Northrup's religion and business; the undreamed-of possibilities which man may achieve through mastery of self

Front matter

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Book

Copyright^! L

Foreword

IT is the purpose of this book to carry those who read and study its pages from the thought of limitation into the consciousness of mastery — believing there can be a Practical ideal which can be made so clear, intelligible and rational that it will command the brains of men as well as attract their hearts.

As I look around upon this world of effect I cannot help seeing that the large majority of people are living in the thought of limitation and are experiencing as a result of this thought sickness, trouble and poverty, when with a knowledge of Themselves and their own Powers they can reach out into the unseen world and bring into manifestation Peace, Joy and Abundance of all good. I send this book forth into the world of effect on its mission of teaching that abundance of everything man can possibly want is at his command when he understands the law of his being.

Theodore G. Northrup.

Introduction

WHAT the earnest student of metaphysics wants, in a text-book, is a clear, intelligible statement of fundamental facts in Mental Law — a statement which is sound, in accordance with science, demonstrable and not confused by appearing to be dependent upon outside "authority" (biblical or otherwise) ; a statement cqnsecutively arranged, that is logical, that appeals to common sense, that will work when put to the "acid test" of experience.

Such a statement Mr. Northrup has given us in this book — Religion and Business.

It is intended especially for the "man on the street," the man or woman who really wants to know the true path of development and is ready to set aside the intricacies of mere intellectual gymnastics.

The statement is clear and simple and it remains only for the student to follow carefully the teaching to get the results promised.

The author's experience, however, of many years, has shown him the wisdom of emphasizing the fact that each one must "work out his own salvation" — must actually do the work for himself and not expect the reading of the book only to bring far-reaching results. It is only by this individual effort and exercise that we can develop the strength and experience the joy of true growth. The lessons contained in this book will be especially welcome right now, at this particular time, and in suggesting the thought that each one who finds them helpful, can hardly "do his bit" more efficiently than extending to his "neighbor" the opportunity of obtaining similar benefits, I feel that an important service is being performed. It is plainly evident from the author's experience on the lecture platform, that there are untold thousands ready to welcome these teachings, as does the thirsty traveller the spring of "living water."

Walter Goodyear.

Contents

The Creator or Cause

The Created or Effect

The Silence

Application in Business .

Mastery of Self

9 21 29

39 50 61 78 92

Chapter I. Creation

THIS is a time in the world's experience when men want to know more about themselves and more about their responsibilities. We are meeting crises, in the presence of which man begins to ask questions — crises which the world has never met before.

A popular writer has recently asked the following question: — "Why does the Almighty, the all merciful God, who created the universe and even the stars, allow His christian children to perpetrate this horrible slaughter in Europe? Shall we in this enlightened age, the Twentieth Century, worship and love a God like this? ,, This writer does not understand that man can do anything — may be permitted to do anything he wants to do, only he must pay the price for so doing. War is the effect and man the cause. This he also fails to realize. The seed was sown long ago and forgotten. But law never forgets — hence the present reaping. For the stewardship of men and nations alike, this great universal law sooner or later demands an accounting. What did it cost

America to permit a black man to be sold upon the auction block? The universal law made its demand and the Nation made the adjustment. Whenever the adjustment follows the demand, the result is satisfactory, for out of it always comes Rightness.

Man has made great progress on all mechanical lines. Nearly everything is done by machinery. He has followed the laws of nature into the unseen above and below, but he is just beginning to learn something about himself and the laws to which he is related. / say he is just beginning. He is slowly learning that everything and every life is under law. When he comes to understand the laws governing his life he knows more about First Cause and therefore more about man's possibilities. The man of affairs is beginning to learn that he is handicapped through ignorance of those higher laws governing business. The man or woman who is employed, is not fully equipped and cannot command the salary which . they should command when failing to understand these laws which govern their being. The sales man or woman can sell more goods, can achieve more highly, when he or she understands and applies the, law which is at his command.

At the front of every revolution, civil, moral or spiritual, is a man, radical in thought, bold in conception and quick in execution. There was never a time when such ability was recognized as it is today. The question is — "What can yon do?" Unless a man can stand forth as a leader, in advance of the crowd, he is not wanted. Such a man can name his own price and the world will pay it. His pulse thrills with the spirit of energy and enterprise. To keep pace with such a leader all the forces of life and action must be awakened. If one would hold a respectable place in the procession he must be alert, recognize the universal law of his being and show the world where act and achievement meet.

The belief in an arbitrary God — away off somewhere, no one knows where — belongs to the period of the ox-cart and the canal boat. It is not up to date. Man wants to know — and he can know. Man has been able to systematize 'all the phenomena of exterior nature, why not that of his interior life and its relation to the First Great Cause? The phenomena of the human spirit is within the grasp of the intellect. There is something within each one of us pushing us on towards something better, something more satisfying than that which we enjoy today. We want to grow and it is some power within which, in its growth, is pushing us on to something better. In growing we must out-grow. We are to forget the things behind and reach forward to those which are before.

If everything is governed by law, everyone should be interested to know what those laws are and how to apply them in every-day life. If there is a law which \governs business, as exact as the law governing the tides ; if there is a law that I can apply that will sweeten and bring harmony into my home ; if there is a law which I can apply to my body, which will bring health and power, I want to know it. I want to know how to make the application.

During these eight lessons we will consider the teachings of Silent Demand. The subjects and their order will be as follows : —

1st — First Cause or The Creator.

2nd — The Effect or the Created.

3rd — All is Good. There is no Evil : — When we come into that consciousness and see only good in everything, then only good can come into our world. This is an important lesson because we have been taught just the opposite.

4th — Silence and Concentration — The Power of the Silence.

5th — How to Heal Self and Others.

6th — How to Apply these Principles in Business.

7th — How to Control Environment.

8th — Mastery of Self. That is the keynote.

The First Lesson is the foundation on which all is built. We have been taught that God is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient. What does it mean to you? Have you understood what it means? How can you believe it possible for a God, away off somewhere, "Dwelling in light, inaccessible and full of glory," to be omnipresent? It never meant anything to me, and yet I belonged to an orthodox church, because there was something in me that urged me to do the best I could, to live the best life possible to me, but I could not understand how God could be omnipresent. I shall try in this First Lesson to so explain it that all will understand the omnipresence of First Cause.

We must have some understanding of this Great Cause or Power which stands behind and back of every manifestation that we see, or touch, or feel. We have been told that the finite could not know the infinite. But we must know. There is an inward impulse, a gradual forward thrust which moves us ; there are perceptions which, through the world of sense and self, discover a spiritual identity with this higher power. Our knowledge is what shapes our world, and to not know, cannot satisfy the man of today.

That which we vision, that we are. There comes a time in the life of everyone, when the storm breaks and the winds are out, when he must have something on which he can stand and say triumphantly, "None of these things move me." When this is fully realized man is master of the situation. But so long as man believes in two powers — so long as he clings to duality, he will be buffeted by discordant and unsatisfactory conditions. The world demands freedom. Freedom comes only through a knowledge of the truth, and truth alone can set man free. So, in studying this truth one must know. Belief is helpful and faith is necessary but one cannot be satisfied until he feels that he knows.

When one has reached the consciousness that

14 N0RTHRUP S RELIGION AND BUSINESS

there is a First Cause, he knows that there is a Power with which he can come in touch, at will. I say, that when he reaches the consciousness that he knows, then, peace comes to that one; harmony dominates his life and Power comes into his doing. It makes no difference what teachings one has accepted in the past ; if it will not stand the test of today it must be cast aside and up-to-date teaching put in its place. From all the differing lines of thought we are converging into the truth, and although some of the new teaching is directly opposite to that we have received in the past, it is a truth because it can be perfectly demonstrated.

This is a world of change and the law of change will push -us forward to something better. Each one must learn to stand upon his own feet. When the storm comes he must accept it as an opportunity to prove his faith. When you have a problem to solve, and you know how to demonstrate; when you know the principles and how to apply them in your life, then it is the opportunity for you to say — "I am master of this problem; I know how to deal with it," and the demonstration reveals the Truth more fully, and then you know that yon know.

In elucidating this truth I wish to present it in a plain, simple, practical business way that will appeal to your reason. I will not attempt to prove anything by the Bible as that would be my interpretation, and that would be no better than yours. I will appeal to you on common ground — just where you stand — and start from what you know.

Each person who reads this page is living in a state of consciousness different from the other. Tomorrow each may be living in a state of consciousness different from today. Therefore we assume your present state whatever that may be.

There are a few things that we know — each one of us knows — it is not guess work — it is not belief. We know. One thing we know is, that we are here. That we do exist. We also know that others exist all about us. We know further, that we did not create ourselves. Therefore we must be an effect. I would put this in so emphatic a manner that you will carry along in your mind the fact that You did not create yourself, — you are an effect.

Our reason tells us that there is a power outside of and beyond ourselves, — A Cause. This Cause we can know. Therefore, as we trace back from effect to cause we will, and we must find a power or cause, which is not dependent upon anything outside of itself. If it depended upon anything outside, or above, or beyond itself it could not be a First Cause and we will be driven still farther back until we reach a Cause which is dependent only upon itself — then that will be the first cause.

Again: — We know that man has a degree of intelligence. As we have found that he is an effect, and as the effect cannot be greater than the cause, we know that the. First Cause must be intelligent. And as self-consciousness is an attribute of the First Cause, so it repeats itself in the consciousness of the effect.

Again: — We know that we manifest life. We can see life expressed everywhere, in the mineral, in the vegetable, in the animal, in man ; and, as all is an effect, we can know with certainty that First Cause is life. Man's life finds creation responsive to all its faculties. His life became the measure of all things. Man is not only the interpreter but is the interpretation of all Life.

Again: — We know that love is part of our being. We must love. Love being a part of our life it must find its object. We, being an effect, know with certainty that First Cause must be Love. It is the heart that sees most clearly.

Again : — We know that man has power to think. We see the expression of thought all about us. As the effect cannot be greater than the cause, First Cause must be a thinker. The effect can think out after the Cause — its thoughts.

Again : — We know that man can determine his actions through a power we call will. By this we know that First Cause can and does determine Its actions, and everything that is real must be an expression of Its thought and will in action. This is what we call Law — that is, Higher Law.

Again:— We have also found that First Cause is self-conscious ; knows itself and determines its actions. It is all intelligence, all power, all life and is always active. This is not all that we know. We know that all the power, forces, attributes or qualities are mental and in the unseen. We cannot see power, we see only the expression of power. We cannot see life, we can only see the manifestation of life. We cannot see love, we can see only its expression. Therefore First Cause, or Creator, is Mind or Spirit. We have now reached a point where we can combine this power, forces, qualities and attributes under the name of First Cause, Infinite Spirit, or Absolute.

Again: — First Cause, Infinite Spirit or Absolute is Mind or Spirit and is self-dependent. Now note this: Nothing could be imparted to the effect, or creature, by the Creator but its own substance. Nothing ever proceeds from the creative Spirit but what was in it. It imparted Itself in the Creation, for even First Cause could not create something from nothing. Therefore all creation is from and is the same substance — Mind or Spirit, but different combinations of the one substance. Ice, water, and steam are the same substance, different in degrees of temperature. The same with creation. In the created are different combinations and different qualities of the one substance, as we shall see later on.

Now, we have been reasoning from what we know of nature and man back to the First Cause. We will reverse our method and reason from First Cause to man.

First Cause must be powerful because we see power expressed in everything around us ; in the rocks, the flowers, the trees, the animal and in man, power everywhere ; and as the effect, or the created cannot be greater than the cause, First Cause must be power.

Again: — We see life manifest everywhere. Everything in the seen must express life or it will disappear from our view. First Cause must therefore be life.

Again : — We see love expressed in the flower, the animal, in man. Therefore we can say that we know that First Cause is love.

Again: — We see intelligence expressed in everything. Therefore we conclude that First Cause must be Intelligence.

In reasoning therefore from what we know — man to First Cause, or from First Cause to man — we arrive at but one conclusion, and that is : First Cause is All Power, All Life, All Love, All Intelligence, All Good, and is the Substance of everything in the seen and the unseen. All is Mind or Spirit. First Cause we may know through the thought expressed in the things which have been made. That knowledge is valid and may be verified by the practical tests of life. When we correctly understand man and nature we may look through either directly into the mind of the Creator.

The object of this lesson is to bring the reader into the consciousness that there is but one Power in the whole world. No matter where we see Power it is First Cause in action. Though it be in Niagara or in the heating of water it is the same. It matters not where Power is seen or felt, it is First Cause in manifestation.

There can be but one Power in the whole universe, and there is but one Intelligence. Whereever we see intelligence it is First-Cause Intelligence. Wherever we see life it is First Cause expressing Life. First Cause is the Substance of everything and everything is obedient to Law. In the realm of the Spirit, chance and caprice are eliminated. The tides of ambition, the gusts of passion, the longings of desire, the awakening of love are reduced to the dominion of Law. Things are not erratic and lawless because they are spiritual and etherial. The laws of the Spirit are as constant as those which govern the tides and breathe through the world of nature. What beside First Cause in this entire and infinite simplicity, could we mean when nature is pronounced? All is alive from the smallest atom to the mightiest star; and all is jubilantly expressing the Mind, or Spirit of First Cause.

As your eye rests upon these pages, let your mind come into the consciousness that there is but one substance in the whole world. This will prepare the mind to recognize the omnipresence of First Cause in everything you see and feel. Omnipresence not only imparted Itself in creation but consciously and actively dwells therein. The power by which you move, the intelligence with which you read this page, the life by which you serve your kind, the love in which you pay your tribute to your Creator are all imparted, and have their source in Infinite Mind, for It is all there is in the seen and the unseen.

Holding fast to this consciousness you will be able to consider and embrace the thoughts of the next lesson. Until you come into this consciousness it will not be possible for you to demonstrate and bring to pass those things which you most desire. Remember as you turn the next and following pages that there is but one substance in the whole world and that is First Cause. There is but one Life, one Power, one Intelligence in the whole Universe and that is First Cause in manifestation.

Chapter II. The Effect Or The Created

OUR first lesson was occupied in considering the Primal Cause — the Cause of everything in the seen and the unseen. We now enter upon the consideration of the EFFECT, or what the Cause has produced. All that reaches us through the senses is the work of the Primal Cause.

In our first lesson also we found First Cause, Infinite Spirit, to be Intelligence, Mind or Spirit, and that from this substance all created things were developed. I repeat, this Substance is Intelligence, Power, Love and Life.

We learned that First Cause has imparted itself in and to all created things. Things were first thoughts, "The things that were made were not made of things which do appear/' is an inspired statement. Enthroned amidst the silent elements of material existence is a spiritual power from which their vitality is derived. To everything that has Being there is an outward form and an inward life. The substances of the mineral kingdom are pervaded by invisible agents which develop the forces necessary to their existence. The being and beauty of the vegetable creation are dependent upon an invisible, vitalizing law.

The meanest form in nature; the feeblest thing that lives, enshrines and reveals its quickening energy, received from the Infinite Intelligence. From the great heart of Primal Cause the vital currents flow through all the arteries of Being. All life is the continuous activity of Mind on the objects of its creation. Life is the revelation of a Spiritual Presence — First Cause Presence in the universe to which it has imparted its Life and Substance. Should we ascend to the sublime heights where thought and aspiration are wearied and can go no farther; or should we descend to that mysterious abyss where the shadows of nonentity veil the germs of existence — in every place and in all natures we find First Cause revealed?

To the old arbitrary formalism we oppose this Divine Philosophy which refers the origin, the continuance and the end of all things to the Life, Love and Power of God, the Spirit and First Cause. We teach that the Divine Spirit pervades and governs by established laws the material universe and all spiritual existence ; that all truth is natural and adapted to those reactional faculties which the Creator has enshrined in the human soul — and that all men as they become God-like in spirit and in life are rendered increasingly susceptible to Divine instruction and Divine impressions, from the First Cause from which they sprung.

THE EFFECT OR THE CREATED 23

Thus, we see there is but one Intelligence. There is but one Power — not as a famous evangelist would tell us — two powers ; for, in that case First Cause would not be Omnipotent. There is just ONE POWER, FIRST CAUSE. In a subsequent chapter I will explain how we make a mistake by acting mentally as though there were two. But wherever Power is found, whether it be in heating water, swinging stars in their orbits, burning gasoline, or in the activities of man, it is the same in source and character — it is all First Cause.

All creation is from the same substance — SUBSTANCE — that which stands under, upholds, sus-tains — displayed in different qualities and in differing degrees. The figures from to 9 may be so arranged as to represent any amount, and the letters of the alphabet, only 26 in number, compose all the volumes in the English tongue.

This is a SCIENCE— THE SCIENCE OF ALL SCIENCES. All the sciences of the world are based upon this ONE SCIENCE.

Ice manifests the least power, water, more power, but gas manifests so much power that it moves everything before it. For instance, in an over-heated boiler the power is so great that you cannot contain it. It will find release. So it is with Creation. The mineral kingdom has but little intelligence, the vegetable kingdom has more intelligence and in it we begin to perceive the element of love. If you tend a plant with loving care it will grow and flourish for you. The animal kingdom manifests more intelligence, more love, and has power to control its action, which the flower has not.

With man comes the crowning work of the Creation. He becomes a Co-Worker with added Life and Power; but not only this, he is fully equipped to draw from the Universal Supply for all his needs. "Son, all that I have is thine." One can sit in his office, and in a moment get in touch with this great Universal Supply. Inasmuch as man has more intelligence, more love, more life, more power, more wisdom he can so approach the abundant supply as to immediately secure any benefit which he may properly desire.

Man has power to impart in his building the same as First Cause imparts Itself in Creation. He communicates himself to everything he does. He knows and does in a finite way what the Creator does in an Infinite manner. The power of man is seen in the machinery of today. For instance, the adding machine. A bit of mechanism almost human in its work — or the machine for picking cotton; removing the white bolls with the intelligence of men. The thought man has used to change the face of nature, bridge rivers, tunnel mountains, bind continents with net- work of iron rails and subdue the earth, was first discovered in the things which First Cause made and transcribed into the human mind. These are, however, the Effect and man the cause. He directs all this intelligence and exercises this marvellous power in building a wonderful world.

THE EFFECT OR THE CREATED 25

Man imparts himself in everything he does. His handwriting is his own. If you wish to open a bank account, the first thing requested is your signature. That signature will open and continue that account, and upon it all transactions will depend.

As man imparts himself to everything he touches he produces an effect, and by the character of the effect we determine whether it is First Cause created or man-made. Man becomes the important factor in Creation, therefore First Cause and Man are all we have to deal with in solving the problems of life. For you and me, there is no dependence upon each other — our sole dependence is upon this Great Power, or Cause. First Cause imparted Itself in Creation, and man must use this material in his building. Thus the Universal mind repeats itself on a limited scale in the mind of man. If you attempt to build from anything outside, your building will fall and perish. You must build from:— INTELLIGENCE— LOVE- LIFE— and POWER. You cannot admit hate. No structure can survive on negative conditions. Building on these your house will fall. From the material imparted to us, we are to build.

We find, therefore, that we are in a SPIRIT world now. And we have only Mind or Spirit to deal with. This explains how one can sit down in the Silence and speak the word which will bring health to the body of a person miles away, as we have found that there is but one substance from which the world was created, and that substance is

Mind or Spirit — this substance is all with which we have to deal. Thought as we have seen is as real a substance as anything we can see, feel or touch, because it reaches out into the unseen and brings into the seen and known what that thought represents. Besides, also, thought under-girds all material existence. Man's mind or spirit is the instrument by which the unseen is brought into the seen or manifested upon this plane of action. It is the highway of the Divine Mind to the world. A certain quality of thought will bring into manifestation the same thing every time. No matter who sends out this quality of thought, you can know with certainty what that thought will bring into manifestation. If you are carrying negative thought you may know absolutely you will have unsatisfactory conditions. Nor does it matter who sends it forth, for every thought produces its kind. An inharmonious mind cannot demonstrate SUC- CESS. An inharmonious mind will induce unsatisfactory conditions. Man, being the highest, most perfect, is master of the lower. He is, therefore, responsible for the directing of this power. Ignorance does not excuse us. There is but ONE POWER, and we are using it every moment of our lives. That POWER is doing something in the world directed by our thought. It is either tearing down our business or building it up. It is either tearing down our home, or filling it with sweetness and light. In all this, the responsibility

THE EFFECT OR THE CREATED 27

rests upon you and me, and from it there is no escape.

Upon every thought mankind sends forth is stamped its quality. That quality will be according to the person's understanding of the truth. Ignorance is no excuse. Its quality is stamped upon every thought and upon every word you speak. You are responsible for what that thought or word brings into the world and escape from that responsibility is impossible.