Introduction

Phenomena which are inexplicable by any known laws are occurring all over the world, and revealing the action of a free and intelligent will as their cause.

Events that no known laws can explain are happening all over the world. They reveal that a free and intelligent will is causing them.

Reason tells us that an intelligent effect must have an intelligent force for its cause; and facts have proved that this force is able to enter into communication with men by the employment of material signs.

Reason tells us that an intelligent effect must have an intelligent force as its cause. And facts have proved that this force can communicate with people through physical signs.

This force, interrogated as to its nature, has declared itself to belong to the world of spiritual beings who have thrown off the corporeal envelope of men. It is thus that the existence of spirits has been revealed to us.

When asked about its nature, this force said it belonged to the world of spirits who had left their human bodies. This is how the existence of spirits was revealed to us.

Communication between the spirit world and the corporeal world is in the nature of things, and has in it nothing supernatural. Traces of its existence are to be found among all nations and in every age; they are now becoming general and evident to all. Spirits assure us that the time appointed by Providence for a universal manifestation of their existence has now come; and that their mission, as the ministers of God and the instruments of His will, is to inaugurate, through the instructions they are charged to convey to us, a new era of regeneration for the human race.

Communication between the spirit world and the physical world is part of nature. There is nothing supernatural about it. Traces of this communication can be found among all nations and in every age. It is now becoming widespread and evident to all. Spirits assure us that the time set by Providence for a universal manifestation of their existence has come. They also say they are God’s ministers and instruments of his will. Their mission is to bring about a new era of regeneration for the human race through the teachings they have been charged to share with us.

This book is a compilation of their teachings. It has been written by the order and under the dictation of spirits of high degree, for the purpose of establishing the bases of a rational philosophy, free from the influence of prejudices and of preconceived opinions. It contains nothing that is not the expression of their thought; nothing that has not been submitted to their approbation. The method adopted in the arrangement of its contents, the comments upon these, and the form given to certain portions of the work, are all that has been contributed by him to whom the duty of publishing it has been entrusted.

This book is a collection of their teachings. It was written at the direction and under the dictation of spirits of high degree. Its purpose is to establish the foundations of a rational philosophy, free from prejudice and preconceived opinions. It contains nothing that does not express their thoughts or that has not been submitted for their approval. The person entrusted with publishing it has contributed only the arrangement of its contents, the comments on them, and the form of certain parts.

Many of the spirits who have taken part in the accomplishment of this task declare themselves to have been persons whom we know to have lived at different epochs upon the earth, preaching and practising virtue and wisdom. Of the names of others, history has preserved no trace; but their elevation is attested by the purity of their doctrine and their union with those who bear venerated names.

Many spirits who helped complete this task say they were people we know lived on earth at different times. These people preached and practiced virtue and wisdom. History has preserved no record of the names of other spirits. But their high standing is shown by the purity of their teachings and their association with those bearing revered names.

We transcribe the words in which, by writing, through the intermediary of various mediums, the mission of preparing this book was confided to the writer:—

We reproduce the words written through various mediums, entrusting the writer with the task of preparing this book:

"Be zealous and persevering in the work you have undertaken in conjunction with us, for this work is ours. In the book you are to write, we shall lay the foundations of the new edifice which is destined to unite all men in a common sentiment of love and charity; but, before making it public, we shall go through it with you, so as to ensure its accuracy.

"Be devoted and persistent in the work you have undertaken with us, for this work is ours. In the book you will write, we will lay the foundations of a new structure. It is destined to unite all people in a shared spirit of love and charity. But before publishing the book, we will review it with you to ensure its accuracy.

"We shall be with you whenever you ask for our presence, and shall aid you in all your labours; for the preparation of this book is only a part of the mission which has been confided to you, and of which you have already been informed by one of us.

"We will be with you whenever you ask us to be, and we will help you in all your work. For preparing this book is only part of the mission entrusted to you. One of us has already told you about this mission.

"Of the teachings given to you, some are to be kept to yourself for the present; we shall tell you when the time for publishing them has come. Meanwhile make them the subject of your meditations, that you may be ready to treat of them at the proper moment.

"Keep some of the teachings you have received to yourself for now. We will tell you when it is time to publish them. Meanwhile, reflect on these teachings so that you will be ready to discuss them at the proper time.

"Put at the beginning of the book the vine-branch we have drawn⁴ for that purpose, because it is the emblem of the work of the Creator. In it are united all the material elements that most fitly symbolise body and spirit: the stem represents the body; the juice, the spirit; the fruit, the union of body and spirit. Man's labour calls forth the latent qualities of the juice; the labour of the body develops, through the knowledge thus acquired, the latent powers of the soul.

"Put the vine branch we have drawn⁴ at the beginning of the book. We drew it for this purpose because it is the emblem of the Creator's work. It brings together all the material elements that best symbolize body and spirit. The stem represents the body, the juice the spirit, and the fruit the union of body and spirit. Human labor brings out the hidden qualities of the juice. Likewise, the body's labor develops the soul's hidden powers through the knowledge gained from that labor.

"Do not allow yourself to be discouraged by hostile criticism. You will have rancorous contradictors, especially among those whose interest it is to keep up existing abuses. You will have such even among spirits; for those who are not completely dematerialised often endeavour, out of malice or ignorance, to scatter abroad the seeds of doubt. Believe in God, and go boldly forward. We shall be with you to sustain you on your way; and the time is at hand when the truth will shine forth on all sides.

"Do not let hostile criticism discourage you. You will face bitter opponents, especially among those who benefit from keeping existing abuses in place. You will also face such opponents among spirits. For those who are not completely dematerialized often try to spread doubt out of malice or ignorance. Believe in God and go forward boldly. We will be with you to support you on your way. The time is near when the truth will shine out everywhere.

"The vanity of some men, who imagine that they know everything, and are bent on explaining everything in their own way, will give rise to opposing opinions; but all who have in view the grand principle of Jesus will be united in the same love of goodness, and in a bond of brotherhood that will embrace the entire world. Putting aside all vain disputes about words, they will devote their energies to matters of practical importance, in regard to which, whatever their doctrinal belief, the convictions of all who receive the communications of the higher spirits will be the same.

"The vanity of some men will give rise to opposing opinions. They imagine they know everything and insist on explaining everything in their own way. But all who follow the great principle of Jesus will share the same love of goodness. They will be united in a bond of brotherhood that embraces the entire world. They will set aside pointless disputes about words and devote their energies to practical matters. On these matters, all who receive communications from the higher spirits will share the same convictions, whatever their doctrinal beliefs.

"Perseverance will render your labour fruitful. The pleasure you will feel in witnessing the spread of our doctrine and its right appreciation will be for you a rich reward, though perhaps rather in the future than in the present. Be not troubled by the thorns and stones that the incredulous and the evil-minded will place in your path; hold fast your confidence, for your confidence will ensure our help, and, through it, you will reach the goal.

"Perseverance will make your work fruitful. You will be richly rewarded by seeing our doctrine spread and be properly understood. But perhaps that reward will come in the future rather than now. Do not be troubled by the thorns and stones that unbelievers and ill-intentioned people will put in your path. Hold on to your confidence, because it will ensure our help. With that help, you will reach the goal.

"Remember that good spirits only give their aid to those who serve God with humility and disinterestedness; they disown all who use heavenly things as a stepping-stone to earthly advancement, and withdraw from the proud and the ambitious. Pride and ambition are a barrier between man and God; for they blind man to the splendours of celestial existence, and God cannot employ the blind to make known the light." "John the Evangelist, St Augustine, St Vincent de Paul, St Louis, the Spirit of Truth, Socrates, Plato, Fenelon, Franklin, Swedenborg," &c. &c.

"Remember that good spirits only help those who serve God humbly and without self-interest. They reject all who use heavenly things to advance themselves on earth. They withdraw from the proud and ambitious. Pride and ambition are a barrier between people and God. They blind people to the splendors of heavenly existence, and God cannot use the blind to reveal the light." "John the Evangelist, St Augustine, St Vincent de Paul, St Louis, the Spirit of Truth, Socrates, Plato, Fenelon, Franklin, Swedenborg," etc., etc.