Esoteric Christianity, or The Lesser Mysteries

In proceeding to the contemplation of the mysteries of knowledge, we shall adhere to the celebrated and venerable rule of tradition, commencing from the origin of the universe, setting forth those points of physical contemplation which are necessary to be premised, and removing whatever can be an obstacle on the way; so that the ear may be prepared for the reception of the tradition of the Gnosis, the ground being cleared of weeds and fitted for the planting of the vineyard; for there is a conflict before the conflict, and mysteries before the mysteries.— S. Clement of Alexandria.
Let the specimen suffice to those who have ears. For it is not required to unfold the mystery, but only to indicate what is sufficient.— Ibid.
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.— S. Matthew.


If true knowledge, the Gnosis, is again to form a part of Christian teachings, it can only be under the old restrictions, and the idea of levelling down to the capacities of the least developed must be definitely surrendered. Only by teaching above the grasp of the little evolved can the way be opened up for a restoration of arcane

Many, perhaps most, who see the title of this book will at once traverse it, and will deny that there is anything valuable which can be rightly described as Esoteric Christianity. There is a wide-spread, and withal a popular, idea that there is no such thing as an occult teaching in connection with Christianity, and that The Mysteries, whether Lesser or Greater, were a purely Pagan institution. The very name of The Mysteries of Jesus, so familiar in the ears of the Christians of the first centuries, would come with a shock of surprise on those of their modern successors, and, if spoken as
denoting a special and definite institution in the Early Church, would cause a smile of incredulity. It has actually been made a matter of boast that Christianity has no secrets, that whatever it has to say it says to all, and whatever it has to teach it teaches to all. Its truths are supposed to be so simple, that a way-faring man, though a fool, may not err therein, and the simple Gospel has become a stock phrase.