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Yes; we have every reason to believe so. Life is of two stages progressive and contemplative. We,
who are still progressive, and who hope to progress for countless myriads of ages (as you say), after, the
farthest point to which your finite mind can reach, we know naught of the life contemplation. But we
believe that far far in the vast hereafter there will be a period at which progressive souls will eventually
arrive, when progress has brought them to the very dwelling place of the Omnipotent, and that there they
will lay aside their former state, and bask in the full light of Deity, in contemplation of all the secrets of the
universe. Of this we cannot tell you. It is too high. Soar not to such vast heights. Life is unending, as you
count it, but you are concerned with the approach to its threshold, not with the inner temple.
SM: Of course. Do you know more of God than you did on earth?
We know more of the operations of His love more of the operations of that beneficent Power which
controls and guides the worlds. We know of Him, but we know Him not; nor shall know, as you would
seek to know, until we enter on the life of contemplation. He is known to us only by His act.
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SECTION II
" " " " " " " "
[In further conversation I alluded again to the conflict between good and evil; and a long answer to my
question, or, rather, to what was in my mind, was written. The storm was spoken of as one that would
rage, with intervals of lull, till some ten or twelve years had passed, when a period of repose would
ensue. This is almost the only case I have noted in which a prophecy was ventured upon. Though the
ideas in the message have since been conveyed repeatedly, and with more precision and power, I leave
it untouched to show the character of the teaching at the time.]
What you hear are the first mutterings of a conflict which will be long and arduous. Such are of
periodical occurrence. If you could read the story of the world with the spirit-sight, you would see that
there have always been periodic battles between the evil and the good. There have recurred seasons
when undeveloped intelligences have had predominance. Especially are such seasons consequent on
great wars among you. Many spirits are prematurely withdrawn from the body. They then pass before
they are fit; and at the moment of departure they are in evil state, angry, bloodthirsty, filled with evil
passion. They do mischief great and long in the after-life.
Nothing is more dangerous than for souls to be rudely severed from their bodily habitation, and to be
launched into spirit-life, with angry passions stirred, and revengeful feelings dominant. It is bad that any
should be dismissed from earth-life suddenly, and before the bond is naturally severed. It is for this
reason that all destruction of bodily flesh is foolish and rude: rude, as betokening a barbarous ignorance
of the conditions of life and progress hereafter; foolish, as releasing an undeveloped angry spirit from its
trammels, and enduing it with extended capacity for mischief. You are blind and ignorant in your dealings
with those who have offended against your laws and the regulations, moral and restrictive, by which you
govern intercourse amongst yourselves. You find a low and debased intelligence offending against
morality, or against constituted law. Straightway you take the readiest means of aggravating his capacity
for mischief. Instead of separating such one from evil influence, removing him from association with sin,
and isolating him under the educating influence of true purity and spirituality, where the more refined
intelligences may gradually operate and counteract the baleful power of evil and evil manifestations, you
place him in the midst of evil associations, in company with offenders like himself, where the very
atmosphere is heavy with evil, where the hordes of the undeveloped and unprogressed spirits most do
congregate, and where, both from human associates and spirit influence, the whole tendency is evil.
Vain and short-sighted and ignorant folly! Into your dens of criminals we cannot enter. The missionary
spirits pause and find their mission vain. The good angels weep to find an associated band of evil
human and spiritual massed against them by man s ignorance and folly. What wonder that you have
gathered from such experience the conviction that a tendency to open crime is seldom cured, seeing that
you yourselves are the plainest accomplices of the spirits who gloat over the fall of the offender. How
many an erring soul erring through ignorance, as frequently as through choice  has come forth from
your jails hardened and attended by evil guides you know not, and can never know! But were you to
pursue an enlightened plan with your offenders, you would find a perceptible gain, and confer blessing
incalculable on the misguided and vicious.
You should teach your criminals; you should punish them, as they will be punished here, by showing
them how they hurt themselves by their sin, and how they retard their future progress. You should place
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SECTION II
them where advanced and earnest spirits among you may lead them to unlearn their sin, and to drink in
wisdom: where the Bands of the Blessed may aid their efforts, and the spirits of the higher spheres may
shed on them their benign and elevating influence. But you horde together your dangerous spirits. You [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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