Bible Review V15: October 1916 - March 1918 - Iapsop.com

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1917 CONSECRATION OF SELF 405
they please God. To obtain a condition where this knowledge
is positive and certain, independent of all persons
on earth, is to be in a condition where we know the mind
of God concerning us.
This condition is the most desirable
that any person
can know and obtain; and how
strange in seems to us that so few persons who have
read THE Esornmc from the beginning realize these
things.
The intent of the "Unity of Desire" published in the
first and second volumes of this magazine was to impress
this thought. The same thought has been brought 'out
in many of our articles, and finally, in the application
for becoming a member of this colony, the question
(number 16,) is asked: "Have you entered into covenant
with God, dedicating all you are, or hope to be, to him
and the service of humanity ?" also question 17: "Do you
feel that the Spirit of God to whom you have dedicated
your life would have you unite your efforts with ours?"
The full import of these questions, so it appears, has
been comprehended by but few, if any, who have applied
for membership here; for, in order that a man or a
woman may have the conditions referred to, they must
first dedicate their life with all that they are, have, or
hope to be-as in the above questions-to God and humanity;
promising absoluteobedience to the guidance of
the Spirit: and it is not enough to make that promise by
mouth, but it must come from the heart, the depths of
the soul consciousness; and this can not be done at the
first time of trying by any one that I have ever seen.
is necessary that one should persist in that dedicating of
all that they are, and continually desire to know the will
of God that they may do it.
"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet,
and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father
which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret
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