We reached the mansion. The mind was received. Onward did not stop. Onward never stops. It works, labors, acts, and moves for the good of mind. Dullness waits, cringes, fears, doubts, moves not. It waits to see, to know, and to understand the mysteries of nature. It will wait, and wait in vain. It will wait, and wait without improvement. It will wait, and improvement will wait also.
When we work an improvement of mind, it will not be done by waiting. Energy, zeal, industry, onward, will be our companions. The wisdom of earth must yield to the wisdom of heaven. The aid of heaven will not wait, but make all things new. Wise minds will not wait for minds of other circles to do what is necessary for them to do. Unwise minds will wait, until they find waiting inconsistent with progress. Then, they will wait no more.
There will not be wisdom in waiting for disclosures of facts from this sphere, when facts which have been revealed are neglected and distrusted. There will be some who will wait for minds of this sphere to make them work, and do their duty to humanity, but they will never be satisfied with waiting. There never can be progress in any mind, while it waits, and asks spirits to do what belongs to itself. There never can be advancement with circles while they omit the essential obligations of duty to others. There will never be any reform by spirits, who depend wholly on others to reform them. We sow the seed of wisdom, but nettles and thorns choke the growth. We sow the principles of truth, but errors and wrongs are made to destroy their influence. The weeds of error must be destroyed, or no reform can be effected. Hence, minds waiting for spirits to destroy their wrongs, waiting for others to do what they must do to receive the truth, will wait a profitless season to see the salvation of their souls.
In conclusion of this work, I will say that when this medium shall wait for us to do what is well for minds in their conditions, I will write another book. I will write a continuation of my experience in this sphere. I have succeeded in presenting a brief period, and a running sketch of other periods of experience, which will be more completely written, when this medium shall wait for me to do it. I will now conclude by saying, that what is written is without the volition of this medium, and will not suffer mutilation by compositors or others, without his detection. I wish to say, that my name has been given, as was promised, and the reader will find the names of Wm. Penn, and Emanuel Swedenborg, associated with me. There will also be given another name in the writings of the next work.
Having completed this volume, I would very respectfully dedicate the same to the rudimental world, without respect to persons.
T. PAINE.
POETRY.
The following article was written for an Album, February 12th, 1852. I sat down with the intention of writing a prose article, by the request of a lady, without the aid of spirits. When seated, my mind lost all thought, for a few moments: I had no design of writing a poetical article, for nature did not make me a poet, and not much of a judge of poetry. I will say, I never wrote a line of poetry in my life, unless with the aid of spirits, since I have been a medium. In about five minutes my hand began to move, and wrote as follows:
THE SECOND SPHERE.
There is a flower that fadeth never;