MOTHER DIVINE
An important lesson is contained in these few pages, which was given by our LORD after the testimony of a brother who, comparing himself to the "Prodigal Son," said he was glad to return after having gone back into the world since knowing FATHER and the Truth for which He stands. He confessed to a number of minor sins and admitted that a reluctance to expose himself had prevented him from returning before.
FATHER caught the thought in the mind of one or more, that the brother, from his confession had not apparently committed any very great offense, and if this is true, as FATHER brought out in His brief lecture, he is indeed blessed; but if he has not made a full confession and overlooked vices and crimes of a more serious nature, as have been committed by some who have returned to the worldly life after knowing FATHER, then he must pay the penalty for allowing the "other fellow"(the opposite of GOD) to conceal the truth.
Once again the brother spoke after FATHER'S Message, confessing other sins and assuring Him he was willing to confess more as they were brought to his mind.
THANK YOU, FATHER DEAR !
The foregoing statements are those of the transcriber, and FATHER'S Message follows.
PEACE, EVERYONE !
Good Health, Good Will and a Good Appetite; Life, Liberty and the reality of Happiness, Wisdom, Knowledge and all Understanding have actually been established. At this instance I would just like to say, according to the last speaker's testimony, it is a true saying, it is written in the Scripture:
'He that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesses them and forsakes them shall have mercy.'
It is a privilege to realize
'An open confession is good for the soul,'
but according to the last speaker according to the confession, he did not go
back to those vices and crimes he once committed, unless he is holding something
back he has not openly confessed.
Now, if he did not do those things he once did before he knew me, why, naturally I appreciate it that he has not turned back as some have; for some have actually turned back to sin or did turn back to sin, vice and crime and did things they had not done before they saw Me, until they went out from the teaching; but it is a privilege to know, when you confess and forsake your sins, GOD will have mercy.
It appears, according to the statement of the last speaker, he did not actually go back into those things, unless he did not bring it out. If he did,
'An open confession is good for the soul.'
If he did not go back into those things, he should not say he did. But if he
did, he should not allow timidity or fear to prohibit him from making the open
confession, since he says the Spirit actually led him to make the confession.
At this juncture, FATHER asked the brother his name and address, and it was learned that he was from Brooklyn and had attended the meetings on Classon Avenue, Brooklyn. Then FATHER continued:
Of course there are thousands of people who attend the divers meetings and even those who attend these meetings here, I do not keep a record of them Personally; but as you say, if you went back in sin after knowing the truth, why naturally,
'An open confession is good for the soul.'
But I can encourage those who have not gone further back than what you say you
did, to say that they have not gone so far as some have gone, because some have
gone back in sin in vice and crime. That is what I would consider to be a terrible
thing.
If a person goes back in the same old things, committing the same crimes, committing the same vices and using obscene and profane language, taking the name of the LORD in vain and violating and breaking all of the Ten Commandments, as I heard one testify--I think it was just a couple of days ago--how she had gone back and even drank liquor; got drunk and such like as that--driving the car in a drunken state--why, breaking the law of GOD and of man, those things should actually be confessed and forsaken. Whilst yet it is true, all of one's sins or disobedience should be confessed and forsaken; but it is such a terrible thing for anyone to commit crimes that are destructive to others, that are a menace to society and hinder the advancement of others and such like as that--retard their advances.
Those are the main sins that should be forsaken, whilst yet all sin should be confessed and forsaken. But as far as you brought out, it was not very much that you had actually done that would have been such a terrible crime, because there are those who have covered sins of vices and of crimes whereby they could not get food to eat, they could not get places to sleep and they could not have health, they could not have happiness, they could not have PEACE, they could not even so much as make or give a good smile, as you say.
So then I say, it is something to consider. But yet there is such a thing as a person doing things that are wrong and yet can smile to some degree. There is such a thing as one hiding behind the acts or appearance of being good, as you said, and of doing good; but if one has actually committed sins and vices and crimes, and he or she confesses, why not confess the worst of those things, such as you have done ? Those things that the "other fellow" within and the "other fellow" without would still try to get you to hide if he can get you to do so. But if you make a confession of those real vices, those things that you by nature and disposition would be embarrassed to confess and would not desire to confess, those he (the "other fellow") will hide if he can; if you will make an open confession, if you have actually committed anything that is worthy of confession that you should confess and forsake openly, by uncovering those things, why, naturally it is more blessed to confess the most severe and wicked thing a person commits than it is merely to confess lightly and allow~the "other fellow" to try to hide you. I thank you.
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