Part 39 (2/2)
Again, if you tell boys of ten years old, who are learning a little history, geography, and arithmetic, just in the Rule of Three and simple fractions, with perhaps a little Latin; of the Algebra and Euclid and Conic sections and higher Mathematics, and Latin and Greek verse and Hebrew and Philosophy, which they must some day confront, you will puzzle and paralyse their brains, and leave only a sense of misery and revolt and helplessness, which will quickly show forth in reckless despair, even concerning the tasks which are well within their present capacity.
G.o.d, in His Infinite Wisdom (of which ours is the feeblest reflection), acts in precisely the same way as wise fathers and wise teachers.
Your earth is more or less of an infant school, but before leaving it, some of you must prepare for the higher cla.s.ses and learn to take your own spiritual responsibilities.
It is seen that in these days of reaction and readjustment, many minds are puzzled and perplexed by the old doctrines, which they have outgrown, and which were never more than the outer husk and protection for the inner kernel--the casket for the jewel of spiritual truth.
The one term of probation--the one chance for progress--the immediate Heaven or h.e.l.l--the Great White Throne of Judgment, instant and inevitable--all these correspond with the frequent examinations, with the good and bad marks--the judging of the school work at the end of each term. The only difference lies in the fact that the schoolboy _knows_ he has other terms in front of him, and we are all aware that this is a very unfortunate fact where an idle boy is concerned.
How often you may hear them say: ”Never mind! I'm a bit behind now--but I have three years more--I shall catch up later.” And this is probably just what they fail to do; for with such characters it is always _to-morrow_ that is to see the reformation which so often comes only when life has taught its hard lessons to the defaulter.
Is it not apparent, therefore, that there has been wisdom and goodness in our very theological mistakes and illusions?
The opposition to spiritualistic teachings has its good and healthy side. It is really the fierce antagonism of the undeveloped nature towards a truth it dimly apprehends to be ahead of its own development; and, tiresome as it seems, and _is_ from one point of view, it is the best safeguard for the world at large.
Unimaginable horrors would come to pa.s.s upon the earth were Power as well as Knowledge put into the hands of the crude and undeveloped.
It would be arming savages with Winchester rifles and quick-firing guns.
_Never regret_, therefore, this opposition, even whilst fighting against it in individual cases.
Both _must_ grow together till the Harvest--the Tares and Wheat, the Crude and the Developed--and the former are the enormous majority.
This is the reason why all Truth must be born into each world through a fight and an agony; for it always comes as an advance upon normal conditions, no matter in which sphere it may be. And it is through the struggle that the Victory comes and the Light is born.
Let people jeer and deride when they hear of a future life, not so very different from your own; of houses and lectures and boats and horses, of pet animals, and so forth.
Those who jeer and deride or talk of blasphemy are still at the orthodox stage, when it is well for them to know only of _one_ school, of _one_ term, of _one_ chance, and of an immediate and final judgment for the deeds done on earth.
Others are old enough (spiritually speaking) to know the truth _i.e._--that G.o.d is in _all_, of an infinite series of spheres, through which each travelling soul must pa.s.s, gaining ever fresh light, growing ever into fresh knowledge and realisation of Divine Beauty and Divine Love; spheres differing little externally from the one left behind, but enormously in the capacities and qualities which by degrees the soul will unfold in the Cosmic Journey.
The outer will become more and more the result of the inner condition; for the creative faculty, scarcely born with you, flourishes in the ascending spiral. Down here you are babes, with your clothes made for you, your bottles filled for you, and dependent on others for the conditions of life, but by degrees you will enter on the full responsibility and the full joy and glory of independent existence, which yet will be unified--first into the life of the Affinities--the True and completed Being--and then into the life of that Body of _Christ_, of which St Paul speaks in his prophetic moments, where ”there shall be neither Greek nor Jew, Barbarian, Scythian, Bond nor Free,” but _Christos_, the glorified and crowned Humanity, shall be all in all--G.o.d IN MAN; the coping-stone of the Building, whose foundations were laid as MAN (the Image and Likeness of G.o.d) IN G.o.d.
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