CHAPTER V.
SECOND VISIT TO THE TEMPLE.
Unity of work—Each receives a penny—Visits another temple—The Master’s charge to Thomas—Advice of the chief—Counsel of the commander—Explanation of the helmet, spear, sword with two edges, arrows and bow, sling and pebbles—Trumpet—Directions to revisit the castle.
On arriving at the temple, each mind took its proper position, and Contentment was made wisdom to the workmen. “Thomas,” said William, “art thou satisfied with thy journey?”
T. I am satisfied that I am not as others whom we have seen; but I would that they were altogether as we are.
W. Thou wilt now prepare thyself for what thou wilt soon see disclosed to thee. Thou art not as thou wilt be when the more excellent glory shall be unfolded before thee. Take thy work, and bring it before the inspector, that thou mayest receive thy reward; for thou hast borne the banner, and wilt receive thy recompense.
T. Thou wilt not mark the work as mine; for what I have done, thou hast aided me to do with thy fellow servants, our brethren.
W. Thou wilt come with us, and present thy work; for what we have done is thy work, and thou hast done is our work. Our work and thine are one, and thou wilt with us receive each a penny.
T. Then thou mayest give my wages to the poor.
W. Thy wages are thine, and what is thine, thou wilt receive. It will not be as thou hast supposed. Wilt thou bring thy work?
T. Yea; and here it is.
“The work is well,” said the Inspector.
W. Take thy work to the second Inspector.
The work was laid before the Inspector, who said, “It is well, but thou shouldst not hew the stone without a line. I will square thy work. It is well with the square.”
“Take thy work to the third Inspector,” said William.
“Here is my work,” said I, advancing toward him.
Ins. Thy work will square itself. Take thy penny.
“Thy reward is well without the penny,” said I.
I. Thou wilt receive thy wages, because thou hast not worked thy work by reason of the reward.
T. What wouldst thou have me to do with my wages?
I. Thou wilt serve thy brethren who have need.
T. Perchance, they will not receive the gift.
I. Thou wilt not need what thou hast, but what thou hast not, thou wilt not refuse, till thou shalt have tried it by thy own experience, and found it wanting. Thou wilt now receive a lesson, which will teach thee how thou mayest not use thy wages, and remember that thy wages is what thou wilt now receive, because thou hast been faithful in some things, thou shalt be a ruler in many things.
Taking my arm, the mind said, “come.” We were soon in a more magnificent temple than any which I had ever before beheld. There was a great company of minds, who were seated on each side of a spacious hall, adorned with brilliant gems on walls of light; while over our heads were ministering spirits of a generation who shared the glory of the Prince of peace. Directly before me stood superior minds, and behind me a long line of warriors with broken spears and rusty guns without locks. Their arms of warfare trailed in the march, and their countenances betokened that they had won a victory without injury to themselves or others.
“Thou wilt hear a lesson from the throne of mercy,” said William. “Advance near thy Teacher, that he may place his hand on thy head.”
Advancing to the required position, the mind arose and said, “Thomas, thou hast made a good profession in that thou hast been obedient unto the commands of thy master. Thou wilt permit me to place this crown upon thy head. It is not the crown of tyrants, nor of usurpation; but it is a crown of glory, which the Lord of this tabernacle hath desired me to put on thy head. Thou hast worn a crown of thorns, but now thou hast sought and found the pearl of great price, even the wisdom which seeks the good of those who need, without hope of gain or fear of loss; because thou hast loved thy brethren, who have received thy aid, thou mayest wear this crown of glory. See that thou keep thyself in the way of wisdom, that thy crown may grow brighter and brighter with the using, and not tarnish with rust. Thou wilt not work where thy wisdom will be scorned, but thou wilt go with thy companions to a sorrowing and dependent circle, who will receive thy message with gladness. Thou wilt do the meek and the humble what thou canst not the proud and the disdainful. Thou wilt now take with thee this helmet and this spear, and this sword of two edges, and these arrows and bow, and these stones and sling; and thou wilt also take this trumpet, that thou mayest be armed with the armor which thy work requires of thee. And, when thou needest aid, thou wilt sound the trumpet with the sound that I teach thee, so shalt thou not work alone, but thy companions will aid thee, as thou shalt find labor required. Soon thou wilt go on a mission, which will require all thy wisdom to overcome the midnight of darkness that surrounds the wretchedness of minds, led captive by the deceitfulness of ignorance and folly. Be thou prepared to show thyself a workman, that needeth not to be ashamed of thy calling, for in due time thou wilt reap what thou hast sown; because what thou sowest will bring forth an hundred fold to the glory of God and the good of mind. Take with thee thy elder brother, whose counsel thou hast so wisely received, and also thy companion to whom thou art allied by mutual affinities, and we will wait thy summons. Turn now to the right, and let the chief of this tabernacle give thee further advice.”
“Thou wilt go on thy mission, my friend, but before thou goest, it is proper that thou shouldst receive some advice, which thou mayest need. The crown which thou wearest will not suffer tarnish, because it is thine. Thou hast not usurped it, nor hast thou deprived others of any right which unto them belongeth. All they ever had, thou hast taken nothing, but what thou hast is a crown, which we give thee for thy glory. This crown is not the crown of a king, but of a ruler. Thou wilt wear it ever in thy warfare, that thy mind may be loved as thou lovest with unabated affection. Thy authority will not be increased by it; but thou wilt shew thyself a ruler, whose counsel will be respected, because wisdom will guide thee. When thou rulest, thou wilt not control as do kings and emperors, but thou wilt exercise thy reason, and thy reason will be respected. This crown is placed on thy head to make known the majesty of truth, which is shielded by it from all harm. No mind can fault a crown, when honored by wisdom in him who wears it. The crown is well; but the abuse of power is not guarantied by this gift. Thou wilt not abuse thy authority by contributing to the welfare of the rich, from the industry of the poor. Such is not the authority conferred on thee by this crown. But thou wilt contribute from the income of the rich, to aid the poor. Those who need will receive thy care, and thou wilt exercise thy wisdom to convince the rich that thy crown should be worn by them. And when they come to lay their gifts before thee, thou wilt say, ‘remember the needy,’ for these words are written on this crown. Thou wilt also say, ‘take this crown from my head, when I dishonor it, by refusing to obey its requirements.’ Therefore, let these words be true and faithful in thy way, and let thy conduct show that our confidence has not been misplaced. My aid will be given thee in the work of reform. Thou wilt now receive thy lesson from the commander of this temple, who will tell thee what thou wilt do with the warlike implements thou has received from the chief. Proceed to his chair.”
Turning to the right, so as to face about, I came before the commander, who addressed me as follows:
“Hast thou been a warrior?”
“I have not assumed to fight with such weapons.”
“Thou wilt now assume to fight the good fight of wisdom. The helmet is thy protection against harm. Thou wilt wear it evermore. Thou wilt not use it in mortal combat, for thou hast not enlisted for such service. But thou hast engaged to do thy duty, and where thy duty calls thee to scenes of wrong, this helmet will aid thee to overcome the hostility of contending parties. It will shield thee from the wrongs of the ignorant, and the assaults of the wicked. Thou seest the word written thereon. It is Peace. The peace thou wilt bear in thy bosom, will overcome the resistance of wrong, and war will cease. The helmet will protect; for war never rages where peace reigns. Thou wilt bear the banner and the helmet, and no foe will attack thee, because there will be no resistance offered by thee, save the power which thy example will inspire in the minds who wrangle with each other. Thou wilt first publish thy motives in the camp of the enemy, and when they read thy words, they will say thou art beside thyself, much peace hath made thee insane. But thou wilt say, ‘much peace have they who love the law of harmony and happiness.’ Thou wilt say, ‘this helmet is peace,’ and when they shall unite with thee and thy companions, war will end with them. This helmet will not tarnish. The wisdom of God hath made it, and what God hath made, thou wilt wear with honor to thyself, and satisfaction to thy friends.
“This spear is warlike. Thou wilt not war with thy brethren with this weapon. It is given thee for a nobler purpose than the destruction of enemies. It will serve thee in the battle thou wilt fight, because it is not carnal. It is a spear that will touch the hearts of enemies. It will make no wound, but it will heal the wounds which wrongs have made. When the spear enters the hearts of warriors, it will touch a well of sympathy. When the well is found, thou canst strike the spear deep, and it will not harm. Thou wilt so use this weapon as to find the heart, and when the heart is found, the victory is won. The heart must be touched with the spear of love; and, therefore, thou seest the importance of this instrument. Let thy warfare be such as will touch the heart, and when thou shalt find thy weapon unavailing, thou wilt take this sword with two edges, and lop off the dead branches which overshadow thy efforts, and which yield no fruit. When thou hast cut down the dead branches with thy sword, thou wilt take thy spear, and engraft the fruitful olive branch therein. When thou hast done thy work with thy spear and sword, thou wilt see a great reform in the tree, and new branches will put forth, bearing much fruit to the husbandman.
“These arrows and bow will not make thee unfriendly, except thou pervert them to works of injustice to thy brethren. Thou knowest the history of David and Jonathan. When Saul sought the life of David, he was forewarned by an arrow, which Jonathan shot. It was well with David, and well with Jonathan, because they made a covenant with each other to avert wrong. The arrows were united, and being united were strong against resistance. Take these arrows as a sign of the covenant thou hast made with us, that no wrong shall come unto thee without warning; and take also this bow, which is the power of the covenant; and, with it, do thy work as thou hast covenanted to do, in friendship, love, and truth, and hope of mercy will descend without ending upon thee in thy labor.
“Take also this sling and these pebbles; and, when thou goest on thy mission, thou wilt not make war with those that oppose thee. They are given thee for another purpose. Thy soul will need its rest. Thy sling will bring thee rest. Thou wilt take the pebbles, one by one, and when thy opposer shall make war with thee, thou wilt teach him this lesson: That no wisdom is found in pebbles, and thou wilt say to him, ‘silver and gold have I none, but such as I have, give I unto thee. Take this sling and these pebbles, and when thou art without wrong, cast them at me, for I too, am poor and needy, and what thou doest, do as thy wisdom shall direct.’ Then shalt thou find thy sling and pebbles retained by thee, and thy opposer will be thy follower in the great reform of mind. And when thou shalt have need of our aid, blow the trumpet as thou hast been instructed, and thy companions will join thee in the good fight of reforming mind, without blood or treasure.
“Thou wilt now proceed on thy mission, and, when thou shalt aid with thy wisdom the needy, thy work will be thy reward. Hitherto, thou hast been instructed, but now thou wilt be an instructor of others. Thou wilt work thy work of reform, as thou canst. Take what thou needest for thy work, and go to the castle, where thou didst unfurl the banner, and when thou shalt sound the trumpet, thy circle will obey thy summons.”