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PREFACE |
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Book Two of the Essene Gospel of Peace |
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I have to begin this preface with a great confession: this is not my first translation of Book Two |
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of the Essene Gospel of Peace; it is my second. The first effort took many years to complete, and |
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it was composed painstakingly and literally, with hundreds of cross references and abundant |
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philological and exegetical footnotes. When it was finished, I was very proud of it, and in a glow |
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of selfsatisfied accomplishment, I gave it to my friend, Aldous Huxley, to read. Two weeks later, |
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I asked him what he thought of my monumental translation. "It is very, very bad, he answered. |
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"It is even worse than the most boring treatises of the patristics and scholastics, which nobody |
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reads today. it is so dry and uninteresting, in fact, that I have no desire to read Book Three." I |
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was speechless, so he continued. "You should rewrite it, and give it some of the vitality of your |
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other books-make it literary, readable and attractive for twentieth century readers. I'm sure the |
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Essenes did not speak to each other in footnotes! In the form it is in now, the only readers you |
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will have for it may be a few dogmatists in theological seminaries, who seem to take masochistic |
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pleasure in reading this sort of thing. However," he added with a smile, "you might find some |
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value in it as a cure for insomnia; each time I tried to read it I fell asleep in a few minutes. You |
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might try to sell a few copies that way by advertising a new sleep remedy in the health |
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magazines-no harmful chemicals, and all that." |
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It took me a long time to recuperate from his criticism-. I put aside the manuscript for years. |
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Meanwhile, I continued to receive thousands of letters from many readers from all parts of the |
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world of my translation of Book One of the Essene Gospel of Peace, asking for the second and |
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third books promised in the preface. Finally, I got the courage to start again. The passing of the |
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years had mellowed my attitude and I saw my friend's criticism in a new light. I rewrote the |
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entire manuscript, treating it as literature and poetry, coming to grips with the great problems of |
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life, both ancient and contemporary. it was not easy to be faithful to the original, and at the same |
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time to present the eternal truths in a way that would appeal to twentieth century man. And yet, it |
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was vitally important that I try; for the Essenes, above all others, strove to win the hearts of men |
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through reason, and the powerful and vivid example of their li ves. |
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Sadly, Aldous is no longer here to read my second translation. I have a feeling he would have |
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liked it (not a single footnote!), but I will have to leave the final judgment to my readers. If |
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Books Two and Three will become as popular as Book One, my efforts of many, many years will |
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be amply rewarded. |
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EDMOND BORDEAUX SZEKELY |
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San Diego, California |
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the first of November, 1974. |
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INTRODUCTION |
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There are three paths leading to Truth. The first is the path of the consciousness, the second that |
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of nature, and the third is the accumulated experience of past generations, which we receive in |
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the shape of the great masterpieces of all ages. From time immemorial, man and humanity have |
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followed all three paths. |
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The first path to Truth, the path of the consciousness, is that followed by the great mystics. They |
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consider that the consciousness is the most immediate reality for us and is the key to the |
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universe. it is something which is in us, which is us. And throughout the ages the mystics have |
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made the discovery that the laws of human consciousness contain an aspect not found in the laws |
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governing the material universe. |
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A certain dynamic unity exists in our consciousness, where one is at the same time many. it is |
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possible for us to have simultaneously different thoughts, ideas, associations, images, memories |
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and intuitions occupying our consciousness within fragments of a minute or a second, yet all this |
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multiplicity will still constitute only a single dynamic unity. Therefore the laws of mathematics, |
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which are valid for the material universe and are a key to its understanding, will not be valid in |
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the field of consciousness, a realm where two and two do not necessarily make four. The mystics |
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also found that measurements of space, time and weight, universally valid in nature and |
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throughout the material universe, are not applicable to the consciousness, where sometimes a few |
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seconds seem like hours, or hours like a minute. |
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Our consciousness does not exist in space and therefore cannot be measured in spatial terms. It |
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has its own time, which is very often timelessness, so temporal measurements cannot be applied |
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to Truth reached by this path. The great mystics discovered that the human consciousness, |
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besides being the most immediate and the inmost reality for us, is at the same time our closest |
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source of energy, harmony and knowledge. The path to Truth leading to and through the |
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consciousness produced the great teachings of humanity, the great intuitions and the great |
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masterpieces throughout the ages. Such then is the first path to or source of Truth, as the Essene |
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traditions understand and interpret it. |
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Unfortunately, the magnificent original intuitions of the great masters often lose their vitality as |
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they pass down the generations. They are very often modified, distorted and turned into dogmas, |
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and all too frequently their values become petrified in institutions and organized hierarchies. The |
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pure intuitions are choked by the sands of time, and eventually have to be dug out by seekers of |
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Truth able to penetrate into their essence. |
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Another danger is that persons following this path to Truth, the path of the consciousness-may |
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fall into exaggerations. They come to think that this is the only path to Truth and disregard all |
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others. Very often, too, they apply the specific laws of the human consciousness to the material |
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universe where they lack validity, and ignore the laws proper to the latter sphere. The mystic |
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often creates for himself an artificial universe, farther and farther removed from reality, till he |
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ends by living in an ivory tower, having lost all contact with reality and life. |
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The second of the three paths is the path of nature. While the first path of the consciousness |
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starts from within and penetrates thence into the totality of things, the second path takes the |
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opposite way. Its starting point is the external world. it is the path of the scientist, and has been |
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followed in all ages through experience and through experiment, through the use of inductive |
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and deductive methods. |
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The scientist, working with exact quantitative measurements, measures everything in space and |
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time, and makes all possible correlations. |
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With his telescope he penetrates into far-distant cosmic space, into the various solar and galactic |
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systems; through spectrum analysis he measures the constituents of the different planets in |
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cosmic space; and by mathematical calculation he establishes in advance the movements of |
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celestial bodies. Applying the law of cause and effect, the scientist establishes a long chain of |
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causes and effects which help him to explain and measure the universe, as well as life. |
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But the scientist, like the mystic, sometimes falls into exaggerations. While science has |
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transformed the life of mankind and has created great values, for man in all ages, it has failed to |
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give entire satisfaction in the solution of the final problems of existence, life and the universe. |
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The scientist has the long chain of causes and effects secure in all its particles, but he has no idea |
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what to do with the end of the chain. He has no solid point to which he may attach the end of the |
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chain, and so by the path to Truth through nature and the material universe he is unable to |
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answer the great and eternal questions concerning the beginning and end of all things. |
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The greatest scientists recognize that in the metaphysical field beyond the scientific chain there is |
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something else - continuing from the end of that chain. However, there are also the dogmatic |
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scientists who deny any other approach to Truth than their own, who refuse to attribute reality to |
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the facts and phenomena which they cannot fit neatly into their own categories and |
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classifications. |
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The path to Truth through nature is not that of the dogmatic scientist, just as the first path is not |
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that of the one-sided mystic. Nature is a great open book in which everything can be found, if we |
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learn to draw from it the inspiration which it has given to the great thinkers of all ages. if we |
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learn her language, nature will reveal to us all the laws of life and the universe. |
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It is for this reason that all the great masters of humanity from time to time withdrew into nature: |
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Zarathustra and Moses into the mountains, Buddha to the forest, Jesus and the Essenes to the |
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desert-and thus followed this second path as well as that of the consciousness. The two paths do |
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not contradict one another, but harmoniously complete one another in full knowledge of the laws |
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of both. It was thus that the great teachers reached wonderful and deeply profound truths which |
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have given inspiration to millions through thousands of years. |
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The third path to Truth, is the wisdom, knowledge and experience acquired by the great thinkers |
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of all ages and transmitted to us in the form of great teachings, the great sacred books or |
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scriptures, and the great masterpieces of universal literature which together form what today we |
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would call universal culture. |
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In brief, therefore, our approach to Truth is a threefold one: through consciousness, nature and |
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culture. |
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In the following chapters we shall follow this threefold path leading to Truth and shall examine |
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and translate some of the great sacred writings of the Essenes. |
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There are different ways of studying these great writings. One way-the way of all theologians |
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and of the organized Churches-is to consider each text literally. This is the dogmatic way |
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resulting from a long process of petrification, by which truths are inevitably transformed into |
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dogmas. |
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When the theologian follows this most easy but one-sided path, he runs into endless |
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contradictions and complications, and he reaches a conclusion as far removed from the truth as |
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that of the scientific interpreter of these texts who rejects them as entirely valueless and without |
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validity. The approaches of the dogmatic theologian and the exclusivist scientist represent two |
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extremes. |
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A third error is to believe, as do certain symbolists, that these books have no more than a |
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symbolic content and are nothing more than parables. With their own particular way of |
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exaggeration these symbolists make thousands of different and quite contradictory interpretations |
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of these great texts. |
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The spirit of the Essene traditions is opposed to all three of these ways of interpreting these |
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ageless writings and follows an entirely different approach. |
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The Essene method of interpretation of these books is, on the one hand, to place them in |
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harmonious correlation with the laws of the human consciousness and of nature, and, on the |
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other, to consider the facts and circumstances of the age and environment in which they were |
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written. This approach also takes into account the degree of evolution and understanding of the |
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people to whom the particular master was addressing his message. |
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Since all the great masters had to adapt their teaching to the level of their audience, they found it |
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necessary to formulate both an exoteric and esoteric teaching. The exoteric message was one |
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comprehensible to the people at large and was expressed in terms of various rules, forms and |
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rituals corresponding to the basic needs of the people and the age concerned. Parallel with this, |
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the esoteric teachings have survived through the ages partly as written and partly as unwritten |
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living traditions, free from forms, rituals, rules and dogmas, and in all periods have been kept |
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alive and practiced by a small minority. |
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It is in this spirit of the interpretation of the Truth that the Essene Gospel of Peace will be |
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translated in the following pages. Rejecting the dogmatic methods of literal and purely scientific |
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interpretation as well as the exaggeration of the symbolists, we shall try to translate the Essene |
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Gospel of Peace in the light of our consciousness and of nature, and in harmony with the great |
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traditions of the Essenes, to whose brotherhood the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls themselves |
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belonged. |
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THE VISION OF ENOCH |
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THE MOST ANCIENT REVELATION |
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God Speaks to Man |
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I speak to you. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I spoke to you |
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When you were born. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I spoke to you |
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At your first sight. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I spoke to you |
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At your first word. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I spoke to you |
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At your first thought. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I spoke to you |
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At your first love. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I spoke to you |
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At your first song. |
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Be still |
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Know I am |
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God. |
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I speak to you |
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Through the grass of the meadows. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I speak to you |
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Through the trees of the forests. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I speak to you |
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Through the valleys and the hills. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I speak to you |
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Through the Holy Mountains. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I speak to you |
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Through the rain and the snow. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Tam |
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God. |
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I speak to you |
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Through the waves of the sea. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I speak to you |
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Through the dew of the morning. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I speak to you |
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Through the peace of the evening. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Tam |
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God. |
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I speak to you |
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Through the splendor of the sun. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I speak to you |
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Through the brilliant stars. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I speak to you |
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Through the storm and the clouds. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I speak to you |
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Through the thunder and lightning. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God |
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I speak to you |
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Through the mysterious rainbow. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I will speak to you |
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When you are alone. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God |
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I will speak to you |
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Through the Wisdom of the Ancients. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Tam |
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God |
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I will speak to you |
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At the end of time. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I will speak to you |
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When you have seen my Angels. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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I will speak to you |
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Throughout Eternity. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God |
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I speak to you. |
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Be still |
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Know |
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Iam |
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God. |
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FROM THE ESSENE BOOK OF MOSES |
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THE TEN COMMANDMENTS |
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And Mount Sinai was altogether in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the |
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smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. |
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And the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses |
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up to the top of the mount: and Moses went up. |
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And the Lord called unto Moses out of the mountain, saying, Come unto me, for I would give |
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thee the Law for thy people, which shall be a covenant for the Children of Light. |
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And Moses went up unto God. And God spake all these words, saying, |
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I am the Law, thy God, which hath brought thee out from the depths of the bondage of darkness. |
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Thou shalt have no other Laws before me. |
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Thou shalt not make unto thee any image of the Law in heaven above or in the earth beneath. I |
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am the invisible Law, without beginning and without end. |
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Thou shalt not make unto thee false laws, for I am the Law, and the whole Law of all laws. If |
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thou forsake me, thou shalt be visited by disasters for generation upon generation. |
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If thou keepest my commandments, thou shalt enter the Inftnite Garden where stands the Tree of |
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Life in the midst of the Eternal Sea. |
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Thou shalt not violate the Law. The Law is thy God, who shall not hold thee guiltless. |
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Honor thy Earthly Mother, that thy days may be long upon the land, and honor thy Heavenly |
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Father, that eternal life be thine in the heavens, for the earth and the heavens are given unto thee |
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by the Law, which is thy God. |
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Thou shalt greet thy Earthly Mother on the morning of the Sabbath. |
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Thou shalt greet the Angel of Earth on the second morning. |
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Thou shalt greet the Angel of Life on the third morning. |
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Thou shalt greet the Angel of Joy on the fourth morning. |
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Thou shalt greet the Angel of Sun on the fifth morning. |
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Thou shalt greet the Angel of Water on the sixth morning, |
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Thou shalt greet the Angel of Air on the seventh morning- |
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All these Angels of the Earthly Mother shalt thou greet, and consecrate thyself to them, that thou |
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mayest enter the Infinite Garden where stands the Tree of Life. |
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Thou shalt worship thy Heavenly Father on the evening of the Sabbath. |
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Thou shalt commune with the Angel of Eternal Life on the second evening. |
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Thou shalt commune with the Angel of Work on the third evening. |
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Thou shalt commune with the Angel of Peace on the fourth evening. |
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Thou shalt commune with the Angel of Power on the fifth evening, |
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Thou shalt commune with the Angel of Love on the sixth evening. |
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Thou shalt commune with the Angel of Wisdom on the seventh evening. |
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All these Angels of the Heavenly Father shalt thou commune with, that thy soul may bathe in the |
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Fountain of Light, and enter into the Sea of Eternity. |
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The seventh day is the Sabbath: thou shalt remember it, keep it holy. The Sabbath is the day of |
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the Light of the Law, thy God. In it thou shalt not do any work, but search the Light, the |
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Kingdom of thy God, and all things shall be given unto thee. |
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For know ye that during six days thou shalt work with the Angels, but the seventh day shalt thou |
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dwell in the Light of thy Lord, who is the holy Law. |
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Thou shalt not take the life from any living thing. Life comes only from God, who giveth it and |
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taketh it away. |
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Thou shalt not debase Love. It is the sacred gift of thy Heavenly Father. |
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Thou Shalt not trade thy Soul, the priceless gift of the loving God, for the riches of the world, |
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which are as seeds sown on stony ground, having no root in themselves, and so enduring but for |
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a little while. |
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Thou shalt not be a false witness of the Law, to use it against thy brother: Only God knoweth the |
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beginning and the ending of all things, for his eye is single, and he is the holy Law. |
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Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's possessions. The Law giveth unto thee much greater gifts, |
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even the earth and the heavens, if thou keep the Commandments of the Lord thy God. |
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And Moses heard the voice of the Lord, and sealed within him the covenant that was between the |
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Lord and the Children of Light. |
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And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tablets of the Law were in his |
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hand. |
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And the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the |
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tablets. |
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And the people knew not what became of Moses, and they gathered themselves together and |
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brake off their golden earrings and made a molten calf. And they worshipped unto the idol, and |
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offered to it burnt offerings. |
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And they ate and drank and danced before the golden calf, which they had made, and they |
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abandoned themselves to corruption and evil before the Lord. |
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And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the |
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dancing, and the wickedness of the people: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tablets |
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out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. |
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And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin, |
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ye have denied thy Creator. I will go up unto the Lord and plead atonement for thy sin. |
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And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Lord, thou hast seen the desecration of thy Holy |
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Law. For thy children lost faith, and worshipped the darkness, and made for themselves a golden |
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calf. Lord, forgive them, for they are blind to the light. |
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And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, at the beginning of time was a covenant made between |
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God and man, and the holy flame of the Creator did enter unto him. And he was made the son of |
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God, and it was given him to guard his inheritance of the firstborn, and to make fruitful the land |
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of his Father and keep it holy. And he who casteth out the Creator from him doth spit upon his |
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birthright, and no more grievous sin doth exist in the eyes of God. |
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And the Lord spoke, saying, Only the Children of Light can keep the Commandments of the |
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Law. Hear me, for I say thus: the tablets which thou didst break, these shall nevermore be written |
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in the words of men. As thou didst return them to the earth and fire, so shall they live, invisible, |
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in the hearts of those who are able to follow their Law. To thy people of little faith, who did sin |
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against the Creator, even whilst thou stood on holy ground before thy God, -I will give another |
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Law. It shall be a stem law, yea, it shall bind them, for they know not yet the Kingdom of Light. |
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And Moses hid the invisible Law within his breast, and kept it for a sign to the Children of |
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Light. And God gave unto Moses the written law for the people, and he went down unto |
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them, and spake unto them with a heavy heart. |
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And Moses said unto the people, these are the laws which thy God hath given thee. |
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Thou shalt have no other gods before me. |
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Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. |
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Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. |
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Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. |
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Honor thy father and thy mother. |
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Thou shalt not kill. |
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Thou shalt not commit adultery. |
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Thou shalt not steal. |
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Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. |
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Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, nor thy neighbor's wife, nor anything that is thy |
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neighbor's. |
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And there was a day of mourning and atonement for the great sin against the Creator, which did |
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not end. And the broken tablets of the Invisible Law lived hidden in the breast of Moses, until it |
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came to pass that the Children of Light appeared in the desert, and the angels walked the earth. |
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THE COMMUNIONS |
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And it was by the bed of a stream, that the weary and afflicted came again to seek out Jesus. And |
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like children, they had forgotten the Law; and like children, they sought out their father to show |
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them where they had erred, and to set their feet again upon the path. And when the sun rose over |
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the earth's rim they saw Jesus coming toward them from the mountain, with the brightness of the |
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rising sun about his head. |
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And he raised his hand and smiled upon them, saying, "Peace be with you." |
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But they were ashamed to return his greeting, for each in his own way had turned his back on the |
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holy teachings, and the Angels of the Earthly Mother and the Heavenly Father were not with |
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them. And one man looked up in anguish and spoke: "Master, we are in sore need of your |
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wisdom. For we know that which is good, and yet we follow evil. We know that to enter the |
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kingdom of heaven we must walk with the angels of the day and of the night, yet our feet walk in |
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the ways of the wicked. The light of day shines only on our pursuit of pleasure, and the night |
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falls on our heedless stupor. Tell us, Master, how may we talk with the angels, and stay within |
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their holy circle, that the Law may burn in our hearts with a constant flame?" |
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And Jesus spoke to them: |
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"To lift your eyes to heaven |
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When all mens' eyes are on the ground, |
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Is not easy. |
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To worship at the feet of the angels |
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When all men worship only fame and riches, |
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Is not easy. |
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But the most difficult of all |
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Is to think the thoughts of the angels, |
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To speak the words of the angels, |
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And to do as angels do. " |
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And one man spoke: "But, Master, we are but men, we are not angels. How then can we hope to |
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walk in their ways? Tell us what we must do." |
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And Jesus spoke: |
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"As the son inherits the land of his father, |
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So have we inherited a Holy Land |
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From our Fathers. |
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T'his land is not a field to be ploughed, |
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But a place within us |
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Where we may build our Holy Temple. |
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And even as a temple must be raised, |
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Stone by stone, |
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So will I give to you those stones |
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For the building of the Holy Temple; |
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That which we have inherited |
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From our Fathers, |
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And their Fathers’ Fathers." |
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And all the men gathered around Jesus, and their faces shone with desire to hear the words which |
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would come from his lips. And he lifted his face to the rising sun, and the radiance of its rays |
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filled his eyes as he spoke: |
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"The Holy Temple can be built |
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Only with the ancient Communions, |
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Those which are spoken, |
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Those which are thought, |
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And those which are lived. |
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For if they are spoken only with the mouth, |
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They are as a dead hive |
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Which the bees have forsaken, |
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That gives no more honey. |
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Communions are a bridge |
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Between man and the angels, |
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And like a bridge, |
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Can be built only with patience, |
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Yea, even as the bridge over the river |
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Is fashioned stone by stone, |
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As they are found by the water's edge. |
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And the Communions are fourteen in number |
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As the Angels of the Heavenly Father |
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Number seven, |
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And the Angels of the Earthly Mother |
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Number seven. |
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And just as the roots of the tree |
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Sink into the earth and are nourished, |
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And the branches of the tree |
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Raise their arms to heaven, |
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So is man like the trunk of the tree, |
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With his roots deep |
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In the breast of his Earthly Mother, |
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And his soul ascending |
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To the bright stars of his Heavenly Father. |
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And the roots of the tree |
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Are the Angels of the Earthly Mother, |
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And the branches of the tree |
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Are the Angels of the Heavenly Father. |
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And this is the sacred Tree of Life |
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Which stands in the Sea of Eternity. |
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The first Communion is with the Angel of Sun |
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The Angel of Sun, |
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She who cometh each morning |
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As a bride from her chamber, |
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To shed her golden light on the world. |
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O thou immortal, shining, swift-steeded |
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Angel of the Sun! |
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There is no warmth without thee, |
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No fire without thee, |
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No life without thee. |
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As green leaves of the trees |
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Do worship thee, |
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And through thee is the tiny wheat kernel |
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Become a river of golden grass, |
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Moving with the wind. |
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Through thee is opened the flower |
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In the center of my body. |
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Tnerefore will I never hide myself |
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From thee. |
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Angel of Sun, |
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Holy messenger of the Earthly Mother, |
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Enter the holy temple within me |
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And give me the Fire of Life! |
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The Second Communion is with the Angel of Water |
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The Angel of Water, |
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She who makes the rain |
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To fall on the and plain, |
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Who fills the dry well to overflowing. |
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Yea, we do worship thee, |
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Water of Life- |
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From the heavenly sea |
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The waters run and flow forward |
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From the never-failing springs. |
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In my blood flow |
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A thousand pure springs, |
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And vapors, and clouds, |
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And all the waters |
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T'hat spread over all the seven Kingdoms. |
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All the waters |
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The Creator hath made Are holy. |
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The voice of the Lord |
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Is upon the waters: |
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The God of Glory thundereth; |
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The Lord is upon many waters. |
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Angel of Water, |
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Holy messenger of the Earthly Mother, |
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Enter the blood that flows through me, |
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Wash my body in the rain |
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That falls from heaven, |
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And give me the Water of Life. |
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The third Communion is with the Angel of Air |
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The Angel of Air, |
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Who spreads the perfume |
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Of sweet-smelling fields, |
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of spring grass after rain, |
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of the opening buds of the |
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Rose of Sharon. |
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We worship the Holy Breath |
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Which is placed higher |
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Than all the other things created. |
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For, lo, the eternal and sovereign Luminous space, |
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Where rule the unnumbered stars, |
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Is the air we breathe in |
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And the air we breathe out. |
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And in the moment betwixt the breathing in |
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And the breathing out |
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Is hidden all the mysteries of the Infinite Garden. |
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Angel of Air, |
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Holy messenger of the Earthly Mother, |
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Enter deep within me, |
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As the swallow plummets from the sky, |
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That I may know the secrets of the wind |
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And the music of the stars. |
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The fourth Communion is with the Angel of Earth |
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The Angel of Earth, |
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She who brings forth corn and grapes |
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From the fulness of the earth, |
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She who brings children |
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From the loins of husband and wife. |
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He who would till the earth, |
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With the left arm and the right, |
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Unto him will she bring forth |
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An abundance of fruit and grain, |
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Golden-hued plants |
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Growing up from the earth |
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During the spring, |
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As far as the earth extends, |
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As far as the rivers stretch, |
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As far as the sun rises, |
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To impart their gifts of food unto men. |
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This wide earth do I praise, |
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Expanded far with paths, |
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The productive, the full-bearing, |
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Thy Mother, holy plant! |
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Yea, I praise the lands |
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Where thou dost grow |
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Sweet-scented swiftly spreading, |
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The good growth of the Lord. |
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He who sows corn, grass and fruit, |
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Soweth the Law. |
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And his harvest shall be bountiful, |
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And his crop shall be ripe upon the hills |
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As a reward for the followers of the Law, |
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The Lord sent the Angel of Earth, |
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Holy messenger of the Earthly Mother |
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To make the plants to grow, |
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And to make fertile the womb of woman, |
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That the earth may never be without |
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The laughter of children. |
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Let us worship the Lord in her! |
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The fifth Communion is with the Angel of Life |
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The Angel of Life, |
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She who gives strength and vigor to man. |
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For, lo, if the wax is not pure, |
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How then can the candle give a steady flame? |
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Go, then, toward the high-growing trees, |
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And before one of them which is beautiful, |
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High-growing and mighty, |
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Say these words: |
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‘Hail be unto thee! O good, living tree, |
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Made by the Creator!’ |
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Then shall the River of Life |
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Flow between you and your Brother, |
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The Tree, |
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And health of the body, |
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Swiftness of foot, |
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Quick hearing of the ears, |
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Strength of the arms |
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And eyesight of the eagle be yours. |
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Such is the Communion |
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With the Angel of Life, |
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Holy messenger of the Earthly Mother. |
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The sixth Communion is with the Angel of Joy |
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The Angel of Joy, |
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She who descends upon earth |
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To give beauty to all men. |
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For the Lord is not worshipped with sadness, |
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Nor with cries of despair. |
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Leave off your moans and lamentations, |
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And sing unto the Lord a new song: |
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Sing unto the Lord, all the earth. |
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Let the heavens rejoice |
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And let the earth be glad. |
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Let the field be joyful, |
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Let the floods clap their hands; |
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Let the hills be joyful together Before the Lord. |
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For you shall go out with joy |
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And be led forth with peace: |
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The mountains and the hills |
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Shall break forth before you into singing. |
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Angel of Joy, |
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Holy messenger of the Earthly Mother, |
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I will sing unto the Lord |
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As long as I live: |
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I will sing praise to my God |
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While I have my being. |
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The Seventh Communion is with Our Earthly Mother |
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Our Earthly Mother, |
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She who sends forth her Angels |
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To guide the roots of man |
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And send them deep into the blessed soil. |
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We invoke the Earthly Mother! |
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The Holy Preserver! |
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The Maintainer! |
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It is She who will restore the world! |
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The earth is hers, |
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And the fulness thereof the world, |
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And they that dwell therein. |
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We worship the good, the strong, |
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The beneficent Earthly Mother |
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And all her Angels, |
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Bounteous, valiant, |
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And full of strength; |
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Welfare-bestowing, kind, |
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And health-giving. |
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Through her brightness and glory |
|
Do the plants grow up from the earth, |
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By the never-failing springs. |
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Through her brightness and glory |
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Do the winds blow, |
|
Driving down the clouds |
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Towards the never-failing springs. |
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The Earthly Mother and I are One. |
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I have my roots in her, |
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And she takes her delight in me |
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According to the Holy Law. " |
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Then there was a great silence, as the listeners pondered the words of Jesus. And there was new |
|
strength in them, and desire and hope shone in their faces. And then one man spoke: "Master, we |
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are filled with eagerness to begin our Communions with the Angels of the Earthly Mother, who |
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planted the Great Garden of the Earth. But what of the Angels of the Heavenly Father, who rule |
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the night? How are we to talk to them, who are so far above us, who are invisible to our eyes? |
|
For we can see the rays of the sun, we can feel the cool water of the stream where we bathe, and |
|
the grapes are warm to our touch as they grow purple on the vines. But the Angels of the |
|
Heavenly Father cannot be seen, or heard, or touched. How then can we talk to them, and enter |
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their Infinite Garden? Master, tell us what we must do." |
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And the morning sun encircled his head with glory as Jesus looked upon them and spoke: |
|
"My children, know you not that the Earth |
|
And all that dwells therein |
|
Is but a reflection of the |
|
Kingdom of the Heavenly Father? |
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And as you are suckled and comforted |
|
By your mother when a child, |
|
But go to join your father in the fields |
|
When you grow up, |
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So do the Angels of the Earthly Mother |
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Guide your steps |
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Toward him who is your Father, |
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And all his holy Angels, |
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That you may know your true home |
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And become true Sons of God. |
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While we are children, |
|
We will see the rays of the sun, |
|
But not the Power which created it; |
|
While we are children, |
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We will hear the sounds of the flowing brook, |
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But not the Love which created it; |
|
While we are children, |
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We will see the stars, |
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But not the hand which scatters them |
|
Through the sky, |
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As the farmer scatters his seed. |
|
only through the Communions |
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With the Angels of the Heavenly Father, |
|
Will we learn to see the unseen, |
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To hear that which cannot be heard, |
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And to speak the unspoken word. |
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The first Communion is with the Angel of Power |
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The Angel of Power, |
|
Who fills the sun with heat, |
|
And guides the hand of man |
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In all his works. |
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|
Thine, O Heavenly Father! |
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Was the Power, |
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When thou didst order a path |
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For each of us and all. |
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Through thy power |
|
Will my feet tread the |
|
Path of the Law; |
|
Through thy power |
|
Will my hands perform thy works. |
|
May the golden river of power |
|
Always flow from thee to me, |
|
And may my body always turn unto thee, |
|
As the flower turns unto the sun. |
|
For there is no power save that |
|
From the Heavenly Father; |
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|
All else is but a dream of dust, |
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|
A cloud passing over the face of the sun. |
|
There is no man that hath power |
|
Over the spirit; |
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|
Neither hath he power in the day of death. |
|
Only that power which cometh from God |
|
Can carry us out from the City of Death. |
|
Guide our works and deeds, |
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O Angel of Power, |
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|
Holy messenger of the Heavenly -Father! |
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|
|
The second Communion is with the Angel of Love |
|
The Angel of Love, |
|
Whose healing waters flow |
|
In a never-ending stream |
|
From the Sea of Eternity. |
|
Beloved, let us love one another: |
|
For love is of the Heavenly Father, |
|
And every one that loveth |
|
Is born of the Heavenly Order |
|
And knoweth the Angels. |
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|
For without love, |
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|
A man's heart is parched and cracked |
|
As the bottom of a dry well, |
|
And his words are empty |
|
As a hollow gourd. |
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|
But loving words are as a honeycomb |
|
Sweet to the soul; |
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|
Loving words in a man's mouth |
|
Are as deep waters, |
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And the wellspring of love |
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As a flowing brook. |
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|
Yea, it was said in the ancient of days, |
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Thou shalt love thy Heavenly Father |
|
With all thy heart, |
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And with all thy mind, |
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And with all thy deeds, |
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And thou shalt love thy brothers |
|
As thyself |
|
The Heavenly Father is love; |
|
And he that dwelleth in love |
|
Dwelleth in the Heavenly Father, |
|
And the Heavenly Father in him. |
|
He that loveth not is as a wandering bird |
|
Cast out of the nest; |
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|
For him the grass faileth |
|
And the stream has a bitter taste. |
|
And if a man say, |
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I love the Heavenly Father |
|
But hate my brother, |
|
He is a liar: |
|
For he that loveth not his brother |
|
Whom he hath seen, |
|
How can he love the Heavenly Father |
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Whom he hath not seen? |
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|
By this we know the Children of Light: |
|
T'hose who walk with the Angel of Love, |
|
For they love the Heavenly Father, |
|
And they love their brethren, |
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And they keep the Holy Law. |
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Love is stronger |
|
Than the currents of deep waters: |
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|
Love is stronger than death. |
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|
The third Communion is with the Angel of Wisdom |
|
The Angel of Wisdom, |
|
Who maketh man free from fear, |
|
Wide of heart, |
|
And easy of conscience: |
|
Holy Wisdom, |
|
The Understanding that unfolds, |
|
Continuously, |
|
As a holy scroll, |
|
Yet does not come through learning. |
|
All wisdom cometh |
|
From the Heavenly Father, |
|
And is with him for ever. |
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Who can number the sand of the sea, |
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|
And the drops of rain, |
|
And the days of eternity? |
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|
Who can find out the height of heaven, |
|
And the breadth of the earth? |
|
Who can tell the beginning |
|
Of wisdom? |
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|
Wisdom hath been created |
|
Before all things. |
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|
He who is with out wisdom |
|
Is like unto him that saith to the wood, |
|
‘Awake’, and to the dumb stone, |
|
‘Arise, and teach!' |
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|
So are his words empty, |
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|
And his deeds harmful, |
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|
As a child who brandishes his father's sword |
|
And knoweth not its cutting edge. |
|
But the crown of wisdom |
|
Makes peace and perfect health |
|
To flourish, |
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|
Both of which are the gifts of God. |
|
O thou Heavenly Order! |
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|
And thou, Angel of Wisdom! |
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|
I will worship thee and |
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|
|
The Heavenly Father, |
|
Because of whom |
|
The river of thought within us |
|
Is flowing towards the |
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|
Holy Sea of Eternity. |
|
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|
|
The fourth Communion is with the Angel of Eternal Life |
|
The Angel of Eternal Life, |
|
Who brings the message of eternity |
|
To man. |
|
For he who walks with the Angels |
|
Shall learn to soar |
|
Above the clouds, |
|
And his home shall be |
|
In the Eternal Sea |
|
Where stands the sacred Tree of Life. |
|
Do not wait for death |
|
To reveal the great mystery; |
|
|
|
If you know not your Heavenly Father |
|
While your feet tread the dusty soil, |
|
There shall be naught but shadows for thee |
|
In the life that is to come. |
|
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|
Here and now |
|
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|
|
Is the mystery revealed. |
|
Here and now |
|
Is the curtain lifted. |
|
|
|
Be not afraid, O man! |
|
Lay hold of the wings of the |
|
Angel of Eternal Life, |
|
And soar into the paths of the stars, |
|
The moon, the sun, |
|
And the endless Light, |
|
Moving around in their |
|
Revolving circle forever, |
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|
And fly toward the Heavenly Sea Of Eternal Life. |
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|
|
The fifth Communion is with the Angel of Work |
|
The Angel of Work, |
|
Who sings in the humming of the bee, |
|
Pausing not in its making of golden honey; |
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|
In the flute of the shepherd, |
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|
Who sleeps not lest his flock go astray; |
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|
In the song of the maiden |
|
As she lays her hand to the spindle. |
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|
And if you think that these |
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|
Are not as fair in the eyes of the Lord |
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|
|
As the loftiest of prayers |
|
Echoed from the highest mountain, |
|
Then you do indeed err. |
|
|
|
For the honest work of humble hands |
|
Is a daily prayer of thanksgiving, |
|
And the music of the plough |
|
Is a joyful song unto the Lord. |
|
|
|
He who eats the bread of idleness |
|
must die of hunger, |
|
|
|
For a field of stones |
|
Can yield only stones. |
|
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|
For him is the day without meaning, |
|
And the night a bitter journey of evil dreams. |
|
The mind of the idle |
|
Is full of the weeds of discontent; |
|
But he who walks with the |
|
Angel of Work |
|
Has within him a field always fertile, |
|
Where corn and grapes |
|
And all manner of sweet-scented |
|
Herbs and flowers grow in abundance. |
|
As ye sow, so Shall ye reap. |
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|
|
The man of God who has found his task |
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|
|
|
|
Shall not ask any other blessing. |
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|
|
|
The sixth Communion is with the Angel of Peace |
|
The Angel of Peace, |
|
Whose kiss bestoweth calm, |
|
And whose face is as the surface |
|
Of untroubled waters, |
|
Wherein the moon is reflected. |
|
I will invoke Peace, |
|
Whose -breath is friendly, |
|
Whose hand smooths the troubled brow. |
|
In the reign of Peace, |
|
|
|
There is neither hunger nor thirst, |
|
Neither cold wind nor hot wind, |
|
Neither old age nor death. |
|
|
|
But to him that hath not peace in his soul, |
|
There is no place to build within |
|
The Holy Temple; |
|
|
|
For how can the carpenter build |
|
In the midst Of a whirlwind? |
|
|
|
The seed of violence can reap |
|
Only a harvest of desolation, |
|
|
|
|
|
And from the parched clay |
|
|
|
|
|
Can grow no living thing. |
|
Seek ye then the Angel of Peace, |
|
Who is as the morning star |
|
In the midst of a cloud, |
|
|
|
As the moon at the full, |
|
|
|
As a fair olive tree budding forth fruit, |
|
And as the sun shining on the temple |
|
Of the most High. |
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|
|
Peace dwells in the heart of silence: |
|
|
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|
|
Be still, and know that I am God. |
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|
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|
|
The seventh Communion is with the Heavenly Father |
|
The Heavenly Father, |
|
Who is, |
|
Who was, and |
|
Who ever shall be. |
|
O Great Creator! |
|
|
|
Thou didst create the Heavenly Angels, |
|
And thou didst reveal the |
|
Heavenly Laws! |
|
7‘hou art my refuge and my fortress, |
|
Thou artfrom everlasting. |
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|
|
|
|
Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place |
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|
|
|
In al | generations. |
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|
|
Before the mountains were brought forth, |
|
Or ever thou hadst formed the earth, |
|
Even from everlasting to everlasting, |
|
|
|
Thou art God. |
|
Who hath made the waters, |
|
And who maketh the plants? |
|
Who to the wind |
|
I Hath yoked the storm-clouds, |
|
The swift and even the fleetest? |
|
Who, O Great Creator! |
|
Is the fountain of Eternal Life |
|
Within our souls? |
|
Who hath made the Light and the Darkness? |
|
Who hath made sleep |
|
And the zest of the waking hours? |
|
Who spread the noontides |
|
And the midnight? Thou, |
|
O Great Creator! |
|
Thou hast made the earth By thy power, |
|
Hath established the world By thy wisdom, |
|
And hath stretched out the heavens By thy love. |
|
|
|
|
|
Do thou reveal unto me, O Heavenly Father, |
|
|
|
|
|
Thy nature, |
|
Which is the power of the |
|
Angels of thy Holy Kingdom. |
|
Immortality and the Heavenly order |
|
Hast thou given, O Creator, |
|
And the best of all things, Thy Holy Law! |
|
I will praise thy works |
|
With songs of thanksgiving, |
|
Continually, |
|
In all the generations of time. |
|
With the coming of day |
|
I embrace my Mother, |
|
With the coming of night, |
|
I join my Father, |
|
And with the outgoing |
|
Of evening and morning |
|
I will breathe Their Law, |
|
And I will not interrupt these Communions Until the end of time " |
|
|
|
|
|
And over heaven and earth was a great silence, and the peace of the Heavenly Father and the |
|
Earthly Mother shone over the heads of Jesus and the multitude. |
|
|
|
|
|
FROM THE ESSENE BOOK OF JESUS |
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|
|
THE SEVENFOLD PEACE |
|
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|
|
And seeing the multitudes, Jesus went up into a mountain, and his disciples came unto him, and |
|
all those who hungered for his words. And seeing them gathered, he opened his mouth and |
|
taught them, saying: |
|
|
|
"Peace I bring to thee, my children, |
|
|
|
The Sevenfold Peace |
|
Of the Earthly Mother |
|
And the Heavenly Father. |
|
|
|
Peace I bring to thy body, |
|
|
|
Guided by the Angel of Power; Peace I bring to thy heart, |
|
|
|
Guided by the Angel of Love; Peace I bring to thy mind, |
|
|
|
Guided by the Angel of Wisdom. Through the Angels of |
|
Power, Love and Wisdom, |
|
|
|
Thou shalt travel the Seven Paths |
|
Of the Infinite Garden, |
|
|
|
And thy body, thy heart and thy mind |
|
Shall join in Oneness |
|
|
|
|
|
In the Sacred Flight to the Heavenly Sea of Peace. |
|
|
|
|
|
Yea, I tell thee truly, |
|
The paths are seven |
|
Trough the Infinite Garden, |
|
And each must be traversed |
|
By the body, the heart and the mind As one, |
|
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|
|
Lest thou stumble and fall |
|
|
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|
|
Into the abyss of emptiness. |
|
|
|
For as a bird cannot fly with one wing, |
|
So doth thy Bird of Wisdom |
|
Need two wings of Power and Love |
|
To soar above the abyss |
|
|
|
|
|
To the Holy Tree of Life. |
|
|
|
|
|
For the body alone |
|
Is an abandoned house seen from afar: |
|
What was thought beautiful |
|
Is but ruin and desolation |
|
When drawing near. |
|
Are body alone |
|
Is as a chariot fashioned from gold, |
|
Whose maker sets it on a pedestal, |
|
Loath to soil it with use. |
|
But as a golden idol, |
|
It is ugly and without grace, |
|
For only in movement |
|
Doth it reveal its purpose. |
|
Like the hollow blackness of a window |
|
When the wind puts out its candle, |
|
|
|
|
|
Is the body alone, |
|
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|
|
|
With no heart and no mind |
|
|
|
|
|
To fill it with light. |
|
|
|
|
|
And the heart alone |
|
is a sun with no earth to shine upon, |
|
A light in the void, |
|
A ball of warmth drowned |
|
In a sea of blackness. |
|
For when a man doth love, |
|
Aat love turneth only to |
|
Its own destruction |
|
When there is no hand to stretch forth |
|
In good works, |
|
And no mind to weave the flames of desire |
|
Into a tapestry of psalms. |
|
Like a whirlwind in the desert |
|
Is the heart alone, |
|
With no body and no mind |
|
To lead it singing |
|
|
|
|
|
through the cypress and the pine. |
|
|
|
|
|
And the mind alone |
|
|
|
|
|
Is a holy scroll |
|
|
|
|
|
Which has worn thin with the years, |
|
And must be buried. |
|
The truth and beauty of its words |
|
Have not changed, |
|
|
|
But the eyes can no longer read the faded letters, |
|
And it falleth to pieces in the hands. |
|
So is the mind without the heart |
|
To give it words, |
|
|
|
And without the body |
|
To do its deeds. |
|
|
|
For what availeth wisdom |
|
Without a heart to feel |
|
And a tongue to give it voice? |
|
Barren as the womb of an aged woman |
|
Is the mind alone, |
|
|
|
|
|
With no heart and no body To fill it with life. |
|
|
|
|
|
For, lo, I tell thee truly, |
|
|
|
The body and the heart and the mind |
|
Are as a chariot, and a horse, and a driver. |
|
The chariot is the body, |
|
|
|
Forged in strength to do the will |
|
|
|
|
|
of the Heavenly Father |
|
|
|
|
|
And the Earthly Mother. |
|
The heart is the fiery steed, |
|
Glorious and courageous, |
|
Who carries the chariot bravely, |
|
Whether the road be smooth, |
|
Or whether stones and fallen trees |
|
Lie in its path. |
|
|
|
And the driver is the mind, |
|
Holding the reins of wisdom, |
|
Seeing from above what lieth |
|
On the far horizon, |
|
|
|
|
|
Charting the course of hoofs and wheels. |
|
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|
|
|
Give ear, O ye heavens, |
|
And I will speak; |
|
And hear, O earth, |
|
The words of my mouth. |
|
|
|
My doctrine shall drop as the rain, |
|
My speech shall distil as the dew, |
|
As the small rain |
|
Upon the tender herb, |
|
|
|
|
|
And as the showers upon the grass. |
|
|
|
|
|
Blessed is the Child of Light |
|
Who is strong in body, |
|
|
|
For he shall have oneness with the earth. |
|
Thou shalt celebrate a daily feast |
|
With all the gifts of the Angel of Earth: |
|
The golden wheat and corn, |
|
|
|
The purple grapes of autumn, |
|
|
|
The ripe fruits of the trees, |
|
|
|
The amber honey of the bees. |
|
Thou shalt seek the fresh air |
|
of the forest and of the fields, |
|
|
|
And there in the midst of them |
|
Shalt thou find the Angel of Air. |
|
Put off thy shoes and clothing |
|
And suffer the Angel of Air |
|
To embrace all thy body. |
|
|
|
Then shalt thou breathe long and deeply, |
|
That the Angel of Air |
|
May be brought within thee. |
|
Enter into the cool and flowing river |
|
And suffer the Angel of Water |
|
To embrace all thy body. |
|
|
|
|
|
Cast thyself wholly into his enfolding arms, |
|
|
|
|
|
And as often as thou movest the air with thy breath, |
|
Move with thy body the water also. |
|
Thou shalt seek the Angel of Sun, |
|
|
|
And enter into that embrace |
|
Which doth purify with holy flames. |
|
And all these things are of the |
|
Holy Law of the Earthly Mother, |
|
She who did give thee birth. |
|
|
|
He who hath found peace with the body |
|
Hath built a holy temple |
|
Wherein may dwellforever |
|
The spirit of God. |
|
|
|
Know this peace with thy mind, |
|
Desire this peace with thy heart, |
|
|
|
|
|
Fulfill this peace with thy body. |
|
|
|
|
|
Blessed is the Child of Light |
|
Who is wise in mind, |
|
For he shall create heaven. |
|
The mind of the wise |
|
Is a well-ploughed field, |
|
Which giveth forth abundance and plenty. |
|
|
|
|
|
For it thou showest a handful of seed |
|
|
|
|
|
To a wise man, |
|
He will see in his mind's eye |
|
A field of golden wheat. |
|
And if thou showest a handful of seed |
|
To a fool, |
|
|
|
He will see only that which is before him, |
|
And call them worthless pebbles. |
|
And as the field of the wise man |
|
Giveth forth grain in abundance, |
|
|
|
And the field of the fool |
|
Is a harvest only of stones, |
|
So it is with our thoughts. |
|
|
|
As the sheaf of golden wheat |
|
Lieth hidden within the tiny kernel, |
|
So is the kingdom of heaven |
|
Hidden within our thoughts. |
|
|
|
If they be filled with the |
|
Power, Love and Wisdom |
|
of the Angels of the Heavenly Father, |
|
So they shall carry us |
|
To the Heavenly Sea. |
|
|
|
But if they be stained |
|
|
|
|
|
With corruption, hatred and ignorance, |
|
|
|
|
|
They shall chain our feet |
|
To pillars of pain and suffering. |
|
|
|
No man can serve two masters; |
|
Neither can evil thoughts abide in a mind |
|
Filled with the Light of the Law. |
|
|
|
He who hath found peace with the rnind |
|
Hath leamed to soar beyond |
|
The Realm of the Angels. |
|
|
|
Know this peace with thy mind, |
|
Desire this peace with thy heart, |
|
|
|
|
|
Fulfill this peace with thy body. |
|
|
|
|
|
Blessed is the Child of Light |
|
Who is pure in heart, |
|
For he shall see God. |
|
For as the Heavenly Father hath given thee |
|
His holy spirit, |
|
And thy Earthly Mother hath given thee |
|
|
|
Her holy body, |
|
|
|
So shall ye give love |
|
|
|
To all thy brothers. |
|
And thy true brothers are all those |
|
|
|
|
|
Who do the will of thy Heavenly Father |
|
|
|
|
|
An d thy Earthly Mother. |
|
|
|
Let thy love be as the sun |
|
Which shines on all the creatures of the earth, |
|
And does not favor one blade of grass |
|
For another. |
|
|
|
And this love shall flow as a fountain |
|
From brother to brother, |
|
|
|
And as it is spent, |
|
|
|
So shall it be replenished. |
|
|
|
For love is eternal. |
|
|
|
Love is stronger |
|
Than the currents of deep waters. |
|
Love is stronger than death. |
|
|
|
And if a man hath not love, |
|
|
|
He doth build a wall between him |
|
And all the creatures of the earth, |
|
And therein doth he dwell |
|
In loneliness and pain. |
|
|
|
Or he may become as an angry whirlpool |
|
Which sucks into its depths |
|
All that floats too near. |
|
|
|
For the heart is a sea with mighty waves, |
|
|
|
|
|
And love and wisdom must temper it, |
|
|
|
|
|
As the warm sun breaks through the clouds |
|
And quiets the restless sea. |
|
|
|
He who hath found peace with his brothers |
|
Hath entered the kingdom of Love, |
|
And shall see God face to face. |
|
Know this peace with thy mind, |
|
Desire this peace with thy heart, |
|
|
|
|
|
Fulfill this peace with thy body. |
|
|
|
|
|
Blessed is the Child of Light |
|
Who doth build on earth |
|
Thekingdom of heaven, |
|
For he shall dwell in both worlds. |
|
|
|
Thou shalt follow the Law of the Brotherhood, |
|
Which saith that none shall have wealth, |
|
And none shall be poor, |
|
|
|
And all shall work together |
|
In the garden of the Brotherhood. |
|
|
|
Yet each shall follow his own path, |
|
And each shall commune with his own heart. |
|
For in the Infinite Garden |
|
There are many and diverse flowers: |
|
|
|
|
|
Who shall say that one is best |
|
|
|
|
|
Because its color is purple, |
|
Or that one is favored |
|
Because its stalk is long and slender? |
|
Though the brothers |
|
Be of different complexion, |
|
Yet do they all toil |
|
In the vineyard of the Earthly Mother, |
|
And they all do lift their voices together |
|
In praise of the Heavenly Father. |
|
And together they break the holy bread, |
|
And in silence share the holy meal |
|
Of thanksgiving. |
|
|
|
There shall be no peace among peoples |
|
Til there be one garden of the brotherhood |
|
Over the earth. |
|
|
|
For how can there be peace |
|
When each man pursueth his own gain |
|
And doth sell his soul into slavery? |
|
Thou, Child of Light, |
|
|
|
Do ye gather with thy brothers |
|
And then go ye forth |
|
To teach the ways of the Law |
|
|
|
|
|
To those who would hear. |
|
|
|
|
|
He who hath found peace |
|
With the brotherhood of man |
|
Hath made himself |
|
The co-worker of God |
|
Know this peace with thy mind, |
|
Desire this peace with thy heart, |
|
|
|
|
|
Fulfill this peace with thy body. |
|
|
|
|
|
Blessed is the Child of Light |
|
Who doth study the Book of the Law, |
|
For he shall be as a candle |
|
In the dark of night, |
|
And an island of truth |
|
In a sea of falsehood |
|
For know ye, that the written word |
|
Which cometh from God |
|
Is a reflection of the Heavenly Sea, |
|
Even as the bright stars |
|
Reflect the face of heaven. |
|
As the words of the Ancient Ones |
|
Are etched with the hand of God |
|
On the Holy Scrolls, |
|
|
|
|
|
So is the Law engraved on the hearts of the faithful who do study them. |
|
|
|
|
|
For it was said Of old, |
|
That in the beginning there were giants |
|
In the earth, |
|
And mighty men which were of old, |
|
Men Of renown. |
|
And the Children of Light |
|
Shall guard and preserve |
|
Their written word, |
|
|
|
Lest we become again as beasts, |
|
And know not the Kingdom of the Angels. |
|
Know ye, too, |
|
|
|
That only through the written word |
|
shalt thou find that Law |
|
Which is unwritten, |
|
|
|
As the spring which floweth from the ground |
|
Hath a hidden source in the secret depths beneath the earth. |
|
The written Law |
|
Is the instrument by which |
|
The unwritten Law is understood, |
|
|
|
As the mute branch of a tree |
|
Becomes a singing flute |
|
In the hands of the shepherd. |
|
|
|
|
|
Many there are |
|
|
|
|
|
Who would stay in the tranquil |
|
Valley of ignorance, |
|
Where children play |
|
|
|
And butterflies dance in the sun |
|
|
|
For their short hour of life. |
|
|
|
But none can tarry there long, |
|
And ahead rise the somber |
|
Mountains of learning. |
|
|
|
Many there are |
|
Who fear to cross, |
|
|
|
And many there are |
|
Who have fallen bruised and bleeding |
|
From their steep and rugged slopes. |
|
But faith is the guide |
|
Over the gaping chasm, |
|
|
|
And perseverance the foothold In the jagged rocks. |
|
Beyond the icy peaks of struggle |
|
Lies the peace and beauty |
|
Of the Infinite Garden of Knowledge, |
|
Where the meaning of the Law |
|
Is made known to the Children of Light. |
|
Here in the center of its forest |
|
|
|
|
|
Stands the Tree of Life, |
|
|
|
|
|
Mystery of mysteries. |
|
He who hath found peace |
|
With the teachings of the Ancients, |
|
Through the light of the mind, |
|
Through the light of nature, |
|
And through the study of the Holy Word, |
|
Hath entered the cloud-filled |
|
Hall of the Ancients, |
|
|
|
Where dwelleth the Holy Brotherhood, |
|
of whom no man may speak. |
|
Know this peace with thy mind, |
|
Desire this peace with thy heart, |
|
|
|
|
|
Fulfill this peace with thy body. |
|
|
|
|
|
Blessed is the Child of Light |
|
Who knoweth his Earthly Mother, |
|
For she is the giver of life. |
|
Know that thy Mother is in thee, |
|
And thou art in her. |
|
|
|
She bore thee |
|
And she giveth thee life. |
|
|
|
She it was who gaveth thee thy body, |
|
|
|
|
|
And to her shalt thou one day |
|
|
|
|
|
Give it back again. |
|
Know that the blood which runs in thee |
|
is born of the blood |
|
Of thy Earthly Mother. |
|
|
|
Her blood falls from the clouds, |
|
Leaps up from the womb of the earth, |
|
Babbles in the brooks of the mountains, |
|
Flows wide in the rivers of the plains, |
|
Sleeps in the lakes, |
|
|
|
Rages mightily in the tempestuous seas. |
|
Know that the air which thou dost breathe |
|
Is born of the breath |
|
Of thy Earthly Mother. |
|
|
|
Her breath is azure |
|
In the heights of the heavens, |
|
Soughs in the tops of the mountains, |
|
Whispers in the leaves of the forest, |
|
Billows over the cornfields, |
|
Slumbers in the deep valleys, |
|
Bums hot in the desert. |
|
|
|
Know that the hardness of thy bones |
|
Is born of the bones |
|
|
|
|
|
Of thy Earthly Mother, |
|
|
|
|
|
Of the rocks and of the stones. |
|
Know that the tenderness of thy flesh |
|
Is born of the flesh |
|
Of thy Earthly Mother, |
|
|
|
She whose flesh waxeth yellow and red |
|
In the fruits of the trees. |
|
|
|
The light of thy eyes, |
|
|
|
The hearing of thy ears, |
|
|
|
These are born |
|
Of the colors and the sounds |
|
Of thy Earthly Mother, |
|
|
|
Which doth enclose thee about, |
|
|
|
As the waves of the sea enclose a fish, |
|
As the eddying air a bird. |
|
|
|
I tell thee in truth, |
|
|
|
Man is the Son |
|
Of the Earthly Mother, |
|
|
|
And from her did the Son of Man |
|
Receive his whole body, |
|
|
|
Even as the body of the newborn babe |
|
Is born of the womb of his mother. |
|
|
|
I tell thee truly, |
|
|
|
|
|
Thou art one with the Earthly Mother; |
|
|
|
|
|
She is in thee, and thou art in her. |
|
Of her wert thou born, |
|
In her dost thou live, |
|
And to her shalt thou return again. |
|
Keep, therefore, her laws, |
|
For none can live long, |
|
Neither be happy, |
|
But he who honors his Earthly Mother |
|
And keepeth her laws. |
|
For thy breath is her breath, |
|
Thy blood her blood, |
|
Thy bone her bone, |
|
Thy flesh her flesh, |
|
Thy eyes and thy ears |
|
Are her eyes and her ears. |
|
He who hath found peace |
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With his Earthly Mother |
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Shall never know death. |
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Know this peace with thy mind, |
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Desire this peace with thy heart, |
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Blessed is the Child of Light |
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Who doth seek his Heavenly Father, |
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For he shall have eternal life. |
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He that dwelleth in the secret place |
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Of the Most High |
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Shall abide under the shadow |
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of the Almighty. |
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For he shall give his Angels charge over thee, |
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To keep thee in all thy ways. |
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Know ye that the Lord hath been |
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our dwelling place |
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In all generations. |
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Before the mountains were brought forth, |
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Or ever he had formed |
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The earth and the world, |
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Even from everlasting to everlasting, |
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Hath there been love |
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Between the Heavenly Father |
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And his children. |
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And how shall this love be severed? |
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From the beginning |
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Until the ending of time |
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Doth the holy flame of love |
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Encircle the heads |
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Of the Heavenly Father |
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And the Children of Light: |
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How then shall this love be extinguished? |
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Ye that love thy Heavenly Father, |
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Do ye then his bidding: |
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Walk ye with his Holy Angels, |
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And find thy peace with his Holy Law. |
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For his Law is the entire Law: |
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Yea, it is the Law of laws. |
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Through his Law he hath made |
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The earth and the heavens to be one; |
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The mountains and the sea |
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Are his footstools. |
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With his hands he hath made us |
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And fashioned us, |
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And he gaveth us understanding |
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That we may learn his Law. |
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He is covered with Light |
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As with a garment: |
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He stretcheth out the heavens |
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Like a curtain. |
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He maketh the clouds his chariot; |
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He walketh upon the wings of the wind. |
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He sendeth the springs into the valleys, |
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And his breath is in the mighty trees. |
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In his hand are the deep places of the earth: |
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The strength of the hills is his also. |
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The sea is his, |
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And his hands formed the dry land. |
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All the heavens declare the Glory of God, |
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And the firmament showeth his Law. |
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And to his children |
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Doth he bequeath his Kingdom, |
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To those who walk with his Angels, |
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And find their peace with his Holy Law. |
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Wouldst thou know more, my children? |
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How may we speak with our lips |
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That which cannot be spoken? |
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It is like a pomegranate eaten by a mute: |
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How then may he tell of its flavor? |
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If we say the Heavenly Father |
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Dwelleth within us, |
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Then are the heavens ashamed; |
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If we say he dwelleth without us, |
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It is falsehood. |
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The eye which scanneth the far horizon |
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And the eye which seeth the hearts of men |
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He maketh as one eye. |
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He is not manifest, |
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He is not hidden. |
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He is not revealed, |
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Nor is he unrevealed. |
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My children, there are no words |
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To tell that which he is! |
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Only this do we know: |
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We are his children, |
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And he is our Father. |
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He is our God, |
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And we are the children of his pasture, |
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And the sheep of his hand. |
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He who hath found peace |
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With his Heavenly Father |
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Hath entered the Sanctuary |
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of the Holy Law, |
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And hath made a covenant with God |
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Which shall endure forever. |
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Know this peace with thy mind, |
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Desire this peace with thy heart, |
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Fulfill this peace with thy body, |
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Though heaven and earth may pass away, |
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Not one letter of the Holy Law |
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Shall change or pass away. |
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For in the beginning was the Law, |
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And the Law was with God, |
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And the Law was God. |
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May the Sevenfold Peace |
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Of the Heavenly Father |
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Be with thee always. |
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