things; that having material ears some will hear not, and having material eyes, will see not, therefore, they will not understand, and will, as it is written, "rail at whatsoever things they know not," even as the devil contended with Michael, the archangel regarding Moses' body; but Michael brought no railing accusation against him, he simply "The Lord rebuke thee."

said,

Nothing is possible to man without the understanding of God, but with it all things are possible. "O man," (with material understanding)" who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it why didst thou make me thus?" "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." Again, Jesus said, " For verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye say unto this mountain, remove

shall

*The word "them" was not in the original text, and it injures the sense of the sentence.

hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." This would appear to the people, in their material understanding, and with the limited abilities which that understanding gives them, as great an impossibility and a mystery as Jesus' birth and resurrection. This proves that they have not yet even as much. faith (understanding) as a grain of mustard seed, hence they are always asking for, and expecting a sign, notwithstanding, Jesus said to the multitudes who were gathered together to hear him, (and who were no farther from the kingdom of heaven, than are the people to-day) "This generation is an evil generation; it seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of Jonah."

Jesus understood that it was a possible thing to do, and that Jonah did sustain life in his body while in the fish's belly; but while the people are sceptical regarding that, they do accept and believe the state

ment that Jesus died, rose again, and is with the Father. Why do they believe the latter, and not the former statement, when the latter is much more inconsistent with, and miraculous to the world's understanding of to-day? The belief of the people in the death and resurrection of Jesus has its foundation in fear. They are taught that that belief and that only, will give them eternal life; and all desire to live.

They have searched the scriptures and have taken from that blessed word such a idea as this, that God, having made wrong us capable of understanding all, yea the deep things of God, should demand of his greatest workmanship (the soul of man) nothing but a blind faith in a something it does not comprehend. Be sure God never did, and he never will give man eternal life as a recompense for such service. We are to work out our own salvation, and Jesus is our example. We are to follow Jesus, and unless we do follow him, no amount of blind

faith will win us a life which he earned by unceasing labor and unutterable suffering for the sins and ignorance of the people. I do not simply believe, but through the spiritual understanding of the eternal Truth which is God, I know that these things are

true.

CHAPTER VI.

THE DEMONSTRABLE UNDERSTANDING OF GOD.

GOD created man (soul) to be the image in outline, and, in quality, the opposite or likeness of the highest Idea of *Spirit; it was, therefore, spiritual, not gross matter body. Soul had an inward spiritual perception with which to recognize God, its Creator, and an outward spiritual sight with which to see God's creation, including itself, as it was originally created, that is, spiritual, not material. Soul, being the opposite in quality, to the unchangeable Substance, God, i. e., changeable spiritual

*The image and likeness or reflection of the Idea of God, is that which springs forth from God, yet is no part of God. It is something separate from God, yet holding its existence in God. In power it is a nonentity as compared with God's power. In intelligence it is a reflection of the Thought of God, and in quality it is the opposite of God. Soul as first made was this image and likeness.