M. But when you go on your mission, are there not some minds, in this sphere, who will attempt to baffle your efforts?
W. There are some, yea, many minds, in this sphere, who will not teach the philosophy of nature in its purity. They will not teach any philosophy, save that which is consonant with their measure of wisdom. They will teach the wisdom which is consistent with nature, according to their respective understandings.
M. If then, one mind denies the wisdom you teach, will it not create distrust among the minds in the body?
W. It will not create wrong; for that already exists. It will not disprove the wisdom I teach, though it may create distrust among minds incompetent to decide upon the merits of the question. Minds in the body will be prepared to discriminate between truth and error, wisdom and folly, so that a contradiction of the philosophy I shall teach, will leave the mind scope for a comparison of my instruction with the volume of nature. When the mind, instructed in my philosophy, shall find it corroborated with the evidence of nature before it, no wisdom which shall contradict it, will overthrow my positions. If my philosophy contradict nature, it is well that others should contradict my error.
M. But how are minds, who are ignorant of the relation of cause and effect, ignorant of nature and its laws, ignorant of themselves and of God, to know which doctrine is true?
W. By experience and investigation. Minds in this sphere will be instructed by our mission to the rudimental world. They will unite with us in convincing minds in the body of the reality of this sphere. They will co-operate with us in relieving mind from all uncertainty and doubt of the immortality of the soul. They will rob death of its sting, and the grave of its victory. They will tell many facts which earth’s inhabitants do not know. They will do good, and not evil; and, as they do good, so evil will be overcome. They will warn all of the condition of themselves; for whatever may be the character of communications imparted to minds in the body, they must correspond with the condition of the communicator. If dissimilar sentiments shall be taught, it will prove to the minds receiving them, that dissimilar minds occupy heaven as well as earth. The tree will be known by its fruit. The whole sphere of wisdom will be thus developed. Thou wilt see, that, if thy circle only were to communicate, a great error and wrong would be impressed upon the receiver. He would judge thy teaching as the universal sentiment of this sphere, and harbor the idea that the indolent of earth, and the cruel among mankind, were even as thou art; and, thou seest the wrong which such partial unfoldings of this sphere, would induce, and the negligence it would occasion. To develop the realities of this sphere, it is necessary that each circle should develop itself. I would say, that each circle, possessing the capacity to communicate, should unfold its own wisdom. Thus, when the elevated circles describe the lower, the communications, emanating therefrom, will establish the description.
The various circles and degrees of wisdom in this sphere, will find corresponding affinities in the body. Thou wilt see that all circles will advance circles to their own position of wisdom. Minds will correct minds, the higher controlling the lower, until the lower shall become as the higher. Thou wilt not find all minds equal to thy own, but thou wilt instruct them until they shall agree with thee in all things. Minds in the body will be elevated to the seventh circle in wisdom, but progress and labor must do the work.
M. Minds in the body will deny the revealments you will make, because they are conflicting.
W. When minds in the body deny revealments, because they are conflicting, they deny the realities of this sphere. When they deny the realities of this sphere, because all minds are not equally developed in wisdom, consistency would allow them to deny the realities of the rudimental state. Will the philosopher deny a fact, because the ignorant contradict it? Will the mathematician contradict a demonstration, because the blind and foolish have not beheld it? Will nature reverse her laws, because ignorance has complained of their inharmony? Will God cease to be God, because weakness is incredulous of his wonderful works? Will science disown her pupils, because ignorance has her votaries? Will wrong work righteousness, because the deceived have not seen the evil? Will mercy work cruelty, because cruelty doubts the divinity of sympathy?
Ignorance will act consistent with its nature. The wisdom of this sphere will be unfolded, and, when it is unfolded, the rudimental world will be able to judge of this sphere, as it actually is, and not from mere speculations of fancy, or wrong information. They will be able to judge of the truth of whatever may be communicated by the nature of the communication. If it disagree with nature and reason, the wise will not receive it, and the folly of the unwise will be corrected by their disappointment. The unwise must learn wisdom to be wise, and if they will not receive it from the wise, but follow the advice of the unwise, disappointment will correct the folly which they have received. There will arise many who will dispute the truth. The wrong will correct itself, when wrong is discovered. The discovery is sometimes brought to the mind by disappointment, and sometimes by wise counsel; but when the latter fails, the former must perform its office to remove the evil.