The Reign of Law

The little party gods have had their day. The arbitrary gods, creatures of human caprice and ignorance, are falling into disrepute. Men have quarrelled over and defended them until they have grown weary of the strife, and now, everywhere, they are relinquishing and breaking up these helpless idols of their long worship.

The little gods of rival groups have had their day. These arbitrary gods, created by human whim and ignorance, are losing respect. People have quarreled over them and defended them until they have grown weary of the conflict. Now, everywhere, they are giving up and breaking the helpless idols they have worshipped for so long.

The god of revenge, hatred, and jealousy, who gloats over the downfall of his enemies; the partial god who gratifies all our narrow and selfish desires; the god who saves only the creatures of his particular and special creed; the god of exclusiveness and favouritism; such were the gods (miscalled by us God) of our soul's infancy, gods base and foolish as ourselves, the fabrications of our selfish self. And we relinquished our petty gods with bitter tears and misgivings, and broke our idols with bleeding hands. But in so doing we did not lose sight of God; nay, we drew nearer to the great, silent Heart of Love. Destroying the idols of self, we began to comprehend somewhat of the Power which cannot be destroyed, and entered into a wider knowledge of the God of Love, of Peace, of Joy; the God in whom revenge and partiality cannot exist; the God of Light, from whose Presence the darkness of fear and doubt and selfishness cannot choose but flee.

The god of revenge, hatred, and jealousy gloats over the downfall of his enemies. The biased god satisfies all our narrow and selfish desires. Another god saves only the creatures who belong to his own special creed. Then there is the god of exclusiveness and favoritism. These were the gods of our soul’s infancy, whom we mistakenly called God. They were as base and foolish as we were, inventions of our selfish selves. We gave up our petty gods with bitter tears and doubts, and broke our idols with bleeding hands. But in doing so, we did not lose sight of God. Instead, we drew nearer to the great, silent Heart of Love. By destroying the idols of self, we began to understand something of the Power that cannot be destroyed. We came to know more fully the God of Love, of Peace, of Joy. Revenge and favoritism cannot exist in this God. He is the God of Light, and the darkness of fear, doubt, and selfishness must flee from his Presence.

We have reached one of those epochs in the world's progress which witnesses the passing of the false gods; the gods of human selfishness and human illusion. The new-old revelation of one universal impersonal Truth has again dawned upon the world, and its searching light has carried consternation to the perishable gods who take shelter under the shadow of self.

We have reached a time in the world’s progress when false gods are passing away. These are the gods of human selfishness and illusion. The revelation of one universal, impersonal Truth, both new and old, has dawned on the world again. Its searching light has struck fear into the mortal gods that shelter in the shadow of self.

Men have lost faith in a god who can be cajoled, who rules arbitrarily and capriciously, subverting the whole order of things to gratify the wishes of his worshippers, and are turning, with a new light in their eyes and a new joy in their hearts, to the God of Law.

People have lost faith in a god who can be persuaded by flattery and who rules on whim. They no longer believe in a god who overturns the whole order of things to satisfy his worshippers’ wishes. Instead, with a new light in their eyes and a new joy in their hearts, they are turning to the God of Law.

And to Him they turn, not for personal happiness and gratification, but for knowledge, for understanding, for wisdom, for liberation from the bondage of self. And thus turning, they do not seek in vain, nor are they sent away empty and discomfited. They find within themselves the reign of Law, that every thought, every impulse, every act and word brings about a result in exact accordance with its own nature; that thoughts of love bring about beautiful and blissful conditions, that hateful thoughts bring about distorted and painful conditions, that thoughts and acts good and evil are weighed in the faultless balance of the Supreme Law, and receive their equal measure of blessedness on the one hand, and misery on the other. And thus finding, they enter a new Path, the Path of obedience to the Law. Entering that Path they no longer accuse, no longer doubt, no longer fret and despond, for they know now that God is right, the universal laws are right, the cosmos is right, and that they themselves are wrong, if wrong there is, and that their salvation depends upon themselves, upon their own efforts, upon their personal acceptance of that which is good, and deliberate rejection of that which is evil. No longer merely hearers, they become doers of the Word, and they acquire knowledge, they receive understanding, they grow in wisdom, and they enter into the glorious life of liberation from the bondage of self.

And they turn to him, not for personal happiness and pleasure, but for knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and freedom from the bondage of self. They do not seek in vain, nor are they turned away empty and disappointed. They find within themselves the reign of Law. They see that every thought, impulse, act, and word brings a result that exactly matches its nature. Loving thoughts bring about beautiful and blissful conditions. Hateful thoughts bring about distorted and painful conditions. Good and evil thoughts and actions are weighed in the perfect balance of the Supreme Law. They receive an equal measure of blessedness or misery, accordingly. Having found this, they enter a new Path, the Path of obedience to the Law. On that Path, they no longer accuse, doubt, worry, or despair. They now know that God is right, the universal laws are right, and the cosmos is right. If anything is wrong, they know that they themselves are wrong. They know that their salvation depends on themselves and their own efforts. It depends on their personal acceptance of what is good and their deliberate rejection of what is evil. No longer merely hearers of the Word, they become doers of it. They gain knowledge, receive understanding, and grow in wisdom. And they enter the glorious life of freedom from the bondage of self.

"The Law of the Lord is perfect, enlightening the eyes." Imperfection lies in man's ignorance, in man's blind folly. Perfection, which is knowledge of the Perfect Law, is ready for all who earnestly seek it; it belongs to the order of things; it is yours and mine now if we will only put self-seeking on one side, and adopt the life of self-obliteration.

“The law of the Lord is perfect, opening the eyes.” Imperfection lies in human ignorance and blind foolishness. Perfection means knowing the Perfect Law. It is available to all who earnestly seek it and belongs to the order of things. It is yours and mine now if we set aside self-interest and live a life of self-obliteration.

The knowledge of Truth, with its unspeakable joy, its calmness and quiet strength, is not for those who persist in clinging to their "rights," defending their "interests," and fighting for their "opinions"; whose works are imbued with the personal "I," and who build upon the shifting sands of selfishness and egotism. It is for those who renounce these causes of strife, these sources of pain and sorrow; and they are, indeed, Children of Truth, disciples of the Master, worshippers of the Most High.

Knowing Truth brings inexpressible joy, calm, and quiet strength. But this knowledge is not for those who cling to their "rights," defend their "interests," and fight for their "opinions." They put the personal "I" into everything they do and build on the shifting sands of selfishness and egotism. Knowledge of Truth is for those who give up these causes of conflict and sources of pain and sorrow. They are indeed Children of Truth, disciples of the Master, and worshippers of the Most High.

The Children of Truth are in the world to-day; they are thinking, acting, writing, speaking; yea, even prophets are amongst us, and their influence is pervading the whole earth. An undercurrent of holy joy is gathering force in the world, so that men and women are moved with new aspirations and hopes, and even those who neither see nor hear, feel within themselves strange yearnings after a better and fuller life.

The Children of Truth are in the world today. They are thinking, acting, writing, and speaking. Even prophets are among us, and their influence is spreading throughout the earth. An undercurrent of holy joy is growing stronger in the world. As a result, men and women are moved by new aspirations and hopes. Even those who neither see nor hear feel a strange longing for a better and fuller life.

The Law reigns, and it reigns in men's hearts and lives; and they have come to understand the reign of Law who have sought out the Tabernacle of the true God by the fair pathway of unselfishness.

The Law rules in people's hearts and lives. Those who have sought the Tabernacle of the true God along the fair path of unselfishness understand the Law's rule.

God does not alter for man, for this would mean that the perfect must become imperfect; man must alter for God, and this implies that the imperfect must become perfect. The Law cannot be broken for man, otherwise confusion would ensue; man must obey the Law: this is in accordance with harmony, order, justice.

God does not change for man, because that would mean the perfect must become imperfect. Man must change for God, and this means that the imperfect must become perfect. The Law cannot be broken for man, because that would lead to confusion. Man must obey the Law, in keeping with harmony, order, and justice.

There is no more painful bondage than to be at the mercy of one's inclinations; no greater liberty than utmost obedience to the Law of Being. And the Law is that the heart shall be purified, the mind regenerated, and the whole being brought in subjection to Love till self is dead and Love is all in all, for the reign of Law is the reign of Love. And Love waits for all, rejecting none. Love may be claimed and entered into now, for it is the heritage of all.

There is no more painful bondage than being at the mercy of your own desires. There is no greater freedom than complete obedience to the Law of Being. The Law requires that the heart be purified, the mind renewed, and the whole being brought under Love’s control. This must continue until the self is dead and Love is everything. For the rule of Law is the rule of Love. Love waits for all and rejects no one. Everyone can claim and enter into Love now, for it is the heritage of all.

Ah, beautiful Truth! To know that now man may accept his divine heritage, and enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

Ah, beautiful Truth! How wonderful to know that now man may accept his divine heritage and enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

Oh, pitiful error! To know that man rejects it because of love of self!

Oh, what a sad mistake! To know that people reject it because of self-love!

Obedience to the Law means the destruction of sin and self, and the realisation of unclouded joy and undying peace.

Obeying the Law means destroying sin and self and finding unclouded joy and lasting peace.

Clinging to one's selfish inclinations means the drawing about one's soul clouds of pain and sorrow which darken the light of Truth; the shutting out of oneself from all real blessedness; for "whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap."

Clinging to selfish desires draws clouds of pain and sorrow around the soul, darkening the light of Truth. It also shuts us out from all true blessedness. For "whatever a person sows, that is what they will reap."

Verily the Law reigneth, and reigneth for ever, and Justice and Love are its eternal ministers.

Indeed, the Law rules forever, and Justice and Love are its eternal servants.