THE world awaiteth that which is
eternal; it panteth, it thirsteth, it giveth a cry that its torment shall be
lessened.
2 Behold it knoweth not that unless
it be foreshortened in its vision of eternal things, even to that limitation
that is of flesh, it cannot know the glories that await outside of flesh.
3 Man cometh down into atoms of
matter that he shall know command of matter, to learn of its substance, to
deploy within it, to put it on and take it off even as a coat, to say within
his own heart truthfully,
4 Verily am I superior to matter;
matter is my servant; I am its conqueror; I know its limitations, but I in my
spirit, rising above such limitations, observe all matter for that which it is.
5 I say unto it, Go! and behold it
goeth; I say unto it, Come! and behold it cometh; thus is it subservient unto
me, and I have learned the riddle of earthly cosmos.
6 Think ye, my beloved, that
earthly cosmos hath other motive than to instruct? Are all God's manifestations
purposeless? I tell you all creatures do gain by this thing.
7 Ye have come and gone in many
bodies. Ye have witnessed many ages. Ye have seen their workings and ye have
marveled.
8 What is your profit at beholding
past ages? are not they all alike? doth man not labor in every land and clime?
doth he not eat nourishment? doth he not vomit when his belly is sickened? hath
he not a name to give unto his wife? did the goat not bleat for him in a
far-off age even as at present?
9 What doth it benefit man to live
eternally, life upon life, if living and observing do him no wonders? I say he
shall eschew it.
10 The rocks and the seas, and the
thistles and the meadows, all bear witness unto this thing: that the God of
Reason, and the Lord of Mind, hath put a valiance upon the races, that each
should learn of its living essence that which profiteth the soul that seeketh
it, that he should be born into it, that he should see his own glories manifest
in that which receiveth him as cradle to his body's benefit.
11 Further than this, I cannot tell
you until that hour cometh when each shall perceive his own glories for
himself.
12 Ye have heard it said by the
preachers of truth that man goeth down into that sleep which is eternal; verily
have they said it.
13 Ye have heard it uttered that
the grave hath no voice, that none have returned to comment on its victories.
Are they not liars who deal in such speech?
14 I say there is no death. I say
there is transition. Hath the poet not made utterance of this truth which is
majestic? The body falleth but the spirit climbeth, the foot pauseth and
turneth aside to its rest in the casket;
15 Behold the soul lifteth into
realms that ennoble it; it seeth itself for that which it was when earthly clay
hid it and all was screened visioning.
16 The body endureth until that
which it hath sought in earthly sojourn hath been rendered unto it; behold the
spirit saith then unto itself, Mine errand is completed, verily will I lift the
eyes of my spirit, I will see myself truly as life hath ennobled me; if so be
it life hath defeated me, yet will I persevere and take my new lesson.
17 Thus shall I continue onward,
ever watching the steps of my progress, giving glory unto glory, until I arrive
at my Father's house, and know that my brethren are beholden to receive me,
verily, verily as I have prepared myself to show myself unto them.
