Spiritist
Opinion

(Bordeaux, May 1864. Group of Saint John - Medium: Mr. Rul.)
(see notes 1 and 2, from the editor)

A new book has just been released; it’s a brighter light that comes to enlighten your march. Eighteen centuries ago I came, by order of my Father, to bring the word of God to the men of will. This word was forgotten by most of men, and disbelief, materialism, came to suffocate the good grain I had deposited in your land. Today, by order of the Eternal, the good Spirits, his messengers, come to all points of the Globe to make heard the great sound of the trumpet. Listen to their voices; which are designated to show you the path that leads to the feet of the heavenly Father. Be docile to their teachings; the predicted times have come; all prophecies will be fulfilled.

By the fruits it’s known the tree. See what are the fruits of Spiritism: households in which discord had replaced harmony came back to peace and happiness; men who succumbed under the weight of their afflictions, awakened by the melodious voices from beyond the grave, understood they were wrong, and, blushed of their weaknesses, repented and asked the Lord the strength to endure their probations.

Probations and expiation, this is the condition of the mankind on Earth. Expiation from the past, probations to fortify it against the temptation, to develop the Spirit by the activity of fight, habituate it to dominate the matter, and prepare it for the pure enjoyments that wait for it in the world of the Spirits.

In my Father’s house are many mansions, I told you eighteen centuries ago. Spiritism came to make these words comprehensible. And you, my beloved, workers who support the hot of the day, who believe having to complain about the unfairness of the fate, bless your sufferings; thank God that gives you means of paying the debts from the past; pray, not with the lips, but with your hearts improved, in order to live in a better place in my Father’s house; because the great will be lowered, but, as you know, the small and humble will be raised.

The Spirit of Truth

Note: It’s known that we don’t take responsibility for the names that belong to the higher beings. We do not guarantee such signature more than many others, but we simply deliver it to the appreciation of any instructed Spiritist. We will say, however, that it cannot be denied the elevation of the thoughts, the nobility and simplicity of the expressions, the moderation of the speech, the absence of any superfluity. If it is compared with those reported in The Imitation of the Gospel (preface, and chap. III³: Christ the Consoler), which have the same signature, although obtained through different mediums and in different times, we realize between them an impressive analogy of tone, style and thoughts, which point to an unique source. For us, we say that it may have come from the Spirit of Truth, because it is worthy of him, as we have seen masses signed by this venerable name or that of Jesus, which prolixity, verbiage, vulgarity, even triviality of ideas betray the apocryphal origin under the eyes of the least clairvoyants. Only a complete fascination can explain the blindness of those who are taken, if not also the pride in believing to be the infallible and privileged interpreter of the pure spirits, pride always punished, sooner or later, by disappointments, ridiculous mystifications and real misfortune in this life. At the sight of such venerable names, the first thought of the modest medium is of doubt, because he does not consider himself worthy of such favor.

Allan Kardec


Bibliography:

REVUE SPIRITE – Dec/1864 - Communication spirite. - A propos de l'Imitation de l'Evangile - Allan Kardec, Paris – 1890. Electronic version in French can be downloaded from:
www.opiniaoespirita.org/downloads/revue_spirite_1864.pdf (1.37MB). Look for the page 399.
Not available in English until the time of this publication.

Notes from the Editor of this website (Opinião Espírita):

1. This is a non-professional translation made by Rafael Gasparini Moreira, with the help of Google Language Tools (French to English). We tried to do our best and we think this translation is faithful to the original, although some people could think it could be in a better English. English speakers are welcome to send suggestions to improve this translation. Contact us by the e-mail: opiniao@opiniaoespirita.org.
   
   

2. This communication came from outside of the friendship circle of Allan Kardec, who lived in Paris, and refers to the publication of The Gospel according to Spiritism, that in its first edition was called Imitation of the Gospel according to Spiritism, on April 1^th 1864.
   
   

3. Actually is in the Chapter VI. Allan Kardec might have changed from the 1^th edition to the next editions.