T
Teacher
Guest
SECTION XVI
AIN
The Second Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of Jesus
(first third | second third | last third)
Chapter 91
Jesus at the feast in Jerusalem. Heals an impotent man. Gives a practical lesson in healing. Affirms that all men are the sons of God.
1. The feast time came and Jesus and the twelve went to Jerusalem.
2. Upon the day before the Sabbath day they reached Mount Olives and they tarried at an inn before Mount Olives on the north.
3. And in the early morning of the Sabbath day they went in through the sheep gate to Jerusalem.
4. The healing fountain of Bethesda, near the gate, was thronged about with people who were sick;
5. For they believed that at a certain time an angel came and poured a healing virtue in the pool, and those who entered first and bathed, would be made whole.
6. And Jesus and the twelve were standing near the pool.
7. And Jesus saw a man near by who had been stricken eight and thirty years; without a hand to help he could not move.
8. And Jesus said to him, My brother, man, would you be healed?
9. The man replied, I earnestly desire to be healed; but I am helpless and when the angel comes and pours the healing virtues in the pool,
10. Another who can walk, steps in the fountain first and I am left unhealed.
11. And Jesus said,Who sends an angel here to potentise this pool for just a favoured few?
12. I know it is not God, for he deals just the same with every one.
13. One has no better chance in heaven's healing fountain than another one.
14. The fount of health is in your soul; it has a door locked fast; the key is faith;
15. And every one can have this key and may unlock the door and plunge into the healing fount and be made whole.
16. And then the man looked up in hopeful mood and said, Give me this key of faith.
17. And Jesus said, Do you believe what I have said? According to your faith it shall be done. Arise, take up your bed and walk.
18. The man at once arose and walked away; he only said, Praise God.
19. And when the people asked, Who made you whole? the man replied, I do not know. A stranger at the pool just spoke a word and I was well.
20. The many did not see when Jesus healed the man, and with the twelve he went his way up to the temple courts.
21. And in the temple Jesus saw the man and said to him, Behold you are made whole; from henceforth guard your life aright;
22. Go on your way and sin no more, or something worse may fall on you.
23. And now the man knew who it was who made him whole.
24. He told the story to the priests and they were much enraged; they said, The law forbids a man to heal upon the Sabbath day.
25. But Jesus said, My Father works on sabbath days and may not I?
26. He sends his rain, his sunshine and his dew; he makes his grass to grow, his flowers to bloom; he speeds the harvests just the same on Sabbath days as on the other days.
27. If it is lawful for the grass to grow and flowers to bloom on Sabbath days it surely is not wrong to succour stricken men.
28. And then the priests were angered more and more because he claimed to be a son of God.
29. A leading priest, Abihu, said, This fellow is a menace to our nation and our laws; he makes himself to be a son of God; it is not meet that he should live.
30. But Jesus said, Abihu, Sir, you are a learned man; you surely know the law of life. Pray tell who were the sons of God we read about in Genesis, who took to wife the daughters of the sons of men?
31. Our father Adam; who was he? From whence came he? Had he a father? or did he fall from heaven as a star?
32. We read that Moses said, He came from God. If Adam came from God pray, was he offspring, was he son?
33. We are the children of this son of God; then tell me, learned priest, Who are we if not sons of God?
34. The priest had urgent business and he went his way.
35. And Jesus said, All men are sons of God and if they live a holy life they always are at home with God.
36. They see and understand the works of God, and in his sacred name they can perform these works.
37. The lightnings and the storms are messengers of God as well as the sunshine, rain and dew.
38. The virtue of the heavens are in God's hands, and every loyal son may use these virtues and these powers.
39. Man is the delegate of God to do his will on earth, and man can heal the sick, control the spirit of the air, and raise the dead.
40. Because I have the power to do these things is nothing strange. All men may gain the power to do these things; but they must conquer all passions of the lower self; and they can conquer if they will.
41. So man is God on earth, and he who honours God must honour man; for God and man are one, as father and the child are one. 42 Behold, I say, The hour has come; the dead will hear the voice of man, and live, because the son of man is son of God.
43. You men of Israel, hear! you live in death; you are locked up within the tomb.
44. (There is no deeper death than ignorance and unbelief.)
45. But all will some day hear the voice of God made plain by voice of man, and live. You all will know that you are sons of God, and by the sacred Word, may do the works of God.
46. When you have come to life, that is, have come to realise that you are sons of God, you who have lived the life of right, will open up your eyes on fields of life.
47. But you who love the ways of sin will, in this resurrection, stand before a judgment bar, and be condemned to pay the debts yoy owe to men and to yourselves.
48. For whatsoever you have done amiss must be performed again, and yet again, until you reach the stature of the perfect man.
49. But in due time the lowest and the highest will arise to walk in light.
50. Shall I accuse you unto God? No, for your prophet, Moses, has done that; and if you hear not Mose' words you will not hearken unto me, for Moses wrote of me.
Chapter 92
The Christines at a feast in Lazarus' home. A fire rages in the town. Jesus rescues a child from the flames and stays the fire by the Word. He gives a practical lesson on how to redeem a drunken man.
1. Now, Lazarus was at the feast and Jesus and the twelve; and Ruth and Asher came from Jericho; for Asher was no longer hostile to the Christ.
3. And while the guests sat at the board behold a cry, The village is a-fire! and all rushed out into the streets, and, lo, the homes of many neighbours were in flames.
4. And in an upper room an enfant lay asleep, and none could pass the flames to save. The mother, wild with grief, was calling on the men to save her child.
5. Then, with a voice that made the spirits of the fire pale and tremble, Jesus said, Peace, peace, be still!
6. And then he walked through smoke and flame, climbed up the falling stair, and in a moment came again, and in his arms he brought the child. and not a trace of fire was on himself, his raiment, or the child.
7. Then Jesus raised his hand, rebuked the spirits of the fire, commanding them to cease their awful work, and be at rest.
8. And then, as though the waters of the sea were all at once poured on the flames, the fire ceased to burn.
9. And when the fury of the fire was spent the multitudes were wild to see the man who could control the fire, and Jesus said,
10. Man was not made for fire, but fire was made for man.
11. When man comes to himself and comprehends the fact that he is son of God, and knows that in himself lies all the powers of God, he is a master mind and all the elements will hear his voice and gladly do his will.
12. Two sturdy asses bind the will of man; their names are Fear and Unbelief. When these are caught and turned aside, the will of man will know no bounds; then man has but to speak and it is done.
13. And then the guests returned and sat about the board. A little child came in and stood by Jesus' side.
14. She laid her hand on Jesus' arm and said, Please, Master Jesus, hear! my father is a drunken man; my mother toils from morn till night and when she brings her wages home my father snatches them away and squanders every cent for drink, and mother and us little ones are hungry all the night.
15. Please, Master Jesus, come with me and touch my father's heart. He is so good and kind when he is just himself; I know it is the wine that makes another amn of him.
16. And Jesus went out with the child; he found the wretched home; he spoke in kindness to the mother and the little ones, and then upon a bed of straw he found the drunken man.
17. He took him by the hand and raised him up and said, My brother, man, made in the image of our Father-God, will you arise and come with me?
18. Your neighbours are in sore distress; they have lost all they had in this fierce fire, and men must build their homes again and you and I must lead the way.
19. And then the man arose; the two went arm in arm to view the wrecks.
20. They heard the mothers and the children crying in the streets; they saw their wretchedness.
21. And Jesus said, My friend, here is work for you to do. JUst lead the way in helpfulness; I'm sure the men of Bethany will furnish you the means and help.
22. The spark of hope that so long been smoldering in the man was fanned into a flame. He threw his ragged coat aside; he was himself again.
23. And then he called for help; not for himself, but for the homeless ones; and everybody helped. The ruined homes were built again.
24. And then he saw his own poor den; his heart was stirred into its depths.
25. The pride of manhood filled his soul; he said, This wretched den shall be a home. He worked as he had never wrought before, and everybody helped.
26. And in a little while the den became a home indeed; the flowers of love bloomed everywhere.
27. The mother and the little ones were filled with joy; the father never drank again.
28. A man was saved, and no one ever said a word about neglect or drunkenness, nor urged him to reform.
Chapter 93
The Christines go through a field of ripe wheat, and the disciples eat of the wheat. Jesus exonerates them. The Christines return to Capernaum. Jesus heals a withered hand on the Sabbath, and defends his deed.
1. Another Sabbath day had come and Jesus and the twelve walked through a field of ripened wheat.
2. And they were hungry and they took the heads of wheat and in their hands threshed out the grain and ate.
3. Among the men who followed them were Pharisees of strictest sect, and when they saw the twelve thresh out the wheat and eat, they said to Jesus,
4. Sir, why do the twelve do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?
5. And Jesus said, Have you not heard what David did when he and those who followed him had need of food?
6. How he went to the house of God and from the table in the Holy Place took of the presence bread and ate, and gave to those who followed him?
7. I tell you, men, the needs of man are higher than the law of rites.
8. And in our sacred books we read how priests profane the Sabbath day in many ways while they are serving in the Holy Place, and still are free from guilt.
9. The Sabbath day was made for man; man was not made to fit the Sabbath day.
10. The man is son of God and under the eternal law of right, which is the highest law, he may annul the statute laws.
11. The law of sacrifice is but the law of man, and in our law we read that God desires mercy first; and mercy stands above all statute laws.
12. The son of man is Lord of every law. Did not a prophet sum the duties of the man when in the book he wrote: In mercy follow justice and walk humbly with your God?
13. Then Jesus and the twelve returned to Galilee, and on the day before the Sabbath day they reached the home of Jesus in Capernaum.
14. And on the Sabbath day they went up to the synagogue. The multitudes were there and Jesus taught.
15. Among the worshippers was one, a man who had a withered hand. The scribes and Pharisees observed that Jesus saw the man, and then they said,
16. What will he do? Will he attempt to heal upon the SAbbath day?
17. And Jesus knew their thoughts and he called to the man who had the withered hand and said, Arise, stand forth before these men.
18. And Jesus said, You scribes and Pharisees, speak out and answer me: Is it a crime to save a life upon the Sabbath day?
19. If you had sheep and one of them fell in a pit upon the Sabbath day would you do wrong to take it out?
20. Or would it please your God to let it suffer in the mire until another day?
21. But his accusers held their peace.
22. And then he said tho them, Are sheep of greater value than a man?
23. The law of God is written on the rock of Right; and Justice wrote the law, and Mercy was the pen.
24. And then he said, Man, raise your hand and stretch it forth. He raised his hand; it was restored.
25. The Pharisees were filled with rage. They called in secret council the Herodians, and they began to plot and plan how they might bring about his death.
26. They were afraid to publicly accuse, because the multitudes stood forth in his defence.
27. And Jesus and the twelve went down and walked beside the sea, and many people followed them.
Chapter 94
The Sermon on the Mount. Jesus reveals to the twelve the secret of prayer. The model prayer. The law of forgiveness. The holy fast. The evil of deceit. Almsgiving.
1. Next morning ere the sun had risen Jesus and the twelve went to a mountain near the sea to pray; and Jesus taught the twelve disciples how to pray. He said,
2. Prayer is the deep communion of the soul with God;
3. So when you pray do not deceive yourselves as do the hypocrites who love to stand upon the streets and in the synagogues and pour out many words to please the ears of men.
4. And they adorn themselves with pious airs that they may have the praise of men. They seek the praise of men and their reward is sure.
5. But when you pray, go to the closet of your soul; close all the doors, and in the holy silence, pray.
6. You need not speak a multitude of words, nor yet repeat the words again and then again, as heathen do. Just say,
7. Our Father-God who art in heaven; holy is thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.
8. Give us this day our needed bread;
9. Help us forget the debts that other people owe to us, that all our debts may be discharged.
10. And shield us from the tempter's snares that are too great for us to bear;
11. And when they come give us the strength to overcome.
12. If you would be discharged from all the debts you owe to God and man, the debts you have incurred by wilfully transgressing law,
13. You must pass by the debts of every man; for as you deal with other men your God will deal with you.
14. And when you fast you may not advertise the deed.
15. When fast the hypocrites they paint their faces, look demure, assume a pious pose, that they may seem to men to fast.
16. A fast is deed of soul, and like a prayer, it is a function of the silence of the soul.
17. God never passes by unnoticed any prayer, or fast. He walks within the silence, and his benedictions rest on every effort of the soul.
18. Deception is hypocrisy, and you shall not assume to be what you are not.
19. You may not clothe yourselves in special garb to advertise your piety, nor yet assume the tone of voice that men conceive to be a holy voice.
20. And when you give to aid the needy ones, blow not a trumpet in the street, nor a synagogue to advertise your gift.
21. He who does alms for praise of men has his reward from men; but God regardeth not.
22. In giving alms do not let the right hand know the secret of the left.
Chapter 95
The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus pronounces the eight beatitudes and the eight woes. Speaks words of encouragement. Emphasises the exalted character of the apostolic work.
1. And Jesus and the twelve went to the mountain top, and Jesus said,
2. Twelve pillars of the church, apostles of the Christ; light-bearers of the sun of life and ministers of God to men:
3. In just a little while you must go forth alone, and preach the gospel of the king, first to the Jews and then to all the world.
4. And you shall go, not with a scourge of cords to drive; you cannot drive men to the king;
5. But you shall go in love and helpfulness and lead the way to right and light.
6. Go forth and say, The kingdom is at hand.
7. Worthy are the strong in spirit; theirs the kingdom is.
8. Worthy are the meek; they shall possess the land.
9. Worthy they who hunger and thirst for right; they shall be satisfied.
10. Worthy are the merciful; and mercy shall be shown to them.
11. Worthy they who gain the mastery of self; they have the key of power.
12. Worthy are the pure in heart; and they shall see the king.
13. Worthy they who are maligned and wronged because they do the right; their percecutors they shall bless.
14. Worthy is the trustful child of faith; he shall sit in the throne of power.
15. Be not discouraged when the world shall persecute and call you curst; but rather be exceeding glad.
16. The prophets and the seers, and all the good of earth, have been maligned.
17. If you are worthy of the crown of life you will be slandered, vilified and curst on earth.
18. Rejoice when evil men shall drive you from their ways and cause your name to be a hiss and by-word in the street.
19. I say, rejoice; but deal in mercy with the doers of the wrong; they are but children at their play; they know not what they do.
20. Rejoice not over fallen foes. As you help men rise from the depth of sin, so God will help you on to greater heights.
21. Woe to the rich is gold and lands; they have temptations multiforms.
22. Woe unto men who walk at will in pleasure's paths; their ways are full of snares and dangerous pits.
23. Woe to the proud; they stand upon a precipice; destruction waits for them.
24. Woe to the man of greed; for what he has is not his own; and lo, another comes; wealth is gone.
25. Woe to the hypocrite; his form is fair to look upon; his heart is filled with carcasses and dead men's bones.
26. Woe to the cruel and relentless man; he is himself the victim of his deeds.
27. The evil he would do to other men rebounds; the scourger is the scourged.
28. Woe to the libertine who preys upon the virtues of the weak. The hour comes when he will be the weak, the victim of a libertine of greater power.
29. Woe unto you when all the world shall speak in praise of you. The world speaks not in praise of men who live within the Holy Breath; It speaks in praise of prophets false, and of illusions base.
30. You men who walk in Holy Breath are salt, the salt of earth; but if you lose your virtue you are salt in name alone, worth nothing more than dust.
31. And you are light; are called to light the world.
32. A city on a hill cannot be hid; its lights are seen afar; and while you stand upon the hills of life men see your light and imitate your works and honour God.
33. Men do not light a lamp and hide it in a cask; they put it on a stand that it may light the house.
34. You are the lamps of God; must not stand in the shade of earth illusions, but in the open, high upon the stand.
35. I am not come to nullify the law, nor to destroy; but to fulfil.
36. The Law, the Prophets and the Psalms were written in the wisdom of the Holy breath and cannot fail.
37. The heavens and earth that are will change and pass away; the word of God is sure; it cannot pass until it shall accomplish that where unto it hath been sent.
38. Whoever disregards the law of God and teaches men to do the same, becomes a debtor unto God and cannot see his face until he has returned and paid his debt by sacrifice of life.
39. But he who hearkens unto God and keeps his law and does his will on earth, shall rule with Christ.
40. The scribes and Pharisees regard the letter of the law; they cannot comprehend the spirit of the law;
41. And if your righteousness does not exceed the righteousness of scribe and Pharisee you cannot come into the kingdom of the soul.
42. It is not what man does that gives him right to enter through the gates; his pass word is his character and desire is his character.
43. The letter of the law deals with the acts of man; the spirit of the law takes note of his desires.
Chapter 96
The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus considers the Ten Commandments. The philosophy of Christ the spirit of the Commandments. Jesus unfolds the spiritual aspects of the first four Commandments.
1. God gave the Ten Commandments unto men; upon the mountain Moses saw the words of God; he wrote them down on solid rock; they cannot be destroyed.
2. These Ten Commandments show the justice side of God; but now the love of God made manifest brings mercy on the wings of Holy Breath.
3. Upon the unity of God the law was built. In all the world there is one force; Jehovah is Almighty God.
4. Jehovah wrote uoun the heavens and Moses read,
5. I am Almighty God and you shall have no God but me.
6. There is one force, but many phases of that force; these phases men call powers.
7. All powers are of God; and they are manifests of God; they are Spirits of the God.
8. If men could seem to find another force and worship at its shrine, they would but court illusion, vain,
9. A shadow of the One, Jehovah, God, and they who worship shadows are but shadows on the wall; for men are what court.
10. And God would have all men to be the substance, and in mercy he commanded, You shall seek no God but me.
11. And finite men can never comprehend infinite things. Man cannot make an image of the Infinite in force.
12. And when men make a God of stone or wood or clay they make an image of a shade; and they who worship at the shrine of shades are shades.
13. So God in mercy said, You shall not carve out images of wood, or clay, or stone.
14. Such idols are ideals, abased ideals, and men can gain no higher plane than their ideals.
15. The God is Spirit men must worship if they would attain a consciousness of God.
16. But man can never make a picture or an image of the Holy Breath.
17. The name of God man may not speak with carnal lips; with Holy Breath alone can man pronounce the name.
18. In vanity men think they know the name of God; they speak it lightly and irreverently, and thus they are accursed.
19. If men did know the sacred name and spoke it with unholy lips, they would not live to speak it once again.
20. But God in mercy has not yet unveiled his name to those who cannot speak with Holy Breath.
21. But they who speak the substitute in idle way are guilty in the sight of God, who said,
22. You shall not take the name of God in vain.
23. The number of the Holy Breath is seven, and God holds in his hands the sevens of time.
24. In forming worlds he rested on the seventh day, and every seventh day is set apart as Sabbath day for men. God said,
25. The seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; remember it and keep it wholly set apart for works of holiness; that is, for works not for the selfish self, but for the universal self.
26. Men may do work for self upon the six days of the week; but on the Sabbath of the Lord they must do naught for self.
27. This day is consecrated unto God; but man serves God by serving man.
Chapter 97
The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus unfolds to the twelve the spiritual aspects of the fifth and sixth Commandments.
1. God is not force alone; for wisdom is his counterpart.
2. When cherubim instructed man in wisdom's ways they said that wisdom is the Mother of the race, as force is Father of the race.
3. The man who honours the almighty and omniscient God is blessed, and in the tables of the law we read,
4. Pay homage to your Father and Mother of the race, that your days may be prolonged upon the land that they have given you.
5. The letter of the law commands; you shall not kill; and he who kills must stand before the judgement seat.
6. A person may desire to kill, yet if he does not kill he is not judged by law.
7. The spirit of the law avers that he who shall desire to kill, or seeks revenge, is angry with a man without suffient cause, must answer to the judge;
8. And he who calls his brother soulless vagabond shall answer to the council of the just;
9. And he who calls his brother a degenerate, a dog, fans into life the burning fires of hell within himself.
10. Now, in the higher law we read that if your brother is aggrieved by something you have done, before you offer unto God your gifts, go forth and find your brother and be reconciled to him.
11. It is not well to let the sun go down upon your wrath.
12. If he will not be reconciled when you have laid aside all selfish pleas, have waived all selfish rights, you will be guiltless in the sight of God; then go and offer unto God your gifts.
13. If you owe aught to any man and cannot pay; or if a man shall claim a greater sum than is his due it is not well that you dispute his claims.
14. Resistance is the sire of anger; there is no mercy and no reason in a wrathful man.
15. I tell you it is better far to suffer loss than go to law, or call upon the courts of men to judge of right and wrong.
16. The law of carnal man would say, Eye for eye and tooth for tooth; resist encroachment on your rights.
17. But this is not the law of God. The Holy Breath would say, Resist not him who would deprive you of your goods.
18. He who would take your coat by force is still a brother man and you should gain his heart, which by resistance cannot be done;
19. Give him your coat and offer him still more and more; in time the man will rise above the brute; you will have saved him from himself.
20. Refuse not him who calls for help and give to him who asks to borrow aught.
21. And if a man shall strike you in a fitful, or an angry way, it is not well to smite him in return.
22. Men call him coward who will not fight and thus defend his rights; but he is much the greater man who is assailed, is smitten and does not smite;
23. Who is maligned and answers not, than he who smites the smiter and reviles the one who slanders him.
24. It has been said in olden times that man shall love his friend and hate his foe; but, lo, I say,
25. Be merciful unto your foes; bless those who slander you; do good to those who do you harm and pray for those who trample on your rights.
26. Remember, you are children of the God who makes his sun to rise alike upon the evil and the good, who sends his rain upon the unjust and the just.
27. If you do unto other men as they do unto you, you are but slaves, but followers in the way to death.
28. But you, as children of the light, must lead the way.
29. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
30. When you do good to those who have done good to you, you do no more than other men; the publicans do that.
31. If you salute your friends and not your foes, you are like other men; the publicans ahve set the pace.
32. Be perfect as your Father-God in heaven is.
Chapter 98
The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus reveals to the twelve the spiritual aspects of the seventh, eight and tenth Commandments.
1. The law forbids adultery; but in the eyes of law adultery is an overt act, the satisfaction of the sensuous self outside the marriage bonds.
2. Now, marriage in the sight of law is but a promise made by man and woman, by the sanction of a priest, to live for aye in harmony and love.
3. No priest nor officer has power from God to bind two souls in wedded love.
4. What is the marriage tie? Is it comprised in what a priest or officer may say?
5. Is it the scroll on which the officer or priest has written the permission for the two to live in marriage bonds?
6. Is it the promise of the two that they will love each other until death?
7. Is love a passion that is subject to the will of man?
8. Can man pick up his love, as he would pick up precious gems, and lay it down, or give it out to any one?
9. Can love be bought and sold like sheep?
10. Love is the power of God that binds two souls and makes them one; there is no power on earth that can dissolve the bond.
11. The bodies may be forced apart by man or death for just a little time; but they will meet again.
12. Now, in this bond of God we find the marriage tie; all other unions are but bonds of straw, and they who live in them commit adultery.
13. The same as they who satisfy their lust without the sanction of an officer or priest.
14. But more than this; the man or woman who indulges lustful thoughts commits adultery.
15. Whom God has joined together man cannot part; whom man has joined together live in sin.
16. Upon a table of the law, the great lawgiver wrote, Thou shalt not steal.
17. Before the eyes of law a man to steal must take a thing that can be seen with eyes of flesh, without the knowledge or consent of him to whom the thing belongs.
18. But, lo, I say that he who in his heart desires to possess that which is not his own, and would deprive the owner of the thing without his knowledge or consent, is in the sight of God, a thief.
19. The things that men see not with eyesof flesh are of more worth than are the things that man can see.
20. A man's good name is worth a thousand mines of gold, and he who says a word or does a deed that injures or defames that name has taken what is not his own, and is a thief.
21. Upon a table of the law we also read: Thou shalt not covet anything.
22. To covet is an all-consuming wish to have what is not right for one to have.
23. And such a wish, within the spirit of the law, is theft.
Chapter 99
The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus unfolds to the twelve the spiritual aspects of the ninth Commandment.
1. The law has said: Thou shalt not lie; but in the eyes of law a man to lie must tell inwords what is not true.
2. Now, in the light of spirit law, deceit in any form is nothing but a lie.
3. A man may lie by look or act; yea, even by his silence may deceive, and thus be guilty in the eyes of Holy Breath.
4. It has been said in olden times: Thou shalt not swear by thine own life.
5. But, lo, I say, Swear not at all; not by the head, the heart, the eye, nor hand; not by the sun, the moon, nor stars;
6. Not by the name of God, nor by the name of any spirit, good or bad.
7. You shall not swear by anything; for in an oath there is no gain.
8. A man whose word must be propped up by oath of any kind is not trustworthy in the sight of God or man.
9. By oath you cannot make a leaf to fall, nor turn the colour of a hair.
10. The man of worth just speaks and men know that he speaks the truth.
11. The man who pours out many words to make think he speaks the truth, is simply making smoke to hide a lie.
12. And there are many men with seeming double hearts; men who would serve two masters at a time--two masters quite adverse.
13. Men feign to worship God upon the Sabbath day and then pay court to Beelzebul on every other day.
14. No man can serve two masters at a time no more than he can ride two asses at a time that go in different ways.
15. The man who feigns to worship God and Beelzebul is foe of God, a pious devil and a curse of men.
16. And men cannot lay treasures up in heaven and earth at once.
17. Then, lo, I say, Lift up your eyes and see the safety vaults of heaven, and there deposit every gem.
18. Where moth and rust cannot corrupt; where thieves cannot break in and steal.
19. There are no safety vaults on earth; no place secure from moth, and rust and thieves.
20. The treasures of the earth are but illusive things that pass away.
21. Be not deceived; your treasures are the anchor of the soul, and where your treasures are your heart will be.
22. Fix not your heart upon the things of earth; be anxious not about the things to eat, or drink or wear.
23. God cares for those who trust in him and serve the race.
24. Behold the birds! They praise God in their songs; the earth is made more glorious by their ministry of joy; God keeps them in the hollow of his hand, 25 And not a sparrow falls to earth without his care; and every one that falls shall rise again.
26. Behold the flowers of earth! they trust in God and grow; they make the earth resplendent with their beauty and perfume.
27. Look at the lilies of the field, the messengers of holy love. No son of man, not even Solomon in all his excellence, was ever clothed like one of these.
28. And yet they simply trust in God; they feed from out his hand; they lay their heads to rest upon his breast.
29. If God so clothes and feeds the flowers and birds that do his will, will he not feed and clothe his children when they trust in him?
30. Seek first the kingdom of the soul, the righteousness of God, the good of men, and feed, and clothe.
Chapter 100
The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus formulates and presents to the twelve a practical code of spiritual ethics.
1. There is a rule that carnal man has made, and which he rigidly observes:
2. Do unto other men as they do unto you. As others judge, they judge; as others give, they give.
3. Now, while you walk with men as men, judge not, and you shall not be judged.
4. For as you judge you shall be judged, and as you give it shall be given to you. If you condemn, you are condemned.
5. When you show mercy, men are merciful to you, and if you love in such a way that carnal man can comprehend your love, you will be well beloved.
6. And so the wise man of this world does unto other men as he would have them do to him.
7. The carnal man does good to other men for selfish gain, for he expects to have his blessings multiplied and then returned; he does not stop to note the end.
8. Man is himself the field; his deeds are seeds, and what he does to others grows apace; the hearvest time is sure.
9. Behold the yield! If he has sown the wind, he reaps the wind; if he has sown the noxious seeds of scandal, theft and hate; of sensuality and crime,
10. The harvest is assured and he must reap what he has sown; yea, more; the seeds produce an hundred fold.
11. The fruit of righteousness and peace and love and joy can never spring from noxious seeds; the fruit is like the seed.
12. And when you sow, sow seeds of right, because it is the right, and not in the way of trade, expecting rich rewards.
13. The carnal man abhors the spirit law, because it takes away his liberty to live in sin; beneath its light he cannot satisfy his passions and desires.
14. He is at enmity with him who walks in Holy Breath. The carnal man has killed the holy men of old, the prophets and the seers.
15. And he will buffet you; will charge you falsely, scourge you and imprison you, and think he does the will of God to slay you in the streets.
16. But you may not prejudge nor cencure him who does you wrong.
17. Each one has problems to be solved, and he must solve them for himself.
18. The man who scourges you may have a load of sin to bear; but how about your own?
19. A little sin in one who walks in Holy Breath is greater in the sight of God than monster sins in him who never knew the way.
20. How can you see the splinter in your brother's eye while you have chunks within your own?
21. First take the chunks from out your eye and then you may behold the splinter in your brother's eye and help him take it out,
22. And while your eyes are full of foreign things you cannot see the way, for you are blind,
23. And when the blind lead forth the blind, both lose the way and fall into the slough.
24. If you would lead the way to God you must be clear in sight, as well as pure in heart.
Chapter 101
The Sermon on the Mount, concluded. The concluding part of the code of ethics. The Christines return to Capernaum.
1. The fruitage of the tree of life is all too fine to feed the carnal mind.
2. If you would throw a diamond to a hungry dog, lo, he would turn away, or else attack you in a rage.
3. The incense that is sweet to God is quite offensive unto Beelzebul; the bread of heaven is but chaff to men who cannot comprehend the spirit life.
4. The master must be wise and feed the soul with what it can digest.
5. If you have not the food for every man, just ask and you shall have; seek earnestly and you shall find.
6. Just speak the Word and knock; the door will fly ajar.
7. No one has ever asked in faith and did not have; none ever sought in vain; no one who ever knocked aright has failed to find an open door.
8. When men shall ask you for the bread of heaven, turn not away, nor give to them the fruit of carnal trees.
9. If one, a son, would ask you for a loaf, would you give him a stone? If he would ask you for a fish, would you give him a serpent of the dust?
10. What you would have your God give unto you, give unto men. The Measure of your worth lies in your service unto men.
11. There is a way that leads unto the perfect life; few find it at a time.
12. It is a narrow way; it lies among the rocks and pitfalls of the carnal life; but in the way there are no pitfalls and no rocks.
13. There is a way that leads to wretchedness and want. It is a spacious way and many walk therein. It lies among the pleasure groves of carnal life.
14. Beware, for many claim to walk the way of life who walk the way of death.
15. But they are false in word and deed; false prophets they. They clothe themselves in skins of sheep, while they are vicious wolves.
16. They cannot long conceal themselves; men know them ny their fruits;
17. You cannot gather grapes from thorns, nor from the thistles, figs.
18. The fruit is daughter of the tree and, like the parent, so the child; and every tree that bears not wholesome fruit is plucked up by the roots and cast away,
19. Because a man prays long and loud is not a sign that he is saint. The praying men are not all in the kingdom of the soul.
20. The man who lives the holy life, who does the will of God, abides within the kingdom of the soul.
21. The good man from the treasures of his heart sends blessedness and peace to all the world.
22. The evil man sends thoughts that blight and wither hope and joy and fill the world with wretchedness and woe.
23. Men think and act and speak out of the abundance of the heart.
24. And when the judgement hour shall come a host of men will enter pleadings for themselves and think to buy the favour of the judge with words.
25. And they will say, Lo, we have wrought a multitude of works in the Omnific name,
26. Have we not prophesied? Have we not cured all manner of disease? Have we not cast the evil spirits out of those obsessed?
27. And then the judge will say, I know you not. You rendered service unto God in words when in your heart you worshipped Beelzebul.
28. The evil one may use the powers of life, and do a multitude of mighty works. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity.
29. The man who hears the words of life and does them not is like the man who builds his house upon the sand, which when the floods come on, is washed away and all is lost.
30. But he who hears the words of life and in an honest, sincere heart receives and treasures them and lives the holy life,
31. Is like the man who builds the house upon the rock; the floods may come, the winds may blow, the storms may beat upon his house; it is not moved.
32. Go forth and build your life upon the solid rock of truth, and all the powers of the evil one will shake it not.
33. And Jesus finished all his sayings on the mount and then he, with the twelve, returned unto Capernaum.
AIN
The Second Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of Jesus
(first third | second third | last third)
Chapter 91
Jesus at the feast in Jerusalem. Heals an impotent man. Gives a practical lesson in healing. Affirms that all men are the sons of God.
1. The feast time came and Jesus and the twelve went to Jerusalem.
2. Upon the day before the Sabbath day they reached Mount Olives and they tarried at an inn before Mount Olives on the north.
3. And in the early morning of the Sabbath day they went in through the sheep gate to Jerusalem.
4. The healing fountain of Bethesda, near the gate, was thronged about with people who were sick;
5. For they believed that at a certain time an angel came and poured a healing virtue in the pool, and those who entered first and bathed, would be made whole.
6. And Jesus and the twelve were standing near the pool.
7. And Jesus saw a man near by who had been stricken eight and thirty years; without a hand to help he could not move.
8. And Jesus said to him, My brother, man, would you be healed?
9. The man replied, I earnestly desire to be healed; but I am helpless and when the angel comes and pours the healing virtues in the pool,
10. Another who can walk, steps in the fountain first and I am left unhealed.
11. And Jesus said,Who sends an angel here to potentise this pool for just a favoured few?
12. I know it is not God, for he deals just the same with every one.
13. One has no better chance in heaven's healing fountain than another one.
14. The fount of health is in your soul; it has a door locked fast; the key is faith;
15. And every one can have this key and may unlock the door and plunge into the healing fount and be made whole.
16. And then the man looked up in hopeful mood and said, Give me this key of faith.
17. And Jesus said, Do you believe what I have said? According to your faith it shall be done. Arise, take up your bed and walk.
18. The man at once arose and walked away; he only said, Praise God.
19. And when the people asked, Who made you whole? the man replied, I do not know. A stranger at the pool just spoke a word and I was well.
20. The many did not see when Jesus healed the man, and with the twelve he went his way up to the temple courts.
21. And in the temple Jesus saw the man and said to him, Behold you are made whole; from henceforth guard your life aright;
22. Go on your way and sin no more, or something worse may fall on you.
23. And now the man knew who it was who made him whole.
24. He told the story to the priests and they were much enraged; they said, The law forbids a man to heal upon the Sabbath day.
25. But Jesus said, My Father works on sabbath days and may not I?
26. He sends his rain, his sunshine and his dew; he makes his grass to grow, his flowers to bloom; he speeds the harvests just the same on Sabbath days as on the other days.
27. If it is lawful for the grass to grow and flowers to bloom on Sabbath days it surely is not wrong to succour stricken men.
28. And then the priests were angered more and more because he claimed to be a son of God.
29. A leading priest, Abihu, said, This fellow is a menace to our nation and our laws; he makes himself to be a son of God; it is not meet that he should live.
30. But Jesus said, Abihu, Sir, you are a learned man; you surely know the law of life. Pray tell who were the sons of God we read about in Genesis, who took to wife the daughters of the sons of men?
31. Our father Adam; who was he? From whence came he? Had he a father? or did he fall from heaven as a star?
32. We read that Moses said, He came from God. If Adam came from God pray, was he offspring, was he son?
33. We are the children of this son of God; then tell me, learned priest, Who are we if not sons of God?
34. The priest had urgent business and he went his way.
35. And Jesus said, All men are sons of God and if they live a holy life they always are at home with God.
36. They see and understand the works of God, and in his sacred name they can perform these works.
37. The lightnings and the storms are messengers of God as well as the sunshine, rain and dew.
38. The virtue of the heavens are in God's hands, and every loyal son may use these virtues and these powers.
39. Man is the delegate of God to do his will on earth, and man can heal the sick, control the spirit of the air, and raise the dead.
40. Because I have the power to do these things is nothing strange. All men may gain the power to do these things; but they must conquer all passions of the lower self; and they can conquer if they will.
41. So man is God on earth, and he who honours God must honour man; for God and man are one, as father and the child are one. 42 Behold, I say, The hour has come; the dead will hear the voice of man, and live, because the son of man is son of God.
43. You men of Israel, hear! you live in death; you are locked up within the tomb.
44. (There is no deeper death than ignorance and unbelief.)
45. But all will some day hear the voice of God made plain by voice of man, and live. You all will know that you are sons of God, and by the sacred Word, may do the works of God.
46. When you have come to life, that is, have come to realise that you are sons of God, you who have lived the life of right, will open up your eyes on fields of life.
47. But you who love the ways of sin will, in this resurrection, stand before a judgment bar, and be condemned to pay the debts yoy owe to men and to yourselves.
48. For whatsoever you have done amiss must be performed again, and yet again, until you reach the stature of the perfect man.
49. But in due time the lowest and the highest will arise to walk in light.
50. Shall I accuse you unto God? No, for your prophet, Moses, has done that; and if you hear not Mose' words you will not hearken unto me, for Moses wrote of me.
Chapter 92
The Christines at a feast in Lazarus' home. A fire rages in the town. Jesus rescues a child from the flames and stays the fire by the Word. He gives a practical lesson on how to redeem a drunken man.
1. Now, Lazarus was at the feast and Jesus and the twelve; and Ruth and Asher came from Jericho; for Asher was no longer hostile to the Christ.
3. And while the guests sat at the board behold a cry, The village is a-fire! and all rushed out into the streets, and, lo, the homes of many neighbours were in flames.
4. And in an upper room an enfant lay asleep, and none could pass the flames to save. The mother, wild with grief, was calling on the men to save her child.
5. Then, with a voice that made the spirits of the fire pale and tremble, Jesus said, Peace, peace, be still!
6. And then he walked through smoke and flame, climbed up the falling stair, and in a moment came again, and in his arms he brought the child. and not a trace of fire was on himself, his raiment, or the child.
7. Then Jesus raised his hand, rebuked the spirits of the fire, commanding them to cease their awful work, and be at rest.
8. And then, as though the waters of the sea were all at once poured on the flames, the fire ceased to burn.
9. And when the fury of the fire was spent the multitudes were wild to see the man who could control the fire, and Jesus said,
10. Man was not made for fire, but fire was made for man.
11. When man comes to himself and comprehends the fact that he is son of God, and knows that in himself lies all the powers of God, he is a master mind and all the elements will hear his voice and gladly do his will.
12. Two sturdy asses bind the will of man; their names are Fear and Unbelief. When these are caught and turned aside, the will of man will know no bounds; then man has but to speak and it is done.
13. And then the guests returned and sat about the board. A little child came in and stood by Jesus' side.
14. She laid her hand on Jesus' arm and said, Please, Master Jesus, hear! my father is a drunken man; my mother toils from morn till night and when she brings her wages home my father snatches them away and squanders every cent for drink, and mother and us little ones are hungry all the night.
15. Please, Master Jesus, come with me and touch my father's heart. He is so good and kind when he is just himself; I know it is the wine that makes another amn of him.
16. And Jesus went out with the child; he found the wretched home; he spoke in kindness to the mother and the little ones, and then upon a bed of straw he found the drunken man.
17. He took him by the hand and raised him up and said, My brother, man, made in the image of our Father-God, will you arise and come with me?
18. Your neighbours are in sore distress; they have lost all they had in this fierce fire, and men must build their homes again and you and I must lead the way.
19. And then the man arose; the two went arm in arm to view the wrecks.
20. They heard the mothers and the children crying in the streets; they saw their wretchedness.
21. And Jesus said, My friend, here is work for you to do. JUst lead the way in helpfulness; I'm sure the men of Bethany will furnish you the means and help.
22. The spark of hope that so long been smoldering in the man was fanned into a flame. He threw his ragged coat aside; he was himself again.
23. And then he called for help; not for himself, but for the homeless ones; and everybody helped. The ruined homes were built again.
24. And then he saw his own poor den; his heart was stirred into its depths.
25. The pride of manhood filled his soul; he said, This wretched den shall be a home. He worked as he had never wrought before, and everybody helped.
26. And in a little while the den became a home indeed; the flowers of love bloomed everywhere.
27. The mother and the little ones were filled with joy; the father never drank again.
28. A man was saved, and no one ever said a word about neglect or drunkenness, nor urged him to reform.
Chapter 93
The Christines go through a field of ripe wheat, and the disciples eat of the wheat. Jesus exonerates them. The Christines return to Capernaum. Jesus heals a withered hand on the Sabbath, and defends his deed.
1. Another Sabbath day had come and Jesus and the twelve walked through a field of ripened wheat.
2. And they were hungry and they took the heads of wheat and in their hands threshed out the grain and ate.
3. Among the men who followed them were Pharisees of strictest sect, and when they saw the twelve thresh out the wheat and eat, they said to Jesus,
4. Sir, why do the twelve do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?
5. And Jesus said, Have you not heard what David did when he and those who followed him had need of food?
6. How he went to the house of God and from the table in the Holy Place took of the presence bread and ate, and gave to those who followed him?
7. I tell you, men, the needs of man are higher than the law of rites.
8. And in our sacred books we read how priests profane the Sabbath day in many ways while they are serving in the Holy Place, and still are free from guilt.
9. The Sabbath day was made for man; man was not made to fit the Sabbath day.
10. The man is son of God and under the eternal law of right, which is the highest law, he may annul the statute laws.
11. The law of sacrifice is but the law of man, and in our law we read that God desires mercy first; and mercy stands above all statute laws.
12. The son of man is Lord of every law. Did not a prophet sum the duties of the man when in the book he wrote: In mercy follow justice and walk humbly with your God?
13. Then Jesus and the twelve returned to Galilee, and on the day before the Sabbath day they reached the home of Jesus in Capernaum.
14. And on the Sabbath day they went up to the synagogue. The multitudes were there and Jesus taught.
15. Among the worshippers was one, a man who had a withered hand. The scribes and Pharisees observed that Jesus saw the man, and then they said,
16. What will he do? Will he attempt to heal upon the SAbbath day?
17. And Jesus knew their thoughts and he called to the man who had the withered hand and said, Arise, stand forth before these men.
18. And Jesus said, You scribes and Pharisees, speak out and answer me: Is it a crime to save a life upon the Sabbath day?
19. If you had sheep and one of them fell in a pit upon the Sabbath day would you do wrong to take it out?
20. Or would it please your God to let it suffer in the mire until another day?
21. But his accusers held their peace.
22. And then he said tho them, Are sheep of greater value than a man?
23. The law of God is written on the rock of Right; and Justice wrote the law, and Mercy was the pen.
24. And then he said, Man, raise your hand and stretch it forth. He raised his hand; it was restored.
25. The Pharisees were filled with rage. They called in secret council the Herodians, and they began to plot and plan how they might bring about his death.
26. They were afraid to publicly accuse, because the multitudes stood forth in his defence.
27. And Jesus and the twelve went down and walked beside the sea, and many people followed them.
Chapter 94
The Sermon on the Mount. Jesus reveals to the twelve the secret of prayer. The model prayer. The law of forgiveness. The holy fast. The evil of deceit. Almsgiving.
1. Next morning ere the sun had risen Jesus and the twelve went to a mountain near the sea to pray; and Jesus taught the twelve disciples how to pray. He said,
2. Prayer is the deep communion of the soul with God;
3. So when you pray do not deceive yourselves as do the hypocrites who love to stand upon the streets and in the synagogues and pour out many words to please the ears of men.
4. And they adorn themselves with pious airs that they may have the praise of men. They seek the praise of men and their reward is sure.
5. But when you pray, go to the closet of your soul; close all the doors, and in the holy silence, pray.
6. You need not speak a multitude of words, nor yet repeat the words again and then again, as heathen do. Just say,
7. Our Father-God who art in heaven; holy is thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.
8. Give us this day our needed bread;
9. Help us forget the debts that other people owe to us, that all our debts may be discharged.
10. And shield us from the tempter's snares that are too great for us to bear;
11. And when they come give us the strength to overcome.
12. If you would be discharged from all the debts you owe to God and man, the debts you have incurred by wilfully transgressing law,
13. You must pass by the debts of every man; for as you deal with other men your God will deal with you.
14. And when you fast you may not advertise the deed.
15. When fast the hypocrites they paint their faces, look demure, assume a pious pose, that they may seem to men to fast.
16. A fast is deed of soul, and like a prayer, it is a function of the silence of the soul.
17. God never passes by unnoticed any prayer, or fast. He walks within the silence, and his benedictions rest on every effort of the soul.
18. Deception is hypocrisy, and you shall not assume to be what you are not.
19. You may not clothe yourselves in special garb to advertise your piety, nor yet assume the tone of voice that men conceive to be a holy voice.
20. And when you give to aid the needy ones, blow not a trumpet in the street, nor a synagogue to advertise your gift.
21. He who does alms for praise of men has his reward from men; but God regardeth not.
22. In giving alms do not let the right hand know the secret of the left.
Chapter 95
The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus pronounces the eight beatitudes and the eight woes. Speaks words of encouragement. Emphasises the exalted character of the apostolic work.
1. And Jesus and the twelve went to the mountain top, and Jesus said,
2. Twelve pillars of the church, apostles of the Christ; light-bearers of the sun of life and ministers of God to men:
3. In just a little while you must go forth alone, and preach the gospel of the king, first to the Jews and then to all the world.
4. And you shall go, not with a scourge of cords to drive; you cannot drive men to the king;
5. But you shall go in love and helpfulness and lead the way to right and light.
6. Go forth and say, The kingdom is at hand.
7. Worthy are the strong in spirit; theirs the kingdom is.
8. Worthy are the meek; they shall possess the land.
9. Worthy they who hunger and thirst for right; they shall be satisfied.
10. Worthy are the merciful; and mercy shall be shown to them.
11. Worthy they who gain the mastery of self; they have the key of power.
12. Worthy are the pure in heart; and they shall see the king.
13. Worthy they who are maligned and wronged because they do the right; their percecutors they shall bless.
14. Worthy is the trustful child of faith; he shall sit in the throne of power.
15. Be not discouraged when the world shall persecute and call you curst; but rather be exceeding glad.
16. The prophets and the seers, and all the good of earth, have been maligned.
17. If you are worthy of the crown of life you will be slandered, vilified and curst on earth.
18. Rejoice when evil men shall drive you from their ways and cause your name to be a hiss and by-word in the street.
19. I say, rejoice; but deal in mercy with the doers of the wrong; they are but children at their play; they know not what they do.
20. Rejoice not over fallen foes. As you help men rise from the depth of sin, so God will help you on to greater heights.
21. Woe to the rich is gold and lands; they have temptations multiforms.
22. Woe unto men who walk at will in pleasure's paths; their ways are full of snares and dangerous pits.
23. Woe to the proud; they stand upon a precipice; destruction waits for them.
24. Woe to the man of greed; for what he has is not his own; and lo, another comes; wealth is gone.
25. Woe to the hypocrite; his form is fair to look upon; his heart is filled with carcasses and dead men's bones.
26. Woe to the cruel and relentless man; he is himself the victim of his deeds.
27. The evil he would do to other men rebounds; the scourger is the scourged.
28. Woe to the libertine who preys upon the virtues of the weak. The hour comes when he will be the weak, the victim of a libertine of greater power.
29. Woe unto you when all the world shall speak in praise of you. The world speaks not in praise of men who live within the Holy Breath; It speaks in praise of prophets false, and of illusions base.
30. You men who walk in Holy Breath are salt, the salt of earth; but if you lose your virtue you are salt in name alone, worth nothing more than dust.
31. And you are light; are called to light the world.
32. A city on a hill cannot be hid; its lights are seen afar; and while you stand upon the hills of life men see your light and imitate your works and honour God.
33. Men do not light a lamp and hide it in a cask; they put it on a stand that it may light the house.
34. You are the lamps of God; must not stand in the shade of earth illusions, but in the open, high upon the stand.
35. I am not come to nullify the law, nor to destroy; but to fulfil.
36. The Law, the Prophets and the Psalms were written in the wisdom of the Holy breath and cannot fail.
37. The heavens and earth that are will change and pass away; the word of God is sure; it cannot pass until it shall accomplish that where unto it hath been sent.
38. Whoever disregards the law of God and teaches men to do the same, becomes a debtor unto God and cannot see his face until he has returned and paid his debt by sacrifice of life.
39. But he who hearkens unto God and keeps his law and does his will on earth, shall rule with Christ.
40. The scribes and Pharisees regard the letter of the law; they cannot comprehend the spirit of the law;
41. And if your righteousness does not exceed the righteousness of scribe and Pharisee you cannot come into the kingdom of the soul.
42. It is not what man does that gives him right to enter through the gates; his pass word is his character and desire is his character.
43. The letter of the law deals with the acts of man; the spirit of the law takes note of his desires.
Chapter 96
The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus considers the Ten Commandments. The philosophy of Christ the spirit of the Commandments. Jesus unfolds the spiritual aspects of the first four Commandments.
1. God gave the Ten Commandments unto men; upon the mountain Moses saw the words of God; he wrote them down on solid rock; they cannot be destroyed.
2. These Ten Commandments show the justice side of God; but now the love of God made manifest brings mercy on the wings of Holy Breath.
3. Upon the unity of God the law was built. In all the world there is one force; Jehovah is Almighty God.
4. Jehovah wrote uoun the heavens and Moses read,
5. I am Almighty God and you shall have no God but me.
6. There is one force, but many phases of that force; these phases men call powers.
7. All powers are of God; and they are manifests of God; they are Spirits of the God.
8. If men could seem to find another force and worship at its shrine, they would but court illusion, vain,
9. A shadow of the One, Jehovah, God, and they who worship shadows are but shadows on the wall; for men are what court.
10. And God would have all men to be the substance, and in mercy he commanded, You shall seek no God but me.
11. And finite men can never comprehend infinite things. Man cannot make an image of the Infinite in force.
12. And when men make a God of stone or wood or clay they make an image of a shade; and they who worship at the shrine of shades are shades.
13. So God in mercy said, You shall not carve out images of wood, or clay, or stone.
14. Such idols are ideals, abased ideals, and men can gain no higher plane than their ideals.
15. The God is Spirit men must worship if they would attain a consciousness of God.
16. But man can never make a picture or an image of the Holy Breath.
17. The name of God man may not speak with carnal lips; with Holy Breath alone can man pronounce the name.
18. In vanity men think they know the name of God; they speak it lightly and irreverently, and thus they are accursed.
19. If men did know the sacred name and spoke it with unholy lips, they would not live to speak it once again.
20. But God in mercy has not yet unveiled his name to those who cannot speak with Holy Breath.
21. But they who speak the substitute in idle way are guilty in the sight of God, who said,
22. You shall not take the name of God in vain.
23. The number of the Holy Breath is seven, and God holds in his hands the sevens of time.
24. In forming worlds he rested on the seventh day, and every seventh day is set apart as Sabbath day for men. God said,
25. The seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; remember it and keep it wholly set apart for works of holiness; that is, for works not for the selfish self, but for the universal self.
26. Men may do work for self upon the six days of the week; but on the Sabbath of the Lord they must do naught for self.
27. This day is consecrated unto God; but man serves God by serving man.
Chapter 97
The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus unfolds to the twelve the spiritual aspects of the fifth and sixth Commandments.
1. God is not force alone; for wisdom is his counterpart.
2. When cherubim instructed man in wisdom's ways they said that wisdom is the Mother of the race, as force is Father of the race.
3. The man who honours the almighty and omniscient God is blessed, and in the tables of the law we read,
4. Pay homage to your Father and Mother of the race, that your days may be prolonged upon the land that they have given you.
5. The letter of the law commands; you shall not kill; and he who kills must stand before the judgement seat.
6. A person may desire to kill, yet if he does not kill he is not judged by law.
7. The spirit of the law avers that he who shall desire to kill, or seeks revenge, is angry with a man without suffient cause, must answer to the judge;
8. And he who calls his brother soulless vagabond shall answer to the council of the just;
9. And he who calls his brother a degenerate, a dog, fans into life the burning fires of hell within himself.
10. Now, in the higher law we read that if your brother is aggrieved by something you have done, before you offer unto God your gifts, go forth and find your brother and be reconciled to him.
11. It is not well to let the sun go down upon your wrath.
12. If he will not be reconciled when you have laid aside all selfish pleas, have waived all selfish rights, you will be guiltless in the sight of God; then go and offer unto God your gifts.
13. If you owe aught to any man and cannot pay; or if a man shall claim a greater sum than is his due it is not well that you dispute his claims.
14. Resistance is the sire of anger; there is no mercy and no reason in a wrathful man.
15. I tell you it is better far to suffer loss than go to law, or call upon the courts of men to judge of right and wrong.
16. The law of carnal man would say, Eye for eye and tooth for tooth; resist encroachment on your rights.
17. But this is not the law of God. The Holy Breath would say, Resist not him who would deprive you of your goods.
18. He who would take your coat by force is still a brother man and you should gain his heart, which by resistance cannot be done;
19. Give him your coat and offer him still more and more; in time the man will rise above the brute; you will have saved him from himself.
20. Refuse not him who calls for help and give to him who asks to borrow aught.
21. And if a man shall strike you in a fitful, or an angry way, it is not well to smite him in return.
22. Men call him coward who will not fight and thus defend his rights; but he is much the greater man who is assailed, is smitten and does not smite;
23. Who is maligned and answers not, than he who smites the smiter and reviles the one who slanders him.
24. It has been said in olden times that man shall love his friend and hate his foe; but, lo, I say,
25. Be merciful unto your foes; bless those who slander you; do good to those who do you harm and pray for those who trample on your rights.
26. Remember, you are children of the God who makes his sun to rise alike upon the evil and the good, who sends his rain upon the unjust and the just.
27. If you do unto other men as they do unto you, you are but slaves, but followers in the way to death.
28. But you, as children of the light, must lead the way.
29. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
30. When you do good to those who have done good to you, you do no more than other men; the publicans do that.
31. If you salute your friends and not your foes, you are like other men; the publicans ahve set the pace.
32. Be perfect as your Father-God in heaven is.
Chapter 98
The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus reveals to the twelve the spiritual aspects of the seventh, eight and tenth Commandments.
1. The law forbids adultery; but in the eyes of law adultery is an overt act, the satisfaction of the sensuous self outside the marriage bonds.
2. Now, marriage in the sight of law is but a promise made by man and woman, by the sanction of a priest, to live for aye in harmony and love.
3. No priest nor officer has power from God to bind two souls in wedded love.
4. What is the marriage tie? Is it comprised in what a priest or officer may say?
5. Is it the scroll on which the officer or priest has written the permission for the two to live in marriage bonds?
6. Is it the promise of the two that they will love each other until death?
7. Is love a passion that is subject to the will of man?
8. Can man pick up his love, as he would pick up precious gems, and lay it down, or give it out to any one?
9. Can love be bought and sold like sheep?
10. Love is the power of God that binds two souls and makes them one; there is no power on earth that can dissolve the bond.
11. The bodies may be forced apart by man or death for just a little time; but they will meet again.
12. Now, in this bond of God we find the marriage tie; all other unions are but bonds of straw, and they who live in them commit adultery.
13. The same as they who satisfy their lust without the sanction of an officer or priest.
14. But more than this; the man or woman who indulges lustful thoughts commits adultery.
15. Whom God has joined together man cannot part; whom man has joined together live in sin.
16. Upon a table of the law, the great lawgiver wrote, Thou shalt not steal.
17. Before the eyes of law a man to steal must take a thing that can be seen with eyes of flesh, without the knowledge or consent of him to whom the thing belongs.
18. But, lo, I say that he who in his heart desires to possess that which is not his own, and would deprive the owner of the thing without his knowledge or consent, is in the sight of God, a thief.
19. The things that men see not with eyesof flesh are of more worth than are the things that man can see.
20. A man's good name is worth a thousand mines of gold, and he who says a word or does a deed that injures or defames that name has taken what is not his own, and is a thief.
21. Upon a table of the law we also read: Thou shalt not covet anything.
22. To covet is an all-consuming wish to have what is not right for one to have.
23. And such a wish, within the spirit of the law, is theft.
Chapter 99
The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus unfolds to the twelve the spiritual aspects of the ninth Commandment.
1. The law has said: Thou shalt not lie; but in the eyes of law a man to lie must tell inwords what is not true.
2. Now, in the light of spirit law, deceit in any form is nothing but a lie.
3. A man may lie by look or act; yea, even by his silence may deceive, and thus be guilty in the eyes of Holy Breath.
4. It has been said in olden times: Thou shalt not swear by thine own life.
5. But, lo, I say, Swear not at all; not by the head, the heart, the eye, nor hand; not by the sun, the moon, nor stars;
6. Not by the name of God, nor by the name of any spirit, good or bad.
7. You shall not swear by anything; for in an oath there is no gain.
8. A man whose word must be propped up by oath of any kind is not trustworthy in the sight of God or man.
9. By oath you cannot make a leaf to fall, nor turn the colour of a hair.
10. The man of worth just speaks and men know that he speaks the truth.
11. The man who pours out many words to make think he speaks the truth, is simply making smoke to hide a lie.
12. And there are many men with seeming double hearts; men who would serve two masters at a time--two masters quite adverse.
13. Men feign to worship God upon the Sabbath day and then pay court to Beelzebul on every other day.
14. No man can serve two masters at a time no more than he can ride two asses at a time that go in different ways.
15. The man who feigns to worship God and Beelzebul is foe of God, a pious devil and a curse of men.
16. And men cannot lay treasures up in heaven and earth at once.
17. Then, lo, I say, Lift up your eyes and see the safety vaults of heaven, and there deposit every gem.
18. Where moth and rust cannot corrupt; where thieves cannot break in and steal.
19. There are no safety vaults on earth; no place secure from moth, and rust and thieves.
20. The treasures of the earth are but illusive things that pass away.
21. Be not deceived; your treasures are the anchor of the soul, and where your treasures are your heart will be.
22. Fix not your heart upon the things of earth; be anxious not about the things to eat, or drink or wear.
23. God cares for those who trust in him and serve the race.
24. Behold the birds! They praise God in their songs; the earth is made more glorious by their ministry of joy; God keeps them in the hollow of his hand, 25 And not a sparrow falls to earth without his care; and every one that falls shall rise again.
26. Behold the flowers of earth! they trust in God and grow; they make the earth resplendent with their beauty and perfume.
27. Look at the lilies of the field, the messengers of holy love. No son of man, not even Solomon in all his excellence, was ever clothed like one of these.
28. And yet they simply trust in God; they feed from out his hand; they lay their heads to rest upon his breast.
29. If God so clothes and feeds the flowers and birds that do his will, will he not feed and clothe his children when they trust in him?
30. Seek first the kingdom of the soul, the righteousness of God, the good of men, and feed, and clothe.
Chapter 100
The Sermon on the Mount, continued. Jesus formulates and presents to the twelve a practical code of spiritual ethics.
1. There is a rule that carnal man has made, and which he rigidly observes:
2. Do unto other men as they do unto you. As others judge, they judge; as others give, they give.
3. Now, while you walk with men as men, judge not, and you shall not be judged.
4. For as you judge you shall be judged, and as you give it shall be given to you. If you condemn, you are condemned.
5. When you show mercy, men are merciful to you, and if you love in such a way that carnal man can comprehend your love, you will be well beloved.
6. And so the wise man of this world does unto other men as he would have them do to him.
7. The carnal man does good to other men for selfish gain, for he expects to have his blessings multiplied and then returned; he does not stop to note the end.
8. Man is himself the field; his deeds are seeds, and what he does to others grows apace; the hearvest time is sure.
9. Behold the yield! If he has sown the wind, he reaps the wind; if he has sown the noxious seeds of scandal, theft and hate; of sensuality and crime,
10. The harvest is assured and he must reap what he has sown; yea, more; the seeds produce an hundred fold.
11. The fruit of righteousness and peace and love and joy can never spring from noxious seeds; the fruit is like the seed.
12. And when you sow, sow seeds of right, because it is the right, and not in the way of trade, expecting rich rewards.
13. The carnal man abhors the spirit law, because it takes away his liberty to live in sin; beneath its light he cannot satisfy his passions and desires.
14. He is at enmity with him who walks in Holy Breath. The carnal man has killed the holy men of old, the prophets and the seers.
15. And he will buffet you; will charge you falsely, scourge you and imprison you, and think he does the will of God to slay you in the streets.
16. But you may not prejudge nor cencure him who does you wrong.
17. Each one has problems to be solved, and he must solve them for himself.
18. The man who scourges you may have a load of sin to bear; but how about your own?
19. A little sin in one who walks in Holy Breath is greater in the sight of God than monster sins in him who never knew the way.
20. How can you see the splinter in your brother's eye while you have chunks within your own?
21. First take the chunks from out your eye and then you may behold the splinter in your brother's eye and help him take it out,
22. And while your eyes are full of foreign things you cannot see the way, for you are blind,
23. And when the blind lead forth the blind, both lose the way and fall into the slough.
24. If you would lead the way to God you must be clear in sight, as well as pure in heart.
Chapter 101
The Sermon on the Mount, concluded. The concluding part of the code of ethics. The Christines return to Capernaum.
1. The fruitage of the tree of life is all too fine to feed the carnal mind.
2. If you would throw a diamond to a hungry dog, lo, he would turn away, or else attack you in a rage.
3. The incense that is sweet to God is quite offensive unto Beelzebul; the bread of heaven is but chaff to men who cannot comprehend the spirit life.
4. The master must be wise and feed the soul with what it can digest.
5. If you have not the food for every man, just ask and you shall have; seek earnestly and you shall find.
6. Just speak the Word and knock; the door will fly ajar.
7. No one has ever asked in faith and did not have; none ever sought in vain; no one who ever knocked aright has failed to find an open door.
8. When men shall ask you for the bread of heaven, turn not away, nor give to them the fruit of carnal trees.
9. If one, a son, would ask you for a loaf, would you give him a stone? If he would ask you for a fish, would you give him a serpent of the dust?
10. What you would have your God give unto you, give unto men. The Measure of your worth lies in your service unto men.
11. There is a way that leads unto the perfect life; few find it at a time.
12. It is a narrow way; it lies among the rocks and pitfalls of the carnal life; but in the way there are no pitfalls and no rocks.
13. There is a way that leads to wretchedness and want. It is a spacious way and many walk therein. It lies among the pleasure groves of carnal life.
14. Beware, for many claim to walk the way of life who walk the way of death.
15. But they are false in word and deed; false prophets they. They clothe themselves in skins of sheep, while they are vicious wolves.
16. They cannot long conceal themselves; men know them ny their fruits;
17. You cannot gather grapes from thorns, nor from the thistles, figs.
18. The fruit is daughter of the tree and, like the parent, so the child; and every tree that bears not wholesome fruit is plucked up by the roots and cast away,
19. Because a man prays long and loud is not a sign that he is saint. The praying men are not all in the kingdom of the soul.
20. The man who lives the holy life, who does the will of God, abides within the kingdom of the soul.
21. The good man from the treasures of his heart sends blessedness and peace to all the world.
22. The evil man sends thoughts that blight and wither hope and joy and fill the world with wretchedness and woe.
23. Men think and act and speak out of the abundance of the heart.
24. And when the judgement hour shall come a host of men will enter pleadings for themselves and think to buy the favour of the judge with words.
25. And they will say, Lo, we have wrought a multitude of works in the Omnific name,
26. Have we not prophesied? Have we not cured all manner of disease? Have we not cast the evil spirits out of those obsessed?
27. And then the judge will say, I know you not. You rendered service unto God in words when in your heart you worshipped Beelzebul.
28. The evil one may use the powers of life, and do a multitude of mighty works. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity.
29. The man who hears the words of life and does them not is like the man who builds his house upon the sand, which when the floods come on, is washed away and all is lost.
30. But he who hears the words of life and in an honest, sincere heart receives and treasures them and lives the holy life,
31. Is like the man who builds the house upon the rock; the floods may come, the winds may blow, the storms may beat upon his house; it is not moved.
32. Go forth and build your life upon the solid rock of truth, and all the powers of the evil one will shake it not.
33. And Jesus finished all his sayings on the mount and then he, with the twelve, returned unto Capernaum.