The door opened

Preface

The Bible comes to us as a jewel set in the great cycles of Time, overlaid with the beauties of Eternity, and reflecting the image of the One Altogether Lovely. It has truth for its matter, God for its author, and salvation for its theme. Its pictures have exhausted the beautiful; its descriptions have unfolded the roll of all wisdom, discovered the hidden treasures of the Earth, set before us the patterns of all things to come, taught all arts, industries and sciences ; given the experience of the ages to all moral philosophies ; set thrones, established governments, systematized thought, and adorned all eloquence ; harmonized all the ornamentation of the earth, taught men how to live, and pillowed the head in the hours of death. It takes hold of the hand for protection, and leads to Eternal Life in the presence of Christ. Its rays of Divine Light cover the whole earth, illumines the dark vaults of the prison, penetrates the hovels of vice, and shines on the throne of Empires. Its truths are from everlasting to everlasting, and its blessings to the ends of the Infinite and Eternal. Its knowledge is too vast for one mind to receive it all, yet set apart, to all men, in sentences so complete and harmonious, that salvation is drawn in one breath, and the wayfarring man, though a fool, need not err therein.

In giving this work to the public for consideration, I have tried to call attention to the Jewels of Truth, in the hope that I might interest and instruct those who have neither time or inclination to draw the water of life from so deep a well, or drink the elements of eternal joy, in salvation from sin, to the Glory of God.

L. M. D.

Contents

_, ( The Development oe the Divine

1st Chapter, j m THE HlJMAN .

The Breath of God — The Creator magnified — Personality of God — Gravitation at work — Human and Divine Intelligence — Infinitude of God's Dominion — The Human and Divine Trinities — Absorbing Divine Life — Fruits after their kind — Elements of Divinity in Man — Equality before God — Spiritual Affinity — Conception of God — Mind Development — Fear as a Religious Factor — Life of Christ a Revelation — The Light of the Dark Ages — Superstition operative — Principles of Liberty — Public Schools — Church Leadership — New Birth defined — Progression in Eternity — Our Common Enemy at work — Hereditary Character — Sustentation of the Spiritual — Phrenology — Origin of the Social Scale — lhe Dewdrop revealing God — Source of Power — Free Agency— The Soul, what is it ? — Immortality — A Mother's Influence — Victory over Satan — Fallen Angels — Prayer Defined— Joy in Christ.

Chapter I. The Development Of The Divine In The Human

God formed man of trie dust of the ground, and breathed into his notrils the breath of Life, and man became a living soul. We are taught in the Scriptures, also, that God created man in His own image and likeness. If we presume to study the character of the Supreme Being, in order that we may more fully understand our relation and obligation to the Creator, that Being will be magnified by an intelligent conception of the One universal Father of all animated Being.

Without stopping to consider the characteristics of man, that are like those of his Maker, it is sufficient to say that mind, as it reaches out into the Infinite, is dazed and bewildered, as it enters the unknown beyond our conception. We are fully persuaded of the personality of the Supreme Being. We can conceive of no intelligence, unless we find mind encased in form, or body, and even then we only find intelligence in certain kinds of bodies. It is necessary for us to consider this subject with a great deal of deliberation, because we find that many bodies have no thought at all. The earth, once, was without form and void, and darkness reigned

IO THE DOOR OPENED.

upon the face of the deep ; and again when God applied the Law of Gravitation it became a body of Earth composed of many elementary principles, and yet in all these elements there is not found, that which constitutes mind, as distinct from matter. The tree has roots, body, branches, leaves and fruit, and yet no thought ; so we find in the animal creation bodies of bone and flesh and blood, not unlike our own bodies, in these respects, and the}' have brains also, the habitation of mind, so that they are possessed of the powers of obedience, imitation and communication of their desires, and yet we can not say that they have intelligence ; but when we look at man, we find a higher order of Being, because God breathed into his nostrils the Breath of Life. What a vast difference there is between mind and matter, when we compare man with the animal creation, and yet how infinitely more must be the difference between Life as it exists in man, and Life as embodied in that Being whose breath could give us an intelligent existence, which no wreck of misfortune in time or eternity could extinguish.

The poet has said : " Eternity, thou pleasing, dreadful thought ; through what untried changes must we pass?" And so, as we look through our own light-house, out over the great deep of Divine Life, we are but approaching the threshold of Him who filleth all in all. The pro-

THE DIVINE IN THE HUMAN. II

creation of the human family is to man, as deep a mystery as the triple unity of the God-head. If we analyze a sunbeam, we find it composed of seven primary colors, and as we study the absorbing qualities of the objects of nature, we learn that combinations of light in various degrees, gives an unlimited number of tints and shades of the original, which array themselves before the eye in such agreeable contrast, that at every turn we have new creations of beauty; nor is there permancy even in these ; the bright green of vernal foliage, is changed into yellow, and red and violet in autumn. The lily and the rose are clothed in such resplendant dyes that many devote their lives to doting on their beauty. We find Divine Life more or less absorbed by all human beings. In nature, like species, produce the same. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Cultivation often improves the original, where things exist below a degree of perfection ; so that by the application of study, care and labor, we may be able to produce a larger variety, and a more perfect fruit, with a greater yielding capacity. It is even so, also, with Divine Life. The promises of God were to Abraham, and his children after him, forever, so I am led to believe, that Heaven will be peopled with the descendants of the Christian parents, who in their turn, must be responsible for those who come after them. I can conceive no departure from this order of things upon the hypothesis, that all human lives have in their Being the elementary principles of Divinity. An imperfect link in the chain of spirit life would be disastrous to the plan of the Great Divine power, so to my mind every human Being must be capable of attaining unto Eternal Life, in the presence and favor of God.

In the vegetable kingdom, botanists tell us, the fruit bearing condition depends upon a certain affinity plants and trees have for each other ; so it is with Divine Life. No man hath seen God at any time ; the relation of the human to the Divine is such, that we can not see Him in Person and live. The refulgence of his Glory would radiate through the corruption of the flesh, 'till our house of clay fall down beneath its load of sin, and with the crumbled clods make up that dust from whence it came. But, that the breath of life immortal does exist in every human form, there can be no question. Thus, while we are not permitted to see God, in person, we are enabled to recognize his essential attributes, or elementary principles, which go to make up, by their combination, that Perfect Being.

As a Creator, He maketh all things by the word of His power ; as a Ruler, He exercises dominion over the works of His hands ; as a Father, He makes provision for, and maintains

His creation. His wisdom is too great for human understanding, and 3-et Ave have intelligence, and our minds are capable of great development. With each convulation of the brain we are capable of developing wonderful profundities of knowledge ; this is why the human family differ. Every one may not become an expert in every branch of learning, but many men, who have dug for the precious pearl of great price, have found it ; so on every side we are compelled to acknowledge a superior. But intelligence is an attribute of God, so if we would look for Divine Life of a high order in men, we must look for intelligence.

Before the Christian era, Religion consisted largely of obedience through fear. At the time when Christ was upon earth, and throughout the first century, when men were greatly enlightened, by association with, and memory of, the Good the Saviour came to bring ; the conception those had of God who knew Christ personally, having committed their knowledge to writing for the use of future generations, these have been, and are, as they ever shall be, a great power in developing the Divine principle in the lives of men. Following the first century, and down to the time of the Reformation, and even down to the present century, the mind of man was steped in ignorance and vice, till there existed scarcely any intelligent conception of God at all, Hence it was that idolatry, superstition, and astrology held such universal sway over the minds and actions of men.

When the Declaration of Independence was framed, so as to give life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, mind was given free speech, thought and action ; when Yale College was founded, in it was laid a bed rock of Divine Life on this American Garden of God. The leaders of the world in mind development instituted our God given system of Free Schools.

If we but look at things, as they exist to-day, in the development of spirit life, through mind, as this Christian civilization progresses under the leadership of a church, which first educates, and then christianizes, we will find that important institution revealing God in man.

It seems to me, that no matter by what various means we may attempt to describe the New Birth, to be a Christian unto Eternal Life, we must have an intelligent conception of God. Blind devotion will never magnify or praise the bountiful Giver of life, or render acceptable service to Him who knows our thoughts, before we give expression to our souls.

Under the different degrees of light, spirit life in the world beyond will exist under many tints and shades of glory and perfection, still capable of endless improvement. However, it is impossible for us to ever gain equality with our

Creator ; but one thing is sure, we will, in the endless cycles of Eternity, surpass in ourselves, our present conception of God. The especial object of considering this subject, is to to learn, if possible, by what means spirit reception may take place, and to follow the development of Divine power in this life of ours. It seems that after the first faint spark of spirit life is implanted in our Being, an enemy has also come in, if possible, to destroy the germ of life. If we but stop to consider, we will see, that many children enter upon life with very little prospect of developing the higher elements of Being. Following out the idea, that like begets like, we find the soul oppressed with hereditary character. Habit is a great factor in the development of the soul ; vice in every form intermingles to vitiate the nobler qualities of life. As the flesh depends upon the things that support the natural man, for reconstruction as well as sustentation, so the soul depends largely upon its own inate tendencies of mind for its existence and development. The science of Phrenology investigates the faculties of the mind, and reveals the truth that" those faculties have different degrees of power, as well as various degrees of development to begin with, so that it is not difficult, for one acquainted with this science, to foresee the probable future character of the individual examined. The natural tendencies of mind depend largely upon the influence one faculty has over another, and as there are many faculties brought into activity, as various subjects present themselves to the mind for consideration, the results are as various in different individuals. So we have the old time saying: "many men, of many minds." The mind is a law of justice unto itself, which is universal in action, so that minds are classified, and we distinguish them as men of good judgment, while others are not possessed of this useful and happy combination of faculties.

In the square forehead we see great reasoning ability ; in the long forehead we recognize the generous mind ; in the lofty crown we distinguish the devotional tendency of soul ; while the broad crown indicates a large development of the moral faculties, and the head which is all behind the ears will be all animal, while on the other hand the head that is all in front of the ears will have no common sense at all ; thus, while we admire the intellectual, we must not expect the Law of Justice, which sets equity between the faculties, to stand aside, lest men be alltogether out of balance. If the head be too thick between the ears, the man will be too savage for good society, and if too thin, he will be without the courage of his convictions, and so we conclude that justice demands that development be general in the faculties which best befits men to occupy the various positions and circumstances of life, in complacency and peace, both for themselves and those with whom they come in contact in business, the Church and society.

There is no doubt, however, that some individuals have a better chance in the world than others, to grow up into that which constitutes the truly noble Being. It is but natural then to suppose, that the children with intelligent parentage will have minds of keener perception, and so also, will children of devotional or moral parentage have like faculties developed in them. The individual possessed of these noble qualities of mind must evidently rise above his less fortunate acquaintances ; such a one will find beauty in color, and pleasure in looking at everything in nature. As he studies the dewdrop, its crystaline globule will reflect upon his mind a world of tranquility and purity ; association of thought will reveal the character of God, and his soul, inspired with rapturous delight, feels the tingling thrust of joy ascending up in praise to Him who gave us Being.

God in man has been the mystery of ages. I may not know by what process the flower absorbs the sunlight, but I readily see the beauty of the flower. Neither can I understand the exact way by which God develops in the human ; but this I do know, that we are so constituted, that if we seek wisdom and purity, we shall have it. Spirit stops at no unopen door or walls of flesh. Spirit gravitation draws the sonl toward its Maker at all times, and down through that same chain of love God pours the life-giving principle of soul power, enlarging, developing, purifying, and sanctifying our spirits, which are His in time and eternity.

What refreshing draughts of spirit power come through prayer. The communion of the soul with its Maker so strengthens the real character, that the evil tendencies of our nature are broken down and overcome, 'till in reality the predominating power of our Being is God ; as He says in His words: "I will dwell in them, and walk in them ; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." A great many people seem to think that the evils of this world are of no use whatever in accomplishing the purposes of God in the life of man ; but that is a great error. We are creatures of liberty, creatures of choice. The various phases of vice present themselves to our minds with all their miserable consequences, in such a way, that their crushing terrors drive us by force to seek a Father's protection and love.

What horrid forms can sin assume,

'Till we detest, despise and hate, The very thought that makes our tomb,

And settles man in sin's estate.

Refines our souls with holy love,

While spirits blest, may join their power,

Companions here, of God above,

And blessings fall, a constant shower.

Around thy form, unfelt, unseen,

He clasps His tender, loving arm, Ten thousand snares, he stands between,

To keep the soul through ev'ry storm.

Then why not lift your eyes above

The low'ring clouds of sin and shame?

There reigns in Heav'n a God of love, Whose love will always be the same.

Along thy pathway, treach'rous sands, Alike unknown to thee are strewn,

O'er these He holds you in His hands, All unnoticed and unknown.

In heav'nly garb of lustrous light,

Effulgent beams of love Divine Break through the folds of deepest night,

And o'er your sorrows sweetly shine.

Much has been said about the Soul. What is it? " God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living Soul." I do not believe that that soul, or any other, of the human family, existed prior to that time. The breath, however, is neither the life, or the soul, but is the agency of God, to start into action those functions which sustain life. The blood is not the life, but without it we can not exist ; neither is the heart the tabernacle of God, as it is often spoken of, to conform with that prevailing idea which men have of the indwelling place of God. Human action can not take place involuntarily, but requires the will power transmitted to the parts by the nerves of the body ; but the nerves are not the Soul. What, then, is it ? If I can find words with which to clothe my ideas, I will at least make it plain to my own mind, with the hope that it may also be plain to the mind of the reader.

The life of God, or power of self-sustentation, entered into the body of clay through the medium of the breath, being the very life itself ; transformed the body of clay into the various functions which are necessary to sustain life in the flesh, and put those functions into operation, directing and disposing those operations, and opposing all other obstructing or destructive influences.

This supreme principle in man is the Soul, which we sometimes signify by the words Life, Heart, Mind. Therefore, the mind, which is the soul, complete in all its parts, is that which has an eternal existence. The heart is more than the hand, but nothing more than the pumping engine of the body. When that pump misses a few strokes, the life of the body ceases, but the mind goes on forever in evolutions both wondrous aud sublime.

If then the mind, by its inate power, is enabled to reconstruct and enlarge or develop itself into a state of higher existence, continually reaching outward and upward, toward the perfection and power of its Creator, what a glorious destiny must greet its eternal existence. The avenues by which God enters the life of man will need some description here. We are surrounded by circumstances of various degrees of light or shade, which is thrown upon these spiritual highways.

When mother taught me how to pray, There opened out for God a way, Within my life to find a place, Where he could dwell in love's embrace.

And when He found my heart of stone, He built himself a royal throne ; The whole dominion, his control, A King of Love, within the Soul.

So it is, that the omnipresent God will give direction to the operation of mind approving the right thought, by making us happ}^, and condemning the wrong, which brings us to grief. I do not believe, that Satan can ever overcome the influence of a Christian mother, who trains up her child in the love and fear of God. There is no irresistable temptation comes to such a child, for it has learned to say no ! My God says no ! ! I can not do it ! ! ! Prompt, energetic, determined, the soul has conquered the foe.

Each victory gives new strength to character. The child grows up in a few short years, but the soul develops through along and tedious process. Experience in the battle of life gives a fixed sphere of action, and the pnrsnits in which we are engaged, and the circumstances by which we are surrounded, and the social scale in which we move, helps to give decision to character; making an impression here and there, tends to change our habits, and ofttimes to bring us into positions of doubt and perplexity with regard to right or wrong, until we fail to either listen to, or hear, the faithful monitor of God in the soul. The people who live in large cities, or their suburbs, become so familiar with crime, Sabbath desecration, and vice in all its forms, that even a funeral train can make no lasting impression on them ; but the spirit of Christ stirs the soul in the hour of solitude and silent thought. What strides we take as our vision goes out in the shades of night, and over the dark valley, and up to the open door which John saw. "Behold ! I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it." What a comfort to the soul is that, as it thinks of temptation, and evil influences and companions that pull at and hinder our progress in the right. The spirit of Fallen Angels crowd our way, blinding our eyes, and attracting our attention to get us to listen to them, and believe what they say.

Creeds and ceremonials often help us to lose sight of the Truth, and often to forget God ; for how often do men get to quarreling about this, or that, to the great satisfaction of Satan, who is always delighted at dissentions in the Church. Pilgrims' marsh is a dirty place to get into, and a hard place to get out of. Bunyan's picture is the experience of many a one, and if we will just stop to think, we will realize at once that the only way to be happy is to seek the true, the pure, the good of the Fountain of Life. To sit in silent thought, to wonder, love and praise, with holy theme, must give the soul a peace which nothing else affords. To see in God perfection, power and majesty, inspires the soul, and draws around us all the hallow of His presence, and the nobler elements of Being leap for joy. As water in a body is composed of many separate drops that move, the one within the other, in and out, and round and through ; so the spirit of God assimilates with our spirit, until it can be said that God is in us. That the spirit of God does open the door of our lives, and walk in, can not be denied, and He will not leave us if we let him control our Being ; but He says, in His word : " A house divided against itself, will fall." And again: "What communion hath light with darkness?" By this we understand that spirits, to be able to dwell together, must be of the same nature.

If God is the chief object of our affection, we will endeavor to reform our lives to conform with that perfect life of God, which was shown us in Jesus Christ ; a life which was given a sphere of habitation, with a name to live, and a death to die, that we might know one perfect humanity, whose end is unto life everlasting, in the presence and communion of the Author of All Being.

To the one who delights in the study and practice of higher life, the rivers of God's love flow in and, out and round and through, refreshing, purifying and beautifying both the life and the soul. What majesty of thought, what sublimity of action, and what ecstacy of soul have they "whose mind is stayed on Thee." To do His will is their delight, nor ever thought a painful duty. To labor comes a just reward; to pray for this, or that, the soul has need of, is to want. " He satisfieth the desire of every living thing," and of his Angels, he says, " are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister unto them who shall be the heirs of salvation? " Let us seek that wisdom which is from above, that we may know Him, who, to know, is life everlasting.

It is very strange, indeed, that the spirit of God can enter into the soul of man. Being born of the Spirit is the act of Divinity ascending the throne of the soul, as law giver and judge. These bodies of ours are but the receptacle of the Spirit ; the heart pulsates to maintain animal life, but behind all this is the impelling power of the human soul. Death is a legal divorce of the soul from the body. What does the soul care for this tenement of clay, only just so far as it answers the purpose to carry out the various enterprises and pursuits that engage the attention of men. We take no note of the constant change going on in our physical constitution ; but to see, to hear, to feel, are the open doors through which knowledge and wisdom, joy and peace, harmony and holiness enter the soul. To overcome the spirit of evil, we need only close the door when Satan seeks to enter.

There are many means by which the true life enters. It is possible to keep the doorway so crowded with spiritual supplies, so as to give no opportunity for evil to get in. The church, the school, and the home are producers of good, with no admixture of evil, and I am sure the spirit of life exists abundantly upon these three highways of holiness. Did we but understand the receptive ability of the soul, we would, no doubt, undertake to supply our spirit life with all its needs ; if we have no feeling, no perception, no harmony in our Being, we may rest assured we are not feeding the name of life. There are a great many people who seem to have very little light, very little strength, and no hope at all ; this is why Paul spoke of the one star exceeding another star in brightness.

It is plain to be seen that the development of Divine life requires constant watching and constant toil. Christ said : " Go ye unto the vineyard, and work." If we wish a life alive with Divinity, we must cultivate the mind in such a way, that nothing will hinder its growth ; to do this, it is necessary that we be faithful in watching, lest an enemy enter into our house and spoil our goods. The power of Satan and the power of Christ antagonize each other all times wherever man is found. Both these are continually battling to get possession of our souls, in order that our bodies may minister to their wants, or do their bidding. If we give the field to Satan, we will go down in the final ruin and be condemned forever ; but if we yield to Christ, our way will be lighted with a lamp that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. If we are led by the Spirit, the sun of righteousness will shine upon the way before us.

Picture to yourself a highway of holiness reaching from earth to heaven, and you ascending the long, high hill, step by step. To a stranger the way might seem lonely, but it is not, for we are not alone. We are the children of God, and these bodies are the tabernacle of God ; God in man, walking, talking to men, saying I will never leave thee or forsake thee. Alive with Christ, with Christ alive in us, we walk as sons of God. The power within, enchanted with the theme of sins forgiven, goes on rejoicing ; nature's volume opens wide her bounteous store, and all we see or seek to know is God. At every step new beanties rise ; each, day onr joy with glory shines, 'till, looking up, we see reflected back upon our souls the perfect image of our God.

Chapter II. Subject : Revelation

It must be clear to the mind of every one, that the mission of the Scriptures is to reveal God to man. Man is a religious Being by nature. There is something Avithin him that makes him feel the need of support from some source outside of and beyond the circumference of the sphere of human activity. Man's conception of power that is above his own, associates with that conception ; the idea of form, activity, intelligence, majesty, and life. The reason for this is plain, because he has his place as a link in the chain of Being, and, looking backward from his plane, he finds retrogradation, step by step, until he arrives at the lowest order of animal life. He stands not in the middle of the chain, but near one end. It is perfectly natural then for him to understand that if one direction is downward, the other must be upward. So man reaches out into the dark be}^ond for something like himself, } T et of a higher grade of intelligence and perfection. If he looks at nature in its marvelous beauty and grandeur, he is enabled to feel the assurance that there is a Supreme First Cause that is superior to himself. So there he stands at the gateway between time and eternity to get a glimpse of the Infinite ; round and round, in one continuous whirl of deep and dark confusion, but for that gateway in which he stands. That gateway between death and life is the Revelation of God to man by His own Holy Word.