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TEACHINGS of the MASTERS © 1952

Chapter 4

Personal Responsibility

The Means to Man's Salvation

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." __Rev. 22:12.

Here we have the positive, the incontrovertible assurance that every man, all men, will be rewarded, not as has so long been taught, according to his faith, but according to his works; the fulfillment of the Divine Law.

"According to his works" means not alone what man thinks, feels, and desires, but actually does. Although Revelation is written for the New Age, this Law, has always been in operation, and whether men were conscious of it or not, their "reward," whether good or ill, favorable or unfavorable, was in Payment of what they were, and what they did.

Here is the absolute assurance to each and every one that whatever he desires, whatever he feels, for whatever he makes effort, that shall be; for "I come quickly," that is: The fulfillment of the Law - the reward, the payment - follows in the wake of the effort made.

This doctrine of "work and reward" contradicts the creed of "salvation by faith," which has led an untold number of honestly-inclined, thinking, well-wishing men and women to become atheists.

As reasonable beings, they could not conceive, or accept that type of justice which would permit a man, or men, to do anything, regardless of how adversely it affected others or what evil, degrading, destructive influence it had on individuals or nations, and then, merely by feeling contrite, as a result of an awakened conscience, by praying and having "faith," be relieved of all responsibility for their misdeeds.

The church of the New age cannot accept such an unjust, unfair, un-Godlike doctrine. I believes that the man who repudiates his honest indebtedness, or permits another to pay it for him, is not an honest man, and could not squarely face either God or his own Soul.

This belief of "justification by faith." or the "forgiveness of sin" as it is universally understood, is directly opposite to that of personal responsibility, the honest man's creed, and cannot be acceptable to the man who is truly a man.(6)
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(6) this is not written in condemnation of the teachings of any church. We have not come "with a sword, but to bring peace." Churches must teach that which they conscientiously believe, even though, according to the Bible itself, is in contrary to reason and justice. We, on our part, must teach that which has been given to the advance guards of the New Age and the New Dispensation, however contrary to all up-to-the-present creeds and inculcations it may be.
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It is freely conceded that prayer for forgiveness is essential to religious devotion. But the doctrine of personal responsibility teaches that man personally is responsible for his every act and must himself pay the debt, and that in no way can he free himself, nor be made free, except by the payment of the debt created by an act, or lack of action.

Prayer, alone, however sincere it may be, is not in itself sufficient for the moral and spiritual cleansing and the achievement of freedom from the result or Reaction of sin or wrong-doing. In addition to prayers for forgiveness, the one guilty must first make the proper restitution to the person wronged or, that being impossible, or impractical, to some other unfortunate. Whatever the problem, the debt must be paid and this followed by supplication for forgiveness.

If this tenet is accepted in good-will and full faith and applied so far as is humanly possible in the daily affairs of life, then injustice and inhumanity must gradually cease, since each individual will ultimately recognize that anything gained at the expense and to the injustice of another, is not a profit, but a liability, an indebtedness which must ultimately be repaid with heavy interest and is therefore an actual loss.

The doctrine taught by the Master of Galilee, the Nazarene, in his edict: "As ye sow, so shall ye reap," is, in a harsher sense, the eternal decree of "an eye for an eye," which Justice, not God or man, demands.

"Faith without works is Dead." __James 2:20.

This statement is actually on a par, and in harmony with, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap," because it teaches the Law that, though we have faith, and do not work - make effort - or sow - the faith is dead, i.e., of no power or influence; no help or benefit whatsoever. No man living is capable of setting aside a Law, and whoever is foolish enough to try, will reap the reaction of the greatest of all Laws, that of personal responsibility.

The Church of the New Dispensation has warned mankind repeatedly that man cannot live by "faith alone," and that Immortalization, the second or spiritual birth, is to be gained only by personal effort based on faith.

The doctrine of "salvation by faith" alone is demoralizing and is causative of profound spiritual misunderstanding. This doctrine, leading man to believe that he can escape the punishment for his injustices, is all too frequently a direct cause of the crimes now committed in a wholesale manner.

It is only as mankind becomes conscious of the truth of the doctrine of Personal Responsibility that he will gradually change his ways of wickedness and be ready to so live as to receive the Biblical "mark of God on his forehead," instead of that of Cain, and be included in that "certain number" which are among those to be "saved." Those who are so counted are among the "elect"; "sealed" as the "servants of God," i.e., those doing God's Will - keeping His Law.

Mankind as a whole has violated this Law of Personal Responsibility for so many eons that it is now feeling the impact of the reaction of this Law in its full force. Because of mankind's sin, we have the present cycle of the reaction and no man, or number of men guilty, can stem or retard the tide in the least, until the storm has spent its force; and unless man - individually and collectively - harmonizes himself with the Law, he will not be able to pass through the "great tribulation" which is now in increasingly active force.

This Law of Personal Responsibility is the Law of the Prophets; it is the Law of Immortalization. Any individual, Church or Nation attempting and evasion of this Law will continue as in the past "returning to the dust, to rise no more.

He That Keepeth the Law Will Overcome

It is by accepting the Law of Personal Responsibility that we will gradually gain the strength to meet all challenges in life and gain all that will be to our benefit. He who has the courage to accept responsibility for all of his acts, be they what they may, is he who also develops strength of character and the ability to meet all conditions; changing the unfavorable to his benefit, and will be among those of whom St. John wrote:

"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." __Rev. 21:7.

Punishment and the Fatherhood of God

The Fatherhood of God, without respect to person or race, must be accepted as a fact, as also that God is just to all men and, through His Laws, punishes the Unjust. The Concept of the New Dispensation inculcates a God of love; one free from hatred, malice, and revenge; free from any desire to see any of His creatures suffer, even though they do evil; but impartial to the punishment they bring upon themselves as a result of an infraction of his laws; laws which cannot be changed to favor anyone.

This concept exalts the idea that God, as such, does not punish any of His creatures, but that He, in the beginning of tijme, concurrent with the creation of man, established a Law of Absolute, Unchanging Justice for man's behavior, that as a result of the operation of this Law, the reaction of the deed or Act,.brings about its own punishment.

The Law of Justice is the counterpart of the Law of Personal Responsibility. Once men fully realize that every act, whatever its nature, by, and of itself, sets into motion an unchangeable Law which will bring about retribution, they will gradually cease to do evil. They will recognize their own responsibilities and their debts to the Law for what they are, and not what they would like them to be.

Truth is forever the same. Truth is a part of the Divine Law and has remained unchanged since the beginning of time; nor has there been any change in its application to the activities of man. The world of thought advances and with new thoughts, ideas and ideals, are brought into action new forces which demand a new understanding and a different interpretation of Laws that apply to the new conditions.

Each outgoing cycle requires a laying aside of the old cloak (the old bottle) so that the incoming cycle (new wine) may be "clothed upon" with new garments better suited to its immediate needs. The texture, design and coloring of this cloak of thought are determined by the particular emphasis that a given age employs in the interpretation of truth as it relates to the action and welfare of the whole. To enrich the human race by all the varied aspects that truth ajnd its realization may assume, it is necessary for the cloak of interpretation to be donned and doffed again and again from time to time, in accordance with the law of progress and greater need.

Service is the key to the highest attainment in life. By means of service we develop and perfect every possibility of our nature and, in doing so, arouse within ourselves a higher consciousness. This development leads us, step by step, to a deliberate transmutation of the gross - so much a part of us - into that which is finer and higher, and of which we have so great a need. Man must come into a conscious realization of the spirit of the Law through service, and by applying the ideals of a sane love and sympathy toward all men.

Through a masterly direction of an exalted Will, by the constant influence of a thought atmosphere characterized by the qualities of kindliness, compassion and justice - by the Illumination of the individual Soul so that it will radiate and diffuse its own Light of understanding and its warmth of Love with impartial tenderness - man attains to his highest estate in a world beset by sorrow and misery, heedlessness and cruelty, and becomes a shining light to those as yet in darkness and unable to help themselves.

Gradually, it is becoming a settled conviction among those who are sincere in their search for truth that it is possible, and necessary, for man to come into an understanding of the aim and end of life in order that he may intelligently obey the Law and live in harmony with it an, in so doing, become, by a natural, orderly process, all that he may be.

The Immortalization of the Soul of the individual is attainable here and now. This is a fundamental tenet of the Church of the New Dispensation as it was for ages past of those who had entered the Greater or Inner Mysteries. This truth was taught by the Nazarene throughout his ministry.

Immortalization, however, is not to be thought of as something thrust upon all alike, regardless of their desire or active seeking. It is not an inevitable factor of man's existence on earth. It is the result of awakening to the realization that when the great teacher of Galilee spoke to men of becoming the Sons of God, he meant just that.

As so often stated by those who have awakened to a deeper, higher-than-mortal consciousness, there is a Spark, a germ of the Divine Nature or OverSoul in each normal, rational human being. This Spark is the potential Christos, i.e., the "buried treasure" which, brought into life and manifestation, culminates in the Individualization of the Soul. It is then the "Light that lighted all the world" of man's Consciousness, as well as a light to others by means of which they also may come into Consciousness.

When man attains the Consciousness of this Light within his own being, and recognizes and obeys the "still small voice," he has reached a state of consciousness bordering on the Illumination of the Soul (a phase of being from which the New Church takes its name) and is well on the path to His own Immortalization.

This Divine Spark buried deep within each individual may, by consciously-made effort, b e developed into a center of that Living Fire of which the Nazarene spoke so frequently. Man in toto is a nucleus of Light, a Temple of the Living, radiating Christ. He is, or must become, the great architect of that legendary Temple of Solomon, a spiritual structure wherein the spiritual sun will continuously shine; a shrine symbolized in ancient religious practices by the Vestal Virgins and their ever-burning light.

The purified and exalted love dwelling within the heart, and the enlightened understanding of his Soul furnish the means whereby man saves himself and, in turn, lifts other men to a higher estate. This is not a denial of Christ; but instead the Christos made manifest.

Man is said to be made in the image of his Creator; in the form of the highest concept of what man should be. He is a material reflection of the Divine, possessing in part the powers and attributes of the Infinite.

In different personalities, These Divine qualities are in various degrees of development. In one person they may be wholly latent and buried beneath the crust (the tomb) of a wholly selfish personality, but unless gradually destroyed by the fires of persistent, Sou-destroying acts, they none the less remain a potential possibility awaiting the awakening and undolfing process of development. In another person they may be in the incipient stage of active goodness. In this environment they are indicated by an active, wholesome conscience, although the spirit itself may be intangled painfully and hampered greatly by a thoroughly selfish personality.

In yet another person these qualities may have become a dynamic, vital expression of individualized life so that the Soul has become conscious of its inseparable contact with the Infinite.

These potentialities may be concentrated into a center of radiation; into a perfect pyramidal flame, "the light of the world," that clothes the desire-nature with love and illumines the understanding with wisdom; a guide that all may safely and profitably follow. In this state the Divine qualities of love, wisdom, kindness, compassion and helpfulness (service) unconsciously radiate the blessings of their inherent goodness upon all who come within the sphere of its influence and open themselves to receive it.

Creation is the manifestation of the Creative power of the OverSoul. All things having been created by God, they are in themselves good; but man, through the exercise of his free Will, and because of other than constructive application of the Law, has perverted many of the things inherently good. As a result of his action, and manner of application, he has brought evil not only upon himself, but also upon his fellow man.

In his four-fold nature of body, mind, spirit and Soul, man is an epitome of the universe. Potentially, he is a Divine creature in miniature; termed the Microcosm or little world. Man was the climax, the culmination of forces which for untold ages were seeking for expression. How to develop these forces, bring hidden potentialities into activity or expression, and do so harmoniously with the law, is the problem of every human creature, and it is the duty, the responsibility of the Church of the New Dispensation, to teach, guide and encourage man to do just this.

The ideal man must first understand and then decide for himself how he will employ his forces constructively as intended by the Divine plan, and in the service of, and to the welfare of mankind. To first develop and then engage his potentialities and use his powers and forces in obedience to constructive Law will result in the upliftment of his entire being. Conversely, if he permits his forces to divert these potentialities and possibilities into channels of error and wastefulness, i.e., wrong use and destructive action, he will suffer loss and if continued, ultimate destruction.

God could not by any means or possibility have placed a higher degree of trust and mark of honor on man than He did by giving man the right of choice; the power of decision and the ability to direct his Will and his forces in the execution of plans in accordance with his own desire. Every power is, in itself, good, although it admits of a two-fold direction of expression: positive and negative; good and evil; constructive or destructive. Every Law of man's nature is in itself good or constructive; but is also permits of a two-fold functioning: constructively and, in reverse, destructively. The application which man makes of a force or power alone determines its primary effect as well as its reaction. Every virtue is offset by a possible corresponding vice:

Wherever God builds His Chapel
The Devil opens his charnel house.

The ultimate result of man's every act depends entirely on its tendency or direction. Every force, every energy and every potentiality placed under man's control is intended to fulfill beneficent ends. Every organ of man's body, every activity of his mind, is intended to serve a noble purpose. When the direction is in harmony with the Laws, the result must be, and is good. It is therefore essential that every human being be instructed fully in the Law of individual constructiveness as well as in his Individual Responsibility so that he, personally, is the arbiter of his own ultimate fate.

Freedom Under the Law of Personal Responsibility

Esperience, throughout the centuries, taught mankind that religious liberty, the right to think, plan and worship as the conscience dictates, wasw utterly impossibloe unless, concurrently, there was liberty of action. This experience culminated when the Father of the American Republic prepared the new world for the freedom of man, and this freedom was written into the Constitution of the United States - the grandest document ever conceived by the minds of man for the government of a people.

This liberty and freedom we, the last free people, are at the moment in great danger of losing for two reasons: the apathy of the people, both civil and religious, and the many of foreign birth whose every thought and effort is to sell us and our country into foreign domination and atheism or worse.

This problem concerns the whole of man and threatens not merely his civil rights, but his religious liberty as well. Christianity as seen through the eyes of St. John is at the crossroad and the danger to it is rost grave.

The Constitution of the United States was written to forever eliminate even the possibility of the usurpation of human rights, whether by king, emperor or dictator. The Fathers of the New Republic did not foresee, not could they realize the possibility that those elected to office might betray their trust, and the trust the poele had in them.

It was not conceived possible that any elected American would ignore the Constitution, come under the dominion of the "Red" and "White Horse" and rule by edict instead of by law; ignoring the civil rights of the people and endangering religious rights by giving great and far-reaching power into the hands of inimical minorites whose most innermost desire is to destroy the spirit itself of waht we know as Christianity, whether this be of the Knostic Christos, or the Christ of Galilee - the Nazarene.

The men responsible for the Constitution originally so arranged the Government under the Law of Personal Responsibility. To whom responsible? To the people themselves. As a result of their Ideals and farsightedness, we have had greater freedom in America than was ever dreamed of by any other people and we prospered mightily - so greatly that the viciously selfish of other countries gradually became greedy and prepared their plans to take from us not only our freedom, religious and civil but also all that we had built up and, lastly, the country itself.

All of this may yet come about because our grat freedom has lulled us to sleep;p a sleep of illusion from which the mass have not as yet awakened - the illusion that liberty is an inheritance and not the result of eternal vigilance.

The American people have had great freedom. Every religious faith, however small, insignificant and unorganized, has had the same tights and privileges as the most powerful denominations. In civil life we have prospered and achieved more in a short span of time than any other people in the history of the world. Now, at last, the people seemingly are so inert and so actionless, so heedless of their danger, the danger right within our gates, that all the rights and privileges we injoy as a free people may be swept away and the most free of all people become the most degraded slaves.

In the past America has had a full taste of religious and civil freedom and found it worth both living and dying for. Is it hnot worth while to awaken and seek even greater freedom by adopting, not merely as part of our philosophy and religion, but as a guide for our action in every-day life, the full Law of Personal, Individual Responsibility?

Be on the alert! Make up your mind now that y ou will assume your full responsibility to man anId God for your every deed. If you have a debt, whatever its nature, see that it is paid. If you commit a wrong, make restitution. If you have harmed your fellow man by word, act or deed, see that you correct the wrong done and compensate him for any harm that befell him as a result of your misdeed.

On the other hand, and to bring about a balance, insofar as lies within your power, permit no one to defraud you you, betray your interests, or do harm to those you love. Fight justly, without fear, hatred or malice, for all that is good and all that rightly belongs to your. In doing this you will fulfill the Law of the New Dispensation and you will retain your rights and liberties as a truly free being.

If you will adopt this plan of thinking, desiring and acting, you will live more and more under the Law, and the Law will be in your favor and be your protection. As this "light now under a bushel" begins to manifest itself, you will exert a tremendous influence for good on all who come into contact with you and they will turn about and follow in your footsteps. Your life will be one of purpose, and you will "overcome and inherit all things," and God will be your God, and you "shall be His Son." Such is the promise and in it is the fulfillment of the Law.

Regeneration a Cardinal Principle of Religion

"Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?"
"Verily, is say unto you," said the Master, "That ye which have followed me, in the Regeneration...shall sit upon twelve thrones." __St. Matt. 19:27,28.

This phase, in the regeneration, is in itself conclusive evidence that the Nazarene not alone taught the life of Regeneration, but that he practiced it, and that at least some of his disciples did likewise, because he stated, without qualification. "That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration," should have a certain reward - the highest possible - sit upon the thrones.

The church of the New Dispensation holds, without holds, that the doctrine - method for obedience on the path - of Regeneration, is the "key" to Immortality - to the becoming of a Son of God. It maintains, as a cardinal truth, that the second birth, the spiritual birth, is possible only through, or results from Regeneration, It is the power of religious teachings and faith that none can enter "the kingdom of heaven," not know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" unless they have become Regenerated, i.e., passed through the "second" or spiritual birth.

It is in Regeneration that one assumes full responsibility for all acts, whether good or evil; that determines to correct all faults; pay all debts assumed; to live in peace and harmony with his brethren, and to discharge his full duty to his community, his State, his Country. He strives unceasingly to overcome all tendencies of hate, jealousy, malice, deceit, envy and every other form of physical, mental and moral weakness. In their stead he develops the opposite qualities of love, wisdom, peace and understanding, that he may be of greater service to those near and dear to him, to his fellow man, his country and his God.

The Congregation of the Righteous

The Church of the New Dispensation is, like Revelation, religious-spiritual, rather than formal-religious; it is non-sectarian, wholly non-political. It has refrained insofar as possible from all forms of publicity. It has silently spread its spiritual knowledge and wisdom, and silent worship. It accepted as truth and fact, the Nazarene's admonition:

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
"But thou [those who follow me], when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." __St. Matt. 6:5,6.

Believing in this silent communion, the Church of the New Dispensation has built its "mansions," not of stone and costly metals, with towers reaching high into the sky that all may see them, but in the minds and hearts of men and women as the great Galilean would have them.

Because of this inculcation the Church of the New Dispensation and its organization has never in the past proselyted, ot has it sought to convert a single adherent of any other church away from that church.

Moreover, this Church does not plan to do so in the future, because it holds to the fundamental principle that all men and women must be allowed to act in all religious matters solely in the light of their own understanding and spiritual growth. All who seek to connect with us, whether publicly or privately, do so because they hunger for the deeper Spiritual truth taught and not as a matter of association or membership.

God Made Man Free, Giving Him Free Will

God created man, like Himself, a free agent. Therefore the Church of the New Dispensation cannot uphold a doctrine or tenet which would submerge the individual in form or creed. Instead, it strongly advocates that Individualism be developed to the highest degree of perfection; thereby bringing the development of all mankind to the highest standard, so that all of man's forces, qualities and capabilities can be effectively directed toward constructive achievement.

Regeneration - An Individual Process

The procedure for Regeneration is spiritual and individual, but never collectivism. Individual instructions and guidance, demonstrably, constitute the only successful method, because no two persons are alike. They are different in temperament; their problems are widely different; Their weaknesses vary; their goals of attainment are seldom alike. They are personalities who must be guided into Individualism. Separate, yet all for the welfare of one, and one for all.

The Nazarene, St. John's leader, guide and teacher, preached the Law to the masses, but never did he reveal to them the innermost secrets, those of spiritual rebirth or Regeneration. To the masses, as he himself confessed, he preached and taught the Law in parables, as when speaking to them of the "Mysteries of the Kingdom of God." To his disciples, however, he taught these inner mysteries, in accordance with their degree of understanding and spiritual growth. When questioned why he spoke to the multitudes in parable, he answered:

"Because it is given to you [the few] to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." __St. Matt. 13:11.

But these disciples were not the only ones he instructed in the mysteries and the spiritual rebirth and this he openly admitted:

"...other sheep I have, which are not of this fold." St. John 10:16.

It is therefore clear that in the spirit of religion there ar classes, not because he, or we, would have it so, but because it is necessary that each must be met on his or her own basis and according to his or her own needs. This is impossible en masse.

The Church Must Uphold the Law and Protect the Rights and Privileges of the Congregation

It is the inalienable tight - and duty _ of every person to work out his own salvation in the light of his own consciousness without the interference of others, whoever they may be, or whatever their authority. Any adherent of this congregation or of any other church, whether large or small, weak or powerful, has a God-given, God-inherent right to be known, or remain unknown, and no one, whatever his power or authority, has a right to infringe upon it.

If the Member of any church, fearing ridicule or persecution from friends, family or enemies, desires that his identity remain unknown, that is his right and privilege. The Congregation of the New age recognizes this as a civil and spiritual right and protects its adherents in this respect. It maintains that the exploitation of any member, or number of members, is a cardinal sin.

It is for this reason, among others, that this church never permits its ministers, priests or lay-brethren to reveal the identity, by name, address or in any other manner, of any of its adherents, unless such members specifically request otherwise .

There are numerous followers who come and go, in and out of the Esoteric church in various parts of the country, and none but their instructors, guides or teachers recognize them. These are the "other sheep" of which the members "know nothing." they are quietly and in secret working out their own salvation; do not want any interference, and request help only when they are unable to help themselves. They are never subject to ridicule because they are unknown, and these, each and every on, with God, are a majority.

Freedom from Obligation, Under the Law

The Esoteric church is free. It is free of dogma; free from politics; free of imposed financial obligations, except such as demanded by the Divine Law itself. The enlightened member or adherent understands the absolute Law of giving and receiving. That nothing in life is free. That "the laborer [he who or serves] is worthy of his hire" and must be compensated, otherwise a debt is created and indebtedness is slavery.

He who accepts something of value, be it whatever it may, and does not compensate for it, is subsidized. He who is subsidized is no longer his own master, but is a slave, and his freedom is limited to the degree of his obligation or bondage. This is a Law which should be fully recognized by all men who wish to retain their civil and religious freedom.

The wise of all ages understood this Law and observed it, beginning with Abraham, who fulfilled the Law when he donated, i.e., tithed, to the High Priest Melchizedek, a tenth of all he - Abraham - earned. __Heb. 7:2.

It was the Law of the Prophets of old that a tenth part of all they earned belonged to the Lord - those who served them spiritually. This law is still observed by many of the lesser congregations and strange as it may seem, all who live under obedience to this Law seem to prosper and live happily.

Laws never change. If they did, they would not be laws, but the edicts of men. These ancient Laws, co-existent with man, were fully understood by all the Lawgivers, the prophets, and the Nazarene. The Laws where taught by the Nazarene and accepted by his disciples:

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over.... F\or with the same measure that ye mete withall it shall be measured to you again." __St. Luke 6:38.

The Congregation of the new Dispensation, offers no new Laws; its duty is to fairly and justly interpret those in existence throughout time and explain the manner of their application that men may attain to the highest and their best, and that peace may come upon earth.

Immortality: Not a Free Gift but a Prize To Be Earned Individually

It has been the universal but erroneous belief of countless millions that Immortality, commonly known as "salvation of the Soul," is a "gift from heaven," and that God offers it to all who "believe in Him."

Belief in God without obedience to His commandments or Laws is on a par with "faith without works." Many believe yet continue in their wickedness. The "devil" so familiar throughout the ages, is one of those who believes"

"The devils also believe, and tremble." __James 2:19.

The end of all evil is death; a discontinuance of existence. A return to the dust; a freedom of the spirit.

The attainment of Immortality is not unlike any other worthwhile objective in life. To attain success, wealth, power or fame in this world one must work for it; one must make the effort; one must honestly earn it. There are an uncounted number of "good" people in this world who never committed a crime; never seriously violated the law; never knowingly harmed their neighbor. These attend church regularly; in their hearts they believe in God; yet remain poor, sickly, depressed, lacking success, fame, power and ofttimes even the necessities of life. Why? Because of inertness; they fail to work according to their faith; they do not put forth the active effort necessary to obtain the things they would like to have; or attain to the station in life where they wish to be. They have "likes" and "wants" but neither the Will nor the incentive to work, and work unceasingly, with brawn and Will, to succeed in life.

They are "good people. They are respected. Their friends think highly of them. Their church and community is proud of them, but they remain of the lower rungs of the ladder and on one thinks of setting them up as examples to follow.

The laws which govern man's progress on earth are the same Laws which govern his spiritual welfare. This is known as the Hermetic Law:

"Man may sincerely believe in God, with all his mind and all his heart, but lack the incentive, the deep down desire to achieve or become, and as a result of this inertia, fail to make the effort necessary for spiritual attainment, hence will not awaken the Christos within himself, will not attain to soul Consciousness which is Immortalization hence that son of man will fail to become the Son of God, the reward assured only those who "overcome."

Bringing the Sleeping Christos Consciousness Into Life Is the Path to Immortality or Life Eternal

So ling as man remains in spiritual darkeness and in ignorance of his spiritual potentialities, there can be no hope of his attaining Immortality, perhaps better recognized as Life Everlasting. This spiritual darkness and ignorance is in reality "si," because man came to earth for the express purpose of gaining knowledge of both "good and evil" It is written:

"Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil," __Gen. 3:5.

The sins of the past, combined with the sins of the present, often known as the "heavy load of Karma," keep the Soul buried under its debris. The weight of sin keeps the Soul in a state of unconsciousness. This state of unconsciousness is spiritual death to the Soul, because Immortality cannot be attained while the Soul is permitted to remain in this state of unconsciousness, in darkness or ignorance of the Soul's possible inheritance.

If man is to attain the status of this spiritual consciousness, and awaken to the possibility of Eternal Life, he must make the necessary effort to awaken the Christos, the embryonic Soul within himself and bring it into Consciousness. This process of soul awakening has been known throughout the ages as Initiation, or the Great Work.

It is in truth and fact the greatest work any man can perform; so great that if this is accomplished, as in the instance of Solomon and others, all other things will be added to him who so overcomes, or succeeds in it, and all who truly try and continue to try, can succeed. There never was, never will be, a Work more ennobling; no purpose greater or grander, and to help man in this Work must be the mission of the Church of the New Dispensation.

Every Master, every prophet of old and of God, every Messenger from heaven and every true disciple who followed such messengers and prophets, taught the need for Regeneration, as the only way to Salvation. Yet it is the one essential that has been overlooked by almost all churches throughout the ages and this despite the simple inculcations of the Nazarene and his disciples in the past Dispensation.

One may be possessed of sufficient "faith" to be saved from total destruction, and because of such "faith," God, or the eternal operating Law, may give him another opportunity to live a life on earth to enable him to Regenerate his being. Such "faith," however, does no more than permit him the opportunity to show his good faith by making the necessary effort to obtain for himself and by his work, the good things prepared for man since the "foundation of the world was laid."

The Division of Mankind in the Last Days

Mankind may be divided into four parts or divisions, if we accept the concepts of Revelation as prophecy based on truth:

The first Division: Those who have awakened to the possibility of passing through the New or Spiritual Birth, and after Regeneration, be counted among the Biblical "elect." these are those who, as a result of their own efforts, have been "sealed? by God, and carry the "mark of God on their forehead."

The second Division: Those who are good of heart and well intentioned, but who have as yet not entered the Path leading to the new or spiritual birth. They have made no effort toward Regeneration because it has not been understandingly presented to them. These are the ones who follow the tenets of the Nazarene as presented to them by the church. They live by faith, not works, because the path has not been explained to them and they have not able to obtain the correct and necessary instructions for the Great Work; the things they must do to obtain or become.

The third Division: Those who, by their riotous living, their dissipation and evil ways, and total or almost total disregard for others, have strayed so far away from the "fold" that there is little chance for their return. These are the ones who cannot at this late day receive the "mark of God." They are those who, according to Revelation, will be destroyed, being "led like cattle to the slaughter."

The fourth Division: Those who become partly awakened to the truth and the spirit of the New dispensation, accepted the concepts, took upon themselves the obligation to be obedient to the Laws, and then, for one reason or another, fell by the wayside.

The first Division have their "kingdom" assured, and to these it was promised:

"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou has, that no man take thy crown." __Rev. 3:11.

Some of these may become weakened and discouraged and fall by the wayside, hence the warning: "hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." This recalls to mind that when the Nazarene himself attained Regeneration and was called to the mountain for the final test, he prayed for strength that he would no fall (fail). We must also recall that the mighty Lucifer, who stood next to God, failed and was cast out of the kingdom of which he had been a part.

For the third Division there is little hope, and these are the many. They have so greatly violated the Law by evil doing that there is little hope for them. Except for quick decision and complete reversal of thought, desire and action, they are doomed to die:

"By these three [fire, smoke and brimstone] was [is being, will be] the third part of men killed." __Rev. 9:18.

This is nor man's concept; it is not a philosophy of fear; it is not propaganda for membership in any church; not even that of the Church of the New Dispensation. It is the word of Revelation.

Those of the fourth Division have fallen by the wayside after awakening to their own possibilities and opportunities. They have yielded to the temptation of inertia; or of greed, selfishness and vice; or they have compromised, agreed to appeasement - the almost universal weakness and mark of decadence among mankind today - with the "powers of darkness" and become part of the army of the followers of the darness that leads to death of body, and Soul. Their suffering and death shall be worse than that of those of the third part, because their guilt is greater:

"No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." __Luke 9:62.
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