves dwells in your souls, and manifests by making -use of your own feet, and legs, and arms, and hands. - -14 Strength never comes through idleness; nor through a waiting for -another one to bear your loads, or do the work that you are called to -do. - -15 But when you do your best to bear your loads, and do your work, you -offer unto God a sacrifice well-pleasing in his sight. - -16 And then the Holy One breathes deep upon your glowing sacrificial -coals, and makes them blaze aloft to fill your souls with light, and -strength and helpfulness. - -17 The most efficient prayer that men can offer to a god of any kind -is helpfulness to those in need of help; for what you do for other men -the Holy One will do for you. - -18 And thus God helps. - -19 His work in Greece was done, and Jesus must go on his way to Egypt -in the South. Apollo, with the highest masters of the land and many -people from the varied walks of life, stood on the shore to see the -Hebrew sage depart; and Jesus said, - -20 The son of man has been in many lands; has stood in temples of a -multitude of foreign gods; has preached the gospel of good will and -peace on earth to many people, tribes and tongues; - -21 Has been received with favor in a multitude of homes; but Greece -is, of them all, the royal host. - -22 The breadth of Grecian thought; the depth of her philosophy; the -height of her unselfish aspirations have well fitted her to be the -champion of the cause of human liberty and right. - -23 The fates of war have subjugated Greece, because she trusted in -the strength of flesh, and bone and intellect, forgetful of the -spirit-life that binds a nation to its source of power, - -24 But Greece will not forever sit within the darkness of the -shadowland as vassal of a foreign king. - -25 Lift up your heads, you men of Greece; the time will come when -Greece will breathe the ethers of the Holy Breath, and be a main -spring of the spirit power of earth. - -26 But God must be your shield, your buckler, and your tower of -strength. - -27 And then he said, Farewell. Apollo raised his hand in silent -benediction, and the people wept. - -28 Upon the Cretan vessel, Mars, the Hebrew sage sailed from the -Grecian port. - - - - -SECTION XI. - -CAPH. - -_Life and Works of Jesus in Egypt._ - - -CHAPTER 47. - - _Jesus with Elihu and Salome in Egypt. Tells the story of his - journeys. Elihu and Salome praise God. Jesus goes to the - temple in Heliopolis and is received as a pupil._ - -And Jesus came to Egypt land, and all was well. He tarried not upon -the coast; he went at once to Zoan, home of Elihu and Salome, who five -and twenty years before had taught his mother in their sacred school. - -2 And there was joy when met these three. When last the son of Mary -saw these sacred groves he was a babe; - -3 And now a man grown strong by buffetings of every kind; a teacher -who had stirred the multitudes in many lands. - -4 And Jesus told the aged teachers all about his life; about his -journeyings in foreign lands; about the meetings with the masters and -about his kind receptions by the multitudes. - -5 Elihu and Salome heard his story with delight; they lifted up their -eyes to heaven and said, - -6 Our Father-God, let now thy servants go in peace, for we have seen -the glory of the Lord; - -7 And we have talked with him, the messenger of love, and of the -covenant of peace on earth, good will to men. - -8 Through him shall all the nations of the earth be blest; through -him, Immanuel. - -9 And Jesus staid in Zoan many days; and then went forth unto the city -of the sun, that men call Heliopolis, and sought admission to the -temple of the sacred brotherhood. - -10 The council of the brotherhood convened, and Jesus stood before -the hierophant; he answered all the questions that were asked with -clearness and with power. - -11 The hierophant exclaimed, Rabboni of the rabbinate, why come you -here? Your wisdom is the wisdom of the gods; why seek for wisdom in -the halls of men? - -12 And Jesus said, In every way of earth-life I would walk; in every -hall of learning I would sit; the heights that any man has gained, -these I would gain; - -13 What any man has suffered I would meet, that I may know the -griefs, the disappointments and the sore temptations of my brother -man; that I may know just how to succor those in need. - -14 I pray you, brothers, let me go into your dismal crypts; and I -would pass the hardest of your tests. - -15 The master said, Take then the vow of secret brotherhood. And Jesus -took the vow of secret brotherhood. - -16 Again the master spoke; he said, The greatest heights are gained by -those who reach the greatest depths; and you shall reach the greatest -depths. - -17 The guide then led the way and in the fountain Jesus bathed; and -when he had been clothed in proper garb he stood again before the -hierophant. - - -CHAPTER 48. - - _Jesus receives from the hierophant his mystic name and number. - Passes the first brotherhood test, and receives his first - degree, SINCERITY._ - -The master took down from the wall a scroll on which was written down -the number and the name of every attribute and character. He said, - -2 The circle is the symbol of the perfect man, and seven is the number -of the perfect man; - -3 The Logos is the perfect word; that which creates; that which -destroys, and that which saves. - -4 This Hebrew master is the Logos of the Holy One, the Circle of the -human race, the Seven of time. - -5 And in the record book the scribe wrote down, The -Logos-Circle-Seven; and thus was Jesus known. - -6 The master said, The Logos will give heed to what I say: No man can -enter into light till he has found himself. Go forth and search till -you have found your soul and then return. - -7 The guide led Jesus to a room in which the light was faint and -mellow, like the light of early dawn. - -8 The chamber walls were marked with mystic signs, with hieroglyphs -and sacred texts; and in this chamber Jesus found himself alone where -he remained for many days. - -9 He read the sacred texts; thought out the meanings of the -hieroglyphs and sought the import of the master's charge to find -himself. - -10 A revelation came; he got acquainted with his soul; he found -himself; then he was not alone. - -11 One night he slept and at the midnight hour, a door that he had not -observed, was opened, and a priest in somber garb came in and said, - -12 My brother, pardon me for coming in at this unseemly hour; but I -have come to save your life. - -13 You are the victim of a cruel plot. The priests of Heliopolis are -jealous of your fame, and they have said that you shall never leave -these gloomy crypts alive. - -14 The higher priests do not go forth to teach the world, and you are -doomed to temple servitude. - -15 Now, if you would be free, you must deceive these priests; must -tell them you are here to stay for life; - -16 And then, when you have gained all that you wish to gain, I will -return, and by a secret way will lead you forth that you may go in -peace. - -17 And Jesus said, My brother, man, would you come here to teach -deceit? Am I within these holy walls to learn the wiles of vile -hypocrisy? - -18 Nay, man, my Father scorns deceit, and I am here to do his will. - -19 Deceive these priests! Not while the sun shall shine. What I have -said, that I have said; I will be true to them, to God, and to myself. - -20 And then the tempter left, and Jesus was again alone; but in a -little time a white-robed priest appeared and said, - -21 Well done! the Logos has prevailed. This is the trial chamber -of hypocrisy. And then he led the way, and Jesus stood before the -judgment seat. - -22 And all the brothers stood; the hierophant came forth and laid his -hand on Jesus' head, and placed within his hands a scroll, on which -was written just one word, SINCERITY; and not a word was said. - -23 The guide again appeared, and led the way, and in a spacious room -replete with everything a student craves was Jesus bade to rest and -wait. - - -CHAPTER 49. - - _Jesus passes the second brotherhood test, and receives the - second degree, JUSTICE._ - -The Logos did not care to rest; he said, Why wait in this luxurious -room? I need not rest; my Father's work upon me presses hard. - -2 I would go on and learn my lessons all. If there are trials, let -them come, for every victory over self gives added strength. - -3 And then the guide led on, and in a chamber, dark as night, was -Jesus placed and left alone; and days were spent in this deep solitude. - -4 And Jesus slept, and in the dead of night a secret door was opened, -and, in priest's attire, two men came in; each carried in his hand a -little flickering lamp. - -5 Approaching Jesus, one spoke out and said, Young man, our hearts are -grieved because of what you suffer in these fearful dens, and we have -come as friends to bring you light, and show the way to liberty. - -6 We once, like you, were in these dens confined, and thought that -through these weird, uncanny ways we could attain to blessedness and -power; - -7 But in a luckful moment we were undeceived, and, making use of all -our strength, we broke our chains, and then we learned that all this -service is corruption in disguise. These priests are criminals just -hid away. - -8 They boast in sacrificial rites; they offer to their gods, and burn -them while alive, poor birds, and beasts; yea, children, women, men. - -9 And now they keep you here, and, at a certain time, may offer you in -sacrifice. - -10 We pray you, brother, break your chains; come, go with us; accept -of freedom while you may. - -11 And Jesus said, Your little tapers show the light you bring. Pray, -who are you? The words of man are worth no more than is the man -himself. - -12 These temple walls are strong and high; how gained you entrance to -this place? - -13 The men replied, Beneath these walls are many hidden ways, and we -who have been priests, spent months and years within these dens, know -all of them. - -14 Then you are traitors, Jesus said. A traitor is a fiend; he who -betrays another man is never man to trust. - -15 If one has only reached the plane of treachery, he is a lover of -deceit, and will betray a friend to serve his selfish self. - -16 Behold, you men, or whatsoe'er you be, your words fall lightly on -my ears, - -17 Could I prejudge these hundred priests, turn traitor to myself and -them, because of what you say when you confess your treachery? - -18 No man can judge for me; and if I judge till testimony all is in I -might not judge aright. - -19 Nay, men; by whatsoever way you came, return. My soul prefers the -darkness of the grave to little flickering lights like these you bring. - -20 My conscience rules; what these, my brothers, have to say I'll -hear, and when the testimony all is in I will decide. You cannot judge -for me, nor I for you, - -21 Begone, you men, begone, and leave me to this charming light; for -while the sun shines not, within my soul there is a light surpassing -that of sun or moon. - -22 Then, with an angry threat that they would do him harm, the wily -tempters left, and Jesus was again alone. - -23 Again the white-robed priest appeared, and led the way, and Jesus -stood again before the hierophant; - -24 And not a word was said, but in his hands the master placed a -scroll on which the word suggestive, JUSTICE, was inscribed. - -25 And Jesus was the master of the phantom forms of prejudice and of -treachery. - - -CHAPTER 50. - - _Jesus passes the third brotherhood test, and receives the - third degree, FAITH._ - -The Logos waited seven days, and then was taken to the Hall of Fame, a -chamber rich in furnishings, and lighted up with gold and silver lamps. - -2 The colors of its ceilings, decorations, furnishings and walls were -blue and gold. - -3 Its shelves were filled with books of master minds; the paintings -and the statues were the works of highest art. - -4 And Jesus was entranced with all this elegance and these manifests -of thought. He read the sacred books, and sought the meanings of the -symbols and the hieroglyphs. - -5 And when he was absorbed in deepest thought, a priest approached and -said, - -6 Behold the glory of this place! my brother you are highly blest. Few -men of earth, so young, have reached such heights of fame. - -7 Now, if you do not waste your life in search for hidden things that -men can never comprehend, you may be founder of a school of thought -that will insure you endless fame; - -8 For your philosophy is deeper far than that of Plato, and your -teachings please the common people more than those of Socrates. - -9 Why seek for mystic light within these antiquated dens? Go forth and -walk with men, and think with men, and they will honor you. - -10 And, after all, these weird initiations may be myths, and your -Messiah hopes but base illusions of the hour. - -11 I would advise you to renounce uncertain things and choose the -course that leads to certain fame. - -12 And thus the priest, a demon in disguise, sung syren songs of -unbelief; and Jesus meditated long and well on what he said. - -13 The conflict was a bitter one, for king Ambition is a sturdy foe to -fight. - -14 For forty days the higher wrestled with the lower self, and then -the fight was won. - -15 Faith rose triumphant; unbelief was not. Ambition covered up his -face and fled away, and Jesus said, - -16 The wealth, the honor, and the fame of earth are but the baubles of -an hour. - -17 When this short span of earthly life has all been measured out, -man's bursting baubles will be buried with his bones. - -18 Yea, what a man does for his selfish self will make no markings on -the credit side of life. - -19 The good that men for other men shall do becomes a ladder strong on -which the soul may climb to wealth, and power and fame of God's own -kind, that cannot pass away, - -20 Give me the poverty of men, the consciousness of duty done in love, -the approbation of my God, and I will be content. - -21 And then he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, - -22 My Father-God, I thank thee for this hour. I ask not for the glory -of thyself; I fain would be a keeper of thy temple gates, and serve my -brother man. - -23 Again was Jesus called to stand before the hierophant; again no -word was said, but in his hands the master placed a scroll on which -was written FAITH. - -24 And Jesus bowed his head in humble thanks; then went his way. - - -CHAPTER 51. - - _Jesus passes the fourth brotherhood test, and receives the - fourth degree, PHILANTHROPY._ - -When other certain days had passed, the guide led Jesus to the Hall of -Mirth, a hall most richly furnished, and replete with every thing a -carnal heart could wish. - -2 The choicest viands and the most delicious wines were on the boards; -and maids, in gay attire, served all with grace and cheerfulness. - -3 And men and women, richly clad, were there; and they were wild with -joy; they sipped from every cup of mirth. - -4 And Jesus watched the happy throng in silence for a time, and then a -man in garb of sage came up and said, Most happy is the man who, like -the bee, can gather sweets from every flower. - -5 The wise man is the one who seeks for pleasure, and can find it -everywhere, - -6 At best man's span of life on earth is short, and then he dies and -goes, he knows not where. - -7 Then let us eat, and drink, and dance, and sing, and get the joys of -life, for death comes on apace. - -8 It is but foolishness to spend a life for other men. Behold, all die -and lie together in the grave, where none can know and none can show -forth gratitude. - -9 But Jesus answered not; upon the tinseled guests in all their rounds -of mirth he gazed in silent thought. - -10 And then among the guests he saw a man whose clothes were coarse; -who showed in face and hands the lines of toil and want. - -11 The giddy throng found pleasure in abusing him; they jostled him -against the wall, and laughed at his discomfiture. - -12 And then a poor, frail woman came, who carried in her face and form -the marks of sin and shame; and without mercy she was spit upon, and -jeered, and driven from the hall. - -13 And then a little child, with timid ways and hungry mien, came in -and asked for just a morsel of their food. - -14 But she was driven out uncared for and unloved; and still the merry -dance went on. - -15 And when the pleasure seekers urged that Jesus join them in their -mirth, he said, - -16 How could I seek for pleasure for myself while others are in want? -How can you think that while the children cry for bread, while those -in haunts of sin call out for sympathy and love that I can fill myself -to full with the good things of life? - -17 I tell you, nay; we all are kin, each one a part of the great human -heart. - -18 I cannot see myself apart from that poor man that you so scorned, -and crowded to the wall; - -19 Nor from the one in female garb who came up from the haunts of vice -to ask for sympathy and love, who was by you so ruthlessly pushed back -into her den of sin; - -20 Nor from that little child that you drove from your midst to suffer -in the cold, bleak winds of night. - -21 I tell you, men, what you have done to these, my kindred, you have -done to me. - -22 You have insulted me in your own home; I cannot stay. I will go -forth and find that child, that woman and that man, and give them help -until my life's blood all has ebbed away. - -23 I call it pleasure when I help the helpless, feed the hungry, -clothe the naked, heal the sick, and speak good words of cheer to -those unloved, discouraged and depressed. - -24 And this that you call mirth is but a phantom of the night; but -flashes of the fire of passion, painting pictures on the walls of time. - -25 And while the Logos spoke the white-robed priest came in and said -to him, The council waits for you. - -26 Then Jesus stood again before the bar; again no word was said; -the hierophant placed in his hands a scroll, on which was writ, -PHILANTHROPY. - -27 And Jesus was a victor over selfish self. - - -CHAPTER 52. - - _Jesus spends forty days in the temple groves. Passes the fifth - brotherhood test and receives the fifth degree, HEROISM._ - -The sacred temple groves were rich in statues, monuments and shrines; -here Jesus loved to walk and meditate. - -2 And after he had conquered self he talked with nature in these -groves for forty days. - -3 And then the guide took chains and bound him hand and foot; and then -cast him into a den of hungry beasts, of unclean birds, and creeping -things. - -4 The den was dark as night; the wild beasts howled; the birds in fury -screamed; the reptiles hissed. - -5 And Jesus said, Who was it that did bind me thus? Why did I meekly -sit to be bound down with chains? - -6 I tell you, none has power to bind a human soul. Of what are fetters -made? - -7 And in his might he rose, and what he thought were chains were only -worthless cords that parted at his touch. - -8 And then he laughed and said, The chains that bind men to the -carcasses of earth are forged in fancy's shop; are made of air, and -welded in illusion's fires. - -9 If man will stand erect, and use the power of will, his chains will -fall, like worthless rags; for will and faith are stronger than the -stoutest chains that men have ever made. - -10 And Jesus stood erect among the hungry beasts, and birds, and said, -What is this darkness that envelops me? - -11 'Tis but the absence of the light. And what is light? 'Tis but the -breath of God vibrating in the rythm of rapid thought. - -12 And then he said, Let there be light; and with a mighty will he -stirred the ethers up, and their vibrations reached the plane of -light; and there was light. - -13 The darkness of that den of night became the brightness of a -newborn day. - -14 And then he looked to see the beasts, and birds, and creeping -things; lo, they were not. - -15 And Jesus said, Of what are souls afraid? Fear is the chariot in -which man rides to death; - -16 And when he finds himself within the chamber of the dead, he learns -that he has been deceived; his chariot was a myth, and death a fancy -child. - -17 But some day all man's lessons will be learned, and from the den of -unclean, beasts and birds, and creeping things he will arise to walk -in light. - -18 And Jesus saw a ladder made of gold, on which he climbed, and at -the top the white-robed priest awaited him. - -19 Again he stood before the council bar; again no word was said; -again the hierophant reached forth his hand to bless. - -20 He placed in Jesus' hand another scroll, and on this one was -written, HEROISM. - -21 The Logos had encountered fear and all his phantom host, and in the -conflict he achieved the victory. - - -CHAPTER 53. - - _Jesus passes the sixth brotherhood test and receives the sixth - degree, LOVE DIVINE._ - -In all the land there was no place more grandly furnished than the -Beauty Parlors of the temple of the sun. - -2 Few students ever entered these rich rooms; the priests regarded -them with awe, and called them Halls of Mysteries. - -3 When Jesus had attained the victory over fear, he gained the right -to enter here. - -4 The guide led on the way, and after passing many richly furnished -rooms they reached the Hall of Harmony; and here was Jesus left alone. - -5 Among the instruments of music was a harpsichord, and Jesus sat in -thoughtful mood inspecting it, when, quietly, a maiden of entrancing -beauty came into the hall. - -6 She did not seem to notice Jesus as he sat and mused, so busy with -his thoughts. - -7 She found her place beside the harpsichord; she touched the chords -most gently, and she sung the songs of Israel. - -8 And Jesus was entranced; such beauty he had never seen; such music -he had never heard. - -9 The maiden sung her songs; she did not seem to know that any one was -near; she went her way - -10 And Jesus, talking with himself, said out, What is the meaning of -this incident? I did not know that such entrancing beauty and such -queen-like loveliness were ever found among the sons of men. - -11 I did not know that voice of angel ever graced a human form, or -that seraphic music ever came from human lips. - -12 For days he sat entranced; the current of his thoughts was changed; -he thought of nothing but the singer and her songs. - -13 He longed to see her once again; and after certain days she came; -she spoke and laid her hand upon his head. - -14 Her touch thrilled all his soul, and for the time, forgotten was -the work that he was sent to do. - -15 Few were the words the maiden said; she went her way; but then the -heart of Jesus had been touched. - -16 A love-flame had been kindled in his soul, and he was brought to -face the sorest trial of his life. - -17 He could not sleep nor eat. Thoughts of the maiden came; they would -not go. His carnal nature called aloud for her companionship. - -18 And then he said, Lo, I have conquered every foe that I have met, -and shall I now be conquered by this carnal love? - -19 My Father sent me here to show the power of love divine, that love -that reaches every living thing. - -20 Shall this pure, universal love be all absorbed by carnal love? -Shall I forget all creatures else, and lose my life in this fair -maiden, though she is the highest type of beauty, purity and love? - -21 Into its very depths his soul was stirred, and long he wrestled -with this angel-idol of his heart. - -22 But when the day was almost lost, his higher ego rose in might; he -found himself again, and then he said, - -23 Although my heart shall break I will not fail in this my hardest -task; I will be victor over carnal love. - -24 And when again the maiden came, and offered him her hand and heart, -he said, - -25 Fair one, your very presence thrills me with delight; your voice -is benediction to my soul; my human self would fly with you, and be -contented in your love; - -26 But all the world is craving for a love that I have come to -manifest. - -27 I must, then, bid you go; but we will meet again; our ways on earth -will not be cast apart. - -28 I see you in the hurrying throngs of earth as minister of love; I -hear your voice in song, that wins the hearts of men to better things. - -29 And then in sorrow and in tears the maiden went away, and Jesus was -again alone. - -30 And instantly the great bells of the temple rang; the singers sung -a new, new song; the grotto blazed with light. - -31 The hierophant himself appeared, and said, All hail! triumphant -Logos, hail! The conqueror of carnal love stands on the heights. - -32 And then he placed in Jesus' hands a scroll on which was written -LOVE DIVINE. - -33 Together they passed from the grotto of the beautiful, and in the -banquet hall a feast was served, and Jesus was the honored guest. - - -CHAPTER 54. - - _Jesus becomes a private pupil of the hierophant and is taught - the mysteries of Egypt. In passing the seventh test, he works - in the Chamber of the Dead._ - -The senior course of study now was opened up and Jesus entered and -became a pupil of the hierophant. - -2 He learned the secrets of the mystic lore of Egypt land; the -mysteries of life and death and of the worlds beyond the circle of the -sun. - -3 When he had finished all the studies of the senior course, he went -into the Chamber of the Dead, that he might learn the ancient methods -of preserving from decay the bodies of the dead; and here he wrought. - -4 And carriers brought the body of a widow's only son to be embalmed; -the weeping mother followed close; her grief was great. - -5 And Jesus said, Good woman, dry your tears; you follow but an empty -house; your son is in it not. - -6 You weep because your son is dead. Death is a cruel word; your son -can never die. - -7 He had a task assigned to do in garb of flesh; he came; he did his -work, and then he laid the flesh aside; he did not need it more. - -8 Beyond your human sight he has another work to do, and he will do it -well, and then pass on to other tasks, and, by and by, he will attain -the crown of perfect life. - -9 And what your son has done, and what he yet must do, we all must do. - -10 Now, if you harbor grief, and give your sorrows vent they will grow -greater every day. They will absorb your very life until at last you -will be naught but grief, wet down with bitter tears. - -11 Instead of helping him you grieve your son by your deep grief. He -seeks your solace now as he has ever done; is glad when you are glad; -is saddened when you grieve. - -12 Go bury deep your woes, and smile at grief, and lose yourself in -helping others dry their tears. - -13 With duty done comes happiness and joy; and gladness cheers the -hearts of those who have passed on. - -14 The weeping woman turned, and went her way to find a happiness in -helpfulness; to bury deep her sorrows in a ministry of joy. - -15 Then other carriers came and brought the body of a mother to the -Chamber of the Dead; and just one mourner followed; she a girl of -tender years. - -16 And as the cortege neared the door, the child observed a wounded -bird in sore distress; a cruel hunter's dart had pierced its breast. - -17 And she left following the dead, and went to help the living bird. - -18 With tenderness and love she folded to her breast the wounded bird; -then hurried to her place. - -19 And Jesus said to her, Why did you leave your dead to save a -wounded bird? - -20 The maiden said, This lifeless body needs no help from me; but I -can help while yet life is; my mother taught me this. - -21 My mother taught that grief and selfish love, and hopes and fears -are but reflexes from the lower self; - -22 That what we sense are but small waves upon the rolling billows of -a life. - -23 These all will pass away; they are unreal. - -24 Tears flow from hearts of flesh; the spirit never weeps; and I am -longing for the day when I will walk in light, where tears are wiped -away. - -25 My mother taught that all emotions are the sprays that rise from -human loves, and hopes, and fears; that perfect bliss cannot be ours -till we have conquered these. - -26 And in the presence of that child did Jesus bow his head in -reverence. He said, - -27 For days and months and years I've sought to learn this highest -truth that man can learn on earth, and here a child, fresh brought to -earth, has told it all in one short breath. - -28 No wonder David said, O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name -in all the earth! - -29 Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained -strength. - -30 And then he laid his hand upon the maiden's head, and said, I'm -sure the blessings of my Father-God will rest upon you, child, -forevermore. - - -CHAPTER 55. - - _Jesus passes the seventh brotherhood test, and in the purple - room of the temple receives the seventh, the highest degree, - THE CHRIST. He leaves the temple a conqueror._ - -The work of Jesus in the Chamber of the Dead was done, and in the -temple purple room he stood before the hierophant. - -2 And he was clothed in purple robes; and all the brothers stood. The -hierophant arose and said, - -3 This is a royal day for all the hosts of Israel. In honor of their -chosen son we celebrate the great Passover Feast. - -4 And then he said to Jesus, Brother, man, most excellent of men, in -all the temple tests you have won out. - -5 Six times before the bar of right you have been judged; six times -you have received the highest honors man can give; and now you stand -prepared to take the last degree. - -6 Upon your brow I place this diadem, and in the Great Lodge of the -heavens and earth you are THE CHRIST. - -7 This is your great Passover rite. You are a neophyte no more; but -now a master mind. - -8 Now, man can do no more; but God himself will speak, and will -confirm your title and degree. - -9 Go on your way, for you must preach the gospel of good will to men -and peace on earth; must open up the prison doors and set the captives -free. - -10 And while the hierophant yet spoke the temple bells rang out; a -pure white dove descended from above and sat on Jesus' head. - -11 And then a voice that shook the very temple said, THIS IS THE -CHRIST; and every living creature said, AMEN. - -12 The great doors of the temple swung ajar; the Logos journeyed on -his way a conqueror. - - - - -SECTION XII. - -LAMED. - -_The Council of the Seven Sages of the World._ - - -CHAPTER 56. - - _The seven sages of the world meet in Alexandria. The purposes - of the meeting. The opening addresses._ - -In every age since time began have seven sages lived. - -2 At first of every age these sages meet to note the course of -nations, peoples, tribes and tongues; - -3 To note how far toward justice, love and righteousness the race has -gone; - -4 To formulate the code of laws, religious postulates and plans of -rule best suited to the coming age. - -5 An age had passed, and, lo, another age had come; the sages must -convene. - -6 Now, Alexandria was the center of the world's best thought, and here -in Philo's home the sages met. - -7 From China came Meng-ste; from India Vidyapati came; from Persia -Kaspar came; and from Assyria Ashbina came; from Greece Apollo came; -Matheno was the Egyptian sage, and Philo was the chief of Hebrew -thought. - -8 The time was due; the council met and sat in silence seven days. - -9 And then Meng-ste arose and said, The wheel of time has turned once -more; the race is on a higher plane of thought. - -10 The garments that our fathers wove have given out; the cherubim -have woven a celestial cloth; have placed it in our hands and we must -make for men new garbs. - -11 The sons of men are looking up for greater light. No longer do they -care for gods hewn out of wood, or made of clay. They seek a God not -made with hands. - -12 They see the beams of coming day, and yet they comprehend them not. - -13 The time is ripe, and we must fashion well these garments for the -race. - -14 And let us make for men new garbs of justice, mercy, righteousness -and love, that they may hide their nakedness when shines the light of -coming day. - -15 And Vidyapati said, Our priests have all gone mad; they saw a demon -in the wilds and at him cast their lamps and they are broken up, and -not a gleam of light has any priest for men. - -16 The night is dark; the heart of India calls for light. - -17 The priesthood cannot be reformed; it is already dead; its greatest -needs are graves and funeral chants. - -18 The new age calls for liberty; the kind that makes each man a -priest, enables him to go alone, and lay his offerings on the shrine -of God. - -19 And Kaspar said, In Persia people walk in fear; they do the good -for fear to do the wrong. - -20 The devil is the greatest power in our land, and though a myth, he -dandles on his knee both youth and age. - -21 Our land is dark, and evil prospers in the dark. - -22 Fear rides on every passing breeze, and lurks in every form of life. - -23 The fear of evil is a myth, is an illusion and a snare; but it -will live until some mighty power shall come to raise the ethers to -the plane of light. - -24 When this shall come to pass the magian land will glory in the -light. The soul of Persia calls for light. - - -CHAPTER 57. - - _Meeting of the sages, continued. Opening addresses. Jesus with - the sages. Seven days' silence._ - -Ashbina said, Assyria is the land of doubt; the chariot of my people, -that in which they mostly ride, is labeled Doubt. - -2 Once Faith walked forth in Babylon; and she was bright and fair; but -she was clothed in such white robes that men became afraid of her. - -3 And every wheel began to turn, and Doubt made war on her, and drove -her from the land; and she came back no more. - -4 In form men worship God, the One; in heart they are not sure that -God exists. - -5 Faith worships at the shrine of one not seen; but Doubt must see her -God. - -6 The greatest need of all Assyria is faith--a faith that seasons -every thing that is, with certainty. - -7 And then Apollo said, The greatest needs of Greece are true concepts -of God. - -8 Theogony in Greece is rudderless, for every thought may be a god, -and worshipped as a god. - -9 The plane of thought is broad, and full of sharp antagonists; and -so the circle of the gods is filled with enmity, with wars and base -intrigues. - -10 Greece needs a master mind to stand above the gods; to raise the -thoughts of men away from many gods to God the One. - -11 We know that light is coming o'er the hills. God speed the light. - -12 Matheno said, Behold this land of mystery! this Egypt of the dead! - -13 Our temples long have been the tombs of all the hidden things of -time; our temples, crypts and caves are dark. - -14 In light there are no secret things. The sun reveals all hidden -truth. There are no mysteries in God. - -15 Behold the rising sun! His beams are entering every door; yea, -every crevice of the mystic crypts of Mizraim. - -16 We hail the light! All Egypt craves the light. - -17 And Philo said, The need of Hebrew thought and life is liberty. - -18 The Hebrew prophets, seers, and givers of the law, were men of -power, men of holy thought, and they bequeathed to us a system of -philosophy that was ideal; one strong enough and good enough to lead -our people to the goal of perfectness. - -19 But carnal minds repudiated holiness; a priesthood filled with -selfishness arose, and purity in heart became a myth; the people were -enslaved. - -20 The priesthood is the curse of Israel; but when he comes, who is to -come, he will proclaim emancipation for the slaves; my people will be -free. - -21 Behold, for God has made incarnate wisdom, love and light, which he -has called Immanuel. - -22 To him is given the keys to open up the dawn; and here, as man, he -walks with us. - -23 And then the council chamber door was opened and the Logos stood -among the sages of the world. - -24 Again the sages sat in silence seven days. - - -CHAPTER 58. - - _Meeting of the sages, continued. Presentation of the seven - universal postulates._ - -Now, when the sages were refreshed they opened up the Book of Life and -read. - -2 They read the story of the life of man; of all his struggles, -losses, gains; and in the light of past events and needs, they saw -what would be best for him in coming years. - -3 They knew the kind of laws and precepts suited best to his estate; -they saw the highest God-ideal that the race could comprehend. - -4 Upon the seven postulates these sages were to formulate, the great -philosophy of life and worship of the coming age must rest. - -5 Now Meng-ste was the oldest sage; he took the chair of chief, and -said, - -6 Man is not far enough advanced to live by faith; he cannot -comprehend the things his eyes see not, - -7 He yet is child, and during all the coming age he must be taught by -pictures, symbols, rites, and forms. - -8 His God must be a human God; he cannot see a God by faith. - -9 And then he cannot rule himself; the king must rule; the man must -serve. - -10 The age that follows this will be the age of man, the age of faith. - -11 In that blest age the human race will see without the aid of carnal -eyes; will hear the soundless sound; will know the Spirit-God. - -12 The age we enter is the Preparation age, and all the schools, and -governments and worship rites must be designed in simple way that men -may comprehend. - -13 And man cannot originate; he builds by patterns that he sees; so in -this council we must carve out pattern for the coming age. - -14 And we must formulate the gnosis of the Empire of the soul, which -rests on seven postulates. - -15 Each sage in turn shall form a postulate; and these shall be the -basis of the creeds of men until the perfect age shall come. - -16 Then Meng-ste wrote the first: - -17 All things are thought; all life is thought activity. The multitude -of beings are but phases of the one great thought made manifest. Lo, -God is Thought, and Thought is God. - -18 Then Vidyapati wrote the second postulate: - -19 Eternal Thought is one; in essence it is two--Intelligence and -Force; and when they breathe a child is born; this child is Love. - -20 And thus the Triune God stands forth, whom men call -Father-Mother-Child. - -21 This Triune God is one; but like the one of light, in essence he is -seven. - -22 And when the Triune God breathes forth, lo, seven Spirits stand -before his face; these are creative attributes. - -23 Men call them lesser gods, and in their image they made man. - -24 And Kaspar wrote the third: - -25 Man was a thought of God, formed in the image of the Septonate, -clothed in the substances of soul. - -26 And his desires were strong; he sought to manifest on every plane -of life, and for himself he made a body of the ethers of the earthy -forms, and so descended to the plane of earth. - -27 In this descent he lost his birthright; lost his harmony with God, -and made discordant all the notes of life. - -28 Inharmony and evil are the same; so evil is the handiwork of man. - -29 Ashbina wrote the fourth: - -30 Seeds do not germinate in light; they do not grow until they find -the soil, and hide themselves away from light. - -31 Man was evolved a seed of everlasting life; but in the ethers of -the Triune God the light was far too great for seeds to grow; - -32 And so man sought the soil of carnal life, and in the darksomeness -of earth he found a place where he could germinate and grow. - -33 The seed has taken root and grown full well. - -34 The tree of human life is rising from the soil of earthy things, -and, under natural law, is reaching up to perfect form. - -35 There are no supernatural acts of God to lift a man from carnal -life to spirit blessedness; he grows as grows the plant, and in due -time is perfected. - -36 The quality of soul that makes it possible for man to rise to -spirit life is purity. - - -CHAPTER 59. - - _Meeting of the sages, continued. The remaining postulates. The - sages bless Jesus. Seven days' silence._ - -Apollo wrote the fifth: - -2 The soul is drawn to perfect light by four white steeds, and these -are Will, and Faith, and Helpfulness and Love. - -3 That which one wills to do, he has the power to do. - -4 A knowledge of that power is faith; and when faith moves, the soul -begins its flight. - -5 A selfish faith leads not to light. There is no lonely pilgrim on -the way to light. Men only gain the heights by helping others gain the -heights. - -6 The steed that leads the way to spirit life is Love; is pure -unselfish Love. - -7 Matheno wrote the sixth: - -8 The universal Love of which Apollo speaks is child of Wisdom and of -Will divine, and God has sent it forth to earth in flesh that man may -know. - -9 The universal Love of which the sages speak, is Christ. - -10 The greatest mystery of all times lies in the way that Christ lives -in the heart. - -11 Christ cannot live in clammy dens of carnal things. The seven -battles must be fought, the seven victories won before the carnal -things, like fear, and self, emotions and desire, are put away. - -12 When this is done the Christ will take possession of the soul; the -work is done, and man and God are one. - -13 And Philo wrote the seventh: - -14 A perfect man! To bring before the Triune God a being such as this -was nature made. - -15 This consummation is the highest revelation of the mystery of life. - -16 When all the essences of carnal things have been transmuted into -soul, and all the essences of soul have been returned to Holy Breath, -and man is made a perfect God, the drama of Creation will conclude. -And this is all. - -17 And all the sages said, Amen. - -18 Then Meng-ste said, The Holy One has sent to us a man illumined by -the efforts of unnumbered years, to lead the thoughts of men. - -19 This man, approved by all the master minds of heaven and earth, -this man from Galilee, this Jesus, chief of all the sages of the -world, we gladly recognize. - -20 In recognition of this wisdom that he brings to men, we crown him -with the Lotus wreath. - -21 We send him forth with all the blessing of the seven sages of the -world. - -22 Then all the sages laid their hands on Jesus' head, and said with -one accord, Praise God! - -23 For wisdom, honor, glory, power, riches, blessing, strength, are -yours, O Christ, forever more. - -24 And every living creature said, Amen. - -25 And then the sages sat in silence seven days. - - -CHAPTER 60. - - _Jesus addresses the seven sages. The address. Jesus goes to - Galilee._ - -The seven days of silence passed and Jesus, sitting with the sages -said: - -2 The history of life is well condensed in these immortal postulates. -These are the seven hills on which the holy city shall be built. - -3 These are the seven sure foundation stones on which the Universal -Church shall stand. - -4 In taking up the work assigned for me to do I am full conscious of -the perils of the way; the cup will be a bitter one to drink and human -nature well might shrink. - -5 But I have lost my will in that of Holy Breath, and so I go my way -to speak and act as I am moved to speak and act by Holy Breath. - -6 The words I speak are not my own; they are the words of him whose -will I do. - -7 Man is not far enough advanced in sacred thought to comprehend the -Universal Church, and so the work that God has given me to do is not -the building of that Church. - -8 I am a model maker, sent to make a pattern of the Church that is to -be--a pattern that the age may comprehend. - -9 My task as model builder lies within my native land, and there, upon -the postulate that Love is son of God, that I am come to manifest that -Love, the Model Church will stand. - -10 And from the men of low estate I will select twelve men, who -represent the twelve immortal thoughts; and these will be the Model -Church. - -11 The house of Judah, my own kindred in the flesh, will comprehend -but little of my mission to the world. - -12 And they will spurn me, scorn my work, accuse me falsely, bind me, -take me to the judgment seat of carnal men who will convict and slay -me on the cross. - -13 But men can never slay the truth; though banished it will come -again in greater power; for truth will subjugate the world. - -14 The Model Church will live. Though carnal man will prostitute its -sacred laws, symbolic rites and forms, for selfish ends, and make it -but an outward show, the few will find through it the kingdom of the -soul. - -15 And when the better age shall come the Universal Church will stand -upon the seven postulates, and will be built according to the pattern -given. - -16 The time has come; I go my way unto Jerusalem, and by the power of -living faith, and by the strength that you have given, - -17 And in the name of God, our Father-God, the kingdom of the soul -shall be established on the seven hills, - -18 And all the peoples, tribes and tongues of earth shall enter in. - -19 The Prince of Peace will take his seat upon the throne of power; -the Triune God will then be All in All. - -20 And all the sages said, Amen. - -21 And Jesus went his way, and after many days, he reached Jerusalem; -and then he sought his home in Galilee. - - - - -SECTION XIII. - -MEM. - -_The Ministry of John, the Harbinger._ - - -CHAPTER 61. - - _John, the harbinger, returns to Hebron. Lives as a hermit in - the wilds. Visits Jerusalem and speaks to the people._ - -It came to pass when John, the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, had -finished all his studies in the Egyptian schools that he returned to -Hebron, where he abode for certain days. - -2 And then he sought the wilderness and made his home in David's cave -where many years before, he was instructed by the Egyptian sage. - -3 Some people called him Hermit of Engedi; and others said, He is the -Wild Man of the hills. - -4 He clothed himself with skins of beasts; his food was carobs, honey, -nuts and fruits. - -5 When John was thirty years of age he went into Jerusalem, and in the -market place he sat in silence seven days. - -6 The common people and the priests, the scribes and Pharisees came -out in multitudes to see the silent hermit of the hills; but none were -bold enough to ask him who he was. - -7 But when his silent fast was done he stood forth in the midst of all -and said, - -8 Behold, the king has come; the prophets told of him; the wise men -long have looked for him. - -9 Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king. - -10 And that was all he said, and then he disappeared, and no one knew -where he had gone. - -11 And there was great unrest through all Jerusalem. The rulers heard -the story of the hermit of the hills, - -12 And they sent couriers forth to talk with him that they might know -about the coming king; but they could find him not. - -13 And after certain days he came again into the market place, and all -the city came to hear him speak; he said, - -14 Be not disturbed, you rulers of the state; the coming king is no -antagonist; he seeks no place on any earthly throne. - -15 He comes the Prince of Peace, the king of righteousness and love; -his kingdom is within the soul. - -16 The eyes of men shall see it not and none can enter but the pure -in heart. - -17 Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king. - -18 Again the hermit disappeared; the people strove to follow him, but -he had drawn a veil about his form and men could see him not. - -19 A Jewish feast day came; Jerusalem was filled with Jews and -proselytes from every part of Palestine, and John stood in the temple -court and said, - -20 Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king. - -21 Lo, you have lived in sin; the poor cry in your streets, and you -regard them not. - -22 Your neighbors, who are they? You have defrauded friend and foe -alike. - -23 You worship God with voice and lip; your hearts are far away, and -set on gold. - -24 Your priests have bound upon the people burdens far too great to -bear; they live in ease upon the hard earned wages of the poor. - -25 Your lawyers, doctors, scribes are useless cumberers of the ground; -they are but tumors on the body of the state; - -26 They toil not neither do they spin, yet they consume the profits of -your marts of trade. - -27 Your rulers are adulterers, extortioners and thieves, regarding not -the rights of any man; - -28 And robbers ply their calling in the sacred halls; the holy temple -you have sold to thieves; their dens are in the sacred places set -apart for prayer. - -29 Hear! hear! you people of Jerusalem! Reform; turn from your evil -ways or God will turn from you, and heathen from afar will come, and -what is left of all your honor and your fame will pass in one short -hour. - -30 Prepare, Jerusalem, prepare to meet your king. - -31 He said no more; he left the court and no one saw him go. - -32 The priests, the doctors and the scribes were all in rage. They -sought for John intent to do him harm. They found him not. - -33 The common people stood in his defense; they said, The hermit -speaks the truth. - -34 And then the priests, the doctors and the scribes were sore afraid; -they said no more; they hid themselves away. - - -CHAPTER 62. - - _John, the harbinger, again visits Jerusalem. Speaks to the - people. Promises to meet them at Gilgal in seven days. Goes - to Bethany and attends a feast._ - -Next day John went again into the temple courts and said, - -2 Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king. - -3 The chief priests and the scribes would know the meaning of his -words; they said, - -4 Bold man, what is the purport of this message that you bring to -Israel? If you be seer and prophet, tell us plainly who has sent you -here? - -5 And John replied, I am the voice of one who cries out in the -wilderness, Prepare the way, make straight the paths, for, lo, the -Prince of Peace will come to rule in love. - -6 Your prophet Malachi wrote down the words of God: - -7 And I will send Elijah unto you before the retribution day shall -come, to turn again the hearts of men to God and if they will not -turn, lo, I will smite them with a curse. - -8 You men of Israel; you know your sins. As I passed by I saw a -wounded bird prone in your streets, and men of every class were -beating it with clubs; and then I saw that Justice was its name. - -9 I looked again and saw that its companion had been killed; the pure -white wings of Righteousness were trampled in the dust. - -10 I tell you men, your awfulness of guilt has made a cesspool of -iniquity that sends a fearful stench to heaven. - -11 Reform, O Israel, reform; prepare to meet your king. - -12 And then John turned away and as he went he said, - -13 In seven days, lo, I will stand at Gilgal, by the Jordan ford, -where Israel first crossed into the promised land. - -14 And then he left the temple court to enter it no more; but many -people followed him as far as Bethany, and there he tarried at the -home of Lazarus, his kin. - -15 The anxious people gathered all about the home and would not go; -then John came forth and said, - -16 Reform, O Israel, reform; prepare to meet your king. - -17 The sins of Israel do not all lie at the door of priest and scribe. -O think you not that all the sinners of Judea are found among the -rulers and the men of wealth. - -18 It is no sign that man is good and pure because he lives in want. - -19 The listless, shiftless vagabonds of earth are mostly poor and have -to beg for bread. - -20 I saw the very men that cheered because I told the priests and -scribes of their injustice unto man, throw stones and beat poor -Justice in the streets. - -21 I saw them trample on the poor dead bird of Righteousness; - -22 And you who follow after me, you commoners, are not one whit behind -the scribes and priests in crime. - -23 Reform, you men of Israel; the king has come; prepare to meet your -king. - -24 With Lazarus and his sisters, John remained for certain days. - -25 In honor of the Nazarite a feast was spread, and all the people -stood about the board. - -26 And when the chief men of the town poured out the sparkling wine -and offered John a cup, he took it, held it high in air, and said, - -27 Wine makes glad the carnal heart, and it makes sad the human soul; -it plunges deep in bitterness and gall the deathless spirit of the man. - -28 I took the vow of Nazar when a child, and not a drop has ever -passed my lips. - -29 And if you would make glad the coming king, then shun the cup as -you would shun a deadly thing. - -30 And then he threw the sparkling wine out in the street. - - -CHAPTER 63. - - _John, the harbinger, visits Jericho. Meets the people at - Gilgal. Announces his mission. Introduces the rite of - baptism. Baptizes many people. Returns to Bethany and - teaches. Returns to the Jordan._ - -And John went down to Jericho; there he abode with Alpheus. - -2 And when the people heard that he was there they came in throngs to -hear him speak. - -3 He spoke to none; but when the time was due he went down to the -Jordan ford, and to the multitudes he said, - -4 Reform and in the fount of purity wash all your sins away; the -kingdom is at hand. - -5 Come unto me and in the waters of this stream be washed, symbolic of -the inner cleansing of the soul. - -6 And, lo, the multitudes came down and in the Jordan they were -washed, and every man confessed his sins. - -7 For many months, in all the regions round about, John plead for -purity and righteousness; and after many days he went again to -Bethany; and there he taught. - -8 At first few but the honest seekers came; but, by and by, the -selfish and the vicious came with no contrition; came because the many -came. - -9 And when John saw the unrepentant Pharisees and Sadducees come unto -him, he said, - -10 You children of the vipers, stay; are you disturbed by news of -coming wrath? - -11 Go to, and do the things that prove repentance genuine. - -12 Is it enough for you to say that you are heirs of Abraham? I tell -you, no. - -13 The heirs of Abraham are just as wicked in the sight of God when -they do wrong as any heathen man. - -14 Behold the ax! and every tree that bears not wholesome fruit is cut -down at the roots and cast into the fire. - -15 And then the people asked, What must we do? - -16 And John replied, Accept the ministry of helpfulness for all -mankind; spend not upon your selfish selves all that you have. - -17 Let him who has two coats give one to him who has no coat; give -part of all the food you have to those in need. - -18 And when the publicans came up and asked, What must we do? John -answered them, - -19 Be honest in your work; do not increase for selfish gain the -tribute you collect; take nothing more than what your king demands. - -20 And when the soldiers came and asked, What must we do? The -harbinger replied, - -21 Do violence to none; exact no wrongful thing, and be contented with -the wages you receive. - -22 Among the Jews were many who had been waiting for the Christ to -come, and they regarded John as Christ. - -23 But to their questions John replied, In water I do cleanse, -symbolic of the cleansing of the soul; but when he comes who is to -come, lo, he will cleanse in Holy Breath and purify in fire. - -24 His fan is in his hand, and he will separate the wheat and chaff; -will throw the chaff away, but garner every grain of wheat. This is -the Christ. - -25 Behold he comes! and he will walk with you, and you will know him -not. - -26 He is the king; the latchet of his shoes I am not worthy to unloose. - -27 And John left Bethany and went again unto the Jordan ford. - - -CHAPTER 64. - - _Jesus comes from Galilee, and is baptized by John. The Holy - Breath testifies of his messiahship._ - -The news reached Galilee, and Jesus with the multitude went down to -where the harbinger was preaching at the ford. - -2 When Jesus saw the harbinger he said, Behold the man of God! Behold -the greatest of the seers! Behold, Elijah has returned! - -3 Behold the messenger whom God has sent to open up the way! The -kingdom is at hand. - -4 When John saw Jesus standing with the throng he said, Behold the -king who cometh in the name of God! - -5 And Jesus said to John, I would be washed in water as a symbol of -the cleansing of the soul. - -6 And John replied, You do not need to wash, for you are pure in -thought, and word, and deed. And if you need to wash I am not worthy -to perform the rite. - -7 And Jesus said, I come to be a pattern for the sons of men, and what -I bid them do, that I must do; and all men must be washed, symbolic of -the cleansing of the soul. - -8 This washing we establish as a rite--baptism rite we call it now, -and so it shall be called. - -9 Your work, prophetic harbinger, is to prepare the way, and to reveal -the hidden things. - -10 The multitudes are ready for the words of life, and I have come to -be made known by you to all the world, as prophet of the Triune God, -and as the chosen one to manifest the Christ to men. - -11 Then John led Jesus down into the river at the ford and he baptized -him in the sacred name of him who sent him forth to manifest the -Christ to men. - -12 And as they came out of the stream, the Holy Breath, in form of -dove, came down and sat on Jesus' head. - -13 A voice from heaven said, This is the well-beloved son of God, the -Christ, the love of God made manifest. - -14 John heard the voice, and understood the message of the voice. - -15 Now Jesus went his way, and John preached to the multitude. - -16 As many as confessed their sins, and turned from evil ways to ways -of right, the harbinger baptized, symbolic of the blotting out of sins -by righteousness. - - - - -SECTION XIV. - -NUN. - -_The Christine Ministry of Jesus--Introductory Epoch._ - - -CHAPTER 65. - - _Jesus goes to the wilderness for self-examination, where he - remains forty days. Is subjected to three temptations. He - overcomes. Returns to the camps of John and begins teaching._ - -The harbinger had paved the way; the Logos had been introduced to men -as love made manifest, and he must now begin his Christine ministry. - -2 And he went forth into the wilderness to be alone with God that he -might look into his inner heart, and note its strength and worthiness. - -3 And with himself he talked; he said, My lower self is strong; by -many ties I am bound down to carnal life. - -4 Have I the strength to overcome and give my life a willing sacrifice -for men? - -5 When I shall stand before the face of men, and they demand a proof -of my messiahship, what will I say? - -6 And then the tempter came and said, If you be son of God, command -these stones to turn to bread. - -7 And Jesus said, Who is it that demands a test? It is no sign that -one is son of God because he does a miracle; the devils can do mighty -things. - -8 Did not the black magicians do great things before the Pharaohs? - -9 My words and deeds in all the walks of life shall be the proof of my -messiahship. - -10 And then the tempter said, If you will go into Jerusalem, and from -the temple pinnacle cast down yourself to earth, the people will -believe that you are the Messiah sent from God. - -11 This you can surely do; for did not David say, He gives his angels -charge concerning you, and with their hands will they uphold lest you -should fall? - -12 And Jesus said, I may not tempt the Lord, my God. - -13 And then the tempter said, Look forth upon the world; behold its -honors and its fame! Behold its pleasures and its wealth! - -14 If you will give your life for these they shall be yours. - -15 But Jesus said, Away from me all tempting thoughts. My heart is -fixed; I spurn this carnal self with all its vain ambition and its -pride. - -16 For forty days did Jesus wrestle with his carnal self; his higher -self prevailed. He then was hungry, but his friends had found him and -they ministered to him. - -17 Then Jesus left the wilderness, and in the consciousness of Holy -Breath, he came unto the camps of John and taught. - - -CHAPTER 66. - - _Six of John's disciples follow Jesus and become his disciples. - He teaches them. They sit in the Silence._ - -Among the followers of John were many men from Galilee. The most -devout were Andrew, Simon, James, and John, with Philip and his -brother of Bethsaida. - -2 One day as Andrew, Philip and a son of Zebedee, were talking with -the harbinger, the Logos came, and John exclaimed, Behold the Christ! - -3 And then the three disciples followed Jesus, and he asked, What do -you seek? - -4 And the disciples asked, Where do you live? And Jesus answered, Come -and see. - -5 And Andrew called his brother Simon, saying, Come with me, for I -have found the Christ. - -6 When Jesus looked in Simon's face he said, Behold a rock! and Peter -is your name. - -7 And Philip found Nathaniel sitting by a tree, and said, My brother, -come with me, for I have found the Christ! In Nazareth he abides. - -8 Nathaniel said, Can anything of good come out of Nazareth? And -Philip answered, Come and see. - -9 When Jesus saw Nathaniel come he said, Behold an Israelite indeed in -whom there is no guile! - -10 Nathaniel said, How can you speak about me thus? - -11 And Jesus said, I saw you as you sat beneath the fig tree over -there, before your brother called. - -12 Nathaniel lifted up his hands and said, This surely is the Christ, -the king, for whom the harbinger has often testified. - -13 And John went forth and found his brother James, and brought him to -the Christ. - -14 The six disciples went with Jesus to the place where he abode. - -15 And Peter said, We long have sought for Christ. We came from -Galilee to John; we thought that he was Christ, but he confessed to us -that he was not; - -16 That he was but the harbinger sent forth to clear the way, and -make the pathway easy for the coming king; and when you came he said, -Behold the Christ! - -17 And we would gladly follow where you go. Lord, tell us what to do. - -18 And Jesus said, The foxes of the earth have homes, the birds have -nests; I have no place to lay my head. - -19 He who would follow me must give up all the cravings of the self -and lose his life in saving life. - -20 I come to save the lost, and man is saved when he is rescued from -himself. But men are slow to comprehend this doctrine of the Christ. - -21 And Peter said, I cannot speak for any other man, but for myself I -speak: I will leave all and follow where you lead. - -22 And then the others spoke and said, You have the words of truth; -you came from God, and if we follow in your footsteps we cannot miss -the way. - -23 Then Jesus and the six disciples sat a long, long time in silent -thought. - - -CHAPTER 67. - - _Jesus visits John at the Jordan. Delivers his first Christine - address to the people. The address. He goes with his - disciples to Bethany._ - -Now, on the morrow Jesus came again and stood with John beside the -ford; and John prevailed on him to speak, and standing forth he said, - -2 You men of Israel, hear! The kingdom is at hand. - -3 Behold the great key-keeper of the age stands in your midst; and -with the spirit of Elijah he has come. - -4 Behold, for he has turned the key; the mighty gates fly wide and all -who will may greet the king. - -5 Behold these multitudes of women, children, men! they throng the -avenues, they crowd the outer courts; each seems to be intent to be -the first to meet the king. - -6 Behold, the censor comes and calls, Whoever will may come; but he -who comes must will to prune himself of every evil thought; - -7 Must overcome desire to gratify the lower self; must give his life -to save the lost. - -8 The nearer to the kingdom gate you come, more spacious is the room; -the multitudes have gone. - -9 If men could come unto the kingdom with their carnal thoughts, their -passions and desires, there scarcely would be room for all. - -10 But when they cannot take these through the narrow gate they turn -away; the few are ready to go in and see the king. - -11 Behold, John is a mighty fisher, fishing for the souls of men. He -throws his great net out into the sea of human life; he draws it in -and it is full. - -12 But what a medley catch! a catch of crabs, and lobsters, sharks and -creeping things, with now and then a fish of better kind. - -13 Behold, the thousands come to hear the Wild Man of the hills; they -come in crowds that he may wash them in the crystal flood, and with -their lips they do confess their sins. - -14 But when the morrow comes we find them in their haunts of vice -again, reviling John, and cursing God, and heaping insults on the king. - -15 But blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see the king. - -16 And blessed are the strong in heart, for they shall not be cast -about by every wind that blows; - -17 But while the fickle and the thoughtless have gone back to Egypt -land for leeks and carnal herbs to satisfy their appetites, the pure -in heart have found the king. - -18 But even those whose faith is weak, and who are naught but carnal -manifests, will some day come again, and enter in with joy to see the -king. - -19 O men of Israel, take heed to what this prophet has to say! Be -strong in mind; be pure in heart; be vigilant in helpfulness; the -kingdom is at hand. - -20 When Jesus had thus said he went his way, and with his six -disciples came to Bethany; and they abode with Lazarus many days. - - -CHAPTER 68. - - _Jesus speaks to the people in Bethany. Tells them how to - become pure in heart. Goes to Jerusalem and in the temple - reads from a prophetic book. Goes to Nazareth._ - -The news soon spread abroad that Jesus, king of Israel, had come to -Bethany, and all the people of the town came forth to greet the king. - -2 And Jesus, standing in the midst of them exclaimed, Behold, indeed, -the king has come, but Jesus is not king. - -3 The kingdom truly is at hand; but men can see it not with carnal -eyes; they cannot see the king upon the throne. - -4 This is the kingdom of the soul; its throne is not an earthly -throne; its king is not a man. - -5 When human kings found kingdoms here, they conquer other kings by -force of arms; one kingdom rises on the ruins of another one. - -6 But when our Father-God sets up the kingdom of the soul, he pours -his blessings forth, like rain, upon the thrones of earthly kings who -rule in righteousness. - -7 It is not rule that God would overthrow; his sword is raised against -injustice, wantonness and crime. - -8 Now, while the kings of Rome do justice, and love mercy and walk -humbly with their God, the benediction of the Triune God will rest -upon them all. - -9 They need not fear a messenger whom God sends forth to earth. - -10 I am not sent to sit upon a throne to rule as Caesar rules; and you -may tell the ruler of the Jews that I am not a claimant for his throne. - -11 Men call me Christ, and God has recognized the name; but Christ is -not a man. The Christ is universal love, and Love is king. - -12 This Jesus is but man who has been fitted by temptations overcome, -by trials multiform, to be the temple through which Christ can -manifest to men. - -13 Then hear, you men of Israel, hear! Look not upon the flesh; it is -not king. Look to the Christ within, who shall be formed in every one -of you, as he is formed in me. - -14 When you have purified your hearts by faith, the king will enter -in, and you will see his face. - -15 And then the people asked, What must we do that we may make our -bodies fit abiding places for the king? - -16 And Jesus said, Whatever tends to purity in thought, and word, and -deed will cleanse the temple of the flesh. - -17 There are no rules that can apply to all, for men are specialists -in sin; each has his own besetting sin, - -18 And each must study for himself how he can best transmute his -tendency to evil things to that of righteousness and love. - -19 Until men reach the higher plane, and get away from selfishness, -this rule will give the best results: - -20 Do unto other men what you would have them do to you. - -21 And many of the people said, We know that Jesus is the Christ, the -king who was to come, and blessed be his name. - -22 Now, Jesus and his six disciples turned their faces toward -Jerusalem, and many people followed them. - -23 But Mathew, son of Alpheus, ran on before, and when he reached -Jerusalem, he said, Behold the Christines come! The multitudes came -forth to see the king. - -24 But Jesus did not speak to any one until he reached the temple -court, and then he opened up a book and read: - -25 Behold, I send my messenger, and he will pave the way, and Christ, -for whom you wait, will come unto his temple unannounced. Behold, for -he will come, says God, the Lord of hosts. - -26 And then he closed the book; he said no more; he left the temple -halls, and with his six disciples, went his way to Nazareth, - -27 And they abode with Mary, Jesus' mother, and her sister, Miriam. - - -CHAPTER 69. - - _Jesus and the ruler of the synagogue of Nazareth. Jesus - teaches not in public, and the people are amazed._ - -Next day as Peter walked about in Nazareth, he met the ruler of the -synagogue who asked, Who is this Jesus lately come to Nazareth? - -2 And Peter said, This Jesus is the Christ of whom our prophets wrote; -he is the king of Israel. His mother, Mary, lives on Marmion Way. - -3 The ruler said, Tell him to come up to the synagogue, for I would -hear his plea. - -4 And Peter ran and told to Jesus what the ruler said; but Jesus -answered not; he went not to the synagogue. - -5 Then in the evening time the ruler came up Marmion Way, and in the -home of Mary found he Jesus and his mother all alone. - -6 And when the ruler asked for proof of his messiahship, and why he -went not to the synagogue when he was bidden, Jesus said, - -7 I am not slave to any man; I am not called unto this ministry by -priest. It is not mine to answer when men call. I come the Christ of -God; I answer unto God alone. - -8 Who gave you right to ask for proof of my messiahship? My proof lies -in my words and works, and so if you will follow me you will not lack -for proof. - -9 And then the ruler went his way; he asked himself, What manner of a -man is this to disregard the ruler of the synagogue? - -10 The people of the town came out in throngs to see the Christ, and -hear him speak; but Jesus said, - -11 A prophet has no honor in his native town, among his kin. - -12 I will not speak in Nazareth until the words I speak, and works I -do in other towns have won the faith of men, - -13 Until men know that God has christed me to manifest eternal love. - -14 Good will to you, my kin; I bless you with a boundless love, and I -bespeak for you abundant joy and happiness. - -15 He said no more, and all the people marveled much because he would -not speak in Nazareth. - - -CHAPTER 70. - - _Jesus and his disciples at a marriage feast in Cana. Jesus - speaks on marriage. He turns water into wine. The people are - amazed._ - -In Cana, Galilee, there was a marriage feast, and Mary and her sister -Miriam, and Jesus and his six disciples were among the guests. - -2 The ruler of the feast had heard that Jesus was a master sent from -God, and he requested him to speak. - -3 And Jesus said, There is no tie more sacred than the marriage tie. - -4 The chain that binds two souls in love is made in heaven, and man -can never sever it in twain, - -5 The lower passions of the twain may cause a union of the twain, a -union as when oil and water meet. - -6 And then a priest may forge a chain, and bind the twain. This is not -marriage genuine; it is a counterfeit. - -7 The twain are guilty of adultery; the priest is party to the crime. -And that was all that Jesus said. - -8 As Jesus stood apart in silent thought his mother came and said to -him, The wine has failed; what shall we do? - -9 And Jesus said, Pray what is wine? It is but water with the -flavoring of grapes. - -10 And what are grapes? They are but certain kinds of thought made -manifest, and I can manifest that thought, and water will be wine. - -11 He called the servants, and he said to them, Bring in six water -pots of stone, a pot for each of these, my followers, and fill them up -with water to the brims, - -12 The servants brought the water pots, and filled them to their brims. - -13 And Jesus with a mighty thought stirred up the ethers till they -reached the manifest, and, lo, the water blushed, and turned to wine. - -14 The servants took the wine and gave it to the ruler of the feast -who called the bridegroom in and said to him, - -15 This wine is best of all; most people when they give a feast bring -in the best wine at the first; but, lo, you have reserved the best -until the last. - -16 And when the ruler and the guests were told that Jesus, by the -power of thought, had turned the water into wine, they were amazed; - -17 They said, This man is more than man; he surely is the christed one -who prophets of the olden times declared would come. - -18 And many of the guests believed on him, and gladly would have -followed him. - - -CHAPTER 71. - - _Jesus, his six disciples and his mother, go to Capernaum. - Jesus teaches the people, revealing the difference between - the kings of earth and the kings of heaven._ - -The city of Capernaum was by the sea of Galilee, and Peter's home was -there. The homes of Andrew, John and James were near, - -2 These men were fishermen, and must return to tend their nets, and -they prevailed on Jesus and his mother to accompany them, and soon -with Philip and Nathaniel they were resting by the sea in Peter's home. - -3 The news spread through the city and along the shore that Judah's -king had come, and multitudes drew near to press his hand. - -4 And Jesus said, I cannot show the king, unless you see with eyes of -soul, because the kingdom of the king is in the soul. - -5 And every soul a kingdom is. There is a king for every man. - -6 This king is love, and when this love becomes the greatest power in -life, it is the Christ; so Christ is king. - -7 And every one may have this Christ dwell in his soul, as Christ -dwells in my soul. - -8 The body is the temple of the king, and men may call a holy man a -king. - -9 He who will cleanse his mortal form and make it pure, so pure that -love and righteousness may dwell unsullied side by side within its -walls, is king. - -10 The kings of earth are clothed in royal robes, and sit in state -that men may stand in awe of them. - -11 A king of heaven may wear a fisher's garb; may sit in mart of -trade; may till the soil, or be a gleaner in the field; may be a slave -in mortal chains; - -12 May be adjudged a criminal by men; may languish in a prison cell; -may die upon a cross. - -13 Men seldom see what others truly are. The human senses sense what -seems to be, and that which seems to be and that which is, may be -diverse in every way. - -14 The carnal man beholds the outer man, which is the temple of the -king, and worships at his shrine. - -15 The man of God is pure in heart; he sees the king; he sees with -eyes of soul; - -16 And when he rises to the plane of Christine consciousness, he knows -that he himself is king, is love, is Christ, and so is son of God. - -17 You men of Galilee, prepare to meet your king. - -18 And Jesus taught the people many lessons as he walked with them -beside the sea. - - - - -SECTION XV. - -SAMECH. - -_The First Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 72. - - _Jesus in Jerusalem. Drives the merchants out of the temple. - The priests resent, and he defends himself from the - standpoint of a loyal Jew. He speaks to the people._ - -The Jewish paschal feast time came and Jesus left his mother in -Capernaum and journeyed to Jerusalem. - -2 And he abode with one a Sadducee, whose name was Jude. - -3 And when he reached the temple courts the multitudes were there to -see the prophet whom the people thought had come to break the yoke of -Rome, restore the kingdom of the Jews, and rule on David's throne. - -4 And when the people saw him come they said, All hail! behold the -king! - -5 But Jesus answered not; he saw the money changers in the house of -God, and he was grieved. - -6 The courts had been converted into marts of trade, and men were -selling lambs and doves for offerings in sacrifice. - -7 And Jesus called the priests and said, Behold, for paltry gain you -have sold out the temple of the Lord. - -8 This house ordained for prayer is now a den of thieves. Can good and -evil dwell together in the courts of God? I tell you, no. - -9 And then he made a scourge of cords and drove the merchants out; he -overturned their boards, and threw their money on the floor. - -10 He opened up the cages of the captive birds, and cut the cords that -bound the lambs, and set them free. - -11 The priests and scribes rushed out, and would have done him harm, -but they were driven back; the common people stood in his defense. - -12 And then the rulers said, Who is this Jesus you call king? - -13 The people said, He is the Christ of whom our prophets wrote; he is -the king who will deliver Israel. - -14 The rulers said to Jesus, Man, if you be king, or Christ, then show -us signs. Who gave you right to drive these merchants out? - -15 And Jesus said, There is no loyal Jew who would not give his life -to save this temple from disgrace; in this I acted simply as a loyal -Jew, and you yourselves will bear me witness to this truth. - -16 The signs of my messiahship will follow me in words and deeds. - -17 And you may tear the temple down (and you will tear it down) and in -three days it will be built again more glorious than before. - -18 Now Jesus meant that they might take his life; tear down his body, -temple of the Holy Breath, and he would rise again. - -19 The Jews knew not the meaning of his words; they laughed his claims -to scorn. They said, - -20 A multitude of men were forty and six years in building up this -house, and this young stranger claims that he will build it up in -three score hours; his words are idle, and his claims are naught. - -21 And then they took the scourge with which he drove the merchants -out, and would have driven him away; but Philo, who had come from -Egypt to attend the feast, stood forth and said, - -22 You men of Israel, hear! This man is more than man; take heed to -what you do. I have, myself, heard Jesus speak, and all the winds were -still. - -23 And I have seen him touch the sick, and they were healed. He stands -a sage above the sages of the world; - -24 And you will see his star arise, and it will grow until it is the -full-orbed Sun of Righteousness. - -25 Do not be hasty, men; just wait and you will have the proofs of his -messiahship. - -26 And then the priests laid down the scourge, and Jesus said, - -27 Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king! But you can never see -the king while you press sin as such a precious idol to your hearts. - -28 The king is God; the pure in heart alone can see the face of God -and live. - -29 And then the priests cried out, This fellow claims to be the God. -Is not this sacrilege! away with him! - -30 But Jesus said, No man has ever heard me say, I am a king. Our -Father-God is king. With every loyal Jew I worship God. - -31 I am the candle of the Lord aflame to light the way; and while you -have the light walk in the light. - - -CHAPTER 73. - - _Jesus again visits the temple, and is favorably received by - the people. Tells the parable of a king and his sons. Defines - messiahship._ - -Next day the multitudes were surging through the temple courts, intent -on hearing Jesus speak. - -2 And when he came the people said, All hail! behold the king! - -3 And Jesus spoke a parable; he said, A king had vast domains; his -people all were kin, and lived in peace. - -4 Now, after many years the king said to his people, Take these lands -and all I have; enhance their values; rule yourselves, and live in -peace. - -5 And then the people formed their states; selected governors and -petty kings. - -6 But pride, ambition, selfish greed, and base ingratitude grew fast, -and kings began to war. - -7 They wrote in all their statute books that might is right; and then -the strong destroyed the weak, and chaos reigned through all the vast -domain. - -8 A long time passed, and then the king looked out on his domain. -He saw his people in their cruel wars; he saw them sick and sore -distressed; he saw the strong enslave the weak, - -9 And then he said, What shall I do? Shall I send forth a scourge? -shall I destroy my people all? - -10 And then his heart was stirred with pity and he said, I will not -send a scourge; I will send forth my only son, heir to the throne, to -teach the people love, and peace, and righteousness. - -11 He sent his son; the people scorned him and maltreated him, and -nailed him to a cross. - -12 He was entombed; but death was far too weak to hold the prince, and -he arose. - -13 He took a form man could not kill; and then he went again to teach -the people love, and peace and righteousness. - -14 And thus God deals with men. - -15 A lawyer came and asked, What does messiah mean? and who has right -to make messiah of a man? - -16 And Jesus said, Messiah is one sent from God to seek and save the -lost. Messiahs are not made by men. - -17 In first of every age Messiah comes to light the way; to heal up -broken hearts; to set the prisoners free. Messiah and the Christ are -one. - -18 Because a man claims to be Christ is not a sign that he is Christ. - -19 A man may cause the streams to flow from flinty rocks; may bring -on storms at will; may stay tempestuous winds; may heal the sick and -raise the dead, and not be sent from God. - -20 All nature is subservient to the will of man, and evil men, as well -as good, have all the powers of mind, and may control the elements. - -21 The head gives not the proof of true messiahship, for man by means -of intellect, can never know of God, nor bring himself to walk in -light. - -22 Messiah lives not in the head, but in the heart, the seat of mercy -and of love. - -23 Messiah never works for selfish gains; he stands above the carnal -self; his words and deeds are for the universal good. - -24 Messiah never tries to be a king, to wear a crown and sit upon an -earthly throne. - -25 The king is earthy, of the earth; Messiah is the man from heaven. - -26 And then the lawyer asked, Why do you pose as king? - -27 And Jesus said, No man has ever heard me say that I am king. I -could not sit in Caesar's place and be the Christ. - -28 Give unto Caesar what belongs to him; give unto God the treasures of -your heart. - - -CHAPTER 74. - - _Jesus heals on the Sabbath, and is censured by the Pharisees. - Restores a drowned child. Rescues a wounded dog. Cares for a - homeless child. Speaks on the law of kindness._ - -It was the Sabbath day, and Jesus stood among the surging masses of -the people in the temple courts and sacred halls. - -2 The blind, the deaf, the dumb, and those obsessed were there, and -Jesus spoke the Word, and they were healed. - -3 On some he laid his hands, and they were healed; to others he just -spoke the Word, and they were full restored to health; but others had -to go and wash in certain pools; and others he anointed with a holy -oil. - -4 A doctor asked him why he healed in divers ways, and he replied, - -5 Disease is discord in the human form, and discords are produced in -many ways. - -6 The body is a harpsichord; sometimes the strings are too relaxed, -and then inharmony results. - -7 Sometimes we find the strings too tense, and then another form of -discord is induced. - -8 Disease is many-formed, and there are many ways to cure, to tune -anew the mystic harpsichord. - -9 Now when the Pharisees were told that Jesus healed the people on -the Sabbath day they were enraged, and they commanded him to quit the -place. - -10 But Jesus said, Was man designed to fit the Sabbath day, or was -the Sabbath day designed to fit the man? - -11 If you had fallen in a pit and, lo, the Sabbath day had come, and I -should pass your way, would you cry out, - -12 Let me alone; it is a sin to help me on the Sabbath day; I'll -swelter in this filth until another day? - -13 You Pharisees, you hypocrites! you know you would be glad to have -my help upon the Sabbath day, or any other day. - -14 These people all have fallen into pits, and they are calling loud -for me to help them out, and man and God would curse me should I pass -along and heed them not. - -15 And then the Pharisees returned to say their prayers, and curse the -man of God because he heeded not their words. - -16 Now, in the evening Jesus stood beside a pool; a playful child had -fallen in, and it was drowned, and friends were bearing it away. - -17 But Jesus called the carriers to stop; and then he stretched -himself upon the lifeless form, and breathed into its mouth the breath -of life. - -18 And then he called aloud unto the soul that had gone out, and it -returned; the child revived and lived. - -19 And Jesus saw a wounded dog; it could not move; it lay beside the -way and groaned with pain. He took it in his arms and bore it to the -home where he abode. - -20 He poured the healing oil into the wounds; he cared for it as -though it were a child till it was strong and well. - -21 And Jesus saw a little boy who had no home, and he was hungry; when -he called for bread the people turned away. - -22 And Jesus took the child and gave him bread; he wrapped him in his -own warm coat, and found for him a home. - -23 To those who followed him the master said, If man would gain again -his lost estate he must respect the brotherhood of life. - -24 Whoever is not kind to every form of life--to man, to beast, to -bird, and creeping thing--cannot expect the blessings of the Holy One; -for as we give, so God will give to us. - - -CHAPTER 75. - - _Nicodemus visits Jesus in the night. Jesus reveals to him the - meaning of the new birth and the kingdom of heaven._ - -Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews, and he was earnest, learned and -devout. - -2 He saw the master's signet in the face of Jesus as he talked, but -was not brave enough to publicly confess his faith in him; - -3 So in the night he went to talk with Jesus at the home of Jude. - -4 When Jesus saw him come he said, Full blessed are the pure in heart; - -5 Twice blessed are the fearless, pure in heart; - -6 Thrice blessed are the fearless, pure in heart who dare to make -confession of their faith before the highest courts. - -7 And Nicodemus said, Hail, master, hail! I know you are a teacher -come from God, for man alone could never teach as you have taught; -could never do the works that you have done. - -8 And Jesus said, Except a man be born again he cannot see the king; -he cannot comprehend the words I speak. - -9 And Nicodemus said, How can a man be born again? Can he go back into -the womb and come again to life? - -10 And Jesus said, The birth of which I speak is not the birth of -flesh. - -11 Except a man be born of water and the Holy Breath, he cannot come -into the kingdom of the Holy One. - -12 That which is born of flesh is child of man; that which is born of -Holy Breath is child of God. - -13 The winds blow where they please; men hear their voices, and may -note results; but they know not from whence they come, nor where they -go; and so is every one that is born of Holy Breath. - -14 The ruler said, I do not understand; pray tell me plainly what you -mean. - -15 And Jesus said, The kingdom of the Holy One is in the soul; men -cannot see it with their carnal eyes; with all their reasoning powers -they comprehend it not. - -16 It is a life deep hid in God; its recognition is the work of inner -consciousness. - -17 The kingdoms of the world are kingdoms of the sight; the kingdom of -the Holy One is that of faith; its king is love. - -18 Men cannot see the love of God unmanifest, and so our Father-God -has clothed this love with flesh--flesh of a son of man. - -19 And that the world may see and know this love made manifest, the -son of man must needs be lifted up. - -20 As Moses in the wilderness raised up the serpent for the healing of -the flesh, the son of man must be raised up. - -21 That all men bitten by the serpent of the dust, the serpent of this -carnal life, may live. - -22 He who believes in him shall have eternal life. - -23 For God so loved the world that he sent forth his only son to be -raised up that men may see the love of God. - -24 God did not send his son to judge the world; he sent him forth to -save the world; to bring men to the light. - -25 But men love not the light, for light reveals their wickedness; men -love the dark. - -26 Now, every one who loves the truth comes to the light; he does not -fear to have his works made manifest. - -27 The light had come, and Nicodemus went his way; he knew the meaning -of the birth of Holy Breath; he felt the presence of the Spirit in his -soul. - -28 And Jesus tarried in Jerusalem for many days and taught and healed -the sick. - -29 The common people gladly listened to his words, and many left their -all of carnal things and followed him. - - -CHAPTER 76. - - _Jesus in Bethlehem. Explains the Empire of Peace to the - shepherds. An unusual light appears. The shepherds recognize - Jesus as the Christ._ - -The Logos went to Bethlehem, and many people followed him. - -2 He found the shepherd's home where he was cradled when a babe; here -he abode. - -3 He went up to the hills where more than thirty years before the -shepherds watch their flocks and heard the messenger of peace exclaim: - -4 At midnight in a cave in Bethlehem the Prince of Peace is born. - -5 And shepherds still were there, and sheep still fed upon the hills. - -6 And in the valley near great flocks of snow-white doves were flying -to and fro. - -7 And when the shepherds knew that Jesus, whom the people called the -king, had come, they came from near and far to speak to him. - -8 And Jesus said to them, Behold the life of innocence and peace! - -9 White is the symbol of the virtuous and pure! the lamb of innocence; -the dove of peace; - -10 And it was meet that love should come in human form amid such -scenes as these. - -11 Our father Abraham walked through these vales, and on these very -hills he watched his flocks and herds. - -12 And here it was that one, the Prince of Peace, the king of Salim, -came; the Christ in human form; a greater far than Abraham was he. - -13 And here it was that Abraham gave to this king of Salim, tithes of -all he had. - -14 This Prince of Peace went forth in battle everywhere. He had no -sword; no armor of defence; no weapons of offence; - -15 And yet he conquered men, and nations trembled at his feet. - -16 The hosts of Egypt quailed before this sturdy king of right; the -kings of Egypt placed their crowns upon his head, - -17 And gave into his hands the scepter of all Egypt land, and not a -drop of blood was shed, and not a captive placed in chains; - -18 But everywhere the conqueror threw wide the prison doors and set -the captives free. - -19 And, once again, the Prince of Peace has come, and from these -blessed hills he goes again to fight. - -20 And he is clothed in white; his sword is truth; his shield is -faith; his helmet innocence; his breath is love; his watchword peace. - -21 But this is not a carnal war; it is not man at war with man; but it -is right against the wrong. - -22 And love is captain, love is warrior, love is armor, love is all, -and love shall win. - -23 And then again the hills of Bethlehem were clothed with light; -again the messenger exclaimed, - -24 Peace, peace on earth, good will to men. - -25 And Jesus taught the people; healed the sick; revealed the -mysteries of the kingdom of the Holy One. - -26 And many said, He is the Christ; the king who was to come has come; -Praise God. - - -CHAPTER 77. - - _Jesus in Hebron. Goes to Bethany. Advises Ruth regarding - certain family troubles._ - -With three disciples Jesus went to Hebron where he tarried seven days -and taught. - -2 And then he went to Bethany and in the home of Lazarus he taught. - -3 The evening came; the multitudes were gone, and Jesus, Lazarus, and -his sisters, Martha, Ruth and Mary, were alone. - -4 And Ruth was sore distressed. Her home was down in Jericho; her -husband was the keeper of an inn; his name was Asher-ben. - -5 Now, Asher was a Pharisee of strictest mien and thought, and he -regarded Jesus with disdain. - -6 And when his wife confessed her faith in Christ, he drove her from -his home. - -7 But Ruth resisted not; she said, If Jesus is the Christ he knows the -way, and I am sure he is the Christ, - -8 My husband may become enraged and slay my human form; he cannot -kill the soul, and in the many mansions of my Fatherland I have a -dwelling-place. - -9 And Ruth told Jesus all; and then she said, What shall I do? - -10 And Jesus said, Your husband is not willingly at fault; he is -devout; he prays to God, our Father-God. - -11 His zeal for his religion is intense; in this he is sincere; but -it has driven him insane, and he believes it right to keep his home -unsullied by the heresy of Christ. - -12 He feels assured that he has done the will of God in driving you -away. - -13 Intolerance is ignorance matured. - -14 The light will come to him some day, and then he will repay for all -your heartaches, griefs and tears. - -15 And Ruth, you must not think that you are free from blame. - -16 If you had walked in wisdom's ways, and been content to hold your -peace, this grief would not have come to you. - -17 It takes a long, long time for light to break into the shell of -prejudice, and patience is the lesson you have need to learn. - -18 The constant dropping of the water wears away the hardest stone. - -19 The sweet and holy incense of a godly life will melt intolerance -much quicker than the hottest flame, or hardest blow. - -20 Just wait a little time, and then go home with sympathy and love. -Talk not of Christ, nor of the kingdom of the Holy One. - -21 Just live a godly life; refrain from harshness in your speech, and -you will lead your husband to the light. - -22 And it was so. - - -CHAPTER 78. - - _Jesus in Jericho. Heals a servant of Asher. Goes to the Jordan - and speaks to the people. Establishes baptism as a pledge of - discipleship. Baptizes six disciples, who in turn baptize - many people._ - -And Jesus went to Jericho, and at the inn of Asher he abode. - -2 A servant at the inn was sick, nigh unto death; the healers could -not cure. - -3 And Jesus came and touched the dying girl, and said, Malone, arise! -and in a moment pain was gone; the fever ceased; the maid was well. - -4 And then the people brought their sick, and they were healed. - -5 But Jesus did not tarry long in Jericho; he went down to the Jordan -ford where John was wont to teach. - -6 The multitudes were there and Jesus said to them, Behold, the time -has come; the kingdom is at hand. - -7 None but the pure in heart can come into the kingdom of the Holy -One; but every son and daughter of the human race is called upon to -turn from evil and become the pure in heart. - -8 The resolution to attain and enter through the Christine gate into -the kingdom of the Holy One will constitute discipleship, and every -one must make a public pledge of his discipleship. - -9 John washed your bodies in the stream, symbolic of the cleansing of -the soul, in preparation for the coming of the king, the opening of -the Christine gate into the kingdom of the Holy One. - -10 John did a mighty work; but now the Christine gate is opened up, -and washing is established as the pledge of your discipleship. - -11 Until this age shall close this pledge shall be a rite, and shall -be called, Baptism rite; and it shall be a sign to men, and seal to -God of men's discipleship. - -12 You men of every nation, hear! Come unto me; the Christine gate is -opened up; turn from your sins and be baptized, and you shall enter -through the gate and see the king. - -13 The six disciples who had followed Jesus stood a-near, and Jesus -led them forth and in the Jordan he baptized them in the name of -Christ; and then he said to them, - -14 My friends, you are the first to enter through the Christine gate -into the kingdom of the Holy One. - -15 As I baptized you in the name of Christ, so you shall, in that -sacred name, baptize all men and women who will confess their faith in -Christ, and shall renounce their sins. - -16 And, lo, the multitudes came down, renounced their sins, confessed -their faith in Christ, and were baptized. - - -CHAPTER 79. - - _John, the harbinger, at Salim. A lawyer inquires about Jesus. - John explains to the multitude the mission of Jesus._ - -Now, John the harbinger, was at the Salim Springs where water was -abundant, and there he preached and washed the bodies of the people -who confessed their sins. - -2 A Jewish lawyer went to John and said, Has not this man from -Galilee, he whom you washed and called the Christ, become your foe? - -3 They say that he is at the Jordan ford; that he is building up a -church, or something else, and that he washes people, just as you have -done. - -4 And John replied, This Jesus is indeed the Christ whose way I came -to pave. He is not foe of mine. - -5 The bridegroom hath the bride; his friends are near, and when they -hear his voice they all rejoice. - -6 The kingdom of the Holy One is bride, and Christ the groom; and I, -the harbinger, am full of joy because they prosper so abundantly. - -7 I have performed the work that I was sent to do; the work of Jesus -just begins. - -8 Then turning to the multitudes he said, Christ is the king of -righteousness; Christ is the love of God; yea, he is God; one of the -holy persons of the Triune God. - -9 Christ lives in every heart of purity. - -10 Now, Jesus who is preaching at the Jordan ford, has been subjected -to the hardest tests of human life, and he has conquered all the -appetites and passions of the carnal man. - -11 And by the highest court of heaven, has been declared a man of such -superior purity and holiness that he can demonstrate the presence of -the Christ on earth. - -12 Lo, love divine, which is the Christ, abides in him, and he is -pattern for the race. - -13 And every man can see in him what every man will be when he has -conquered all the passions of the selfish self. - -14 In water I have washed the bodies of the people who have turned -from sin, symbolic of the cleansing of the soul; - -15 But Jesus bathes forever in the living waters of the Holy Breath. - -16 And Jesus comes to bring the savior of the world to men; Love is -the savior of the world. - -17 And all who put their trust in Christ, and follow Jesus as a -pattern and a guide, have everlasting life. - -18 But they who do not trust the Christ, and will not purify their -hearts so that the Christ can dwell within, can never enter life. - - -CHAPTER 80. - - _Lamaas comes from India to see Jesus. He listens to the - teachings of John at Salim. John tells him of the divine - mission of Jesus. Lamaas finds Jesus at the Jordan. The - masters recognize each other._ - -Lamaas, priest of Brahm, who was a friend of Jesus when he was in the -temple Jagannath, had heard of Jesus and his mighty works in many -lands; and he had left his home and come to Palestine in search of him. - -2 And as he journeyed towards Jerusalem he heard of John, the -harbinger, who was esteemed a prophet of the living God. - -3 Lamaas found the harbinger at Salim Springs; for many days he was a -silent listener to the pungent truths he taught. - -4 And he was present when the Pharisee told John of Jesus and his -mighty works. - -5 He heard the answer of the harbinger; he heard him bless the name of -Jesus, whom he called the Christ. - -6 And then he spoke to John; he said, Pray, tell me more about this -Jesus whom you call the Christ. - -7 And John replied, this Jesus is the love of God made manifest. - -8 Lo, men are living on the lower planes--the planes of greed and -selfishness; for self they fight; they conquer with the sword. - -9 In every land the strong enslave and kill the weak. All kingdoms -rise by force of arms; for force is king. - -10 This Jesus comes to overthrow this iron rule of force, and seat -Love on the throne of power. - -11 And Jesus fears no man. He preaches boldly in the courts of kings, -and everywhere, that victories won by force of arms are crimes; - -12 That every worthy end may be attained by gentleness and love, just -as the Prince of Peace, Melchisedec, the priest of God, won gallant -victories in war without the shedding of a drop of blood. - -13 You ask where are the temples of the Christ? He ministers at -shrines not made with hands; his temples are the hearts of holy men -who are prepared to see the king. - -14 The groves of nature are his synagogues; his forum is the world. - -15 He has no priests dressed up in puppet style to be admired by men; -for every son of man is priest of Love. - -16 When man has purified his heart by faith, he needs no middle man to -intercede. - -17 He is on friendly terms with God; is not afraid of him, and he is -able, and is bold enough, to lay his body on the altar of the Lord. - -18 Thus every man is priest, and is himself a living sacrifice. - -19 You need not seek the Christ, for when your heart is purified the -Christ will come, and will abide with you forevermore. - -20 And then Lamaas journeyed on; he came to Jesus as he taught beside -the ford. - -21 And Jesus said, Behold the Star of India! - -22 Lamaas said, Behold the Sun of Righteousness! And he confessed his -faith in Christ, and followed him. - - -CHAPTER 81. - - _The Christines journey toward Galilee. They tarry for a time - at Jacob's well and Jesus teaches a woman of Samaria._ - -The Christine gate into the kingdom of the Holy One was opened up, and -Jesus and the six disciples and Lamaas left the Jordan ford and turned -their faces toward Galilee. - -2 Their way lay through Samaria, and as they journeyed on they came to -Sychar, which was near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to Joseph -when a youth. - -3 And Jacob's well was there, and Jesus sat beside the well in silent -thought, and his disciples went into the town to purchase bread. - -4 A woman of the town came out to fill her pitcher from the well; and -Jesus was athirst, and when he asked the woman for a drink she said, - -5 I am a woman of Samaria, and you a Jew; do you not know that there -is enmity between Samaritans and Jews? They traffic not; then why ask -me the favor of a drink? - -6 And Jesus said Samaritans and Jews are all the children of one God, -our Father-God, and they are kin. - -7 It is but prejudice born of the carnal mind that breeds this enmity -and hate. - -8 While I was born a Jew I recognize the brotherhood of life. -Samaritans are just as dear to me as Jew or Greek. - -9 And then had you but known the blessings that our Father-God has -sent to men by me, you would have asked me for a drink, - -10 And I would glad have given you a cup of water from the Fount of -Life, and you would never thirst again. - -11 The woman said, This well is deep, and you have naught with which -to draw; how could you get the water that you speak about? - -12 And Jesus said, The water that I speak about comes not from Jacob's -well; it flows from springs that never fail. - -13 Lo, every one who drinks from Jacob's well will thirst again; but -they who drink the water that I give will never thirst again; - -14 For they themselves become a well, and from their inner parts the -sparkling waters bubble up into eternal life. - -15 The woman said, Sir, I would drink from that rich well of life. -Give me to drink, that I may thirst no more. - -16 And Jesus said, Go call your husband from the town that he may -share with you this living cup. - -17 The woman said, I have no husband, sir. - -18 And Jesus answered her and said, You scarcely know what husband -means; you seem to be a gilded butterfly that flits from flower to -flower, - -19 To you there is no sacredness in marriage ties, and you affinitize -with any man. - -20 And you have lived with five of them who were esteemed as husbands -by your friends. - -21 The woman said, Do I not speak unto a prophet and a seer? Will you -not condescend to tell me who you are? - -22 And Jesus said, I need not tell you who I am for you have read the -Law, the Prophets and the Psalms that tell of me, - -23 I am one come to break away the wall that separates the sons of -men. In Holy Breath there is no Greek, nor Jew, and no Samaritan; no -bond, nor free; for all are one. - -24 The woman asked, Why do you say that only in Jerusalem men ought to -pray, and that they should not worship in our holy mount? - -25 And Jesus said, What you have said, I do not say. One place is just -as sacred as another place. - -26 The hour has come when men must worship God within the temple of -the heart; for God is not within Jerusalem, nor in your holy mount in -any way that he is not in every heart. - -27 Our God is Spirit; they who worship him must worship him in spirit -and in truth. - -28 The woman said, We know that when Messiah comes that he will lead -us in the ways of truth. - -29 And Jesus said, Behold the Christ has come; Messiah speaks to you. - - -CHAPTER 82. - - _While Jesus is teaching, his disciples come and marvel because - he speaks with a Samaritan. Many people from Sychar come to - see Jesus. He speaks to them. With his disciples he goes to - Sychar and remains for certain days._ - -While Jesus yet was talking to the woman at the well, the six -disciples came from Sychar with the food. - -2 And when they saw him talking to a woman of Samaria, and one they -thought a courtesan, they were amazed; yet no one asked him why he -spoke with her. - -3 The woman was so lost in thought and so intent on what the master -said, that she forgot her errand to the well; she left her pitcher and -ran quickly to the town. - -4 She told the people all about the prophet she had met at Jacob's -well; she said, He told me every thing I ever did. - -5 And when the people would know more about the man, the woman said, -Come out and see. And multitudes went out to Jacob's well. - -6 When Jesus saw them come he said to those who followed him, You need -not say, It is four months before the harvest time; - -7 Behold, the harvest time is now. Lift up your eyes and look; the -fields are golden with the ripened grain. - -8 Lo, many sowers have gone forth to sow the seeds of life; the seed -has grown; the plants have strengthened in the summer sun; the grain -has ripened, and the master calls for men to reap. - -9 And you shall go out in the fields and reap what other men have -sown; but when the reckoning day shall come the sowers and the reapers -all together will rejoice. - -10 And Philip said to Jesus, Stay now your work a time and sit beneath -this olive tree and eat a portion of this food; you must be faint for -you have eaten naught since early day. - -11 But Jesus said, I am not faint, for I have food to eat you know not -of. - -12 Then the disciples said among themselves, Who could have brought -him aught to eat? - -13 They did not know that he had power to turn the very ethers into -bread. - -14 And Jesus said, The master of the harvest never sends his reapers -forth and feeds them not. - -15 My Father who has sent me forth into the harvest field of human -life will never suffer me to want; and when he calls for you to serve, -lo, he will give you food, will clothe and shelter you. - -16 Then turning to the people of Samaria, he said, Think not it -strange that I, a Jew, should speak to you, for I am one with you. - -17 The universal Christ who was, and is, and evermore shall be, is -manifest in me; but Christ belongs to every man. - -18 God scatters forth his blessings with a lavish hand, and he is not -more kind to one than to another one of all the creatures of his hand. - -19 I just came up from Judah's hills, and God's same sun was shining -and his flowers were blooming, and in the night his stars were just as -bright as they are here. - -20 God cannot cast a child away; the Jew, the Greek and the Samaritan -are equal in his sight. - -21 And why should men and women fret and quarrel, like children in -their plays? - -22 The lines that separate the sons of men are made of straw, and just -a single breath of love would blow them all away. - -23 The people were amazed at what the stranger said, and many said, -The Christ that was to come has surely come. - -24 And Jesus went with them into the town, and tarried certain days. - - -CHAPTER 83. - - _Jesus teaches the people of Sychar. Casts a wicked spirit out - of one obsessed. Sends the spirit to its own place. Heals - many people. The priests are disturbed by the presence of - Jesus in Sychar, but he speaks to them and wins their favor._ - -In Sychar Jesus taught the people in the market place. - -2 A man obsessed was brought to him. The wicked spirit that possessed -the man was full of violence and lust, and often threw his victim to -the ground. - -3 And Jesus spoke aloud and said, Base spirit, loose your hold upon -the vitals of this man, and go back to your own. - -4 And then the spirit begged that he might go into the body of a dog -that stood near by. - -5 But Jesus said, Why harm the helpless dog? Its life is just as dear -to it as mine to me. - -6 It is not yours to throw the burden of your sin on any living thing. - -7 By your own deeds and evil thoughts you have brought all these -perils on yourself. You have hard problems to be solved; but you must -solve them for yourself. - -8 By thus obsessing man you make your own conditions doubly sad. Go -back into your own domain; refrain from harming anything, and, by and -by, you will, yourself, be free. - -9 The wicked spirit left the man and went unto his own. The man -looked up in thankfulness and said, Praise God. - -10 And many of the people brought their sick, and Jesus spoke the -Word, and they were healed. - -11 The ruler of the synagogue, and all the priests were much disturbed -when told that Jesus from Jerusalem was preaching in the town. - -12 They thought that he had come to proselyte and stir up strife among -Samaritans. - -13 And so they sent an officer to bring him to the synagogue that he -might give a reason for his presence in the town. - -14 But Jesus said to him who came, Go back and tell the priests and -ruler of the synagogue that I am not engaged in crime. - -15 I come to bind up broken hearts, to heal the sick, and cast the -evil spirits out of those obsessed. - -16 Tell them, their prophets spoke of me; that I am come to break no -law, but to fulfil the highest law. - -17 The man returned and told the priests and ruler of the synagogue -what Jesus said, - -18 The ruler was amazed, and with the priests went to the market place -where Jesus was. - -19 And when he saw them, Jesus said, Behold the honored men of all -Samaria! the men ordained to lead the people in the way of right. - -20 And I am come to help, and not to hinder in their work. - -21 There are two classes of the sons of men; they who would build the -human race upon the sure foundation stones of justice, truth, equality -and right, - -22 And they who would destroy the holy temple where the Spirit dwells -and bring their fellows down to beggary and crime. - -23 The holy brotherhood of right must stand united in the stirring -conflicts of the hour. - -24 No matter whether they be Jews, Samaritans, Assyrians or Greeks, -they must tramp down beneath their feet all strife, all discord, -jealousy and hate, and demonstrate the brotherhood of man. - -25 Then to the ruler of the synagogue he spoke: he said, United in the -cause of right we stand; divided we will fall. - -26 And then he took the ruler by the hand; a love light filled their -souls; and all the people were amazed. - - -CHAPTER 84. - - _The Christines resume their journey. They tarry a while in the - city of Samaria. Jesus speaks in the synagogue. Heals a woman - by mental power. He disappears, but later joins his disciples - as they journey toward Nazareth._ - -The Christines turned their faces toward the land of Galilee; but when -they reached the city of Samaria, the multitudes pressed hard about -them, begging them to tarry in their city for a while. - -2 And then they went up to the synagogue, and Jesus opened up the book -of Moses, and he read: - -3 In thee and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blest. - -4 And then he closed the book and said, These words were spoken by the -Lord of hosts unto our father Abraham, and Israel has been blessedness -to all the world. - -5 We are his seed; but not a tithe of the great work that we were -called to do has yet been done. - -6 The Lord of hosts has set apart the Israelites to teach the unity -of God and man; but one can never teach that which he does not -demonstrate in life. - -7 Our God is Spirit, and in him all wisdom, love and strength abide. - -8 In every man these sacred attributes are budding forth, and in due -time they will unfold; the demonstration will completed be, and man -will comprehend the fact of unity. - -9 And you, the ruler of the synagogue, and you, these priests, are -honored servants of the Lord of hosts. - -10 All men are looking unto you for guidance in the ways of life; -example is another name for priest; so what you would that people be, -that you must be. - -11 A simple godly life may win ten thousand souls to purity and right. - -12 And all the people said, Amen. - -13 Then Jesus left the synagogue, and at the hour of evening prayer -he went up to the sacred grove, and all the people turned their faces -toward their holy mount and prayed. - -14 And Jesus prayed. - -15 And as he sat in silent mood a voice of soul spoke to his soul -imploring help. - -16 And Jesus saw a woman on a couch in sore distress; for she was sick -nigh unto death. - -17 She could not speak, but she had heard that Jesus was a man of God, -and in her heart she called on him for help. - -18 And Jesus helped; he did not speak; but like a flash of light, a -mighty virtue from his soul filled full the body of the dying one, and -she arose, and joined her kindred while they prayed. - -19 Her kindred were astonished and they said to her, How were you -healed? And she replied, - -20 I do not know; I simply asked the man of God in thought for healing -power, and in a moment I was well. - -21 The people said, The gods have surely come to earth; for man has -not the power to heal by thought. - -22 But Jesus said, The greatest power in heaven and earth is thought. - -23 God made the universe by thought; he paints the lily and the rose -with thought. - -24 Why think it strange that I should send a healing thought and -change the ethers of disease and death to those of health and life? - -25 Lo, you shall see far greater things than this, for by the power -of holy thought, my body will be changed from carnal flesh to spirit -form; and so will yours. - -26 When Jesus had thus said he disappeared, and no one saw him go. - -27 His own disciples did not comprehend the change; they knew not -where their master went, and they went on their way. - -28 But as they walked and talked about the strange event, lo, Jesus -came and walked with them to Nazareth of Galilee. - - -CHAPTER 85. - - _John, the harbinger, censures Herod for his wickedness. - Herod sends him to prison in Machaerus. Jesus tells why God - permitted the imprisonment of John._ - -Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Paraca and of Galilee was dissipated, -selfish and tyrannical. - -2 He drove his wife away from home that he might take as wife -Herodias, the wife of one, a near of kin, a woman, like himself, -immoral and unjust. - -3 The city of Tiberius, upon the shores of Galilee, was Herod's home. - -4 Now John, the harbinger, had left the Salim Springs to teach the -people by the sea of Galilee; and he rebuked the wicked ruler and his -stolen wife for all their sins. - -5 Herodias was enraged because the preacher dared accuse her and her -husband of their crimes; - -6 And she prevailed on Herod to arrest the harbinger and cast him in a -dungeon in the castle of Machaerus that stood beside the Bitter Sea. - -7 And Herod did as she required; then she lived in peace in all her -sins, for none were bold enough to censure her again. - -8 The followers of John were warned to speak not of the trial and -imprisonment of John. - -9 By order of the court, they were restrained from teaching in the -public halls. - -10 They could not talk about this better life that Herod called, the -Heresy of John. - -11 When it was known that John had been imprisoned by the tetrarch -court, the friends of Jesus thought it best that he should not remain -in Galilee. - -12 But Jesus said, I have no need of fear; my time has not yet come; -no man can stay me till my work is done. - -13 And when they asked why God permitted Herod to imprison John, he -said, - -14 Behold yon stalk of wheat! When it has brought the grain to -perfectness, it is of no more worth; it falls, becoming part of earth -again from which it came. - -15 John is a stalk of golden wheat; he brought unto maturity the -richest grain of all the earth; his work is done. - -16 If he had said another word it might have marred the symmetry of -what is now a noble life. - -17 And when my work is done the rulers will do unto me what they have -done to John, and more. - -18 All these events are part of God's own plan. The innocent will -suffer while the wicked are in power; but woe to them who cause the -suffering of the innocents. - - -CHAPTER 86. - - _The Christines are in Nazareth. Jesus speaks in the synagogue. - He offends the people and they attempt to kill him. He - mysteriously disappears, and returns to the synagogue._ - -The Christines were in Nazareth. It was the Sabbath day, and Jesus -went up to the synagogue. - -2 The keeper of the books gave one to Jesus and he opened it and read: - -3 The Spirit of the Lord has overshadowed me; he has anointed me to -preach the gospel to the poor; to set the captives free; to open -sightless eyes; - -4 To bring relief to those oppressed and bruised, and to proclaim, The -year of jubilee has come. - -5 When he had read these words he closed the book and said, This -scripture is fulfilled before your eyes this day. The year of jubilee -has come; the time when Israel shall bless the world. - -6 And then he told them many things about the kingdom of the Holy -One; about the hidden way of life; about forgiveness of sins. - -7 Now, many people knew not who the speaker was: And others said, Is -not this Joseph's son? Does not his mother live on Marmion Way? - -8 And one spoke out and said, This is the man who did such mighty -works in Cana, in Capernaum and in Jerusalem. - -9 And then the people said, Physician heal yourself. Do here among -your kindred all the mighty works that you have done in other towns. - -10 And Jesus said, No prophet is received with honor by the people of -his native land; and prophets are not sent to every one. - -11 Elijah was a man of God; he had the power and he closed the gates -of heaven, and it did not rain for forty months; and when he spoke the -Word, the rain came on, the earth brought forth again. - -12 And there were many widows in the land; but this Elijah went to -none but Zarephath, and she was blessed. - -13 And when Elisha lived, lo, many lepers were in Israel, but none -were cleansed save one--the Syrian who had faith. - -14 You have no faith; you seek for signs to satisfy your curious -whims; but you shall see not till you open up your eyes of faith. - -15 And then the people were enraged; they rushed upon him, bound him -down with cords, and took him to a precipice not far away, intent to -cast him down to death; - -16 But when they thought they held him fast, he disappeared; unseen he -passed among the angry men, and went his way. - -17 The people were confounded and they said, What manner of a man is -this? - -18 And when they came again to Nazareth, they found him teaching in -the synagogue. - -19 They troubled him no more for they were sore afraid. - - -CHAPTER 87. - - _The Christines go to Cana. Jesus heals a nobleman's child. The - Christines go to Capernaum. Jesus provides a spacious home - for his mother. He announces his intention to choose twelve - apostles._ - -In Nazareth Jesus taught no more; he went with his disciples up to -Cana, where, at a marriage feast, he once turned water into wine. - -2 And here he met a man of noble birth whose home was in Capernaum, -whose son was sick. - -3 The man had faith in Jesus' power to heal, and when he learned that -he had come to Galilee he went in haste to meet him on the way. - -4 The man met Jesus at the seventh hour, and he entreated him to -hasten to Capernaum to save his son. - -5 But Jesus did not go; he stood aside in silence for a time, and then -he said, Your faith has proved a healing balm; your son is well. - -6 The man believed and went his way toward Capernaum and as he went he -met a servant from his home who said, - -7 My lord, You need not haste; your son is well. - -8 The father asked, When did my son begin to mend? - -9 The servant said, On yesterday about the seventh hour the fever left. - -10 And then the father knew it was the healing balm that Jesus sent -that saved his son. - -11 In Cana Jesus tarried not; he went his way with his disciples to -Capernaum, where he secured a spacious house where, with his mother, -he could live; where his disciples might repair to hear the Word. - -12 He called the men who had confessed their faith in him to meet him -in his home, which his disciples called, The school of Christ; and -when they came he said to them, - -13 This gospel of the Christ must be proclaimed in all the world. - -14 This Christine vine will be a mighty vine whose branches will -comprise the peoples, tribes and tongues of all the earth. - -15 I am the vine; twelve men shall be the branches of the stock, and -these shall send forth branches everywhere; - -16 And from among the people who have followed me, the Holy Breath -will call the twelve. - -17 Go now and do your work as you have done your work; but listen for -the call. - -18 Then the disciples went unto their daily tasks, to do their work as -they had done, and Jesus went alone into the Hammoth hills to pray. - -19 Three days and nights he spent communing with the Silent -Brotherhood; then, in the power of Holy Breath he came to call the -twelve. - - -CHAPTER 88. - - _Jesus walks by the sea. Stands in a fishing boat and speaks to - the people. Under his direction the fishermen secure a great - catch of fish. He selects and calls his twelve apostles._ - -Beside the sea of Galilee the Christine master walked, and multitudes -of people followed him. - -2 The fishing boats had just come in, and Peter and his brother waited -in their boats; their helpers were ashore repairing broken nets. - -3 And Jesus went into a boat and Peter pushed it out a little ways -from shore; and Jesus standing in the boat spoke to the multitude. He -said, - -4 Isaiah, prophet of the Lord of hosts, looked forward and he saw this -day; he saw the people standing by the sea, and he exclaimed, - -5 The land of Zebulon and Napthali, land beyond the Jordan and toward -the sea, the Gentile Galilee, - -6 The people were in darkness, knowing not the way; but, lo, they saw -the Day Star rise; a light streamed forth; they saw the way of life; -they walked therein. - -7 And you are blest beyond all people of the earth today, because you -first may see the light, and may become the children of the light. - -8 Then Jesus said to Peter, Bring your nets aboard, and put out in the -deep, - -9 And Peter did as Jesus bade him do; but in a faithless way he said, -This is a useless trip; there are no fish upon this shore of Galilee -today; with Andrew I have toiled all night, and taken naught. - -10 But Jesus saw beneath the surface of the sea; he saw a multitude of -fish. He said to Peter, - -11 Cast out your net upon the right side of the boat. - -12 And Peter did as Jesus said, and, lo, the net was filled; it scarce -was strong enough to hold the multitude of fish. - -13 And Peter called to John and James, who were near by, for help; and -when the net was hauled to boat, both boats were well nigh filled -with fish. - -14 When Peter saw the heavy catch, he was ashamed of what he said; -ashamed because he had no faith, and he fell down at Jesus' feet and -said, Lord, I believe! - -15 And Jesus said, Behold the catch! from henceforth you shall fish no -more for fish; - -16 You shall cast forth the Christine net into the sea of human life, -upon the right side of the boat; you shall ensnare the multitudes to -holiness and blessedness and peace. - -17 Now, when they reached the shore the Christine master called to -Peter, Andrew, James and John and said, - -18 You fishermen of Galilee, the masters have a mighty work for us to -do; I go, and you may follow me. And they left all and followed him. - -19 And Jesus walked along the shore, and seeing Philip and Nathaniel -walking on the beach he said to them, - -20 You teachers of Bethsaida, who long have taught the people Greek -philosophy, the masters have a higher work for you and me to do; I go -and you may follow me; and then they followed him. - -21 A little farther on there stood a Roman tribute house, and Jesus -saw the officer in charge; his name was Matthew, who once abode in -Jericho; - -22 The youth who once ran on before the Lord into Jerusalem and said, -Behold the Christines come. - -23 And Matthew was a man of wealth, and learned in wisdom of the Jews, -the Syrians and the Greeks. - -24 And Jesus said to him, Hail, Matthew, trusted servant of the -Caesars, hail! the masters call us to the tribute house of souls; I go -and you may follow me. And Matthew followed him. - -25 Ischariot and his son, whose name was Judas, were employed by -Matthew and were at the tribute house. - -26 And Jesus said to Judas, Stay your work; the masters call us to a -duty in the savings bank of souls; I go and you may follow me. And -Judas followed him. - -27 And Jesus met a lawyer who had heard about the Christine master and -had come from Antioch to study in the school of Christ. - -28 This man was Thomas, man of doubt, and yet a Greek philosopher of -culture and of power. - -29 But Jesus saw in him the lines of faith, and said to him, The -masters have a need of men who can interpret law; I go, and you may -follow me. And Thomas followed him. - -30 And when the evening came and Jesus was at home, behold, there came -his kindred, James and Jude, the sons of Alpheus and Miriam. - -31 And these were men of faith, and they were carpenters of Nazareth. - -32 And Jesus said to them, Behold, for you have toiled with me, and -with my father Joseph, building houses for the homes of men. The -masters call us now to aid in building homes for souls; homes built -without the sound of hammer, ax, or saw; - -33 I go, and you may follow me. And James and Jude exclaimed, Lord, we -will follow you. - -34 And on the morrow Jesus sent a message unto Simon, leader of the -Zelotes, a strict exponent of the Jewish law. - -35 And in the message Jesus said, The masters call for men to -demonstrate the faith of Abraham; I go, and you may follow me. And -Simon followed him. - - -CHAPTER 89. - - _The twelve apostles are at Jesus' home and are consecrated to - their work. Jesus instructs them. He goes to the synagogue on - the Sabbath and teaches. He casts an unclean spirit out of - one obsessed. He heals Peter's mother-in-law._ - -Now, on the day before the Sabbath day, the twelve disciples who had -received the call were met with one accord in Jesus' home. - -2 And Jesus said to them, This is the day to consecrate yourselves -unto the work of God; so let us pray. - -3 Turn from the outer to the inner self; close all the doors of carnal -self and wait. - -4 The Holy Breath will fill this place, and you will be baptized in -Holy Breath. - -5 And then they prayed; a light more brilliant than the noonday sun -filled all the room, and tongues of flame from every head rose high in -air. - -6 The atmosphere of Galilee was set astir; a sound like distant -thunder rolled above Capernaum, and men heard songs, as though ten -thousand angels joined in full accord. - -7 And then the twelve disciples heard a voice, a still, small voice, -and just one word was said, a word they dared not speak; it was the -sacred name of God. - -8 And Jesus said to them, By this omnific Word you may control the -elements, and all the powers of air. - -9 And when within your souls you speak this Word, you have the keys -of life and death; of things that are; of things that were; of things -that are to be. - -10 Behold you are the twelve great branches of the Christine vine; the -twelve foundation stones; the twelve apostles of the Christ. - -11 As lambs I send you forth among wild beasts; but the omnific Word -will be your buckler and your shield. - -12 And then again the air was filled with song, and every living -creature seemed to say, Praise God! Amen! - -13 The next day was the Sabbath day; and Jesus went with his disciples -to the synagogue, and there he taught. - -14 The people said, He teaches not as do the scribes and Pharisees; -but as a man who knows, and has authority to speak. - -15 As Jesus spoke, a man obsessed came in; the evil spirits that -obsessed the man were of the baser sort; they often threw their victim -to the ground, or in the fire. - -16 And when the spirits saw the Christine master in the synagogue they -knew him, and they said, - -17 You son of God, why are you here? would you destroy us by the Word -before our time? we would have naught to do with you; let us alone. - -18 But Jesus said to them, By the omnific Word I speak; Come out; -torment this man no more; go to your place. - -19 And then the unclean spirits threw the man upon the floor, and, -with a fiendish cry, they went away. - -20 And Jesus lifted up the man and said to him, If you will keep your -mind full occupied with good, the evil spirits cannot find a place to -stay; - -21 They only come to empty heads and hearts. Go on your way and sin no -more. - -22 The people were astonished at the words that Jesus spoke, the work -he did. They asked among themselves, - -23 Who is this man? From whence comes all this power that even unclean -spirits fear, and flee away? - -24 The Christine master left the synagogue; with Peter, Andrew, James -and John, he went to Peter's house where one, a near of kin, was sick. - -25 And Peter's wife came in; it was her mother who was sick. - -26 And Jesus touched the woman as she lay upon her couch; he spoke the -Word; the fever ceased and she arose and ministered to them. - -27 The neighbors heard what had occurred, and then they brought their -sick, and those obsessed, and Jesus laid his hands on them, and they -were healed. - - -CHAPTER 90. - - _Jesus goes alone to a mountain to pray. His disciples find - him. He calls the twelve and they journey through Galilee - teaching and healing. At Tiberius Jesus heals a leper. The - Christines return to Capernaum. In his own home Jesus heals a - palsied man and makes known the philosophy of healing and the - forgiveness of sins._ - -The Christine master disappeared; no one saw him go, and Peter, -James and John set forth to search for him; they found him at his -trysting-place out on the Hammoth hills. - -2 And Peter said, The city of Capernaum is wild; the people crowd the -streets and every public place is filled. - -3 The men, the women and the children everywhere are asking for the -man who heals by will. - -4 Your home and our homes are filled with people who are sick; they -call for Jesus who is called the Christ. What will we say to them? - -5 And Jesus said, A score of other cities call, and we must take the -bread of life to them. Go call the other men and let us go. - -6 And Jesus and the twelve went to Bethsaida where Philip and -Nathaniel dwelt; and there they taught. - -7 The multitudes believed on Christ, confessed their sins and were -baptized, and came into the kingdom of the Holy One. - -8 The Christine master and the twelve went everywhere through all the -towns of Galilee, and taught, baptizing all who came in faith, and who -confessed their sins. - -9 They opened blinded eyes, unstopped deaf ears, drove forth the evil -ones from those obsessed, and healed disease of every kind. - -10 And they were in Tiberius by the sea, and as they taught a leper -came a-near and said, Lord, I believe, and if you will but speak the -Word I will be clean. - -11 And Jesus said to him, I will; be clean. And soon the leprosy was -gone; the man was clean. - -12 And Jesus charged the man, Say naught to any one, but go and show -yourself unto the priests and offer for your cleansing what the law -demands. - -13 The man was wild with joy; but then he went not to the priests, but -in the marts of trade, and everywhere he told what had been done. - -14 And then the sick in throngs pressed hard upon the healer and the -twelve, imploring to be healed. - -15 And they were so importunate that little could be done, and so the -Christines left the crowded thoroughfares, and went to desert places -where they taught the multitudes that followed them. - -16 Now, after many days the Christines came back to Capernaum. When it -was noised around that Jesus was at home, the people came; they filled -the house till there was no more room, not even at the door. - -17 And there were present scribes and Pharisees and doctors of the law -from every part of Galilee, and from Jerusalem, and Jesus opened up -for them the way of life. - -18 Four men brought one, a palsied man upon a cot, and when they could -not pass the door they took the sick man to the roof, and opened up a -way, then let him down before the healer's face. - -19 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the palsied man, My son, -be of good cheer; your sins are all forgiven. - -20 And when the scribes and Pharisees heard what he said, they said, -Why does this man speak thus? who can forgive the sins of men but God? - -21 And Jesus caught their thought; he knew they questioned thus among -themselves; he said to them, - -22 Why reason thus among yourselves? What matters it if I should say, -Your sins are blotted out; or say, Arise, take up your bed and walk? - -23 But just to prove that men may here forgive the sins of men, I say, -(and then he spoke unto the palsied man), - -24 Arise, take up your bed, and go your way. - -25 And in the presence of them all the man arose, took up his bed, and -went his way. - -26 The people could not comprehend the things they heard and saw. They -said among themselves, This is a day we never can forget; we have seen -wondrous things today. - -27 And when the multitudes had gone the twelve remained, and Jesus -said to them, - -28 The Jewish festival draws near; next week we will go to Jerusalem, -that we may meet our brethren from afar, and open up to them the way -that they may see the king. - -29 The Christines sought the quiet of their homes, where they remained -in prayer for certain days. - - - - -SECTION XVI. - -AIN. - -_The Second Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 91. - - _Jesus at the feast in Jerusalem. Heals an impotent man. Gives - a practical lesson in healing. Affirms that all men are the - sons of God._ - -The feast time came and Jesus and the twelve went to Jerusalem. - -2 Upon the day before the Sabbath day they reached Mount Olives and -they tarried at an inn before Mount Olives on the north. - -3 And in the early morning of the Sabbath day they went in through the -sheep gate to Jerusalem. - -4 The healing fountain of Bethesda, near the gate, was thronged about -with people who were sick; - -5 For they believed that at a certain time an angel came and poured a -healing virtue in the pool, and those who entered first and bathed, -would be made whole. - -6 And Jesus and the twelve were standing near the pool. - -7 And Jesus saw a man near by who had been stricken eight and thirty -years; without a hand to help he could not move. - -8 And Jesus said to him, My brother, man, would you be healed? - -9 The man replied, I earnestly desire to be healed; but I am helpless -and when the angel comes and pours the healing virtues in the pool, - -10 Another who can walk, steps in the fountain first and I am left -unhealed. - -11 And Jesus said, Who sends an angel here to potentize this pool for -just a favored few? - -12 I know it is not God, for he deals just the same with every one. - -13 One has no better chance in heaven's healing fountain than another -one. - -14 The fount of health is in your soul; it has a door locked fast; the -key is faith; - -15 And every one can have this key and may unlock the door and plunge -into the healing fount and be made whole. - -16 And then the man looked up in hopeful mood and said, Give me this -key of faith. - -17 And Jesus said, Do you believe what I have said? According to your -faith it shall be done. Arise, take up your bed and walk. - -18 The man at once arose and walked away; he only said, Praise God. - -19 And when the people asked, Who made you whole? the man replied, I -do not know. A stranger at the pool just spoke a word and I was well. - -20 The many did not see when Jesus healed the man, and with the twelve -he went his way up to the temple courts. - -21 And in the temple Jesus saw the man and said to him, Behold you are -made whole; from henceforth guard your life aright; - -22 Go on your way and sin no more, or something worse may fall on you. - -23 And now the man knew who it was who made him whole. - -24 He told the story to the priests and they were much enraged; they -said, The law forbids a man to heal upon the Sabbath day. - -25 But Jesus said, My Father works on Sabbath days and may not I? - -26 He sends his rain, his sunshine and his dew; he makes his grass to -grow, his flowers to bloom; he speeds the harvests just the same on -Sabbath days as on the other days. - -27 If it is lawful for the grass to grow and flowers to bloom on -Sabbath days it surely is not wrong to succor stricken men. - -28 And then the priests were angered more and more because he claimed -to be a son of God. - -29 A leading priest, Abihu, said, This fellow is a menace to our -nation and our laws; he makes himself to be a son of God; it is not -meet that he should live. - -30 But Jesus said, Abihu, Sir, you are a learned man; you surely know -the law of life. Pray tell who were the sons of God we read about in -Genesis, who took to wife the daughters of the sons of men? - -31 Our father Adam; who was he? From whence came he? Had he a father? -or did he fall from heaven as a star? - -32 We read that Moses said, He came from God. If Adam came from God, -pray, was he offspring, was he son? - -33 We are the children of this son of God; then tell me, learned -priest, Who are we if not sons of God? - -34 The priest had urgent business and he went his away. - -35 And Jesus said, All men are sons of God and if they live a holy -life they always are at home with God. - -36 They see and understand the works of God, and in his sacred name -they can perform these works. - -37 The lightnings and the storms are messengers of God as well as are -the sunshine, rain and dew. - -38 The virtues of the heavens are in God's hands, and every loyal son -may use these virtues and these powers. - -39 Man is the delegate of God to do his will on earth, and man can -heal the sick, control the spirits of the air, and raise the dead. - -40 Because I have the power to do these things is nothing strange. All -men may gain the power to do these things; but they must conquer all -the passions of the lower self; and they can conquer if they will. - -41 So man is God on earth, and he who honors God must honor man; for -God and man are one, as father and the child are one. - -42 Behold, I say, The hour has come; the dead will hear the voice of -man, and live, because the son of man is son of God. - -43 You men of Israel, hear! you live in death; you are locked up -within the tomb. - -44 (There is no deeper death than ignorance and unbelief.) - -45 But all will some day hear the voice of God, made plain by voice of -man, and live. You all will know that you are sons of God, and by the -sacred Word, may do the works of God. - -46 When you have come to life, that is, have come to realize that you -are sons of God, you who have lived the life of right, will open up -your eyes on fields of life. - -47 But you who love the ways of sin will, in this resurrection, stand -before a judgment bar, and be condemned to pay the debts you owe to -men and to yourselves. - -48 For whatsoever you have done amiss must be performed again, and yet -again, until you reach the stature of the perfect man. - -49 But in due time the lowest and the highest will arise to walk in -light. - -50 Shall I accuse you unto God? No, for your prophet, Moses, has done -that; and if you hear not Moses' words you will not hearken unto me, -for Moses wrote of me. - - -CHAPTER 92. - - _The Christines at a feast in Lazarus' home. A fire rages in - the town. Jesus rescues a child from the flames and stays - the fire by the Word. He gives a practical lesson on how to - redeem a drunken man._ - -Now, Lazarus was at the feast and Jesus and the twelve went with him -to his home in Bethany. - -2 And Lazarus and his sisters made a feast for Jesus and the twelve; -and Ruth and Asher came from Jericho; for Asher was no longer hostile -to the Christ. - -3 And while the guests sat at the board behold a cry, The village is -a-fire! and all rushed out into the streets, and, lo, the homes of -many neighbors were in flames. - -4 And in an upper room an infant lay asleep, and none could pass the -flames to save. The mother, wild with grief, was calling on the men to -save her child. - -5 Then, with a voice that made the spirits of the fire pale and -tremble, Jesus said, Peace, peace, be still! - -6 And then he walked through smoke and flame, climbed up the falling -stair, and in a moment came again, and in his arms he brought the -child. And not a trace of fire was on himself, his raiment, or the -child. - -7 Then Jesus raised his hand, rebuked the spirits of the fire, -commanding them to cease their awful work, and be at rest. - -8 And then, as though the waters of the sea were all at once poured on -the flames, the fire ceased to burn. - -9 And when the fury of the fire was spent the multitudes were wild to -see the man who could control the fire, and Jesus said, - -10 Man was not made for fire, but fire was made for man. - -11 When man comes to himself and comprehends the fact that he is son -of God, and knows that in himself lies all the powers of God, he is a -master mind and all the elements will hear his voice and gladly do his -will. - -12 Two sturdy asses bind the will of man; their names are Fear and -Unbelief. When these are caught and turned aside, the will of man will -know no bounds; then man has but to speak and it is done. - -13 And then the guests returned and sat about the board. A little -child came in and stood by Jesus' side. - -14 She laid her hand on Jesus' arm and said, Please, Master Jesus, -hear! my father is a drunken man; my mother toils from morn till night -and when she brings her wages home my father snatches them away and -squanders every cent for drink, and mother and us little ones are -hungry all the night. - -15 Please, Master Jesus, come with me and touch my father's heart. He -is so good and kind when he is just himself; I know it is the wine -that makes another man of him. - -16 And Jesus went out with the child; he found the wretched home; he -spoke in kindness to the mother and the little ones, and then upon a -bed of straw he found the drunken man. - -17 He took him by the hand and raised him up and said, My brother, -man, made in the image of our Father-God, will you arise and come with -me? - -18 Your neighbors are in sore distress; they have lost all they had in -this fierce fire, and men must build their homes again and you and I -must lead the way. - -19 And then the man arose; the two went arm in arm to view the wrecks. - -20 They heard the mothers and the children crying in the streets; they -saw their wretchedness. - -21 And Jesus said, My friend, here is a work for you to do. Just lead -the way in helpfulness; I'm sure the men of Bethany will furnish you -the means and help. - -22 The spark of hope that had so long been smouldering in the man was -fanned into a flame. He threw his ragged coat aside; he was himself -again. - -23 And then he called for help; not for himself, but for the homeless -ones; and everybody helped. The ruined homes were built again. - -24 And then he saw his own poor den; his heart was stirred into its -depths. - -25 The pride of manhood filled his soul; he said, This wretched -den shall be a home. He worked as he had never wrought before, and -everybody helped. - -26 And in a little while the den became a home indeed; the flowers of -love bloomed everywhere. - -27 The mother and the little ones were filled with joy; the father -never drank again. - -28 A man was saved, and no one ever said a word about neglect or -drunkenness, nor urged him to reform. - - -CHAPTER 93. - - _The Christines go through a field of ripe wheat, and the - disciples eat of the wheat. Jesus exonerates them. The - Christines return to Capernaum. Jesus heals a withered hand - on the Sabbath, and defends his deed._ - -Another Sabbath day had come and Jesus and the twelve walked through a -field of ripened wheat. - -2 And they were hungry and they took the heads of wheat and in their -hands threshed out the grain and ate. - -3 Among the men who followed them were Pharisees of strictest sect, -and when they saw the twelve thresh out the wheat and eat, they said -to Jesus, - -4 Sir, why do the twelve do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath -day? - -5 And Jesus said, Have you not heard what David did when he and those -who followed him had need of food? - -6 How he went to the house of God and from the table in the Holy Place -took of the presence bread and ate, and gave to those who followed him? - -7 I tell you, men, the needs of man are higher than the law of rites. - -8 And in our sacred books we read how priests profane the Sabbath day -in many ways while they are serving in the Holy Place, and still are -free from guilt. - -9 The Sabbath day was made for man; man was not made to fit the -Sabbath day. - -10 The man is son of God and under the eternal law of right, which is -the highest law, he may annul the statute laws. - -11 The law of sacrifice is but the law of man, and in our law we read -that God desires mercy first; and mercy stands above all statute laws. - -12 The son of man is Lord of every law. Did not a prophet sum the -duties of the man when in the book he wrote: In mercy follow justice -and walk humbly with your God? - -13 Then Jesus and the twelve returned to Galilee, and on the day -before the Sabbath day they reached the home of Jesus in Capernaum. - -14 And on the Sabbath day they went up to the synagogue. The -multitudes were there and Jesus taught. - -15 Among the worshippers was one, a man who had a withered hand. The -scribes and Pharisees observed that Jesus saw the man, and then they -said, - -16 What will he do? Will he attempt to heal upon the Sabbath day? - -17 And Jesus knew their thoughts and he called to the man who had the -withered hand and said, Arise, stand forth before these men. - -18 And Jesus said, You scribes and Pharisees, speak out and answer me: -Is it a crime to save a life upon the Sabbath day? - -19 If you had sheep and one of them fell in a pit upon the Sabbath day -would you do wrong to take it out? - -20 Or would it please your God to let it suffer in the mire until -another day? - -21 But his accusers held their peace. - -22 And then he said to them, Are sheep of greater value than a man? - -23 The law of God is written on the rock of Right; and Justice wrote -the law, and Mercy was the pen. - -24 And then he said, Man, raise your hand and stretch it forth. He -raised his hand; it was restored. - -25 The Pharisees were filled with rage. They called in secret council -the Herodians, and they began to plot and plan how they might bring -about his death. - -26 They were afraid to publicly accuse, because the multitudes stood -forth in his defense. - -27 And Jesus and the twelve went down and walked beside the sea, and -many people followed them. - - -CHAPTER 94. - - _The Sermon on the Mount. Jesus reveals to the twelve the - secret of prayer. The model prayer. The law of forgiveness. - The holy fast. The evil of deceit. Almsgiving._ - -Next morning e'er the sun had risen Jesus and the twelve went to a -mountain near the sea to pray; and Jesus taught the twelve disciples -how to pray. He said, - -2 Prayer is the deep communion of the soul with God; - -3 So when you pray do not deceive yourselves as do the hypocrites who -love to stand upon the streets and in the synagogues and pour out many -words to please the ears of men. - -4 And they adorn themselves with pious airs that they may have the -praise of men. They seek the praise of men and their reward is sure. - -5 But when you pray, go to the closet of your soul; close all the -doors, and in the holy silence, pray. - -6 You need not speak a multitude of words, nor yet repeat the words -again and then again, as heathen do. Just say, - -7 Our Father-God who art in heaven; holy is thy name. Thy kingdom -come; thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. - -8 Give us this day our needed bread; - -9 Help us forget the debts that other people owe to us, that all our -debts may be discharged. - -10 And shield us from the tempter's snares that are too great for us -to bear; - -11 And when they come give us the strength to overcome. - -12 If you would be discharged from all the debts you owe to God and -man, the debts you have incurred by wilfully transgressing law, - -13 You must pass by the debts of every man; for as you deal with other -men your God will deal with you. - -14 And when you fast you may not advertise the deed. - -15 When fast the hypocrites they paint their faces, look demure, -assume a pious pose, that they may seem to men to fast. - -16 A fast is deed of soul, and like a prayer, it is a function of the -silence of the soul. - -17 God never passes by unnoticed any prayer, or fast. He walks within -the silence, and his benedictions rest on every effort of the soul. - -18 Deception is hypocrisy, and you shall not assume to be what you are -not. - -19 You may not clothe yourselves in special garb to advertise your -piety, nor yet assume the tone of voice that men conceive to be a holy -voice. - -20 And when you give to aid the needy ones, blow not a trumpet in the -street, nor synagogue to advertise your gift. - -21 He who does alms for praise of men has his reward from men; but God -regardeth not. - -22 In giving alms do not let the right hand know the secret of the -left. - - -CHAPTER 95. - - _The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus pronounces the eight - beatitudes and the eight woes. Speaks words of encouragement. - Emphasizes the exalted character of the apostolic work._ - -And Jesus and the twelve went to the mountain top, and Jesus said, - -2 Twelve pillars of the church, apostles of the Christ; light-bearers -of the sun of life and ministers of God to men: - -3 In just a little while you must go forth alone, and preach the -gospel of the king, first to the Jews and then to all the world. - -4 And you shall go, not with a scourge of cords to drive; you cannot -drive men to the king; - -5 But you shall go in love and helpfulness and lead the way to right -and light. - -6 Go forth and say, The kingdom is at hand. - -7 Worthy are the strong in spirit; theirs the kingdom is. - -8 Worthy are the meek; they shall possess the land. - -9 Worthy they who hunger and who thirst for right; they shall be -satisfied. - -10 Worthy are the merciful; and mercy shall be shown to them. - -11 Worthy they who gain the mastery of self; they have the key of -power. - -12 Worthy are the pure in heart; and they shall see the king. - -13 Worthy they who are maligned and wronged because they do the right; -their persecutors they shall bless. - -14 Worthy is the trustful child of faith; he shall sit in the throne -of power. - -15 Be not discouraged when the world shall persecute and call you -curst; but rather be exceeding glad. - -16 The prophets and the seers, and all the good of earth, have been -maligned. - -17 If you are worthy of the crown of life you will be slandered, -vilified and curst on earth. - -18 Rejoice when evil men shall drive you from their ways and cause -your name to be a hiss and byword in the street. - -19 I say, rejoice; but deal in mercy with the doers of the wrong; they -are but children at their play; they know not what they do. - -20 Rejoice not over fallen foes. As you help men rise from the depth -of sin, so God will help you on to greater heights. - -21 Woe to the rich is gold and lands; they have temptations multiform. - -22 Woe unto men who walk at will in pleasure's paths; their ways are -full of snares and dangerous pits. - -23 Woe to the proud; they stand upon a precipice; destruction waits -for them. - -24 Woe to the man of greed; for what he has is not his own; and, lo, -another comes; his wealth is gone. - -25 Woe to the hypocrite; his form is fair to look upon; his heart is -filled with carcasses and dead men's bones. - -26 Woe to the cruel and relentless man; he is himself the victim of -his deeds. - -27 The evil he would do to other men rebounds; the scourger is the -scourged. - -28 Woe to the libertine who preys upon the virtues of the weak. The -hour comes when he will be the weak, the victim of a libertine of -greater power. - -29 Woe unto you when all the world shall speak in praise of you. The -world speaks not in praise of men who live within the Holy Breath; it -speaks in praise of prophets false, and of illusions base. - -30 You men who walk in Holy Breath are salt, the salt of earth; but if -you lose your virtue you are salt in name alone, worth nothing more -than dust. - -31 And you are light; are called to light the world. - -32 A city on a hill cannot be hid; its lights are seen afar; and while -you stand upon the hills of life men see your light and imitate your -works and honor God. - -33 Men do not light a lamp and hide it in a cask; they put it on a -stand that it may light the house. - -34 You are the lamps of God; must not stand in the shade of earth -illusions, but in the open, high upon the stand. - -35 I am not come to nullify the law, nor to destroy; but to fulfill. - -36 The Law, the Prophets and the Psalms were written in the wisdom of -the Holy Breath and cannot fail. - -37 The heavens and earth that are will change and pass away; the -word of God is sure; it cannot pass until it shall accomplish that -whereunto it hath been sent. - -38 Whoever disregards the law of God and teaches men to do the same, -becomes a debtor unto God and cannot see his face until he has -returned and paid his debt by sacrifice of life. - -39 But he who hearkens unto God and keeps his law and does his will on -earth, shall rule with Christ. - -40 The scribes and Pharisees regard the letter of the law; they cannot -comprehend the spirit of the law; - -41 And if your righteousness does not exceed the righteousness of -scribe and Pharisee you cannot come into the kingdom of the soul. - -42 It is not what man does that gives him right to enter through the -gates; his pass word is his character and his desire is his character. - -43 The letter of the law deals with the acts of man; the spirit of the -law takes note of his desires. - - -CHAPTER 96. - - _The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus considers the Ten - Commandments. The philosophy of Christ the spirit of the - Commandments. Jesus unfolds the spiritual aspects of the - first four Commandments._ - -God gave the Ten Commandments unto men; upon the mountain Moses saw -the words of God; he wrote them down on solid rock; they cannot be -destroyed. - -2 These Ten Commandments show the justice side of God; but now the -love of God made manifest brings mercy on the wings of Holy Breath. - -3 Upon the unity of God the law was built. In all the world there is -one force; Jehovah is Almighty God. - -4 Jehovah wrote upon the heavens and Moses read, - -5 I am Almighty God and you shall have no God but me. - -6 There is one force, but many phases of that force; these phases men -call powers. - -7 All powers are of God; and they are manifests of God; they are the -Spirits of the God. - -8 If men could seem to find another force and worship at its shrine, -they would but court illusion, vain, - -9 A shadow of the One, Jehovah, God, and they who worship shadows are -but shadows on the wall; for men are what they court. - -10 And God would have all men to be the substance, and in mercy he -commanded, You shall seek no God but me. - -11 And finite man can never comprehend infinite things. Man cannot -make an image of the Infinite in force. - -12 And when men make a God of stone or wood or clay they make an image -of a shade; and they who worship at the shrine of shades are shades. - -13 So God in mercy said, You shall not carve out images of wood, or -clay, or stone. - -14 Such idols are ideals, abased ideals, and men can gain no higher -plane than their ideals. - -15 The God is Spirit, and in spirit men must worship if they would -attain a consciousness of God. - -16 But man can never make a picture or an image of the Holy Breath. - -17 The name of God man may not speak with carnal lips; with Holy -Breath alone can man pronounce the name. - -18 In vanity men think they know the name of God; they speak it -lightly and irreverently, and thus they are accursed. - -19 If men did know the sacred name and spoke it with unholy lips, they -would not live to speak it once again. - -20 But God in mercy has not yet unveiled his name to those who cannot -speak with Holy Breath. - -21 But they who speak the substitute in idle way are guilty in the -sight of God, who said, - -22 You shall not take the name of God in vain. - -23 The number of the Holy Breath is seven, and God holds in his hands -the sevens of time. - -24 In forming worlds he rested on the seventh day, and every seventh -day is set apart as Sabbath day for men. God said, - -25 The seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; remember it and -keep it wholly set apart for works of holiness; that is, for works not -for the selfish self, but for the universal self. - -26 Men may do work for self upon the six days of the week; but on the -Sabbath of the Lord they must do naught for self. - -27 This day is consecrated unto God; but man serves God by serving man. - - -CHAPTER 97. - - _The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus unfolds to the - twelve the spiritual aspects of the fifth and sixth - Commandments._ - -God is not force alone; for wisdom is his counterpart. - -2 When cherubim instructed man in wisdom's ways they said that wisdom -is the Mother of the race, as force is Father of the race. - -3 The man who honors the almighty and omniscient God is blessed, and -in the tables of the law we read, - -4 Pay homage to your Father and your Mother of the race, that your -days may be prolonged upon the land that they have given you. - -5 The letter of the law commands; You shall not kill; and he who kills -must stand before the judgment seat, - -6 A person may desire to kill, yet if he does not kill he is not -judged by law. - -7 The spirit of the law avers that he who shall desire to kill, or -seeks revenge, is angry with a man without sufficient cause, must -answer to the judge; - -8 And he who calls his brother soulless vagabond shall answer to the -council of the just; - -9 And he who calls his brother a degenerate, a dog, fans into life the -burning fires of hell within himself. - -10 Now, in the higher law we read that if your brother is aggrieved -by something you have done, before you offer unto God your gifts, go -forth and find your brother and be reconciled to him. - -11 It is not well to let the sun go down upon your wrath. - -12 If he will not be reconciled when you have laid aside all selfish -pleas, have waived all selfish rights, you will be guiltless in the -sight of God; then go and offer unto God your gifts. - -13 If you owe aught to any man and cannot pay; or if a man shall claim -a greater sum than is his due, it is not well that you dispute his -claims. - -14 Resistance is the sire of anger; there is no mercy and no reason in -a wrathful man. - -15 I tell you it is better far to suffer loss than go to law, or call -upon the courts of men to judge of right and wrong. - -16 The law of carnal man would say, Eye for eye and tooth for tooth; -resist encroachment on your rights. - -17 But this is not the law of God. The Holy Breath would say, Resist -not him who would deprive you of your goods. - -18 He who would take your coat by force is still a brother man and you -should gain his heart, which by resistance cannot be done; - -19 Give him your coat and offer him still more and more; in time the -man will rise above the brute; you will have saved him from himself. - -20 Refuse not him who calls for help and give to him who asks to -borrow aught. - -21 And if a man shall strike you in a fitful, or an angry way, it is -not well to smite him in return. - -22 Men call him coward who will not fight and thus defend his rights; -but he is much the greater man who is assailed, is smitten and does -not smite; - -23 Who is maligned and answers not, than he who smites the smiter and -reviles the one who slanders him. - -24 It has been said in olden times that man shall love his friend and -hate his foe; but, lo, I say, - -25 Be merciful unto your foes; bless those who slander you; do good to -those who do you harm and pray for those who trample on your rights. - -26 Remember, you are children of the God who makes his sun to rise -alike upon the evil and the good, who sends his rain upon the unjust -and the just. - -27 If you do unto other men as they do unto you, you are but slaves, -but followers in the way to death. - -28 But you, as children of the light, must lead the way. - -29 Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. - -30 When you do good to those who have done good to you, you do no more -than other men; the publicans do that. - -31 If you salute your friends and not your foes, you are like other -men; the publicans have set the pace. - -32 Be perfect as your Father-God in heaven is. - - -CHAPTER 98. - - _The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus reveals to the - twelve the spiritual aspects of the seventh, eighth and tenth - Commandments._ - -The law forbids adultery; but in the eyes of law adultery is an overt -act, the satisfaction of the sensuous self outside the marriage bonds. - -2 Now, marriage in the sight of law is but a promise made by man and -woman, by the sanction of a priest, to live for aye in harmony and -love. - -3 No priest nor officer has power from God to bind two souls in wedded -love. - -4 What is the marriage tie? Is it comprised in what a priest or -officer may say? - -5 Is it the scroll on which the officer or priest has written the -permission for the two to live in marriage bonds? - -6 Is it the promise of the two that they will love each other until -death? - -7 Is love a passion that is subject to the will of man? - -8 Can man pick up his love, as he would pick up precious gems, and lay -it down, or give it out to any one? - -9 Can love be bought and sold like sheep? - -10 Love is the power of God that binds two souls and makes them one; -there is no power on earth that can dissolve the bond. - -11 The bodies may be forced apart by man or death for just a little -time; but they will meet again. - -12 Now, in this bond of God we find the marriage tie; all other unions -are but bonds of straw, and they who live in them commit adultery, - -13 The same as they who satisfy their lust without the sanction of an -officer or priest. - -14 But more than this; the man or woman who indulges lustful thoughts -commits adultery. - -15 Whom God has joined together man cannot part; whom man has joined -together live in sin. - -16 Upon a table of the law, the great lawgiver wrote, Thou shalt not -steal. - -17 Before the eyes of law a man to steal must take a thing that can be -seen with eyes of flesh, without the knowledge or consent of him to -whom the thing belongs. - -18 But, lo, I say that he who in his heart desires to possess that -which is not his own, and would deprive the owner of the thing without -his knowledge or consent, is in the sight of God, a thief. - -19 The things that men see not with eyes of flesh are of more worth -than are the things that man can see. - -20 A man's good name is worth a thousand mines of gold, and he who -says a word or does a deed that injures or defames that name has taken -what is not his own, and is a thief. - -21 Upon a table of the law we also read; Thou shalt not covet anything. - -22 To covet is an all-consuming wish to have what is not right for one -to have. - -23 And such a wish, within the spirit of the law, is theft. - - -CHAPTER 99. - - _The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus unfolds to the - twelve the spiritual aspects of the ninth Commandment._ - -The law has said: Thou shalt not lie; but in the eyes of law a man to -lie must tell in words what is not true. - -2 Now, in the light of spirit law, deceit in any form is nothing but a -lie. - -3 A man may lie by look or act; yea, even by his silence may deceive, -and thus be guilty in the eyes of Holy Breath. - -4 It has been said in olden times: Thou shalt not swear by thine own -life. - -5 But, lo, I say, Swear not at all; not by the head, the heart, the -eye, nor hand; not by the sun, the moon, nor stars; - -6 Not by the name of God, nor by the name of any spirit, good or bad. - -7 You shall not swear by anything; for in an oath there is no gain. - -8 A man whose word must be propped up by oath of any kind is not -trustworthy in the sight of God or man. - -9 By oath you cannot make a leaf to fall, nor turn the color of a hair. - -10 The man of worth just speaks, and men know that he speaks the truth. - -11 The man who pours out many words to make men think he speaks the -truth, is simply making smoke to hide a lie. - -12 And there are many men with seeming double hearts; men who would -serve two masters at a time--two masters quite adverse. - -13 Men feign to worship God upon the Sabbath day and then pay court to -Beelzebul on every other day. - -14 No man can serve two masters at a time no more than he can ride two -asses at a time that go in different ways. - -15 The man who feigns to worship God and Beelzebul is foe of God, a -pious devil and a curse of men. - -16 And men cannot lay treasures up in heaven and earth at once. - -17 Then, lo, I say, Lift up your eyes and see the safety vaults of -heaven, and there deposit every gem, - -18 Where moth and rust cannot corrupt; where thieves cannot break in -and steal. - -19 There are no safety vaults on earth; no place secure from moth, and -rust and thieves. - -20 The treasures of the earth are but illusive things that pass away. - -21 Be not deceived; your treasures are the anchor of the soul, and -where your treasures are your heart will be. - -22 Fix not your heart upon the things of earth; be anxious not about -the things to eat, or drink, or wear. - -23 God cares for those who trust in him and serve the race. - -24 Behold the birds! They praise God in their songs; the earth is made -more glorious by their ministry of joy; God keeps them in the hollow -of his hand, - -25 And not a sparrow falls to earth without his care; and every one -that falls shall rise again. - -26 Behold the flowers of earth! they trust in God and grow; they make -the earth resplendent with their beauty and perfume. - -27 Look at the lilies of the field, the messengers of holy love. No -son of man, not even Solomon in all his excellence, was ever clothed -like one of these. - -28 And yet they simply trust in God; they feed from out his hand; they -lay their heads to rest upon his breast. - -29 If God so clothes and feeds the flowers and birds that do his will, -will he not feed and clothe his children when they trust in him? - -30 Seek first the kingdom of the soul, the righteousness of God, the -good of men, and murmur not; God will protect, and feed, and clothe. - - -CHAPTER 100. - - _The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus formulates and - presents to the twelve a practical code of spiritual ethics._ - -There is a rule that carnal man has made, and which he rigidly -observes: - -2 Do unto other men as they do unto you. As others judge, they judge; -as others give, they give. - -3 Now, while you walk with men as men, judge not, and you shall not be -judged. - -4 For as you judge you shall be judged, and as you give it shall be -given to you. If you condemn, you are condemned. - -5 When you show mercy, men are merciful to you, and if you love in -such a way that carnal man can comprehend your love, you will be well -beloved. - -6 And so the wise man of this world does unto other men as he would -have them do to him. - -7 The carnal man does good to other men for selfish gain, for he -expects to have his blessings multiplied and then returned; he does -not stop to note the end. - -8 Man is himself the field; his deeds are seeds, and what he does to -others grows apace; the harvest time is sure. - -9 Behold the yield! If he has sown the wind, he reaps the wind; if he -has sown the noxious seeds of scandal, theft and hate; of sensuality -and crime, - -10 The harvest is assured and he must reap what he has sown; yea, -more; the seeds produce an hundred fold. - -11 The fruit of righteousness and peace and love and joy can never -spring from noxious seeds; the fruit is like the seed. - -12 And when you sow, sow seeds of right, because it is the right, and -not in way of trade, expecting rich rewards. - -13 The carnal man abhors the spirit law, because it takes away his -liberty to live in sin; beneath its light he cannot satisfy his -passions and desires. - -14 He is at enmity with him who walks in Holy Breath. The carnal man -has killed the holy men of old, the prophets and the seers. - -15 And he will buffet you; will charge you falsely, scourge you and -imprison you, and think he does the will of God to slay you in the -streets. - -16 But you may not prejudge nor censure him who does you wrong. - -17 Each one has problems to be solved, and he must solve them for -himself. - -18 The man who scourges you may have a load of sin to bear; but how -about your own? - -19 A little sin in one who walks in Holy Breath is greater in the -sight of God than monster sins in him who never knew the way. - -20 How can you see the splinter in your brother's eye while you have -chunks within your own? - -21 First take the chunks from out your eye and then you may behold the -splinter in your brother's eye and help him take it out, - -22 And while your eyes are full of foreign things you cannot see the -way, for you are blind, - -23 And when the blind lead forth the blind, both lose the way and fall -into the slough. - -24 If you would lead the way to God you must be clear in sight, as -well as pure in heart. - - -CHAPTER 101. - - _The Sermon on the Mount, concluded. The concluding part of the - code of ethics. The Christines return to Capernaum._ - -The fruitage of the tree of life is all too fine to feed the carnal -mind. - -2 If you would throw a diamond to a hungry dog, lo, he would turn -away, or else attack you in a rage. - -3 The incense that is sweet to God is quite offensive unto Beelzebul; -the bread of heaven is but chaff to men who cannot comprehend the -spirit life. - -4 The master must be wise and feed the soul with what it can digest. - -5 If you have not the food for every man, just ask and you shall have; -seek earnestly and you shall find. - -6 Just speak the Word and knock; the door will fly ajar. - -7 No one has ever asked in faith and did not have; none ever sought in -vain; no one who ever knocked aright has failed to find an open door. - -8 When men shall ask you for the bread of heaven, turn not away, nor -give to them the fruit of carnal trees. - -9 If one, a son, would ask you for a loaf, would you give him a stone? -If he would ask you for a fish, would you give him a serpent of the -dust? - -10 What you would have your God give unto you, give unto men. The -measure of your worth lies in your service unto men. - -11 There is a way that leads unto the perfect life; few find it at a -time. - -12 It is a narrow way; it lies among the rocks and pitfalls of the -carnal life; but in the way there are no pitfalls and no rocks. - -13 There is a way that leads to wretchedness and want. It is a -spacious way and many walk therein. It lies among the pleasure groves -of carnal life. - -14 Beware, for many claim to walk the way of life who walk the way of -death. - -15 But they are false in word and deed; false prophets they. They -clothe themselves in skins of sheep, while they are vicious wolves. - -16 They cannot long conceal themselves; men know them by their fruits; - -17 You cannot gather grapes from thorns, nor from the thistles, figs. - -18 The fruit is daughter of the tree and, like the parent, so the -child; and every tree that bears not wholesome fruit is plucked up by -the roots and cast away, - -19 Because a man prays long and loud is not a sign that he is saint. -The praying men are not all in the kingdom of the soul. - -20 The man who lives the holy life, who does the will of God, abides -within the kingdom of the soul. - -21 The good man from the treasures of his heart sends blessedness and -peace to all the world. - -22 The evil man sends thoughts that blight and wither hope and joy and -fill the world with wretchedness and woe. - -23 Men think and act and speak out of the abundance of the heart. - -24 And when the judgment hour shall come a host of men will enter -pleadings for themselves and think to buy the favor of the judge with -words. - -25 And they will say, Lo, we have wrought a multitude of works in the -Omnific name, - -26 Have we not prophesied? Have we not cured all manner of disease? -Have we not cast the evil spirits out of those obsessed? - -27 And then the judge will say, I know you not. You rendered service -unto God in words when in your heart you worshipped Beelzebul. - -28 The evil one may use the powers of life, and do a multitude of -mighty works. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity. - -29 The man who hears the words of life and does them not is like the -man who builds his house upon the sand, which when the floods come on, -is washed away and all is lost. - -30 But he who hears the words of life and in an honest, sincere heart -receives and treasures them and lives the holy life, - -31 Is like the man who builds his house upon the rock; the floods may -come, the winds may blow, the storms may beat upon his house; it is -not moved. - -32 Go forth and build your life upon the solid rock of truth, and all -the powers of the evil one will shake it not. - -33 And Jesus finished all his sayings on the mount and then he, with -the twelve, returned unto Capernaum. - - -CHAPTER 102. - - _The Christines at the home of Jesus. Jesus unfolds to them the - secret doctrine. They go through all Galilee and teach and - heal. Jesus brings to life the son of a widow at Nain. They - return to Capernaum._ - -The twelve apostles went with Jesus to his home, and there abode for -certain days. - -2 And Jesus told them many things about the inner life that may not -now be written in a book. - -3 Now, in Capernaum there lived a man of wealth, a Roman captain of a -hundred men, who loved the Jews and who had built for them a synagogue. - -4 A servant of this man was paralyzed, and he was sick nigh unto death. - -5 The captain knew of Jesus and had heard that by the sacred Word he -healed the sick, and he had faith in him. - -6 He sent a message by the elders of the Jews to Jesus, and he plead -for help. - -7 And Jesus recognized the captain's faith and went at once to heal -the sick; the captain met him on the way and said to him, - -8 Lo, Lord, it is not well that you should come into my house; I am -not worthy of the presence of a man of God. - -9 I am a man of war; my life is spent with those who ofttimes take the -lives of fellow men, - -10 And surely he who comes to save would be dishonored if he came -beneath my roof. - -11 If you will speak the Word I know my servant will be well. - -12 And Jesus turned and said to those who followed him, - -13 Behold the captain's faith; I have not seen such faith, no, not in -Israel. - -14 Behold, the feast is spread for you; but while you doubt and wait, -the alien comes in faith and takes the bread of life. - -15 Then turning to the man he said, Go on your way; according to your -faith so shall it be; your servant lives. - -16 It came to pass that at the time that Jesus spoke the Word the -palsied man arose, and he was well. - -17 And then the Christines went abroad to teach. And as they came to -Nain, a city on the Hermon way, they saw a multitude about the gates. - -18 It was a funeral train; a widow's son was dead, and friends were -bearing out the body to the tomb. - -19 It was the widow's only son, and she was wild with grief. And Jesus -said to her, Weep not, I am the life; your son shall live. - -20 And Jesus raised his hand; the bearers of the dead stood still. - -21 And Jesus touched the bier and said, Young man, return. - -22 The soul returned; the body of the dead was filled with life; the -man sat up and spoke. - -23 The people were astonished at the scene, and every one exclaimed, -Praise God. - -24 A Jewish priest stood forth and said, Behold, a mighty prophet has -appeared; and all the people said, Amen. - -25 The Christines journeyed on; they taught, and healed the sick in -many towns of Galilee, and then they came again unto Capernaum. - - -CHAPTER 103. - - _The Christines in Jesus' home. Jesus teaches the twelve - and the foreign masters every morning. Jesus receives - messengers from John, the harbinger, and sends him words of - encouragement. He eulogizes the character of John._ - -The home of Jesus was a school where in the early morning hours the -twelve apostles and the foreign priests were taught the secret things -of God. - -2 And there were present priests from China, India and from Babylon; -from Persia, Egypt and from Greece, - -3 Who came to sit at Jesus' feet to learn the wisdom that he brought -to men, that they might teach their people how to live the holy life. - -4 And Jesus taught them how to teach; he told them of the trials of -the way, and how to make these trials serve the race. - -5 He taught them how to live the holy life that they might conquer -death; - -6 He taught them what the end of mortal life will be, when man has -reached the consciousness that he and God are one. - -7 The after midday hours were given to the multitudes who came to -learn the way of life and to be healed; and many did believe and were -baptized. - -8 Now, in his prison by the Bitter Sea the harbinger had heard of all -the mighty works that Jesus did. - -9 His prison life was hard, and he was sore distressed, and he began -to doubt. - -10 And to himself he said, I wonder if this Jesus is the Christ of -whom the prophets wrote! - -11 Was I mistaken in my work? Was I, indeed, one sent from God to pave -the way for him who shall redeem our people, Israel? - -12 And then he sent some of his friends, who came to see him in his -prison cell, up to Capernaum that they might learn about this man, and -bring him word. - -13 The men found Jesus in his home, and said, Behold the harbinger -sent us to ask, Are you the Christ? or is he yet to come? - -14 But Jesus answered not; he simply bade the men to tarry certain -days that they might see and hear. - -15 They saw him heal the sick, and cause the lame to walk, the deaf to -hear, the blind to see; - -16 They saw him cast the evil spirits out of those obsessed; they saw -him raise the dead. - -17 They heard him preach the gospel to the poor. - -18 Then Jesus said to them, Go on your way; return to John and tell -him all that you have seen and heard; then he will know. They went -their way. - -19 The multitudes were there, and Jesus said to them, Once you were -crowding Jordan's fords; you filled the wilderness. - -20 What did you go to see? The trees of Juda, and the flowers of Heth? -Or did you go to see a man in kingly garb? Or did you go to see a -prophet and a seer? - -21 I tell you, men, you know not whom you saw. A prophet? Yea, and -more; a messenger whom God had sent to pave the way for what you see -and hear this day. - -22 Among the men of earth a greater man has never lived than John. - -23 Behold I say, This man whom Herod bound in chains and cast into a -prison cell, is God's Elijah come again to earth. - -24 Elijah, who did not pass the gates of death, whose body of this -flesh was changed, and he awoke in Paradise. - -25 When John came forth and preached the gospel of repentance for the -cleansing of the soul, the common folks believed and were baptized. - -26 The lawyers and the Pharisees accepted not the teachings of this -man; were not baptized. - -27 Behold, neglected opportunities will never come again. - -28 Behold, the people are unstable as the waters of the sea; they seek -to be excused from righteousness. - -29 John came and ate no bread, and drank no wine. He lived the -simplest life apart from men, and people said, He is obsessed. - -30 Another comes who eats and drinks and lives in homes like other -men, and people say, He is a glutton, an inebriate, a friend of -publicans and those who sin. - -31 Woe unto you, you cities of the vale of Galilee, where all the -mighty works of God are done! Woe to Chorazan and Bethsaida! - -32 If half the mighty works that have been done in you were done in -Tyre and in Sidon they would have long ago repented of their sins, and -sought the way of right. - -33 And when the judgment day shall come, lo, Tyre and Sidon will be -called more worthy than will you, - -34 Because they slighted not their gifts, while you have thrown away -the pearl of greatest price. - -35 Woe unto you Capernaum! Behold, you are exalted now, but you shall -be abased; - -36 For if the mighty works that have been done in you had but been -done within the cities of the plain--of Sodom and Zeboim--they would -have heard and turned to God; would not have been destroyed. - -37 They perished in their ignorance; they had no light; but you have -heard; you have the evidence. - -38 The light of life has shown above your hills and all the shores of -Galilee have been ablaze with light; - -39 The glory of the Lord has shown in every street and synagogue and -home; but you have spurned the light. - -40 And, lo, I say, The judgment day will come and God will deal in -greater mercy with the cities of the plains than he will deal with you. - - -CHAPTER 104. - - _Jesus teaches the multitudes. Attends a feast in Simon's - house. A wealthy courtesan anoints him with precious - balm. Simon rebukes him and he preaches a sermon on false - respectability._ - -And Jesus looked upon the multitudes who pressed about for selfish -gain. - -2 The men of learning and of wealth, of reputation and of power, were -there; but they knew not the Christ. - -3 Their eyes were blinded by the tinseled glitter of their selfish -selves; they could not see the king. - -4 And though they walked within the light, they groped about in -dark--a darkness like the night of death. - -5 And Jesus cast his eyes to heaven and said, - -6 I thank thee, Holy One of heaven and earth, that while the light is -hidden from the wise and great, it is revealed to babes. - -7 Then turning to the multitudes he said, I come to you not in the -name of man, nor in a strength my own; - -8 The wisdom and the virtue that I bring to you are from above; they -are the wisdom and the virtue of the God whom we adore. - -9 The words I speak are not my words; I give to you what I receive. - -10 Come unto me all you who labor and pull heavy loads and I will give -you aid. - -11 Put on the yoke of Christ with me; it does not chafe; it is an -easy yoke. - -12 Together we will pull the load of life with ease; and so rejoice. - -13 A Pharisee, whose name was Simon, made a feast, and Jesus was the -honored guest. - -14 And as they sat about the board, a courtesan who had been cured -of her desire to sin by what she had received and seen in Jesus' -ministry, came uninvited to the feast. - -15 She brought an alabaster box of costly balm and as the guests -reclined she came to Jesus in her joy, because she had been freed from -sin, - -16 Her tears fell fast, she kissed his feet, and dried them with her -hair, and she anointed them with balm. - -17 And Simon thought, he did not speak aloud, This man is not a -prophet or he would know the kind of woman that approaches him, and -would drive her away. - -18 But Jesus knew his thoughts, and said to him, My host, I have a -word to say to you. - -19 And Simon said, Say on. - -20 And Jesus said, Sin is a monster of iniquity; it may be small; -it may be large; it may be something done; it may be something left -undone. - -21 Behold, one person leads a life of sin and is at last redeemed; -another, in a careless mood, forgets to do the things he ought to do; -but he reforms and is forgiven. Now, which of these has merited the -higher praise? - -22 And Simon said, The one who overcame the errors of a life. - -23 And Jesus said, You speak the truth. - -24 Behold, this woman who has bathed my feet with tears and dried them -with her hair and covered them with balm! - -25 For years she led a life of sin, but when she heard the words of -life she sought forgiveness and she found. - -26 But when I came into your house as guest you gave me not a bowl of -water that I might wash my hands and feet, which every loyal Jew must -do before he feasts. - -27 Now, tell me, Simon, which of these, this woman or yourself, is -worthy of most praise? - -28 But Simon answered not. - -29 Then to the woman Jesus said, Your sins are all forgiven; your -faith has saved you; go in peace. - -30 And then the guests who sat around the board, began to say within -themselves, What manner of a man is this who says, Thy sins are all -forgiven? - - -CHAPTER 105. - - _Under the patronage of a number of wealthy women, the - Christines make a grand missionary tour. In his teaching - Jesus lauds sincerity and rebukes hypocrisy. He speaks - concerning the sin against the Holy Breath._ - -Now, many women who possessed much wealth, and who abode in other -towns of Galilee, implored that Jesus and the twelve, together with -the masters from the foreign lands, would thither go and preach and -heal. - -2 Among these anxious ones were Mary Magdalene, who was obsessed by -seven homeless spirits of the air, which had been driven out by the -Omnific Word which Jesus spoke; - -3 Susanna, who owned vast estates at Caesarea-Philippi; - -4 Johanna, wife of Chuza, one of Herod's court; - -5 And Rachel from the coast of Tyre; - -6 And others from beyond the Jordan and the sea of Galilee. - -7 And they provided ample means and three times seven men went forth. - -8 They preached the gospel of the Christ, and they baptized the -multitudes who made confession of their faith; they healed the sick -and raised the dead. - -9 And Jesus wrought and taught from early morn until the day had gone, -and then into the night; he did not stop to eat. - -10 His friends became alarmed lest he should fail from loss of -strength, and they laid hold of him and would, by force, have taken -him away to place of rest. - -11 But he rebuked them not; he said, Have you not read that God will -give his angels charge concerning me? - -12 That they would hold me fast and suffer not that I should come to -want? - -13 I tell you, men, while I am giving out my strength unto these -anxious, waiting throngs I find myself at rest within the arms of God, - -14 Whose blessed messengers bring down to me the bread of life. - -15 There is a tide just once in human life. - -16 These people now are willing to receive the truth; their -opportunity is now: our opportunity is now. - -17 And if we do not teach them while we may, the tide will ebb; - -18 They may not care again to hear the truth; then tell me, Who will -bear the guilt? - -19 And so he taught and healed. - -20 Among the multitudes were men of every shade of thought. They were -divided in their views concerning everything that Jesus said. - -21 Some saw in him a God, and would have worshipped him; and others -saw in him a devil of the nether world and would have cast him in a -pit. - -22 And some were trying hard to lead a double life; like little lions -of the ground that take upon themselves the color of the thing they -rest upon. - -23 These people without anchorage of any sort, are friends or foes as -seemed to serve them best. - -24 And Jesus said, No man can serve two masters at a time. No man can -be a friend and foe at once. - -25 All men are rising up, or sinking down; are building up, or tearing -down. - -26 If you are gathering not the precious grain, then you are throwing -it away. - -27 He is a coward who would feign to be a friend, or foe, to please -another man. - -28 You men, do not deceive yourselves in thought; your hearts are -known; - -29 Hypocrisy will blight a soul as surely as the breath of Beelzebul. -An honest evil man is more esteemed by guardians of the soul than a -dishonest pious man. - -30 If you would curse the son of man, just curse him out aloud. - -31 A curse is poison to the inner man, and if you hold and swallow -down a curse it never will digest; lo, it will poison every atom of -your soul. - -32 And if you sin against a son of man, you may be pardoned and your -guilt be cleansed by acts of kindness and of love; - -33 But if you sin against the Holy Breath by disregarding her when -she would open up the doors of life for you; - -34 By closing up the windows of the soul when she would pour the light -of love into your hearts, and cleanse them with the fires of God; - -35 Your guilt shall not be blotted out in this, nor in the life to -come. - -36 An opportunity has gone to come no more, and you must wait until -the ages roll again. - -37 Then will the Holy Breath again breathe on your fires of life, and -fan them to a living flame. - -38 Then she will open up the doors again, and you may let her in to -sup with you forevermore, or you may slight her once again, and then -again. - -39 You men of Israel, your opportunity is now. - -40 Your tree of life is an illusive tree; it has a generous crop of -leaves; its boughs hang low with fruit. - -41 Behold, your words are leaves; your deeds the fruit. - -42 Behold, for men have plucked the apples of your tree of life, and -found them full of bitterness; and worms have eaten to the core. - -43 Behold that fig tree by the way so full of leaves and worthless -fruit! - -44 Then Jesus spoke a word that nature spirits know, and lo, the fig -tree stood a mass of withered leaves. - -45 And then he spoke again, Behold, for God will speak the Word, and -you will stand a withered fig tree in the setting sun. - -46 You men of Galilee, send forth and call the pruner in before it is -too late, and let him prune away your worthless branches and illusive -leaves, and let the sunshine in. - -47 The sun is life, and it can change your worthlessness to worth. - -48 Your tree of life is good; but you have nurtured it so long with -dews of self, and mists of carnal things that you have shut the -sunshine out. - -49 I tell you, men, that you must give account to God for every idle -word you speak and every evil deed you do. - - -CHAPTER 106. - - _The Christines are in Magdala. Jesus heals a man who was - blind, dumb and obsessed. He teaches the people. While he - speaks his mother, brothers and Miriam come to him. He - teaches a lesson on family relationship. He introduces Miriam - to the people and she sings her songs of victory._ - -Magdala is beside the sea, and here the teachers taught. - -2 A man obsessed, and who was blind and dumb was brought, and Jesus -spoke the Word, and lo, the evil spirits went away; the man spoke out, -his eyes were opened and he saw. - -3 This was the greatest work that men had seen the master do, and they -were all amazed. - -4 The Pharisees were there, and they were full of jealous rage; they -sought a cause whereby they might condemn. - -5 They said, Yes, it is true that Jesus does a multitude of mighty -works; but men should know that he is leagued with Beelzebul. - -6 He is a sorcerer, a black magician of the Simon Cerus type; he works -as Jannes and as Jambres did in Moses' day. - -7 For Satan, prince of evil spirits, is his stay by night and day, -and in the name of Satan he casts the demons out, and in his name he -heals the sick and raises up the dead. - -8 But Jesus knew their thoughts; he said to them, You men are masters, -and you know the law; whatever is arrayed against itself must fall; a -house divided cannot stand; - -9 A kingdom warring with itself is brought to naught. - -10 If Satan casts the devil out, how can his kingdom stand? - -11 If I, by Beelzebul, cast devils out, by whom do you cast devils out? - -12 But if I, in the holy name of God, cast devils out, and make the -lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the blind to see, the dumb to speak, -has not God's kingdom come to you? - -13 The Pharisees were dumb; they answered not. - -14 As Jesus spoke a messenger approached and said to him, Your mother -and your brothers wish to speak with you. - -15 And Jesus said, Who is my mother? and my brothers, who are they? - -16 And then he spoke a word aside unto the foreign masters and the -twelve; he said, - -17 Behold, men recognize their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers -here in flesh; but when the veil is rent and men walk in the realms of -soul, - -18 The tender lines of love that bind the groups of fleshy kin in -families will fade away. - -19 Not that the love for anyone will be the less; but men will see in -all the motherhood, the fatherhood, the sisterhood, the brotherhood of -man. - -20 The family groups of earth will all be lost in universal love and -fellowship divine. - -21 Then to the multitudes he said, Whoever lives the life and does the -will of God is child of God and is my mother, father, sister, friend. - -22 And then he went aside to speak to mother and his other kindred in -the flesh. - -23 But he saw more than these. The maiden who once thrilled his very -soul with love, a love beyond the love of any fleshly kin; - -24 Who was the sorest tempter in the temple Heliopolis beside the -Nile, who sung for him the sacred songs, was there. - -25 The recognition was of kindred souls, and Jesus said, - -26 Behold, for God has brought to us a power men cannot comprehend, a -power of purity and love; - -27 To make more light the burdens of the hour, to be a balm for -wounded souls; - -28 To win the multitude to better ways by sacred song and holy life. - -29 Behold, for Miriam who stood beside the sea and sung the song of -victory when Moses led the way, will sing again. - -30 And all the choirs of heaven will join and sing the glad refrain: - -31 Peace, peace on earth; good will to men! - -32 And Miriam stood before the waiting throngs and sung again the -songs of victory, and all the people said, Amen. - - -CHAPTER 107. - - _A Pharisee demands of Jesus signs of his messiahship. Jesus - rebukes him, because he does not recognize the signs that are - being continually given. Jesus exhorts the people to receive - the light that they may become the light._ - -A Pharisee elated with himself stood forth among the multitudes and -said to Jesus, - -2 Sir, we would have you demonstrate. If you are truly Christ who was -to come, then you can surely do what black magicians cannot do. - -3 Lo, they can talk, and hold the multitudes with words of power; and -they can heal the sick and drive the demons out of those obsessed; - -4 They can control the storms; and fire and earth and air will hear -and answer when they speak. - -5 Now, if you will ascend and from that tower fly across the sea, we -will believe that you are sent from God. - -6 And Jesus said, No black magician ever lived a holy life; you have a -demonstration of the Christ-life every day. - -7 But lo, you evil and adulterous scribes and Pharisees, you cannot -see a spirit-sign, because your spirit eyes are full of carnal self. - -8 You seek a sign to please your curiosity. You walk the very lowest -planes of carnal life and cry, Phenomena! show us a sign and then we -will believe. - -9 I was not sent to earth to buy up faith as men buy fish and fruit -and rubbish in the streets. - -10 Men seem to think it quite a favor done to me when they confess -their faith in me and in the holy Christ. - -11 What does it matter unto me as man if you believe or disbelieve? - -12 Faith is not something you can buy with coin; it is not something -you can sell for gold. - -13 Once Mart, a beggar, followed me and cried, Give me a silver piece; -then I will believe in you. - -14 And you are like this beggar man; you offer to exchange your faith -for signs. - -15 But I will give to all the world one sign as surety that the Christ -abides with me. - -16 You all have read the parable of Jonah and the fish, wherein it -is recorded that the prophet spent three days and nights within the -stomach of the mighty fish, and then came forth. - -17 The son of man will spend three days and nights within the heart of -earth and then come forth again, and men will see and know. - -18 Behold, the light may be so bright that men cannot see anything. - -19 The Spirit light has shown so brightly over Galilee that you who -hear me now are blind. - -20 You may have read the words of prophet Azrael; he said, The light -shall shine out brightly in the darkness of the night, and men shall -comprehend it not. - -21 That time has come; the light shines forth; you see it not. - -22 The Queen of Sheba sat in darkest night and still she yearned for -light. - -23 She came to hear the words of wisdom from the lips of Solomon, and -she believed; - -24 And she became a living torch, and when she reached her home, lo, -all Arabia was filled with light. - -25 A greater far than Solomon is here; the Christ is here; the Day -Star has arisen, and you reject the light. - -26 And you remember Nineveh, the wicked city of Assyria, which God had -marked to be destroyed by shock and flame unless the people turned and -walked in ways of right. - -27 And Jonah raised his voice and said, In forty days shall Nineveh be -razed, and all her wealth shall be destroyed. - -28 The people heard and they believed; and they reformed and turned to -ways of right, and lo, their city was not razed; was not destroyed. - -29 You men of Galilee, I tell you that Arabia and Nineveh will testify -against you in the judgment day. - -30 Behold, for every one to whom I speak has in him all the fires of -God; but they are lying dead. - -31 The will is bridled by the flesh desires, and it brings not the -ethers of the fires to vibrate into light. - -32 Look, therefore, to your soul and note, Is not the light within you -dark as night? - -33 There is no breath but Holy Breath that e'er can fan your fires of -life into a living flame and make them light. - -34 And Holy Breath can raise the ethers of the fires to light in none -but hearts of purity and love. - -35 Hear, then, you men of Galilee, Make pure the heart, admit the Holy -Breath, and then your bodies will be full of light, - -36 And like a city on a hill, your light will shine afar, and thus -your light may light the way for other men. - - -CHAPTER 108. - - _Jesus rebukes the people for selfishness. The Christines - attend a feast and Jesus is censured by the Pharisee because - he washed not before he eat. Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of - the ruling classes and pronounces upon them many woes._ - -The multitudes were wild with selfish thought; none recognized the -rights and needs of any other one. - -2 The stronger pushed the weak aside, and trampled on them in their -haste to be the first to get a blessing for himself. - -3 And Jesus said, Behold the cage of beasts untamed; a den of stinging -vipers, maddened by their fiendish greed of selfish gain! - -4 I tell you, men, the benefits that come to men who see no further -than themselves are baubles in the morning light; - -5 They are unreal; they pass away. The selfish soul is fed today; the -food does not assimilate; the soul grows not, and then it must be fed -again, and then again. - -6 Behold, a selfish man obsessed by just one spirit of the air; by the -Omnific Word the spirit is cast out; - -7 It wanders through dry places, seeking rest and finding none. - -8 And then it comes again; the selfish man has failed to close and -lock the door; - -9 The unclean spirit finds the house all swept and cleaned; it enters -in and takes with it full seven other spirits more unclean than is -itself; and there they dwell. - -10 The last state of the man is more than sevenfold more wretched than -the first. - -11 And so it is with you who snatch the blessings that belong to other -men. - -12 While Jesus spoke a certain woman who stood near exclaimed, Most -blessed is the mother of this man of God! - -13 And Jesus said, Yes, blest is she; but doubly blest are they who -hear, receive and live the word of God. - -14 A Pharisee of wealth prepared a feast, and Jesus and the twelve, -together with the masters from afar, were guests. - -15 And Jesus did not wash his hands according to the strictest -Pharisaic rules, before he ate; when this the Pharisee observed he -marveled much. - -16 And Jesus said, My host, why do you marvel that I did not wash my -hands? - -17 The Pharisees wash well their hands and feet; they cleanse the body -every day when, lo, within is every form of filth. - -18 Their hearts are full of wickedness, extortions and deceit. - -19 Did not the God who made the outside of the body make the inside, -too? - -20 And then he said, Woe unto you, you Pharisees! for you tithe mint -and rue, and every herb, and pass by judgment and the love of God. - -21 Woe unto you, you Pharisees! you love the highest seats in -synagogues and courts, and bid for salutations in the market place. - -22 Woe unto you, you tinseled gentry of the land! no man would ever -think you servants of the Lord of hosts by what you do. - -23 A lawyer sitting near remarked, Rabboni, your words are harsh, and -then in what you say you censure us; and why? - -24 And Jesus said, Woe unto you, you masters of the law! you heap -great burdens on the sons of men, yea, loads by far too great for them -to bear, and you will never help to bear a feather's weight yourselves. - -25 Woe unto you! you build the tombs of prophets and of seers; they -whom your fathers killed; and you are parties to the crimes. - -26 And now behold, for God has sent again to you his holy -men-apostles, prophets, seers; and you are persecuting them. - -27 The time is near when you will plead against them in the courts; -will spurn them on the streets; will cast them into prison cells, and -kill them with a fiend's delight. - -28 I tell you, men, the blood of all the holy men of God that has been -shed from righteous Abel down to that of Zacharias, father of the holy -John, - -29 Who was struck down beside the altar in the Holy Place-- - -30 The blood of all these holy men has made more red the hands of this -ungodly generation. - -31 Woe unto you, you masters of the law! you snatch the keys of -knowledge from the hands of men; - -32 You close the doors; you enter not yourselves, and suffer not the -willing ones to enter in. - -33 His words provoked the Pharisees, the lawyers and the scribes, and -they, resenting, poured upon him torrents of abuse. - -34 The truths he spoke came like a thunderbolt from heaven; the rulers -counseled how they might ensnare him by his words; they sought a legal -way to shed his blood. - - -CHAPTER 109. - - _The Christines go to a place apart to pray. Jesus warns them - against the leaven of the Pharisees and reveals the fact - that all thoughts and deeds are recorded in God's Book of - Remembrance. Man's responsibility and God's care._ - -Now, when the feast was finished Jesus with the foreign masters and -the twelve, with Mary, Miriam and a band of loyal women who believed -in Christ, went to a place apart to pray. - -2 And when their silence ended Jesus said, Be on your guard; the -leaven of the Pharisees is being thrown in every measure of the meal -of life. - -3 It is a poison that will taint whatever it may touch; and it will -blight the soul as sure as fumes of the Diabolos; it is hypocrisy. - -4 The Pharisees seem fair in speech, but they are diabolical in heart. - -5 And then they seem to think that thought is something they can lock -within themselves. - -6 They do not seem to know that every thought and wish is photographed -and then preserved within the Book of Life to be revealed at any time -the masters will. - -7 That which is thought, or wished, or done in darkest night shall be -proclaimed in brightest day; - -8 That which is whispered in the ear within the secret place shall be -made known upon the streets. - -9 And in the judgment day when all the books are opened up, these men, -and every other man, shall be a-judged, not by what they've said or -done, - -10 But by the way in which they used the thoughts of God, and how the -ethers of eternal love were made to serve; - -11 For men may make these ethers serve the carnal self, or serve the -holy self within. - -12 Behold, these men may kill the body of this flesh; but what of -that? the flesh is but a transitory thing, and soon, by natural law, -will pass; - -13 Their slaughter only hastens nature's work a little time. - -14 And when they kill the flesh they reach their bounds of power; they -cannot kill the soul. - -15 But nature is the keeper of the soul as of the flesh, and in the -harvest time of soul, the trees of life are all inspected by the judge; - -16 And every tree that bears no fruit of good is plucked up by the -roots and cast into the flames. - -17 Who then shall you regard? Not him who has the power to kill the -flesh, and nothing more. - -18 Regard the mighty one who has the power to dissolve both soul and -body in the flames of nature's fire. - -19 But man is king; he may direct his thoughts, his loves, his life, -and gain the prize of everlasting life. - -20 And you are not abandoned in your struggle for the crown of life. -Your Father lives, and you shall live. - -21 God has a care for every living thing. He numbers stars, and suns, -and moons; - -22 He numbers angels, men, and every thing below; the birds, the -flowers, the trees; - -23 The very petals of the rose he knows by name, and every one is -numbered in his Book of Life; - -24 And every hair upon your head, and every drop of blood within your -veins, he knows by number and by rythm. - -25 He hears the birdling's call, the cricket's chirp, the glow worm's -song; and not a sparrow falls to earth without his knowledge and -consent. - -26 A sparrow seems a thing of little worth; yea, five of them are -worth two farthings in the market place, and yet God cares for every -one of them. - -27 Will he not care much more for you who bear his image in your soul? - -28 Fear not to make confession of the Christ before the sons of men, -and God will own you as his sons and daughters in the presence of the -host of heaven. - -29 If you deny the Christ before the sons of men, then God will not -receive you as his own before the hosts of heaven. - -30 And more I say, Fear not when men shall bring you up before the -rulers of the land to answer for your faith. - -31 Behold, the Holy Breath shall teach you in your hour of need what -you should say, and what is best to leave unsaid. - -32 And then the Christines went again to teach the multitudes. - - -CHAPTER 110. - - _Miriam sings a song of victory. The song. Jesus reveals the - symbolic character of the journey of Israel from Egypt to - Canaan._ - -And Miriam stood before the surging crowd, and casting up her eyes to -heaven she sung anew the song of victory: - -2 Bring forth the harp, the vina and the lyre; bring forth the highest -sounding cymbal, all ye choirs of heaven. Join in the song, the new, -new song. - -3 The Lord of hosts has stooped to hear the cries of men, and lo, the -citadel of Beelzebul is shaking as a leaf before the wind. - -4 The sword of Gideon is again unsheathed. - -5 The Lord, with his own hand has pulled far back the curtains of the -night; the sun of truth is flooding heaven and earth; - -6 The demons of the dark, of ignorance and death, are fleeing fast; -are disappearing as the dew beneath the morning sun. - -7 God is our strength and song; is our salvation and our hope, and we -will build anew a house for him; - -8 Will cleanse our hearts, and purify their chambers, every one. We -are the temple of the Holy Breath. - -9 We need no more a tent within the wilderness; no more a temple built -with hands. - -10 We do not seek the Holy Land, nor yet Jerusalem. - -11 We are the tent of God; we are his temple built without the sound -of edged tools. - -12 We are the Holy Land; we are the New Jerusalem; Allelujah, praise -the Lord! - -13 And when the song was done the multitudes exclaimed, Praise God. - -14 And Jesus said, Behold the way! - -15 The sons of men have groped for ages in the darkness of Egyptian -night. - -16 The Pharaohs of sense have bound them with their chains. - -17 But God has whispered through the mists of time and told them of a -land of liberty and love. - -18 And he has sent his Logos forth to light the way. - -19 The Red Sea rolls between the promised land and Egypt's sands. - -20 The Red Sea is the carnal mind. - -21 Behold, the Logos reaches out his hand; the sea divides; the carnal -mind is reft in twain; the sons of men walk through dry shod. - -22 The Pharaohs of sense would stay them in their flight; the waters -of the sea return; the Pharaohs of sense are lost and men are free. - -23 For just a little while men tread the wilderness of Sin; the Logos -leads the way; - -24 And when at last men stand upon the Jordan's brink, these waters -stay, and men step forth into their own. - - -CHAPTER 111. - - _Jesus teaches. A man requests him to compel his brother to - deal justly. Jesus reveals the divine law, the power of truth - and the universality of possessions. Relates the parable of - the rich man and his abundant harvest._ - -And Jesus taught the multitudes; and while he spoke a man stood forth -and said, - -2 Rabboni, hear my plea: My father died and left a large estate; my -brother seized it all, and now refuses me my share. - -3 I pray that you will bid him do the right, and give me what is mine. - -4 And Jesus said, I am not come to be a judge in such affairs; I am no -henchman of the court. - -5 God sent me not to force a man to do the right. - -6 In every man there is a sense of right; but many men regard it not. - -7 The fumes that rise from selfishness have formed a crust about their -sense of right that veils their inner light, so that they cannot -comprehend nor recognize the rights of other men. - -8 This veil you cannot tear away by force of arms, and there is naught -that can dissolve this crust but knowledge and the love of God. - -9 While men are in the mire, the skies seem far away; when men are on -the mountain top, the skies are near, and they can almost touch the -stars. - -10 Then Jesus turned and to the twelve he said, Behold the many in the -mire of carnal life! - -11 The leaven of truth will change the miry clay to solid rock, and -men can walk and find the path that leads up to the mountain top. - -12 You cannot haste; but you can scatter forth this leaven with a -generous hand. - -13 When men have learned the truth that bears upon its face the law of -right, then they will haste to give to every man his dues. - -14 Then to the people Jesus said, Take heed, and covet not. The wealth -of men does not consist in what they seem to have--in lands, in silver -and in gold. - -15 These things are only borrowed wealth. No man can corner up the -gifts of God. - -16 The things of nature are the things of God, and what is God's -belongs to every man alike. - -17 The wealth of soul lies in the purity of life, and in the wisdom -that descends from heaven. - -18 Behold, a rich man's ground brought forth abundantly; his barns -were far too small to hold his grain, and to himself he said, - -19 What shall I do? I must not give my grain away; I must not let it -go to waste; and then he said, - -20 This will I do; I will tear down these little barns and build up -larger ones; there I will store away my grain and I will say, - -21 My soul take now your ease; you have enough for many years; eat, -drink and fill yourself and be content. - -22 But God looked down and saw the man; he saw his selfish heart and -said, - -23 You foolish man, this night your soul will quit its house of flesh; -then who will have your garnered wealth? - -24 You men of Galilee, lay not up treasures in the vaults of earth; -accumulated wealth will blight your soul. - -25 God does not give men wealth to hoard away in secret vaults. Men -are but stewards of God's wealth, and they must use it for the common -good. - -26 To every steward who is true to self, to other men, to every thing -that is, the Lord will say, Well done. - - -CHAPTER 112. - - _The Christines in the home of Mary of Magdala. Jesus calls his - disciples, "Little Flock," and charges them to place their - affections on divine things. He teaches them regarding the - inner life._ - -And Jesus left the multitudes and went with his disciples up to Mary's -home; and as they sat about the board to dine he said, - -2 My little flock, fear not; it is your Father's will that you shall -rule the kingdom of the soul. - -3 A ruler in the house of God is servant of the Lord of hosts, and man -cannot serve God except by serving men. - -4 A servant in the house of God cannot be servant in the house of -wealth; nor in the synagogue of sense. - -5 If you are tied to lands, or bonds, or wealth of earth, your hearts -are knit to things of earth; for where your treasures are there are -your hearts. - -6 Dispose of all your wealth, distribute it among the poor, and put -your trust in God, and you nor yours will ever come to want. - -7 This is a test of faith, and God will not accept the service of the -faithless one. - -8 The time is ripe; your Master comes upon the clouds; the eastern sky -is glowing with his presence now. - -9 Put on reception robes; gird up your loins; trim up your lamps and -fill them well with oil, and be prepared to meet your Lord; when you -are ready, he will come. - -10 Thrice blessed are the servants who are ready to receive their Lord. - -11 Behold, for he will gird himself, and will prepare a sumptuous -feast for every one, and he himself will serve. - -12 It matters not when he shall come; it may be at the second watch; -it may be at the third; but blessed are the servants who are ready to -receive. - -13 You cannot leave your door ajar and go to sleep, and wait in -blissful ignorance of the fleeting time; - -14 For thieves will surely come and take away your goods and bind and -carry you away to robbers' dens. - -15 And if you are not carried forth, the Master when he comes will not -regard a sleeping guard as friend, but as a foe. - -16 Beloved, these are times when every man must be awake and at -his post, for none can tell the hour nor the day when man shall be -revealed. - -17 And Peter said, Lord is this parable for us, or for the multitudes? - -18 And Jesus said, Why need you ask? God is not man that he should -show respect for one and cast another off. - -19 Whoever will may come and gird himself, and trim his lamp, and find -a turret in the tower of life where he may watch, and be prepared to -meet the Lord. - -20 But you, as children of the light, have come, and you have learned -the language of the court, and may stand forth and lead the way. - -21 But you may wait, and think that you are ready to receive the Lord, -and still he does not come. - -22 And you may grow impatient and begin to long for carnal ways again, -and may begin to exercise your rule; - -23 To beat, and otherwise maltreat the servants of the house, and fill -yourselves with wine and meat. - -24 And what will say the Lord when he shall come? - -25 Behold, for he will cast the faithless servant from his house; and -many years will come and go before he can be cleansed, and be thought -worthy to receive his Lord. - -26 The servant who has come into the light, who knows the Master's -will and does it not; the trusted guard who goes to sleep within the -turret of the tower of life, - -27 Shall feel the lash of justice many times, while he who does not -know his Master's will and does it not, will not receive the graver -punishment. - -28 The man who comes and stands before the open door of opportunity -and does not enter in, but goes his way, - -29 Will come again and find the door made fast, and when he calls, the -door will open not, - -30 The guard will say, you had the pass-word once, but you threw it -away and now the Master knows you not; depart. - -31 And verily I say to you, To whom much has been given, much is -required; to whom a little has been given, a little only is required. - - -CHAPTER 113. - - _In answer to a question of Lamaas Jesus teaches a lesson on - the reign of peace and the way to it through antagonisms. - The signs of the times. Guidance of the Holy Breath. The - Christines go to Bethsaida._ - -Now, after they had dined, the guests and Jesus all were in a spacious -hall in Mary's home. - -2 And then Lamaas said, Pray, tell us Lord, is this the dawn of peace? - -3 Have we come forth unto the time when men will war no more? - -4 Are you, indeed, the Prince of Peace that holy men have said would -come? - -5 And Jesus said, Peace reigns today; it is the peace of death. - -6 A stagnant pool abides in peace. When waters cease to move they soon -are ladened with the seeds of death; corruption dwells in every drop. - -7 The living waters always leap and skip about like lambs in spring. - -8 The nations are corrupt; they sleep within the arms of death and -they must be aroused before it is too late. - -9 In life we find antagonists at work. God sent me here to stir unto -its depths the waters of the sea of life. - -10 Peace follows strife; I come to slay this peace of death. The -prince of peace must first be prince of strife. - -11 This leaven of truth which I have brought to men will stir the -demons up, and nations, cities, families will be at war within -themselves. - -12 The five that have been dwelling in a home of peace will be -divided now, and two shall war with three; - -13 The son will stand against his sire; the mother and the daughter -will contend; yea, strife will reign in every home. - -14 The self and greed and doubt will rage into a fever heat, and then, -because of me, the earth will be baptized in human blood. - -15 But right is king; and when the smoke is cleared away the nations -will learn war no more; the Prince of Peace will come to reign. - -16 Behold, the signs of what I say are in the sky; but men can see -them not. - -17 When men behold a cloud rise in the west they say, A shower of rain -will come and so it does; and when the wind blows from the south they -say, The weather will be hot; and it is so. - -18 Lo, men can read the signs of earth and sky, but they cannot -discern the signs of Holy Breath; but you shall know. - -19 The storm of wrath comes on; the carnal man will seek a cause to -hale you into court, and cast you into prison cells. - -20 And when these times shall come let wisdom guide; do not resent. -Resentment makes more strong the wrath of evil men. - -21 There is a little sense of justice and of mercy in the vilest men -of earth. - -22 By taking heed to what you do and say and trusting in the guidance -of the Holy Breath, you may inspire this sense to grow. - -23 You thus may make the wrath of men to praise the Lord. - -24 The Christines went their way, and came unto Bethsaida and taught. - - -CHAPTER 114. - - _A great storm on the sea destroys many lives. Jesus makes an - appeal for aid, and the people give with a generous hand. In - answer to a lawyer's question, Jesus gives the philosophy of - disasters._ - -As Jesus taught, a man stood forth and said, Rabboni, may I speak? - -2 And Jesus said, Say on. And then the man spoke out and said, - -3 A storm upon the sea last night wrecked many fishing boats, and -scores of men went down to death, and, lo, their wives and children -are in need; - -4 What can be done to help them in their sore distress? - -5 And Jesus said, A worthy plea. You men of Galilee, take heed. We may -not bring again to live these men, but we can succor those who looked -to them for daily bread. - -6 You stewards of the wealth of God, an opportunity has come; unlock -your vaults; bring forth your hoarded gold; bestow it with a lavish -hand. - -7 This wealth was laid aside for just such times as these; when it was -needed not, lo, it was yours to guard; - -8 But now it is not yours, for it belongs to those who are in want, -and if you give it not you simply bring upon your heads the wrath of -God. - -9 It is not charity to give to those who need; it is but honesty; it -is but giving men their own. - -10 Then Jesus turned to Judas, one of the twelve, who was the -treasurer of the band, and said, - -11 Bring forth our treasure box; the money is not ours now; turn -every farthing to the help of those in such distress. - -12 Now, Judas did not wish to give the money all to those in want, and -so he talked with Peter, James and John. - -13 He said, Lo, I will save a certain part and give the rest; that -surely is enough for us, for we are strangers to the ones in want; we -do not even know their names. - -14 But Peter said, Why, Judas, man, how do you dare to think to trifle -with the strength of right. - -15 The Lord has spoken true; this wealth does not belong to us in face -of this distress, and to refuse to give it is to steal. - -16 You need not fear; we will not come to want. - -17 Then Judas opened up the treasure box and gave the money all. - -18 And there was gold and silver, food, and raiment in abundance for -the needs of the bereaved. - -19 A lawyer said, Rabboni, if God rules the worlds and all that in -them is, did he not bring about this storm? did he not slay these men? - -20 Has he not brought this sore distress upon these people here? and -was it done to punish them for crimes? - -21 And we remember well when once a band of earnest Jews from Galilee -were in Jerusalem, and at a feast and were, for fancied crimes against -the Roman law, - -22 Cut down within the very temple court by Pontius Pilate; and their -blood became their sacrifice. - -23 Did God bring on this slaughter all because these men were doubly -vile? - -24 And then we bring to mind that once a tower called Siloam, graced -the defences of Jerusalem, and, seemingly, without a cause it tottered -and it fell to earth and eighteen men were killed. - -25 Were these men vile? and were they slain as punishment for some -great crime? - -26 And Jesus said, We cannot look upon a single span of life and judge -of anything. - -27 There is a law that men must recognize: Result depends on cause. - -28 Men are not motes to float about within the air of one short life, -and then be lost in nothingness. - -29 They are undying parts of the eternal whole that come and go, lo, -many times into the air of earth and of the great beyond, just to -unfold the God-like self. - -30 A cause may be a part of one brief life; results may not be noted -till another life. - -31 The cause of your results cannot be found within my life, nor can -the cause of my results be found in yours. - -32 I cannot reap except I sow and I must reap what e'er I sow, - -33 The law of all eternities is known to master minds: - -34 Whatever men do unto other men the judge and executioner will do to -them. - -35 We do not note the execution of this law among the sons of men. - -36 We note the weak dishonored, trampled on and slain by those men -call the strong. - -37 We note that men with wood-like heads are seated in the chairs of -state; - -38 Are kings and judges, senators and priests, while men with giant -intellects are scavengers about the streets. - -39 We note that women with a moiety of common sense, and not a whit -of any other kind, are painted up and dressed as queens, - -40 Becoming ladies of the courts of puppet kings, because they have -the form of something beautiful; while God's own daughters are their -slaves, or serve as common laborers in the field. - -41 The sense of justice cries aloud: This is a travesty on right. - -42 So when men see no further than one little span of life it is no -wonder that they say, There is no God, or if there is a God he is a -tyrant and should die. - -43 If you would judge aright of human life, you must arise and stand -upon the crest of time and note the thoughts and deeds of men as they -have come up through the ages past; - -44 For we must know that man is not a creature made of clay to turn -again to clay and disappear. - -45 He is a part of the eternal whole. There never was a time when he -was not; a time will never come when he will not exist. - -46 And now we look; the men who now are slaves were tyrants once; the -men who now are tyrants have been slaves. - -47 The men who suffer now, once stood aloft and shouted with a fiend's -delight while others suffered at their hands. - -48 And men are sick, and halt, and lame, and blind because they once -transgressed the laws of perfect life, and every law of God must be -fulfilled. - -49 Man may escape the punishment that seems but due for his misdoings -in this life; but every deed and word and thought has its own metes -and bounds, - -50 Is cause, and has its own results, and if a wrong be done, the doer -of the wrong must make it right. - -51 And when the wrongs have all been righted then will man arise and -be at one with God. - - -CHAPTER 115. - - _Jesus teaches by the sea. He relates the parable of the sower. - Tells why he teaches in parables. Explains the parable of the - sower. Relates the parable of the wheat and tares._ - -And Jesus stood beside the sea and taught; the multitudes pressed -close upon him and he went into a boat that was near by and put a -little ways from shore, and then he spoke in parables; he said, - -2 Behold, a sower took his seed and went into his field to sow. - -3 With lavish hand he scattered forth the seed and some fell in the -hardened paths that men had made, - -4 And soon were crushed beneath the feet of other men; and birds came -down and carried all the seed away. - -5 Some seed fell on rocky ground where there was little soil; they -grew and soon the blades appeared and promised much; - -6 But then there was no depth of soil, no chance for nourishment, and -in the heat of noonday sun they withered up and died. - -7 Some seed fell where thistles grew, and found no earth in which to -grow and they were lost; - -8 But other seed found lodgment in the rich and tender soil and grew -apace, and in the harvest it was found that some brought forth a -hundred fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold. - -9 They who have ears to hear may hear; they who have hearts to -understand may know. - -10 Now, his disciples were beside him in the boat, and Thomas asked, -Why do you speak in parables? - -11 And Jesus said, My words, like every master's words, are dual in -their sense. - -12 To you who know the language of the soul, my words have meanings -far too deep for other men to comprehend. - -13 The other sense of what I say is all the multitude can understand; -these words are food for them; the inner thoughts are food for you. - -14 Let every one reach forth and take the food that he is ready to -receive. - -15 And then he spoke that all might hear; he said, Hear you the -meaning of the parable: - -16 Men hear my words and understand them not, and then the carnal self -purloins the seed, and not a sign of spirit life appears. - -17 This is the seed that fell within the beaten paths of men. - -18 And others hear the words of life, and with a fiery zeal receive -them all; they seem to comprehend the truth and promise well; - -19 But troubles come; discouragements arise; there is no depth of -thought; their good intentions wither up and die. - -20 These are the seeds that fell in stony ground. - -21 And others hear the words of truth and seem to know their worth; -but love of pleasure, reputation, wealth and fame fill all the soil; -the seeds are nourished not and they are lost. - -22 These are the seeds that fell among the thistles and the thorns. - -23 But others hear the words of truth and comprehend them well; they -sink down deep into their souls; they live the holy life and all the -world is blest. - -24 These are the seeds that fell in fertile soil, that brought forth -fruit abundantly. - -25 You men of Galilee, take heed to how you hear and how you cultivate -your fields; for if you slight the offers of this day, the sower may -not come to you again in this or in the age to come. - -26 Then Jesus spoke another parable; he said: - -27 The kingdom I may liken to a field in which a man sowed precious -seed; - -28 But while he slept an evil one went forth and sowed a measure full -of darnel seed; then went his way. - -29 The soil was good, and so the wheat and darnel grew; and when the -servants saw the tares among the wheat, they found the owner of the -field and said, - -30 You surely sowed good seed; from whence these tares? - -31 The owner said, Some evil one has sown the seed of tares. - -32 The servants said, Shall we go out and pull up by the roots the -tares and burn them in the fire? - -33 The owner said, No, that would not be well. The wheat and tares -grow close together in the soil, and while you pull the tares you -would destroy the wheat. - -34 So we will let them grow together till the harvest time. Then to -the reapers I will say, - -35 Go forth and gather up the tares and bind them up and burn them in -the fire, and gather all the wheat into my barns. - -36 When he had spoken thus, he left the boat and went up to the -house, and his disciples followed him. - - -CHAPTER 116. - - _The Christines are in Philip's home. Jesus interprets the - parable of the wheat and tares. He explains the unfoldment - of the kingdom by parables: the good seed; the growth of the - tree; the leaven; the hidden treasure. He goes to a mountain - to pray._ - -The Christines were in Philip's home and Peter said to Jesus, Lord, -will you explain to us the meaning of the parables you spoke today? -The one about the wheat and tares, especially? - -2 And Jesus said, God's kingdom is a dualty; it has an outer and an -inner form. - -3 As seen by man it is composed of men, of those who make confession -of the name of Christ. - -4 For various reasons various people crowd this outer kingdom of our -God. - -5 The inner kingdom is the kingdom of the soul, the kingdom of the -pure in heart. - -6 The outer kingdom I may well explain in parables. Behold, for I have -seen you cast a great net out into the sea, - -7 And when you hauled it in, lo, it was full of every kind of fish, -some good, some bad, some great, some small; and I have seen you save -the good and throw the bad away. - -8 This outer kingdom is the net, and every kind of man is caught; but -in the sorting day the bad will all be cast away, the good reserved. - -9 Hear, then, the meaning of the parable of wheat and tares: - -10 The sower is the son of man; the field, the world; the good seed -are the children of the light; the tares, the children of the dark; -the enemy, the carnal self; the harvest day, the closing of the age; -the reapers are the messengers of God. - -11 The reckoning day will come to every man; then will the tares be -gathered up, and cast into the fire and be burned. - -12 Then will the good shine forth as suns in the kingdom of the soul. - -13 And Philip said, Must men and women suffer in the flames because -they have not found the way of life? - -14 And Jesus said, The fire purifies. The chemist throws into the fire -the ores that hold all kinds of dross. - -15 The useless metal seems to be consumed; but not a grain of gold is -lost. - -16 There is no man that has not in him gold that cannot be destroyed. -The evil things of men are all consumed in fire; the gold survives. - -17 The inner kingdom of the soul I may explain in parables: - -18 The son of man goes forth and scatters seeds of truth; God waters -well the soil; the seeds show life and grow; first comes the blade, -and then the stalk, and then the ear, and then the full wheat in the -ear. - -19 The harvest comes and, lo, the reapers bear the ripened sheaves -into the garner of the Lord. - -20 Again, this kingdom of the soul is like a little seed that men may -plant in fertile soil. - -21 (A thousand of these seeds would scarcely be a shekel's weight.) - -22 The tiny seed begins to grow; it pushes through the earth, and -after years of growth it is a mighty tree and birds rest in its leafy -bowers and men find refuge 'neath its sheltering boughs from sun and -storm. - -23 Again, the truth, the spirit of the kingdom of the soul, is like a -ball of leaven that a woman hid in measures, three, of flour and in a -little time the whole was leavened. - -24 Again, the kingdom of the soul is like a treasure hidden in a field -which one has found, and straitway goes his way and sells all that he -has and buys the field. - -25 When Jesus had thus said he went alone into a mountain pass near by -to pray. - - -CHAPTER 117. - - _A royal feast is held in Machaerus. John, the harbinger, is - beheaded. His body is buried in Hebron. His disciples mourn. - The Christines cross the sea in the night. Jesus calms a - raging storm._ - -A royal feast was held in honor of the birthday of the tetrarch in -fortified Machaerus, east of the Bitter Sea. - -2 The tetrarch, Herod, and his wife, Herodias, together with Salome -were there; and all the men and women of the royal court were there. - -3 And when the feast was done, lo, all the guests and courtiers were -drunk with wine; they danced and leaped about like children in their -play. - -4 Salome, daughter of Herodias, came in and danced before the king. -The beauty of her form, her grace and winning ways entranced the silly -Herod, then half drunk with wine. - -5 He called the maiden to his side and said, Salome, you have won my -heart, and you may ask and I will give you anything you wish. - -6 The maiden ran in childish glee and told her mother what the ruler -said. - -7 Her mother said, Go back and say, Give me the head of John, the -harbinger. - -8 The maiden ran and told the ruler what she wished. - -9 And Herod called his trusty executioner and said to him, Go to the -tower and tell the keeper that by my authority you come to execute the -prisoner known as John. - -10 The man went forth and in a little while returned and on a platter -bore the lifeless head of John, and Herod offered it unto the maiden -in the presence of the guests. - -11 The maiden stood aloof; her innocence was outraged when she saw the -bloody gift, and she would touch it not. - -12 Her mother, steeped and hardened well in crime, came up and took -the head and held it up before the guests and said, - -13 This is the fate of every man who dares to scorn, or criticize, the -acts of him who reigns. - -14 The drunken rabble gazed upon the grewsome sight with fiendish joy. - -15 The head was taken back unto the tower. The body had been given -unto holy men who had been friends of John; they placed it in a burial -case and carried it away. - -16 They bore it to the Jordan, which they crossed just at the ford -where John first preached the word; - -17 And through the passes of the Judean hills they carried it. - -18 They reached the sacred grounds near Hebron, where the bodies of -the parents of the harbinger lay in their tombs; - -19 And there they buried it; and then they went their way. - -20 Now, when the news reached Galilee that John was dead the people -met to sing the sonnets of the dead. - -21 And Jesus and the foreign masters and the twelve took ship to cross -the sea of Galilee. - -22 A scribe, a faithful friend of John, stood by the sea; he called to -Jesus and he said, Rabboni, let me follow where you go. - -23 And Jesus said, You seek a safe retreat from evil men. There is no -safety for your life with me; - -24 For evil men will take my life as they have taken John's. - -25 The foxes of the earth have safe retreats; the birds have nests -secure among the hidden rocks, but I have not a place where I may lay -my head and rest secure. - -26 Then an apostle said, Lord, suffer me to tarry here a while, that I -may take my father, who is dead, and lay him in the tomb. - -27 But Jesus said, The dead can care for those who die; the living -wait for those who live; come, follow me. - -28 The evening came; three boats put out to sea and Jesus rested in -the foremost boat; he slept. - -29 A storm came on; the boats were tossed about like toys upon the sea. - -30 The waters swept the decks; the hardy boatmen were afraid lest all -be lost. - -31 And Thomas found the master fast asleep; he called, and Jesus woke. - -32 And Thomas said, Behold the storm! have you no care for us? The -boats are going down. - -33 And Jesus stood; he raised his hand; he talked unto the spirits of -the winds and waves as men would talk with men. - -34 And, lo, the winds blew not; the waves came tremblingly and kissed -his feet; the sea was calm. - -35 And then he said, You men of faith, where is your faith? for you -can speak and winds and waves will hear and will obey. - -36 And the disciples were amazed. They said, Who is this man that even -winds and waves obey his voice? - - -CHAPTER 118. - - _The Christines are in Gadara. Jesus casts a legion of unclean - spirits out of a man. The spirits go into vicious animals - which run into the sea, and are drowned. The people are - in fear and request Jesus to leave their coast. With his - disciples, he returns to Capernaum._ - -The morning came; the Christines landed in the country of the -Geracenes. - -2 They went to Gadara, chief city of the Peracans, and here for -certain days they tarried and they taught. - -3 Now, legends hold that Gadara is sacred to the dead, and all the -hills about are known as holy ground. - -4 These are the burial grounds of all the regions round about; the -hills are full of tombs; and many dead from Galilee are here entombed. - -5 Now, spirits of the lately dead that cannot rise to higher planes, -remain about the tombs that hold the flesh and bones of what was once -their mortal homes. - -6 They sometimes take possession of the living, whom they torture in a -hundred ways. - -7 And all through Gadara were men obsessed, and there was no one -strong enough to bring relief. - -8 That they might meet these hidden foes and learn the way to -dispossess the evil ones the master took the foreign masters and the -twelve into the tombs. - -9 And as they neared the gates they met a man obsessed. A legion of -the unclean ones were in this man, and they had made him strong; - -10 And none could bind him down, no, not with chains; for he could -break the stoutest chains, and go his way. - -11 Now, unclean spirits cannot live in light; they revel in the dark. - -12 When Jesus came he brought the light of life, and all the evil -spirits were disturbed. - -13 The leader of the legion in the man called out, Thou Jesus, thou -Immanuel, we beg that thou wilt not consign it to the depths. Torment -us not before our time. - -14 And Jesus said, What is your number and your name? - -15 The evil spirit said, Our name is legion, and our number is the -number of the beast. - -16 And Jesus spoke; and with a voice that shook the very hills, he -said, Come forth; possess this man no more. - -17 Now, all the hills were filled with unclean animals that fed, and -carried forth and spread the plague among the people of the land. - -18 And when the evil spirits begged that they might not be driven -forth without a home, the master said, - -19 Go forth and take possession of the unclean quadrupeds. - -20 And they, and all the evil spirits of the tombs went forth and took -possession of the breeders of the plague, - -21 Which, wild with rage, ran down the steeps into the sea, and all -were drowned. - -22 And all the land was freed of the contagion, and the unclean -spirits came no more. - -23 But when the people saw the mighty works that Jesus did they were -alarmed. They said, - -24 If he can free the country of the plague, and drive the unclean -spirits out, he is a man of such transcendent power that he can -devastate our land at will. - -25 And then they came and prayed that he would not remain in Gadara. - -26 And Jesus did not tarry longer there, and with the other masters -and the twelve, he went aboard the boats to go away. - -27 The man who had been rescued from the unclean legion stood upon the -shore and said, Lord, let me go with you. - -28 But Jesus said, It is not well; go forth unto your home and tell -the news that men may know what man can do when he is tuned with God. - -29 And then the man went forth through all Decapolis and told the news. - -30 The Christines sailed away, re-crossed the sea and came again into -Capernaum. - - -CHAPTER 119. - - _The people of Capernaum welcome Jesus. Matthew gives a feast. - The Pharisees rebuke Jesus for eating with sinners. He tells - them that he is sent to save sinners. He gives lessons on - fasting and on the philosophy of good and evil._ - -The news soon spread through all the land that Jesus was at home and -then the people came in throngs to welcome him. - -2 And Matthew, one of the twelve, a man of wealth, whose home was in -Capernaum, spread forth a sumptuous feast, and Jesus and the foreign -masters and the twelve, and people of all shades of thought, were -guests. - -3 And when the Pharisees observed that Jesus sat and ate with -publicans and those of ill repute they said, - -4 For shame! This man who claims to be a man of God, consorts with -publicans and courtesans and with the common herd of men, For shame! - -5 When Jesus knew their thoughts he said, They who are well cannot be -healed; the pure need not be saved. - -6 They who are well are whole; they who are pure are saved. - -7 They who love justice and do right need not repent; I came not unto -them, but to the sinner I am come. - -8 A band of John's disciples who had heard that John was dead were -wearing badges for their dead; - -9 Were fasting and were praying in their hearts, which when the -Pharisees observed they came to Jesus and they said, - -10 Why fast the followers of John and your disciples do not fast? - -11 And Jesus said, Lo, you are masters of the law; you ought to know; -perhaps you will make known your knowledge to these men. - -12 What are the benefits derived from fasts? The Pharisees were mute; -they answered not. - -13 Then Jesus said, The vital force of men depends on what they eat -and drink. - -14 Is spirit-life the stronger when the vital force is weak? Is -sainthood reached by starving, self imposed? - -15 A glutton is a sinner in the sight of God, and he is not a saint -who makes himself a weakling and unfitted for the heavy tasks of life -by scorning to make use of God's own means of strength. - -16 Lo, John is dead, and his devoted followers are fasting in their -grief. - -17 Their love for him impels them on to show respect, for they have -thought, and have been taught that it is sin to lightly treat the -memory of the dead. - -18 To them it is a sin, and it is well that they should fast. - -19 When men defy their consciences and listen not to what they say, -the heart is grieved and they become unfitted for the work of life; -and thus they sin. - -20 The conscience may be taught. One man may do in conscience what -another cannot do. - -21 What is a sin for me to do may not be sin for you to do. The place -you occupy upon the way of life determines what is sin. - -22 There is no changeless law of good; for good and evil both are -judged by other things. - -23 One man may fast and in his deep sincerity of heart is blest. - -24 Another man may fast and in the faithlessness of such a task -imposed is cursed. - -25 You cannot make a bed to fit the form of every man. If you can make -a bed to fit yourself you have done well. - -26 Why should these men who follow me resort to fasting, or to -anything that would impair their strength? They need it all to serve -the race. - -27 The time will come when God will let you have your way, and you -will do to me what Herod did to John; - -28 And in the awfulness of that sad hour these men will fast. - -29 They who have ears to hear may hear; they who have hearts to feel -may understand. - - -CHAPTER 120. - - _Nicodemus is at the feast. He asks Jesus, Cannot the Christine - religion be introduced more successfully by reforming the - Jewish service? Jesus answers in the negative and gives his - reasons. Jesus heals a woman with hemorrhages. Heals Jairus' - daughter. Disappears when the people would worship him._ - -Now, Nicodemus, who once came to Jesus in the night to learn the way -of life, was one among the guests. - -2 And standing forth he said, Rabboni, it is true that Jewish laws and -Jewish practices do not agree. - -3 The priesthood needs to be reformed; the rulers should become more -merciful and kind; the lawyers should become more just; the common -people should not bear such loads. - -4 But could we not gain these reforms and not destroy the service of -the Jews? - -5 Could you not harmonize your mighty work with that of Pharisee -and scribe? Might not the priesthood be a benefit to your divine -philosophy? - -6 But Jesus said, You cannot put new wine in ancient skins, for when -it purifies itself, lo, it expands; the ancient bottles cannot bear -the strain; they burst, and all the wine is lost. - -7 Men do not mend a wornout garment with a piece of cloth unworn, -which cannot yield to suit the fabric, weak with age, and then a -greater rent appears. - -8 Old wine may be preserved in ancient skins; but new wine calls for -bottles new. - -9 This spirit-truth I bring is to this generation new, and if we put -it in the ancient skins of Jewish forms, lo, it will all be lost. - -10 It must expand; the ancient bottles cannot yield and they would -burst. - -11 Behold the kingdom of the Christ! it is as old as God himself, and -yet it is as new as morning sun; it only can contain the truth of God. - -12 And as he spoke a ruler of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came in -and bowed at Jesus' feet and said, - -13 My master, hear my prayer! My child is very sick, I fear that she -will die; but this I know that if you will but come and speak the Word -my child will live. - -14 (She was an only child, a girl twelve years of age.) - -15 And Jesus tarried not; he went out with the man, and many people -followed them. - -16 And as they went a woman who had been plagued with hemorrhage for -many years, had been a subject of experiment of doctors near and far, -and all had said, She cannot live, rose from her bed and rushed out in -the way as Jesus passed. - -17 She said within herself, If I can touch his garment, then I know I -will be well. - -18 She touched him, and at once the bleeding ceased and she was well. - -19 And Jesus felt that healing power had gone from him, and speaking -to the multitude, he said, - -20 Who was it touched my coat? - -21 And Peter said, No one can tell; the multitudes are pressing you; a -score of people may have touched your coat. - -22 But Jesus said, Some one in faith, with healing thought, did touch -my coat, for healing virtues have gone forth from me. - -23 And when the woman knew that what she did was known, she came and -knelt at Jesus' feet and told it all. - -24 And Jesus said, Your faith has made you whole, go on your way in -peace. - -25 Now, as he spoke, a servant from the home of Jairus came and said, -My master, Jairus, trouble not the Lord to come; your child is dead. - -26 But Jesus said, Jairus, man of faith, do not permit your faith to -waver in this trying hour. - -27 What is it that the servant said? The child is dead? Lo, what is -death? - -28 It is the passing of the soul out of the house of flesh. - -29 Man is the master of the soul and of its house. When man has risen -up from doubt and fear, lo, he can cleanse the empty house and bring -the tenant back again. - -30 Then taking with him Peter, James and John, Jairus and the mother -of the child, he went into the chamber of the dead. - -31 And when the doors were closed against the multitude, he spoke a -word that souls can understand, and then he took the maiden by the -hand and said, - -32 Talitha cumi, child, arise! The maiden's soul returned and she -arose and asked for food. - -33 And all the people of the city were amazed, and many would have -worshipped Jesus as a God, - -34 But, like a phantom of the night, he disappeared and went his way. - - -CHAPTER 121. - - _The Christines are in Nazareth. Miriam sings a Christine song - of praise. Jesus teaches in the synagogue. He heals a dumb - man who is obsessed. The people do not believe in him. The - Pharisees call him a tool of Beelzebul. The Christines go to - Cana._ - -It was a gala day in Nazareth. The people there had met with one -accord to celebrate some great event. - -2 And Jesus and the foreign masters and the twelve, and Mary, mother -of the Lord, and Miriam were there. - -3 And when the people were assembled in the great hall of the town, -the graceful singer, Miriam, stood forth and sung a song of praise. - -4 But few of all the multitude knew who the singer was; but instantly -she won all hearts. - -5 For many days she sung the songs of Israel, and then she went her -way. - -6 The Sabbath came and Jesus went into the synagogue. He took the book -of Psalms and read: - -7 Blest is the man who puts his trust in God, respecting not the proud -nor such as turn aside to lies. - -8 O Lord, my God, the works that thou hast done for us are wonderful; -and many are thy thoughts for us; we cannot count them all, - -9 Thou dost not call for sacrifice, nor offerings of blood; burnt -offerings and offerings for sin thou dost not want; - -10 And lo, I come to do thy will, O God; thy law is in my heart, - -11 And I have preached the word of righteousness and peace unto the -thronging multitudes; I have declared the counsel of my God in full. - -12 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared -thy faithfulness and grace. - -13 I have not kept thy loving-kindness and thy truth away from men; I -have declared them to the multitudes. - -14 O Lord, make wide my lips that I may tell thy praise; I do not -bring the sacrifice of blood, nor yet burnt offerings for sin. - -15 The sacrifices I would bring to thee, O God, are purity in life, a -contrite heart, a spirit full of faith and love; and these thou wilt -receive. - -16 And when he had thus read, he gave the book back to the keeper of -the books, and then he said, - -17 Upon these ends of earth these messages of God have come. - -18 Our people have exalted sacrificial rites and have neglected mercy, -justice and the rights of men. - -19 You Pharisees, you priests, you scribes, your God is surfeited with -blood; God does not heed your prayers; you stand before your burning -victims; but you stand in vain. - -20 Turn you unto the testimonies of the law; reform and turn to God, -and you shall live. - -21 Let not your altars be accursed again with smoke of innocence. - -22 Bring unto God as sacrifice a broken and a contrite heart. - -23 Lift from your fellow men the burdens that you have imposed. - -24 And if you hearken not, and if you turn not from your evil ways, -lo, God will smite this nation with a curse. - -25 And when he had thus said he stood aside, and all the people were -astonished, and they said, - -26 Where did this man get all his knowledge and his power? From whence -did all this wisdom come? - -27 Is not this Mary's son, whose home is out on Marmion Way? - -28 Are not his brothers, Jude and James and Simon, known among our -honored men? Are not his sisters with us here? - -29 But they were all offended by the words he spoke. - -30 And Jesus said, A prophet has no honor in his native land; he is -not well received among his kin; his foes are in his home. - -31 And Jesus wrought not many mighty works in Nazareth, because the -people had no faith in him. He did not tarry long. - -32 But as he passed from thence two blind men followed him and cried, -Thou son of David, hear! Have mercy, Lord, and open up our eyes that -we may see. - -33 And Jesus said, Do you believe that I can open up your eyes and -make you see? - -34 They said, Yea, Lord, we know that if you speak the Word then we -can see. - -35 And Jesus touched their eyes and spoke the Word; he said, According -to your faith so will it be. - -36 And they were blest; they opened up their eyes and saw. - -37 And Jesus said, Tell not this thing to any one. - -38 But they went forth and told the news through all the land. - -39 As Jesus walked along the way a man who was obsessed, and who was -dumb, was brought to him. - -40 And Jesus spoke the Word; the unclean spirit came out of the man; -his tongue was loosed; he spoke; he said, Praise God. - -41 The people were amazed; They said, This is a mighty deed; we never -saw that done before. - -42 The Pharisees were also much amazed; but they cried out and said, - -43 You men of Israel, take heed; this Jesus is a tool of Beelzebul; he -heals the sick and casts the spirits out in Satan's name. - -44 But Jesus answered not; he went his way. - -45 And with the foreign masters and the twelve he went up to the town -where he once turned the water into wine and tarried certain days. - - -CHAPTER 122. - - _The Christines spend seven days in prayer. Jesus gives his - charge to the twelve and sends them forth on their apostolic - ministry, with instructions to meet him in Capernaum._ - -The Christines prayed in silence seven days; then Jesus called the -twelve aside and said, - -2 Behold, the multitudes have thronged about us everywhere; the people -are bewildered; they wander here and there like sheep without a fold. - -3 They need a shepherd's care; they want a loving hand to lead them to -the light. - -4 The grain is ripe; the harvest is abundant, but the harvesters are -few. - -5 The time is also ripe, and you must go alone through all the -villages and towns of Galilee and teach and heal. - -6 And then he breathed upon the twelve and said, Receive the Holy -Breath. - -7 And then he gave them each the Word of power, and said, By this -Omnific Word you shall cast spirits out, shall heal the sick and bring -the dead to life again. - -8 And you shall go not in the way of the Assyrians, nor Greek; you -shall not go into Samaria; go only to your brethren of the scattered -tribes. - -9 And as you go proclaim, The kingdom of the Christ has come. - -10 You have abundantly received, and freely you shall give. - -11 But you must go in faith; provide yourselves no crutch to lean upon. - -12 Give all your gold and silver to the poor; take not two coats, nor -extra shoes; just take your wands. - -13 You are God's husbandmen and he will never suffer you to want. - -14 In every place you go search out the men of faith; with them abide -until you go from hence. - -15 You go for me; you act for me. They who receive and welcome you, -receive and welcome me; - -16 And they who shut their doors against your face, refuse to welcome -me. - -17 If you are not received in kindness in a town, bear not away an -evil thought; do not resist. - -18 An evil thought of any kind will do you harm; will dissipate your -power. - -19 When you are not received with favor, go your way, for there are -multitudes of men who want the light. - -20 Behold, I send you forth as sheep among a pack of wolves; and you -must be as wise as serpents and as harmless as the doves. - -21 In all your language be discreet, for Pharisees and scribes will -seek a cause for your arrest in what you say. - -22 And they will surely find a way by charges false to bring you into -court. - -23 And judges will declare that you are guilty of some crime, and -sentence you to scourgings and to prison cells. - -24 But when you come to stand before the judge, be not afraid; be not -disturbed about the way to act, the words to speak. - -25 The Holy Breath will guide you in that hour, and give the words -that you shall speak. - -26 Of this be full assured; It is not you who speaks; it is the Holy -Breath who gives the words and moves the lips. - -27 The gospel that you preach will not bring peace, but it will stir -the multitudes to wrath. - -28 The carnal man abhors the truth, and he would give his life to -crush the tender plant before the harvest time. - -29 And this will bring confusion in the homes that were the homes of -stagnant peace. - -30 And brother will give brother up to death; the father will stand -by and see men execute his child; and in the courts the child will -testify against the sire, and gladly see its mother put to death. - -31 And men will hate you just because you speak the name of Christ. - -32 Thrice blessed is the man who shall be faithful in this coming day -of wrath! - -33 Go now; when you are persecuted in a place, go seek another place. - -34 And when you meet a foe too great for you, behold, the son of man -is at your door, and he can speak, and all the hosts of heaven will -stand in your defense. - -35 But do not hold your present life in great esteem. - -36 The time will come when men will take my life; you need not hope to -be immune, for they will slay you in the name of God. - -37 Men call me Beelzebul and they will call you imps. - -38 Be not afraid of what men say and do; they have no power over soul; -they may abuse and may destroy the body of the flesh; but that is all. - -39 They do not know the God who holds the issues of the soul within -his hands, who can destroy the soul. - -40 The Christ is king today, and men must recognize his power. - -41 He who loves not the Christ, which is the love of God, before all -else, can never gain the prize of spirit consciousness. - -42 And they who love their parents or their children more than they -love the Christ can never wear the name of Christ. - -43 And he who loves his life more than he loves the Christ cannot -please God. - -44 And he who clings to life shall lose his life, while he who gives -his life for Christ will save his life. - -45 When Jesus had thus said he sent the twelve away by twos, and bade -them meet him in Capernaum. - -46 And they went out through all the towns of Galilee and taught and -healed in spirit and in power. - - -CHAPTER 123. - - _Jesus gives his final charge to the foreign masters and sends - them forth as apostles to the world. He goes alone to Tyre - and abides in Rachel's home. Heals an obsessed child. Goes - to Sidon and then to the mountains of Lebanon. Visits Mount - Hermon, Caesarea-Philippi, Decapolis, Gadara and returns to - Capernaum. Receives the twelve, who give an account of their - work._ - -The Christine master spent a time in prayer and then he called the -foreign masters, and he said to them, - -2 Behold, I sent the twelve apostles unto Israel, but you are sent to -all the world. - -3 Our God is one, is Spirit and is truth, and every man is dear to him. - -4 He is the God of every child of India, and the farther east; of -Persia, and the farther north; of Greece and Rome and of the farther -west; of Egypt and the farther south, and of the mighty lands across -the seas, and of the islands of the seas. - -5 If God would send the bread of life to one and not to all who have -arisen to the consciousness of life and can receive the bread of life, -then he would be unjust and that would shake the very throne of heaven. - -6 So he has called you from the seven centers of the world, and he has -breathed the breath of wisdom and of power into your souls, and now he -sends you forth as bearers of the light of life, apostles of the human -race. - -7 Go on your way, and as you go proclaim the gospel of the Christ. - -8 And then he breathed upon the masters and he said, Receive the Holy -Breath; and then he gave to each the Word of power. - -9 And each went on his way, and every land was blest. - -10 Then Jesus went alone across the hills of Galilee and after certain -days he reached the coast of Tyre, and in the home of Rachel he abode. - -11 He did not advertise his coming, for he did not come to teach; he -would commune with God where he could see the waters of the Mighty Sea. - -12 But Rachel told the news and multitudes of people thronged her home -to see the Lord. - -13 A Grecian woman of Phenecia came; her daughter was obsessed. She -said, - -14 O Lord, have mercy on my home! My daughter is obsessed; but this I -know, if you will speak the Word she will be free. Thou son of David, -hear my prayer! - -15 But Rachel said, Good woman, trouble not the Lord. He did not come -to Tyre to heal; he came to talk with God beside the sea. - -16 And Jesus said, Lo, I was sent not to the Greek, nor to -Syrophenicians; I come just to my people, Israel. - -17 And then the woman fell down at his feet and said, Lord, Jesus, I -implore that you will save my child. - -18 And Jesus said, You know the common proverb well: It is not meet -that one should give the children's bread to dogs. - -19 And then the woman said, Yea, Jesus, this I know, but dogs may eat -the crumbs that fall down from their master's board. - -20 And Jesus said, Such faith I have not seen, no not among the Jews; -she is not serf, nor dog. - -21 And then he said to her, According to your faith so let it be. - -22 The woman went her way and when she came unto her child, lo, she -was healed. - -23 And Jesus tarried many days in Tyre; and then he went his way and -dwelt a time in Sidon by the sea. - -24 And then he journeyed on. In Lebanon hills and vales, and in its -groves he walked in silent thought. - -25 His earthly mission fast was drawing to a close; he sought for -strength, and what he sought he found. - -26 Mount Hermon stood beyond, and Jesus fain would kneel beside that -mountain famed in Hebrew song. - -27 And then he stood upon Mount Hermon's lofty peaks, and lifting up -his eyes to heaven he talked with God. - -28 And masters of the olden times revealed themselves and long they -talked about the kingdom of the Christ; - -29 About the mighty works that had been done; about the coming -conquest of the cross; about the victory over death. - -30 Then Jesus journeyed on; he went to Caesarea-Philippi, and in -Susanna's home he tarried certain days. - -31 And then he went through all Decapolis to give encouragement to -those who knew him as the Christ, and to prepare them for the day of -Calvary. - -32 And then he went to Gadara, and many friends were there, to welcome -him. - -33 And Chuzas, steward of the house of Herod Antipas, was there, and -Jesus went aboard the royal ship with him and crossed the sea, and -came unto Capernaum. - -34 And when the people knew that Jesus was at home they came to -welcome him. - -35 In just a little while the twelve apostles came and told the master -all about their journey over Galilee. - -36 They said that by the sacred Word they had done many mighty works; -and Jesus said to them, Well done. - - - - -SECTION XVII. - -PE. - -_The Third Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 124. - - _The Christines cross the sea. Jesus gives to his disciples - lessons on secret doctrines. Teaches the people. Feeds five - thousand. The disciples start to recross the sea. A storm - arises. Jesus, walking on the waters, comes to them. Trial of - Peter's faith. They land in Gennesaret._ - -The twelve apostles now had reached the stage of spirit consciousness, -and Jesus could reveal to them the deeper meanings of his mission to -the world. - -2 Next week the great feast of the Jews would be observed, and Matthew -said, Shall we not girt ourselves and go unto Jerusalem? - -3 But Jesus said, We will not go up to the feast; the time is short -and I have many things to say to you; come you apart into a desert -place and rest a while. - -4 And then they took their boats and crossed the sea, and came into a -desert place near Julius Bethsaida. - -5 The people saw them go, and in vast multitudes they followed them. - -6 And Jesus had compassion on the anxious throng, and he stood forth -and taught them all the day, because they sought the light and were -like sheep without a fold. - -7 And as the night came on the twelve were doubting what the -multitudes would do, and Thomas said, - -8 Lord, we are in a desert place; the multitudes have naught to eat -and they are faint from lack of food; what shall we do? - -9 And Jesus said, Go to and feed the multitudes. - -10 And Judas said, Shall we go down and buy two hundred pennies' worth -of bread for them to eat? - -11 And Jesus said, Go look into our larder and see how many loaves we -have. - -12 And Andrew said, We have no bread, but we have found a lad who has -five barley loaves and two small fish; but this would not be food -enough for one in ten. - -13 But Jesus said, Command these people all to sit upon the grass in -companies of twelve; and they all sat down in companies of twelve. - -14 Then Jesus took the loaves and fish, and looking up to heaven he -spoke the sacred Word. - -15 And then he broke the bread and gave it to the twelve; he also gave -the fish unto the twelve, and said, Go to and feed the multitudes. - -16 And all the people ate and were refreshed. - -17 There were about five thousand men, a company of little ones, and -women not a few. - -18 And when the people all were filled the master said, - -19 Let not a crumb be lost; Go to and gather up the pieces of the -bread and fish for others that may want. - -20 They gathered up the fragments and they filled twelve baskets full. - -21 The people were bewildered by this wondrous act of power; they -said, And now we know that Jesus is the prophet that our prophets said -would come; and then they said, All hail the king! - -22 When Jesus heard them say, All hail the king! he called the twelve -and bade them take their boats and go before him to the other side; - -23 And he went all alone into a mountain pass to pray. - -24 The twelve were on the sea and hoped to reach Capernaum in just a -little time, when all at once a fearful storm arose, and they were at -the mercy of the waves. - -25 And in the fourth watch of the night the wind became a whirling -wind, and they were filled with fear. - -26 And in the blinding storm they saw a form move on the waves; it -seemed to be a man, and one spoke out and said, It is a ghost, a sign -of evil things. - -27 But John discerned the form and said, It is the Lord. - -28 And then the wind blew not so hard, and Peter, standing in the -midst, exclaimed, - -29 My Lord! my Lord! If this be truly you, bid me to come to you upon -the waves. - -30 The form reached forth his hand and said, Come on. - -31 And Peter stepped upon the waves and they were solid as a rock; he -walked upon the waves. - -32 He walked until he thought within himself, What if the waves should -break beneath my feet? - -33 And then the waves did break beneath his feet, and he began to -sink, and in the fearfulness of soul he cried, O save me, Lord, or I -am lost! - -34 And Jesus took him by the hand and said, O you of little faith! why -did you doubt? And Jesus led the way unto the boat. - -35 The storm had spent its force; the winds were still, and they -were near the shore, and when they landed they were in the valley of -Gennesaret. - - -CHAPTER 125. - - _The Christines are welcomed in Gennesaret. Many follow Jesus - for the loaves and fish. He tells them of the bread of - life. Speaks of his flesh and blood as symbols of the bread - and water of life. The people are offended and many of his - disciples follow him no more._ - -The news soon spread through all the valley of Gennesaret that Jesus -and the twelve had come, and many people came to see. - -2 They brought their sick and laid them at the master's feet, and all -the day he taught and healed. - -3 The multitudes upon the other side who had been fed the day before -and other multitudes, went down to see the Lord; but when they found -him not they sought him in Capernaum. - -4 And when they found him not at home, they went on to Gennesaret. -They found him there and said, Rabboni, when came you to Gennesaret? - -5 And Jesus said, Why are you come across the sea? you came not for -the bread of life; - -6 You came to gratify your selfish selves; you all were fed the other -day across the sea, and you are after more of loaves and fish. - -7 The food you ate was nourishment for flesh that soon must pass away. - -8 You men of Galilee, seek not for food that perishes, but seek for -food that feeds the soul; and, lo, I bring you food from heaven. - -9 You ate the flesh of fish, and you were satisfied, and now I bring -the flesh of Christ for you to eat that you may live forevermore. - -10 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; and then they ate the -flesh of quail, and drank the waters of a flowing spring that Moses -brought out from the rock; but all of them are dead. - -11 The manna and the quail were symbols of the flesh of Christ; the -waters of the rock were symbols of the blood. - -12 But, lo, the Christ has come; he is the bread of life that God has -given to the world. - -13 Whoever eats the flesh of Christ and drinks his blood shall never -die; and he will hunger nevermore; and he will thirst no more. - -14 And they who eat this bread of heaven, and drink these waters from -the spring of life cannot be lost; these feed the soul, and purify the -life. - -15 Behold, for God has said, When man has purified himself I will -exalt him to the throne of power. - -16 Then Jesus and the twelve went to Capernaum; and Jesus went into -the synagogue and taught. - -17 And when the Jews, who heard him in Gennesaret, were come they said, - -18 This fellow is beside himself. We heard him say, I am the bread of -life that comes from heaven; and we all know that he is but a man, the -son of man, who came from Nazareth; we know his mother, and his other -kin. - -19 And Jesus knew their thoughts; he said to them, Why murmur you, and -reason thus among yourselves? - -20 The Christ is everlasting life; he came from heaven; he has the -keys of heaven, and no man enters into heaven except he fills himself -with Christ. - -21 I came in flesh to do the will of God, and, lo, this flesh and -blood are filled with Christ; and so I am the living bread that comes -from heaven; - -22 And when you eat this flesh and drink this blood you will have -everlasting life; and if you will, you may become the bread of life. - -23 And many of the people were enraged; they said, How can this man -give us his flesh to eat, his blood to drink? - -24 And his disciples were aggrieved because he said these things, and -many turned away and followed him no more. - -25 They said, This is a fearful thing for him to say, If you eat not -my flesh and drink my blood, you cannot enter into life. - -26 They could not comprehend the parable he spoke. - -27 And Jesus said, You stumble and you fall before the truth; What -will you do when you shall see this flesh and blood transmuted into -higher form? - -28 What will you say when you shall see the son of man ascending on -the clouds of heaven? - -29 What will you say when you shall see the son of man sit on the -throne of God? - -30 The flesh is naught; the spirit is the quickening power. The words -I speak are spirit; they are life. - -31 When Jesus saw the many who had been so loud in their professions -of their faith in him, turn back and go away, he said unto the twelve, - -32 Will you desert me in this hour and go away? - -33 But Peter said, Lord, we have no place else to go; you have the -words of everlasting life; we know that you are sent to us from God. - - -CHAPTER 126. - - _Scribes and Pharisees visit Jesus. They censure him for eating - with unwashed hands. He defends his acts and teaches a lesson - on hypocrisy. Privately explains to the twelve his public - teachings._ - -A company of scribes and Pharisees came from Jerusalem to learn -wherein the power of Jesus lay. - -2 But when they learned that he and his disciples heeded not the -custom of the Jews, regarding washing of the hands before they ate, -they were amazed. - -3 And Jesus said, Hypocrisy is queen among you scribes and Pharisees. -Of you Isaiah wrote: - -4 This people honor me with lips; their hearts are far away. In vain -they worship me; their doctrines are the dogmas and the creeds of men. - -5 You men who pose as men of God, and still reject the laws of God and -teach the laws of men, - -6 Stand forth and tell when God gave unto men the ceremonial laws that -you observe; and tell these people how the spirit life is sullied if -one washes not before he eats. - -7 His critics answered not, and then he said, - -8 Hear me, you men of Israel! Defilement is a creature of the heart. -The carnal mind lays hold of thought, and makes a monstrous bride; -this bride is sin; sin is a creature of the mind. - -9 That which defiles a man is not the food he eats. - -10 The bread and fish and other things we eat, are simply cups to -carry to the cells of flesh material for the building of the human -house, and when their work is done as refuse they are cast away. - -11 The life of plant and flesh that goes to build the human house is -never food for soul. The spirit does not feed upon the carcasses of -animal, or plant. - -12 God feeds the soul direct from heaven; the bread of life comes from -above. - -13 The air we breathe is charged with Holy Breath, and he who wills -may take this Holy Breath. - -14 The soul discriminates, and he who wants the life of Christ may -breathe it in. According to your faith so let it be. - -15 Man is not a part of his abiding place; the house is not the man. - -16 The lower world builds up the house of flesh, and keeps it in -repair; the higher world provides the bread of spirit life. - -17 The loveliest lilies grow from stagnant ponds and filthiest muck. - -18 The law of flesh demands that one should keep the body clean. - -19 The law of spirit calls for purity in thought and word and deed. - -20 Now, when the evening came and they were in the house, the twelve -had many things to say, and many questions to propound. - -21 Nathaniel asked, Was what you said about the house of flesh a -parable? If so, what does it mean? - -22 And Jesus said, Can you not yet discriminate? Do you not yet -perceive that what a man takes in his mouth defiles him not? - -23 His food goes not into his soul; it is material for flesh and bone -and brawn. - -24 To spirit everything is clean. - -25 That which defiles a man wells up from carnal thoughts; and carnal -thoughts spring from the heart, and generate a host of evil things. - -26 From out the heart comes murders, thefts and foolishness. All -selfish acts and sensual deeds spring from the heart. - -27 To eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man. - -28 And Peter said, Lord, What you said today has grievously offended -scribe and Pharisee. - -29 And Jesus said, These scribes and Pharisees are not the scions of -the tree of life; they are not plants of God; they are the plants of -men, and every foreign plant shall be plucked up. - -30 Let all these men alone; they are blind guides; they lead a -multitude of people who are blind. - -31 The leaders and the led together walk; together they will fall into -the yawning pits. - - -CHAPTER 127. - - _The Christines cross the sea to Decapolis. Jesus finds a - retired place where he privately teaches the twelve. They - remain three days, then go into a village by the sea._ - -Now, Jesus took the twelve and with them crossed the sea at night and -came unto the borders of Decapolis, - -2 That he might find a secret place where, all alone, he could reveal -to them the things to come. - -3 They went into a mountain pass and spent three days in prayer. - -4 Then Jesus said, Behold, the time is near when I will walk with you -in flesh no more. - -5 Lo, I have taught that he who counts his life of so much worth that -he would give it not in willing sacrifice to save his brother man, is -worthy not to enter into life. - -6 Lo, I am come as pattern for the sons of men, and I have not -refrained from helpfulness. - -7 When I had passed the seven tests in Heliopolis, I consecrated life -and all I had, to save the world. - -8 In the Judean wilderness I fought the strongest foes of men, and -there I reaffirmed my consecration to the service of my fellow man. - -9 In troubles and in trials I have wavered not; when false accusers -came, I answered not. - -10 God gave the saving Word to me, and I have often spoken it and -healed the sick, drove unclean spirits out, and raised the dead. - -11 And I have shown you how to speak the Word; and I have given you -the Word; - -12 In just a little while we turn our faces toward Jerusalem, and one -of you who hear me now will then betray me into wicked hands. - -13 The scribes and Pharisees will bring false charges up and hale me -into court, and, by consent of Rome, I will be crucified. - -14 Then Peter said, My Lord, it shall not be. The Roman soldiers will -tread on twelve dead men before they reach our Lord. - -15 But Jesus said, A savior of the world cannot resist. - -16 I came to save the world and I have taken up your names before the -highest courts of heaven, and you have been confirmed as saviors of -the world. - -17 And not a name, excepting that of him who shall betray, will ever -be disgraced. - -18 I go my way, and though my flesh shall pass, my soul will stand -beside you all the way to guide and bless. - -19 And wicked men will seize you in the streets, and as you kneel in -prayer; will charge you with some legal crime, and think they serve -their God by putting you to death. - -20 But falter not; the load will heavy be, but with the consciousness -of duty done, the peace of God will lift the load, dispel the pain and -light the way. - -21 And we will meet where carnal executioners come not; there we will -serve the cruel men, who in their ignorance had tortured us to death. - -22 Can we prevent this outrage and this slaughter of our lives? If not -we are but creatures of the ebb and flow of carnal things. It would -not be a sacrifice of life. - -23 But we are masters of the things of time. Lo, we can speak, and -all the spirits of the fire, water, earth and air will stand in our -defense. - -24 We can command and many legions of the angel world would come and -strike our enemies to earth. - -25 But it is best that not a power of heaven or earth should come to -our relief. And it is best that even God should veil his face and seem -to hear us not. - -26 As I am pattern unto you, so you are patterns for the human race. -We show by non-resistance that we give our lives in willing sacrifice -for man. - -27 But my example will not end with death. My body will be laid within -a tomb in which no flesh has lain, symbolic of the purity of life in -death. - -28 And in the tomb I will remain three days in sweet communion with -the Christ, and with my Father-God, and Mother-God. - -29 And then, symbolic of the ascent of the soul to higher life, my -flesh within the tomb will disappear; - -30 Will be transmuted into higher form, and, in the presence of you -all, I will ascend to God. - -31 Then Jesus and the twelve went to a village by the sea. - - -CHAPTER 128. - - _Jesus goes at night to a mountain to pray. His disciples - and the villagers find him and he teaches them for three - days. Feeds four thousand people. The Christines go to - Caesarea-Philippi. They consider the personality of Christ. - Peter is chosen as apostolic leader._ - -Now, in the night while the disciples slept, lo, Jesus rose and went -alone into a mountain pass, six miles away, to pray. - -2 And in the morning when the twelve awoke they could not find the -Lord, and all the people of the village sought, and when the sun had -passed its highest point they found him in the mountain pass. - -3 And multitudes of people came and brought their sick, and Jesus -taught and healed. - -4 And when the night came on the people would not go; they slept upon -the ground that they might be a-near the Lord. - -5 Three days and nights the multitudes remained, and none had aught to -eat. - -6 And Jesus had compassion and he said, If I should send the -multitudes away they might not reach their homes, for they are faint, -for some have journeyed many miles. - -7 And his disciples said, Where shall we get enough of food to feed -them all? There are four thousand men, besides the women and the -little ones. - -8 And Jesus said, How many loaves have you? - -9 They answered, Seven, and some little fish. - -10 And Jesus said, Go to, and seat the people as you seated them the -other day when all the multitudes were fed, in companies of twelve. - -11 And when the people were sat down in companies of twelve the loaves -and fish were brought. - -12 And Jesus looked to heaven and spoke the Word; and then he broke -the seven loaves in little bits, and likewise cut the fish. - -13 And every bit of bread became a loaf, and every piece of fish -became a fish. - -14 The twelve went forth and gave to every one; the people ate and -they were filled; and all the fragments that were left were gathered -up, and there were seven baskets full. - -15 And then the people went their ways, and Jesus and the twelve took -boats and came to Dalmanatha by the sea. - -16 Here they remained for many days, and Jesus told the twelve about -the inner light that cannot fail; - -17 About the kingdom of the Christ within the soul; about the power -of faith; about the secret of the resurrection of the dead; about -immortal life, and how the living may go forth and help the dead. - -18 And then they went into their boats, and came unto the northern -coast of Galilee, and in Chorazin where the kin of Thomas lived, they -left their boats and journeyed on. - -19 They came to Merom, where the crystal waters seem to catch the -images of heaven and to reflect the glory of the Lord of hosts. - -20 And here they tarried certain days in silent thought. - -21 And then they journeyed on, and came into the land of -Caesarea-Philippi. - -22 And as they walked and talked among themselves, the master said, -What do the people say about the son of man? who do they think I am? - -23 And Matthew said, Some say that you are David come again; some say -that you are Enoch, Solomon, or Seth. - -24 And Andrew said, I heard a ruler of the synagogue exclaim, This man -is Jeremiah, for he speaks like Jeremiah wrote. - -25 Nathaniel said, The foreign masters who were with us for a time, -declared that Jesus is Gautama come again. - -26 James said, I think that most the master Jews believe you are the -reappearence of Elijah on the earth. - -27 And John spoke out and said, When we were in Jerusalem I heard a -seer exclaim, This Jesus is none other than Melchizedek, the king of -peace, who lived about two thousand years ago, and said that he would -come again. - -28 And Thomas said, The Tetrarch Herod thinks that you are John arisen -from the dead; - -29 But then his conscience troubles him; the spirit of the murdered -John looms up before him in his dreams, and haunts him as a specter of -the night. - -30 And Jesus asked, Who do you think I am? - -31 And Peter said, You are the Christ, the love of God made manifest -to men. - -32 And Jesus said, Thrice blessed are you, Simon, Jonas' son. You have -declared a truth that God has given you. - -33 You are a rock, and you shall be a pillar in the temple of the Lord -of hosts. - -34 And your confession is the cornerstone of faith, a rock of -strength, and on this rock the Church of Christ is built. - -35 Against it all the powers of hades and of death cannot prevail. - -36 Behold, I give to you the keys to open up the doors of safety for -the sons of men. - -37 The Holy Breath will come upon you and the ten, and in Jerusalem -you shall stand before the nations of the earth, and there proclaim -the covenant of God with men. - -38 And you shall speak the words of Holy Breath, and whatsoever God -requires of men as earnest of their faith in Christ, you shall make -known. - -39 Then turning to the twelve he said, What you have heard this day -tell not to any man. - -40 Then Jesus and the twelve went up and were Susanna's guests for -many days. - - -CHAPTER 129. - - _Jesus teaches the people. He takes Peter, James and John and - goes to a high mountain and is transfigured before them._ - -The news soon spread that Jesus and the twelve were come, and many -people came to see. - -2 And Jesus said, Behold, you come to see, but that means naught. If -you would have the benedictions of the Christ, take up your cross and -follow me. - -3 If you would give your life for selfish self, then you will lose -your life. - -4 If you will give your life in service of your fellow men, then you -will save your life. - -5 This life is but a span, a bauble of today. There is a life that -passes not. - -6 Where is your profit if you gain the world and lose your soul? What -would you take in payment for your soul? - -7 If you would find the spirit life, the life of man in God, then you -must walk a narrow way and enter through a narrow gate. - -8 The way is Christ, the gate is Christ, and you must come up by the -way of Christ. No man comes unto God but by the Christ. - -9 The kingdom of the Christ will come; yea, some of you who hear me -now will not pass through the gates of death until you see the kingdom -come in power. - -10 For seven days the master and the twelve remained in -Caesarea-Philippi. - -11 Then Jesus, taking Peter, James and John, went forth unto a -mountain top to pray. - -12 And as he prayed a brilliant light appeared; his form became as -radiant as a precious stone; - -13 His face shone like the sun; his garments seemed as white as snow; -the son of man became the son of God. - -14 He was transfigured that the men of earth might see the -possibilities of man. - -15 When first the glory came the three disciples were asleep; a master -touched their eyes and said, Awake and see the glory of the Lord. - -16 And they awoke, and saw the glory of the Lord; and more, they saw -the glory of the heavenly world, for they beheld two men from thence -stand forth beside the Lord. - -17 And Peter asked the master who awakened them, Who are these men who -stand beside the Lord? - -18 The master said, These men are Moses and Elijah, who are come that -you may know that heaven and earth are one; that masters there and -masters here are one. - -19 The veil that separates the worlds is but an ether veil. For those -who purify their hearts by faith the veil is rolled aside, and they -can see and know that death is an illusive thing. - -20 And Peter said, Praise God! And then he called to Jesus and he -said, My master and my Lord, this is the gate of heaven, and it is -well that we remain. - -21 May we go down and bring three tents; a tent for you, a tent for -Moses, and for Elijah one? But Jesus answered not. - -22 And Moses and Elijah talked with Jesus on the mount. They talked -about the coming trial of the Lord; - -23 About his death, his rest within the tomb; about the wonders of the -resurrection morn; the transmutation of his flesh, and his ascension -on the clouds of light; - -24 And all symbolic of the path that every man must tread; symbolic of -the way the sons of men become the sons of God. - -25 The three disciples were amazed, and suddenly the ethers were -surcharged with song, and forms as light as air, moved all about the -mountain top. - -26 And then from out the glory of the upper world they heard a voice -that said, - -27 This is the son of man, my chosen one to manifest the Christ to -men. Let all the earth hear him. - -28 When the disciples heard the voice they were afraid; they fell upon -the ground and prayed. - -29 And Jesus came; he touched them and he said, Arise, fear not; lo, I -am here. - -30 Then they arose, and as they looked about they saw no one; the men -had gone. The master only stood with them. - -31 As Jesus and the three came from the mountain top they talked about -the meaning of the scene, and Jesus told them all; and then he said, - -32 Till I have risen from the dead tell not to any one what you have -seen. - -33 But the disciples could not comprehend the meaning of the words, -Till I have risen from the dead. - -34 And Jesus told them once again about his death, and rising from the -grave; about the kingdom of the soul that was to come in glory and in -power. - -35 But Peter said, The scribes have taught that e'er the king shall -come Elijah must appear. - -36 And Jesus said, Elijah has already come; but scribes and Pharisees -received him not; - -37 And men reviled him, bound him, cast him in a prison cell, and -shouted with a fiend's delight to see him die. - -38 What men have done to him, that they will do to me. - -39 Then the disciples understood that Jesus spoke of John whom Herod -slew. - - -CHAPTER 130. - - _Jesus and the three disciples return to Caesarea-Philippi. The - nine had failed to cure an epileptic child. Jesus heals it - and rebukes his disciples for their lack of trust in God. The - Christines return to Capernaum._ - -When Jesus, Peter, James and John were come unto the city's gates a -multitude of people thronged the way. - -2 The nine apostles who went not with Jesus to the mount, had tried -to heal an epileptic child who was obsessed, and they had failed; the -people waited for the coming of the Lord. - -3 When Jesus came the father of the child knelt down before him and -implored his help. - -4 He said, My master, I beseech that you will look in pity on my son, -my only child; he is an epileptic child and suffers grievously. - -5 Sometimes he falls into the fire and is burned; again he falls into -the water and is like to drown; and many times a day he falls, he -grinds his teeth, the foam pours from his mouth. - -6 I took my child to your disciples, and they failed to give relief. - -7 And as he spoke a servant brought the child before the Lord (the -child spoke not, for he was dumb), and instantly he fell upon the -ground, he foamed, he writhed in agony. - -8 And Jesus said, How long has he been troubled thus? - -9 The father said, From infancy; and we have sought in many lands for -help, but found it not; but I believe that you can speak the Word and -heal my son. - -10 And Jesus said, Faith is the power of God. All things are possible -for him who in his heart believes. - -11 The father cried, in tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine -unbelief. - -12 And Jesus spoke the Word of power; the epileptic child lay in a -swoon; he did not breathe, and all the people said, The child is dead. - -13 But Jesus took him by the hand and said: Arise; and he arose and -spoke. - -14 The people were amazed, and many said, This surely is a man of God, -for no such power was ever given to man. - -15 Then Jesus and the twelve went to the house, and after they had -taken food and been refreshed, the nine disciples said, - -16 Lord, why could we not heal this child? We spoke the Word; but even -that was powerless. - -17 And Jesus said, Your great success in all your former work has made -you careless, and you forgot to recognize the power of God. - -18 Without the spirit of the Word, the Word is like an idle tale; and -you forgot to pray. - -19 There is no faith without the prayer of faith. Faith is the wings -of prayer; but wings alone fly not. - -20 By prayer and faith you can bring down the mountain peaks, and cast -them in the sea; the little hills will skip about like lambs at your -command. - -21 This failure may be well for you. The greatest lessons that are -learned in life come through the failures that are made. - -22 As the disciples sat in thoughtful meditation Jesus said, Let these -words sink into your hearts: - -23 The time has nearly come when you must bear your load alone; that -is, without my presence in the flesh. - -24 For I will fall into the hands of wicked men, and they will slay me -on a mount beyond Bezetha wall. - -25 And men will lay my body in a tomb where, by the sacred Word, it -will be guarded and preserved three days; then I will rise again. - -26 The twelve were sad; they did not understand, and yet they feared -to ask him to reveal the meaning of his word. - -27 Next day the Christine master and the twelve began their journey of -return, and soon were in Capernaum. - - -CHAPTER 131. - - _Jesus and Peter pay the half-shekel tax. The disciples contend - for the supremacy. Jesus rebukes them. Teaches them many - practical lessons. The parable of the good shepherd._ - -As Jesus and the twelve were resting in the house, the tax collector -came to Peter saying, Man, do Jesus and yourself pay this half-shekel -tax? - -2 And Peter said, We pay whatever is assessed. - -3 And Jesus said, From whom do publicans collect this special tax? -from strangers or from native sons? - -4 And Peter said, The strangers only are supposed to pay this tax. - -5 Then Jesus said, We all are native sons and we are free; but lest -we cause contention we will pay the tax; but neither had the shekel -wherewithal to pay. - -6 And Jesus said, Go to the sea; cast in a hook and catch a fish and -you will find within its inner parts a shekel, which take up and pay -the tax for you and me. - -7 And Peter did as Jesus said; he found the shekel and he paid the tax. - -8 Now Jesus heard the twelve dispute among themselves. The spirit of -the carnal self was moving in their hearts, and they were questioning -among themselves who was the greatest in the sight of God and man. - -9 And Jesus said, You men, for shame! the greatest is the servant of -the rest. And then he called to him a little child; he took it in his -arms and said, - -10 The greatest is the little child, and if you would be great at all -you must become as is this child in innocence, in truth, in purity in -life. - -11 Great men scorn not the little things of earth; he who regards and -honors such a child, regards and honors me, and he who scorns a child, -scorn me. - -12 If you would enter through the kingdom gate you must be humble as -this little child. - -13 Hear me, you men, This child, as every other child, has one to -plead its cause before the throne of God. - -14 You scorn it at your peril, men, for lo, I say, its counterpart -beholds the face of God at every moment, every day. - -15 And hear me once again, He who shall cause a little one to stumble -and to fall is marked, accursed; and it were better far if he had -drowned himself. - -16 Behold, offenses everywhere! Men find occasions for to sin and -fall, and they grow strong by rising when they fall; - -17 But woe to him who causes other men to stumble and to fall. - -18 Be on your guard, you men of God, lest you constrain another man to -fall; beware lest you fall into sinful ways yourselves. - -19 Now, if your hands cause you to sin, you better cut them off; for -it is better far to have no hands and not be guilty in the sight of -God and men, than to be perfect in your form and lose your soul. - -20 And if your feet should cause offense, you better cut them off; -for it is better far to enter into life without your feet than fall -beneath the curse. - -21 And if your eyes, or ears, cause you to sin, you better lose them -all than lose your soul. - -22 Your thoughts and words and deeds will all be tried by fire. - -23 Remember that you are the salt of earth; but if you lose the -virtues of the salt, you are but refuse in the sight of God. - -24 Retain the virtues of the salt of life and be at peace among -yourselves. - -25 The world is full of men who have not in themselves the salt of -life, and they are lost. I come to seek and save the lost. - -26 How think you? if a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them -has gone astray, will he not leave the ninety and the nine, - -27 And go out in the desert ways and mountain tops to seek the one -that went astray? - -28 Yes, this you know; and if he finds the one that went astray, lo, -he is glad, and he rejoices over it far more than over all the ninety -and the nine that did not go astray. - -29 And so there is rejoicing in the courts of heaven when one of human -birth who has gone forth into the ways of sin is found and brought -back to the fold; - -30 Yea, there is joy, more joy than over all the righteous men who -never went astray. - -31 And John said, Master, who may seek and save the lost? and who may -heal the sick, and cast the demons out of those obsessed? - -32 When we were on the way we saw a man who was not one of us, cast -demons out and heal the sick. - -33 He did it by the sacred Word and in the name of Christ; but we -forbade him, for he did not walk with us. - -34 And Jesus said, You sons of men, do you imagine that you own the -powers of God? - -35 And do you think that all the world must wait for you to do the -works of God? - -36 God is not man that he should have a special care for any man, and -give him special gifts. - -37 Forbid not any man to do the works of God. - -38 There is no man who can pronounce the sacred Word, and in the name -of Christ restore the sick, and cast the unclean spirits out, who is -not child of God. - -39 The man of whom you speak is one with us. Whoever gathers in the -grain of heaven is one with us. - -40 Whoever gives a cup of water in the name of Christ is one with us; -so God shall judge. - - -CHAPTER 132. - - _Jesus defends a man who has been convicted of stealing bread. - The verdict is reversed. The man goes free, and the people - supply the needs of his starving family._ - -A multitude of people thronged the streets. The officers were on the -way to court with one, a man accused of stealing bread. - -2 And in a little while the man was brought before the judge to answer -to the charge. - -3 And Jesus and the twelve were there. The man showed in his face and -hands the hard drawn lines of toil and want. - -4 A woman richly clad, the accuser of the man, stood forth and said, I -caught this man myself; I know him well, for yesterday he came to beg -for bread, - -5 And when I drove him from my door, he should have known that I would -harbor not a man like him; and then today he came and took the bread. - -6 He is a thief and I demand that he be sent to jail. - -7 The servants also testified against the man; he was adjudged a -thief, and officers were leading him away. - -8 But Jesus standing forth exclaimed, You officers and judge, be not -in haste to lead this man away. - -9 Is this a land of justice and of right? can you accuse and sentence -men to punishment for any crime until they testify themselves? - -10 The Roman law will not permit such travesty on right, and I demand -that you permit this man to speak. - -11 And then the judge recalled the man and said, If you have any tale -to tell, say on. - -12 In tears the man stood forth and said, I have a wife and little -ones and they are perishing for bread, and I have told my story oft, -and begged for bread; but none would hear. - -13 This morning when I left our cheerless hut in search of work my -children cried for bread, and I resolved to feed them or to die. - -14 I took the bread, and I appeal to God, Was it a crime? - -15 This woman snatched the loaf away and threw it to the dogs, and -called the officers and I am here. - -16 Good people, do with me whate'er you will, but save my wife and -little ones from death. - -17 Then Jesus said, Who is the culprit in this case? - -18 I charge this woman as a felon in the sight of God. - -19 I charge this judge as criminal before the bar of human rights. - -20 I charge these servants and these officers as parties to the crime. - -21 I charge the people of Capernaum with cruelty and theft, because -they heeded not the cries of poverty and want, and have withheld from -helpless ones that which is theirs by every law of right; - -22 And I appeal unto these people here, and ask, Are not my charges -based on righteousness and truth? - -23 And every man said, Yes. - -24 The accusing woman blushed for shame; the judge shrank back in -fear; the officers threw off the shackles from the man and ran away. - -25 Then Jesus said, Give this man what he needs and let him go and -feed his wife and little ones. - -26 The people gave abundantly; the man went on his way. - -27 And Jesus said, There is no standard law to judge of crime. The -facts must all be stated e'er a judgment can be rendered in a case. - -28 You men with hearts; go forth and stand where stood this man and -answer me, What would you do? - -29 The thief thinks every other man a thief and judges him accordingly. - -30 The man who judges harshly is the man whose heart is full of crime. - -31 The courtesan who keeps her wickedness concealed by what she calls -respectability, has not a word of pity for the honest courtesan who -claims to be just what she is. - -32 I tell you, men, if you would censure not till you are free from -sin, the world would soon forget the meaning of the word, accused. - - -CHAPTER 133. - - _The twelve go to the feast in Jerusalem, but Jesus remains in - Capernaum. He selects seventy disciples, and sends them out - to teach and heal. He goes alone to the feast and on his way - he heals ten lepers. He teaches in the temple._ - -The harvest feast drew near; the twelve went to Jerusalem, but Jesus -did not go with them; he tarried in Capernaum. - -2 Among the multitudes that followed him were many who went not up to -the feast; they were not Jews. - -3 And Jesus called three-score-and-ten of these disciples unto him and -said, The kingdom of the Christ is not for Jews alone; it is for every -man. - -4 Lo, I have chosen twelve to preach the gospel, first unto the Jews; -and they are Jews. - -5 Twelve is the number of the Jew and seven the number of the all, -including every man. - -6 God is the ten, the holy Jod. - -7 When God and man are multiplied we have three-score-and-ten, the -number of the brotherhood of man. - -8 And now I send you forth by twos and twos; not to the Jews alone, -but unto every nation under heaven; to Greek and to Assyrian; to the -Samaritan; to those beyond the seas; to every man. - -9 You need not go afar, for men of every land are here and in Samaria. - -10 Arise and go your way; but go in faith; and take no gold nor silver -in your purse; no extra coat or shoes. - -11 Go in the sacred name; trust God and you will never come to want. - -12 And let this be your salutation everywhere, Peace be to all; good -will to all. - -13 And if the son of peace be in the house, the door will open wide -and you will enter in; and then the holy peace will rest upon that -house. - -14 The seventy in twos went forth; they went into Samaria, and as they -went they said, Peace be to all; good will to all! - -15 Repent and turn from sin, and set your house in order, for a son of -man who bears the image of the Christ, will come, and you may see his -face. - -16 They entered every village of Samaria; they preached in Tyre and -in Sidon by the sea. Some went to Crete, and others into Greece, and -others went to Gilead and taught. - -17 And Jesus, all alone, went to the feast by the Samaria way; and as -he went through Sychar on the way, the lepers saw him and a company of -ten called from afar and said, - -18 Lord Jesus, stay and speak the Word for us that we may be made -clean. - -19 And Jesus said, Go forth and show yourselves unto the priests. - -20 They went, and as they went their leprosy was healed. One of the -ten, a native of Samaria, returned to thank the master and to praise -the Lord. - -21 And Jesus said to him, Lo, ten were cleansed; where are the nine? -Arise, and go your way; your faith has made you whole. - -22 You have revealed your heart and shown that you are worthy of the -power; behold the nine will find again their leprous hands and feet. - -23 And Jesus went his way, and while the feast was on he came into -Jerusalem, and went into the temple courts. - -24 And he rebuked the scribes and Pharisees, the priests and doctors -of the law for their hypocrisy and selfishness. - -25 The common people were amazed; they said, From whence has come the -wisdom of this man? he speaks as speaks a sage. - -26 And Jesus said, I did not learn the wisdom of the Holy One within -the schools of men; my teaching is not mine; I speak the words of him -who sent me here to do his will. - -27 If any man would know whereof I speak, lo, he must do the will of -God. No man can know except he enters into life and does the will of -God. - -28 Now, Moses gave the law; but none of you have kept the law; how can -you judge the worthiness of any man? - -29 Once in these courts I healed a man upon a Sabbath day, and in a -rage you sought to take my life; and now because I tell the truth you -seek again to take my life. - -30 A scribe spoke out and said, You foolish man, you are obsessed; who -wants to take your life? - -31 The common people said, Is this not Jesus whom the rulers long have -sought to kill? and now he comes and teaches in the temple courts. - -32 If he is guilty of such monstrous crimes, why do they not take him -away in chains? - -33 And Jesus said, You all know me, and know from whence I came; but -you know not the God who sent me here, whose words I speak. - -34 The multitudes again stood forth in his defense; they said, If this -is not the Christ whom God has promised to reveal to men, will he do -greater works when he shall come than does this man? - -35 The Pharisees and ruling priests were angered and they sent their -officers to take him e'er he went away. The officers were filled with -fear; they seized him not. - -36 And Jesus said, Lo, I am here but for a little time and then I go -my way to him who sent me here to do his will. - -37 You seek me now and you can find me now; the time will come when -you will seek and will not find, for where I go you cannot come. - -38 The people said, Where will he go that men can find him not? Will -he go forth to Greece and teach the Greeks? or will he go to Egypt or -Assyria to teach? - -39 But Jesus answered not; unnoticed by the multitudes he left the -temple courts and went his way. - - -CHAPTER 134. - - _Jesus teaches in the temple. His words enrage the rulers. - Nicodemus defends him. He spends the night in prayer on Mount - Olives. Next day he again teaches in the temple. An adultress - is brought before him for judgment._ - -Now, on the last day of the feast when multitudes were in the -courtways, Jesus said, - -2 Whoever is athirst may come to me and drink. - -3 He who believes in me and in the Christ whom God has sent, may drink -the cup of life, and from his inner parts shall streams of living -waters flow. - -4 The Holy Breath will overshadow him, and he will breathe the Breath, -and speak the words, and live the life. - -5 The people were divided in their views concerning him. Some said, -This man is prophet of the living God. - -6 And others said, He is Messiah whom our prophets said would come. - -7 And others said, He cannot be the Christ, for he came down from -Galilee; the Christ must come from Bethlehem where David lived. - -8 Again the priests and Pharisees sent officers to bring him into -court to answer for his life; but when the officers returned and -brought him not, - -9 The rulers were enraged and said, Why did you not arrest this man -and hale him into court? - -10 The officers replied, We never heard a man speak like this man -speaks. - -11 In rage the Pharisees stood forth and said, Have you gone mad? Have -you been led astray? Are you disciples of this man? - -12 Have any of the rulers, or the Pharisees believed on him? The -common people! yes, they may believe; they are accursed; they know not -anything. - -13 But Nicodemus came before the rulers and he said, Can Jewish judges -judge a man and sentence him until they hear his plea? Let Jesus stand -before this bar and testify himself. - -14 The rulers said, This Jesus is a wily man, and if we suffer him to -speak, he will rebuke us face to face, and then the multitudes will -laugh and stand in his defense. - -15 And then you know, as well as we, that prophets do not come from -Galilee. - -16 The rulers felt the force of what the officers and Nicodemus said, -and they said nothing more. - -17 And then the people went their way, each to his home; but Jesus -went unto Mount Olives where he spent the night in prayer. - -18 But in the morning when the sun had scarcely risen, Jesus came -again, and many people came to see him in the temple courts, and he -sat down and taught the multitudes. - -19 The Pharisees and scribes were still alert to find a cause whereby -they might condemn him by the words he spoke. - -20 The officers had taken in the very act of crime, a courtesan. As -Jesus taught, they brought this woman in and set her in the midst and -said, - -21 Rabboni, this vile woman has been taken in adultery. The law of -Moses says that such as she shall die, be stoned to death; what do you -say should be her punishment? - -22 And Jesus stooped and made a figure on the ground and in it placed -the number of a soul, and then he sat in silent thought. - -23 And when the priests demanded that he speak, he said, Let him who -has no sin stand forth and be the first to cast a stone at her. - -24 And then he closed his eyes, and not a word was said. When he arose -and saw the woman all alone he said, - -25 Where are the men who brought you here? they who accused? - -26 The woman said, They all are gone; no one was here who could -condemn. - -27 And Jesus said, And I condemn you not; go on your way in peace, and -sin no more. - - -CHAPTER 135. - - _Jesus teaches in the temple. He reveals some of the deeper - meanings of the Christine ministry. The rulers are greatly - enraged and attempt to stone him, but he disappears._ - -The feast was done and Jesus, Peter, James and John were sitting in -the temple treasury. - -2 The nine had gone back to Capernaum. - -3 The people thronged the temple courts and Jesus said, - -4 I am the lamp; Christ is the oil of life; the Holy Breath the fire. -Behold the light! and he who follows me shall not walk in the dark, -but he shall have the light of life. - -5 A lawyer said, You witness for yourself, your witness is not true. - -6 And Jesus said, If I do witness for myself I speak that which is -true, for I know whence I came and where I go. - -7 And no one else in flesh can testify for me, for none know whence I -came, nor where I go. - -8 My works bear witness to the truth I speak. As man I could not speak -the words I speak; they are the words of Holy Breath; and then my -Father testifies for me. - -9 The lawyer said, Where does your father live? - -10 And Jesus said, You know me not or you would know my Father, and if -you knew the Father you would know the son, because the Father and -the son are one. - -11 I go my way and you shall find me not; for where I go you cannot -come, because you do not know the way. - -12 You cannot find the way because your hearts are gross, your ears -are dull, your eyes are closed. - -13 The light of life cannot shine through the murky veil that you have -drawn about your hearts. - -14 You do not know the Christ and if the Christ be not within the -heart there is no light. - -15 I come to manifest the Christ to men and you receive me not, and -you will dwell in darkness and in the shadow of the grave till you -believe the words I speak. - -16 But you will vilify the son of man, and lift him up and laugh to -see him die. - -17 But then a little light will come and you will know that I am what -I am. - -18 The people did not comprehend the meaning of the words he spoke. - -19 And then he spoke unto the people who believed in him and said, If -you abide in Christ, and Christ abide in you, and if you keep my words -within your heart, - -20 You are the way, you are disciples in the way, and you shall know -what is the truth, and truth shall make you free. - -21 And still the people did not understand; they said, We are the seed -of Abraham and are already free; we never were the slaves of any man; -why do you say, We shall be free? - -22 And Jesus said, Do you not know that every one committing sin is -slave of sin? abides in bondage unto sin? - -23 If you sin not then you are free; but if you sin in thought, or -word, or deed, then you are slaves, and naught but truth can set you -free; if you are free through Christ, then you are free indeed. - -24 You are the seed of Abraham, and yet you seek to kill me just -because I speak the truth of Abraham. - -25 You are the children of the flesh of Abraham; but, lo, I say, There -is a spiritual Abraham whom you know not. - -26 In spirit you are children of your father, and your father is -Diabolus; you hang upon his words and do his will. - -27 He was a murderer from the first; he cannot tell the truth, and -when he tells a lie he speaks his own; he is himself a lie, and he is -father of himself. - -28 If you were children of my Father-God, then you could hear the -words of God; I speak the words of God, but you can hear them not. - -29 A Pharisee stood forth and said, This fellow is not one of us; he -is a curst Samaritan and is obsessed. - -30 But Jesus heeded not the words of Pharisee or scribe; he knew that -all the people knew he was a Jew. - -31 And then he said, Whoever keeps my words shall never die. - -32 A lawyer said, And now we know he is obsessed. Our father Abraham -is dead; the prophets all are dead, and yet this fellow says, Whoever -keeps my words shall never die. - -33 Is this man greater than our father Abraham? Is he above the -prophets? and all of them are dead. - -34 And Jesus said, Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw -it and was glad. - -35 The lawyer said, You simple man; you are not fifty years of age; -have you seen Abraham? - -36 And Jesus said, Before the days of Abraham I am. - -37 Again the scribes and Pharisees were in a rage; they took up stones -to cast at him, but, like a phantom of the night, he disappeared; the -people knew not where he went. - - -CHAPTER 136. - - _Jesus teaches in the temple. Relates the parable of the good - Samaritan. Goes to Bethany. Teaches in Lazarus' home. Rebukes - Martha for her anxiety about the things of this life._ - -And Jesus stood again within the temple courts and taught. - -2 A master of the law was sent to question him that he might find a -cause to censure and accuse him of a crime. - -3 He said, Lord, tell me what to do that I may have eternal life? - -4 And Jesus said, You know the law; what does it say? - -5 The lawyer answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your -heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind, -and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. - -6 And Jesus said, Lo, you have answered well; this do and you shall -live. - -7 The lawyer said, My neighbor, who is he? - -8 And Jesus said, A man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho, and lo, -he met with robbers on the way, who beat him, robbed him of his goods, -and left him bleeding by the way. - -9 A Pharisee was going down that way; he saw the wounded man; but then -he had no time to lose; he passed by on the other side. - -10 A Levite came and saw the man; but he was loath to soil his -sacerdotal robes, and he passed by. - -11 A lawyer on his way to Jericho observed the dying man, and then -he said, If I could make a shekel I might help the man; but he has -nothing left to give, I have no time for charity; and he passed on. - -12 And then a stranger from Samaria came that way; he saw the wounded -man; his heart was touched with pity and he stopped, dismounted from -his horse, - -13 Revived the man, and placed him on his horse and took him to an inn -and charged the keeper of the inn to nurse him back to strength. - -14 He gave the keeper all the money that he had and said, Your charges -may be more than this, but care for this unfortunate, and when I come -again I will pay all; and then he went his way. - -15 Now, master of the law, which of these four was neighbor unto him -who fell among the thieves? - -16 The lawyer said, The man who showed him mercy; he who cared for him. - -17 And Jesus said, Go on your way and likewise do, and you shall live. - -18 Now, Jesus, Peter, James and John went out to Bethany where Lazarus -lived. - -19 And Mary sat at Jesus' feet and heard him speak the words of life -while Martha served. - -20 And Martha called, but Mary would not leave the Lord to help her -serve. - -21 And Martha said to Jesus, Do you not care that Mary makes me bear -the burdens of the serving all the day? I beg that you will bid her -help. - -22 And Jesus said, You are too anxious, Martha, for your guests; you -need not trouble so about the things of life. - -23 You grow a-weary by your care for little things and slight the one -thing needed most of all. - -24 Your sister here has chosen far the better part, a part that none -can take away. - - -CHAPTER 137. - - _Jesus and his disciples go into a retired place to pray. Jesus - teaches Lazarus how to pray. The model prayer. The value of - importunate prayer. Parable of the importunate housewife._ - -Now, in the evening Jesus, Peter, James and John, with Lazarus, went -out beyond the village gates to pray. And Lazarus said, Teach me to -pray. - -2 And Jesus said, The prayer I taught the twelve to pray while we were -up in Galilee is one acceptable to God; and when you pray just say, - -3 Our Father-God who art in heaven; holy is thy name; thy kingdom -come; thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven; - -4 Give us this day our needed bread; - -5 Help us forget the debts that other people owe to us, that all our -debts may be discharged; - -6 And shield us from the tempter's snares that are too great for us to -bear; - -7 And when they come give us the strength to overcome. - -8 And Jesus said, The answer to your prayer may not appear in fulness -in a little time. - -9 Be not discouraged; pray again and then again, for God will hear. - -10 And then he spoke a parable; he said, A housewife was alone at -night and, lo, some guests arrived, and they were hungry, having had -no food for all the day. - -11 The housewife had no bread, and so at midnight she went forth and -called a friend and said, Loan me three loaves of bread, for guests -have come, and I have naught for them to eat. - -12 The friend replied, Why do you trouble me at midnight hour? My door -is shut; my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise to give you -bread; tomorrow you can be supplied. - -13 The housewife asked again, and then again, and then because she -plead, and would not be refused, the friend arose and gave her bread. - -14 Behold, I say to you, Ask firmly and you shall receive; seek -trustingly and you shall find; knock earnestly, the door will open up. - -15 All things are yours, and when you ask, not as a begging man would -ask, but as a child, you shall be satisfied. - -16 A son may ask his father for a loaf of bread; the father will not -give to him a stone; - -17 Or he may ask him for a fish; he will not give a crab; or he may -ask him for an egg; the father will not give a pebble from the brook. - -18 Behold, if men of flesh know how to give abundantly to children of -the flesh, will not your heavenly Father give abundantly to you when -you shall pray? - - -CHAPTER 138. - - _The Christines in Jerusalem. They meet a man blind from birth. - Jesus teaches a lesson on the cause of disease and disasters. - He heals the blind man._ - -The Lord with Peter, James and John were in Jerusalem; it was the -Sabbath day. - -2 And as they walked along the way they saw a man who could not see; -he had been blind from birth. - -3 And Peter said, Lord, if disease and imperfections all are caused by -sin, who was the sinner in this case? the parents or the man himself? - -4 And Jesus said, Afflictions all are partial payments on a debt, or -debts, that have been made. - -5 There is a law of recompense that never fails, and it is summarized -in that true rule of life: - -6 Whatsoever man shall do to any other man some other man will do to -him. - -7 In this we find the meaning of the Jewish law, expressed concisely -in the words, Tooth for a tooth; life for a life. - -8 He who shall injure any one in thought, or word, or deed, is judged -a debtor to the law, and some one else shall, likewise, injure him in -thought, or word or deed. - -9 And he who sheds the blood of any man will come upon the time when -his blood shall be shed by man. - -10 Affliction is a prison cell in which a man must stay until he pays -his debts unless a master sets him free that he may have a better -chance to pay his debts. - -11 Affliction is a certain sign that one has debts to pay. - -12 Behold this man! Once in another life he was a cruel man, and in a -cruel way destroyed the eyes of one, a fellow man. - -13 The parents of this man once turned their faces on a blind and -helpless man, and drove him from their door. - -14 Then Peter asked, Do we pay off the debts of other men when by the -Word we heal them, drive the unclean spirits out, or rescue them from -any form of sore distress? - -15 And Jesus said, We cannot pay the debts of any man, but by the Word -we may release a man from his afflictions and distress, - -16 And make him free, that he may pay the debts he owes, by giving up -his life in willing sacrifice for men, or other living things. - -17 Behold, we may make free this man that he may better serve the race -and pay his debts. - -18 Then Jesus called the man and said, Would you be free? would you -receive your sight? - -19 The man replied, All that I have would I most freely give if I -could see. - -20 And Jesus took saliva and a bit of clay and made a salve, and put -it on the blind man's eyes. - -21 He spoke the Word and then he said, Go to Siloam and wash, and as -you wash say, _Jahhevahe_. This do for seven times and you shall see. - -22 The man was led unto Siloam; he washed his eyes and spoke the word, -and instantly his eyes were opened and he saw. - -23 The people who had seen the man for many years sit by the way and -beg, were much surprised to see him see. - -24 They said, Is not this man the Job that was born blind, who sat -beside the way and begged? - -25 He heard them talk among themselves; he said, Yes, I am he. - -26 The people asked, How were you healed? who opened up your eyes? - -27 He said, A man whom men call Jesus, made a salve of clay and put it -on my eyes, and bade me say a word and wash in Siloam seven times; I -did as he commanded me, and now I see. - -28 A certain scribe was passing, and he saw the man and heard him say -that Jesus, by the Word, had opened up his eyes. - -29 He therefore took the man up to the synagogue, and told the story -to the priests, who asked the man about the miracle. - -30 The man replied, I never saw the light until today, for I was blind -from birth. - -31 This morning as I sat beside Siloam, a man I never knew put on my -eyes a salve that people say he made of clay; he bade me say a word -and bathe my eyes in water seven times; I did as he commanded and I -saw. - -32 A lawyer asked the man, Who was it opened up your eyes? - -33 The man replied, Some people say, His name is Jesus and that he -came from Galilee; but others say, He is the son of God. - -34 A Pharisee came up and said, This is the Sabbath day; a man who -does a work like this, regarding not the Sabbath day, is not from God. - -35 Some of the priests were much amazed and said, A wicked man could -never do a miracle like this; he must possess the power of God. And so -they strove among themselves. - -36 They asked the man, What do you think about this man from Galilee? - -37 He said, He is a prophet sent from God. - -38 Now, many of the Jews did not believe the man was blind from birth; -they said, There is no power to open up the eyes of one born blind. - -39 And then they brought the parents of the man before the Pharisees -that they might testify. - -40 They said, This is our son who was born blind; we do not know how -he received his sight; he is of age and he can tell; ask him. - -41 They were afraid to say what they believed, that Jesus is the -Christ who came to manifest the power of God, lest they offend the -priests and be cast from the synagogue. - -42 Again the rulers said, This Jesus is a wicked man. The man who had -been healed stood forth again and said, - -43 This Jesus may be sinner or be saint, I do not know; but this one -thing I know; I once was blind, but now I see. - -44 And then the scribes and Pharisees reviled the man and said, You -are a follower of this man from Galilee. We follow Moses, but this -man, we know him not, and know not whence he is. - -45 The man replied, It is a marvel that you know not whence he is, and -yet he opened up my eyes. - -46 You know that nothing but the power of God can do such things. - -47 God hears not sinners pray, and you must know that he is not a -wicked man who can employ the power of God. - -48 The Pharisees replied, You wretch! you were begotten and were born -in sin, and now you try to teach the law to us. And then they cast him -from the synagogue. - - -CHAPTER 139. - - _Jesus meets and instructs the man who was blind. Unfolds the - mysteries of the kingdom. The sheepfold. Declares himself - the shepherd. Goes to the home of Massalian, where he abides - certain days._ - -When Jesus heard what had been done and how the priests had cast the -man whom he had healed, out of the synagogue, he found the man and -said to him, - -2 Do you believe in God and in the son of God? - -3 The man replied, I do believe in God; but who is he, the son of God, -of whom you speak? - -4 And Jesus said, The son of God is he who speaks to you. - -5 The man inquired then, Why do you say, The son of God? Is there but -one? - -6 And Jesus said, All men are sons of God by birth; God is the Father -of the race; but all are not the sons of God by faith. - -7 He who attains the victory over self is son of God by faith, and -he who speaks to you has overcome, and he is called the son of God, -because he is the pattern for the sons of men. - -8 He who believes and does the will of God is son of God by faith. - -9 The man in joy exclaimed, Lord, I believe in God, and in the son of -God. - -10 And Jesus said, I came to open prison doors, to make the blind to -see; but, lo, the Pharisees are blind from birth. - -11 And when I put the salve of truth upon their eyes, and bid them go -and wash, and speak the sacred Word they will not go; they love the -dark. - -12 A multitude of people pressed about the Lord, and he stood forth -and said, - -13 You men of Israel, I say to you, The fold of God is large; its -walls are strong, it has a gateway in the east, and he who does not -enter by the gate into the fold, but climbs into the fold some other -way, is thief and comes to rob. - -14 The shepherd of the sheep stands by the gate; he gives the secret -sign; he knocks; the watchman opens up the gate. - -15 And then the shepherd calls his sheep by name; they hear his voice -and follow him; they enter through the gate into the fold. - -16 The sheep know not a stranger's voice; they will not follow him; -they flee away. - -17 The people did not understand the parable that Jesus spoke; and -then he said, - -18 Christ is the gateway of the fold; I am the shepherd of the sheep, -and he who follows me through Christ shall come into the fold where -living waters flow, and where rich pastures are. - -19 False prophets come and go; they claim to be the shepherds of the -sheep; they claim to know the way, but they know not the word of -power; the watchman opens not the gate; the sheep heed not their call. - -20 The shepherd of the sheep will give his life to save the sheep. - -21 A hireling flees to save his life when wolves infest the fold; -and then the tender lambs are snatched away, the sheep are scattered -everywhere. - -22 I am the shepherd of the sheep; I know the sheep of God; they know -my voice, as God knows me and I know him. - -23 The Father loves me with a deathless love, because I lay my life -down for the sheep. - -24 I lay my life down when I will, but I may take it up again; for -every son of God by faith has power to lay his mortal flesh aside and -take it up again. These words I have received from God. - -25 Again the people strove among themselves; they were divided in -their views concerning Christ. They could not comprehend the words -that Jesus spoke. - -26 Some said again, He is obsessed, or he is mad; why listen to his -words? - -27 And others said, His words are not the words of one obsessed. Can -unclean spirits open up the eyes of one born blind? - -28 Then Jesus left Jerusalem and with Massalian he tarried certain -days. - - -CHAPTER 140. - - _Jesus and the three disciples return to Capernaum. Jesus - receives the report of the seventy. With his disciples he - goes through all Galilee encouraging the believers. He heals - a woman. Relates the parable of the little seed and the great - tree._ - -The time had come for the return of the three score and ten whom Jesus -sent abroad to preach. - -2 And Jesus, Peter, James and John began their journey back to Galilee. - -3 They went up through Samaria; they passed through many villages and -towns, and everywhere the people thronged the ways to see the man the -seventy had told about; and Jesus taught and healed the sick. - -4 And when they reached Capernaum the seventy were there; and they -were filled with joy; they said, - -5 The Spirit of the Lord of hosts was with us all the way, and we were -filled. - -6 The power of the sacred Word was manifest in us; we healed the sick; -we caused the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the blind to see. - -7 The very devils trembled when we spoke the Word, and they were -subject unto us. - -8 And Jesus said, As you were going on your way, the heavens were -bright with light, the earth was bright, they seemed to meet and be at -one; and I beheld, and Satan fell as lightning from the heavens. - -9 Behold, for you have power to tread on serpents and on scorpions, -and these are symbols of the enemies of men. You are protected in the -way of right, and naught can harm. - -10 And as you went I heard a master say, Well done. - -11 But you may not rejoice because you have the power to heal the sick -and make the devils tremble by the Word; for such rejoicing is from -carnal self. - -12 You may rejoice because the nations of the earth have ears to hear -the Word, and eyes to see the glory of the Lord, and hearts to feel -the inner breathing of the Holy Breath. - -13 And you may well be glad because your names are written in the Book -of Life. - -14 Then Jesus looked to heaven and said, I thank thee, Father, Lord -of heaven and earth, because thou hast revealed thyself to babes, and -taught them how to light the path and lead the wise to thee. - -15 What thou hast given to me, lo, I have given to them, and through -the sacred Word I have bestowed on them the understanding heart, - -16 That they might know and honor thee through Christ, who was, and -is, and evermore shall be. - -17 And then he said aside, unto the seventy and twelve, Most blessed -are your eyes because you see the things you see; - -18 And blessed are your ears because they hear the things they hear; - -19 And blessed are your hearts because you understand. - -20 In ages that are gone the wise of earth, the prophets, seers and -kings, desired to hear and see and know what you have heard and seen -and known; but they had not attained and could not hear, and see and -know. - -21 And Jesus said again, Lo, I have gone before you many moons, and I -have given to you the bread of heaven and the cup of life; - -22 Have been your buckler and your stay; but now that you have learned -the way, and have the strength to stand alone, behold, I lay my body -down and go to him who is the All. - -23 In forty days then we will turn our faces toward Jerusalem where I -will find the altar of the Lord and give my life in willing sacrifice -for men. - -24 Let us arise and go through all the coasts of Galilee, and give a -salutation of good cheer to all the sons of God by faith. - -25 And they arose and went; they entered every town and village on the -coast, and everywhere they said, The benedictions of the Christ abide -with you forevermore. - -26 Now, in a certain town they went up to the synagogue upon the -Sabbath day, and Jesus taught. - -27 And as he spoke, two men brought on a cot a woman bent near double -with disease; she had not risen from her bed for eighteen years -without a helping hand. - -28 And Jesus laid his hand upon the woman, and he said, Arise, be free -from your infirmity. - -29 And as he spoke the Word the woman found that she was straight and -strong, and she arose and walked and said, Praise God. - -30 The ruler of the synagogue was filled with wrath because the healer -healed upon the Sabbath day. - -31 He did not censure Jesus face to face, but turning to the -multitudes he said, - -32 You men of Galilee, why do you break the laws of God? There are -six days in every week when you may work, and then you may bring the -afflicted to be healed. - -33 This is the day that God has blessed, the Sabbath day in which men -may not work. - -34 And Jesus said, You inconsistent scribes and Pharisees! Upon the -Sabbath day you take your beasts of burden from their stalls, and lead -them forth to eat and drink; is this not work? - -35 This daughter of your father Abraham, who has been bound for -eighteen years, has come in faith to be made free. - -36 Now, tell me, men, is it a crime to break her bonds and set her -free upon the Sabbath day? - -37 The ruler said no more; the people all rejoiced and said, Behold -the Christ! - -38 And Jesus spoke a parable; he said, The kingdom of the Christ is -like a little seed that one put in the ground; - -39 It grew and after many years became a mighty tree, and many people -rested in its shade, and birds built nests and reared their young -among its leafy boughs. - - -CHAPTER 141. - - _Jesus speaks words of encouragement. Rebukes an officious - Pharisee. Attends a wedding feast. Heals a dropsical man. - Rebukes guests who seek chief seats. Relates a parable of a - wedding feast._ - -And Jesus went into another town upon the coast and spoke good words -of cheer to those who followed him. - -2 And one stood forth and said, Lord, are there few that enter into -life? - -3 And Jesus said, The way is rough that leads to life; the gate is -narrow and is guarded well; but every one who seeks in faith shall -find the way, and they who know the Word may enter in. - -4 But many seek the way for selfish gain; they pound upon the gate of -life; but it is fast. - -5 The watchman from the turret says, I know you not; your speech is -that of Ashdod, and your robes are those of sin; depart and go your -way. - -6 And they will go their way with weeping and with gnashing of the -teeth. - -7 And they will be enraged when they see their father Abraham with -Isaac, Jacob and the prophets, resting in the kingdom of the Christ, -and they themselves debarred. - -8 And, lo, I say that men will come from lands afar, from east, from -west, from north, from south and sit with me in consciousness of life. - -9 Behold, I say, the last shall be the first, the first shall be the -last. - -10 All men are called unto the kingdom of the Christ; but few are -chosen, for the pure in heart alone can see the king. - -11 And as he spoke a Pharisee came up and said, You man of Galilee, if -you would save your life remain not here; flee instantly, for Herod -swears that he will take your life, and even now his officers are -seeking you. - -12 And Jesus said, Why is it that the Pharisees are so concerned about -my life? And then he said unto the man who spoke, - -13 Go forth and say to that sly fox, Behold, I heal the sick and cast -the unclean spirits out today, tomorrow, and the days to come, and -then I will attain. - -14 Go say to him, I need not fear in Galilee, for I must meet the -cruel wrath of men within Jerusalem. - -15 And while they tarried in the place a man, a Pharisee, invited -Jesus and a few of those who followed him, to dine with him upon the -Sabbath day, to celebrate the marriage of his son. - -16 Among the guests was one afflicted with a dropsical disease. - -17 And Jesus said to those who had been sent to get from his own lips -some words by which they might accuse him of a crime, - -18 You lawyers and you Pharisees, what do you say about the -lawlessness of healing on the Sabbath day? Here is a man, one of your -own, and he is sore distressed. - -19 Shall I, in God's own strength, say out the healing Word and heal -this man? - -20 The lawyers and the Pharisees were dumb; they answered not. - -21 Then Jesus spoke the healing Word and healed the man and he, -rejoicing, went his way. - -22 Then Jesus said again unto the lawyers and the Pharisees, Which one -of you who has a horse or cow, if it would fall into a pit upon the -Sabbath day would not call in his friends to help to draw it out? - -23 And not a man could answer, Here am I. - -24 As Jesus looked upon the guests who had been bidden to the feast -and saw them crowding in to get the highest seats, he said to them, - -25 You selfish men why do you strive to take the highest seats when -you are but invited guests? You do not show our host the courtesies of -life. - -26 When men are bidden to a marriage feast they should sit in the -lower seats until the host shall place them where he wills. - -27 You may, unbidden, take the highest seat; but then a man more -honorable may come and when the host shall bid you rise and take a -lower seat that he may honor his more worthy guest, you cannot help -but blush for very shame in your humility. - -28 But if you take the lowest seat and then are honored by your host -and asked to take a higher seat, you are esteemed an honored guest. - -29 In this event we note a principle in life, That he who would exalt -himself shall be abased, and he who humbles low himself shall be -exalted in the sight of men. - -30 Then Jesus spoke to all the guests; he said, When any one of you -would make a feast it should not be for friends, or kindred, or the -rich; - -31 For they consider such a courtesy loaned out, and they feel called -upon to make a greater feast for you, just in the payment of a debt. - -32 But when you make a feast invite the poor, the lame, the blind; in -this a blessing waits for you, for well you know that you will get -naught in return; but in the consciousness of helping those who need, -you will be recompensed. - -33 And then he spoke a parable: he said, A wealthy man prepared a -feast; he sent his servants forth to bid his chosen ones to come; but -they desired not to go, and they formed such excuses as they thought -would satisfy the would-be host. - -34 One said, I have just bought a piece of land, and I must go and -prove my title to the land; I pray to be excused. - -35 Another said, I must go down and prove my ownership in sheep that I -have bought; I pray to be excused. - -36 Another said, I have been married but a little time and so I cannot -go; I beg to be excused. - -37 Now, when the servants came and told the man who had prepared the -feast that those he had invited would not come, - -38 The man was grieved in heart; and then he sent his servants forth -into the streets and alleys of the town to bring up to the feast the -poor, the lame, the blind. - -39 The servants went abroad and found the poor, the lame, the blind, -and brought them in; but there was room for more. - -40 The host then sent his men of arms to bring by force the people to -his feast; and then the house was full. - -41 And God has made a feast for men. Long years ago he sent his -servants forth unto the favored sons of men. They would not hear his -call; they came not to the feast. - -42 He then sent forth his servants to the strangers and the -multitudes; they came, but there is room for more. - -43 Behold, for he will send his angels forth with mighty trumpet -blast, and men will be compelled to come up to the feast. - - -CHAPTER 142. - - _The path of discipleship, its difficulties. The cross and - its meaning. The danger of wealth. The young man who loved - wealth more than he loved Christ. Parable of the rich man and - Lazarus._ - -Now, Jesus and the twelve went to another town, and as they entered it -they said, Peace be to all; good will to all. - -2 A multitude of people followed and the master said to them, Behold, -for you are followers for selfish gain. - -3 If you would follow me in love, and be disciples of the Holy Breath, -and gain at last the crown of life, you must leave all there is of -carnal life behind. - -4 Be not deceived; stay, men, and count the cost. - -5 If one would build a tower, or a home, he first sits down and counts -the cost to be assured that he has gold enough to finish it. - -6 For well he knows that if he makes a failure of his enterprise he -may lose all his wealth, and be the butt of ridicule. - -7 And if a king desires to take the kingdom of another king, he calls -his trusted men and they consider well their strength; he will not -measure arms with one of matchless power. - -8 Count well the cost before you start to follow me; it means the -giving up of life, and all you have. - -9 If you love father, mother, wife, or child, more than you love the -Christ, you cannot follow me. - -10 If you love wealth or honor more than you love the Christ, you -cannot follow me. - -11 The paths of carnal life do not run up the mountain side towards -the top; they run around the mount of life, and if you go straight to -the upper gate of consciousness you cross the paths of carnal life; -tread in them not. - -12 And this is how men bear the cross; no man can bear another's cross. - -13 Take up your cross and follow me through Christ into the path of -true discipleship; this is the path that leads to life. - -14 This way of life is called the pearl of greatest price, and he who -finds it must put all he has beneath his feet. - -15 Behold, a man found in a certain field the croppings of a wondrous -mine of gold, and he went forth and sold his home and all he had and -bought the field; then he rejoiced in wealth. - -16 Now, there were present, scribes and Pharisees of wealth who loved -their money, and their bonds and lands, and they laughed loud to scorn -what Jesus said. - -17 Then Jesus spoke to them and said, You are the men who justify -yourselves in sight of men; God knows your wickedness of heart; - -18 And you must know, O men, that whatsoever is revered and is exalted -by the carnal mind, is an abomination in the sight of God. - -19 And Jesus went his way, and as he went a young man ran and knelt -down at his feet and said, Good master, tell me what to do that I may -have eternal life. - -20 And Jesus said, Why do you call me good? No one is truly good but -God himself. - -21 And God has said, If you would enter into life, keep the -Commandments of the law. - -22 The young man asked, To which commands did he refer? - -23 And Jesus said, You shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall -not do adulterous things; you shall not falsely testify; - -24 And you shall love your God with all your heart, and you shall love -your neighbor as yourself. - -25 The man replied, These things I have observed from youth; what lack -I yet? - -26 And Jesus said, One thing you lack; your heart is fixed on things -of earth; you are not free. - -27 Go forth and sell all that you have, and give your money to the -poor, and come and follow me, and you shall have eternal life. - -28 The man was grieved at what the master said; for he was rich; he -hid his face and went in sorrow on his way. - -29 And Jesus looked upon the sorrowing man and said, It is so hard for -men with hoarded wealth to enter through the door into the kingdom of -the soul. - -30 And his disciples were amazed at what he said. - -31 He answered them and said, I tell you, men, that they who trust in -riches cannot trust in God and cannot come into the kingdom of the -soul; - -32 Yea, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for -a man with hoarded wealth to find the way of life. And his disciples -said, Who then can find the way? Who can be saved? - -33 And Jesus said, The rich may give his gold away; the high may kiss -the dust, and God will save. - -34 Then Jesus spoke this parable to them: - -35 A rich man lived in splendid state; he wore the finest garments men -could make; his boards were loaded with the costliest viands of the -land. - -36 A beggar, blind and lame, whose name was Lazarus, was wont to sit -beside the waste gate of this home that he might share with dogs the -refuse from the rich man's boards. - -37 It came to pass that Lazarus died, and angels carried him away unto -the bosom of our father Abraham. - -38 The rich man also died, and he was buried in a costly tomb; but in -the purifying fires he opened up his eyes dissatisfied. - -39 He looked and saw the beggar resting peacefully in the bosom of his -father Abraham, and in the bitterness of his soul he cried, - -40 My father Abraham, look down in mercy on your son; I am tormented -in these flames. - -41 Send Lazarus, I beseech, that he may give me just a sup of water to -cool my parched tongue. - -42 But Abraham replied, My son, in mortal life, you had the best -things of the earth and Lazarus had the worst, and you would not give -him a cup of water there, but drove him from your door. - -43 The law must be fulfilled, and Lazarus now is comforted, and you -are paying what you owe. - -44 Besides, there is a great gulf fixed between your zone and us, and -if I would I could not send Lazarus to you, and you cannot come up to -us till you have paid your debts. - -45 Again the man in anguish said, O father Abraham, I pray, send -Lazarus back to earth, and to my father's house, that he may tell -my brothers who are yet in life, for I have five of them, about the -horrors of this place, lest they come down to me and not to you. - -46 And Abraham replied, They have the words of Moses and the seers, -let them hear them. - -47 The man replied, They will not hearken to the written word; but if -a man would go up from the grave they might believe. - -48 But Abraham replied, If they hear not the words of Moses and the -seers they would not be persuaded even though one from the dead stood -in their midst. - -49 And Peter said, Lord, we have left our all to follow you; and what -is our reward? - -50 And Jesus said, Most verily I say to you, that you who have left -all to follow me shall come into a newness of a life hid deep with -Christ in God. - -51 And you shall sit with me upon the throne of power, and judge with -me the tribes of Israel. - -52 And he who conquers carnal self, and follows me through Christ -shall have a hundred fold of that which is the wealth of life on -earth, and in the world to come, eternal life. - - -CHAPTER 143. - - _Righteousness in rewards. Jesus relates the parable of the - husbandman and the laborers. Makes known the divine law of - divorce. The mystery of marriage._ - -The Lord was standing by the sea; the multitudes were there and one -stood forth and said, - -2 Does God bestow rewards as men bestow rewards, for what is done? - -3 And Jesus said, Men never know what other men have done, this life -is such a seeming life. - -4 One man may seem to do a mighty work, and be adjudged by men as -worthy of a great reward. - -5 Another man may seem to be a failure in the harvest fields of life, -and be dishonored in the face of men. - -6 Men do not know the hearts of men; God only knows the hearts of men, -and when the day is done he may reward with life the man who fell -beneath the burdens of the day, and turn away the man who was the idol -of the hearts of men. - -7 And then he spoke a parable; he said, The kingdom of the soul is -like a man who had a vast estate, - -8 And in the morning time he went down to the market place to search -for men to gather in his grain. - -9 He found three men, and he agreed to give to each a penny for his -service for the day, and sent them to his field. - -10 Again he went down to the market place the third hour of the day -and found five men in waiting, and he said, Go down into my field and -serve, and I will pay you what is right; and they went down and served. - -11 He went again; it was the sixth hour of the day, and seven men were -waiting at the stand; he sent them to the field to serve. - -12 And at the eleventh hour he went again; twelve men stood there in -seeming idleness; he said to them, Why stand you here in idleness all -day? - -13 They said, Because we have no work to do; no man has hired us. - -14 And then he sent them to his field to serve. - -15 Now, when the evening came the man said to his steward, Call the -laborers from the field, and pay them for his services. And all were -paid, and each received a penny for his hire. - -16 Now, when the twelve, who served but from the eleventh hour, -received each one a penny for his hire, the three were sore aggrieved; -they said, - -17 These twelve have served but one short hour, and now they have an -equal share with us who have toiled through the scorching hours of -day; should we not have at least two pennies for our hire? - -18 The man replied, My friends, I do no wrong to you. Did we not have -a fast agreement when you went to work? have I not paid in full? - -19 What is it unto you if I should pay these men a smaller or a larger -sum? Take that which is your own and go your way, for I will give unto -the twelve what I will give unto the three, the five, the seven. - -20 They did their best and you could do no more than do your best. - -21 The hire of man is based upon the intent of the heart. - -22 As Jesus taught, a Pharisee came up and said, Lord, is it lawful -for a man to put away his wife? - -23 And Jesus said, You ought to know; what says the law? - -24 The Pharisee replied, The law provides that man may be divorced, -may put away his wife. - -25 And Jesus said, The hardness of the hearts of men induced the giver -of the law to make provisions such as these; but from the first it was -not so. - -26 God made a woman for a man, and they were one; and afterwards he -said, A man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave -unto his wife; they are no more divided; they are one, one flesh. - -27 What God has joined no man can part. - -28 Now, when they went up to the house, a man made free to ask again -about this matter of divorce. - -29 And Jesus said again what to the Pharisee he said; and then he gave -the higher law of marriage life: - -30 Whoever puts away his wife, except she be a courtesan, and then -shall take another wife commits adultery. - -31 The woman who shall leave a man, unless he be a libertine and -an adulterer, and then becomes the wife of any other man, commits -adultery. - -32 And Thomas asked, What is adultery? - -33 And Jesus said, The man who harbors lustful thoughts, who covets -any woman not his wife, is an adulterer. - -34 The wife who harbors lustful thoughts, and covets any man who is -not wed to her, is not her husband, is a courtesan. - -35 Men cannot make a law to bind two hearts. - -36 When two are bound in love they have no thought of lust. The woman -cannot leave the man; the man has no desire to send his wife away. - -37 When men and women harbor lustful thoughts, and covet any other -flesh, they are not one, not joined by God. - -38 And Philip said, Lord, are there few that God has joined in holy -marriage bonds? - -39 And Jesus said, God knows the pure in heart; the lustful men and -women are but creatures of the lustful self; they cannot be at one; -nor can they be at one with God. - -40 Nathaniel said, Is it not well that all men should refrain from -taking on themselves the marriage vow? - -41 And Jesus said, Men are not pure because they are unmarried men. -The man who lusts is an adulterer if he has wife or not. - -42 And then he said to all, Some things men know by being told, while -other things they know not till the gate of consciousness shall open -up for them. - -43 I speak a mystery that now you cannot understand; but you shall -some day understand. - -44 A eunuch is a man who does not lust; some men are eunuchs born, -some men are eunuchs by the power of men, and some are eunuchs by the -Holy Breath, who makes them free in God through Christ. - -45 He who is able to receive the truth I speak, let him receive. - - -CHAPTER 144. - - _The Christines at Tiberius. Jesus speaks on the inner life. - Relates the parable of the prodigal son. The resentment of - the elder brother._ - -When they had journeyed through the towns and cities of the land of -Galilee, the Lord with his disciples came to Tiberius, and here they -met a few who loved the name of Christ. - -2 And Jesus told them many things about the inner life; but when the -multitudes came up, he spoke a parable; he said, - -3 A certain man with great possessions had two sons. The youngest son -grew tired of life at home and said, - -4 My father, pray divide your wealth and give the portion that is mine -to me, and I will seek my fortune in another land. - -5 The father did as he desired, and with his wealth the young man went -into a foreign land. - -6 He was a profligate and soon had squandered all his wealth in ways -of sin. - -7 When nothing else remained for him to do he found employment in the -fields to care for swine. - -8 And he was hungry and no one gave him aught to eat, and so he ate -the carob pods that he was feeding to the swine. - -9 And after many days he found himself and said unto himself, My -father is a man of wealth; he has a score of servants who are -bountifully fed while I, his son, am starving in the fields among the -swine. - -10 I do not hope to be received again as son, but I will rise and -go straight to my father's house, and I will make confession of my -waywardness; - -11 And I will say, My father, I am come again; I am a profligate, and -I have lost my wealth in ways of sin; I am not worthy to be called -your son. - -12 I do not ask to be received again as son, but let me have a place -among your servants, where I may have a shelter from the storms and -have enough to eat. - -13 And he arose and sought his father's house, and as he came his -mother saw him while yet a great way off. - -14 (A mother's heart can feel the first faint yearning of a wandering -child.) - -15 The father came, and hand in hand they walked a-down the way to -meet the boy, and there was joy, great joy. - -16 The boy tried hard to plead for mercy and a servant's place; but -love was all too great to listen to the plea. - -17 The door was opened wide; he found a welcome in the mother's heart, -and in the father's heart. - -18 The father called the servants in, and bade them bring the finest -robe for him; the choicest sandals for his feet; a ring of purest gold -for him to wear. - -19 And then the father said, My servants, go and kill the fatted calf; -prepare a feast, for we are glad; - -20 Our son we thought was dead is here alive; a treasure that we -thought was lost is found. - -21 The feast was soon prepared and all were merry, when the eldest son -who had been serving in a distant field and knew not that his brother -had returned, came home. - -22 And when he learned the cause of all the merriment he was offended, -and would not go into the house. - -23 His father and his mother both besought him tearfully to disregard -the waywardness and folly of their son; but he would not; he said, - -24 Lo, all these years I have remained at home, have served you every -day, have never yet transgressed your most severe commands; - -25 And yet you never killed for me a kid, nor made for me a simple -feast that I might make merry with my friends; - -26 But when your son, this profligate, who has gone forth and -squandered half your wealth in ways of sin, comes home, because he -could do nothing else, you kill for him the fatted calf and make a -wondrous feast. - -27 His father said, My son, all that I have is yours and you are ever -with us in our joys; - -28 And it is well to show our gladness when your brother, who is near -and dear to us, and who we thought was dead, returns to us alive. - -29 He may have been a profligate; may have consorted with gay -courtesans and thieves, yet he is still your brother and our son. - -30 Then Jesus said so all might hear: He who has ears to hear, and -hearts to understand will comprehend the meaning of this parable. - -31 Then Jesus and the twelve came to Capernaum. - - -CHAPTER 145. - - _Jesus speaks on the establishment of the Christine kingdom - and the future coming of the Lord in power. Exhorts to - faithfulness. Parable of the unjust judge. Parable of the - Pharisee and the publican._ - -A company of Pharisees came up to speak with Jesus and they said, -Rabboni, we have heard you say, The kingdom is at hand. - -2 We read in Daniel that the God of heaven will form a kingdom, and we -ask, Is this the kingdom of the God you speak about? If so, when will -it come? - -3 And Jesus said, The prophets all have told about this kingdom of the -God, and it is just at hand; but men can never see it come. - -4 It never can be seen with carnal eyes; it is within. - -5 Lo, I have said, and now I say again, None but the pure in heart can -see the king, and all the pure in heart are subjects of the king. - -6 Reform, and turn away from sin; prepare you, O prepare! the kingdom -is at hand. - -7 And then he spoke to his disciples and he said, The seasons of the -son of man are past. - -8 The time will come when you will wish above all else to see again -one of these days; but you can see it not. - -9 And many men will say, Lo, here is Christ; lo, there is Christ. Be -not deceived; go not into their ways. - -10 For when the son of man will come again no man need point the way; -for as the lightning lights the heavens, so will the son of man light -up the heavens and earth. - -11 But, lo, I say, that many generations will have come and gone -before the son of man shall come in power; but when he comes no one -will say, Lo, here is Christ; lo, there. - -12 But as it was before the flood in Noah's day, so shall it be. The -people ate, they drank, were filled with merriment and sung for joy, - -13 And did not know their doom until the ark was done and Noah entered -in; but then the flood came on and swept them all away. - -14 So, also, in the days of Lot; the people ate and drank; they -bought, they sold, they planted and they reaped, they went their ways -in sin, and they cared not; - -15 But when the righteous Lot went from their city's gates the earth -beneath the city shook, and brimstone fires fell from heaven; - -16 The gapping jaws of earth flew wide, and swallowed up their homes, -their wealth, and they went down to rise no more. - -17 So shall it be when comes the son of man in power. - -18 I charge you men, as I will charge men then, Seek not to save your -wealth, or you will lose your lives. Go forth, and look not back upon -the crumbling walls of sin. Do not forget Lot's wife. - -19 Whoever tries to save his life will lose his life; whoever freely -gives his life in serving life will save his life. - -20 Then comes the sifting time. Two men will be in bed; one will be -called, the other left; two women will be working side by side; one -will be snatched away, the other left. - -21 And his disciples said, Explain to us this parable; or is it not a -parable? - -22 And Jesus said, The wise will understand, for where the bread -of heaven is, there you will find the pure in heart; and where the -carcass lies will gather all the birds of prey. - -23 But, lo, I say, before these days will come, the son of man will be -betrayed by one of you into the hands of wicked men, and he will give -his life for you and all the world. - -24 Yea, more; the Holy Breath will come in power and fill you with the -wisdom of the just. - -25 And you will tell the wondrous story in Judea and in Samaria and in -the farther lands of earth. - -26 And then to teach that men should pray and never faint, he told -this parable: - -27 There was a judge who feared not God, nor yet regarded man. - -28 There was a widow who oft implored the judge to right her wrongs -and to avenge her foes. - -29 At first the judge would hear her not, but after many days he said, - -30 I fear not God, and I regard not man, yet, lest this widow wear me -out by pleading every day I will avenge her on her foes. - -31 When the disciples asked the meaning of this parable, the Lord -replied, The wise can understand; the foolish have no need to know. - -32 And then to teach a lesson unto certain of his followers who -trusted in themselves and thought that they were holier than other -men, he told this parable: - -33 Two men went to the synagogue to pray; one was a Pharisee, the -other was a publican. - -34 The Pharisee stood forth and prayed thus with himself, O God, I -thank thee that I am not like other men, who are extortioners, unjust, -adulterers; - -35 Not even like this publican. I fast two times a week, and I give -tithes of all I get. - -36 The publican came not a-near; he would not lift his eyes to heaven, -but smote his breast and said, - -37 O Lord, be merciful to me; I am a sinner in thy sight; I am undone. - -38 And now, you men, I say to you, The publican knew how to pray, and -he was justified. - -39 The Pharisee knew how to talk, but still he went away condemned. - -40 Lo, every one who lauds himself shall be abased, and he who does -not praise himself shall be exalted in the sight of God. - - -CHAPTER 146. - - _Last meeting of Jesus with his disciples in Galilee. Miriam - sings a song of praise. The song. The Christines begin their - journey to Jerusalem. They rest at Enon Springs. The selfish - request of the mother of James and John. The Christines reach - Jerusalem._ - -The work of Jesus in the land of Galilee was done, and he sent forth a -message, and the many came from many towns of Galilee; came to receive -a benediction from his hand. - -2 Among the multitudes who came was Luke, a Syrian from Antioch, a -learned physician and a just and upright man. - -3 Theophilus, a Grecian senator, a minister of Caesar's court, was also -there; and many other men of honor and renown. - -4 And Miriam sung: All hail the Day Star from on high! - -5 All hail the Christ who ever was, and is and evermore shall be! - -6 All hail the darkness of the shadowland! All hail the dawn of peace -on earth; good will to men! - -7 All hail triumphant king, who grapples with the tyrant Death, who -conquers in the fight, and brings to light immortal life for men! - -8 All hail the broken cross, the mutilated spear! - -9 All hail the triumph of the soul! All hail the empty tomb! - -10 All hail to him despised by men, rejected by the multitudes; for he -is seated on the throne of power! - -11 All hail! for he has called the pure in heart of every clime to sit -with him upon the throne of power! - -12 All hail, the rending veil! The way into the highest courts of God -is open for the sons of men! - -13 Rejoice, O men of earth, rejoice, and be exceeding glad! - -14 Bring forth the harp and touch its highest strings; bring forth the -lute, and sound its sweetest notes! - -15 For men who were made low, are high exalted now, and they who -walked in darkness and in the vale of death, are risen up and God and -man are one forevermore, - -16 Allelujah! praise the Lord forevermore. Amen. - -17 And Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, - -18 My Father-God, let now the benediction of thy love, thy mercy and -thy truth rest on these men. - -19 The lamp is taken from their midst, and if the inner light be not -aflame, lo, they must tread the ways of darkness and of death. - -20 And then he said to all, Farewell. - -21 Then Jesus and his mother, and the twelve, and Miriam and Mary, -mother of the two disciples, James and John, - -22 And many other loyal souls who loved the Christ, went to Jerusalem, -that they might celebrate the Jewish feast. - -23 And as they journeyed on their way they came to Enon Springs, near -unto Salim where the harbinger once taught. - -24 And as they rested by the fountain, Mary, wife of Zebedee, and -mother of the two disciples, James and John, came to the master and -she said, - -25 My Lord, I know the kingdom is about to come, and I would ask this -boon: Command that these my sons shall sit with you upon the throne, -the one upon the right, the other on the left. - -26 And Jesus said to her, You know not what you ask. - -27 And then he turned to James and John and said, Are you prepared and -are you strong enough to drink the cup that I will drink? - -28 They said, Yes, master, we are strong enough to follow where you go. - -29 Then Jesus said, You shall indeed drink of my cup; but I am not the -judge of who will sit upon my right hand or my left. - -30 The men who live the life and keep the faith will sit upon the -throne of power. - -31 Now, when the apostles heard the pleadings of the mother for her -sons, and knew that James and John were seeking special favors from -the Lord, they were indignant and they said, - -32 We surely thought that James and John had risen above the selfish -self. Who can we trust among the sons of men? - -33 And Jesus called the ten apart and said to them, How hard for men -to comprehend the nature of the kingdom of the soul! - -34 These two disciples do not seem to know that rulership in heaven is -not akin to rulership on earth. - -35 In all the kingdoms of the world, the men of power, they who exalt -themselves, show their authority, and rule with iron rule; - -36 But you must know that they who rule the sons of light are they who -seek no earthly power, but give their lives in willing sacrifice for -men. - -37 Whoever would be great must be the minister of all. The highest -seat in heaven is at the feet of him who is the lowest man of earth. - -38 I had a glory with our Father-God before the worlds were made, and -still I come to serve the race of men; to be the minister of men; to -give my life for men. - -39 And then the Christines journeyed on and came unto Jerusalem. - - -CHAPTER 147. - - _Jesus speaks to the people in the temple regarding the - messiahship. Rebukes the Jews for treachery. The Jews attempt - to stone him, but are prevented by Joseph. The Christines go - to Jericho, and later to Bethabara._ - -Now, many Jews from Galilee, Judea and Samaria were in Jerusalem and -at the feast. - -2 The porch of Solomon was filled with scribes and Pharisees and -doctors of the law, and Jesus walked with them. - -3 A scribe approaching Jesus said, Rabboni, why do you keep the people -waiting in suspense? If you are the Messiah that the prophets said -would come, will you not tell us now? - -4 And Jesus said, Lo, I have told you many times, but you believed me -not. - -5 No man can do the work that I have done and bring to men the truth -as I have brought the truth who did not come from God. - -6 What I have done and said are witnesses for me. - -7 God calls, and they whose ears have been attuned to hear the -heavenly voice have heard the call and have believed in me; because -God testifies for me. - -8 You cannot hear the voice of God, because your ears are closed. You -cannot comprehend the works of God, because your hearts are full of -self. - -9 And you are busy-bodies, mischief-makers, hypocrites. You take these -men whom God has given me into your haunts and try to poison them with -sophistries and lies, and think that you will snatch them from the -fold of God. - -10 I tell you, men, these men are tried and you can snatch not one of -them away. - -11 My Father who has given them to me is greater than you all, and he -and I are one. - -12 And then the Jews took stones to throw at him and cried, Now we -have heard enough; away with him; let him be stoned. - -13 But Joseph, member of the great Sanhedrim of the Jews, was in the -porch and he came forth and said, - -14 You men of Israel, do nothing rash; throw down those stones; your -reason is a better guide than passion in such times as these. - -15 You do not know your accusations to be true, and if this man should -prove himself to be the Christ, and you should take his life, the -wrath of God would rest upon you evermore. - -16 And Jesus said to them, Lo, I have healed your sick, have caused -your blind to see, your deaf to hear, your lame to walk, and cast out -unclean spirits from your friends; - -17 For which of these great works would you desire to take my life? - -18 The Jews replied, We would not stone you for your works of grace, -but for your vile, blasphemous words. You are but man and still you -say that you are God. - -19 And Jesus said, A prophet of your own said to the sons of men, Lo, -you are gods! - -20 Now, hark, you men, if he could say that to the men who simply -heard the word of God, why should you think that I blaspheme the name -of God because I say, I am a son of God? - -21 If you believe not what I say you must have faith in what I do, and -you should see the Father in these works, and know that I dwell in the -Father-God, and that the Father dwells in me. - -22 And then again the Jews took stones and would have stoned him in -the temple court; but he withdrew himself from sight and left the -porch and court and went his way; - -23 And with the twelve he went to Jericho, and after certain days -they crossed the Jordan and in Bethabara abode for many days. - - -CHAPTER 148. - - _Lazarus dies and Jesus and the twelve return to Bethany. The - resurrection of Lazarus, which greatly excites the rulers in - Jerusalem. The Christines go to the hills of Ephriam, and - there abide._ - -One day as Jesus and the twelve were in the silence in a home in Araba -a messenger came and said, - -2 Lord, Jesus, hear! your friend in Bethany is sick, nigh unto death; -his sisters urge that you arise and come in haste. - -3 Then turning to the twelve the master said, Lo, Lazarus has gone to -sleep, and I must go and waken him. - -4 And his disciples said, What need to go if he has gone to sleep; he -will awaken by and by? - -5 Then Jesus said, It is the sleep of death; for Lazarus is dead. - -6 But Jesus did not haste to go; he stayed two days in Araba; and then -he said, The hour has come and we must go to Bethany. - -7 But his disciples urged him not to go; they said, The Jews are -waiting your return that they may take your life. - -8 And Jesus said, Men cannot take my life till I have handed unto them -my life. - -9 And when the time shall come I will myself lay down my life; that -time is near, and God knows best; I must arise and go. - -10 And Thomas said, Then we will also go; yes, we will offer up our -lives and die with him. And they arose and went. - -11 Now, Mary, Martha, Ruth and many friends were weeping in their home -when one approached and said, The Lord has come; but Mary did not hear -the words. - -12 But Ruth and Martha heard, and they arose and went to meet the -Lord; he waited at the village gate. - -13 And when they met the master Martha said, You are too late, for -Lazarus is dead; if you had only been with us I know that he would not -have died. - -14 But even now I know that you have power over death; that by the -sacred Word you may cause life to rise from death. - -15 And Jesus said, Behold, for Lazarus shall live again. - -16 And Martha said, I know that he will rise and live again when all -the dead shall rise. - -17 And Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life; he who has -faith in me, though he be dead, yet shall he live; - -18 And he who is alive, and has a living faith in me, shall never die. -Do you believe what I have said? - -19 And Martha said, Lord, I believe that you are come to manifest the -Christ of God. - -20 Then Jesus said, Go back and call aside your sister, and my mother -and the prophetess and say that I have come; and I will stay here by -the gate till they have come to me. - -21 And Ruth and Martha did as Jesus bade them do, and in a little -while the Marys and the prophetess had met the Lord. - -22 And Mary said, Why did you tarry thus? If you had been with us our -brother, dear, would not have died. - -23 Then Jesus went up to the house and when he saw the heavy grief of -all, he was himself stirred up with grief, and said, Where is the -tomb in which he lies? - -24 They said, Lord, come and see. And Jesus wept. - -25 The people said, Behold how Jesus loved this man! - -26 And others said, Could not this Lord who opened up the eyes of one -born blind, have saved this man from death? - -27 But soon the mourners stood beside the tomb, a sepulcher hewn out -of solid rock; a massive stone closed up the door. - -28 And Jesus said, Take you away the stone. - -29 But Martha said, Lord, is it well? Behold our brother has been dead -four days; the body must be in decay, and is it well that we should -see it now? - -30 The Lord replied, Have you forgotten, Martha, what I said while we -were at the village gate? Did I not say that you should see the glory -of the Lord? - -31 And then they rolled the stone away; the flesh had not decayed; and -Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, - -32 My Father-God, thou who hast ever heard my prayers, I thank thee -now, and that these multitudes may know that thou hast sent me forth, -that I am thine and thou art mine, make strong the Word of power. - -33 And then he spoke the Word, and in a voice that souls can -comprehend, he said, O Lazarus, awake! - -34 And Lazarus arose and came out of the tomb. The grave clothes were -about him fast, and Jesus said, - -35 Loose him and let him go. - -36 The people were amazed and multitudes confessed their faith in him. - -37 And some went to Jerusalem and told the Pharisees about this -resurrection of the dead. - -38 The chief priests were confounded, and they said, What shall we do? -This man is doing many mighty deeds, and if we do not stay him in his -work, all men will look on him as king, and through the Romans he may -take the throne, and we will lose our place and power. - -39 And then the chief priests and the Pharisees in council met and -sought a plan by which they might put him to death. - -40 Caiaphas was the high priest then, and he came forth and said, You -men of Israel, do you not know the law? - -41 Do you not know that in such times as these we may give up one life -to save our nation and our laws? - -42 Caiaphas did not know that he was prophet, speaking out the words -of truth. - -43 He did not know the time had come for Jesus to be offered up a -sacrifice for every man, for Jew and Greek, and all the world. - -44 From that day forth the Jews conferred together every day, maturing -plans to put the Lord to death. - -45 Now, Jesus and the twelve did not remain in Bethany; but in the -hills of Ephriam, upon the borders of Samaria, they found a home, and -there abode for many days. - - -CHAPTER 149. - - _The Jews gather in Jerusalem to attend the feast. The - Christines go to Jericho. Jesus dines with Zaccheus. He - relates the parable of the ten talents._ - -The great passover of the Jews, the feast of spring, was calling every -loyal Jew up to Jerusalem. - -2 Ten days before the feast the Lord and his disciples left the -Ephriam hills and, by the Jordan way, went down to Jericho. - -3 And as they entered Jericho a wealthy publican came out to see the -Lord; but he was small in stature and the throng was great and he -could see him not. - -4 A tree, a sycamore, stood by the way and he climbed up the tree and -found a seat among its boughs. - -5 When Jesus came, he saw the man and said, O Zaccheus, make haste, -come down; I would abide with you today. - -6 And Zaccheus came down and joyfully received the Lord; but many of -the stricter sect called out and said, - -7 For shame! he goes to lodge with Zaccheus, the sinner and the -publican. - -8 But Jesus did not care for what they said; he went his way with -Zaccheus, who was a man of faith, and as they talked together Zaccheus -said, - -9 Lord, I have ever tried to do the right; I give unto the poor half -of my goods, and if by any means I wrong a man, I right the wrong by -paying him four fold. - -10 And Jesus said to him, Your life and faith are known to God, and -lo, the benedictions of the Lord of hosts abide with you and all your -house. - -11 Then Jesus spoke a parable to all; he said, A vassal of an emperor -was made a king, and he went to the foreign land to claim his rights -and take the kingdom to himself. - -12 Before he went he called ten trusted servants and to each he gave a -pound and said, - -13 Go forth and use these pounds as you have opportunity, that you may -gain for me more wealth. And then he went his way. - -14 And after many days he came again, and called the ten, demanding a -report. - -15 The first one came and said, Lord, I have gained for you nine -pounds; you gave me one and here are ten. - -16 The king replied, Well done, you faithful man; because you have -been faithful in a little thing I judge that you will be a faithful -servant in a greater thing; - -17 Behold, I make you ruler over nine important cities of my realm. - -18 The second came and said, Lord, I have gained for you four pounds; -you gave me one, and here are five. - -19 The king replied, and you have proven up your faithfulness. Behold, -I make you ruler over four important cities of my realm. - -20 Another came and said, Lord, I have doubled what you gave to me. -You gave one pound to me and here are two. - -21 The ruler said, And you have proved your faithfulness; Behold, I -make you ruler over one important city of my realm. - -22 Another came and said, Lord, here is what you gave to me. I knew -you were an austere man, oft reaping where you did not sow and I was -sore afraid, and so I took the pound you gave to me and hid it in a -secret place; and here it is. - -23 The king exclaimed, You slothful man! you knew what I required, -that I expected every man to do his best. - -24 If you were timid and afraid to trust your judgment in the marts of -trade, why did you not go forth and put my money out for gain, that I -could have my own with interest? - -25 Then turning to the steward of his wealth the ruler said, Take you -this pound and give it unto him who has by diligence earned nine. - -26 For lo, I say, that every one who uses what he has and gains, shall -have abundantly; but he who hides away his talent in the earth shall -forfeit what he has. - - -CHAPTER 150. - - _Jesus heals blind Bartimaeus. With the twelve he goes to - Bethany. The multitudes come to welcome him and to speak with - Lazarus._ - -The Christines started on their way to Bethany, and as they went, -while yet in Jericho, they passed a beggar sitting by the way; and he -was blind Bartimaeus. - -2 And when the beggar heard the multitude pass by he said, What is it -that I hear? - -3 The people said to him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. - -4 And instantly the man cried out, Lord Jesus, son of David, stay! -have mercy on poor blind Bartimaeus! - -5 The people said to him, Be quiet; hold your peace. - -6 But blind Bartimaeus called again, Thou son of David, hear! have -mercy on poor blind Bartimaeus! - -7 And Jesus stopped and said, Bring him to me. - -8 And then the people brought the blind man to the Lord, and as they -brought him up they said, Be cheerful now, Bartimaeus, the Lord is -calling you. - -9 And then he threw his cloak aside, and ran to Jesus as he waited by -the way. - -10 And Jesus said, What will you have, Bartimaeus? - -11 The blind man said, Rabboni, open up mine eyes that I may see. - -12 And Jesus said, Bartimaeus, look up; receive your sight; your faith -has made you whole. - -13 And he at once received his sight, and from the fullness of his -heart he said, Praise God. - -14 And all the people said, Praise God. - -15 Then Jesus and the twelve went on to Bethany. It was six days -before the feast. - -16 And when the people knew that Jesus was in Bethany they came from -near and far to see him and to hear him speak. - -17 And they were anxious all to talk with Lazarus, whom Jesus had -awakened from the dead. - -18 Now in Jerusalem the priests and Pharisees were all alert; they -said, This Jesus will be at the feast, and we must not permit that he -shall slip away again. - -19 And they commanded every man to be alert and help to apprehend the -Lord that they might take his life. - - -CHAPTER 151. - - _Jesus teaches in the synagogue. Makes his triumphal entry - into Jerusalem. The multitudes, with the children, sing his - praises, and say, Hosanna to the king! The Christines return - to Bethany._ - -It was the day before the Sabbath day, the eighth day of the Jewish -Nasan month, that Jesus came to Bethany. - -2 And on the Sabbath day he went up to the synagogue and taught. - -3 And on the morning of the first day of the week, the Sunday of the -week, he called his twelve apostles unto him and said, - -4 This day we go up to Jerusalem; be not afraid; my time has not yet -come. - -5 Now, two of you may go unto the village of Bethphage, and you will -find an ass tied to a tree, and you will see a little colt near by. - -6 Untie the ass and bring her here to me. If any one inquires why you -take the ass, just say, The master has a need of her; and then the -owner will come on with you. - -7 And the disciples went as Jesus bade them go; they found the ass and -colt a-near an open door; and when they would untie the ass the owner -said, Why would you take the ass away? - -8 And the disciples said, The master has a need of her; and then the -owner said, 'Tis well. - -9 And then they brought the animal, and on her put their coats, and -Jesus sat upon the ass and rode into Jerusalem. - -10 And multitudes of people came and filled the way, and his disciples -praised the Lord and said, - -11 Thrice blessed is the king who in the name of God is come! All -glory be to God, and peace on earth; good will to men! - -12 And many spread their garments in the way, and some tore branches -from the trees, and cast them in the way. - -13 And many children came with garlands of sweet flowers and placed -them on the Lord, or strewed them in the way, and said, All hail the -king! Long live the king! - -14 The throne of David shall be built again. Hosanna to the Lord of -hosts! - -15 Among the throng were Pharisees, who said to Jesus as he passed, -Rebuke this noisy throng; it is a shame for them to cry thus in the -street. - -16 The Lord replied, I tell you, men, if these should hold their peace -the very stones would cry aloud. - -17 And then the Pharisees conferred among themselves; they said, Our -threats are idle words. Behold, for all the world is following him. - -18 As Jesus drew a-near Jerusalem he paused and wept, and said, -Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the holy city of the Jews! yours was the glory -of the Lord; but you have cast the Lord away. - -19 Your eyes are closed, you cannot see the king; the kingdom of the -Lord of heaven and earth has come; you comprehend it not. - -20 Behold, the day will come when armies from afar will cast a bank -about your way; will compass you about, and hem you in on every side; - -21 Will dash you to the ground and slay you and your children in the -streets. - -22 And of your holy temple, and of your palaces and walls, they will -not leave a stone upon a stone, because today you spurn the offers of -the God of heaven. - -23 When Jesus and the multitude had come into Jerusalem, excitement -reigned, and people asked, Who is this man? - -24 The multitude replied, This is the king, the prophet, priest of -God; this is the man from Galilee. - -25 But Jesus tarried not; he went directly to the temple porch, and it -was filled with people pressing hard to see the king. - -26 The sick, the halt, the lame, the blind were there, and Jesus -paused, and laid his hands on them and healed them by the sacred Word. - -27 The temple and the temple courts were filled with children -praising God. They said, Hosanna to the king! The son of David is the -king! All hail the king! Praise God! - -28 The Pharisees were filled with anger when they heard the children -sing. They said to Jesus, Hear you what the children say? - -29 And Jesus said, I hear; but have you never read the words of our -own bard who said, - -30 Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise! - -31 And when the evening came the Lord and his disciples went again to -Bethany. - - -CHAPTER 152. - - _Jesus rebukes a barren fig tree. Drives the merchants out of - the temple. Teaches the people. Returns to Bethany._ - -Next day, the Monday of the week, the master with the twelve, went to -Jerusalem. - -2 And as they passed along the way they saw a fig tree full of leaves -without a sign of fruit. - -3 And Jesus spoke unto the tree; he said, You useless cumberer of the -ground; you fig tree fair to look upon, but a delusive thing. - -4 You take from earth and air the food that fruitful trees should have. - -5 Go back to earth and be yourself the food for other trees to eat. - -6 When Jesus had thus spoken to the tree he went his way. - -7 And when he reached the temple, lo, the rooms were filled with petty -merchants selling doves and animals, and other things, for sacrifice; -the temple was a mart of trade. - -8 And Jesus was indignant at the sight, and said, You men of Israel, -for shame! This is supposed to be the house of prayer; but it is now a -den of thieves. Remove this plunder from this holy place. - -9 The merchants only laughed and said, We are protected in our trade -by those who bear the rule; we will not go. - -10 Then Jesus made a scourge of cords, as he did once before, and -rushed among the merchantmen, threw all their money on the floor; - -11 Threw wide the cages of the doves, and cut the cords that held the -bleating lambs and set them free. - -12 And then he drove the merchants from the place, and with a clean, -new broom he swept the floors. - -13 Chief priests and scribes were filled with wrath, but feared to -touch or even to rebuke the Lord, for all the people stood in his -defense. - -14 And Jesus taught the people all day long and healed a multitude of -those diseased, - -15 And when the evening came he went again to Bethany. - - -CHAPTER 153. - - _The Christines go to Jerusalem. They note the withered fig - tree; its symbolic meaning. Jesus teaches in the temple. Is - censured by the priests. Relates a parable of a rich man's - feast._ - -On Tuesday, early in the day, the master and the twelve went to -Jerusalem. - -2 And as they went the twelve observed the tree to which the Lord had -talked the day before, and lo, the leaves were withered, just as if -they had been scorched with fire. - -3 And Peter said, Lord, see the tree! Its leaves are withered and the -tree seems dead. - -4 And Jesus said, So shall it be with those who bear no fruit. When -God shall call them up to give account, lo, he will breathe upon them, -and their leaves, their empty words, will wither and decay. - -5 God will not let the fruitless trees of life encumber ground, and he -will pluck them up and cast them all away. - -6 Now, you can demonstrate the power of God. Have faith in God, and -you can bid the mountains to depart, and they will crumble at your -feet; - -7 And you may talk to wind and wave, and they will hear, and will obey -what you command. - -8 God hears the prayer of faith and when you ask in faith you shall -receive. - -9 You must not ask amiss; God will not hear the prayer of any man who -comes to him with blood of other men upon his hands. - -10 And he who harbors envious thoughts, and does not love his fellow -men, may pray forever unto God, and he will hear him not. - -11 God can do nothing more for men than they would do for other men. - -12 And Jesus walked again within the temple courts. - -13 The priests and scribes were much emboldened by the council of -Caiaphas and the other men in power, and so they came to Jesus and -they said, - -14 Who gave you the authority to do as you have done? Why did you -drive the merchants from the temple yesterday? - -15 And Jesus answered them and said, If you will answer what I ask, -then I will answer you; Was John, the harbinger, a man of God, or was -he a seditious man? - -16 The scribes and Pharisees were loath to answer him; they reasoned -thus among themselves: - -17 If we shall say, John was a prophet sent from God, then he will say, - -18 John testified for me, that I am son of God; why do you not believe -his words? - -19 If we should say, John was a bold, seditious man, the people will -be angered, for they think he was a prophet of the living God. - -20 And so they answered Jesus and they said, We do not know; we cannot -tell. - -21 Then Jesus said, If you will tell me not, then I will tell you not -who gave me power to drive the robbers from the house of God. - -22 And then he spoke a parable to them; he said, A man once made a -feast inviting all the rich and honored people of the land. - -23 But when they came, they found the door into the banquet hall was -low, and they could enter not except they bowed their heads and fell -down on their knees. - -24 These people would not bow their heads and fall down on their -knees, and so they went away; they went not to the feast. - -25 And then the man sent forth his messengers to bid the common folks, -and those of low estate, to come and feast with him. - -26 These people gladly came; they bowed their heads and fell down on -their knees, and came into the banquet hall and it was full, and every -one rejoiced. - -27 And then the master said, Behold, you priests and scribes, and -Pharisees! the Lord of heaven and earth has spread a sumptuous feast, -and you were bidden first of all; - -28 But you have found the door into the banquet hall so low that you -must bow your heads and fall down on your knees to enter in, and you -have scorned the king who made the feast, refused to bow your heads -and fall down on your knees, and you have gone your way; - -29 But now God calls again; the common folks and those of low estate -have come in multitudes, have entered in unto the feast and all -rejoice. - -30 I tell you, men, that publicans and courtesans go through the gates -into the kingdom of the God of heaven, and you are left without. - -31 John came to you in righteousness; he brought the truth, but you -believed him not. - -32 But publicans and courtesans believed, and were baptized and now -have entered in unto the feast. - -33 I tell you now, as I have told you many times, The many have been -called, but chosen are the few. - - -CHAPTER 154. - - _Jesus teaches in the temple court. The parable of the - householder and wicked husbandmen. Parable of the marriage - feast and the guest without a wedding robe._ - -The multitudes would hear what Jesus had to say, and so they built -a platform in the temple court, and Jesus stood upon the place and -taught. He spoke in parables; he said, - -2 A man possessed a vast estate; he planted out a vineyard, placed a -hedge about it, built a tower, installed the press for making wine. - -3 He placed his vineyard in the hands of husbandmen and then he -journeyed to a distant land. - -4 Now, in the vintage time the man sent forth a servant to receive and -bring to him his portion of the fruitage of the vines. - -5 The husbandmen came forth and beat the man; laid forty lashes on his -back and cast him out beyond the vineyard gate. - -6 And then the owner sent another man to bring to him his own. The -husbandmen laid hold of him and sorely wounded him and cast him from -the vineyard, leaving him half dead beside the way. - -7 The owner sent another man to bring to him his own. The husbandmen -seized hold of him and with a javelin they pierced his heart; then -buried him beyond the hedge. - -8 The owner was aggrieved. He thought within himself, What shall I do? -and then he said, This will I do. My only son is here, and I will send -him to the husbandmen, - -9 They surely will respect my son and send me what is mine. - -10 He sent his son; the husbandmen took counsel with themselves; they -said, This is the only heir to all this wealth, and if we take his -life the vast inheritance is ours. - -11 They took his life and cast him out beyond the vineyard hedge. - -12 The days will come; the owner will return to reckon with the -husbandmen, and he will seize them every one, and cast them into -scorching fires where they shall stay until they pay the debts they -owe. - -13 And he will place his vineyard in the care of honest men. - -14 Then turning to the priests and scribes he said, Did not your -prophets say, - -15 The stone the builders cast away became the capstone of the arch? - -16 You men who pose as men of God, as husbandmen, lo, you have stoned -and killed the messengers of God, his prophets and his seers, and now -you seek to slay his son. - -17 I tell you men, the kingdom shall be snatched away from you, and -shall be given unto people who are not a people now, and to a nation -that is not a nation now. - -18 And men whose speech you cannot understand, will stand between the -living and the dead, and show the way to life. - -19 The chief priests and the Pharisees were deeply moved with anger -when they heard this parable, and would have seized the Lord and done -him harm, but they were sore afraid; they feared the multitude. - -20 And Jesus spoke another parable; he said, The kingdom is alike a -certain king who made a feast in honor of the marriage of his son. - -21 He sent his servants forth to call the people who had been invited -to the feast. - -22 The servants called; but then the people would not come. - -23 And then the king sent other messengers abroad to say, Behold, my -tables now are spread; my oxen and my fatlings are prepared. - -24 The choicest viands and the richest wines are on my boards; come to -the marriage feast. - -25 The people laughed and treated with disdain his call, and went -their way, one to his farm, another to his merchandise; - -26 And others seized the servants of the king; abused them shamefully; -and some of them they killed. - -27 And then the king sent forth his soldiery who slew the murderers -and burned their towns. - -28 And then the king sent other servants forth; to them he said, Go to -the corners of the streets, the partings of the ways, and to the marts -of trade and say, - -29 Whoever will may come up to the marriage feast. - -30 The servants went their way and called; and lo, the banquet hall -was filled with guests. - -31 But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man who had -not on a wedding robe; he called to him and said, - -32 Friend, why are you here without a wedding robe? Would you dishonor -thus my son? - -33 The man was dumb; he answered not. - -34 And then the king said to his guards, Take you this man and bind -him hand and foot and cast him out into the darkness of the night. - -35 The many have been called, but none are chosen to be guests who -have not clad themselves in wedding robes. - - -CHAPTER 155. - - _Jesus recognizes the justice of paying secular taxes. He - teaches a lesson on family relationships in the life beyond. - The greatest of the commandments is comprised in love. He - warns his disciples against the hypocrisy of scribes and - Pharisees._ - -As Jesus spoke, the Pharisees came up to question him; they thought to -criminate him by what he said. - -2 A strict Herodian spoke and said, My Lord, you are a man of truth; -you show the way to God, and you do not regard the personality of men; - -3 Tell us, what do you think; should we, who are the seed of Abraham, -pay tribute unto Caesar? or should we not? - -4 And Jesus knew his wickedness of heart and said, Why do you come to -tempt me thus? Show me the tribute money that you speak about. - -5 The man brought forth a piece of coin on which an image was engraved. - -6 And Jesus said, Whose image and whose name is on this coin? - -7 The man replied, 'Tis Caesar's image and his name. - -8 And Jesus said, Give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's own; but give -to God the things of God. - -9 And they who heard him said, He answers well. - -10 And then a Sadducee, who thinks there is no resurrection of the -dead, came up and said, Rabboni, Moses wrote that if a married man -shall die, and have no child, his widow shall become his brother's -wife. - -11 Now, there were seven brothers and the eldest had a wife; he died -and had no child; a brother took his widow for his wife, and then he -died; - -12 And every brother had this woman for his wife; in course of time -the woman died; - -13 Now which will have this woman for a wife in the resurrection day? - -14 And Jesus said, Here in this plane of life men marry just to -gratify their selfish selfs, or to perpetuate the race; but in the -world to come, and in the resurrection day, men do not take upon -themselves the marriage vows, - -15 But, like the angels and the other sons of God, they form not -unions for the pleasure of the self, nor to perpetuate the race. - -16 Death does not mean the end of life. The grave is not the goal of -men, no more than is the earth the goal of seeds. - -17 Life is the consequence of death. The seed may seem to die, but -from its grave the tree arises into life. - -18 So man may seem to die, but he lives on, and from the grave he -springs up into life. - -19 If you could comprehend the word that Moses spoke about the burning -bush that burned and still was not consumed, then you would know that -death cannot destroy the life. - -20 And Moses said that God is God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel. - -21 God is not God of dead men's bones, but of the living man. - -22 I tell you, men, man goes down to the grave, but he will rise again -and manifest the life; - -23 For every life is hid with Christ in God, and man shall live while -God shall live. - -24 The Pharisees and scribes who heard the Lord, exclaimed, He speaks -the truth; and they were glad to have the Sadducees discomfited. - -25 And then an honest scribe came forth and said to Jesus, Lord, you -speak as one whom God has sent, and may I ask, - -26 Which is the greatest and the first of the Commandments of the Law? - -27 And Jesus said, The first is: Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is -one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with -all your mind, with all your soul, with all your strength; - -28 And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. - -29 These are the greatest of the ten, and on them hang the Law, the -Prophets and the Psalms. - -30 The scribe replied, My soul gives witness that you speak the truth, -for love fulfills the law, and far transcends burnt offerings and -sacrifice. - -31 And Jesus said to him, Lo, you have solved a mystery; you are -within the kingdom and the kingdom is in you. - -32 To his disciples Jesus spoke, and all the people heard; he said, -Beware you of the scribes and Pharisees who pride themselves in -wearing long and richly decorated robes, - -33 And love to be saluted in the market place, and seek the highest -seats at feasts, and take the hard-earned wages of the poor to satisfy -their carnal selves, and pray in public, long and loud. - -34 These are the wolves who clothe themselves to look like sheep. - -35 And then he said to all, The scribes and Pharisees are placed by -law in Moses' seat, and by the law they may interpret law; - -36 So what they bid you do, that do; but do not imitate their deeds. - -37 They say the things that Moses taught; they do the things of -Beelzebul. - -38 They talk of mercy, yet they bind on human shoulders burdens -grievous to bear. - -39 They talk of helpfulness, and yet they put not forth the slightest -helpful efforts for their brother man. - -40 They make a show of doing things, and yet they do not anything but -show their gaudy robes, and broad phylacteries, and smile when people -call them honored masters of the law. - -41 They strut about and show their pride when people call them father, -so and so. - -42 Hear, now, you men, Call no man father here. The God of heaven and -earth, and he alone, is Father of the race of men. - -43 Christ is the hierarch, the high, exalted master of the sons of men. - -44 If you would be exalted, sit down at the master's feet and serve. -He is the greatest man who serves the best. - - -CHAPTER 156. - - _The scribes and Pharisees are angered. Jesus rebukes them for - their hypocrisy. He laments over Jerusalem. The widow's mite. - Jesus delivers his farewell address to the people in the - temple._ - -The scribes and Pharisees were wild with rage; and Jesus said, - -2 Woe unto you, you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! you stand -within the way; you block the door; you will not go into the kingdom -and you turn aside the pure in heart who are about to enter in. - -3 Woe unto you, you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! you compass -sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he has been made he is a -son of hell, just like yourselves. - -4 Woe unto you who call yourselves the guides of men! and you are -guides, blind guides; - -5 For you pay tithes of cummin, mint and dill, and leave undone the -weightier matters of the law; of judgment, justice, faith. - -6 You filter out the gnats before you drink; but then you swallow -camels and the like. - -7 Woe unto you, you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! you clean -and scour the outside of the cup, while it is full of filth, extortion -and excess. - -8 Go to and clean the inside of the cup, and then the poisonous fumes -will not defile the outside of the cup. - -9 Woe unto you, you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! you -are yourselves like whitewashed sepulchres; your outer garbs are -beautiful, but you are full of dead men's bones. - -10 You seem to men to be divine; but in your hearts you nourish lust, -hypocrisies and vile iniquities. - -11 Woe unto you, you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! you build -and then adorn the tombs of holy men of old and say, - -12 If we had lived when these men lived, we would have guarded them, -would not have acted as our fathers did, when they maltreated them and -put them to the sword. - -13 But you are sons of them who slew the holy men, and you are not a -whit more just than they. - -14 Go forth and fill the measure of your fathers who were steeped in -crime. - -15 You are the offsprings of the vipers, and how can you be but -serpents of the dust? - -16 God now has sent again to you his prophets and his seers, his wise -men and his holy men, and you will scourge them in your synagogues, -and stone them in the streets, and nail them to the cross. - -17 Woe unto you! for on your heads will come the blood of all the holy -men who have been slain upon the earth, - -18 From righteous Abel down to Zacharias, son of Barachias, who was -slain within the Holy Place before the altar of the Lord. - -19 Behold, I say that these things all shall come upon this nation and -the people of Jerusalem. - -20 And Jesus looked about and said, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou cruel -city of Jerusalem, that slays the prophets in the streets and kills -the holy men whom God has sent to you! - -21 Lo, I would oft have gathered you as children to the fold of God; -but you would not. - -22 You have rejected God, and now your house is desolate, and you -shall see me not again till you can say, - -23 Thrice blessed is the son of man who comes as son of God. - -24 Then Jesus went and sat beside the treasury and watched the people -as they paid their tithes. - -25 The rich men came and gave of their abundance; and then he saw a -poor but loyal widow come and put a farthing in the treasure box. - -26 And then he said to his disciples who were standing by, Behold, for -this poor widow who has put a farthing in the treasury has done more -than they all; - -27 For she has given all she had; the rich have given just a little -share of what they have. - -28 A company of Grecian Jews were at the feast, and they met Philip, -who could talk with them, and said, Sir, we would see the Lord, this -Jesus, who is called the Christ. - -29 And Philip led the way, and brought them to the Christ. - -30 And Jesus said, The hour has come; the son of man is ready to be -glorified, and it cannot be otherwise. - -31 Except a grain of wheat fall into earth and die it can be nothing -but a grain of wheat; but if it die it lives again, and from its grave -a hundred grains of wheat arise. - -32 My soul is troubled now; What shall I say? And then he cast his -eyes to heaven and said, - -33 My Father-God, I would not ask to be relieved of all the burdens -I must bear; I only ask for grace and strength to bear the burdens -whatso'er they be, - -34 This is the hour for which I came to earth. O Father, glorify thy -name! - -35 And then the place was lighted with a light more brilliant than the -noonday sun; the people stood a-back; they were afraid. - -36 And then a voice that seemed to come from heaven said, - -37 I have both glorified my name and yours, and I will honor them -again. - -38 The people heard the voice, and some exclaimed, Behold, a distant -thunder! Others said, An angel spoke to him. - -39 But Jesus said, This voice was not for me; it was for you, that you -might know that I am come from God. - -40 Now is the judgment of the world at hand; the prince of darkness -shall be manifest and go unto his own. - -41 The son of man will now be lifted up from earth, and he will draw -all men unto himself. - -42 The people said, The law declares that Christ abides forever more. -How can you say, The son of man will now be lifted up? Who is the son -of man? - -43 And Jesus said to them, The light is shining now; walk in the light -while you still have the light. - -44 The darkness comes; but he who walks in darkness cannot find the -way. - -45 Again I say, Walk in the light while you still have the light, that -men may know that you are sons of light. - -46 And Jesus stood out in the temple porch, and made his last appeal -unto the multitudes; he said, - -47 He who believes in me, believes in God who sent me forth to do his -will, and he who sees me now beholds my Father-God. - -48 Behold, I came a light unto the world; he who believes in me shall -walk in light, the light of life. - -49 You men who hear me now, If you believe me not, I judge you not. - -50 I am not come to judge the world, but I am come to save the world. - -51 God is the only judge of men; but what I speak will stand against -you in the day when God will judge the world; - -52 For from myself I do not speak; I speak the words that God has -given me to speak. - -53 And then he said, Jerusalem, with all your glory and your crimes, -Farewell. - - -CHAPTER 157. - - _The Christines upon Mount Olives. Jesus prophecies the - destruction of Jerusalem, and of terrible disasters that will - mark the conclusion of the age. He exhorts his disciples to - faithfulness._ - -Then Jesus with the twelve went forth and sat upon Mount Olives, just -beyond the city's gate. - -2 And his disciples said, Behold the wondrous city of Jerusalem! its -homes are all so beautiful! its temples and its shrines are clothed in -such magnificence! - -3 And Jesus said, The city is the glory of my people, Israel, but, lo, -the time will come when every stone will be cast down, and it will be -a hiss and byword for the nations of the earth. - -4 And the disciples asked, When will this desolation come? - -5 And Jesus said, This round of human life will not be full until the -armies of the conqueror will thunder at her gates, and they will enter -in, and blood will flow like water through the streets. - -6 And all the precious furnishings of temple, court and palaces will -be destroyed, or carried off to deck the palaces and courts of kings. - -7 Behold, these days are not at hand. Before they come, lo, you shall -be maltreated by the scribes and Pharisees, the high priests and the -doctors of the law. - -8 Without a cause you will be haled into the courts; you will be -stoned; you will be beaten in the synagogues; will stand condemned -before the rulers of this world, and governors and kings will sentence -you to death. - -9 But you will falter not, and you will testify for truth and -righteousness. - -10 And in these hours be anxious not about your speech; you need not -think of what to say; - -11 For, lo, the Holy Breath will overshadow you and give you words to -say. - -12 But then the carnage will go on, and men will think that they are -pleasing God by killing you, and nations far and near will hate you -for the sake of Christ. - -13 And men will stir up evil thoughts among your kin, and they will -hate you and will give you up to die. - -14 And brothers will be false to brothers; fathers will stand forth -and testify against their own, and children will drive parents to the -funeral pile. - -15 When you shall hear the Roman eagle screaming in the air, and see -his legions streaming o'er the plain, then know the desolation of -Jerusalem is near. - -16 Then let the wise wait not, but flee. Let him who is upon his house -wait not to enter in the house to gather up his wealth, but let him -flee. - -17 And he who labors in the field must not return, but leave his all -to save his life. - -18 And woe to mothers with their little children in that day; none -shall escape the sword. - -19 The tribulation of these days cannot be told in words, for such has -never been since God created man upon the earth. - -20 The conqueror will carry many of the sons of Abraham away as -captives into foreign lands, and they who know not Israel's God will -tread the highways of Jerusalem until the anti-Jewish times have been -fulfilled. - -21 But when the people have been punished for their crimes, the -tribulation days will end; but lo, the time will come when all the -world will rise, like gladiators in a ring, and fight just for the -sake of shedding blood. - -22 And men will reason not; they will not see, nor care to see a cause -for carnage, desolation, thefts; for they will war with friend or foe. - -23 The very air will seem surcharged with smoke of death; and -pestilence will follow close upon the sword. - -24 And signs that men have never seen will then appear in heaven and -earth; in sun, and moon, and stars. - -25 The seas will roar, and sounds will come from heaven that men -can never comprehend, and these will bring distress of nations with -perplexity. - -26 Hearts of the strongest men will faint in fear, in expectation of -the coming of more frightful things upon the earth. - -27 But while the conflicts rage on land and sea, the Prince of Peace -will stand above the clouds of heaven and say again: - -28 Peace, peace on earth; good will to men; and every man will throw -away his sword, and nations will learn war no more. - -29 And then the man who bears the pitcher will walk forth across an -arc of heaven; the sign and signet of the son of man will stand forth -in the eastern sky. - -30 The wise will then lift up their heads and know that the redemption -of the earth is near. - -31 Before these days shall come, behold, false Christs and poor -deluded prophets will arise in many lands. - -32 And they will show forth signs, and do a multitude of mighty works; -and they will lead astray the many who are not wise; and many of the -wise will be deceived. - -33 And now I tell you once again, When men shall say, The Christ is in -the wilderness, go you not forth. - -34 And if they say, The Christ is in the secret place, believe it not; -for when he comes the world will know that he has come. - -35 For as the morning light comes from the east and shines unto the -west; so shall be the coming of the age and son of man. - -36 The wicked of the earth will weep when they shall see the son of -man come down upon the clouds of heaven, in power. - -37 Take heed you, O take heed, for you know not the hour nor the day -when comes the son of man. - -38 Let not your hearts be overcharged with sensuous things, nor with -the cares of life, lest that day come and find you unprepared. - -39 Keep watch at every season of the year; and pray that you may meet -the Lord with joy and not with grief. - -40 Before these days shall come our Father-God will send his -messengers abroad, yea, to the corners of the earth, and they will say, - -41 Prepare you, O prepare; the Prince of Peace shall come, and now is -coming on the clouds of heaven. - -42 When Jesus had thus said, he went with his disciples back to -Bethany. - - -CHAPTER 158. - - _Jesus and the twelve at prayer in Olivet. Jesus reveals to his - disciples the deeper meanings of secret doctrines. He tells - them what to teach the people. Relates a number of parables. - They return to Bethany._ - -The morning of the Wednesday of the week was come, and Jesus with the -twelve went out to Olivet to pray; and they were lost in prayer for -seven hours. - -2 Then Jesus called the twelve close to his side and said, This day -the curtain parts and we will step beyond the veil into the secret -courts of God. - -3 And Jesus opened up to them the meaning of the hidden way, and of -the Holy Breath, and of the light that cannot fail. - -4 He told them all about the Book of Life, the Rolls of Graphael, the -Book of God's Remembrance where all the thoughts and words of men are -written down. - -5 He did not speak aloud to them; he told the secrets of the masters -in an undertone, and when he spoke the name of God there was a silence -in the courts of heaven for half an hour, for angels spoke with bated -breath. - -6 And Jesus said, These things may not be spoken out aloud; they never -may be written down; they are the messages of Silenceland; they are -the Breathings of the inner heart of God. - -7 And then the master taught the twelve the lessons they should teach -to other men. He sometimes taught in parables; he said, - -8 You call to mind the words of yesterday about the coming of the son -of man. Now, you shall teach to other men what I have spoken and am -speaking unto you; - -9 Teach them to pray and not to faint; to be prepared at every moment -of the day, for when they least expect him, then the Lord will come. - -10 A man went to a distant land and left his house and all his wealth -in care of servants; five to guard his house and five to guard his -barns and herds. - -11 The servants waited long for his return, but he came not, and they -grew careless in their work; some spent their time in revelings and -drunkenness, and some slept at their posts. - -12 And night by night the robbers came and carried off the wealth from -house and barn, and drove away the choicest of the herds. - -13 And when they knew that much of all the wealth that they were left -to guard had been purloined, they said, - -14 We cannot be to blame; if we had known the day and hour when our -lord would come again we would have guarded well his wealth, and -suffered not the thieves to carry it away; he surely is at fault -because he told us not. - -15 But after many days the lord returned, and when he knew that -thieves had robbed him of his wealth, he called his servants and he -said to them, - -16 Because you have neglected what was given you to do, have spent -your time in revelings and sleep, behold you all are debtors unto me. - -17 What I have lost by your neglect, you owe to me. And then he gave -them heavy tasks to do, and bound them to their posts with chains, -where they remained till they had paid for all the goods their lord -had lost through their neglect. - -18 Another man locked up his wealth and went to sleep, and in the -night time robbers came, unlocked his doors, and when they saw no -guard, they entered in and carried off his wealth. - -19 And when the man awoke and found his doors ajar and all his -treasures gone, he said, If I had known the hour when the thieves -would come I would have been on guard. - -20 Beware, my friends, beware! and be prepared at every hour, and if -your Lord shall come at midnight or at dawn, it matters not, for he -will find you ready to receive. - -21 And then, behold, a marriage was announced, and virgins, ten of -them, were set apart to meet the bridegroom when he came. - -22 The virgins clothed themselves in proper garbs, and took their -lamps and sat in waiting for the watch to say, Behold, the bridegroom -comes! - -23 Now, five were wise; they filled their lamps with oil; and five -were foolish, for they carried empty lamps. - -24 The groom came not at the expected time; the virgins were a-weary -with their watch and slept. - -25 At midnight came the cry, Behold, the bridegroom comes! - -26 The virgins rose; the wise ones quickly trimmed their lamps and -went forth ready to receive the groom. - -27 The foolish virgins said, We have no oil, our lamps burn not. - -28 They sought to borrow from the wise, who said, We have no oil to -spare; Go to the merchantmen and buy and fill your lamps and then come -forth to meet the groom. - -29 But while they went to purchase oil, the bridegroom came; the -virgins who were ready with their lamps all trimmed went with him to -the marriage feast. - -30 And when the foolish virgins came the door was shut, and though -they knocked and called aloud, the door was opened not. - -31 The master of the feast exclaimed, I know you not! and in disgrace -the virgins went their way. - -32 Again I say to you, and you shall say to them who follow you, - -33 Be ready every moment of the day and night, because when you expect -him not, the Lord will come. - -34 Behold, when he will come with all his messengers of light, the -Book of Life, and that of Records, shall be opened up--the books in -which the thoughts and words and deeds are written down. - -35 And every one can read the records he has written for himself, and -he will know his doom before the judge shall speak, and this will be -the sifting time. - -36 According to their records men will find their own. - -37 The judge is Righteousness, the king of all the earth, and he will -separate the multitudes as shepherds separate the sheep and goats. - -38 The sheep will find their places on the right, the goats upon the -left, and every man will know his place. - -39 And then the judge will say, to those upon the right, You blessed -of the Father-God, come unto your inheritance, which was prepared for -you from times of old. - -40 You have been servants of the race; and I was hungry and you gave -me bread; was thirsty and you gave me drink; was naked and you gave me -clothes; - -41 Was sick, you ministered to me; and was in prison and you came to -me with words of cheer; I was a stranger and in your homes I found a -home. - -42 Then will the righteous say, When did we see you hungry, thirsty, -sick, imprisoned or a stranger at our gates and ministered to you? - -43 And then the judge will say, You served the sons of men, and -whatsoever you have done for these, that you have done for me. - -44 The judge will say to those upon the left, Depart from me; you have -not served the sons of men. - -45 I was hungry and you gave me naught to eat; was thirsty and you -gave me naught to drink; I was a stranger and you drove me from your -door; I was imprisoned and was sick, you did not minister to me. - -46 Then these will say, When did we thus neglect to care for you? When -did we see you hungry, thirsty, sick, a stranger or in prison and did -not minister to you? - -47 And then the judge will say, Your life was full of self; you served -the self and not your fellow man, and when you slighted one of these, -you slighted and neglected me. - -48 Then will the righteous have the kingdom and the power, and they -who are unrighteous shall go forth to pay their debts, to suffer all -that men have suffered at their hands. - -49 They who have ears to hear and hearts to understand will comprehend -these parables. - -50 When he had finished all these parables he said, You know that in -two days the great passover feast will come, and lo, the son of man -will be betrayed into the hands of wicked men. - -51 And he will give his life upon the cross, and men will know that -he, the son of man, is son of God. - -52 Then Jesus and the twelve returned to Bethany. - - - - -SECTION XVIII. - -TZADDI. - -_The Arrest and Betrayal of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 159. - - _The Christines attend a feast in Simon's house. Mary anoints - the master with a costly balm, and Judas and others rebuked - her for profligacy. Jesus defends her. The rulers of the Jews - employ Ananias to arrest Jesus. Ananias bribes Judas to aid - him._ - -Bar-Simon, who was once a leper and was cleansed by Jesus by the -sacred Word, abode in Bethany. - -2 In honor of the Christine Lord he gave a feast, and Lazarus was -among the guests, and Ruth and Martha served. - -3 And as the guests reclined about the table, Mary took a cruse of -rich perfume and poured it out on Jesus' head and feet. - -4 And then she knelt and with her hair she wiped his feet; the odor of -the rich perfume filled all the room. - -5 Now, Judas, always looking at the selfish side of life, exclaimed, -For shame! why did you waste that costly perfume thus? - -6 We might have sold it for three hundred pence, and had the money to -supply our wants and feed the poor. - -7 (Now, Judas was the treasurer, and carried all the money of the -Christine band.) - -8 And others said, Why, Mary, what a profligate you are! you should -not throw such wealth away. - -9 But Jesus said, You men, be still; let her alone; you know not what -you say. - -10 The poor are with you constantly; at any time you can administer to -them; but I will not be with you long. - -11 And Mary knows the sadness of the coming days; she has anointed me -beforehand for my burial. - -12 The gospel of the Christ will everywhere be preached, and he who -tells the story of the Christ will tell about this day; and what was -done by Mary at this hour will be a sweet memorial to her wherever men -abide. - -13 And when the feast was over Jesus went with Lazarus to his home. - -14 Now, in Jerusalem the priests and Pharisees were busy with their -plans to seize the Lord and take his life. - -15 The high priest called in counsel all the wisest men and said, This -deed must be accomplished in a secret way. - -16 He must be taken when the multitudes are not a-near, else we may -cause a war; the common people may stand forth in his defense and thus -pollute this sacred place with human blood. - -17 And what we do, that we must do before the great day of the feast. - -18 And Ananias said, I have a plan that will succeed. The twelve with -Jesus every day go forth alone to pray; - -19 And we will find their trysting place; then we can seize the man -and bring him here without the knowledge of the multitudes. - -20 I know one of the twelve, a man who worships wealth, and for a sum -I think that he will lead the way to where the man is wont to pray. - -21 And then Caiaphas said, If you will lead the way and bribe the man -of whom you speak, to aid in seizing Jesus in a secret place, then we -will give to you a hundred silver pieces for your hire. - -22 And Ananias said, 'Tis well. - -23 And then he went to Bethany and found the twelve at Simon's house, -and calling Judas to the side he said, - -24 If you would care to make a sum of money for yourself hear me: - -25 The high priest and the other rulers in Jerusalem would like to -talk with Jesus when alone, that they may know about his claims; - -26 And if he proves himself to be the Christ, lo, they will stand in -his defense. - -27 Now, if you will but lead the way to where your master is tomorrow -night that they may send a priest to talk with him alone, there is a -sum of silver, thirty pieces, that the priests will give to you. - -28 And Judas reasoned with himself; he said, It surely may be well to -give the Lord a chance to tell the priests about his claims when he is -all alone. - -29 And if the priests would do him harm he has the power to disappear -and go his way as he has done before; and thirty pieces is a goodly -sum. - -30 And so he said to Ananias, I will lead the way, and by a kiss make -known which person is the Lord. - - -CHAPTER 160. - - _Jesus and the twelve eat the passover alone in Nicodemus' - house. Jesus washes the disciples' feet. Judas leaves the - table and goes forth to betray the Lord. Jesus teaches the - eleven. He institutes the Lord's supper._ - -On Thursday morning Jesus called to him the twelve disciples, and -he said to them, This is God's remembrance day, and we will eat the -pascal supper all alone. - -2 And then he said to Peter, James and John, Go now into Jerusalem and -there prepare the pasch. - -3 And the disciples said, Where would you have us go to find the place -where we may have the feast prepared? - -4 And Jesus said, Go by the fountain gate and you will see a man who -has a pitcher in his hand. Speak unto him and say: This is the first -day of unleavened bread; - -5 The Lord would have you set apart your banquet hall where he may eat -his last passover with the twelve. - -6 Fear not to speak; the man whom you will see is Nicodemus, a ruler -of the Jews, and yet a man of God. - -7 And the disciples went and found the man as Jesus said, and -Nicodemus hastened to his home; the banquet hall, an upper room, was -set apart, the supper was prepared. - -8 Now, in the afternoon the Lord and his disciples went up to -Jerusalem and found the feast in readiness. - -9 And when the hour had come to eat the feast, the twelve began to -strive among themselves, each anxious to secure the honored seats. - -10 And Jesus said, My friends, would you contend for self just as the -shadows of this night of gloom comes on? - -11 There is no honored seat at heaven's feast except for him who -humbly takes the lowest seat. - -12 And then the Lord arose and took a basin full of water and a towel, -and bowing down, he washed the feet of all the twelve and dried them -with the towel. - -13 He breathed upon them and he said, And may these feet walk in the -ways of righteousness forevermore. - -14 He came to Peter and was about to wash his feet, and Peter said, -Lord, would you wash my feet? - -15 And Jesus said, You do not comprehend the meaning of the thing I -do, but you will comprehend. - -16 And Peter said, My master, no, you shall not stoop to wash my feet. - -17 And Jesus said, My friend, if I wash not your feet you have no part -with me. - -18 And Peter said, Then, O my Lord, wash both my feet, my hands, my -head. - -19 And Jesus said to him, He who has taken first his bath is clean, -and has no need to wash, except his feet. - -20 The feet are truly symbols of the understanding of the man, and he -who would be clean must, in the living stream of life, wash well his -understanding every day. - -21 Then Jesus sat with his disciples at the table of the feast and -said, Behold the lesson of the hour: - -22 You call me master; such I am. If, then, your Lord and master kneel -and wash your feet, should you not wash each other's feet and thus -show forth your willingness to serve? - -23 You know these things, and if you do them, blessed thrice are you. - -24 And then he said, This is an hour when I can truly praise the name -of God, for I have greatly wished to eat with you this feast before I -pass the veil; - -25 For I will eat it not again until anew I eat it with you in the -kingdom of our Father-God. - -26 And then they sung the Hebrew song of praise that Jews were wont to -sing before the feast. - -27 And then they ate the pasch and as they ate, the master said, -Behold, for one of you will turn away this night and will betray me -into wicked hands. - -28 And the disciples were amazed at what he said; they looked into -each other's face in wonderment; they all exclaimed, Lord, is it I? - -29 And Peter said to John, who sat beside the Lord, To whom does he -refer? - -30 And John put forth his hand and touched the master's hand and said, -Which one of us is so depraved as to betray his Lord? - -31 And Judas said, Lord, is it I? - -32 And Jesus said, He is the one who now has put his hand with mine -into the dish. They looked, and Judas' hand was with the hand of Jesus -in the dish. - -33 And Jesus said, The prophets cannot fail; the son of man must be -betrayed, but woe to him who shall betray his Lord. - -34 And from the table Judas rose at once; his hour had come. - -35 And Jesus said to him, Do quickly what you are to do. And Judas -went his way. - -36 And when the pasch was done the Lord with the eleven sat a while in -silent thought. - -37 Then Jesus took a loaf of bread that had been broken not and said, -This loaf is symbol of my body, and the bread is symbol of the bread -of life; - -38 And as I break this loaf, so shall my flesh be broken as a pattern -for the sons of men; for men must freely give their bodies up in -willing sacrifice for other men. - -39 And as you eat this bread, so shall you eat the bread of life, and -never die. And then he gave to each a piece of bread to eat. - -40 And then he took a cup of wine and said, Blood is the life; this is -the life-blood of the grape; it is the symbol of the life of him who -gives his life for men. - -41 And as you drink this wine, if you shall drink in faith, you drink -the life of Christ. - -42 And then he supped and passed the cup, and the disciples supped; -and Jesus said, This is the feast of life, the great passover of the -son of man, the Supper of the Lord, and you shall often eat the bread -and drink the wine. - -43 From henceforth shall this bread be called Remembrance bread; this -wine shall be Remembrance wine; and when you eat this bread and drink -this wine remember me. - - -CHAPTER 161. - - _Jesus teaches the eleven. Tells them that they will all be - estranged from him, and that Peter will deny him thrice - before the morning. He speaks final words of encouragement. - Promises the Comforter._ - -Now, after Judas had gone forth to meet the emissaries of the priests -and to betray his Lord, - -2 The master said, The hour has come, the son of man will now be -glorified. - -3 My little children, I am with you yet a little while; soon you will -seek me and will find me not, for where I go you cannot come. - -4 I give to you a new command: As I love you and give my life for you, -so shall you love the world, and give your life to save the world. - -5 Love one another as you love yourselves, and then the world will -know that you are sons of God, disciples of the son of man whom God -has glorified. - -6 And Peter said, Lord, where you go there I will go, for I would lay -my life down for my Lord. - -7 And Jesus said, Boast not of bravery, my friend; you are not strong -enough tonight to follow me. - -8 Now, Peter, hear! you will deny me thrice before the cock shall crow -tomorrow morn. - -9 And then he looked upon the eleven and said, You all will be -estranged from me this night. - -10 The prophet said, Lo, he will smite the shepherd of the sheep; the -sheep will flee and hide away. - -11 But after I am risen from the dead, lo, you will come again, and I -will go before you into Galilee. - -12 And Peter said, My Lord, though every other man forsake you I will -not. - -13 And Jesus said, O Simon Peter, lo, your zeal is greater than your -fortitude! Behold, for Satan cometh up to sift you as a pan of wheat, -but I have prayed that in your faith you shall not fail; that after -trial you may stand a tower of strength. - -14 And the disciples all exclaimed, There is no power on earth that -can estrange, or cause us to deny our Lord. - -15 And Jesus said, Let not your hearts be sad; you all believe in God; -believe in me. - -16 Behold, for there are many mansions in my Fatherland. If there were -not I would have told you so. - -17 I go unto my Fatherland, and will prepare a place for you that -where I am there you may be. But now you do not know the way unto my -Fatherland. - -18 And Thomas said, We do not know where you intend to go; how could -we know the way? - -19 And Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, the life; I manifest the -Christ of God. No man can reach my Fatherland except he comes with me -through Christ. - -20 If you had known and comprehended me, then you would know my -Father-God. - -21 And Philip said, Show us the Father and we will be satisfied. - -22 And Jesus said, Have I been with you all these years and still you -know me not? - -23 He who has seen the son has seen the Father, for in the son the -Father has revealed himself. - -24 Lo, I have told you many times that what I speak and what I do are -not the words and works of man; - -25 They are the words and works of God, who lives in me and I in him. - -26 Hear me, you faithful men: He who believes in me and in my -Father-God shall say and do what I have said and done. - -27 Yea, more, he shall do greater works than I have ever done, because -I go to him whose works we do, and then I can reach forth my hand in -helpfulness. - -28 And in my name, through Christ, you may petition God and he will -grant you your request. - -29 Do you believe what I have said? Yes, you believe, and if you love -the Christ and follow me then you will keep my words. - -30 I am the vine; you are the branches of the vine; my Father is the -husbandman, - -31 The branches that are worthless, bearing naught but leaves, the -husbandman will cut away and cast into the fire to be burned. - -32 And he will prune the branches that bear fruit that they may yield -abundantly. - -33 The branch cannot bear fruit if separated from the vine; and you -cannot bear fruit when separate from me. - -34 Abide in me, and do the works that God, through me, has taught you -how to do, and you will bear much fruit, and God will honor you as he -has honored me. - -35 And now I go my way, but I will pray my Father-God and he will send -another Comforter to you, who will abide with you. - -36 Behold, this Comforter of God, the Holy Breath, is one with God, -but she is one the world cannot receive because it sees her not; it -knows her not. - -37 But you know her, and will know her, because she will abide within -your soul. - -38 I will not leave you desolate, but in the Christ, which is the love -of God made manifest to men, I will be with you all the way. - - -CHAPTER 162. - - _Jesus reveals more fully the mission of the Holy Breath. Tells - his disciples plainly that he is about to die, and they are - sad. He prays for them and all the world of believers. They - leave the banquet hall._ - -Now, John was deeply grieved because the master said, I go away, and -where I go you cannot come. - -2 He wept and said, Lord, I would go with you through every trial and -to death. - -3 And Jesus said, And you shall follow me through trials and through -death; but now you cannot go where I will go; but you shall come. - -4 And Jesus spoke again unto the eleven and said, Grieve not because -I go away, for it is best that I should go away. If I go not the -Comforter will not come to you. - -5 These things I speak while with you in the flesh, but when the Holy -Breath shall come in power, lo, she will teach you more and more, and -bring to your remembrance all the words that I have said to you. - -6 There are a multitude of things yet to be said; things that this age -cannot receive, because it cannot comprehend. - -7 But, lo, I say, Before the great day of the Lord shall come, the -Holy Breath will make all mysteries known-- - -8 The mysteries of the soul, of life, of death, of immortality; the -oneness of a man with every other man and with his God. - -9 Then will the world be led to truth, and man will be the truth. - -10 When she has come, the Comforter, she will convince the world of -sin, and of the truth of what I speak, and of the rightness of the -judgment of the just; and then the prince of carnal life will be cast -out. - -11 And when the Comforter shall come I need not intercede for you; for -you will stand approved, and God will know you then as he knows me. - -12 The hour has come when you will weep; the wicked will rejoice, -because I go away; but I will come again, and all your sorrows shall -be turned to joy; - -13 Yea, verily, you will rejoice as one who welcomes back a brother -from the dead. - -14 And the disciples said, Our Lord, speak not in proverbs any more; -speak plainly unto us; we know that you are wise and know all things. - -15 What is the meaning of your words, I go away, but I will come again? - -16 And Jesus said, The hour is come when you will all be scattered -forth, and every man will be afraid; - -17 Will flee to save his life and leave me all alone; yet I will not -be all alone; my Father-God is with me all the way. - -18 And wicked men will take me to the judgment seat of wicked men, and -in the presence of the multitudes I will give up my life, a pattern -for the sons of men. - -19 But I will rise again and come to you. - -20 These things I speak that you may be established in the faith when -they shall come to pass. - -21 And you shall bear the buffetings of men, and follow in the thorny -path I tread. - -22 Be not dismayed; be of good cheer. Lo, I have overcome the world, -and you shall overcome the world. - -23 Then Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, My Father-God, -the hour has come; - -24 The son of man must now be lifted from the earth, and may he falter -not, that all the world may know the power of sacrifice; - -25 For as I give my life for men, lo, men must give their lives for -other men. - -26 I came to do thy will, O God, and in the sacred name, the Christ is -glorified, that men may see the Christ as life, as light, as love, as -truth, - -27 And through the Christ become themselves the life, the light, the -love, the truth. - -28 I praise thy name because of these whom thou hast given me, for -they have honored thee and they will honor thee; - -29 And none of them are lost, and none are gone away, except the -blinded son of carnal life, who hath gone forth to sell his Lord. - -30 O God, forgive this man, because he knows not what he does. - -31 And now, O God, I come to thee, and am no more in mortal life; keep -thou these men to whom I have made known thy wisdom and thy love. - -32 As they believe in me, and in the words I speak, may all the world -believe in them and in the words they speak. - -33 As thou hast sent me forth into the world, so I have sent them -forth. I pray that thou wouldst honor them as thou hast honored me. - -34 I do not pray that thou wouldst take them from the world, but that -they may be guarded from the evil of the world, and not be subject to -temptations that are too great for them to bear. - -35 They once were of the world, but now are of the world no more, as I -am of the world no more. - -36 Thy word is truth, O God, and by thy word let them be sanctified. - -37 I do not pray for these alone, O God; I also pray for all who will -believe on me, and will accept the Christ because of what they do and -say, that they may all be one. - -38 As I am one with thee, and thou art one with me, may they be one -with us, - -39 That all the world may know that thou hast sent me forth to do thy -will, and that thou lovest them as thou hast ever loved me. - -40 When Jesus had thus said, they sung the Jewish song of praise, and -then arose and went their way. - - -CHAPTER 163. - - _Jesus visits Pilate, who urges him to flee from the country to - save his life. Jesus refuses to do so. He meets his disciples - in Massalian's orchard. The scene in Gethsemane. The Jewish - mob led by Judas appears._ - -As Jesus and the eleven went out, a Roman guard approached and said, -All hail! Is one of you the man from Galilee? - -2 And Peter said, We all are men from Galilee; whom do you seek? - -3 The guard replied, I seek for Jesus, who is called the Christ. - -4 And Jesus answered, Here am I. - -5 The guard spoke out and said, I do not come in an official way; I -bear to you a message from the governor. - -6 Jerusalem is all alive with vengeful Jews who swear that they will -take your life, and Pilate would confer with you, and he would have -you come to him without delay. - -7 And Jesus said to Peter and the rest, Go to the vale, and by the -Kidron wait for me, and I will go alone and see the governor. - -8 And Jesus went up with the guard, and when he reached the palace, -Pilate met him at the gate and said, - -9 Young man, I have a word to say that may be well for you. I have -observed your works and words three years and more; - -10 And I have often stood in your defense when your own countrymen -would fain have stoned you as a criminal. - -11 But now the priests, the scribes and Pharisees have stirred the -common people to a stage of frenzied wantonness and cruelty, and they -intend to take your life, - -12 Because, they say, that you have sworn to tear their temple down; -to change the laws that Moses gave; to exile Pharisee and priest and -seat yourself upon a throne. - -13 And they aver that you are full in league with Rome. - -14 The streets of all Jerusalem are filled this moment with a horde of -madmen all intent to shed your blood. - -15 There is no safety for you but in flight; wait not until the -morning sun. You know the way to reach the border of this cursed land. - -16 I have a little band of guards, well horsed and armed, and they -will take you out beyond the reach of harm. - -17 You must not tarry here, young man, you must arise and go. - -18 And Jesus said, A noble prince has Caesar in his Pilate Pontius, and -from the point of carnal man your words are seasoned with the wise -man's salt; but from the point of Christ your words are foolishness. - -19 The coward flees when danger comes; but he who comes to seek and -save the lost must give his life in willing sacrifice for those he -comes to seek and save. - -20 Before the pasch has been consumed, lo, all this nation will be -cursed by shedding blood of innocence; and even now the murderers are -at the door. - -21 And Pilate said, It shall not be; the sword of Rome will be -unsheathed to save your life. - -22 And Jesus said, Nay, Pilate, nay; there are no armies large enough -in all the world to save my life. - -23 And Jesus bade the governor farewell, and went his way; but Pilate -sent a double guard with him lest he should fall into the hands of -those who were alert to take his life. - -24 But in a moment Jesus disappeared; the guards saw him no more, and -in a little while he reached the brook of Kidron where the eleven were. - -25 Now, just beyond the brook there was an orchard and a home where -one, Massalian, lived, where Jesus oft had been. - -26 Massalian was his friend, and he believed that Jesus was the Christ -that Jewish prophets long ago had said would come. - -27 Now, in the orchard was a sacred knoll; Massalian called the place -Gethsemane. - -28 The night was dark, but in the orchard it was doubly dark and Jesus -bade the eight disciples tarry by the brook, - -29 While he, with Peter, James and John went to Gethsemane to pray. - -30 They sat beneath an olive tree, and Jesus opened up the mysteries -of life to Peter, James and John. He said, - -31 The Spirit of eternity is One unmanifest; and this is God the -Father, God the Mother, God the Son in One. - -32 In life of manifests the One became the Three, and God the Father -is the God of might; and God the Mother is omniscient God, and God the -Son is love. - -33 And God the Father is the power of heaven and earth; and God the -Mother is the Holy Breath, the thought of heaven and earth; and God -the Son, the only son, is Christ, and Christ is love. - -34 I came as man to manifest this love to men, - -35 As man I have been subject unto all the trials and temptations of -the human race; but I have overcome the flesh, with all its passions -and its appetites. - -36 What I have done all men can do. - -37 And I am now about to demonstrate the power of man to conquer -death; for every man is God made flesh. - -38 I will lay down my life, and I will take it up again, that you may -know the mysteries of life, of death, and of the resurrection of the -dead. - -39 I lay me down in flesh, but I will rise in spirit form with power -to manifest myself so mortal eyes can see. - -40 So in a trinity of days I will show forth the all of life, the all -of death, the meaning of the resurrection of the dead. - -41 And what I do all men can do. - -42 And you, my three, who constitute the inner circle of the Church of -Christ, will show to men the attributes of all the Gods. - -43 And Peter shall make known the Power of God; and James shall show -the Thought of God; and John shall demonstrate the Love of God. - -44 Be not afraid of men, for you have been sent forth to do the mighty -works of God the Father, God the Mother, God the Son. - -45 And all the powers of carnal life cannot destroy your life until -your work is done. - -46 I leave you now, and I will go out in the darkness all alone and -talk with God. - -47 By sorrow I am overwhelmed. I leave you here to watch with me. - -48 Then Jesus went three hundred cubits toward the east, and fell upon -his face and prayed; he said, - -49 My God! my God! is there a way by which I may escape the horrors of -the coming hours? My human flesh shrinks back; my soul is firm; so not -my will, but thine, O God, be done. - -50 In agony he prayed; the strain upon the human form was great; his -veins were burst asunder, and his brow was bathed in blood. - -51 And then he went back to the three, and found them all asleep; he -said, - -52 O Simon, Simon, do you sleep! Could you not watch with me a single -hour? Be vigilant, and watch and pray that your temptations be not too -great for you to bear. - -53 I know the spirit is alert and willing; but the flesh is weak. - -54 And then he went again and prayed, O Father, God! if I must drink -this bitter cup, give me the strength of body, as I have the strength -of soul; for not my will, but thine be done. - -55 And when he went again to his disciples; lo, he found them still -asleep. He wakened them and said to James, - -56 Have you been sleeping while your master has been wrestling with -the greatest foe of men? Could you not watch with me a single hour? - -57 And then he went again and prayed. O God, I yield to thee; thy will -be done. - -58 And then again he went back to the three, and still they slept. He -said to John, - -59 With all the love you have for me, could you not watch with me a -single hour? - -60 And then he said, It is enough; the hour has come, and my betrayer -is at hand; arise and let us go. - -61 And when they came again to Kidron, lo, the eight disciples were -asleep, and Jesus said, You men, awake; behold, for the betrayer of -the son of man is come. - - -CHAPTER 164. - - _Judas betrays his Lord with a kiss. Jesus is seized by the mob - and the disciples flee to save their lives. Jesus is taken - unto Jerusalem. Peter and John follow the mob._ - -The Lord with the eleven were in the orchard of Massalian, and as they -talked they saw a band of men with lanterns and with swords and clubs -approaching them. - -2 And Jesus said, Behold the emissaries of the evil one! and Judas -leads the way. - -3 And the disciples said, Lord, let us flee to save our lives. - -4 But Jesus said, Why should we flee to save our lives when this is -the fulfillment of the words of prophets and of seers? - -5 And Jesus went alone to meet the men; and as they came he said, Why -are you here, you men? whom do you seek? - -6 And they replied, We seek the man from Galilee. We seek for Jesus, -one who calls himself the Christ. - -7 And Jesus answered, Here am I. - -8 And then he raised his hands and with a mighty thought he brought -the ethers to the state of light; and all the orchard was aglow with -light. - -9 The frenzied men were driven back and many fled and tarried not -until they reached Jerusalem; and others fell upon their faces on the -ground. - -10 The bravest men, and they with hardest hearts, remained, and when -the light had paled, the Lord again inquired, Whom do you seek? - -11 And Ananias said, We seek the man from Galilee; we seek for Jesus, -he who calls himself the Christ. - -12 And Jesus answered him and said, I told you once before; but now I -tell you once again that I am he. - -13 By Ananias, Judas stood; but in a moment he had gone and coming up -behind the Lord he said, My Lord; and then he kissed him as a sign -that he was Jesus whom they sought. - -14 And Jesus said, Do you, Iscariot, come and thus betray your master -with a kiss? - -15 This thing must need be done; but woe to him who does betray his -Lord. - -16 Your carnal greed has seared your conscience and you know not what -you do; but in a little time your conscience will assert itself, and -in remorse, lo, you will close your span and take your life. - -17 Then the eleven came, laid hold of Judas and would have done him -harm; but Jesus said, - -18 You must not harm this man; you have no right to judge this man; -his conscience is his judge, will sentence him and he will execute -himself. - -19 And then the mob led on by Malchus, servant of Caiaphas, laid hold -of Jesus, and was binding him with chains. - -20 And Jesus said, Why do you come in dead of night with swords and -clubs to take me in this sacred place? - -21 Have I not spoken in the public places of Jerusalem? Have I not -healed your sick, and opened up your blinded eyes, and made your lame -to walk, your deaf to hear? You could have found me any day. - -22 And now you try to bind me down with chains; what are these chains -but links of reeds? And then he raised his hands; the chains were -broken and they fell to earth. - -23 And Malchus thought the Lord would flee to save his life, and with -a club he fain would smite him in the face. - -24 But Peter had a sword, and rushing up he smote the man and wounded -him. - -25 But Jesus said, Stay, Peter, stay; put up your sword; you are not -called to fight with swords and clubs. Whoever wields the sword shall -perish by the sword. - -26 I do not need protection by the sons of men, for I could call this -moment and a legion, yea, twelve legions of the messengers of God, -would come and stand in my defense; but then it is not well. - -27 And then he said to Malchus, Man, I would not have you harmed. -And then he laid his hand upon the wound that Peter made, and it was -healed. - -28 Then Jesus said, Be not concerned lest I should tear myself away -from you and flee to save my life. I have no wish to save my life; do -with me as you wish. - -29 And then the mob rushed up to seize the eleven to take them back to -stand for trial as the aids of Jesus in his crimes. - -30 But the disciples, every one of them, deserted Jesus, and they fled -to save their lives. - -31 Now, John was last to flee; the mob laid hold of him and tore his -garments all to shreds; but he escaped in nakedness. - -32 Massalian saw the man, and took him to his home and gave him other -clothes; and then he followed after them who led the Lord away. - -33 And Peter was ashamed because of his weak cowardice, and when he -was himself again he joined with John and followed close behind the -mob, and came into Jerusalem. - - - - -SECTION XIX. - -KOPH. - -_The Trial and Execution of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 165. - - _Jesus before Caiaphas. Peter denies his Lord thrice. The - indictment, signed by seven ruling Jews. A hundred perjured - witnesses testify to the truth of the charges._ - -Caiaphas was the high priest of the Jews; the mob led Jesus to his -palace hall. - -2 The court had been convened, and all the galleries were packed with -scribes and Pharisees already sworn as witnesses against the Lord. - -3 The maid who kept the palace door knew John, and this disciple asked -that he and Peter be admitted to the hall. - -4 The maid permitted them to enter in, and John went in; but Peter was -afraid and tarried in the outer court. - -5 The woman said to Peter, as he stood beside the door, Are you a -follower of this man from Galilee? - -6 And Peter said, No, I am not. - -7 The men who had brought Jesus to the hall sat by a fire in the outer -court, because the night was cool, and Peter sat with them. - -8 Another maid who waited in the place saw Peter and she said to him, -You surely are from Galilee; your speech is that of Galilee; you are a -follower of this man. - -9 And Peter said, I know not what you mean; I do not even know this -man. - -10 And then a servant of Caiaphas, one of those who seized the Lord -and brought him to the court, saw Peter and he said to him, - -11 Did I not see you in the orchard of Massalian with this seditious -Nazarene? I'm sure I did, and you are one of those who followed him. - -12 Then Peter rose and stamped upon the floor, and swore by every -sacred thing, that he knew not the criminal. - -13 Now, John was standing near and when he heard the words and knew -that Peter had denied his Lord, he looked at him in sheer astonishment. - -14 Just then a cock crew loud beneath the court, and Peter called to -mind the words the Lord had said, - -15 Before the cock shall crow tomorrow morn you will deny me thrice. - -16 And Peter's conscience smote him heavily, and he went out into the -night and wept. - -17 Caiaphas sat in state; before him stood the man from Galilee. - -18 Caiaphas said, You people of Jerusalem, who is the man that you -accuse? - -19 They answered: In the name of every loyal Jew we do accuse this man -from Galilee, this Jesus, who assumes to be our king, as enemy of God -and man. - -20 Caiaphas said to Jesus, Man, you are permitted now to speak and -tell about your doctrines and your claims. - -21 And Jesus said, You priest of carnal man, why do you ask about my -words and works? - -22 Lo, I have taught the multitudes in every public place; I have -restored your sick to health: have opened up your blinded eyes; have -caused your deaf to hear, your lame to walk, and I have brought your -dead to life again. - -23 My works have not been done in secret place but in your public -halls and thoroughfares. - -24 Go ask the people, who have not been bought with gold or glittering -promises, to tell about my words and works. - -25 When Jesus had thus said a Jewish guard came up and smote him in -the face and said, How dare you speak thus unto him, the high priest -of the Jews? - -26 And Jesus said, If I have spoken falsely bear witness unto what I -say; if I have told the truth why did you smite me thus? - -27 And then Caiaphas said, What'er you do, do in a legal way, for we -must answer to a higher court for everything we do or say. - -28 Let the accusers of this man present their charges in a legal form. - -29 And then Caiaphas' scribe stood forth and said, I have the -accusations here in legal form; the charges made and signed by scribes -and priests and Pharisees. - -30 Caiaphas said, Be still, you men, and hear the charges read. The -scribe took up a roll and read: - -31 To the Sanhedrim of the Jews and to Caiaphas the high priest, most -honored men: - -32 The highest duty man can render to his nation and his own is to -protect them from their foes. - -33 The people of Jerusalem are conscious that a mighty foe is in their -very midst. - -34 A man named Jesus has come forth and claims to be the heir to -David's throne. - -35 As an impostor he is foe, and in the name of every loyal Jew we -here submit these charges, which we are competent to prove: - -36 And first, he blasphemes God; he says he is the son of God; that he -and God are one; - -37 And he profanes our holy days by healing, and by doing other work -upon the Sabbath days; - -38 And he proclaims himself the king, successor of our David and our -Solomon; - -39 And he declares that he will tear our temple down and build it up -again in form more glorious in three days; - -40 And he declares that he will drive the people from Jerusalem, as he -drove out the merchants from the temple court; and bring to occupy our -sacred hills a tribe of men that know not God; - -41 And he avers that every doctor, scribe and Pharisee and Sadducee, -shall go in exile, and shall nevermore return; - -42 And to these charges we do set our hands and seals. - - Annas. - Abinadab. - Joash. - Simon. - Annanias. - Azaniah. - Hezekiah. - -43 Now, when the scribe had read the charges, all the people called -for blood; they said, Let such a wretch be stoned; let him be -crucified. - -44 Caiaphas said, You men of Israel, do you sustain the charges of -these men? - -45 A hundred men who had been bribed, stood forth to testify; they -swore that every charge was true. - -46 Caiaphas said to Jesus, Man, have you a word to say? are you the -son of God? - -47 And Jesus said, So you have said; and then he said no more. - - -CHAPTER 166. - - _Jesus before the Sanhedrim. Nicodemus pleads for justice; he - shows the incompetency of the witnesses. The council fail - to declare Jesus guilty, but Caiaphas, the presiding judge, - declares him guilty. The mob maltreat Jesus. He is taken to - Pilate's court._ - -When Jesus would not speak, Caiaphas stood before the Jewish mob and -said, - -2 Bind fast the prisoner, for he must go before the great Sanhedrim of -the Jews to answer for his life. - -3 We cannot execute a criminal until our findings have been verified -by this, the highest council of the Jews. - -4 As soon as it was day the highest council of the people met; the -Lord and his accusers stood before the bar. - -5 Caiaphas was the chief; he rose and said, Let the accusers of this -man from Galilee bring forth their charges and their evidence. - -6 Caiaphas' scribe stood forth and read the charges and the names of -those who had accused the man from Galilee. - -7 And all the witnesses were made to stand and testify before the -council of the Jews. - -8 And then the lawyers weighed the evidence, and Nicodemus stood among -the men who plead. - -9 He raised his hands and said, Let justice now be done, though every -scribe and Pharisee and priest and Sadducee, as well as Jesus, the -accused, be judged a liar. - -10 If we can prove this Jesus to be foe and traitor to our laws and -land, let him be judged a criminal and suffer for his crimes. - -11 If it be proved that these who testify are perjurers in the sight -of God and man, then let them be adjudged as criminals, and let the -man from Galilee go free. - -12 And then he brought the testimonies of the witnesses before the -judges of the law; no two of them agreed. In heat of passion, or for -gain, the men had testified. - -13 The council would have gladly judged that Jesus was a criminal and -sentence him to death; but in the face of all the evidence they were -afraid. - -14 And then Caiaphas said, You man from Galilee, Before the living -God, I now command that you shall answer me, Are you the Christ, the -son of God? - -15 And Jesus said, If I would answer, Yes, you would not hear, nor yet -believe, - -16 If I would answer, No, I would be like your witnesses, and stand a -liar in the sight of man and God. But this I say, - -17 The time will come when you will see the son of man upon the throne -of power and coming in the clouds of heaven. - -18 And then Caiaphas rent his clothes and said, Have you not heard -enough? Did you not hear his vile blasphemous words? What further need -have we of witnesses? What shall we do with him? - -19 The people said, Put him to death. And then the mob rushed up and -spit into his face, and struck him with their hands. - -20 And then they bound a cloth about his eyes and smote him in the -face and said, You are a prophet; tell us who it was who smote you in -the face. - -21 And Jesus answered not and like a lamb before his shearer he, the -man from Galilee, resisted not. - -22 Caiaphas said, We cannot put a man to death until the Roman ruler -shall confirm the sentence of this court; - -23 So take this criminal away and Pilate will endorse what we have -done. - -24 And then was Jesus dragged along the way up to the palace of the -Roman governor. - - -CHAPTER 167. - - _Jesus before Pilate. Is pronounced not guilty. Jesus before - Herod and is tortured and returned to Pilate, who again - declares him innocent. The Jews demand his death. Pilate's - wife urges her husband to have nothing to do with the - punishment of Jesus. Pilate weeps._ - -Into the palace of the Roman governor the Jews would enter not lest -they become defiled and be unworthy to attend the feast; but they led -Jesus to the palace court, and Pilate met them there. - -2 And Pilate said, Why this commotion in the early day? What is your -prayer? - -3 The Jews replied, We bring before you one, an evil and seditious man. - -4 He has been tried before the highest council of the Jews and has -been proven traitor to our laws, our state and to the government of -Rome. - -5 We pray that you will sentence him to death upon the cross. - -6 And Pilate said, Why do you bring him unto me? Go to, and judge him -for yourselves. - -7 You have a law, and by the sanction of the Roman law, you have a -right to judge and right to execute. - -8 The Jews replied, We have no right to execute a man upon the cross, -and since this man is traitor to Tiberius, our counsellors believe -that he should meet the most humiliating death--the death upon the -cross. - -9 But Pilate said, No man can be found guilty of a crime by Roman law -until the testimony all is in, and the accused has been permitted to -defend himself; - -10 So I will take your bill of charges, with the evidence you have, -and judge by Roman law. - -11 The Jews had made a copy of the accusations in the language of the -Roman court, and they had added to the bill: - -12 We charge that Jesus is an enemy of Rome; that he demands that men -shall pay no tribute to Tiberius. - -13 And Pilate took the bill; his guards led Jesus up the steps into -the palace hall. - -14 And Jesus stood before the Roman governor, and Pilate read to him -the charges of the Jews, and said, - -15 What is your answer to this bill? These charges, are they true or -false? - -16 And Jesus said, Why should I plead before an earthly court? The -charges have been verified by perjured men; what need I say? - -17 Yes, I am king; but carnal men cannot behold the king, nor see the -kingdom of the God; it is within. - -18 If I had been a king as carnal man is king, my servants would have -stood in my defense, and I would not have willingly surrendered to the -minions of the Jewish law. - -19 I have no testimony from the sons of men. God is my witness, and my -words and deeds bear witness to the truth; - -20 And every man who comprehends the truth will hearken to my words, -and in his soul give witness unto me. - -21 And Pilate said, What is the truth? - -22 And Jesus said, Truth is the God who knows. It is the changeless -one. The Holy Breath is truth; she changes not and cannot pass away. - -23 And Pilate went again unto the Jews and said, This man is guilty of -no crime; I cannot sentence him to death. - -24 And then the Jews grew boisterous; they cried aloud and said, Our -council surely knows. The wisest men of all the land have found him -guilty of a score of crimes. - -25 He would pervert the nation of the Jews; would overthrow the Roman -rule and make himself the king. He is a culprit come from Galilee; he -must be crucified. - -26 And Pilate said, If Jesus is from Galilee he is a subject of the -governor of Galilee, who should be judge. - -27 Now, Herod had come down from Galilee and with his suite was in -Jerusalem. - -28 And Pilate sent to him the Lord in chains; he also sent a copy of -the charges, and of the testimonies of the Jews, and asked that he -would pass in judgment on the case. - -29 And Herod said, I have heard much about this man and I am pleased -to see him in my court. - -30 And then he asked the Lord about his claims, about his doctrines -and his aims. - -31 And Jesus answered not a word; and Herod was enraged; he said, Do -you insult the ruler of the land by answering not? - -32 And then he called his guards and said, Take you this man and -torture him until he answers me. - -33 The guards took Jesus and they smote him; mocked him; wrapped him -in a royal robe; they made a crown of thorns and put it on his head; -they put a broken reed into his hands; - -34 And then they said deridingly, All hail, thou royal king! Where are -your armies and your guards? Where are your subjects and your friends? - -35 But Jesus answered not a word. Then Herod sent him back to Pilate -with this note of courtesy: - -36 Most worthy counsellor of Rome, I have examined all the charges and -the testimonies that you sent to me regarding this seditious man from -Galilee, and while I might adjudge him guilty of the crimes as charged, - -37 I yield to you my rights as judge, because you are superior to me -in power. I will approve of any judgment you may render in this case. - -38 Now, Pilate and the tetrarch had been foes, but the experience of -this hour destroyed their enmity and they were friends in after days. - -39 When Jesus had been brought again to Pilate's court, the Roman -governor stood forth before the accusers of the Lord and said, - -40 I cannot find this Nazarene to be a criminal as charged; there is -no evidence that he should suffer death; so I will scourge him well -and let him go. - -41 The Jews cried angrily, It is not mete that such a dangerous man -should live; he must be crucified. - -42 Then Pilate said, I bid you wait a little time. And then he went -into an inner room and sat in silent thought. - -43 And as he mused his wife, a godly woman, chosen from among the -Gauls, came in and said, - -44 I pray you, Pilate, hearken unto me: Beware of what you do this -hour. Touch not this man from Galilee; he is a holy man. - -45 If you should scourge this man you scourge the son of God. Last -night I saw it all in vision far too vivid to be set aside as idle -dream. - -46 I saw this man walk on the waters of the sea; I heard him speak and -calm an angry storm; I saw him flying with the wings of light; - -47 I saw Jerusalem in blood; I saw the statues of the Caesars fall; I -saw a veil before the sun, and day was dark as night. - -48 The earth on which I stood was shaken like a reed before the wind. -I tell you, Pilate, if you bathe your hands in this man's blood then -you may dread the frowns of great Tiberius, and the curses of the -senators of Rome. - -49 And then she left, and Pilate wept. - - -CHAPTER 168. - - _Pilate's final effort to release Jesus fails. He washes his - hands in feigned innocence. Delivers Jesus to the Jews for - execution. The Jewish soldiers drive him to Calvary._ - -A superstitious people are the Jews. They have a faith that they have -borrowed from the idol worshippers of other lands, that at the end of -every year, - -2 They may heap all their sins upon the head of some man set apart to -bear their sins. - -3 The man becomes a scapegoat for the multitudes; and they believe -that when they drive him forth into the wilds, or into foreign lands, -they are released from sin. - -4 So every spring before the feast they chose a prisoner from the -prisons of the land, and by a form their own, they fain would make him -bear their sins away. - -5 Among the Jewish prisoners in Jerusalem were three who were the -leaders of a vile, seditious band, who had engaged in thefts and -murders and rapine, and had been sentenced to be crucified. - -6 Barabbas bar Jezia was among the men who were to die; but he was -rich and he had bought of priests the boon to be the scapegoat for the -people at the coming feast, and he was anxiously in waiting for his -hour to come. - -7 Now, Pilate thought to turn this superstition to account to save the -Lord, and so he went again before the Jews and said, - -8 You men of Israel, according to my custom I will release to you -today a prisoner who shall bear your sins away. - -9 This man you drive into the wilds or into foreign lands, and you -have asked me to release Barabbas, who has been proven guilty of the -murder of a score of men. - -10 Now, hear me men, Let Jesus be released and let Barabbas pay his -debt upon the cross; then you can send this Jesus to the wilds and -hear no more of him. - -11 At what the ruler said the people were enraged, and they began to -plot to tear the Roman palace down and drive in exile Pilate, and his -household and his guards. - -12 When Pilate was assured that civil war would follow if he heeded -not the wishes of the mob, he took a bowl of water and in the -presence of the multitude he washed his hands and said, - -13 This man whom you accuse, is son of the most holy Gods, and I -proclaim my innocence. - -14 If you would shed his blood, his blood is on your hands and not on -mine. - -15 And then the Jews exclaimed, And let his blood be on our hands and -on our children's hands. - -16 And Pilate trembled like a leaf, in fear. Barabbas he released and -as the Lord stood forth before the mob the ruler said, Behold your -king! And would you put to death your king? - -17 The Jews replied, He is no king; we have no king but great Tiberius. - -18 Now, Pilate would not give consent that Roman soldiers should -imbue their hands in blood of innocence, and so the chief priests and -the Pharisees took counsel what to do with Jesus, who was called the -Christ. - -19 Caiaphas said, We cannot crucify this man; he must be stoned to -death and nothing more. - -20 And then the rabble said, Make haste! let him be stoned. And then -they led him forth toward the hill beyond the city's gates, where -criminals were put to death. - -21 The rabble could not wait until they reached the place of skulls. -As soon as they had passed the city's gate, they rushed upon him, -smote him with their hands, they spit upon him, stoned him and he fell -upon the ground. - -22 And one, a man of God, stood forth and said, Isaiah said, He shall -be bruised for our transgressions and by his stripes we shall be -healed. - -23 As Jesus lay all bruised and mangled on the ground a Pharisee -called out, Stay, stay you men! behold, the guards of Herod come and -they will crucify this man. - -24 And there beside the city's gate they found Barabbas' cross; and -then the frenzied mob cried out, Let him be crucified. - -25 Caiaphas and the other ruling Jews came forth and gave consent. - -26 And then they lifted Jesus from the ground, and at the point of -swords they drove him on. - -27 A man named Simon, from Cyrene, a friend of Jesus, was a-near the -scene and since the bruised and wounded Jesus could not bear his -cross, they laid it on the shoulders of this man and made him bear it -on to Calvary. - - -CHAPTER 169. - - _Judas is filled with remorse. Hurries to the temple and throws - the thirty pieces of silver at the feet of the priests who - take it and buy a potter's field. Judas hangs himself. His - body is buried in the potter's field._ - -Now, Judas who betrayed his Lord, was with the mob; but all the time -he thought that Jesus would assert his power and demonstrate the -strength of God that he possessed, and strike to earth the fiendish -multitudes and free himself; - -2 But when he saw his master on the ground and bleeding from a score -of wounds, he said, - -3 O God, what have I done? I have betrayed the son of God; the curse -of God will rest upon my soul. - -4 And then he turned and ran with haste until he reached the temple -door; he found the priests, who gave to him the thirty silver pieces -to betray the Lord, and said, - -5 Take back your bribe; it is the cost price of my soul; I have -betrayed the son of God. - -6 The priests replied, That matters not to us. - -7 Then Judas threw the silver on the floor, and, bowed with grief, he -went away, and on a ledge beyond the city's walls he hanged himself -and died. - -8 In time the fastenings gave way, his body fell into the Hinnon vale -and after many days they found it there a shapeless mass. - -9 The rulers could not put the price of blood into the treasury, -and so they took the thirty silver pieces with which they bought a -potter's field, - -10 Where they might bury those who had no rights to lie within their -sacred burial grounds. - -11 And there they put the body of the man who sold his Lord. - - -CHAPTER 170. - - _The crucifixion. Jesus prays for his murderers. Pilate puts - an inscription above the cross. Jesus speaks words of - encouragement to the penitent thief. Commits to John the care - of his mother and Miriam. The soldiers divide his garments - among themselves._ - -The Jewish mob pushed on toward Calvary and as they went the Marys, -Miriam, and other women not a few, were close beside the Lord. - -2 They wept aloud. When Jesus saw them weeping and lamenting thus he -said, - -3 Weep not for me, for though I go away, go through the gateway of the -cross, yet on the next day of the sun, lift up your hearts, for I will -meet you at the sepulchre. - -4 The great procession came to Calvary. The Roman soldiers had already -bound the two state prisoners to the cross. - -5 (They were not nailed, but simply bound.) - -6 Four soldiers of the Roman guard that Herod brought from Galilee -were called to execute the orders of the court. - -7 These were the men who had been set apart to torture Jesus and -secure from him confession of his guilt. - -8 These were the men who scourged him, put a crown of thorns upon his -head, a broken reed into his hands, and wrapped him in a royal robe, -and bowed in mockery, before him as a king. - -9 These soldiers took the Lord and stripped him, laid him on the cross -and would have bound him there with cords; but this would not suffice. - -10 The cruel Jews were near with hammer and with nails; they cried, -not cords, but nails; drive fast the nails and hold him to the cross. - -11 And then the soldiers took the nails and drove them through his -feet and hands. - -12 They offered him a sedative to drink, a draught of vinegar and -myrrh; but he refused to drink the draught. - -13 The soldiers had prepared a place in which to plant Barabbas' cross -between the other criminals; and here they raised the cross of Jesus, -who was called the Christ; - -14 And then the soldiers and the mob sat down to watch him die. - -15 And Jesus said, My Father-God, forgive these men; they know not -what they do. - -16 Now, Pilate had prepared a tablet to be placed upon the cross on -which was written in the tongues of Hebrew, Latin and the Greek these -words of truth: JESUS THE CHRIST, KING OF THE JEWS. - -17 And this was placed upon the cross. The priests were angered when -they read these words upon the tablet of the cross. - -18 And then they prayed that Pilate would not say, He is the Christ, -king of the Jews; but say, He claims to be the Christ, king of the -Jews. - -19 But Pilate said, What I have written, I have written; let it stand. - -20 The Jewish multitudes who saw the Lord upon the cross were wild -with joy; they said, All hail, fake king! - -21 You who would tear the temple down and in three days would build it -up again, why don't you save yourself? - -22 If you are Christ, the son of God, come from the cross; then all -men will believe. - -23 The priests and scribes and Pharisees looked on the scene and -scoffed; they said, He rescued others from the grave; why don't he -save himself? - -24 The Jewish soldiers and the Roman guards who came from Galilee were -loud in mocking and deriding him. - -25 One of the other men upon the cross joined in the mockery; he said, -If you are Christ, you have the power; just speak the Word, and save -yourself and me. - -26 The other man upon the cross rebuked the man; he said, You wretch! -have you no fear of God? - -27 This man is innocent of any crime while you and I are guilty and -are paying up the debts we owe. - -28 And then he said to Jesus, Lord, I know thy kingdom comes, the -kingdom that the world can never comprehend; - -29 And when thou comest on the clouds of heaven, remember me. - -30 And Jesus said, Behold, for I will meet you in the realm of souls -this day. - -31 Now, standing near unto the cross were many women from Judea and -from Galilee. Among them were the mother of the Lord and Miriam, - -32 And Mary, mother of the two apostles, James and John, and Mary -Magdalene, and Martha, Ruth and Mary, and Salome. - -33 When Jesus saw his mother and the singer Miriam standing close -beside the cross and John a-near, he said to John, - -34 In your most tender care I leave my mother and my sister Miriam. - -35 And John replied, While they shall live my home shall be the home -of your thrice blessed mother and your sister Miriam. - -36 According to a custom of the Jews, to those who were the -executioners of law and took the lives of criminals, belonged the -garments of the criminals. - -37 So when the Lord was crucified, the Roman guards divided up among -themselves the garments of the Lord. - -38 But when they found his coat it was a seamless coat and highly -prized. - -39 For it the guards cast lots, and thus determined who should have -the prize. - -40 And thus the scripture was fulfilled, which said, And they divided -all my robes among themselves, and for my vesture they cast lots. - - -CHAPTER 171. - - _Concluding scenes of the crucifixion. Joseph and Nicodemus, - by consent of Pilate, take the body of Jesus from the cross - and lay it in Joseph's tomb. A guard of one hundred Jewish - soldiers are placed about the sepulcher._ - -Now, at the sixth hour of the day, although the sun was at its height, -the day became as dark as night; - -2 And men sought lanterns and they builded fires upon the hills that -they might see. - -3 And when the sun refused to shine and darkness came, the Lord -exclaimed, _Heloi! Heloi! lama sabachthani?_ (Thou sun! thou sun! why -hast thou forsaken me?) - -4 The people did not understand the words he spoke; they thought he -spoke the name Elijah and they said, - -5 He calls upon Elijah in his hour of need; now we will see if he will -come. - -6 And Jesus said, I thirst. A Roman soldier dipped a sponge in vinegar -and myrrh, and placed it to his lips. - -7 Now, at the ninth hour of the day the earth began to quake, and in -the darkness of that sunless day, a flood of golden light appeared -above the cross; - -8 And from the light a voice was heard which said, Lo, it is done. - -9 And Jesus said, My Father-God, into thy hands I give my soul. - -10 A Roman soldier in compassion said, This agony is all too great; -relief shall come. And with a spear he pierced his heart and it was -done; the son of man was dead. - -11 And then the earth was shocked again; the city of Jerusalem rocked -to and fro; the hills were rent and tombs were opened up; - -12 And people thought they saw the dead arise and walk the streets. - -13 The temple quivered and the veil between the sanctuary and the Holy -Place was rent in twain, and consternation reigned through all the -place. - -14 The Roman guard who watched the body on the cross exclaimed, This -surely was the son of God who died. - -15 And then the people hurried down from Calvary. The priests, the -Pharisees and scribes were filled with fear. - -16 They sought the cover of their synagogues and homes and said, -Behold, the wrath of God! - -17 The great day of the Jewish pasch was near, and Jews could not by -law permit a criminal to hang upon the cross upon the Sabbath day. - -18 And so they prayed that Pilate would remove the bodies of the men -that had been crucified. - -19 And Pilate sent his guards to Calvary to note if all the men were -dead. - -20 And when the guards were gone, two aged Jews came to the palace -door to see the governor, and they were members of the highest council -of the Jews; - -21 Yet they believed that Jesus was a prophet sent from God. - -22 The one was Rabbi Joseph, the Arimathean counsellor, and he was -just and loved the law of God. - -23 And Nicodemus was the other one who came. - -24 These men fell down at Pilate's feet and prayed that they might -take the body of the Nazarene and lay it in a tomb. - -25 And Pilate gave consent. - -26 Now, Joseph had prepared a costly mixture to embalm the body of -the Lord, about a hundred pounds of aloes and of myrrh, and this they -took and hastened out to Calvary. - -27 And when the guards returned they said, The Nazarene is dead; the -malefactors are alive. - -28 And Pilate told the guards to go and smite the living men so they -would die, and then to give their bodies to the flames; but give the -body of the Nazarene to rabbis who would call for it. - -29 The soldiers did as Pilate said. - -30 The rabbis came and took away the body of the Lord and when they -had prepared it with the spices they had bought, - -31 They laid it in the new-made tomb that had been made for Joseph in -a solid rock. - -32 And then they rolled a stone up to the sepulcher. - -33 The priests were fearful lest the friends of Jesus would go forth -at night and take away the body of the Nazarene, and then report that -he had risen from the dead, as he had said; - -34 And they requested that the governor would send his soldiers to the -tomb to guard the body of the dead. - -35 But Pilate said, I will not send a Roman guard; but you have Jewish -soldiers and may send a hundred men with a centurion to guard the tomb. - -36 And then they sent a hundred soldiers out to guard the tomb. - - - - -SECTION XX. - -RESH. - -_The Resurrection of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 172. - - _Pilate places the Roman seal upon the stone door of the tomb. - At midnight a company of the silent brothers march about the - tomb. The soldiers are alarmed. Jesus preaches to the spirits - in prison. Early Sunday morning he rises from the tomb. The - soldiers are bribed by the priests to say that the disciples - had stolen the body._ - -The tomb in which they laid the body of the Lord was in a garden, rich -with flowers, the garden of Siloam, and Joseph's home was near. - -2 Before the watch began Caiaphas sent a company of priests out to -the garden of Siloam that they might be assured that Jesus' body was -within the tomb. - -3 They rolled away the stone; they saw the body there, and then they -placed the stone again before the door. - -4 And Pilate sent his scribe who placed upon the stone the seal of -Rome, in such a way that he who moved the stone would break the seal. - -5 To break this Roman seal meant death to him who broke the seal. - -6 The Jewish soldiers all were sworn to faithfulness; and then the -watch began. - -7 At midnight all was well, but suddenly the tomb became a blaze -of light, and down the garden walk a troupe of white clad soldiers -marched in single file. - -8 They came up to the tomb and marched and countermarched before the -door. - -9 The Jewish soldiers were alert; they thought the friends had come to -steal the body of the Nazarene. The captain of the guard cried out to -charge. - -10 They charged; but not a white clad soldier fell. They did not even -stop; they marched and countermarched among the frightened men. - -11 They stood upon the Roman seal; they did not speak; they unsheathed -not their swords; it was the Silent Brotherhood. - -12 The Jewish soldiers fled in fear; they fell upon the ground. - -13 They stood apart until the white clad soldiers marched away, and -then the light about the tomb grew dim. - -14 Then they returned; the stone was in its place; the seal was not -disturbed, and they resumed their watch. - -15 Now, Jesus did not sleep within the tomb. The body is the manifest -of soul; but soul is soul without its manifest. - -16 And in the realm of souls, unmanifest, the Lord went forth and -taught. - -17 He opened up the prison doors and set the prisoners free; - -18 He broke the chains of captive souls, and led the captives to the -light; - -19 He sat in council with the patriarchs and prophets of the olden -times; - -20 The masters of all times and climes he met, and in the great -assemblies he stood forth and told the story of his life on earth, and -of his death in sacrifice for man, - -21 And of his promises to clothe himself again in garb of flesh and -walk with his disciples, just to prove the possibilities of man; - -22 To give to them the key of life, of death, and of the resurrection -of the dead. - -23 In council all the masters sat and talked about the revelations of -the coming age, - -24 When she, the Holy Breath, shall fill the earth and air with holy -breath, and open up the way of man to perfectness and endless life. - -25 The garden of Siloam was silent on the Sabbath day; the Jewish -soldiers watched and no one else approached the tomb; but on the -following night the scene was changed. - -26 At midnight every Jewish soldier heard a voice which said, _Adon -Mashich Cumi_, which meant, Lord Christ arise. - -27 And they supposed again that friends of Jesus were alert, were -coming up to take the body of their Lord away. - -28 The soldiers were alert with swords unsheathed and drawn, and then -they heard the words again. - -29 It seemed as though the voice was everywhere, and yet they saw no -man. - -30 The soldiers blanched with fear, and still to flee meant death for -cowardice, and so they stood and watched. - -31 Again, and this was just before the sun arose, the heavens blazed -with light, a distant thunder seemed to herald forth a coming storm; - -32 And then the earth began to quake and in the rays of light they saw -a form descend from heaven, They said, Behold an angel comes. - -33 And then they heard again, _Adon Mashich Cumi_. - -34 And then the white-robed form tramped on the Roman seal, and then -he tore it into shreds; he took the mighty stone in hand as though it -were a pebble from the brook, and cast it to the side. - -35 And Jesus opened up his eyes and said, All hail the rising sun! the -coming of the day of righteousness! - -36 And then he folded up his burial gown, his head bands and his -coverings and laid them all aside. - -37 He rose, and for a moment stood beside the white-robed form. - -38 The weaker soldiers fell upon the ground, and hid their faces in -their hands; the stronger stood and watched. - -39 They saw the body of the Nazarene transmute; they saw it change -from mortal to immortal form, and then it disappeared. - -40 The soldiers heard a voice from somewhere; yea, from everywhere, it -said, - -41 Peace, peace on earth; good will to men. - -42 They looked, the tomb was empty and the Lord had risen as he said. - -43 The soldiers hastened to Jerusalem, and to the priests, and said, - -44 Behold, the Nazarene has risen as he said; the tomb is empty and -the body of the man is gone; we know not where it is. And then they -told about the wonders of the night. - -45 Caiaphas called a council of the Jews; he said, the news must not -go forth that Jesus has arisen from the dead; - -46 For if it does all men will say, He is the son of God, and all our -testimonies will be proven false. - -47 And then they called the hundred soldiers in and said to them, - -48 You know not where the body of the Nazarene is resting now, so if -you will go forth and say that his disciples came and stole the body -while you slept, - -49 Each one of you shall have a silver piece, and we will make it -right with Pilate for the breaking of the Roman seal. - -50 The soldiers did as they were paid to do. - - - - -SECTION XXI. - -SCHIN. - -_Materialization of the Spiritual Body of Jesus._ - - -CHAPTER 173. - - _Jesus appears, fully materialized, to his mother, Miriam, Mary - of Magdala and to Peter, James and John._ - -Now, when the rabbis took the body of the Lord and laid it in the tomb -the mother of the Lord, and Mary Magdalene, and Miriam were there. - -2 And when the body was entombed they went to Joseph's home and there -abode. - -3 They did not know that Jewish soldiers had been sent to guard the -tomb, nor that the Roman seal was placed upon the stone; - -4 So in the morning of the first day of the week they hastened to the -tomb with spices to embalm the Lord. - -5 But when they reached the tomb they found the terror-stricken -soldiers running frantically about. - -6 The women did not know the cause; but when they found an empty tomb -they were excited and aggrieved. - -7 The soldiers did not know what had transpired; they could not tell -who took the body of the Lord away. - -8 And Mary Magdalene ran with haste toward Jerusalem to tell the news -to Peter and the rest. - -9 She met, just by the gateway, Peter, James and John; she said, Some -one has rolled away the stone and carried off the body of the Lord. - -10 And then the three disciples ran toward the tomb; but John was -fleet of foot and was the first to reach the tomb; he found it empty; -the body of his Lord was gone. - -11 When Peter came he went into the tomb, and found the grave clothes -neatly folded up and laid aside. - -12 Now, the disciples did not comprehend the scene. They did not know -the meaning of their Lord when he informed them just before his death -that he would rise from death upon the first day of the week. - -13 The three disciples went back to Jerusalem; the mother of the Lord -and Miriam went not away. - -14 And Mary looked within the tomb, and saw two masters sitting there; -they said, Why do you weep? - -15 And Mary said, Because my Lord is gone; some one has carried off -the body of my Lord; I know not where it is. - -16 Then she arose and looked around; a man stood near and said, Why do -you weep? whom do you seek? - -17 And Mary thought it was the gardener and said, If you have borne -away the body of my Lord, O tell me where it is that I may lay it in a -sacred tomb. - -18 And then the man came near and said, My mother! and Mary said, My -Lord! - -19 The eyes of Miriam were opened up and she beheld the Lord. - -20 And Jesus said, Behold, I told you as we walked along the way up to -the cross that I would meet you at the sepulcher upon the first day of -the week. - -21 Now, Mary Magdalene was sitting not a great way off, and Jesus went -to her and said, - -22 Why seek the living 'mong the dead? Your Lord has risen as he said. -Now, Mary, look! behold my face! - -23 Then Mary knew it was the Lord; that he had risen from the dead. - -24 And then Salome, and Mary, mother of the two disciples, James and -John, Joanna, and the other women who had come out to the tomb, saw -Jesus, and they talked with him. - -25 And Mary Magdalene was filled with joy. She sought again for Peter, -James and John; she found them and she said, - -26 Lo, I have seen the Lord; and Miriam has seen the Lord; the mother -of the Lord has seen the Lord; and many more have seen his face; for -he has risen from the dead. - -27 But the disciples thought that she had simply seen a vision of the -Lord. They did not think that he had risen from the dead. - -28 Then Mary found the other members of the company and told them all -about the risen Lord; but none of them believed. - -29 Now, Peter, James and John were in the garden of Siloam; were -talking with the gardener about the happenings of the day when John -beheld a stranger coming up the walk. - -30 The stranger lifted up his hands and said, I am. Then the -disciples knew it was the Lord. - -31 And Jesus said, Behold, for human flesh can be transmuted into -higher form, and then that higher form is master of things manifest, -and can, at will, take any form. - -32 And so I come to you in form familiar unto you. - -33 Go speak to Thomas, and the other men whom I have called to be -apostles unto men, and say to them, - -34 That he whom Jews and Romans thought was dead is walking in the -garden of Siloam; - -35 Will stand again before the priests and Pharisees within the temple -in Jerusalem; - -36 And will appear unto the sages of the world. - -37 Tell them that I will go before them into Galilee. - -38 Then Peter, James and John went forth and found their brethren, and -said, Behold, the Lord is risen from the dead, and we have seen him -face to face. - -39 The brethren were amazed at what the three disciples said; but -still they looked upon their words as idle talk and they believed them -not. - - -CHAPTER 174. - - _Jesus appears, fully materialized, to Zachus and Cleophas as - they journey to Emmaus, but they know him not. He tells them - many things about Christ. He eats the evening meal with them, - and reveals himself to them. They go to Jerusalem and tell - the news._ - -Towards the evening of the resurrection day, two friends of Jesus, -Zachus and Cleophas of Emmaus, seven miles away, were going to their -home. - -2 And as they walked and talked about the things that had occurred a -stranger joined their company. - -3 He said, My friends, you seem discouraged and are sad. Has some -great grief upon you come? - -4 Cleophas said, Are you a stranger in Judea, and know not of the -thrilling things that have transpired here? - -5 The stranger said, What things? To what do you refer? - -6 Cleophas said, Have you not heard about the man from Galilee who was -a prophet mighty in both word and deed? - -7 A man whom many thought had come to found again the kingdom of the -Jews, and drive the Romans from the city of Jerusalem and be himself -the king? - -8 The stranger said, Tell me about this man. - -9 Cleophas said, His name was Jesus; he was born in Bethlehem; his -home was up in Galilee. He loved the people as he loved himself. - -10 He was, in truth, a master sent from God, for he had matchless -power. He healed the sick and made the deaf to hear, the blind to see, -the lame to walk, and even raised the dead. - -11 The Jewish scribes and Pharisees were jealous of his fame and -power, and they arrested him; by perjured witnesses they proved him -guilty of a score of crimes, - -12 And on last Friday he was taken to the place of skulls and -crucified. - -13 He died and he was buried in a rich man's tomb, out in the garden -of Siloam. - -14 This very morning when his friends went to the tomb they found it -empty; the body of the Lord was gone. - -15 And now the news has spread abroad that he has risen from the dead. - -16 The stranger said, Yes, I have heard about this man; but it seems -strange that after all the things that Jewish prophets long ago -foretold concerning him that when he came men knew him not. - -17 This man was born to demonstrate the Christ to men, and it is just -to say that Jesus is the Christ. - -18 According to the Word, this Jesus came to suffer at the hands of -men, to give his life as pattern for the sons of men; - -19 To rise from death that men might know the way to rise from death. - -20 And then the stranger told the two disciples all about the Law, the -Prophets and the Psalms, and read to them a multitude of things that -had been written of this man from Galilee. - -21 And now the men had reached their home and as the night was near -they importuned the stranger to abide with them. - -22 And he went in with them and as they sat about the table at the -evening meal, he took a piece of bread, and blessed it in the name of -Christ. - -23 And instantly their eyes were opened up, and they perceived that -he, the stranger, was the Lord, the man from Galilee; that he had -risen from the dead; and then the form of Jesus disappeared. - -24 When he had gone, the two disciples were amazed. They said, Did not -our hearts burn with delight while he was talking to us by the way and -opening up the testimonies of the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms? - -25 Then Zachus and Cleopas went back to Jerusalem, and everywhere they -went they said, Lo, we have seen the Lord; - -26 He walked with us to Emmaus; he ate with us the evening meal, and -broke for us the bread of life. - - -CHAPTER 175. - - _Jesus appears, fully materialized, to the ten apostles in - Simon's house, and to Lazarus and his sisters._ - -The evening of the resurrection day had come; the ten apostles were in -Simon's house in Bethany. The lawyer, Thomas, was not there. - -2 The doors were closed and barred, because the Jews had said that -they would drive the Galileans from the land. - -3 And as they talked, lo, Jesus came and stood forth in their midst, -and said, Peace! peace! - -4 And the disciples shrank in fear; they thought it was a phantom that -they saw. - -5 And Jesus said, Why are you troubled thus? why do you fear? I am no -phantom form. I am your Lord, and I have risen from the dead. - -6 I often said, I will arise; but you believed me not; and now come -here and see. A phantom has not flesh and bones and brawn, like I -possess. - -7 Come now, and clasp my hands, and touch my feet, and lay your hands -upon my head. - -8 And every one came up and clasped his hands, and touched his feet, -and laid his hands upon his head. - -9 And Jesus said, Have you here anything to eat? - -10 And they brought out a fragment of a fish; he ate it in the -presence of them all, and then the ten believed. - -11 Nathaniel said, And now we know that he has risen from the dead; he -stands a surety of the resurrection of the dead. And Jesus disappeared. - -12 Now, Mary, Martha, Ruth and Lazarus were in their home, and they -had heard the rumor that their Lord had risen from the dead, and -Martha said, - -13 It cannot be, for such a thing has never happened since the world -began. - -14 But Mary said, Did not the Lord bring back our brother from the -dead? and he could surely bring himself to life again. - -15 And as they talked, the Lord stood in their midst and said, - -16 All hail! for I am risen from the dead, first fruitage of the grave! - -17 And Martha ran and brought the chair in which the Lord had ever -loved to sit, and Jesus sat down on the chair. - -18 And for a long, long time they talked about the trial, and the -scenes of Calvary and of the garden of Siloam. - -19 Then Jesus said, Fear not, for I will be your boon companion all -the way; and then he disappeared. - - -CHAPTER 176. - - _Jesus appears, fully materialized, to the eastern sages in the - palace of Prince Ravanna in India. To the magian priests in - Persia. The three wise men speak in praise of the personality - of the Nazarene._ - -Ravanna, prince of India, gave a feast. His palace in Orissa was the -place where men of thought from all the farther East were wont to meet. - -2 Ravanna was the prince with whom child Jesus went to India many -years ago. - -3 The feast was made in honor of the wise men of the East. - -4 Among the guests were Meng-ste, Vidyapati and Lamaas. - -5 The wise men sat about the table talking of the needs of India and -the world. - -6 The door unto the banquet hall was in the east; a vacant chair was -at the table to the east. - -7 And as the wise men talked a stranger entered, unannounced, and -raising up his hands in benediction said, All hail! - -8 A halo rested on his head, and light, unlike the light of sun, -filled all the room. - -9 The wise men rose and bowed their heads and said, All hail! - -10 And Jesus sat down in the vacant chair; and then the wise men knew -it was the Hebrew prophet who had come. - -11 And Jesus said, Behold, for I am risen from the dead. Look at my -hands, my feet, my side. - -12 The Roman soldiers pierced my hands and feet with nails; and then -one pierced my heart. - -13 They put me in a tomb, and then I wrestled with the conqueror of -men. I conquered death, I stamped upon him and arose; - -14 Brought immortality to light and painted on the walls of time a -rainbow for the sons of men; and what I did all men shall do. - -15 This gospel of the resurrection of the dead is not confined to Jew -and Greek; it is the heritage of every man of every time and clime; -and I am here a demonstration of the power of man. - -16 Then he arose and pressed the hand of every man and of the royal -host, and said, - -17 Behold, I am not myth made of the fleeting winds, for I am flesh -and bone and brawn; but I can cross the borderland at will. - -18 And then they talked together there a long, long time. Then Jesus -said, - -19 I go my way, but you shall go to all the world and preach the -gospel of the omnipotence of man, the power of truth, the resurrection -of the dead; - -20 He who believes this gospel of the son of man shall never die; the -dead shall live again. - -21 Then Jesus disappeared, but he had sown the seed. The words of life -were spoken in Orissa, and all of India heard. - -22 The magian priests were in the silence in Persepolis, and Kaspar, -and the magian masters who were first to greet the child of promise in -the shepherd's home in Bethlehem, were with the priests. - -23 And Jesus came and sat with them; a crown of light was on his head. - -24 And when the silence ended Kaspar said, A master from the royal -council of the Silent Brotherhood is here; let us give praise. - -25 And all the priests and masters stood and said, All hail! What -message from the royal council do you bring? - -26 And Jesus said, My brothers of the Silent Brotherhood, peace, peace -on earth; good will to men! - -27 The problem of the ages has been solved; a son of man has risen -from the dead; has shown that human flesh can be transmuted into flesh -divine. - -28 Before the eyes of men this flesh in which I come to you was -changed with speed of light from human flesh. And so I am the message -that I bring to you. - -29 To you I come, the first of all the race to be transmuted to the -image of the AM. - -30 What I have done, all men will do; and what I am, all men will be. - -31 But Jesus said no more. In one short breath he told the story of -his mission to the sons of men, and then he disappeared. - -32 The magi said, Some time ago we read this promise, now fulfilled, -upon the dial plate of heaven. - -33 And then we saw this man who has just demonstrated unto us the -power of man to rise from carnal flesh and blood to flesh of God, a -babe in Bethlehem. - -34 And after many years he came and sat with us in these same groves; - -35 He told the story of his human life, of trials, sore temptations, -buffetings and woes. - -36 He pressed along the thorny way of life till he had risen and -o'erthrown the strongest foes of God and man; and he is now the only -master of the human race whose flesh has been transmuted into flesh -divine. - -37 He is the God-man of today; but every one of earth shall overcome -and be like him, a son of God. - - -CHAPTER 177. - - _Jesus appears, fully materialized, in the temple in Jerusalem. - Rebukes the rulers of the Jews for their hypocrisy. Reveals - himself to them and they fall back in fear. He appears to the - apostles in Simon's house. Thomas is convinced._ - -It was the Sabbath day and many priests and scribes and Pharisees were -in the temple in Jerusalem. Caiaphas, Annas and some other ruling -Jews were there. - -2 A stranger came in garb of fisherman and asked, What has become of -Jesus who is called the Christ? Is he not teaching in the temple now? - -3 The Jews replied, That man from Galilee was crucified a week ago, -because he was a dangerous man, a vile, seditious man. - -4 The stranger asked, Where did you put the body of this man from -Galilee? where is his tomb? - -5 The Jews replied, We do not know. His followers came at night and -stole the body from the tomb in which it lay and carried it away, and -then declared that he had risen from the dead. - -6 The stranger asked, How do you know that his disciples stole the -body from the tomb? was any one a witness of the theft? - -7 The Jews replied, We had a hundred soldiers at the place, and every -one of them declares that his disciples stole the body from the tomb. - -8 The stranger asked, Will any one of all your hundred men stand forth -and say, I saw the body stolen from the tomb? - -9 The Jews replied, We do not know; these men are men of truth; we -cannot doubt their word. - -10 The stranger said, You priests and scribes and Pharisees hear me: -I was a witness of the facts, was in the garden of Siloam, and stood -among your hundred men. - -11 And this I know that not a man among your hundred men, will say, I -saw the body stolen from the tomb. - -12 And I will testify before the God of heaven and earth, The body was -not stolen from the tomb; the man from Galilee is risen from the dead. - -13 And then the priests and scribes and Pharisees rushed up to seize -the man and cast him out. - -14 But instantly the fisherman became a radiant form of light, and -priests and scribes and Pharisees fell back in deadly fear; they saw -the man from Galilee. - -15 And Jesus looked upon the frightened men and said, This is the body -that you stoned beyond the city's gates and crucified on Calvary. - -16 Behold my hands, my feet, my side and see the wounds the soldiers -made. - -17 If you believe that I am phantom made of air, come forth and handle -me; ghosts do not carry flesh and bones. - -18 I came to earth to demonstrate the resurrection of the dead, the -transmutation of the flesh of carnal man to flesh of man divine. - -19 Then Jesus raised his hands and said, Peace be to every one of you; -good will to all mankind. And then he disappeared. - -20 Now, Thomas had not seen the Lord since he had risen from the dead, -and when the ten averred that they had seen and talked with him he -said, - -21 Until I see the nail prints in his hands and feet, the spear wound -in his side, and talked with him as I have talked with him before, I -cannot have a reason to believe that he is risen from the dead. - -22 At Simon's house in Bethany the men from Galilee had met. It was -the evening of the first day of the week, and on the morrow all would -turn their faces toward their homes. - -23 The eleven apostles all were there; the doors were closed and -barred, and Jesus came and said, Peace be to all! - -24 And then he said to Thomas, friend, you do not know that I have -risen from the dead; the time has come for you to know. - -25 Come here and see the nail prints in my hands, the spear wound in -my side, and talk with me as you have often talked with me. - -26 And Thomas came and saw, and then exclaimed, My master, and my -Lord! I do not now believe, I know that you are risen from the dead. - -27 And Jesus said, Because you see me you believe, and blessed are -your eyes; - -28 But blessed thrice are they who see me not and yet believe. - -29 Then Jesus vanished from their sight, but the disciples were -established in their faith. - - -CHAPTER 178. - - _Jesus appears, fully materialized, before Apollo and the - Silent Brotherhood in Greece. Appears to Claudas and Juliet - on the Tiber near Rome. Appears to the priests in the - Egyptian temple at Heliopolis._ - -Apollo, with the Silent Brotherhood of Greece, was sitting in a -Delphian grove. The Oracle had spoken loud and long. - -2 The priests were in the sanctuary and as they looked the Oracle -became a blaze of light; it seemed to be on fire, and all consumed. - -3 The priests were filled with fear. They said, A great disaster is to -come; our gods are mad; they have destroyed our Oracle. - -4 But when the flames had spent themselves, a man stood on the orac -pedestal and said; - -5 God speaks to man, not by an oracle of wood and gold, but by the -voice of man. - -6 The gods have spoken to the Greeks, and kindred tongues, through -images made by man; but God, the One, now speaks to man through Christ -the only son, who was, and is and evermore will be. - -7 This Oracle shall fail; the Living Oracle of God, the One, will -never fail. - -8 Apollo knew the man who spoke; he knew it was the Nazarene who once -had taught the wise men in the Acropolis and had rebuked the idol -worshippers upon the Athen's beach; - -9 And in a moment Jesus stood before Apollo and the Silent -Brotherhood, and said, - -10 Behold, for I have risen from the dead with gifts for men. I bring -to you the title of your vast estate. - -11 All power in heaven and earth is mine; to you I give all power in -heaven and earth. - -12 Go forth and teach the nations of the earth the gospel of the -resurrection of the dead and of eternal life through Christ, the love -of God made manifest to men. - -13 And then he clasped Apollo's hand and said, My human flesh was -changed to higher form by love divine and I can manifest in flesh, or -in the higher planes of life, at will. - -14 What I can do all men can do. Go preach the gospel of the -omnipotence of man. - -15 Then Jesus disappeared; but Greece and Crete and all the nations -heard. - -16 Claudas and Juliet, his wife, lived on the Palatine in Rome and -they were servants of Tiberius; but they had been in Galilee; - -17 Had walked with Jesus by the sea, had heard his words and seen his -power; and they believed that he was Christ made manifest. - -18 Now Claudas and his wife were on the Tiber in a little boat; a -storm swept from the sea, the boat was wrecked and Claudas and his -wife were sinking down to death. - -19 And Jesus came and took them by the hands and said, Claudas and -Juliet, arise and walk with me upon the waves. - -20 And they arose and walked with him upon the waves. - -21 A thousand people saw the three walk on the waves, and saw them -reach the land, and they were all amazed. - -22 And Jesus said, You men of Rome, I am the resurrection and the -life. They that are dead shall live, and many that shall live will -never die. - -23 By mouth of gods and demigods God spoke unto your fathers long ago; -but now he speaks to you through perfect man. - -24 He sent his son, the Christ, in human flesh, to save the world, and -as I lifted from the watery grave and saved these servants of Tiberius, - -25 So Christ will lift the sons and daughters of the human race, yea, -every one of them, from darkness and from graves of carnal things, to -light and everlasting life. - -26 I am the manifest of love raised from the dead; Behold my hands, my -feet, my side which carnal men have pierced. - -27 Claudas and Juliet, whom I have saved from death, are my -ambassadors to Rome. - -28 And they will point the way and preach the gospel of the Holy -Breath and of the resurrection of the dead. - -29 And that was all he said, but Rome and all of Italy heard. - -30 The priests of Heliopolis were in their temple met to celebrate the -resurrection of their brother Nazarite; they knew that he had risen -from the dead. - -31 The Nazarite appeared and stood upon a sacred pedestal on which no -man had ever stood. - -32 This was an honor that had been reserved for him who first would -demonstrate the resurrection of the dead. - -33 And Jesus was the first of all the human race to demonstrate the -resurrection of the dead. - -34 When Jesus stood upon the sacred pedestal the masters stood and -said, All hail! The great bells of the temple rang and all the temple -was ablaze with light. - -35 And Jesus said, All honor to the masters of this Temple of the Sun. - -36 In flesh of man there is the essence of the resurrection of the -dead. This essence, quickened by the Holy Breath, will raise the -substance of the body to a higher tone, - -37 And make it like the substance of the bodies of the planes above, -which human eyes cannot behold. - -38 There is a holy ministry in death. The essence of the body cannot -be quickened by the Holy Breath until the fixed is solved; the body -must disintegrate, and this is death. - -39 And then upon these pliant substances God breathes, just as he -breathed upon the chaos of the deep when worlds were formed, - -40 And life springs forth from death; the carnal form is changed to -form divine. - -41 The will of man makes possible the action of the Holy Breath. When -will of man and will of God are one, the resurrection is a fact. - -42 In this we have the chemistry of mortal life, the ministry of -death, the mystery of deific life. - -43 My human life was wholly given to bring my will to tune with the -deific will; when this was done my earth-tasks all were done. - -44 And you, my brothers, know full well the foes I had to meet; you -know about my victories in Gethsemane; my trials in the courts of men; -my death upon the cross. - -45 You know that all my life was one great drama for the sons of men; -a pattern for the sons of men. I lived to show the possibilities of -man. - -46 What I have done all men can do, and what I am all men shall be. - -47 The masters looked; the form upon the sacred pedestal had gone, but -every temple priest, and every living creature said, Praise God. - - -CHAPTER 179. - - _Jesus appears, fully materialized, to the apostles at the - sea of Galilee. Appears to a multitude of people. Tells his - apostles to go again to Jerusalem and he would meet them - there._ - -Now, the apostles were at home in Galilee; the women tarried in Judea -until the Pentecost, - -2 And Peter, James and John, and Andrew, Philip and Nathaniel were in -Capernaum. They joined with Jonah and with Zebedee, and in their boats -went out to fish, - -3 They toiled all night and when the morning came they had no fish. - -4 And as they neared the shore a man stood on the shore and said, How -many fish have you? - -5 And Peter answered, None. - -6 Again the man called out and said, A school of fish is passing now -upon the right side of your boat; cast out your net. - -7 They cast their net, and it was filled; and John exclaimed, It is -the Lord who stands upon the shore. - -8 And Peter plunged into the sea and swam to shore. The other men -brought in the net, and it contained a hundred fifty and three fish -and yet it did not break. - -9 And Jesus said, My children, let us break our fast together here. - -10 They found some living coals upon the beach and Peter brought and -dressed the fish; they had some bread. - -11 And when the meal had been prepared they broke their fast, and -Jesus ate of both the fish and bread. - -12 Now, after breakfast all the men were sitting on the beach, and -Jesus said to Peter, Do you love the Lord your God with all your -heart, and do you love your neighbor as you love yourself? - -13 And Peter said, Yea, Lord, I love the Lord my God with all my -heart; I love my neighbor as I love myself. - -14 And Jesus said, Then feed my sheep. - -15 And then he said to James, Do you love her, the Holy Breath, with -all your heart, and do you love your neighbor as you love yourself? - -16 And James replied, Yea, Lord, I love the Holy Breath with all my -heart; I love my neighbor as I love myself. - -17 Then Jesus said, Protect my sheep. - -18 And then he said to John, Do you love Christ, the love divine made -manifest, with all your heart, and do you love your neighbor as you -love yourself? - -19 And John replied, Yea, Lord, I love the Christ with all my heart; I -love my neighbor as I love myself. - -20 And Jesus said, Then feed my lambs. - -21 Then Jesus rose and said to Peter, Follow me. And Peter followed -him. - -22 When Peter saw that John was following him he said to Jesus, Lord, -behold, John follows you! What shall he do? - -23 Now Peter did not hear the master when he said to John, Then feed -my lambs. - -24 And Jesus spoke to Peter and he said, It matters not to you what -John shall do; not even though I will that he remain until I come -again. - -25 Just do your duty; follow me. - -26 And Jesus passed, they knew not where he went. - -27 The news soon spread through all Capernaum that Jesus had arisen -from the dead, that he had walked with his disciples by the sea, and -ate with them the morning meal. The multitudes came forth to see. - -28 Now Peter, James and John, together with the other men who had -been called to be apostles of the Lord, went to the mountains near -Capernaum to pray, - -29 And as they prayed the master came; they saw him and they talked -with him. - -30 He said to them, The Pentecost is near at hand; go to Jerusalem and -I will meet you there. - -31 And as he talked, a multitude of people came; they saw the Lord; -they said, - -32 Behold, for now we know that he, the Nazarene, has risen from the -dead for we have seen him face to face. - - -CHAPTER 180. - - _Jesus appears, fully materialized, to the apostles in - Jerusalem. Gives them his instructions. Promises them a - special endowment for their work on Pentecost. Goes to Mount - Olives and in full view of many disciples ascends to heaven. - The disciples return to Jerusalem._ - -The eleven apostles of the Lord were in Jerusalem and in a spacious -room that they had chosen by the Lord's command. - -2 And as they prayed the Lord appeared to them and said, - -3 Peace be to all; good will to every living thing. And then he talked -with them a long, long time. - -4 And the disciples asked, Will you restore the kingdom unto Israel -now? - -5 And Jesus said, Be not concerned about the governments of men; the -masters will direct. - -6 Do that which has been given you to do, and wait and murmur not. - -7 All power in heaven and earth is given unto me, and now I bid you go -to all the world and preach the gospel of the Christ, the unity of God -and man, the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal life. - -8 And as you go and preach, baptize the people in the name of Christ. - -9 They who believe and are baptized shall rise up in the newness of -the life of Christ, and they who disbelieve shall rise not in the -newness of the life of Christ. - -10 And you shall give to men the power I give to you. - -11 They who believe and are baptized shall heal the sick; shall cause -the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk; - -12 Shall cast the unclean spirits out of those obsessed; shall tread -on deadly serpents and be not harmed; shall pass through flames and -not be burned; and if they drink a poisonous draught it shall not kill. - -13 You know the sacred Word, which is the word of power. - -14 The secret things that I have told to you that may not now be told -to all the world, you shall make known to faithful men who shall in -turn reveal them unto other faithful men, - -15 Until the time shall come when all the world may hear and -comprehend the words of truth and power. - -16 And now I will ascend to God, as you and all the world will rise to -God. - -17 Behold, upon the day of Pentecost you all shall be endowed with -power from on high. - -18 But here you shall remain till then in holy thought and prayer. - -19 Then Jesus went to Olivet, and his disciples followed him, and in a -place not far removed from Bethany, he met the Marys and Salome; - -20 Met Martha, Ruth and Miriam; met Lazarus and a host of others who -had come from Galilee. - -21 And Jesus stood apart and raised his hands and said, - -22 The benedictions of the Holy Ones, of the Almighty God, and of the -Holy Breath, of Christ the love of God made manifest, - -23 Will rest upon you all the way till you shall rise and sit with me -upon the throne of power. - -24 And then they saw him rise upon the wings of light; a wreath -encircled him about; and then they saw his form no more. - -25 But as they gazed up into heaven two men, in robes of white, -appeared and said, - -26 You men of Galilee, why gaze you thus so anxiously upon the -ascending Lord? Lo, he will come again from heaven as you have seen -him go to heaven. - -27 Then the eleven and Lazarus, and the other men from Galilee, -together with the faithful women, not a few, returned unto Jerusalem -and there abode. - -28 And they were constantly in prayer and holy thought. They waited -for the Holy Breath, and for the coming of the promised power from on -high. - - - - -SECTION XXII. - -TAU. - -_Establishment of the Christine Church._ - - -CHAPTER 181. - - _The eleven apostles make choice of Matthias to fill the place - made vacant by the deflection of Judas. The Christines are - glad. Miriam sings a song of praise. Apostolic roster._ - -The fact that Jesus had arisen from the dead was not denied by many of -the rulers of the Jews. - -2 And Pilate gave an order that the followers of the Nazarene be not -molested in their worship any place in his domain. - -3 The day of Pentecost was near at hand and every one was looking for -a manifest of Spirit power. - -4 Now, in Jerusalem the eleven had met to choose a man to fill the -place of Judas who betrayed his Lord. - -5 And Peter said, The Lord called to this ministry twelve men as -twelve foundation stones on which the Christine temple should be built. - -6 This Judas, who betrayed his Lord, has gone to his own place beyond -the veil. - -7 Of him the prophet wrote: His habitation shall be desolate; no man -shall dwell therein; his office let another take. - -8 From those who have accompanied us from Gilgal, where the harbinger -baptized, until this day, shall one be chosen to complete the number -twelve, to fill the place from which our brother by transgression fell. - -9 And then the eleven spent a long, long time in prayer, and when they -cast their lots, Matthias, from the valley of the Nile, was chosen for -the place. - -10 Matthias was an Israelite indeed; but he was learned in all the -wisdom of Egyptian schools, and he had taught the mysteries of Mizraim -in Jericho. - -11 He was among the first to greet the harbinger; among the first to -recognize the Nazarene as Christ, the son of God; - -12 He had been with the Christine band in all their journeys in the -land of Galilee, Judea and Samaria. - -13 A messenger was sent who found Matthias, and he came and joined the -eleven, and for a time the twelve were lost in silent prayer. - -14 The Christines who had come from Galilee and places in Judea, about -six score, were there, and Peter told them of Matthias, and how, by -lot, he had been chosen an apostle of the Lord. - -15 The Christines all were glad and praised the name of God; and -Miriam sung a song of praise. - -16 These are the names of the apostles of the Lord: Peter, John and -James; Philip, Andrew and Nathaniel; - -17 Thomas, James the son of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes; Matthew, Jude, -the son of Alpheus and Matthias. - - -CHAPTER 182. - - _Events of the day of Pentecost. Endowment of the apostles. - The Christine Church is established. Peter preaches the - introductory sermon. The sermon. Three thousand people are - baptized and become members of the church._ - -Now, when the day of Pentecost had come Jerusalem was filled with -pious Jews and proselytes from many lands. - -2 The Christines all were met and were in perfect harmony. - -3 And as they sat in silent prayer they heard a sound a-like the -distant murmur of a coming storm. - -4 The sound grew loud, and louder still, until, like thunder peals, it -filled the room where the apostles sat. - -5 A brilliant light appeared, and many thought, The building is afire. - -6 Twelve balls, that seemed like balls of fire, fell from heaven--a -ball from every sign of all the circle of the heavens, and on the head -of each apostle there appeared a flaming ball of fire. - -7 And every ball sent seven tongues of fire toward heaven, and each -apostle spoke in seven dialects of earth. - -8 The ignorant rabble treated lightly what they heard and saw; they -said, These men are drunk, and know not what they say. - -9 But men of learning were amazed; they said, Are not these men who -speak all Jews? how is it that they speak in all the languages of -earth? - -10 And Peter said, You people of Jerusalem, and you who live beyond -the city's gates; Peace be to you, and all mankind. - -11 This is the time that holy men of old desired to see; by faith they -saw this hour, and now they stand with us in ecstasy. - -12 The prophet Joel in the olden times told of the things you see and -hear. The Holy Breath spoke with his tongue and said, - -13 And it shall come to pass in latter days, that I will breathe upon -the sons of men, and fill them with the blessedness of holiness. - -14 Your sons and daughters will stand forth and prophesy; your young -men will be seers; your old men will dream dreams. - -15 And I will show forth wonders in the heavens above, and marvelous -signs in earth. - -16 Sounds will proceed from heaven and voices will be heard that men -will fail to comprehend. - -17 The sun will fail to shine, the moon will wade in blood before the -coming of the great day of the Lord. - -18 And it will come to pass that they who call upon the name of God in -faith shall be redeemed. - -19 This is the day of Christine power; the day that he, the man from -Galilee, is glorified. - -20 He came as babe in Bethlehem and from his day of birth the kings of -earth went forth intent to take his life. - -21 God held him in the hollow of his hand. - -22 Men called him Jesus, and they called him well, for he was sent to -seek and save the lost. - -23 And Jesus grew to manhood and was subject unto all the trials and -temptations of the sons of men, that he might know the loads that men -must bear, and know the way to succor them. - -24 In distant lands he lived and by the sacred Word he healed the -sick, threw prison doors ajar, and set the prisoners free, and -everywhere he was proclaimed, Immanuel. - -25 But wicked men despised him and rejected him, and by bribed men -they proved him guilty of a score of crimes; - -26 And in the presence of a multitude of men who hear me now, they -nailed him to a cross; - -27 They sealed him with the seal of death; but death was all too weak -to hold him in the tomb and when immortal masters said, Adon mashich -cumi, he burst the bands of death, and rose again to life. - -28 He showed himself alive, not only to the rulers in Jerusalem, but -to the many in the distant parts of earth; - -29 And then, before the wondering eyes of many who now hear me speak, -attended by a retinue of courtiers of the angel world, he ascended to -the throne of God. - -30 And being now exalted high, and having breathed to full the Holy -Breath, he breathes again on us, and thus sheds forth what you now see -and hear. - -31 You men of Israel, know that God has made this man from Galilee -whom you abused and crucified, both Lord and Christ. - -32 And then the people said, What shall we do? - -33 And Peter said, This Christine Lord has sent us forth to open up -the gates of dawn. Through Christ all men may enter into light and -life. - -34 The Christine Church stands on the postulates that Jesus is the -love of God made manifest; that love is savior of the sons of men. - -35 This Christine Church is but the kingdom of the Holy One within the -soul, made manifest. - -36 This day the Christine Church is opened up, and whosoever will may -enter in, and, by the boundless grace of Christ, be saved. - -37 Again the people said, How may we enter in that we may share the -boundless grace of Christ? - -38 And Peter said, Reform and be baptized, and turn away from sin and -lead the life deep hid with Christ in God, and you shall enter in and -be redeemed. - -39 Three thousand people turned away from sin and were baptized and -sought to lead the life deep hid with Christ in God. - -40 And in one day the Christine Church became a mighty power; and -Christ became a mighty word that thrilled the multitudes in many lands. - -[Illustration] - - - - -Transcriber's Notes: - - -Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant -preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed. - -Simple typographical errors were corrected; occasional unbalanced -quotation marks retained. - -Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained. - -Alphabetization errors in the Index have not been changed. - -Text uses both "rythm" and "rhythm"; "fleshy" and "fleshly". - -Page 9: Paragraph beginning "Jesus was the name of the man" has no -closing quotation mark. - -Page 23: "Thankfulness of Jesus, 194" refers to a non-existent chapter. -It is possible that the correct reference would be to "104". - -Page 117 Chapter 84, verse 19: comma may be missing after "astonished". - -Page 126 Chapter 91, verse 34: "went his away" may be typographical -error for "way". - -Page 148 Chapter 108, verse 26: "holy men-apostles" perhaps should be -"holy men--apostles". - -Page 158 Chapter 116, verse 2: "dualty" may be typographical error for -"duality". - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, by -Levi H. 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