some portions of the earth will receive more advanced spirits, and consequently incarnations corresponding with their degree of advancement; while others will remain under conditions nearly similar to yours at present.

(Matth. xxiv. 37-39; Mark xiii. 33, 37; Luke xxi. 34, 36.-Jesus desired to persuade men to work at their progress by overcoming the predominance of matter, and thus to keep themselves always in expectation of those things which were to happen, though veiled by the letter; and which were foretold as liable to happen at any moment in a very near future. Men were thus compelled to exercise a constant vigilance over themselves, and were incited both to constant ardour in progress, and to an unalterable hope in the promises of the Lord. A spirit should always hold himself in the Lord's presence by prayer. He should pray for his own advancement, and for that of his incarnate brethren; he should pray for all when he is at liberty, and prayer then becomes action; for you must not suppose that when Jesus enjoins constant prayer, he requires that either man or spirit should always be at his devotions, as you understand the term. The efficacy of prayer lies in the good words which should follow your uttered prayers, like an Amen which is agreeable to the Lord. Pray without ceasing, to avert the stroke of judgment, for the good works which complete your prayers wrap you in a mantle of purity in the eyes of the Lord.

(Luke xxi. 36.)-These words, like those previously quoted, "This generation shall not pass away till all these things are fulfilled," contain a necessary allusion to the reincarnation of those who have fallen behind, and will be reincarnated at those points of your planet where the cataclysms resulting from planetary changes will occur; and the position occupied by those who will be sufficiently advanced to be in the superior worlds at the time of these events, ready to come to your purified and transformed planet, and to follow its ascending course at the period when Jesus will appear afresh, but this time in his full spiritual glory.

MATTHEW, CHAP. XXIV.-VERSES 40-44. LUKE, CHAP. XII.-VERSES 39-40.

Need for Vigilance.

Matth. xxiv. (40) Then shall two men be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (41) Two women shall be grinding in the mill; one shall be taken, and the other left. (42) Watch therefore, for you know not at what hour your Lord cometh. (43) But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have permitted his house to be broken into. (44) Therefore be ye also ready, for in an hour you think not of, the Son of Man cometh.

Luke xii. (39) But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken into. (40) Therefore be ye also ready, for in an hour you think not of, the Son of Man cometh.

§ 273 (Matth. xxiv. 40, 41.)—We refer you to the explanations already given of similar words spoken by Jesus at another time and place. Some will profit by the regeneration, and others will be cast down on the inferior planets; thus one portion of mankind will advance, and the other will be unworthy to share in the new incarnations.

(Matth. xxiv. 42-44; Luke xii. 39, 40.)-Jesus insists and dwells upon the uncertainty of the day and hour of the physical and moral events which he had already predicted, to keep men unceasingly watchful and on their guard. How few yet perceive the signs of the times,* of the new era of the Christianity of Christ, the dawn of the regeneration of your humanity. The work of progress pursues its course, but you know not how far it must go, nor when it will please the Master to put the last touch to the work of your regeneration. Hold yourselves on your guard, and ready; for you may be surprised when you are unprepared; and the Lord rejects the idle servants who have neglected to look for his coming.

* These words were dictated in August 1863.

MATTHEW, CHAP. XXIV.-VERSES 45-51. LUKE, CHAP. XII.-Verses 41-46.

Parable of the Faithful and Unfaithful Servants.

Matth. xxiv. (45) Who then is the wise and faithful servant, whom his lord shall set over his household to give them their food in season? (46) Blessed is that servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. (47) Verily I say unto you that he will set him over all his possessions. (48) But if that wicked servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming, (49) And shall begin to beat his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken, (50) The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and at an hour which he knows not, (51) And shall cut him in twain, and shall appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Luke xii. (41) And Peter said to him, Lord, dost thou speak this parable to us, or to all? (42) And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom the lord shall set over his household, to give out the measure of corn in due season? (43) Happy is that servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. (44) In truth I say unto you, he will place him over all his possessions. (45) But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delays to come; and shall begin to beat the youths and maidens, and to eat and drink, and be drunken, (46) The lord of that servant shall come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour which he knows not, and shall cut him in twain, and appoint him his lot with the unfaithful.

$274. These words apply to those who have accepted the direction of their brethren, and are appointed to guide them in the path of progress, and to diffuse light among them. Happy are those faithful servants who distribute food in due season, and to each his due measure of corn! They scatter light and truth among those whom they are appointed to direct, in proportion as it is revealed to themselves, in the course of time; and they aid the generations to advance by word, and especially by example, instead of seeking to mislead them. Their reward will be great, for they will see the paths which lead to perfection opening wider and wider before them, and these will give them access to the Almighty Lord, who will cause them to share in his intelligence, power, and love, in universal life and harmony.

But those who abuse their authority, and the confidence. of which they are unworthy, to mislead those whom they ought to guide, and to bind a bandage over the eyes of

those whom they ought to enlighten; and who give themselves up to the pleasures of humanity, abusing the wealth which they ought not even to touch, will be severely punished. These wicked servants are more guilty, and will be punished more severely, than others, for they take a much greater responsibility upon themselves, and will have to endure the punishment of the faults which they have caused others to commit, in addition to that due to their own. The brighter and stronger the light shines, and the louder and clearer the voice of the Lord is heard, the more terrible will be the account which those unworthy servants must render, who ought to have guided and instructed those who were entrusted to their care; for the more they have received, the more will be expected of them.

He who is charged with the guidance of his brethren incurs a much heavier responsibility than others. He must necessarily be supposed to be superior to them; but if, instead of devoting his care to those who are entrusted to him, he neglects or misguides them, he renders them unable to advance, and to do the work of the Master. Then the unfaithful servant who undertook to guide his weaker brethren will have a strict account to render. He will have to atone, not only for the evil which he has done, but for the evil which he has caused, or which he might have prevented, but did not. He will then be rejected as unfaithful, but will still serve as a guide to the blind, and an adviser to the deaf; and will then regret bitterly that he did not accomplish his mission when he was with intelligent beings, capable of understanding him. Then indeed there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for the spirit who is exiled to the inferior worlds will suffer the more in proportion as he has been more advanced in this one. Mighty ones of the earth, whoever you may be, who have asked and obtained the mission to guard and direct your brethren in the paths of physical, moral and intellectual order, what we have just told you, according to the Spirit, explains the Master's words

in the spiritual order, but it is also applicable to you in the temporal order, both as regards reward and punishment.

LUKE, CHAP. XII.-VERSES 47, 48.

Responsibility of the Spirit.

(47) But the servant who knows the will of his Lord, and does not prepare for him, nor do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; (48) But he who knew it not, and shall do things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whom much has been given, much will be required of him; and they will seek more abundantly from him with whom they deposit much.

Thus,

§ 275. It is obvious that he who commits a fault after being forewarned, is more guilty than he who is only aware that he has done evil, but has no clear idea of it. the brighter the light shines before your eyes, and the more warnings and advice you receive, the more guilty you will become, if you wander from the path which is pointed out to you. Much will be required of him to whom much has been given; and he ought to make fruitful what has been entrusted to him. The good seed sown in him should yield the fullest measure possible to his moral and intellectual development; an hundredfold, sixtyfold, or fortyfold.

MATTHEW, CHAP. XXV.-VERSES 1-13.

Parable of the Ten Virgins.

(1) Then the kingdom of the heavens shall be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. (2) And five of them were wise, and five foolish. (3) Those who were foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them. (4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (5) And while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. (6) And at midnight there was a shouting, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (7) Then all these virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. (8) And the foolish said to the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. (9) But the wise answered and said, Not so, lest there should not be enough for us and you, but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. (10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they who were ready went in with him to the nuptials, and the door was shut. (11) And afterwards came also the remaining virgins, saying,,