Light from the Spirit World

What will you say, I inquired, of Justice?

Justice is not cruelty but is doing what benevolence requires. When thou seest a mind whom thou canst aid, and unto whom thou canst render assistance, be it thy friend or a stranger, then be just to the law which makes thee and him companions and recognises the deed of mercy as a deed of good to thyself. If he should fall by the wayside because he cannot see, then take him by thy strength and bear him where he may rest. Put thy hand upon him gently and say: I will not forsake thee till thou canst aid others as I will aid thee. Let him want nothing and justice to thy needy friend will be satisfied.

Spirit Control to Thomas Paine

What is Wisdom?

Wisdom is wise. It is wise to relieve want. It is wise to do good. It is wise to understand thyself, to know thy dependence on others, and to see the wisdom of God in his works and wonders. It is wise to act, to say, and to wish well toward all mind. It is wise to speak the truth, to utter nothing but the truth and to oppose nothing which is good. It is wise to love, as we see love begets love. It is wise to learn because what thou learnest of wisdom will add to thy circle of bliss and the bliss of others when they are taught of thee. It is wise to co-operate in harmony with the thousands who saw thee in need and aided thy welcome within these courts. It is wise to obey the Master of this house, for, in so doing, great good shall be thy reward and thou shalt wear a crown which the ignorant may envy but cannot pluck from thy head.

Spirit Control to Thomas Paine

What is Progression?

Progression is the expansion of thy mind in the wisdom thou mayest receive from instructed minds around thee. When thou doest good, it is wise, and, as thou becomes wise, thy wisdom will swell thy mind with the luxury it gives. Thou knowest from what thou hast seen, that according to thy works of well-doing, so shall thy measure of bliss be. If thou wouldst do more to benefit those who need, thou must be found faithful unto the instruction thou receivest and then thou wilt be prepared to discharge thy trust with honour to thy station and with satisfaction to thyself.

Spirit Control to Thomas Paine

What is Order?

Order is the law. Law is immutable and universal. When I say, Order is law, I would that thou shouldst understand that it is obedience to the law. Disobedience is disorder and disorder is anarchy. Thou wilt see that nature is obedient unto the law. Planets and suns and systems of suns and worlds are all obedient to the law. The least disturbance might work a disorder, which no mind less than the Creator could possibly control. As thou beholdest order in the natural world, so let it be thy aim to observe order in the society into whose charge thou hast committed thyself.

Spirit Control to Thomas Paine 

What is Harmony?

Harmony is what we mean by social sympathy. It is congenial with order. It is union of minds. It is wisdom in unity of minds. It is sympathy of thoughts and works. It will not divide and distract, convulse or disturb the social enjoyment of the circle now assembled to witness thy progress in the knowledge of the truth. 

Spirit Control to Thomas Paine 

What man, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the pasture and go after that which is lost until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders and rejoiceth, and, when he hath brought it home, he calleth his neighbouring friends and saith unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, likewise, that joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons, who need no repentance.

Spirit Control to Thomas Paine 

Light from the Spirit World—The Pilgrimage of Thomas Paine, and Others, to the Seventh Circle in the Spirit World, written through the mediumship of Reverend C. Hammond, Fowler & Wells, J. S. Redfield, New York; Bela Marsh & B. B. Mussey & Co., 1852