What is the universal call to holiness?

As I said at the beginning, there are two kinds of influences always at work. 

If the one is neglected, the other steps in, and in place of producing harmony and peace, discords and divisions ensue. 

The evils to be apprehended from these latter cannot be estimated. 

Gently and insiduously they approach—finding something in the mind they wish to influence similar to themselves, they work upon and cultivate that passion, taste or feeling, and after obtaining a lodgment in one little corner, soon control the whole—magnetise the man or woman to see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand as they wish them. 

Wonderful is the control they can obtain over a mortal if he yields himself up willingly a slave to them. 

Revenge may appear a virtue—murder, retributive justice—unjust anger, just censure—pride, an ennobling virtue—uncharitable remarks necessary to show our contempt of such and such failings—never looking within on the dark foul mass of passions engendered in their own bosoms. 

Such influences as these never lead to self-examination—self-knowledge. 

To hide the true character from themselves is the aim of these dangerous inmates. Believing themselves perfect—or rather trying to believe themselves right, men stumble on into deeper spirit darkness. 

Sometimes good influences may prevail and enlighten the poor deluded ones, but hard is the struggle to penetrate, and very difficult to dislodge the former tenants of the soul. 

Far easier to prevent by timely care their first entrance—then they are weak and easily expelled, but strength is daily added by their being permitted to remain.

Some may say—How can any one be safe? If such influences are here always ready to step in, who can be secure? 

Only they, my friends, who, in earnest simplicity and confiding trust, pray and strive while they pray, for those holy influences that can and will protect and defend them against all others. 

By praying, I do not mean repeating long formulas, on their knees, until mind and body are fatigued and inharmonious, but the constant desire, the earnest aspiration, for a more holy and perfect life—

The looking constantly to higher powers for help to perform their daily routine of duties in the manner best calculated to produce happiness to all connected with them—and then, as they progress in spiritual development, the earnest wish to extend by all the means in their power, this happiness to the whole human family. 

Such would be the desires of all properly influenced and what harmony and love would reign on the earth if this feeling prevailed universally.

The darkness that has so long enveloped all things in its gloomy mantle would be removed—light and joy would stream in from the higher spheres and a universal jubilant song of praise and rejoicing would rise from your earth, which now sends forth little more than sighs and groans of wretchedness and woe. 

Hasten, ye people, this glorious time! Let each one give his individual help. The work must commence within—self-examination, self-knowledge is the foundation. 

Let this be done thoroughly in the first place, and you will be astonished what a flood of light will be the result. Instead of looking abroad to correct your neighbours, you will find you have plenty of work to do at home before you look elsewhere, and most likely if you do it thoroughly you will not when it is completed feel quite so much disposed to look after your neighbours. 

Thorough self-knowledge will lead to charity for the weaknesses of others. 

Seeing the multiplicity of failings and shortcomings in yourselves will naturally make you lenient to them, and when this state of feeling supervenes, how much more kindly you will be disposed to them.

—Lorenzo Dow in Spirit