CHAPTER VII.

THE REBELLION.

"IN the process of time, one of those who had passed from the great dome, having attained to immortality, in his self-complacency, especially considered his own merit, and while contemplating, neglected to honor his Creator as the Author of his existence the cause by which he had immortal character. And thus becoming careless to his instructions, strictly applied his meditations to himself, therefore became self-devoted. This prompted a desire of display, and consequently of ambition. And arising in the pride of self-sufficiency he proceeded to display his own dignity; and thus perverted the law of harmony praise and ascension! And infolding the faculties of his internal being, he became selfish. By this he failed to realize his dependence upon God; and assumed self-ability—arrogance. Thus he disturbed his sympathy with divine life; severed the golden link that united him to the heavens, AND FELL! Breaking the bond of union between one soul and the spirit of harmony, affected the kingdom of peace and life afar, and was felt throughout the heavens; shocke the orb and removed it from its orbit. The a

gels left, and the veil of darkness encompassed that distracted sphere. This was the first violation of law — THE REBELLION! Hence the origin of evil—of SIN.

"When he felt the consequences of the fall his soul became envious and he blasphemed his God, for the affliction he had brought upon himself: and HEAVEN PRONOUNCED HIM UNJUST.

"Moreover, since he was immortal, death as a consequence could not be alloted. He was therefore, by the laws of his condition, self-doomed to banishment, and regions of perpetual night.

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"Becoming malicious, he sought and induced others into evil who with him declared their position to heaven. Hence fallen and rebellious spirits-opposition to God and his government.

"Having secured his followers, he declared himself Prince and sought to subdue those who could not by artifice be led from the Law of the Lord.

"Thus is revealed the origin of EVIL."

THE SUPPLICATION.

"Those who did not sin bowed before Heaven and implored protection. This was the first prayer of affliction, and such were its causes. Their importunities ascended as breath of sorrow and in mournful accents arose on high. Silence prevailed. And the unnumbered myriads

of angels and seraphs felt the burden, and united in the solemn prayer. GOD HEARD! The finger of his Almightiness touched the orb: and lo! the suppliants arose. The law of disintegration decomposed the orb. Thence obedient to his Word, the refined particles were transformed and spiritualized, and arose into the intermediate heavens. The Lord reigned thereon, and made of it a home of many mansions; and blessed it, and gave it as the inheritance of those who would not sin, but kept their first estate. And this is the transparent orb; even PARADISE: and these the blissful inhabitants first beheld in the vision."

THE WORLD OF WOE.

"But the gross, imperfect and igneous elements of the decomposed orb, being collected, became a thirsty, barren, and unfruitful sphere, encompassed with a heated and discordant atmosphere. Void of power to attract light, and destitute of all means of reflection, it wanders in perpetual gloom,

"Over its surface hangs a self-generated, ghastly, pale sulphuric cloud. It is the inheritance of those rebellious and fallen spirits.

"Being immortal, they increase in energy and violence of movement. Their thoughts are the reverse of integrity, purity and frankness. They

are subtle and serpent-like; have no desire of heaven, and, if possible, would blot out the SUN OF PEACE. They can at will encompass themselves with artificial splendor like a garment, and wear the smile of artifice. But their heart is black and full of deadly poison."

MAN SPIRITUALLY INSPIRED.

DURING this address my position was such as to behold the images reflected within the dome. As my instructor spoke of earth I saw its image; and its contrast with those harmonious orbs cannot be described. Dark shadows hung over the entire surface. These, however, were penetrated by rays of light. Far above stood a mighty angel, holding in his hand a trumpet. As he spoke bright beings without number, descended into the gloomy atmosphere that encompassed the earth. As the ministering angels endeavored to influence the forlorn and bewildered inhabitants, to impress them with the image of the cross and its attending truths, dark spirits, inhabitants of realms of night, sought to imitate their appearance and mode of procedure, and by reason of perversion, the inhabitants of earth could scarcely distinguish the bright beings. From these causes also, they were inclined to the dark spirits, and more readily perceived them; and as their teachings harmonized with their vain hearts, they be

lieved them true. blinded by the illusive reflections from fantastic spheres; and receiving the false philosophy, as agents of these perverted beings, became the heralds of untruths. I was solemnly impressed with the correctness of the vision.

Many were influenced, and

During the interpretation of the laws of life on the rudimental orb, I beheld its image and movements, until decomposed. Thence the orb of night appeared as if eternally fixed. It was a dark spot upon the broad features of the uni

verse.

RETURN TO THE TRANSPARENT ORB.

As my conductor closed his dissertation upon the origin and consequences of sin, whose truths appeared self-evident, we immediately descended to the sphere of the Orb-Paradise.

Upon approaching, I beheld the male inhabitants gathered in and about the principle Temple. I enquired the cause, and learned that intelligence had just reached them of the creation of man upon Earth. How? at this period? I enquired, since many ages are already passed in the history of man. "Nevertheless," answered my guide, "every scene, with each minute part or act is reflected, as upon a spiritual mirror. Nothing is lost, or the trace of its existence permitted to pass into oblivion. All nature