A new departure

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I. Introduction 5

II. Interpretation of Symbols' Used in the New Testament. 19

Introduction

Among the leading points in this theory are the following : —

First: That there is an infinite Wisdom containing a plan of the Universe, that Wisdom being of course the Truth. Discernment of it would explain phenomena, and decide questions that have vexed wise minds for ages.

Second : That the Spirit, or Thought, proceeding from that Wisdom (the mind of Gocl) formed the creation, according to the plan. Moreover, mental currents from the divine Source can awaken spiritual perception in man, and thus make known to him the Wisdom of the Lord.

Third : That Jesus was ordained to receive that perception and to declare unto his brethren the Truth thus discerned, so that his followers might be joint-heirs with him to Spiritual knowledge,

A NEW DEPARTURE.

which, together with control over His creation, was the divine inheritance promised to the children of God.

Fourth : That there was one, John the Baptist, sent first, l to prepare the way,' by raising people's thoughts to a purer state, wherein they could comprehend the Wisdom that had been "hid from ages and from generations ".

Fifth: That John referred to that Wisdom when he said, " The kingdom of heaven is at hand " — i. e., the Gospel of God was about to be declared by Jesus.

Sixth : That intelligence could not exist in a passive mental state. A state of perfection would eventually become passive, were there no people in lower phases of life to whom angels can minister. Had Adam been held in his original spiritual condition, there could have been no material multiplication. From this multiplication arise people having continually-changing thoughts. To minister unto these people, and, after their death, to gradually enlighten them concerning the spiritual Wisdom, is the means by which is kept in active circulation the mental force of minds in the higher phases of life. For this cause Adam was 'concluded in unbelief, which obscured his perception of the truth of the creation, namely, that the visible is the manifestation of the invisible, and caused him to suppose that the earth and the body have life separate from the Spirit of God. This " unbelief " brought, also, selfishness — the fountain-head of sin. From these discordant thoughts sprang an erroneous understanding. 1 Moreover, the belief that the creation is separate from the Spirit of God gave rise to a conflicting element which so battled against and obstructed Spiritual force that the creation was no longer held unchangeable by it : then began material action.

Jesus said : " Jerusalem [the spiritual Understanding] shall be trodden down of the Gentiles [those governed by material thought], until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled " ; in other words, the infinite Wisdom shall be obscured b}^ the erroneous understanding — except during comparatively short epochs — until the innumerable multitudes are created which will fulfill the Heavenly Father's design. Hence, after the first epoch of Light ushered in by Christ, there was to be a Night (a veiling of the higher Wisdom), and in the fullness of the time a second Day, or reign of the spiritual Understanding, when c he will speak

1 ln these pages the word understanding is often used, as is also the word wisdom, to signify some particular sort of knowledge ; as, (1) the spiritual Understanding, or Wisdom, which existed before the life of man ; (2) the original material understanding, which entered with Adam ; and (3) the understanding of the power of material mind over matter : the latter belief arises at intervals.

no more in proverbs, but will show us plainly of the Father V

Seventh : That, in some cases, reference which Jesus made to himself was not to his bodily presence but to the Truth, or spiritual Wisdom, which he perceived. It was with God 4 before the foundation of the world', and was made manifest by the Son — " the only begotten of the Father ". Jesus declared that the Spirit of Truth should come again into the world, and teach his followers all tilings.

Eighth: That his promise — viz., "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name [in spiritual perception of, and vital faith in, the Truth that Jesus made manifest], he will give it you" — was in force in that first epoch of Light and will be also when the same spiritual Wisdom shall again reign in this world.

Ninth : That the Cross symbolizes the spiritual Understanding, which is the opposite of the material. The latter, looking downward, deals with the effect — the creation, supposing it to have life of itself, whereas it is simply the manifestation of an invisible cause ; the former, looking upward, deals with that cause. In the absence of

1 In these pages, where Scriptural passages are somewhat altered they are enclosed hy single quotation marks. When, hy interpretation, many words are changed, the said marks are sometimes omitted altogether, and the chapter and verse in which the original passage occurs are given.

the spiritual Wisdom its place is occupied by the material — a massive temple built by man, in the calm conviction that the wall thereof is invulnerable. Hence it was the scribes and the lawyers who relentlessly persecuted Jesus ; the poor and ignorant who left all to follow him. One that would be rich in eternal treasures must become " poor in spirit", in order to receive the Spirit of God. Had Jesus come " in his own name", saying, " I am great and mighty, follow me and ye shall become likewise," who would not have worshipped him! for it is the natural bent of the material mind to desire power and glory. But he said, " I can of mine own self do nothing." He declared that his followers must turn from the wisdom of the world, take up the cross (the opposite understanding), and, denying self, become as little children, in order to enter his kingdom. So, many of the wise and the mighty cried, " Crucify Him ! " that he might not ' take their place and nation from them \ All ! but following him they would have become ' more than conquerors through him that loved them \ Turning from error they would have found Truth ; from strife, the peace that passeth understanding ; from darkness, the Light that is not of earth, but reflects the glory of heaven. Since the Day of Christ there has been, as it were, a Night, with the light only of stars — ■ no wonder that we scorn the idea of there being a

L A NEW DEPA R T URE.

sun! But although we may say, "We have all the light that ever was or ever shall be," can Ave thus prevent the rising of a sun ? Does ignorance annihilate truth? Did the earth change its shape because, at the time of Columbus, men declared that it could not be round ? Unbelief affects only the people ; it is powerless to change the plan of an omniscient God.

Tenth : That God is not the author of conflicting doctrines, but of a wisdom which is unchangeable Truth, — " the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever,'" — and brings ' brotherhood, union, oneness,' among its followers. During the absence of that Light, various interpretations of the Scriptures were to arise, that the world should not be forgetful of the existence of the Infinite. Much of the opposition which Jesus encountered arose from the people's unwillingness to " purge out the old leaven". Having placed a material construction upon the symbolic language of Moses, and perceiving nothing beyond the meaning thus obtained, they declared, " We are Moses' disciples." But Jesus said unto them, " Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me ; for he wrote of me." But although they said, " We know that God spake unto Moses," they added, " As for this fellow we know not from whence he is " ! In a second spiritual epoch they that are not willing to look beyond the material meaning of the New

A NEW DEPARTURE. II

Testament may affirm : " We know that Jesus is the Son of God, but as for people who advance a new doctrine, saying it is the one that Jesus taught, we know nothing about them, why do you listen to them ? "

Eleventh : That there is a Spiritual meaning undertying the New Testament, hidden, because the words appeal only to our material sense, but which if spiritually discerned would open " the way into the holiest of all", not made manifest while the material understanding remains unbroken. For an example, take Jesus' declaration that he should arise the third day, as also referring to Truth, and to a spiritual Day Avhich " is with the Lord as a thousand years "- 1 His words thus contain the prophecy that the Wisdom which he taught, should be revived in the third millenary of the Christian era. But the Scriptures record that Jesus arose before the dawn of the third day, — for the disciples went early to his sepulchre and found him not, — signifying that the second reign of the spiritual Understanding should begin before the third millenary. Again, he told his disciples that he must walk " to-day" — referring to that first reign of Truth — " to-morrow, and the day following " ; and that the third day he should be perfected ; signifying both that there should be two future epochs of Light, and that in the third millenary 1 IT Peter iii : 8.

(toward its close) should come the end of the world, and the universal annihilation of error.

Twelfth : That the highest degree of Truth is referred to as " Christ", or the " Messiah", who, it was promised, should come, and establish a reign of harmony and power, a foretaste on earth of the everlasting kingdom which his followers should receive in Heaven.

Thirteenth : That Jesus was given the highest discernment of the infinite Wisdom, and was, therefore, the Christ — the Truth, ' made manifest in the flesh.' Referring to that Truth Jesus said, " No man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Fourteenth : That during the Night, or absence of that spiritual Light, it is after death that every one gradually receives a degree of the Wisdom which, together with love for God and for one another, overcomes error, and gathers into one fold the children of man, bringing, moreover, such joy and peace as to more than recompense one for having suffered. As purity cannot be forced upon any one, but comes only through an inward desire for it, remorse is the means by which that desire is awakened in the erring.

Fifteenth: That in the next phase of existence, people enter a state of retrospection of their past life. Kind thoughts and deeds are remembered with pleasure ; selfish and sinful ones with remorse. Hence the words: "With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged : and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."

Sixteenth : That the word " hell " denotes an intensified consciousness of their own moral discord, in the wicked in the second phase of life. The result of this consciousness is remorse and pain that are co-existent with the error, and cease when the latter is overcome.

Seventeenth : That the Book of Life symbolizes the infinite Wisdom, which is changeless and immortal. 1 Everything contrary to it is eventually destroyed. The Spirit of God supplants the material nature, through awakening spiritual discernment and love.

Eighteenth : That in the first retrospect of their past life people have not ability to conceal their thoughts, but involuntarily give utterance to what is in their heart. Therefore ' by their words they are justified, and by their words they are condemned '. " Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the da}^ of judgment " ; i. e., in the second phase of life, when the power of repression ceases. Every thought that ever entered the mind is then wafted across the brain, causing memory of the past. Moreover, in that phase of life people have a keener con-

1 The Scripture says of those who were given perception of the Wisdom, that ' their names were written in the Book of Life \

14 £ NEW BEPAR TUBE.

sciousness of their error, in order that they shall desire to overcome it. Paradise would be no better than this world if each one's selfishness entered therein ; and if the material nature were overpowered at death, one's individuality and memory of the past would be destroyed. It is the third phase of life wherein dwelleth only righteousness. The second is a preparatory state, where people gradually reach the frame of mind in which they can comprehend and appreciate a degree of ' the Truth that is their life '.

Nineteenth : That Abraham, Moses, David, and the other prophets, had certain degrees of the spiritual Wisdom ; but Jesus was the first one to whom was given complete, and the highest, discernment of it.

Twentieth : That Truth was the ' Root ' whence sprang David's spiritual understanding. Before the birth of Jesus it was promised that lie should be given the [spiritual] ' throne ' of David. 1 After the reign of the latter prophet spiritual discernment ceased, — * the tabernacle of David fell.' His son Solomon 'built a temple wherein the Most High dwelt not'. 2 In Acts xv: 16, IT, are the following verses : " After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down ; and I will build again the ruins

1 Luke i: 32. Refer also to Rev. xxii: 16.

thereof, and I will set it up : That the residue of men might seek after the Lord," — those words referring to the time of Jesus ; also to the second and to the third coming of the spiritual Wisdom.

As already said, the Spirit proceeding from God formed the creation, which is the manifestation of Divine thought. To control Creative force would control the manifestation of that force. The Heavenly Father gave unto Jesus, both discernment of the infinite Wisdom and control of the force proceeding therefrom. Hence, ' all things were put in subjection under him,' although ' he himself was subject unto God ' ; for he sought not his own will, but solely to declare the Creator's love, wisdom and power, — doing ever what is pleasing in His sight.

Twenty-first : That the life of the body is the Spirit of God which unceasingly passes to it, but is battled against and somewhat obstructed by a conflicting element continuously generated by an inherent state in our mental organization in this life. By means of Jesus' discernment of the Infinite wisdom and power, an unobstructed way was opened, through which the Spiritual force could pass unalloyed. If through faith a person's mind were brought within that purified space, his body was restored at once. This unobstructed Spirit, to which ' nothing is impossible', was held to earth by Jesus' perception of it. When there was no longer spiritual discernment the connecting link was broken, and the force arose high above the reach of man.

Twenty-second : That all harmonious growth is caused by the Spirit of God which unceasingly passes to His creation, but is so obstructed that it can work but slowly, though always tending to restore, and to complete the perfect design in every object. The elements receive from this Spirit an irresistible force, before which man retreats, awed and helpless, but which through union with God, he could control. The disciples said of Jesus, " What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obe} T him ! " Can it be that we comprehend the omnipotence of the Lord, when even one that believes in God and admits unhesitatingly that He is all-powerful, will, when confronted with a truth that is above material limits, exclaim, " Impossible " / But is the creation greater than He who caused it to be, that it should not, in His presence, obey Him ? While the veil is between the Potter and his clay, the servant 1 Nature ' is given supreme command — withdrawn, and lo ! the limited law gives place to the limitless Lawgiver. The creation had been in subjection to the servant for ages : could it, then, resist the Master? Through the power of the Infinite, Jesus triumphed over laws of nature, even healing the maimed and raising 1 the dead.

A NE W DEPA RTUEE. 17

Twenty-third : That toward the end of the first epoch of Light, mental force, sent earthward to the followers of Jesus, entered also the minds of people who were not awakened spiritually. Their will-power was thus increased to an extent that enabled them to do such works ' as would have deceived the very elect, had that been possible '. Such people are referred to by St.. Paul as " having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof ". St. Peter and St. Paul forewarned their brethren of the perilous times of the latter days [of the epoch], when ' the way of truth should be evil spoken of ' ; St. John, at the time of writing his Epistles, said : " Even now are there many antichrists ; whereby we know that it is the last time." This error finally caused such a cloud in the mental atmosphere that the spiritual Wisdom was obscured.

Twenty-fourth : That in Revelation (xvi : 19) the figurative language, namely, " The great city was divided into three parts," symbolizes the three understandings. The first does not recognize mind as governing matter; the second deals with the power of material mind over matter — thereby in a measure controlling it, thus giving people "whereof to glory, but not before God " — ; the third is the gift of the Lord, even discernment of the infinite Wisdom and of the power of the Spirit of God to restore His creation. The first understandim-'

entered with Adam, and has always governed the majority. The second arises at intervals ; the third exists in an epoch of Light. Moreover, the second is the germ whence springs ' the spirit of antichrist ' — the violent opposition to Truth: that opposition prevailed in the latter days of the first epoch. Jesus referred both to those governed by the first understanding and by the second, when he said: "If I had not come and spoken unto them," * * * and " done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin" ; for they would not have been conscious of a higher Wisdom. But when that Wisdom was made known 4 they had no cloak for their sin if, after having seen, they hated both Him and his Father '. During an epoch of Light they that take up the cross — the opposite understanding from the material — are 'baptized with the Holy Ghost [spiritual perception], and with fire ', the Truth that destroys error and brings at-one-ment with the Infinite.

Chapter II. Interpretation Of Symbols Used In The New Testament

According to this doctrine the New Testament is clothed in symbolic language, so that the inner meaning should not be discerned except during a spiritual epoch. In two instances, following, the symbols used have more than one signification. The word ' Egypt' denotes, in some cases, this world — the land governed by Pharoah (the material understanding) — : in other cases it denotes a sinful state ; Moses was sent to deliver the children of Israel therefrom. Again : the third millenary is called the third Day — before the dawn of which Truth "should arise — ; and the three epochs of spiritual Light are also called days. The second Day, or epoch of Light, begins before, and extends into, the third Day, or millenary.

The following interpretation of symbols used in the New Testament may throw light upon the Spiritual meaning therein. (Some of the symbols when referring not to the Spiritual, denote the opposite quality ; as, the flesh of Jesus — spiritual perception ; other reference to flesh — material perception. 1 ) The flesh and body of Jesus ; also bread, faith, and the Holy Ghost, symbolize spiritual perception. The word ' church ' is used as a symbol for spiritual perception, and also to designate certain groups of people that are given discernment of Truth. The blood of Jesus ; also wine, 2 meat, salt, and name, — Truth, the spiritual Wisdom. Usually, other reference to 'blood' signifies material thought. 3 In some cases the word 4 fire ' denotes Truth. Water, also » white ' (purity). The word 'red' denotes error. Oil (love). Cross (the opposite understanding from the material). The wrath to come, — a person's remorse, in the next phase of life, for sin, from

1 In the latter part of the nineteenth chapter of Revelation (and also in Acts ii : 31) the word flesh has only the ordinary meaning ; in passages quoted respectively on pages 80 and 113, the word has both the ordinary and the inner signification. The two meanings apply also to the word ' body ' occurring in a passage from IT. Cor. v. : 10, quoted on page 65. Of course, words used as symbols may occur in mere description of events, and may then have only the ordinary meaning ; as in the passage [see Matthew xxvii : 58, 59] where a request is made by Joseph of Arimathea that to him should be delivered the crucified body of Jesus.

2 In Titus i : 7, the word ' wine ' has the ordinary meaning and refers also to material thought.

3 Where the word 'blood' has other than the ordinary meaning and does not refer to Truth, it signifies in some cases, simply material thought in distinction from the spiritual ; and in other cases, that which is sinful.

A NEW DEPARTURE.

which one is eventually freed by Jesus Christ — spiritual perception of that infinite Truth which Jesus made manifest, and which brings " remission" (purifies the mind). Even as the Scripture says : " This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days [in which they live in materiality], saith the Lord, I Avill put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them ; And [then] their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." Hebrews x : 16, 17. Remorse is sometimes called "the wrath of God", because it is the existence of holiness which causes one's consciousness of wrongdoing.

In some cases the word ' fear ' denotes love ; as, to fear the name of God (to love His truth). 1 To break — to explain ; as, Jesus broke bread (he explained the Wisdom, of which he had been given spiritual perception). To believe in the name of the Son of God (to comprehend and receive the Truth — that is, the infinite Wisdom — brought to light by Jesus). 2 " Through the blood of his cross to reconcile all things unto himself " (through the

1 Where the word ' fear ' is used as in I. John iv : 18, and in Luke viii : 50, it has of course only the ordinary meaning.

2 In the fuller meaning of the word 'believe', it signifies not only to comprehend, receive and love, the infinite Wisdom, but also that one's faith should be manifested by spiritual works. This broader signification is included where reference is made, in these pages, to purification through ' receiving ' Truth, or through 'discernment and love' thereof.

truth of his opposite Understanding to supplant all thoughts that are contrary to it). ' The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin ' ; i. e., the spiritual truth, the vital principle of the higher life, the animating and soul-restoring force, when it flows into and illuminates the mind, purifies the entire nature. " Christ crucified " (Truth overpowered by error — the infinite Wisdom overpowered by the finite — for a time, then revived by the power of God). The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (the Wisdom of God, overpowered by the material understanding). Atonement, — at-one-ment ; i. e., union with God through knowledge and love of Him, — one's material nature given up, supplanted hy the spiritual. The Spirit and the bride (Truth, and the perception and love of Truth). Called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb (the spiritual nature awakened to partake of the Wisdom and love that unite one with the Lord). Saved (purified from material thought through knowledge and love of that which is Spiritual). Salvation (enlightenment and complete purification, — at-one-ment with God). Baptize all nations " in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost " (teach them the truth of the infinite Love and Wisdom, and of spiritual perception awakened by the power of the Infinite). ' Believe, and ye shall be saved ' ; i. e., comprehend, and receive in the spirit of holiness the Truth that Jesus made manifest, and ye shall be purified from the material nature. 1 Tabernacle, temple, house, and city ; also garment, raiment, and robe, denote understanding. 2 Hands, hand, and arm ; also eye (thought). " The Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands," — -the infinite Wisdom dwells not in understandings formed by material thought. The immortal Truth existed before the life of man, so what understanding can man build, wherein that Wisdom can abide ? People must be willing to let ' their own houses fall', if they would enter that temple built by the Heavenly Father, and finished before the foundation of the world. 4 They cannot enter through unbelief ' ; that is, while they neither comprehend nor desire Spiritual knowledge. Referring to the time during which the infinite Wisdom was manifest Jesus said : " Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men, * * * neither in this world, neither in the world to come " ; in

1 In the New Testament the word ' believe ' is sometimes used where it has only the ordinary meaning. It is so used in the latter half of the nineteenth verse in the second chapter of James; and also in Romans xiii: 11, where St. Paul says, referring to the first reign of Truth, that salvation (enlightenment and complete purification) was then nearer than it had been when the people merely " believed", without being awakened spiritually.

2 In II Peter i : 13, 14, the word " tabernacle " refers to the body.

2A A NEW DEPARTURE.

other words, while people, in either this phas life or the second, continued to denounce and : spiritual perception, they could not be purified from the material nature. I -ins could be overcome

through discernment and love of Truth : but while they would not receive the gift, their error remained. Finally, in the second phase of life, remorse having caused th lesire purity, spiritual Lighr

all. Tl I their robes, and

made them white in the blood of the Lamb, 91 — cleansed their understanding, and made it pm the Truth of the infinite Wisdom.

The " Jerusalem which now is. and is in bond-

— ith her children ; also Hagar, Pharaoh, and

the material understanding. The

isalem above, which is free, and the inoth

us all : ah S h, the mother of I

spiritual Understanding. Ishmael (material per-

ception i. Isaac (spiritual perception). " What

saith the Scripture? C t-t out the bondwoman

and her son ; for the son of the bondwoman shall

not be heir with the son of the free woman " : l i.e..

material understanding and ti D thereof

i ritual, awakened by the power of G I. Esau was governed by material thought; Jac h, by spiritual, which was hid from many of hi ts — the children of

1 Galatians iv: 22-3L

Israel. Hence the Scripture saith : " They are not all Israel [spiritual], which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children : but, in Isaac [in spiritual perception] shall thy seed be called." l Accounting that God is able to awaken spiritual perception even in the dead, 2 and even in those whose spiritual nature is sleeping. The term ' Gentiles ' signifies people that are governed by the original material understanding; 'Jews', descendants of them to whom the promises were made ; i. e., to whom was given a degree of the spiritual Wisdom. But ' a vail being upon the hearts ' of the disciples of Moses, they supposed righteousness to be completed by obeying the material law ; consequently they failed, in this world, to attain that which comes only through discernment of Truth. The law of Moses is spiritual, but materiality places a material construction upon it. For instance : one of the Commandments says, " Thou shalt not kill." Although we may be blameless " touching the righteousness which is in the [material construction of the] law," yet, materiality destroys spiritual thought. " Therefore by the deeds of the [said] law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight." 3 So we seek for the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, — through spiritual