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Lesson III: Spiritual Consciousness.273
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me,
Lead thou me on.”
In due time there comes—and it always comes in due time—a little gleam
of light piercing through the clouds, lighting up to the feet of the stormbeaten
wanderer—one step at a time—a new path, upon which he takes a
few steps. He soon finds himself in a new country. As a writer has said:
“Soon he becomes conscious that he has entered into a new and unknown land—
has crossed the borders of a new country. He finds himself in a strange land—there
are no familiar landmarks—he does not recognize the scene. He realizes the great
distance between himself and the friends he has left at the foot of the hill. He cries
aloud for them to follow him, but they can scarcely hear him, and seem to fear for his
safety. They wave their arms, and beckon with their hands for him to return. They fear
to follow him, and despair of his safety. But he seems possessed of a new courage,
and a strange impulse within him urges him on and on. To what point he is traveling,
he knows not—but a fierce joy takes possession of him, and he presses on.”
The light pouring forth from the Spiritual Consciousness, leads the traveler
along the Path of Attainment—if he has the courage to follow it. The light of
the Spirit is always a safe guide, but very few of us have the confidence and
trust which will allow us to accept it. The original Quakers knew of this inner
light, and trusted it—but their descendants have but a glimmer of what was
once a bright light. Its rays may be perceived by all who are ready for it,
and who look with hope and confidence to the day when their eyes may
view it. For know you, that this inner light is not the special property of the
Orientals—far from it. The men of the East have paid more attention to the
subject than have those of the West—but this Illumination is the common