CHAPTER 59.

Meeting of the sages, continued. The remaining postulates. The sages bless Jesus. Seven days’ silence.

Apollowrote the fifth:

2The soul is drawn to perfect light by four white steeds, and these are Will, and Faith, and Helpfulness and Love.

3That which one wills to do, he has the power to do.

4A knowledge of that power is faith; and when faith moves, the soul begins its flight.

5A selfish faith leads not to light. There is no lonely pilgrim on the way to light. Men only gain the heights by helping others gain the heights.

6The steed that leads the way to spirit life is Love; is pure unselfish Love.

7Matheno wrote the sixth:

8The universal Love of which Apollo speaks is child of Wisdom and of Will divine, and God has sent it forth to earth in flesh that man may know.

9The universal Love of which the sages speak, is Christ.

10The greatest mystery of all times lies in the way that Christ lives in the heart.

11Christ cannot live in clammy dens of carnal things. The seven battles must be fought, the seven victories won before the carnal things, like fear, and self, emotions and desire, are put away.

12When this is done the Christ will take possession of the soul; the work is done, and man and God are one.

13And Philo wrote the seventh:

14A perfect man! To bring before the Triune God a being such as this was nature made.

15This consummation is the highest revelation of the mystery of life.

16When all the essences of carnal things have been transmuted into soul, and all the essences of soul have been returned to Holy Breath, and man is made a perfect God, the drama of Creation will conclude. And this is all.

17And all the sages said, Amen.

18Then Meng-ste said, The Holy One has sent to us a man illumined by the efforts of unnumbered years, to lead the thoughts of men.

19This man, approved by all the master minds of heaven and earth, this man from Galilee, this Jesus, chief of all the sages of the world, we gladly recognize.

20In recognition of this wisdom that he brings to men, we crown him with the Lotus wreath.

21We send him forth with all the blessing of the seven sages of the world.

22Then all the sages laid their hands on Jesus’ head, and said with one accord, Praise God!

23For wisdom, honor, glory, power, riches, blessing, strength, are yours, O Christ, forever more.

24And every living creature said, Amen.

25And then the sages sat in silence seven days.

Jesus addresses the seven sages. The address. Jesus goes to Galilee.

Theseven days of silence passed and Jesus, sitting with the sages said:

2The history of life is well condensed in these immortal postulates. These are the seven hills on which the holy city shall be built.

3These are the seven sure foundation stones on which the Universal Church shall stand.

4In taking up the work assigned for me to do I am full conscious of the perils of the way; the cup will be a bitter one to drink and human nature well might shrink.

5But I have lost my will in that of Holy Breath, and so I go my way to speak and act as I am moved to speak and act by Holy Breath.

6The words I speak are not my own; they are the words of him whose will I do.

7Man is not far enough advanced in sacred thought to comprehend the Universal Church, and so the work that God has given me to do is not the building of that Church.

8I am a model maker, sent to make a pattern of the Church that is to be—a pattern that the age may comprehend.

9My task as model builder lies within my native land, and there, upon the postulate that Love is son of God, that I am come to manifest that Love, the Model Church will stand.

10And from the men of low estate I will select twelve men, who represent the twelve immortal thoughts; and these will be the Model Church.

11The house of Judah, my own kindred in the flesh, will comprehend but little of my mission to the world.

12And they will spurn me, scorn my work, accuse me falsely, bind me, take me to the judgment seat of carnal men who will convict and slay me on the cross.

13But men can never slay the truth; though banished it will come again in greater power; for truth will subjugate the world.

14The Model Church will live. Though carnal man will prostitute its sacred laws, symbolic rites and forms, for selfish ends, and make it but an outward show, the few will find through it the kingdom of the soul.

15And when the better age shall come the Universal Church will stand upon the seven postulates, and will be built according to the pattern given.

16The time has come; I go my way unto Jerusalem, and by the power of living faith, and by the strength that you have given,

17And in the name of God, our Father-God, the kingdom of the soul shall be established on the seven hills,

18And all the peoples, tribes and tongues of earth shall enter in.

19The Prince of Peace will take his seat upon the throne of power; the Triune God will then be All in All.

20And all the sages said, Amen.

21And Jesus went his way, and after many days, he reached Jerusalem; and then he sought his home in Galilee.

John, the harbinger, returns to Hebron. Lives as a hermit in the wilds. Visits Jerusalem and speaks to the people.

Itcame to pass when John, the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, had finished all his studies in the Egyptian schools that he returned to Hebron, where he abode for certain days.

2And then he sought the wilderness and made his home in David’s cave where many years before, he was instructed by the Egyptian sage.

3Some people called him Hermit of Engedi; and others said, He is the Wild Man of the hills.

4He clothed himself with skins of beasts; his food was carobs, honey, nuts and fruits.

5When John was thirty years of age he went into Jerusalem, and in the market place he sat in silence seven days.

6The common people and the priests, the scribes and Pharisees came out in multitudes to see the silent hermit of the hills; but none were bold enough to ask him who he was.

7But when his silent fast was done he stood forth in the midst of all and said,

8Behold, the king has come; the prophets told of him; the wise men long have looked for him.

9Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king.

10And that was all he said, and then he disappeared, and no one knew where he had gone.

11And there was great unrest through all Jerusalem. The rulers heard the story of the hermit of the hills,

12And they sent couriers forth to talk with him that they might know about the coming king; but they could find him not.

13And after certain days he came again into the market place, and all the city came to hear him speak; he said,

14Be not disturbed, you rulers of the state; the coming king is no antagonist; he seeks no place on any earthly throne.

15He comes the Prince of Peace, the king of righteousness and love; his kingdom is within the soul.

16The eyes of men shall see itnot and none can enter but the pure in heart.

17Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king.

18Again the hermit disappeared; the people strove to follow him, but he had drawn a veil about his form and men could see him not.

19A Jewish feast day came; Jerusalem was filled with Jews and proselytes from every part of Palestine, and John stood in the temple court and said,

20Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king.

21Lo, you have lived in sin; the poor cry in your streets, and you regard them not.

22Your neighbors, who are they? You have defrauded friend and foe alike.

23You worship God with voice and lip; your hearts are far away, and set on gold.

24Your priests have bound upon the people burdens far too great to bear; they live in ease upon the hard earned wages of the poor.

25Your lawyers, doctors, scribes are useless cumberers of the ground; they are but tumors on the body of the state;

26They toil not neither do they spin, yet they consume the profits of your marts of trade.

27Your rulers are adulterers, extortioners and thieves, regarding not the rights of any man;

28And robbers ply their calling in the sacred halls; the holy temple you have sold to thieves; their dens are in the sacred places set apart for prayer.

29Hear! hear! you people of Jerusalem! Reform; turn from your evil ways or God will turn from you, and heathen from afar will come, and what is left of all your honor and your fame will pass in one short hour.

30Prepare, Jerusalem, prepare to meet your king.

31He said no more; he left the court and no one saw him go.

32The priests, the doctors and the scribes were all in rage. They sought for John intent to do him harm. They found him not.

33The common people stood in his defense; they said, The hermit speaks the truth.

34And then the priests, the doctors and the scribes were sore afraid; they said no more; they hid themselves away.

John, the harbinger, again visits Jerusalem. Speaks to the people. Promises to meet them at Gilgal in seven days. Goes to Bethany and attends a feast.

Nextday John went again into the temple courts and said,

2Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king.

3The chief priests and the scribes would know the meaning of his words; they said,

4Bold man, what is the purport of this message that you bring to Israel? If you be seer and prophet, tell us plainly who has sent you here?

5And John replied, I am the voice of one who cries out in the wilderness, Prepare the way, make straight the paths, for, lo, the Prince of Peace will come to rule in love.

6Your prophet Malachi wrote down the words of God:

7And I will send Elijah unto you before the retribution day shall come, to turn again the hearts of men to God and if they will notturn, lo, I will smite them with a curse.

8You men of Israel; you know your sins. As I passed by I saw a wounded bird prone in your streets, and men of every class were beating it with clubs; and then I saw that Justice was its name.

9I looked again and saw that its companion had been killed; the pure white wings of Righteousness were trampled in the dust.

10I tell you men, your awfulness of guilt has made a cesspool of iniquity that sends a fearful stench to heaven.

11Reform, O Israel, reform; prepare to meet your king.

12And then John turned away and as he went he said,

13In seven days, lo, I will stand at Gilgal, by the Jordan ford, where Israel first crossed into the promised land.

14And then he left the temple court to enter it no more; but many people followed him as far as Bethany, and there he tarried at the home of Lazarus, his kin.

15The anxious people gathered all about the home and would not go; then John came forth and said,

16Reform, O Israel, reform; prepare to meet your king.

17The sins of Israel do not all lie at the door of priest and scribe. O think you not that all the sinners of Judea are found among the rulers and the men of wealth.

18It is no sign that man is good and pure because he lives in want.

19The listless, shiftless vagabonds of earth are mostly poor and have to beg for bread.

20I saw the very men that cheered because I told the priests and scribes of their injustice unto man, throw stones and beat poor Justice in the streets.

21I saw them trample on the poor dead bird of Righteousness;

22And you who follow after me, you commoners, are not one whit behind the scribes and priests in crime.

23Reform, you men of Israel; the king has come; prepare to meet your king.

24With Lazarus and his sisters, John remained for certain days.

25In honor of the Nazarite a feast was spread, and all the people stood about the board.

26And when the chief men of the town poured out the sparkling wine and offered John a cup, he took it, held it high in air, and said,

27Wine makes glad the carnal heart, and it makes sad the human soul; it plunges deep in bitterness and gall the deathless spirit of the man.

28I took the vow of Nazar when a child, and not a drop has ever passed my lips.

29And if you would make glad the coming king, then shun the cup as you would shun a deadly thing.

30And then he threw the sparkling wine out in the street.

John, the harbinger, visits Jericho. Meets the people at Gilgal. Announces his mission. Introduces the rite of baptism. Baptizes many people. Returns to Bethany and teaches. Returns to the Jordan.

AndJohn went down to Jericho; there he abode with Alpheus.

2And when the people heard that he was there they came in throngs to hear him speak.

3He spoke to none; but when the time was due he went down to the Jordan ford, and to the multitudes he said,

4Reform and in the fount of purity wash all your sins away; the kingdom is at hand.

5Come unto me and in the waters of this stream be washed, symbolic of the inner cleansing of the soul.

6And, lo, the multitudes came down and in the Jordan they were washed, and every man confessed his sins.

7For many months, in all the regions round about, John plead for purity and righteousness; and after many days he went again to Bethany; and there he taught.

8At first few but the honest seekers came; but, by and by, the selfish and the vicious came with no contrition; came because the many came.

9And when John saw the unrepentant Pharisees and Sadducees come unto him, he said,

10You children of the vipers, stay; are you disturbed by news of coming wrath?

11Go to, and do the things that prove repentance genuine.

12Is it enough for you to say that you are heirs of Abraham? I tell you, no.

13The heirs of Abraham are just as wicked in the sight of God when they do wrong as any heathen man.

14Behold the ax! and every tree that bears not wholesome fruit is cut down at the roots and cast into the fire.

15And then the people asked, What must we do?

16And John replied, Accept the ministry of helpfulness for all mankind; spend not upon your selfish selves all that you have.

17Let him who has two coats give one to him who has no coat; give part of all the food you have to those in need.

18And when the publicans came up and asked, What must we do? John answered them,

19Be honest in your work; do not increase for selfish gain the tribute you collect; take nothing more than what your king demands.

20And when the soldiers came and asked, What must we do? The harbinger replied,

21Do violence to none; exact no wrongful thing, and be contented with the wages you receive.

22Among the Jews were many who had been waiting for the Christ to come, and they regarded John as Christ.

23But to their questions John replied, In water I do cleanse, symbolic of the cleansing of the soul; but when he comes who is to come, lo, he will cleanse in Holy Breath and purify in fire.

24His fan is in his hand, and he will separate the wheat and chaff; will throw the chaff away, but garner every grain of wheat. This is the Christ.

25Behold he comes! and he will walk with you, and you will know him not.

26He is the king; the latchet of his shoes I am not worthy to unloose.

27And John left Bethany and went again unto the Jordan ford.

Jesus comes from Galilee, and is baptized by John. The Holy Breath testifies of his messiahship.

Thenews reached Galilee, and Jesus with the multitude went down to where the harbinger was preaching at the ford.

2When Jesus saw the harbingerhe said, Behold the man of God! Behold the greatest of the seers! Behold, Elijah has returned!

3Behold the messenger whom God has sent to open up the way! The kingdom is at hand.

4When John saw Jesus standing with the throng he said, Behold the king who cometh in the name of God!

5And Jesus said to John, I would be washed in water as a symbol of the cleansing of the soul.

6And John replied, You do not need to wash, for you are pure in thought, and word, and deed. And if you need to wash I am not worthy to perform the rite.

7And Jesus said, I come to be a pattern for the sons of men, and what I bid them do, that I must do; and all men must be washed, symbolic of the cleansing of the soul.

8This washing we establish as a rite—baptism rite we call it now, and so it shall be called.

9Your work, prophetic harbinger, is to prepare the way, and to reveal the hidden things.

10The multitudes are ready for the words of life, and I have come to be made known by you to all the world, as prophet of the Triune God, and as the chosen one to manifest the Christ to men.

11Then John led Jesus down into the river at the ford and he baptized him in the sacred name of him who sent him forth to manifest the Christ to men.

12And as they came out of the stream, the Holy Breath, in form of dove, came down and sat on Jesus’ head.

13A voice from heaven said, This is the well-beloved son of God, the Christ, the love of God made manifest.

14John heard the voice, and understood the message of the voice.

15Now Jesus went his way, and John preached to the multitude.

16As many as confessed their sins, and turned from evil ways to ways of right, the harbinger baptized, symbolic of the blotting out of sins by righteousness.

Jesus goes to the wilderness for self-examination, where he remains forty days. Is subjected to three temptations. He overcomes. Returns to the camps of John and begins teaching.

Theharbinger had paved the way; the Logos had been introduced to men as love made manifest, and he must now begin his Christine ministry.

2And he went forth into the wilderness to be alone with God that he might look into his inner heart, and note its strength and worthiness.

3And with himself he talked; he said, My lower self is strong; by many ties I am bound down to carnal life.

4Have I the strength to overcome and give my life a willing sacrifice for men?

5When I shall stand before the face of men, and they demand aproof of my messiahship, what will I say?

6And then the tempter came and said, If you be son of God, command these stones to turn to bread.

7And Jesus said, Who is it that demands a test? It is no sign that one is son of God because he does a miracle; the devils can do mighty things.

8Did not the black magicians do great things before the Pharaohs?

9My words and deeds in all the walks of life shall be the proof of my messiahship.

10And then the tempter said, If you will go into Jerusalem, and from the temple pinnacle cast down yourself to earth, the people will believe that you are the Messiah sent from God.

11This you can surely do; for did not David say, He gives his angels charge concerning you, and with their hands will they uphold lest you should fall?

12And Jesus said, I may not tempt the Lord, my God.

13And then the tempter said, Look forth upon the world; behold its honors and its fame! Behold its pleasures and its wealth!

14If you will give your life for these they shall be yours.

15But Jesus said, Away from me all tempting thoughts. My heart is fixed; I spurn this carnal self with all its vain ambition and its pride.

16For forty days did Jesus wrestle with his carnal self; his higher self prevailed. He then was hungry, but his friends had found him and they ministered to him.

17Then Jesus left the wilderness, and in the consciousness of Holy Breath, he came unto the camps of John and taught.

Six of John’s disciples follow Jesus and become his disciples. He teaches them. They sit in the Silence.

Amongthe followers of John were many men from Galilee. The most devout were Andrew, Simon, James, and John, with Philip and his brother of Bethsaida.

2One day as Andrew, Philip and a son of Zebedee, were talking with the harbinger, the Logos came, and John exclaimed, Behold the Christ!

3And then the three disciples followed Jesus, and he asked, What do you seek?

4And the disciples asked, Where do you live? And Jesus answered, Come and see.

5And Andrew called his brother Simon, saying, Come with me, for I have found the Christ.

6When Jesus looked in Simon’s face he said, Behold a rock! and Peter is your name.

7And Philip found Nathaniel sitting by a tree, and said, My brother, come with me, for I have found the Christ! In Nazareth he abides.

8Nathaniel said, Can anything of good come out of Nazareth? And Philip answered, Come and see.

9When Jesus saw Nathaniel come he said, Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile!

10Nathaniel said, How can you speak about me thus?

11And Jesus said, I saw you as you sat beneath the fig tree over there, before your brother called.

12Nathaniel lifted up his hands and said, This surely is the Christ,the king, for whom the harbinger has often testified.

13And John went forth and found his brother James, and brought him to the Christ.

14The six disciples went with Jesus to the place where he abode.

15And Peter said, We long have sought for Christ. We came from Galilee to John; we thought that he was Christ, but he confessed to us that he was not;

16That he was but the harbinger sent forth to clear the way, and make the pathway easy for the coming king; and when you came he said, Behold the Christ!

17And we would gladly follow where you go. Lord, tell us what to do.

18And Jesus said, The foxes of the earth have homes, the birds have nests; I have no place to lay my head.

19He who would follow me must give up all the cravings of the self and lose his life in saving life.

20I come to save the lost, and man is saved when he is rescued from himself. But men are slow to comprehend this doctrine of the Christ.

21And Peter said, I cannot speak for any other man, but for myself I speak: I will leave all and follow where you lead.

22And then the others spoke and said, You have the words of truth; you came from God, and if we follow in your footsteps we cannot miss the way.

23Then Jesus and the six disciples sat a long, long time in silent thought.

Jesus visits John at the Jordan. Delivers his first Christine address to the people. The address. He goes with his disciples to Bethany.

Now,on the morrow Jesus came again and stood with John beside the ford; and John prevailed on him to speak, and standing forth he said,

2You men of Israel, hear! The kingdom is at hand.

3Behold the great key-keeper of the age stands in your midst; and with the spirit of Elijah he has come.

4Behold, for he has turned the key; the mighty gates fly wide and all who will may greet the king.

5Behold these multitudes of women, children, men! they throng the avenues, they crowd the outer courts; each seems to be intent to be the first to meet the king.

6Behold, the censor comes and calls, Whoever will may come; but he who comes must will to prune himself of every evil thought;

7Must overcome desire to gratify the lower self; must give his life to save the lost.

8The nearer to the kingdom gate you come, more spacious is the room; the multitudes have gone.

9If men could come unto the kingdom with their carnal thoughts, their passions and desires, there scarcely would be room for all.

10But when they cannot take these through the narrow gate they turn away; the few are ready to go in and see the king.

11Behold, John is a mighty fisher, fishing for the souls of men. He throws his great net out into the sea of human life; he draws it in and it is full.

12But what a medley catch! a catch of crabs, and lobsters, sharks and creeping things, with now and then a fish of better kind.

13Behold, the thousands cometo hear the Wild Man of the hills; they come in crowds that he may wash them in the crystal flood, and with their lips they do confess their sins.

14But when the morrow comes we find them in their haunts of vice again, reviling John, and cursing God, and heaping insults on the king.

15But blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see the king.

16And blessed are the strong in heart, for they shall not be cast about by every wind that blows;

17But while the fickle and the thoughtless have gone back to Egypt land for leeks and carnal herbs to satisfy their appetites, the pure in heart have found the king.

18But even those whose faith is weak, and who are naught but carnal manifests, will some day come again, and enter in with joy to see the king.

19O men of Israel, take heed to what this prophet has to say! Be strong in mind; be pure in heart; be vigilant in helpfulness; the kingdom is at hand.

20When Jesus had thus said he went his way, and with his six disciples came to Bethany; and they abode with Lazarus many days.

Jesus speaks to the people in Bethany. Tells them how to become pure in heart. Goes to Jerusalem and in the temple reads from a prophetic book. Goes to Nazareth.

Thenews soon spread abroad that Jesus, king of Israel, had come to Bethany, and all the people of the town came forth to greet the king.

2And Jesus, standing in the midst of them exclaimed, Behold, indeed, the king has come, but Jesus is not king.

3The kingdom truly is at hand; but men can see it not with carnal eyes; they cannot see the king upon the throne.

4This is the kingdom of the soul; its throne is not an earthly throne; its king is not a man.

5When human kings found kingdoms here, they conquer other kings by force of arms; one kingdom rises on the ruins of another one.

6But when our Father-God sets up the kingdom of the soul, he pours his blessings forth, like rain, upon the thrones of earthly kings who rule in righteousness.

7It is not rule that God would overthrow; his sword is raised against injustice, wantonness and crime.

8Now, while the kings of Rome do justice, and love mercy and walk humbly with their God, the benediction of the Triune God will rest upon them all.

9They need not fear a messenger whom God sends forth to earth.

10I am not sent to sit upon a throne to rule as Cæsar rules; and you may tell the ruler of the Jews that I am not a claimant for his throne.

11Men call me Christ, and God has recognized the name; but Christ is not a man. The Christ is universal love, and Love is king.

12This Jesus is but man who has been fitted by temptations overcome, by trials multiform, to be the temple through which Christ can manifest to men.

13Then hear, you men of Israel, hear! Look not upon the flesh; it is not king. Look to the Christ within, who shall be formed in every one of you, as he is formed in me.

14When you have purified your hearts by faith, the king will enter in, and you will see his face.

15And then the people asked, What must we do that we may make our bodies fit abiding places for the king?

16And Jesus said, Whatever tends to purity in thought, and word, and deed will cleanse the temple of the flesh.

17There are no rules that can apply to all, for men are specialists in sin; each has his own besetting sin,

18And each must study for himself how he can best transmute his tendency to evil things to that of righteousness and love.

19Until men reach the higher plane, and get away from selfishness, this rule will give the best results:

20Do unto other men what you would have them do to you.

21And many of the people said, We know that Jesus is the Christ, the king who was to come, and blessed be his name.

22Now, Jesus and his six disciples turned their faces toward Jerusalem, and many people followed them.

23But Mathew, son of Alpheus, ran on before, and when he reached Jerusalem, he said, Behold the Christines come! The multitudes came forth to see the king.

24But Jesus did not speak to any one until he reached the temple court, and then he opened up a book and read:

25Behold, I send my messenger, and he will pave the way, and Christ, for whom you wait, will come unto his temple unannounced. Behold, for he will come, says God, the Lord of hosts.

26And then he closed the book; he said no more; he left the temple halls, and with his six disciples, went his way to Nazareth,

27And they abode with Mary, Jesus’ mother, and her sister, Miriam.

Jesus and the ruler of the synagogue of Nazareth. Jesus teaches not in public, and the people are amazed.

Nextday as Peter walked about in Nazareth, he met the ruler of the synagogue who asked, Who is this Jesus lately come to Nazareth?

2And Peter said, This Jesus is the Christ of whom our prophets wrote; he is the king of Israel. His mother, Mary, lives on Marmion Way.

3The ruler said, Tell him to come up to the synagogue, for I would hear his plea.

4And Peter ran and told to Jesus what the ruler said; but Jesus answered not; he went not to the synagogue.

5Then in the evening time the ruler came up Marmion Way, and in the home of Mary found he Jesus and his mother all alone.

6And when the ruler asked for proof of his messiahship, and why he went not to the synagogue when he was bidden, Jesus said,

7I am not slave to any man; I am not called unto this ministry by priest. It is not mine to answer when men call. I come the Christ of God; I answer unto God alone.

8Who gave you right to ask for proof of my messiahship? My proof lies in my words and works, and so if you will follow me you will not lack for proof.

9And then the ruler went his way; he asked himself, What mannerof a man is this to disregard the ruler of the synagogue?

10The people of the town came out in throngs to see the Christ, and hear him speak; but Jesus said,

11A prophet has no honor in his native town, among his kin.

12I will not speak in Nazareth until the words I speak, and works I do in other towns have won the faith of men,

13Until men know that God has christed me to manifest eternal love.

14Good will to you, my kin; I bless you with a boundless love, and I bespeak for you abundant joy and happiness.

15He said no more, and all the people marveled much because he would not speak in Nazareth.

Jesus and his disciples at a marriage feast in Cana. Jesus speaks on marriage. He turns water into wine. The people are amazed.

InCana, Galilee, there was a marriage feast, and Mary and her sister Miriam, and Jesus and his six disciples were among the guests.

2The ruler of the feast had heard that Jesus was a master sent from God, and he requested him to speak.

3And Jesus said, There is no tie more sacred than the marriage tie.

4The chain that binds two souls in love is made in heaven, and man can never sever it in twain,

5The lower passions of the twain may cause a union of the twain, a union as when oil and water meet.

6And then a priest may forge a chain, and bind the twain. This is not marriage genuine; it is a counterfeit.

7The twain are guilty of adultery; the priest is party to the crime. And that was all that Jesus said.

8As Jesus stood apart in silent thought his mother came and said to him, The wine has failed; what shall we do?

9And Jesus said, Pray what is wine? It is but water with the flavoring of grapes.

10And what are grapes? They are but certain kinds of thought made manifest, and I can manifest that thought, and water will be wine.

11He called the servants, and he said to them, Bring in six water pots of stone, a pot for each of these, my followers, and fill them up with water to the brims,

12The servants brought the water pots, and filled them to their brims.

13And Jesus with a mighty thought stirred up the ethers till they reached the manifest, and, lo, the water blushed, and turned to wine.

14The servants took the wine and gave it to the ruler of the feast who called the bridegroom in and said to him,

15This wine is best of all; most people when they give a feast bring in the best wine at the first; but, lo, you have reserved the best until the last.

16And when the ruler and the guests were told that Jesus, by the power of thought, had turned the water into wine, they were amazed;

17They said, This man is more than man; he surely is the christed one who prophets of the olden times declared would come.

18And many of the guests believed on him, and gladly would have followed him.

Jesus, his six disciples and his mother, go to Capernaum. Jesus teaches the people, revealing the difference between the kings of earth and the kings of heaven.

Thecity of Capernaum was by the sea of Galilee, and Peter’s home was there. The homes of Andrew, John and James were near,

2These men were fishermen, and must return to tend their nets, and they prevailed on Jesus and his mother to accompany them, and soon with Philip and Nathaniel they were resting by the sea in Peter’s home.

3The news spread through the city and along the shore that Judah’s king had come, and multitudes drew near to press his hand.

4And Jesus said, I cannot show the king, unless you see with eyes of soul, because the kingdom of the king is in the soul.

5And every soul a kingdom is. There is a king for every man.

6This king is love, and when this love becomes the greatest power in life, it is the Christ; so Christ is king.

7And every one may have this Christ dwell in his soul, as Christ dwells in my soul.

8The body is the temple of the king, and men may call a holy man a king.

9He who will cleanse his mortal form and make it pure, so pure that love and righteousness may dwell unsullied side by side within its walls, is king.

10The kings of earth are clothed in royal robes, and sit in state that men may stand in awe of them.

11A king of heaven may wear a fisher’s garb; may sit in mart of trade; may till the soil, or be a gleaner in the field; may be a slave in mortal chains;

12May be adjudged a criminal by men; may languish in a prison cell; may die upon a cross.

13Men seldom see what others truly are. The human senses sense what seems to be, and that which seems to be and that which is, may be diverse in every way.

14The carnal man beholds the outer man, which is the temple of the king, and worships at his shrine.

15The man of God is pure in heart; he sees the king; he sees with eyes of soul;

16And when he rises to the plane of Christine consciousness, he knows that he himself is king, is love, is Christ, and so is son of God.

17You men of Galilee, prepare to meet your king.

18And Jesus taught the people many lessons as he walked with them beside the sea.

Jesus in Jerusalem. Drives the merchants out of the temple. The priests resent, and he defends himself from the standpoint of a loyal Jew. He speaks to the people.

TheJewish paschal feast time came and Jesus left his mother in Capernaum and journeyed to Jerusalem.

2And he abode with one a Sadducee, whose name was Jude.

3And when he reached the temple courts the multitudes were there to see the prophet whom the people thought had come to break the yoke of Rome, restore the kingdom of the Jews, and rule on David’s throne.

4And when the people saw him come they said, All hail! behold the king!

5But Jesus answered not; he saw the money changers in the house of God, and he was grieved.

6The courts had been converted into marts of trade, and men were selling lambs and doves for offerings in sacrifice.

7And Jesus called the priests and said, Behold, for paltry gain you have sold out the temple of the Lord.

8This house ordained for prayer is now a den of thieves. Can good and evil dwell together in the courts of God? I tell you, no.

9And then he made a scourge of cords and drove the merchants out; he overturned their boards, and threw their money on the floor.

10He opened up the cages of the captive birds, and cut the cords that bound the lambs, and set them free.

11The priests and scribes rushed out, and would have done him harm, but they were driven back; the common people stood in his defense.

12And then the rulers said, Who is this Jesus you call king?

13The people said, He is the Christ of whom our prophets wrote; he is the king who will deliver Israel.

14The rulers said to Jesus, Man, if you be king, or Christ, then show us signs. Who gave you right to drive these merchants out?

15And Jesus said, There is no loyal Jew who would not give his life to save this temple from disgrace; in this I acted simply as a loyal Jew, and you yourselves will bear me witness to this truth.

16The signs of my messiahship will follow me in words and deeds.

17And you may tear the temple down (and you will tear it down) and in three days it will be built again more glorious than before.

18Now Jesus meant that they might take his life; tear down his body, temple of the Holy Breath, and he would rise again.

19The Jews knew not the meaning of his words; they laughed his claims to scorn. They said,

20A multitude of men were forty and six years in building up this house, and this young stranger claims that he will build it up in three score hours; his words are idle, and his claims are naught.

21And then they took the scourge with which he drove themerchants out, and would have driven him away; but Philo, who had come from Egypt to attend the feast, stood forth and said,

22You men of Israel, hear! This man is more than man; take heed to what you do. I have, myself, heard Jesus speak, and all the winds were still.

23And I have seen him touch the sick, and they were healed. He stands a sage above the sages of the world;

24And you will see his star arise, and it will grow until it is the full-orbed Sun of Righteousness.

25Do not be hasty, men; just wait and you will have the proofs of his messiahship.

26And then the priests laid down the scourge, and Jesus said,

27Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king! But you can never see the king while you press sin as such a precious idol to your hearts.

28The king is God; the pure in heart alone can see the face of God and live.

29And then the priests cried out, This fellow claims to be the God. Is not this sacrilege! away with him!

30But Jesus said, No man has ever heard me say, I am a king. Our Father-God is king. With every loyal Jew I worship God.

31I am the candle of the Lord aflame to light the way; and while you have the light walk in the light.

Jesus again visits the temple, and is favorably received by the people. Tells the parable of a king and his sons. Defines messiahship.

Nextday the multitudes were surging through the temple courts, intent on hearing Jesus speak.

2And when he came the people said, All hail! behold the king!

3And Jesus spoke a parable; he said, A king had vast domains; his people all were kin, and lived in peace.

4Now, after many years the king said to his people, Take these lands and all I have; enhance their values; rule yourselves, and live in peace.

5And then the people formed their states; selected governors and petty kings.

6But pride, ambition, selfish greed, and base ingratitude grew fast, and kings began to war.

7They wrote in all their statute books that might is right; and then the strong destroyed the weak, and chaos reigned through all the vast domain.

8A long time passed, and then the king looked out on his domain. He saw his people in their cruel wars; he saw them sick and sore distressed; he saw the strong enslave the weak,

9And then he said, What shall I do? Shall I send forth a scourge? shall I destroy my people all?

10And then his heart was stirred with pity and he said, I will not send a scourge; I will send forth my only son, heir to the throne, to teach the people love, and peace, and righteousness.

11He sent his son; the people scorned him and maltreated him, and nailed him to a cross.

12He was entombed; but death was far too weak to hold the prince, and he arose.

13He took a form man could not kill; and then he went again to teach the people love, and peace and righteousness.

14And thus God deals with men.

15A lawyer came and asked, What does messiah mean? and who has right to make messiah of a man?

16And Jesus said, Messiah is one sent from God to seek and save the lost. Messiahs are not made by men.

17In first of every age Messiah comes to light the way; to heal up broken hearts; to set the prisoners free. Messiah and the Christ are one.

18Because a man claims to be Christ is not a sign that he is Christ.

19A man may cause the streams to flow from flinty rocks; may bring on storms at will; may stay tempestuous winds; may heal the sick and raise the dead, and not be sent from God.

20All nature is subservient to the will of man, and evil men, as well as good, have all the powers of mind, and may control the elements.

21The head gives not the proof of true messiahship, for man by means of intellect, can never know of God, nor bring himself to walk in light.

22Messiah lives not in the head, but in the heart, the seat of mercy and of love.

23Messiah never works for selfish gains; he stands above the carnal self; his words and deeds are for the universal good.

24Messiah never tries to be a king, to wear a crown and sit upon an earthly throne.

25The king is earthy, of the earth; Messiah is the man from heaven.

26And then the lawyer asked, Why do you pose as king?

27And Jesus said, No man has ever heard me say that I am king. I could not sit in Cæsar’s place and be the Christ.

28Give unto Cæsar what belongs to him; give unto God the treasures of your heart.

Jesus heals on the Sabbath, and is censured by the Pharisees. Restores a drowned child. Rescues a wounded dog. Cares for a homeless child. Speaks on the law of kindness.

Itwas the Sabbath day, and Jesus stood among the surging masses of the people in the temple courts and sacred halls.

2The blind, the deaf, the dumb, and those obsessed were there, and Jesus spoke the Word, and they were healed.

3On some he laid his hands, and they were healed; to others he just spoke the Word, and they were full restored to health; but others had to go and wash in certain pools; and others he anointed with a holy oil.

4A doctor asked him why he healed in divers ways, and he replied,

5Disease is discord in the human form, and discords are produced in many ways.

6The body is a harpsichord; sometimes the strings are too relaxed, and then inharmony results.

7Sometimes we find the strings too tense, and then another form of discord is induced.

8Disease is many-formed, and there are many ways to cure, to tune anew the mystic harpsichord.

9Now when the Pharisees were told that Jesus healed the people on the Sabbath day they were enraged, and they commanded him to quit the place.

10But Jesus said, Was man designedto fit the Sabbath day, or was the Sabbath day designed to fit the man?

11If you had fallen in a pit and, lo, the Sabbath day had come, and I should pass your way, would you cry out,

12Let me alone; it is a sin to help me on the Sabbath day; I’ll swelter in this filth until another day?

13You Pharisees, you hypocrites! you know you would be glad to have my help upon the Sabbath day, or any other day.

14These people all have fallen into pits, and they are calling loud for me to help them out, and man and God would curse me should I pass along and heed them not.

15And then the Pharisees returned to say their prayers, and curse the man of God because he heeded not their words.

16Now, in the evening Jesus stood beside a pool; a playful child had fallen in, and it was drowned, and friends were bearing it away.

17But Jesus called the carriers to stop; and then he stretched himself upon the lifeless form, and breathed into its mouth the breath of life.

18And then he called aloud unto the soul that had gone out, and it returned; the child revived and lived.

19And Jesus saw a wounded dog; it could not move; it lay beside the way and groaned with pain. He took it in his arms and bore it to the home where he abode.

20He poured the healing oil into the wounds; he cared for it as though it were a child till it was strong and well.

21And Jesus saw a little boy who had no home, and he was hungry; when he called for bread the people turned away.

22And Jesus took the child and gave him bread; he wrapped him in his own warm coat, and found for him a home.

23To those who followed him the master said, If man would gain again his lost estate he must respect the brotherhood of life.

24Whoever is not kind to every form of life—to man, to beast, to bird, and creeping thing—cannot expect the blessings of the Holy One; for as we give, so God will give to us.

Nicodemus visits Jesus in the night. Jesus reveals to him the meaning of the new birth and the kingdom of heaven.

Nicodemuswas a ruler of the Jews, and he was earnest, learned and devout.

2He saw the master’s signet in the face of Jesus as he talked, but was not brave enough to publicly confess his faith in him;

3So in the night he went to talk with Jesus at the home of Jude.

4When Jesus saw him come he said, Full blessed are the pure in heart;

5Twice blessed are the fearless, pure in heart;

6Thrice blessed are the fearless, pure in heart who dare to make confession of their faith before the highest courts.

7And Nicodemus said, Hail, master, hail! I know you are a teacher come from God, for man alone could never teach as you have taught; could never do the works that you have done.

8And Jesus said, Except a man be born again he cannot see theking; he cannot comprehend the words I speak.

9And Nicodemus said, How can a man be born again? Can he go back into the womb and come again to life?

10And Jesus said, The birth of which I speak is not the birth of flesh.

11Except a man be born of water and the Holy Breath, he cannot come into the kingdom of the Holy One.

12That which is born of flesh is child of man; that which is born of Holy Breath is child of God.

13The winds blow where they please; men hear their voices, and may note results; but they know not from whence they come, nor where they go; and so is every one that is born of Holy Breath.

14The ruler said, I do not understand; pray tell me plainly what you mean.

15And Jesus said, The kingdom of the Holy One is in the soul; men cannot see it with their carnal eyes; with all their reasoning powers they comprehend it not.

16It is a life deep hid in God; its recognition is the work of inner consciousness.

17The kingdoms of the world are kingdoms of the sight; the kingdom of the Holy One is that of faith; its king is love.

18Men cannot see the love of God unmanifest, and so our Father-God has clothed this love with flesh—flesh of a son of man.

19And that the world may see and know this love made manifest, the son of man must needs be lifted up.

20As Moses in the wilderness raised up the serpent for the healing of the flesh, the son of man must be raised up.

21That all men bitten by the serpent of the dust, the serpent of this carnal life, may live.

22He who believes in him shall have eternal life.

23For God so loved the world that he sent forth his only son to be raised up that men may see the love of God.

24God did not send his son to judge the world; he sent him forth to save the world; to bring men to the light.

25But men love not the light, for light reveals their wickedness; men love the dark.

26Now, every one who loves the truth comes to the light; he does not fear to have his works made manifest.

27The light had come, and Nicodemus went his way; he knew the meaning of the birth of Holy Breath; he felt the presence of the Spirit in his soul.

28And Jesus tarried in Jerusalem for many days and taught and healed the sick.

29The common people gladly listened to his words, and many left their all of carnal things and followed him.

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