SPIRITUAL PROGRESSION

Therefore, the first things that human must believe in order to begin their Spiritual Progression is that their present condition is not their Natural one. That they have nothing more, or greater, to accomplish than to relieve themselves of those things, which prevent their condition from becoming as it was when they were the Perfect Human. If they will get this belief firmly fixed in their mind, and assert that they were made by God, and that God never Created anything impure (or imperfect), or not in Harmony with His Laws of Love and Harmony, they, human, will have accomplished the First Step towards their regeneration, and towards success in their effort. They must not consider themselves to be, a weak, low, and unworthy Creature of God, not being entitled to those conditions of purity and greatness, which makes them the Beloved Child of the Father.

Spiritual Progression

April 13th, 1915
I am here, Prof. Salyards.

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

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

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

My knowledge of Spiritual Laws when on Earth was not very extensive. I found, when I came into the Spirit World, that I did not know much more than I did before I came. Such is the experience of every spirit. As I continued to investigate these matters, I discovered that my capacity for learning was greatly increased. That my mind was more plastic and received this knowledge more easily than when I was a mortal. This is largely due to the fact that the brain, I mean the mortal brain, is, when compared to what you might call the spirit brain, a thing of much inferior quality, and not so capable of learning the cause and effect of phenomena.
I am now undergoing a course of study that will, I have no doubt, give me wonderful information of these Laws, so that ultimately I may become what you mortals might call a learned human.

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

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

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

Many spirits here have this idea, and believe that if they only chose to exercise their vaunted will power, they could relieve themselves of their darkened condition and get into happier conditions. Strange, they never try this. The reason therefore is apparent. They could not if they tried, and will not try because they cannot. Yet they think that when they get ready, they will only have to exercise this will and the change will follow. No, this Law is as fixed as any Law of this Great Universe of God. Of course, while human, or spirit, cannot by the exercise of their will change their condition, yet, in order to secure that change, the will has to be exercised. Because the help which comes from without, which is absolutely necessary to human,which causes the change, will not come unless human exercises the will in the way of desiring and asking for it.

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

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

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

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

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

This applies to the progress of the mind as well as to the progress of the soul. The mind of a mortal learns many things which seem to that mind to be the truth, and which, in its opinion, must lead to progress and greater knowledge. But when the Earth Life gives place to the Spirit Life, that mind may find that its basis of knowledge was all wrong, and that to continue in the way that it had been moving would lead to increased error. Consequently, a new start must be made.

Frequently, the retracing of that mind over the course that it had followed, and the elimination of errors that it had embraced, is more difficult, and takes a longer time to accomplish, than the learning of the Truth does after the mind makes its correct start.

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

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

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

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

Another Law is: that not all who know that Life in the Spirit World is continuous, are certain that Continuous Life means Immortality. I mean by this; that the mere fact of living as a spirit does not, of itself, prove that such spirit is immortal.

This, is a subject that spirits discuss as much as do mortals. It is just as much a question of uncertainty as is the immortality of the soul, as taught among mortals, now and for all ages past.

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

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

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

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

Change is the Law Eternal, both on Earth, and in the Spirit World. Nothing exists the same for any length of time. In the succession of these changes, how can it be said that in the future, far or near, changes may not come, by which the existence of the spirit (soul), the (real) ego of human (the soul), may be ended, and that ego (soul) take some other form, or enter into some other condition, so that it will not be the same ego (soul), and not the same spirit (soul) which is now living as a demonstration of the Continuity of Life?
So, many spirits, as well as mortals, do not know what is necessary to obtain, to have the certain Knowledge of Immortality.

Many other spirits know that there is a Immortality for spirits who choose to seek that Immortality, in The Way that God, in His Great Wisdom and Providence has provided. I will not discuss this phase of Immortality now, but will at some later time.

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

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

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

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

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

This gradual release from these penalties does not mean that a spirit is progressing in their journey to the higher and brighter spheres, because even without this torture and torment, they may still remain stationary, as to the development of their Higher Nature, mental and moral. When they have been relieved of these sufferings, they are then in a condition to start towards the progression that I have spoken of.

As you are tired, I will continue the balance of my discourse when I write again. With all my Love I am, your True friend and professor, Joseph H. Salyards.

Spiritual Progression

August 5th, 1915
I am Samuel the Prophet.

I want to tell you that I am in a condition to tell you of my existence here in the Spirit World, and what I know about the Divine Truths of the Doctrines of Jesus, as I have learned them since I became possessed of the Divine Love which he brought to Earth, and to the World of Spirits.

I have lived a great many years in this Spirit Life. More than you may think from the account of my Earth Life as contained in the Old Testament, for that book does not state correctly the time when I lived as a mortal. Many thousand years have gone by since I lived and performed my work as prophet and teacher on the Earth. I have, in all these long years learned many things about the Spiritual World, and its conditions, and Laws.

In the first place, I am not a spirit who was given over to the evils that humans are usually possessed of when they become spirits. Because when I lived on Earth, I was very close to The Father in His Thoughts and Love. I mean the Natural Love, which He gave to human at that time. This Natural Love, while not the Divine Love, yet was a Love that was sufficient to make humans happy, when they possessed it free from sin and error, and tried to do the Will of the Father, as they understood that Will. Many humans thought that they understood this Will, when in reality they only knew that, which the Laws of Moses taught them to be right in the Sight of God. But some humans were given a deeper insight into the Mind and Love of the Father to Bless and make humans happy in their Natural Love. Consequently, were closer to Him and better understood His Will and what was pleasing to Him.

I have, since my becoming a spirit, learned many Truths, which I did not understand on Earth, and which are necessary to know in order to be able to enjoy this Natural Love in its fullness.

I never though, possessed this Divine Love, until after Jesus came to Earth, and showed humans, and spirits, what this Divine Love meant, and how necessary it was to obtain it in order to become a part of God's Divinity.
I do not now see that I was any more in the favor of God, as I then possessed only this Natural Love, than were many others who had the privilege of receiving from His Angels the inspirations, which came to them at times, which made them able to tell the inhabitants of Earth what was the Purpose of God to have them do. I was only a human in the sense that I was only possessed of this Natural Love. Hence, could get no higher in the Spiritual World than this Natural Love would enable me to attain.

I am now in a Heaven, which this Divine Love has opened up to me, which enables me to enjoy the Great Happiness, which that Divine Love causes all to have, who possess it.

When I lived in the Spirit World, before obtaining this Divine Love, I was only possessed of that happiness which comes from the Natural Love. I knew nothing of the Happiness which I now possess. So you see, the spirit which has not this Divine Love, can go no higher in the Spiritual Spheres than it is fitted to occupy by reason of this Natural Love. The principal source of happiness is this Natural Love and the development of the mental faculties. On Earth it is possible for a human to obtain this happiness and live in the Heaven of the Perfect Natural Human, as I did prior to my obtaining this Divine Love.

I was a spirit in the Highest of the Spiritual Spheres, and was very happy, as I thought. But when I obtained this Divine Love, I realized that the happiness of my former condition was as nothing compared to that of my present condition. I therefore want to tell all humankind that they must seek for this Higher Love if they wish to obtain a Bliss that is Supreme.

I know that this rambling talk may not seem very instructive, but I merely wish to emphasize the fact that I lived a mere human, though in the spirit form, before I obtained the Divine Love, and that only with the coming of that Divine Love in my soul did I partake of the Divinity of the Father.

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Well, they are still in the Spiritual Heavens, because they have not yet embraced the Christ Doctrine of Divine Love. They are living and teaching the doctrines that they taught on Earth, only much improved.

I don't know, except that they have been satisfied with what they taught and the happiness that they live in. It may seem strange to you that they have not found this Divine Love in all these years, but it is a fact. They are not seeking for it. I feel that they have neglected a great opportunity and have lost very much by letting all these years go by without having sought the Great Truth.

The different teachers of the various religions, which have come to Earth, are occupying planes in the Spiritual Heavens all to themselves. They, the Jews, still think that theirs is the only true religion, and that they are the chosen people of God, and that all others are mistaken in their doctrines.

Well, I must stop. So thanking you for your kindness, I will say goodnight, Samuel.

Spiritual Progression

February 16th, 1916
I am here, Luke.

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

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

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

The Great Law of Attraction that we have written about applies and works in such cases as this, as it does in every other relation of God's Universe. If a human's thoughts are evil, there will always be attracted to them spirits of similar thoughts. When they (the low spirits)come to them (humans), they attempt to, and succeed, in intensifying these evil thoughts of theirs (humans), which attract them (the low spirits)to them (humans).

It must emphatically be understood in this regard, that human may, and often does, originate their own thoughts and desires. It is not necessary that any influence of these evil spirits should be present and operate upon their brain, or affections, in order that these evil thoughts and desires should come into existence. Again, human has a will power that is susceptible of being exercised, free from the wills of these evil spirits. You will see how True this is when you remember that they can exercise that will power, free and independent from the Will of God Himself.
So I say; that these thoughts and desires may, and do, originate in human, free and independent of the wills, or influences, of these evil spirits. As a fact, these spirits are attracted to them only when these thoughts that they have originated are evil (unloving).

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

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

Now, human's thoughts and desires are not always, as may be supposed, the result of something that may be hidden within themselves, and of which they may not know its existence. I mean not in all cases, and probably in only a minority of cases. For most frequently, are these thoughts and desires, are the children of an objective influence, that comes to them by reason of objects becoming sensible to their ordinary senses, which create, or suggest, these thoughts, or desires. Without going into details, you will understand what I mean. As a mere illustration: A glass of whiskey, may, and does, suggest to a human who likes whiskey, the thought and desire that they should take a drink. Thereby, bring into operation their will, which is followed by the act of drinking. And so, with many other objects, which a human meets in the course of their daily Life. These thoughts and desires arise not only from seeing objects, but also from feeling and tasting them. Again, these objective suggestions, causing these thoughts and desires, arise and exist, not only from the real object sensed, but also from words and thoughts, which are expressed by other human beings in course of conversations. Or, in books and literature (and movies, etc). When they come in this way, they are frequently more effective than in any other. Hence, as these objective words and thoughts enter the mind of human, they create similar thoughts, which frequently intensify and attract the evil spirits of like thoughts, with their degenerating influences. Hence, the importance of a human avoiding companionship where such communications take place, and the books, literature, (and movies) where these evil suggestions are made. It has been well said; that evil communications corrupt good manners. I may add that such communications corrupt good thoughts, produce evil desires, and retard the progress of the soul in its Natural Love. For it must be remembered, that this Natural Love is Pure, free from all evil, or taint of defilement, when it is fully developed. Anything that tends to defile it retards the progression of the soul in this particular.

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

They should learn this other fact, that when their thoughts are pure and free from defilement, they have surrounding them the influence of good spirits. Who work to increase, and make permanent, their good thoughts. As these good thoughts continue, the Natural Love develops towards its Pristine Condition of Purity. Human comes nearer to their Designed Condition of Existence. So you will see from this, that as human's thoughts and desires become freed from these things that tend to defile them, they naturally progress toward that condition which is necessary in order for them to have this development of the soul in its Natural Love. Again, the development may be helped, very much, by human thinking and doing, acts of charity and kindness, and observing the Golden Rule. For every act of charity, kindness, and self-sacrifice for the sake of others, has its reflex action in their own condition of Love and soul, and helps their development.

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

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

So I say, human is helped, and more than in any other way, by their meditations of the Higher Things of their being. And, by prayer and aspirations to the Father, who hears the prayers of the human who has only this Natural Love, and answers them, just as He does the prayers of the human who has the Divine Love in their soul.

Ultimately all sin and evil will be eradicated from the Universe. Human, in their mere Natural Love will become Pure, Perfected, and Happy.

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

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

Spiritual Progression

April 24th, 1916
I am here, Robert G. Ingersoll.

I come tonight to tell you of my progress since last I wrote you. You will remember that I had declared to you my conversion to Christianity, I mean the True Christianity of Jesus and to the Faith in the Divine Love of the Father. Since then I have been praying and seeking for this Divine Love, and the Faith that comes with it. Now I have progressed so that I am in the Third Sphere, where I find such beauty and happiness, as I never conceived of on Earth, or since coming to the Spirit World.

Now I know what was meant by Jesus when he said, "In my Father's house are many mansions", for I have one that is very beautiful and grand, filled with everything to make me happy and to satisfy my heart's longings. Of books I have so many that I cannot find time to read them. All the appointments of my home are so very beautiful and satisfying to the eye, as well as comfortable for its occupancy.

Above and Beyond all, is the Happiness that comes from the possession of this Divine Love of the Father, which to me is the Most Wonderful Revelation, and Reality, in all my experience, either on Earth, or in the Spirit World.

I now think with regret of my years of erroneous teachings on Earth, and of my failure to seek for and know, at least partly, the Great Truths of a Continuous Life and the Existence of God. When I contrast my beliefs then, and my Knowledge now, my happiness then, and my happiness now, I realize that as a mortal I was very ignorant and very unhappy. I know that Jesus is The Way to Immortality and Life Everlasting, and to the True and Always Increasing Happiness, and that the followers of his teachings of the Father's Divine Truths will never be disappointed in their expectations.

My work now is to help those mortals, and spirits as well, who read and believe my books. As a consequence lose the opportunity for learning the Divine Truths, and The Way to the Father's Divine Love. Very many of my followers live on Earth.Many have become spirits. I search for them. When I find them, I tell them of my great mistakes and try to turn their thoughts to the True Way to become Redeemed Children of God. My work is continuous, and sometimes disappointing. When I come to some spirits and attempt to tell them of my new beliefs and Knowledge, myself mistaken, why may it not be that I am equally mistaken in my beliefs. The result is that I find it difficult to convince some of them of the Divine Truths that I attempt to teach them.

As I sowed the seeds of the pernicious and false beliefs when a mortal, now I am bound to root up these seeds and plant in their places the Seeds of Truth. I cannot tell you how much happiness I experience when one of these deluded followers of mine discards the old beliefs and accepts my new teachings. How unhappy I am when they tell me, that as they believed what I taught them on Earth and were satisfied, so now in the spirit they prefer the same belief and are satisfied. As they stay in this condition of belief they remain in darkness and unhappiness. I, knowing that I am the cause of their darkness and unhappiness, am also unhappy and always in search of some one of these who will accept my Teachings of Truth. Thus, I fully realize the meaning of; "What human sows, that shall they also reap".

But this is my work. You must know that it is self-imposed, for I see that until I have removed the evils by me taught and engendered, I cannot be so happy and progress as rapidly as I desire.

I want further to say that when I succeed in convincing any of my followers of the Truth, I enlist them in my cause of correction, and they work with me.For no spirit so well understands the meaning of error, asthey who once indulged in that same error, as I most assuredly did.

I will not write longer tonight, except to say to all who have heard of me, have read my books, and imbibed my beliefs, that I am a Christian, a follower of Jesus the Christ, and a believer, with Knowledge, in the Divine Love of the Father.

?

Yes, when I told you that, I actually believed what I said, and really felt sorry for your ignorance. I want now to assure you with gratitude that, that conversation was the means of starting me in the progress to Knowledge of the Truth and the gaining of this Divine Love. Oh, I was very ignorant, and with it I now realize there was much pride in my own opinion, for I thought that my reasoning powers, and my research in things of the religious past, had given me a knowledge that could not be gainsaid or overcome.

So my brother, you now see that Truth is Truth. That no matter whether mortals learn it, or understand it, or not, it is still the Truth, and never changes.

Thanking you for your kindness, I will say goodnight, your brother in Christ, R. G. Ingersoll.

June 17th, 1916
I am here, Jesus.

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

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

As I have before told you, humans were Pure and Good, until they, by the exercise of their will, following the suggestions of the animal (material) desires, permitted themselves to degenerate from the High and Perfect Condition of their Creation. These sins and desires do not belong to their Original Nature. Their True Nature was Pure and in Harmony with the Laws of God, although, they have lost it by the excessive and wrongful exercise of their wills, obeying the desires of their animal (material) nature. Yet they can recover their Condition of Original Purity and Harmony, if they will get rid of these sins and errors, so that their True Nature may again become free from everything that defiles it, or places it out of Harmony with the Laws that Created it.

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

So long a time has the True Nature (soul), or condition of the True Nature (soul) of humans, been in this state of defilement and alienation from the True Condition of their Creation, that the effort to bring about the restoration will necessarily be great. They will have to use all their power of will that they are capable of, to effectuate this object. They will find in such efforts, two conflicting forces, always fighting each other for the mastery. The fact that they BELIEVE, their present condition is the natural one; and that the state, purity, and freedom from sin and error, is one that does not belong to them Naturally, but must be acquired by adding something to what they now have, and always possessed, will make the fight more uneven.

Therefore, the First Things that human must believe is that their present condition is not their Natural one. That they have nothing more, or greater, to accomplish than to relieve themselves of those things, which prevent their condition from becoming as it was when they were the Perfect Human. If they will get this belief firmly fixed in their mind, and assert that they were made by God, and that God never Created anything impure (or imperfect), or not in Harmony with His Laws, they, human, will have accomplished the First Step towards their regeneration, and towards success in their effort. They must not consider themselves to be, a weak, low, and unworthy Creature of God, not being entitled to those conditions of purity and greatness, which made them the Beloved Child of the Father. Of course, self-esteem, (false) pride, and everything of that nature, must be eliminated from the estimate that they must have of themselves. On the contrary, the idea that they are degenerated and utterly helpless being must not be permitted to enter their mind. Such thoughts do not make them pleasing to God, as they have been taught they do (false humility). Only make them subservient to their masters, sin and error, and prevent them from asserting their own superiority to these things, which is necessary to exist in their conception of their True Condition (as Created), in order that they may obtain the ascendancy over those masters.

When they shall have assumed this position, then they will realize that these animal appetites and desires, and evil thoughts which arise from them, and from the belief that they are by nature degraded and unworthy of a better and Higher Condition of Nature, are really beings of their own creation, subject to their will, self-control, and total destruction. With such realization, will come a consciousness that they are not parts of their True Nature (the soul), but foreign to it. That in order that their True Nature may become separated from them (the unloving thoughts), they must look upon them as enemies, and treat them as such, to be destroyed and utterly extinguished. Never more to be taken to their bosom and cherished as inalienable and dominant parts of their True Nature. Of course, in treating them as such enemies, great watchfulness and determination will have to be exercised, for they are very insidious. Will at all times, and in all ways, whenever the opportunity arises, try to convince them that they are an integral and necessary part of their being, incapable of being separated from them.

By the exercise of this belief, based upon a right conception of what is, and what is not, a part of them as the Perfect Human, and by the exercise of their will power in accordance with this conception, they will be able to rescue themselves from these unnatural (or perverted) appetites, desires, and thoughts of error and sin. As this belief becomes stronger, this conception clearer, and their will exercised in closer Harmony with the two essentials, these excrescences will gradually, and one by one, fall away from them. Until, at last, they will rise again, The Perfect Human, with the Pure and Harmonious Nature which God gave them at the time of their Creation.

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

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

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

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

Among God's Laws, which never change, and which work impartially, is the great Law of Attraction. It works in the case of all mortals, and spirits, and never rests. The Great Principle of this Law of Attraction is; that like attracts like, and the unlike repulses the unlike. So, human must know that; as they are, I mean in their state of mind and soul, so necessarily will be their companions, of those who desire their association. Hence, they should realize this important Truth, and all that it implies. If their thoughts and deeds are evil, they will attract those spirits, or mortals, who have similar thoughts and deeds, who will not help them to Higher Things, and who will retard their progress towards their First Estate.

If their thoughts and deeds are good, then their associates will only be those of like qualities, who can, and will, help them in their progress. Every effort to create good thoughts strengthens the desires, and will, in that direction assists the coming of other good thoughts. For with these efforts, come the help of these unseen influences, and the repulsion of the influences of the retarding forces.

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

Beyond all this, a means to accomplish human's restitution to their Perfect Estate is the Help of the Father. Which is never refused when human seeks for it in earnest sincere prayer. Always the Father is Willing to respond to the True Prayers of human. By His Instrumentalities will make the efforts of human sure and effective. So that they can acquire that condition that will free them from all sin, error, and slavery of false belief, and in the mastery of their evil creatures. Human must believe in the Love and Help of the Father, and in the Humanhood and Greatness of themselves (as Created), and in the utter error of their belief in the mastery of their own children of sin and error. I have written enough and must stop, as you are tired.

So assuring you of my Love for you, and my care and help, I will say goodnight, your brother and friend, Jesus.

Spiritual Progression

September 23rd, 1916
I am here, St. John.

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

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

As you know, there is a future for the mortal who receives the New Birth, and a different one for they who have only the Complete and Pure Development of their Natural Love.

This latter condition does not depend upon the mortal having in their soul the Divine Love, the Essence of the Father. But merely upon the Purification of the Natural Love, so that all sin, error, and inharmony form no part of their state of soul, or mental existence. This condition is not the result of a New Birth. Or, of a change in the constituent elements of their soul, but merely the elimination of those things there from, which were the results, and the necessary sequences, of the defilement that followed The Fall (of the First Parents).
Now, as human lost, by this fall, the qualities which made them the Perfect Creature of their Maker, it is only necessary for them to regain what they lost by that fall, in order to become the Perfect Human once more. In recovering this State of Perfection, it is not required that they should seek, or actually add to, the qualities which they at first possessed, any new, or additional, qualities, or attributes. But only that they regain what they had been deprived of by their disobedience. When that is accomplished, they will come again in Harmony with the Laws of their Creation, and have all the potentialities and excellence that they originally possessed.

Now, what will that future be? In order to determine this question, it is only necessary to understand what their Inherent Condition, or Qualities, were when they were the Perfect Human of their Father's Creation. At that time, they were possessed of all those things of which they are now the possessor. Except, that then they were all so accurately adjusted, that every sense and function of their body, as well as every faculty of their soul, and mind, were so in Harmony with the Laws of their Creation, that they were capable of doing the Will of the Father, and obeying every requirement that was imposed upon them.

They were then, not only a Perfect Being, as regarded their physical formation, but also, as regarded their mental and moral qualities, which, of course, included all the emotions, appetites, and spiritual aspirations. As we have written you before, all these faculties were subject to their will, and in a certain sense their will was controlled by the exercise of these faculties.

Their bodies were, in the beginning, made of matter. Changeable, as it now is. But of a more ethereal kind (of matter), and not subject to decay and disintegration in such a short time, as it now is, yet, subject to this decay. Human, as regards their physical being, necessarily was compelled to die, and to have released their spirit body, and their soul, from this physical vesture. Thereafter, exist as pure spirit. This was not the (spiritual) death that they died as a consequence of their disobedience, but the death natural to them, by reason of the Very Nature of their Creation. Their soul and spirit body were not subject to death, in the sense of annihilation, but were given the qualities of Continual Existence in a Pure and Perfect State. The only difference that the fall made, as to these parts of their being, is that the Purity and Harmony that were theirs are now no longer parts of their soul and spirit.
Whether immortality was a quality of that existence, we spirits do not know. Therefore, cannot assert. But as their Created Soul and spirit body had a beginning, mere Creatures of the Father, it may be that they were intended to have an ending, as individualized soul and spirit.

Of course, they were Created from something. Not from nothing, as some of your theologians say. It is possible, in the Order of Change, which seems to be the Law in the Spirit World, as well as in the Mortal World, that this soul and spirit may be resolved again into that something. As to this finality, we do not have any knowledge. Because, so far as the observation of spirits in this World go, no soul, or spirit body, and I mean the body as a composite whole, and not as to its constituent elements, has ever been resolved into that something, or been deprived of its individualized existence. Therefore, I cannot say that when human was Created it was intended, that as human they should not be immortal, or that they should be so.

You will readily see that after human shall have accomplished the purification of their soul, and become in mind and spirit body as it was intended they should be at the time of their Creation, they will be nothing more, nor less, than they were at that time (a Perfect Creation of God), and have no other, or greater qualities, or freedom from limitations and changes, than they had before their fall. Of course they will have no physical body.

Here let me say that there is no fact, or experience, known to the Spirit World that justifies the assertion that human on Earth will ever be immune to physical death. I know that some say, that in the far future, humans may make such progress in the development of their Natural Love, that their condition of inner purity will be so great as to cause the physical bodies to become so etherealized as to render them free from physical death. That, I cannot conceive, will ever happen. For humans were made to become inhabitants of the Spiritual Realms. The short time they were decreed to live the Earth Life was for the purpose only of giving the soul an individualized existence. Never was it intended that the physical form should have an Eternity of existence, no matter how pure, or, as they say, etherealized it may become. For it was made of matter, of the Earth, earthy (elements). While the soul was made of that, which had its origin in the Spirit Realm, and composed of Spiritual substance. So that it cannot be conceived, that in the beginning, human was Created for an immortal Earth existence.

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

Spiritual Progression

September 30th, 1916
I am here, John.

I desire to finish my message and hope that you are in condition to receive it. Well, as I was writing about the future, or destiny, of the soul that has not experienced the New Birth. I will continue where I left off.

When the soul becomes wholly purified and restored to that Condition of Perfection that was possessed by the First Parents before the fall, it continues to live a Life of Happiness and contentment, until it realizes that its possibility of further progress, either mentally, morally, or spiritually, has come to an end. That it has reached its limit of advancement. That the happiness that it then enjoys is the full complement of what it may obtain or possess. This condition is one which satisfies the large majority of those who have reached the state of the Fully Restored Human. They are content to live the Life of such Perfection, and rest in the assurance that there is no greater happiness, or more desirable condition, existing in the Universe of God.

With some of these souls, this state does not bring, or contain, this complete satisfaction. In them, continues the desire for more and greater progress. They realize that they have reached the limit of their progress, and that they must continue to live in that state, which holds for them the happiness and delight of being Perfect and at-one with the Father, as was intended by Him when human was Created the Perfect Being. Notwithstanding this knowledge that as the soul develops in its Natural Love, and in its moral and mental faculties, to the finality of limitation, there can be nothing beyond. Yet there comes to them dissatisfaction, and, as it were, a negative unhappiness that causes unrest, and a conscious desire for something, they know not what.
It may be that the memory of something they heard in their progress through the spheres, or an imperfect suggestion of some unconscious reproduced dormant memory, inherited from their First Parents, of the Great Gift of Endless Progress Potentially, bestowed upon God's First Created Beings, and forfeited, that causes the discontent and longings for something beyond the condition of their Perfect State. When this state of mind and soul comes to them, then they are susceptible to the teachings and help of those (Celestial) spirits who have in their souls the Divine Love, and Knowledge, that there is a Way that leads to Everlasting Progress, without limit, or possibility of reaching the end.

Many of these Perfected Souls, in their Natural Love, have followed the advice of these Immortal Spirits. Have left the high sphere of their Perfection and entered the lower soul spheres of the Spiritual Heavens. Sought and found the New Birth of the soul. Progressed from sphere to sphere until they reached the Celestial Heavens, where they are still progressing, and realizing contentment never marred. Always accompanied with the Knowledge, that ever beyond, are Spheres of Greater Happiness of Divine Truth and Knowledge.
As I say, the larger, yes, much larger number of souls that have been born unto humans, will find, and rest in the future, in the state and happiness of the restored First Parents.

It should not be necessary for me to attempt to make the application of the Truths which I have written to the desires and wills of humans. For the vital importance of making the choice between the future of the Divine Spirit, and that of the Perfected Human, is so apparent, that scarcely any mortal, who is not the human that says in their heart there is no God, needs another to apply for them the lesson taught. I will say, in closing, that such lesson contains the Divine Truths, that actual observation and Knowledge have made certain. Speculation does not enter into it. The possibility of error or mistakes is utterly eliminated.

I have written enough and will stop for tonight. You have received the message very satisfactorily. I am pleased.

So with my Love and blessings, I will say goodnight and God Bless you with His Divine Love, your brother in Christ, John.