T. Why wouldst thou deny interpretation?
W. That is what has made thy castle. That is what has sown dissension among brethren. That is what has filled the earth with bloodshed and strife. That is what has set mind against mind, and embittered soul against soul. That is what makes hirelings of men, who would interpret what is already revealed, and wrongs the uninformed of the knowledge of God and heaven. That is what divides and distracts whole communities and nations, and makes war upon the rights of mind to investigate the truth, and aid thy fellow servants to do what nature and reason imperatively demand.
The castle was then abandoned by us for a season. “In wisdom,” said my companion, “are all things made, which are in heaven, and which are on earth.”
“But who is wise to understand the wisdom of that castle?” I replied.
W. Thou knowest that contentment is peace. Thou knowest that minds are contented with that which satisfies. When thou wast in darkness, as thou seest thy brethren, when thou hadst no desire to be instructed only to confirm thy own cause, thou didst not wish thyself contradicted by any wisdom disagreeing with thy own.
T. When I was instructed, I was not as they are.
W. True. Thou wast as they are before thou wast instructed. When thou didst see the error of thy ways, thou didst forsake them. But thy brethren do not yet see. They see some things, but there is a veil over their eyes. They see a castle, and they see the things in that castle; but they do not see the things which are not within it.
T. They would see more, were it not for the walls which enclose them.
W. The walls which enclose them, are of their own creation. The elevated spirit never walls itself in by a work of mind. Those walls are not of jasper, but of self-conceit. They are the works of ignorance. When minds indulge the idea, that they know all that is worth possessing, when they flatter themselves that they are wiser than every other mind, is it strange that they should fortify themselves against all invasion of their conceited infallibility?
T. But, when we go to instruct them, it surprises me, that they should resist the facts which are presented to them.