“In the mysteries of the fifth seal, I will now instruct this circle. I will say, no wisdom will govern you from beneath. All rule is tyranny, when wisdom inferior to your own controls. It is usurpation. Nature never justifies the wrong of weakness. It never palliates the wrong of controlling the wise by the weakness of the unwise. Superior wisdom must govern all conditions of mind, to be harmonious with the law of progress. When inferior wisdom controls the superior, there is an obstruction of improvement. Mind is not then free. It is in bondage. The usurper has always reason to fear. The wrong of usurpation can not go unrewarded. The wisdom—principle must triumph. When it triumphs, arbitrary rule will not be endured. Hence, no mind in this circle wears a crown. They are at the feet of saints. A saint can not wear a crown. It would be wrong, and what is wrong is inconsistent with the mind of a saint. In all subordinate circles, there are rulers, and consequently wrongs. Though the fourth seal opened one mind, so that what was the mind of one was the mind of all, yet some were tenacious of titles of distinction. They were indulged in them. Though they saw no wrong, yet wrong is not right; and what is not right should be avoided. A title, without signification, is vain, and what is vain is wrong. True, it was but the shadow of things before, but shadows are the mirror of images. The mirror of wrong should not be tolerated. The image is not wise, because it is the image of wrong. Having seen the wrong, we should forsake it. Having proved the wrong, it would be unwise to pursue it.
“The wisdom of crowns, is the wisdom of ignorance. It supposes a superiority by inheritance, and denies it by progress. It plants the sovereignty of a whole nation in the wisdom of hereditary ignorance, and breaks down a commendable aspiration for industry in progress. It wastes treasures upon the indolent, while the poor are robbed to support the unjust burden. It monopolizes industry to satisfy ambition, and wastes the bread of the hungry to gratify revenge. It makes a tool of mind, and then lashes it for its servitude. It riots in authority, and understands not its own weakness. Kings and crowns are inharmonious with wisdom and goodness. It is as selfish to rule, as it is weak to be ruled. The one is tyranny, and the other is slavery. The one usurps what nature never conferred, and the other submits because it is weak. It will not govern without wisdom, when mind reaches this circle. Indeed, you will find that government is natural where all minds acquiesce in benevolence, and wisely act to advance the happiness of all.
“Crowns imply a distinction. No distinction exists here. All are kings and priests unto God. All are well governed, because the love of God, impartial and free as the sunshine, dwells in all, and that governs all. It is self-government, or the government of self by nature’s inspiration of love. No discord can enter here. The voice of contention hath its bounds, and selfishness its limits. I have seen the angry howl of war. I have seen the wrongs of strife. I have wondered at the disturbance. But I wonder no more. The love of this circle was not in them. The sympathies of congenial affinities were not in them. The benevolence of smiling nature had not warmed their hearts. The philanthropy of enlarged charity had not united the great brotherhood of mind. There was ignorance of relationship, and ignorance of the wisdom of righteousness. These evils will not disturb mind, subdued by the clear sunlight of truth. Social wisdom is the inheritance of goodness. Crowns crumble in dust, and equity and justice walk over their fragments. Those only are worthy, who make worth the height of their ambition. The hireling is lord of himself, when in the service of himself, and the lord is a slave, when he fears the revulsions of his rule. Poverty is worn by the mind whose work is wrong. It is empty of good. Riches meet the exigency, when divested of selfishness, and disposed of for other’s benefit. Poverty is made rich, when the wisdom of reform relieves all want.
“Poverty and riches war with social enjoyment, when uncontrolled by wisdom. This circle is rich. Other circles have need. The links of light, which unite with wisdom, and form that wonderful sentence on the left, will remind this circle of the chain of sympathy which connects the rich with the poor. The gems are minds. All are not equally brilliant. The darkness of wrong will not apologize for neglect. The riches you share, you will freely give; and when the poor receive what you offer, they will embrace wisdom. Poverty is relieved. The poor are supplied. They want no more. The sympathies are gratified. Nature is obeyed. God is honored. Ignorance is overcome. Evils are remedied. Social harmony is restored. The golden chain of love breaks not in twain social joy. The gem of obscurity wants no chafing to be seen and admired. It wants only the covering of wrong to be removed to reveal its worth. The wrong is ignorance. It is the absence of light. In the absence of light, it has wandered in darkness. Neglect has permitted the darkness to linger. When riches are withheld from those who need, poverty reigns. When poverty reigns, the law of sympathy is denied. When sympathy is denied, the war of conflict rages. When the conflict rages, peace is expelled, and with it, the enjoyment of peace.
“You see who wrongs himself. You see who wrongs others. They who withhold what others require. You can not violate the law of nature with impunity. You can not neglect others’ good without injury to yourself. You will aid all who need with the riches you possess. You will recognize the chain that links all gems together. You will understand, that the union is immutable. You will feel the shock which another receives. The chain will convey the force to you. The whole brotherhood, from the highest to the lowest, will feel it. The light of this circle reveals but one family. The likeness of God is immortal in each member. The weak have claims upon the strong. The poor have claims upon the rich. They are in debt. They owe all they have to the poor. It is a just claim; and when they have given the poor their dues, all will become rich. It is no robbery which makes all richer. It is poverty which refuses what it does not want. It is wrong to receive what will make you wretched, or refuse what will make you happy. It is right to receive what will do you good, and wrong to reject it. And you will not forget that the riches you receive, are the riches of others. They are given you to be given to others, who are as you were.
“Enter into the joy of wisdom. Enter into the benevolence of God. Forsake not your brother in the day of need. Bless the enemy in your gates. Turn not a deaf ear to those minds, who writhe in their own scorn. Visit the works of sin, and lead the blind by a way they have not known. Correct those who need with the cord of sympathy, and write the law of the Lord upon their hearts. Do good to those who scorn your message and your mission; and say, ‘I am thy brother, why persecutest thou me?’ So, will you enter into the wisdom of this circle of minds.”
Another mind said, “There is a work which must needs be done. The rudimental condition needs improvement. There will come a time when the spirits, as they will call us, can communicate with minds in the body. I see a work of great magnitude, which will be required of us. This work requires a change in the social condition of such minds. As society is now controlled, poverty and riches are unequally distributed. Minds wrangle about the productions of earth. They disown the relation of sympathy, and their professions of love are nearly empty. Sincerity is devoid of active energy. The forms of worship are forms of display. Pride governs the heart. The poor are wronged. The rich wrong themselves. Skill and craft oppress the former, and luxury and extravagance injure the latter. Both are wronged of enjoyment. The oppression of poverty should be corrected. The indolence of riches should be vitalized with love. Society should be reconstructed; industry should be encouraged; love should supplant fear. Works should take the lead of words. Acts should speak for mind. Wrong should not tell her tale of woe. Purity should cleanse the impure. The blind should see the righteousness of God. The harmony of nature should be imitated. Nations are communities. Communities make nations. Social order should be established. War should cease. Honesty should abound. The love, which we feel, should inspire all minds.
“But who will work the necessary change? I see a change in the human condition approaching. I see a mighty revolution in the organization of human society. I see means which can accomplish the result. There is a progress in the rudimental world. The crowns of kings are growing old with mind. Reverence for human authority will not last forever. The relics of other days, are monuments of wrong. The tide of progression will sweep into oblivion the injustice of tyranny. The sun of truth will enlighten the nations of earth. The glory of God shall be revealed, and all flesh shall enjoy it together. But, until the change shall come, no human wisdom can control the disorders of society. Efforts will be made by philanthropic minds, to rectify the evils, but without success. Organized communities will be established, but the evil, in some form, will remain. Something more than a change of external conditions is required. Externals affect internals, but the external should not control the internal. The external is the stream, the internal the fountain. Nature provides that the internal, the fountain, should control the external, the effect. Not until the fountain becomes pure, will the stream be worthy. The wrongs of society, are the manifestations of wisdom in embryo. It is enshrouded in the darkness of other days. The night of superstition is far spent. The morning light of truth must break from this sphere. The fountain of pure water must refresh the desolate earth. The well of sympathy must flow freely, to nourish the plants of immortal progress.
“The first duty of this circle will be to make known the existence of mind, in this sphere, to the doubting of earth. The wisdom of the circle will next be employed to abolish the errors of mind. No sectarian organization will justify the revelation, which this circle will disclose. All will stand amazed at the wonder. When the wonder subsides, the condition of mind will be aided. Spirits will communicate a system of ethics, adapted to the amelioration of human wrong. It will be such as will melt the pure gold and remove the dross of corruption. It will affect the fountain of works. It will inspire the heart. It will correct the mind. It will remove the darkness. It will chase away all fear. It will banish all doubt. It will fill the soul with good things. It will enlarge the sympathy, and strengthen the love of mind. When the fountain becomes changed, its issue will be pure. When the issue becomes pure, the poor will become rich. When the poor become rich, the equality of mind will be recognized. When the equality of mind shall be recognized, the evils of human society will be overcome. Nations will war no more. Brother will signify relation. Justice will be acknowledged. Communities will form nations, and all nations one family. Then sympathy will unite, and keep united the whole, and the whole will strive to promote the good of the whole. Then, the good of the whole will be regarded as the good of one, and the good of one as the good of the whole. Selfishness will be extinguished by the wisdom of universal love and philanthropy.
“The wide world will be the common inheritance of her children. No wrangling about earth, or its gold, will be heard. Industry will be worth, and gold will be as ashes. The love of money will not exist, and the love of wisdom will occupy its place. No fraud will be practiced, for no wrong will be indulged. All motives to evil will be removed, and the mind of one will be the mind of all. Corruption and deception will not be found, for when mind knows the thoughts of mind, the wrongs of corruption and deception will be seen no more. You know that no wrongs can enter here. No voice of unkindness mocks the wail of sorrow, when the love of God fills the mind. The miseries of earth will have no abiding place, when the wisdom of God inspires all minds. The ignorance of the first circle will not be known, when the knowledge of good shall become universal. Passion and folly will not be indulged, when reason and truth control all hearts. But wisdom is developed by progress, and truth by wise counsels. The work of reform will soon commence. The circles of heaven will improve the circles of earth. Wonders and signs will attend your labor. They will be wonders to the ignorant, but not to you. The work will be commenced, when the superstitions and wrongs of religionists shall yield to the voice of philosophy and reason. One generation must pass away, before the time will come. They must pass from the rudimental to this sphere. In that time, venerated superstitions will be much discarded, and human rights will be respected. The work will commence in obscurity, and mind will rise in glory. Ignorance will scorn the message, and ridicule will be lavished upon the messengers. Time will bring a change. Professions will not monopolize the industry of the poor, nor misers hold the key of plenty. Wealth shall unite with wisdom, and poverty shall smile at the marriage. Christianity shall no longer be a mockery, but its wisdom shall flow like a fountain of water over the world of mind. Dark sayings shall be illuminated, and wayfaring mind shall lift up its voice in praise. The homes of the willing shall become residences of angels, and the disconsolate shall fear no evil. The strong shall aid the weak, and the days of mourning shall be ended.