The Order of the Kingdom. (Part I.)
1. In that time after Iesus had risen from the dead he tarried ninety days with Mary (his mother) and Mary Magdalene (who anointed his body) and Mary Cleophas and the twelve, and their fellows, instructing them and answering questions concerning the Kingdom (of God).
2. And as they sat at supper—when it was even— Mary Magdalene asked him, saying,
Master, wilt thou now declare unto us the Order of the Kingdom?
3. And Iesus answered and said,
Verily I say unto thee, O Mary, and to each of any disciples, The Kingdom (of Heaven) is within you. But the time cometh when that (which is within) shall be made manifest in the without, for the sake of the world.
4. Order indeed is good, and needful, but before all things is love. Love ye one another and all the Creatures (of God) and by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples.
5. AND one asked him saying,
Master, wilt thou that infants be received into the congregation in like manner as Moses commanded by circumcision?
And Iesus answered,
For those who are in Christ there is no cutting of the flesh, nor shedding of blood.
6. Let the infant of eight clays be Presented unto the Father-Mother (who is in Heaven) with prayer and thanksgiving, and let a name be given to it by its parents, and let the presbyter sprinkle pure water upon it, according to that which is written in the prophets, and let its parents see to it that it is brought up in the ways of righteousness, neither eating flesh, nor drinking strong drink, nor hurting the creatures (which God hath given into the hands of man to protect).
7. AGAIN one said unto him,
Master, how wilt thou when they grow up?
And Iesus said,
After seven years, or when they begin to know the evil from the good, and learn to choose the good, let them come unto me and receive the blessing at the hands of the presbyter or the Angel (of the church) with prayer and thanksgiving, and let them be admonished to keep from flesh eating and strong drink, and from hunting the innocent Creatures (of God) for shall they be lower than the horse or the sheep to whom these things are against nature?
8. And again he said,
If there come to us any that eat flesh and drink strong drink, shall we receive them?
And Iesus said unto him,
Let such abide in the outer court till they cleanse themselves from these grosser evils; for till they perceive, and penitence of these, they are not fit to receive the higher mysteries.
9. AND another asked him saying,
When wilt thou that they receive Baptism?
And Iesus answered,
After another seven years, or when they know the doctrine, and do that which is good, and learn to work with their own hands, and choose a craft whereby they may live, and are stedfastly set on the right way. Then let them ask for initiation, and let the Angel or presbyter (of the church) examine them and see if they are worthy, and let him offer thanksgiving and prayer, and bury them in the waters (of separation) that they may rise to newness of life, confessing God as their Father and Mother, vowing to obey the Holy Law, and keep themselves separate from the evil in the world.
10. AND another asked him,
Master, at what time shall they receive the Anointing?
And Iesus answered,
When they have reached the age of maturity, and manifested in themselves the sevenfold gifts (of the Spirit) then let the Angel offer prayer and thanksgiving and seal them with the seal (of the Chrism). It is good that all be tried in each degree seven years. Nevertheless let it be unto each according to their growth in the love, and the Wisdom (of God).
LECTION 91. 5. -The idea of baptizing unconscious infants seems never to have entered the mind of Jesus. He blessed them, but he also blessed other animals, and things that had no sentient life. Baptism implies belief and confession of faith and repentance from evil works and ways.
LECTION 91. 6. -0ver 2,000 years before Christ there existed on the shores of Lake Meeris, in Egypt, a labyrinth of seven circular wall-enclosed winding paths, represented by Boticelli in one of his engravings, which we here reproduce adapted for Christian rites. This was used by the Egyptians in their initiations as a symbol of life, and the wanderings of the soul in the flesh, till "seven times seven" times purified and meet to appear before God. Cont
LECTION 91. 7-8. -In the Editor's former work "Palingenesia, or Earth's New Birth," 1884, incorporating some Ideas from this Gospel (part of which he had then received) these two rites referred to, by some oversight were transposed. Here, as in" Church of the Future" 1896, by the same Editor, the correct order is given. It is at present out of print.
Read: Revelation 1:20; 2:1