CHAPTER II.

THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

(9) THERE is a Presence and Power pervading existence, so far as existence is known, which are continually working changes in the form and character of individualities; and these changes are progressive, from the lower or less perfect in form and character to the higher or more perfect; and these changes were going forward when existence first became manifest; and they have been continued to the present time, so that it is philosophical to infer that this Presence and Power, producing and advancing individual existence, are working to a higher end or purpose than is outwardly manifest; and that they have unlimited resources in the direction towards which these individualities are tending. As an indication of the path and the direction of the tendings of this mighty Presence, observe the earth as an individuality, advancing from / an elemental or gaseous condition to its present state; bearing upon its bosom the endless succession of advancing individualities from the monad or moneron to the highest human. From the beginning this mighty Presence has extended the invitation to all existence, saying: "Come up higher." Thus, notice the advance from the mineral to the vital-from the vital to the sensuous-from the sensuous to the intellectual and moral, and ultimately, to the religious, giving character to the individuality.

(10) These individualities have, each in their turn, had their birth, their progress and decay, so far as their outward or material existence is concerned. But the Presence which gave them birth, has continued from the beginning, working in the same directionin the same manner, and, apparently to the same end which has been and is, to prepare for higher individualities. Thus, in the production of the earth and its kingdoms, there has been a regular advance through the mineral, the vegetable and the animal kingdoms, until the human individuality crowned the series. The Presence which has continually engaged in this progressive work, has never deviated from the one law of advance. Each lower individuality has, by its life and decay, prepared the way for its successor. And the order of advance has been, (1), through form, (2), through life, and (3), through consciousness,-indicating the highest or ultimate in the series, to wit: perfected consciousness or mind. But in this advance from the lower to the higher, each is completed or perfected in its third degree. Thus FORM finds its blade of individuality in the mineral forms of the mineral kingdom. It finds its ear or second degree, in the vital forms of the vegetable kingdom. It finds its full corn in the ear, or third degree, in the animal king dom, when perfectly united with the principles of life and mind. Thus, likewise, LIFE puts on a material manifestation; first, in the vegetable kingdom. Its next advance is seen in the animal kingdom; its perfection appears in the spiritual kingdom, where its possible immortality is first discovered.

Thus, likewise, the MIND OR SPIRIT commences as a

dawn in the animal; advances to its second degree in the HUMAN Or SPIRITUAL; and comes to completeness in the DIVINE or InfinitE. Now this Presence and Power which has brought forward the earth and its kingdoms in this stately and orderly march from the beginning until now, has, most unquestionably, a perfect end in view; and that perfect end can be no less than perfecting individualities in form, life and mind, through the instrumentalities of the material and spiritual universe. Thus, form, life and mind, or conscious being, in their completeness, will be attained by the human, when he shall have arrived at perfect manhood. Now this Presence which has given birth and progress to these advancing individualities, as individuals and as classes, has revealed this order of creation and formation from the very beginning, reaching in the direction of the INFINITE and ABSOLUTE. And now, in the light of the past, and in the promise of the present, we can trace the probable consummation or completeness of the human soul, in every perfection. While pursuing the direct line of advance, humanity, standing upon the Pisgah of LIFE and FORM, has already attained to the Second degree of CONSCIOUS MENTALITY, with an intuition and dawning consciousness of the final degree; and also with an aspiration for a completeness which can be attained only in that degree. If, then, this Presence, which has thus far brought up these advancing individualities, step by step, continue, humanity must come to completeness, in the perfection of a spiritual consciousness, life and character.

(11) Every individuality commences its existence

in a germinal state, under the guidance of this Presence, which determines its individual character and constitution. It thus determines what must be received, and how it must be received, to advance it to completeness. The material which causes the individuality to grow must be incorporated into it as a living portion thereof; and, if it cannot be thus incorporated, it must be rejected. But no material can be thus incorporated into another body, until such material has been digested, and, particle by particle, has been impressed with the life or vital force of the body, that it may find its place therein by the concurring affinities of the body of which it becomes a portion. When all the needs of the body are satisfied, there is no call or demand for further supply.

(12) Every vital individuality from its inception to its completeness, is necessarily made the recipient of that which is needed for its future existence; and that need being present, it has the means of calling for supply. This call must proceed from its profoundest life, and is that which in the spiritual is aspiration or prayer. Thus, when the house-plant is placed upon the table near the window, from which it must receive its light to live, it will at once begin its prayer by turning its crown towards the light, as if to say, “Give me this day my daily bread." So when we plant the tree by the stream or pool from which it must derive its moisture, it at once begins its prayer by inclining toward the fountain and sending out its rootlets with open mouths, to receive and bring to it the needed supply. And thus it is with every advancing individuality, from the com

mencement of the vital form, in the vegetable kingdom, to the crowning one in the spiritual. As an individuality, it is a creature of needs, and must perish without the supply thereof; consequently, the normal condition of existence, is that of prayer, calling upon the creative Presence for supply.

Prayer, when uttered from the plane of conscious life and being, is the expression of a sense of need, accompanied with a faith in the possibility of obtaining the needed supply; and, like the call from the lower forms of existence, it places the suppliant in an attitude or condition to receive the aid sought. The history of existence below the spiritual teaches, that where there are no needs, there is no demand for supply; and human experience teaches, that where there is no sense of need there is no prayer. Prayer, as a spiritual exercise, can be uttered only from the deepest life of the being uttering it. It is the voice of one ready to perish unless aid be afforded. It is the language of the physical nature feeling its need and seeking its daily bread. It is the strong crying of the soul, seeing the danger, feeling the evil presence, knowing its weakness, saying-Save or I perish. It is the lifting up of the feeble hands, and the opening up of the whole being toward that Presence and Power from which all help must come. One can think and speak from a sense of duty; but he can pray only from a sense of need. Such constitutes the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man-such is the kind of asking which secures the receiving the kind of seeking which insures the finding the knocking which causes the door to be opened.