Part 1 - TRANCE TEACHINGS

 

PREFACE TO TRANCE TEACHINGS

 

These teachings are preserved to us in the form of notes made by Mrs. Speer, wife of the doctor at whose house the circles were held.

 

After the passing of Stainton Moses, Mrs. Speer sent her notes to Light. From them selections have been made and are now republished, so that teachings of great value and interest may not be lost.

 

They are not continuous, being merely extracts from a large amount of material; passages not contiguous in the original are sometimes placed in juxtaposition if they complete the sense.

 

The teachings are given in Mrs. Speer’s words, except where inverted commas denote the actual words of the communicating spirit. Unless otherwise stated, Imperator was the spirit-control.

 

In concluding the series Mrs. Speer says: “It is impossible to give any idea of the impression produced upon the Circle by the beauty and refinement of the manifestations, or by the power and dignity of Imperator’s influence.”

TRANCE TEACHINGS

 

“I have been wishing for some time to give you information concerning Angels’ Ministry ; how it is controlled ; the way in which information is conveyed to you. Write! I find it very difficult to speak slowly. If you forget, I will impress the medium afterwards.

 

I, myself, Imperator Servus Dei, am the chief of a band of forty-nine spirits, the presiding and controlling spirit, under whose guidance and direction the others work.

I am come from the seventh sphere to work out the will of the Almighty ; and, when my work is complete, I shall return to those spheres of bliss from which none return again to earth. But this will not be till the medium’s work on earth is finished, and his mission on earth exchanged for a wider one in the spheres.

 

Under me is my deputy and lieutenant, Rector, whose business it is to superintend in my absence, and especially to control the band of physical manifesting spirits. Associated with him is a third high spirit, who is the inspiring spirit, Doctor, the Teacher. He guides the medium’s thoughts, influences his words, directs his pen. Under his general superintendence there are the spirits of wisdom and knowledge, to be hereafter described.

 

Next come the guardians whose are it is to ward off and modify the baneful influences of earth, to drive away the hurtful, temper the painful, to shed around an influence. The inward yielding to evil can alone destroy their power. Yet again, there are two guardians whose care it is to ward off the evil influences of the spheres, the allurement of the lower spirits who would draw the medium from his allotted work and divert him from his sacred mission. These four guardians are my personal attendants, and these complete the first circle of seven, the whole band being divided into seven circles of seven spirits; each circle composed of one presiding spirit with six ministers.

 

The first circle is composed entirely of guardians and inspiring spirits–spirits whose mission is general and concerned with the supervision of the whole band.

 

The next circle of seven spirits is devoted to the care of love–spirits of love. Religion, love to God; charity, love to man; gentleness, tenderness, pity, mercy, friendship, affection; all these are in their charge.

 

They minister to the affections, inspire feelings of gentleness and mercy; love to God, the Universal Father; love to man, the common brother; tenderness for all who grieve; pity for all who suffer; desire to benefit and help all.

 

Next comes a circle–one presiding, with six spirit ministers–of wisdom. Under their care is intuition, perception, reflection, impression, reasoning and the like. They preside over the intuitive faculties and the deductions made from observable facts. They inspire the medium with the spirit of wisdom and drive away influences fallacious and misguiding. They plant intuitive wisdom.

 

Next in order is a circle which presides over knowledge–of men, of things, of life, whose charge is caution and comparison, of causality and eventuality, and the like.

They guide the medium’s steps through the tortuous paths of earth-life, and lead him to practical knowledge, complement to the intuitive wisdom, of what is beneficial and profitable. To these kindred groups, wisdom and knowledge–which are under the general supervision of Doctor, the inspiring Teacher–succeed:

 

A circle who preside over art, science, literature, culture, refinement, poetry, paintings, music, language. They inspire the thought with that which is noble and intellectual, and lead to words of refinement and sublimity. They incline to that which is beautiful, artistic, refined and cultured; which gives the poetic touches to the character and elevates and ennobles it.

 

Next comes a circle of seven who have charge of mirth, wit, humour, geniality and joyous conversation. These give the lighter touches to the character, the sparkling, bright side, which is attractive in social intercourse, which enlivens the word spoken or written with flashes of wit, and relieves the somber dullness of daily toil. They are spirits attractive and genial, kindly and lovable.

 

Last of all come the spirits who have charge of the physical manifestations, which it is thought right at present to associate with the higher message. This circle is composed principally of spirits on their probation under the guardianship of Rector, lieutenant of the band. It is his care to teach them and to allow them, by association with the medium and his circle, to advance from a lower to a higher sphere. These are spirits who from divers causes are earthbound, and who, by the manifestations which they are permitted to work out, are purifying and elevating themselves.

 

So you see the band divides itself into seven groups, each with its peculiar charge. Spirits of love, of wisdom and knowledge; spirits refined and noble; spirits bright and genial, who shed a ray of that light which is not of your earth on the drudgery of existence in a lower sphere; spirits whose privilege it is to progress from an inferior grade to one higher and nobler through association with you, to whom such manifestations as they furnish are yet necessary.

 

In all these various circles there are spirits who are progressing, who are giving experience and enlightenment, who are living the medium’s life, and mounting upward as he mounts; learning as they teach, and soaring as they raise him to their sphere.

 

It is a labour of love, this guardianship of ours, a labour which brings its own reward, and blesses us, even as we bestow blessings upon the medium and, through him, upon mankind.

 

May the Almighty Father bless you.”

 

“I have left this earth a very long time, and only returned to impress this medium. It is my mission. Very few spirits can return to earth from those distant spheres, but God has sent me for a special work.”

 

“The ladder between Heaven and earth has always been, but man’s unbelief cut him off from the ministry of angels.

“Yes, and it is accounted no light matter among us to be His servant, and appointed to do His work. I am the servant of God sent to minister to this medium. After my ministry with him is over, I go whence I can never again personally return to earth. I shall only be able to influence through other spirits. You must each ask God to guide you. If you trust to yourselves you will fall, fall, fall.” (This was said in a solemn, impressive voice.) “God never yet left a man who cried to Him for light and guidance–never, never, never.”

 

When first controlling Stainton Moses, Imperator said he had been with him nearly all his life. At first he was in the sixth sphere, later in the seventh sphere.

 

During the time Imperator was entrancing S. M., and conversing, we saw a large, bright cross of light behind S. M.’s head, and rays surrounding it. After this, it culminated in a beautiful line of light of great brilliancy, reaching several feet high, and moving from side to side. Behind this column of light, on the floor, was a bright cluster of lights in oblong shape. These remained for more than half an hour. On asking the meaning of the lights, Imperator said the pillar of light was himself, the bright light behind him his attendants, and the numerous lights seen in the room belonged to the band. The light round S. M.’s head showed his great spiritual power.

 

Imperator’s presence has always a most solemnising effect on the circle, and we feel in the presence of a great and very good spirit.

 

In Imperator’s band there is a presiding spirit of influence and power, whose business it is to train the spirits under him, as well as to guard the medium. The higher spirits benefit the medium, and he, in turn, benefits those undeveloped spirits who generally have been prematurely withdrawn from earth, and have returned for the purpose of education: as it were, at school again. They are elevated and drafted upwards in time, their place being taken by others, for whom the same work of progress is required.

 

Imperator’s conversation and prayer were so solemn that they left on our minds an earnest desire to do all in our power to advance the sacred work. He entreated our prayers that we might receive rightly the message God would give us through him. He concluded with a solemn prayer that we might even here learn that the Kingdom of Heaven was with us–that we might cultivate all graces: charity, peace, kindness and pity.

 

“Almighty God bless and keep you, and guide you into truth and peace. May you so live now that hereafter you may pass easily through the intermediary spheres, without pain, to the realms of joy.”

 

On a blank piece of paper put under the table was a message in very small and neat writing, requiring a magnifying-glass, praising God that they are permitted to manifest, ending: “Seek not to evoke marvelous phenomena merely for the sake of wonder. Seek ever a spirit of teachableness and dependence on the All-Wise. Cultivate patience, trust and hope in God, and charity among yourselves.”

–Signed: Imperator, Rector, Philosophus.

Prayer given by direct spirit writing at the close of a seance:

 

“Mighty God, strengthen our work amongst men, that the adversaries may no more prevail.

Spirit of Love, shed abroad charity and goodwill amongst mankind!

Spirit of Wisdom, pour forth Thy God-like gifts upon this earth!

Spirit of Knowledge, be amongst them, a Guide and Teacher of Truth! Spirit of Power, be here, a mighty aid in time of trial!

Spirit of Purity and Holiness, keep Thy children pure and free from taint of conscious sin. May they realise their blessings, their helps, their difficulties and dangers; and do Thou, Great Father, keep us and them. May they be enabled now always to strive on in faith and hope and love; looking for future progress in the knowledge of Truth.”

– Doctor.

 

Mrs. Speer says the following was the most wonderful piece of direct spirit writing they had ever seen. It was written too small for natural sight to read. It was read with great difficulty by the help of a strong magnifying-glass.

 

“The days come when the adversaries shall be abroad among the children of the light. Heed ye, and be wary and watchful. Keep yourselves separate from the snares of the adversaries.–Warning of Prudens, Doctor, Minister.”

 

“The higher spirits who come to your earth are influences or emanations. They are not what you describe as persons, but emanations from higher spheres. Learn to recognise the impersonality of the higher messages. When we first appeared to this medium he insisted on our identifying ourselves to him. But many influences come through our name. Two or three stages after death spirits lose much of what you regard as individuality and become more like influences. I have now passed to the verge of the spheres from which it is impossible to return to you. I can influence without any regard to distance. I am very distant from you now.”

 

(A spirit called Elliotson controlling.)

 

“Memory cannot be conscious. The theory of unconscious memory is absurd. The key to all is the action of spirits. The idea of permanent memory is a mistake. Some of the higher spirits have, as I know, almost lost their identity. There comes a time when the individuality is dissipated and enlarged, and becomes a centre of influence. The exalted spirit, Imperator, who directs this medium, bathes me in his influence. I do not see him, but he permeates the space in which I dwell. I have received his commands and instructions, but I have never seen him. The medium sees a manifestation of him, which is necessary in his case, not in mine. The return to earth is a great trial to me. I might compare it to the descent from a pure and sunny atmosphere into a valley where the fog lingers. In the atmosphere of earth I seem completely changed. The old habits of thought awaken, and I seem to breathe a grosser air.”

 

“We desire to show you that God Himself is the center of influence, and that His influence, flowing through intermediary agencies, permeates humanity; and those influences (angelic, you call them) influence mankind. We wish to show you how the angelic influence surrounding the center of light diffuses itself round those it is able to reach; and how the Spirit of the Most High, traversing those channels, reaches all who are able to receive it. Man becomes the means of disseminating the knowledge of which he is the unconscious recipient. Man may cultivate the power given to him and aid the work he is chosen for, fostering the dwelling of the Spirit of God among men. The power of God comes from on high, descending through the angel ministers, permeating His chosen messengers, showing men how they may be fellow-workers with God.”

 

Mrs. Speer says these fragmentary records give only the faintest idea of what was said, and cannot give manner.

 

“The angels, as of old they called them, ‘spirits’ as ye know them, who traverse the space between you and your God, bring down blessings from Him, while they carry up your prayers to His Throne. These are the steps between God and Man, the channels of influence. There is angelic influence round incarnated souls.”

 

Dr. Speer asked about the teachings of orthodoxy.

 

“The doctrines taught by the Church are faulty. The views that men have entertained of God partake of the medium through which they have filtered. Men have framed theories for themselves which have been crystallised into dogmas and taught as of binding obligation. Man’s views of his relation to the Creator and of sin are erroneous.

Sin, in its essence, is the conscious violation of those eternal laws which make for the advantage of the spirit.

 

God cannot view sin as a personal injury. He regards it as we regard the offences of a child, which will bring sorrow and retribution in their train. Sin is not in itself any offence against the Creator. The punishment is not wreaked on a defenceless creature. Sin is itself its own punishment, as the transgression of immutable law.

 

The life of the Man Christ Jesus on earth was a pattern life, intended for the example of man. But, in so far as it was deemed to be an atonement by way of sacrifice for sin, this was foul falsehood, degrading to God, degrading to that pure and stainless Spirit, to whom such things were falsely attributed, and misleading to souls who rest on blind faith, and falsely imagine their credulity would be accounted a virtue.

 

One day you will wonder how such a baseless fable could have obtained credence. The Truth we are commissioned to declare will render all human inventions unnecessary. Man has made God in his own image. His God is human–very human in many ways; He has qualities attached to His name which a more divine philosophy would cause man to repudiate.

 

You are gradually coming to know an Omnipresent and Omniscient Loving Father, and you will have a new revelation, which will blot out the old falsehoods and give you new ideas of God. The revelation, of which we are the bearers from the Almighty, will supersede all the old creeds and philosophies, and will give you Truth instead of fiction.

 

Spirit-teaching comes from God; but, as it must blot out much that men have believed and trusted, it must be subversive of what men have called Faith. God reveals to man that which he is able to bear; so that the revelation that comes from God is a progressive revelation. The organised attempt of the spirits of evil to mar our work will not cease until the Truth prevails. There will be much that is trying to the weal, and also to those whose faith is firm, before it is established. It is the necessary consequence of the existence of evil spirits.

 

Beware how you submit to the guidance of unseen intelligences without ascertaining if they are what they pretend to be. We have nothing to fear from investigation made by honest and pure minds. The miracles you have seen here are the same in kind which Christ was enabled to work. The utterances you hear are precisely the same as those given by the Hebrew prophets.

 

Belief in Spiritualism will spread, but not as the creed of any Church. Our revelation requires neither bishops, priests nor deacons; but the association between the spirit guardians and the soul alone. Christ taught that the time would come when no special place nor person would be held more sacred than another.”

 

“We propound to man no saviour outside himself. Bitter repentance and profound restitution are alone the result of sin. There is no hope of escaping the consequences of conscious transgression. We recognise none. Hysterical cries for mercy will never be rewarded by an immediate entrance into the presence of God. We put before you no picture of a fathomless hell. As man discharges the duties of life, bodily, mentally and spiritually, so will he become happier and more God-like. When your bodies are dead your dogmas die with them, and are dissipated by the rising sun.”

 

Dr. Speer remarked the lesson drawn from the repentance of the thief on the cross is misleading.

 

“Yes. No tears and cries can purify the soul. It must pass through a long course of remedial process.”

 

Dr. Speer asks for explanation of the text: “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin.”

 

“Analyse this. As you quote it, you imply that God sent His Son, of Whose existence you know nothing, into a life of degradation, that the outpouring of His blood might ransom from everlasting burning those who simply assented to the fact that such salvation was prepared for them. Set aside a doctrine so cold, so hard, so bitter, and take the spiritual meaning that underlies Christ’s life and teaching. The pattern life is to you the model of what man may become, pure and holy, ennobled by suffering, and elevated by charity. To that life you may look; following it will rescue you from sin, and lead you to that which is noble. You err in following too closely the words of fallible men, or building on them an edifice the foundation of which is error, and the superstructure fallacy.”

 

“We would speak of the true perception of God. Not as a personal being, human in His attributes save Omnipotence; not as a glorified humanity; but as the All-Pervading Spirit permeating the universe. Man is now ready to receive a more enlarged conception of God. We present to you a Deity Whose Name, as revealed in Love. Love, confined within no limits. The notion of a personal Deity was the outcome of that idolatry which once pervaded the human race. To correct these errors is part of our mission. God is no Person. He is enthroned in no place, but is all-pervading, ever­existing: guiding and loving all.

 

Man in the body pictures a god confined by limits. God, so far as we have known Him, is not a limited personality, nor was He ever enshrined in a human body, or amenable to human influence. The Deity operates by general laws. Prayer is good, as by it man moves forces which act on those through whom God operates. It is good for all to pray. The hard, prayerless soul cannot be reached by the angel ministers. The heavenly messengers are always attracted to the praying soul.

 

On the one hand, we have to avoid the fatal error that seeks to reduce God to a Force; and, on the other, to guard against the anthropomorphic delusion which pictures a humanity with man’s failings and necessitates and insatiable craving for power. In early days man framed a god for himself, a human tyrant, yea, worse than man can be. God is really an informing, energising Spirit. He supplies the light and love that give beauty to all around you. The Divine Life is brought home to you in the life of Christ. God is not a force, nor the impersonal entity you call Nature.

 

Try and regard Him as the Informing Spirit, permeating all. The word Father is the true conception. Nature is not God, but a manifestation of the Supreme. The hand is not the body, but it is the manifestation of that which makes up the body.

 

The falsest views of the Great Father have obtained among His children. He has been regarded in the past as an angry God, Who was to be propitiated by tears and cries for pity: a God Whose pleasure it was to throw His children into eternal misery. The God that we know (not that we imagine), is a God of Love perfect and perpetual: love that embraces the erring and the good–a God Who looks down with pity on all His children; Who knows no distinction of race or clime, but is tender and loving alike to all who call upon His Name. If man could see, as we see, the unresting love that tends and cheers the lowliest and most despised of His children; how, verily, legions of angels encircle those He loves; if, for one moment, their eyes could be opened to see the air around them filled with the legions of the shining ones–surely their hearts would be touched and their voices would break forth in praise. Would that the so cold, stony heart of man, so utterly unresponsive to the influences from on high, could be touched by the rays of the Sun of Righteousness, and give forth the cry of praise to the Giver of all, the God of universal love. We come to you as the exponent of the ministry of angels. The Great Father, mindful of His Children’s wants, sends them the angel ministry of consolation, guidance and love. From the eternal realms of glory we come to minister to mankind. Angels, spirits, friends passed before, coming to minister to those left behind.”

 

“From the generation that lives is selected the recipient of inspiration. He is the depository of divine influence, the connecting link between the present and future. To him is committed the deposit of Truth he is to hand down to those who succeed him. To minister to him are appointed the spirits specially assigned by God. They are solemnly separated for the work, sent forth to minister as the All-Wise sees fit. The open vision is realised; the angels of God ascend and descend between earth and Heaven. The time is at hand when the interrupted vision shall be renewed; when the voice that sounded in the ears of Ezekiel, John the Baptist and John the Seer shall be renewed; when the spheres shall be brought into contact as they never have been since then, and when the Voice of the Almighty, speaking through His intermediary agencies, shall be heard among men. Shall they listen? Nay, as it was of old, so shall it be now. Now, as of old, man’s unbelief bars the purpose of God’s Love. Man’s stubbornness militates against God’s design.”

 

“What is man? Verily, he is but the vehicle of inspiration. The highest and noblest intellects you revere were, but the means by which God made known to man that portion of His Mind which He saw fit. All that they did, great and noble, was but the influence of the guardian angel.

 

The medium is selected for special qualities, but they are not those which you are wont to hold in reverence. The suitable instrument is chosen, and to him is confided the deposit of revelation. He is not the glory; nor does the faithful servant claim it. He is the vehicle, the honoured instrument of Divine Revelation, honoured among angels, but not amongst men. He is honoured with us as God’s medium–the chosen recipient of the Divine Message. In proportion as the work is rightly done does the medium derive benefit, and become fitted to be, in his turn, the messenger of God to man in the future. The vessel is impregnated with the perfume it has contained, and is nobler for the use it has served; worthy of honour from men and angels as a casket which has worthily enshrined the jewel of Divine Truth. But if there be impurity or falsity or cowardice or idleness in the selected instrument, or if he be unduly puffed up by that which is given to him; if he arrogate to himself the glory that belongs to God alone; if there be time-serving or pride or impure motive–then, so far from being benefited by the service for which he has been selected, he is so much the worse for the abuse of his opportunities! It is the unalterable law of God. Great privileges, great responsibilities! He who has great opportunities of good and fails to use, or wrongly uses them, in wilful sin, on him rests the curse of the servant who knew his Lord’s will and did it not. He sinks as surely as the other rises. The talent is withdrawn, and he becomes morally and intellectually deteriorated. He has cast away a privilege, and, behold, a curse, instead of a blessing, rests upon him.

 

So that, should such an one return to the earth sphere, the communication through him will necessarily be of a lower order than you would expect from his reputation in earth-life. On earth he spoke not his own words but the words of inspiration. But the Spirit of the Lord has been withdrawn, and now he speaks the congenital utterances of the society to which he has been drawn.”

 

“Has it ever occurred to you that the majority of Christian men regard themselves as the heirs of an assured Heaven, and believe that the Supreme has sent His Own Son to live and die for them? That they have a revelation which is the inspired message of His own servants, and that no other message has ever come to man? Also, that it is their bounden duty to instruct the Hindus, Chinese and the heathen in general in the doctrines confided to them alone? That this perfect revelation is the final utterance of the Supreme?

 

Put aside such doctrines as false and egotistical. We know of no such favouritism on the part of the Supreme. He, God over all, blessed for ever, shows no favouritism to any clique of His creatures in one corner of the earth. In all ages there has been a revelation of God, suited to the particular circumstances of the time.

Each religion, as sent by God, has one great central idea; and Spiritualism, as you are pleased to call it, gathers them together into one harmonious whole. All these fragments that have been revealed are now to be gathered up and welded into one homogenous mass, under the name of Spiritualism. Some of these fragments have been purer and truer than others. That of Jesus Christ was the truest of all, and the older religions of India would probably rank next to that. The great bar to knowledge is prejudice.

 

When I lived on earth I knew nothing of the older religions. There was nothing in my time among the Jews that could be called a belief in immortality, only a yearning for it. Jesus Christ introduced the idea as a real belief. It was part of His mission to spread this truth. The Jews were like the Christians in the present day, and had ceased to think much of a future state. Christ came to teach the indestructibility of spirit, and the perpetuity of existence; even as we come to tell you of the possibility of communion with those who have passed to the spirit world.”

 

“As regards the fate of those whom you call the heathen, the majority of Christians decide that they will fare badly in the hereafter, being left to the justice of the Supreme without any claims on His mercy. It is strange they have forgotten that Christ has said that there are other sheep, not of the Christian fold, who will be brought in and judged according to their works. Paul, on Mars Hill, spoke of God as having made of one blood all nations of men on earth, and describes mankind as sprung from one family, all yearning after God, if so be they might find Him.”

 

“You cannot realise the vast power which Christ possessed. The entire abnegation of self enabled Him to live as a God amongst men. His miracles were performed by the aid of angel ministers; and His ideas were concentrated upon one great purpose– devotion to the cause of humanity.

 

He was an incarnation of one of the Higher Spirits of previous long existence, and was filling a high position in the spheres. To Him all efforts for the benefit of man may be traced. His blessed influence irradiates many of the darkest spots on earth, and it will spread more and more as the spiritual faculties of men are opened to receive it. In His name we come; by virtue of His power we speak, and His blessing we leave with you, even peace, peace, peace.”

 

“In the case of the Christ a high form of hitherto unincarnated spirit temporarily entered a body for the good of humanity, and to gain experience. Such as these are spirits from the higher spheres, sent forth with a mission to instruct mankind. They act also on mediums, and some of the largest views of Truth which have been poured into this medium’s mind have come from a spirit, ‘the Revealer of Truth,’ who has never been incarnated, and has instructed him while he has been asleep. He does not remember this instruction, but is able to assimilate it. Such spirits as these would more frequently communicate if questions were not put to them about your world of which they are completely ignorant, for they can only impart spiritual knowledge. These spirits sometimes become incarnated of their free will; they accept as volunteers the mission of mercy, and, while incarnated, they lose their identity. . . . Many high spirits have incarnated themselves. They return to the spheres with increased knowledge of a peculiar phase of existence.”

“We have led you to regard the Incarnation of Christ from a new point of view, and we will now enlarge upon this.

 

The Spirit of Christ was the highest that could descend to earth and He incarnated Himself in order to regenerate the human race.

 

All spirits are not incarnated on your earth, but there are some special experiences that can only be obtained on your planet. In all worlds there are capacities for spiritual development, and all of them are inhabited. From time to time the higher spirits descend and become incarnated in order to teach and elevate mankind.

 

Christ came to inaugurate a new era, to teach man simplicity and sincerity. What you now see is the dawning of a new epoch which will teach you higher and diviner truths from the spirit-world. It is no passing phase. It is part of our coherent plan to enlighten and develop man in a spiritual direction. The present epoch is chiefly influenced by the operation of spirits from without, and a few progressed spirits are now incarnated on your earth. The spirit of Christ had never before incarnated on your earth. When exalted spirits are incarnated they have no remembrance of a previous existence. (In Spirit Teachings, p 251, Imperator says the Christ was an exception to this law.) The incarnation of such is an act of self-abnegation, or what may be termed expatriation. You are on this planet in nearly the lowest stage of being; many worlds are in a much higher state of development; and some are in process of formation. Mercury is on the lowest plane, Jupiter the highest.

 

Christ has passed into the spheres of Contemplation; but He may personally return when our work is completed. But much must be accomplished before the harvest will come, and the time of sowing and growth will be long. Ye know not how great is the work that is being done; how vast the vista that is being opened. Never before has there been such an outpouring of Divine Love as now. Silent influences are at work in men’s minds. All over the world they are being prepared to receive the teaching we are giving you here. Should it be necessary for the furtherance of this mission other great Intelligences will return, and bring their magnetic force to bear upon the earth. At present it is not needed, as the work is progressing. You are living in one of the remarkable epochs of the earth. The old creed must die before the new can be received; but it will die hard, as round it still linger the associations of many ages; but it is fast dying out, never to live again. Happy are ye, living in this age, and learning these new truths, if ye rightly appreciate and use the blessing.

 

My teaching comes from my great Master, (Elijah) whom I see face to face, and he has his teaching from his great Master (Moses. See Spirit Teachings, p. 187), I cannot yet enter into the spheres of Contemplation, but my Master descends to me, and has given me this mission. We are all links in a great chain which extends even to the Most High. The spirits who are under my direction receive their orders from me, and meet from time to time to hold converse with me. All is order with us, and self-will is not exercised with us. You are free to go and come, because you do not know as we do the consequences of actions. Though you know it not, you are not really free. Your will, as you term it, is always guided by spiritual influences, either good or bad. Spirits differ according to their plane of progression. Spirits have rarely come to this earth-plane from other planets. Besides the spirits who have passed from this earth, there are many others, some of whom preside over the forces of nature.”

 

“A spirit that has been incarnated in other spheres of being may afterwards be incarnated on your earth. Creations of life on your globe have been made by spirit power. The higher Intelligences can mould the elements which they gather from your atmosphere, and can form new creations by infusing into them elements of life. The creation of spirits is perpetually going on, both in your world and the spirit world. The instinct of reproduction is not confined to your globe only.

 

New life is perpetually being born into your world, animal life which enshrines the soul. Mind is no attribute of matter, but is a separate birth and creation in each case. New creations of spirits are formed by condensation of the atmosphere, which is the connecting link between us and you. Spirit ministers will be able to teach mankind the conditions under which incarnated souls should enter your world, and how they should be trained when in it. All this belongs to the age which you are now entering. Many old prejudices must die, but the coming light will be as the blaze of the noonday sun, if only man’s obstinacy can be overcome, and man’s adversaries driven back.”

 

“You are the recipients in no ordinary degree of a great development of spirit power. The spiritual sense is increasing amongst men, and, step by step, the presence of spirit agency is manifested. The wave of spirit influence now passing over your earth is analogous to that which passed over the world during the life of Christ. Happy for the race if the teaching now revealed be not hereafter adulterated, as was that which came through Him. Those who now teach in His Name often preach doctrines quite unlike what He taught. The truth we are now bringing fresh from the Divine Source will meet with the fate that all truth meets with at first. The time is drawing near when men will receive it. We dread apathy more than opposition to our work. Dead, cold, lifeless indifference which care, not to question, and has not sufficient interest to doubt.”

 

We were told that in such a democratic age it would not do (as in the case of the Christ) for only one prophet to be raised up. Now the truth was coming to many in many different ways, and what was suitable for one class of mind was unsuitable for others. We must all be prepared for great opposition; no new unfolding of truth ever came into the world without it.

 

(Theophilus, controlling, says)

 

“The Supreme has manifested Himself in divers forms and through divers agencies, and those who have been the recipients of these manifestations have usually erred in thinking that the agency and the revelation had been vouchsafed to them alone. Each age had its divine message, and each had erred in thinking its own message final. God has spoken, but not finally. You know that revelation began with Melchisedek, and has been continued even till now. You know, also, the Christian Church is not the only recipient of divine favour, and that another branch received a portion and carried it into other lands. To each was given but a fragment of the whole Truth of God. We see your learned men playing the part of the Sadducees, and your scholars are labouring over documents that will be of little value in the final issue.