Allan Kardec-THE Spirit's Book_ The Principles of Spiritist Doctrine (1989)

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THE SPIRITS’ BOOK
578. May spirit fail in his mission through his own fault?
"Yes; if he is not of a high degree of elevation."
- What, for him, are the consequences of such a failure?
"He is obliged to begin his task over again; this is his punishment. And, besides, he will have
to undergo the consequences of the mischiefs caused by his failure."
579. Since it is from God that each spirit receives his mission, how can God have entrusted
an important mission, one of general interest, to a spirit capable of failing in its discharge?
"Does not God foresee whether His general will be victorious or vanquished ? Be sure that
He foresees all things, and that the carrying out of His plans, when they are important, is
never confided to those who will leave their work half done. The whole difficulty lies, for
you, in the foreknowledge of the future which God possesses, but which you cannot
understand."
580. When a spirit has incarnated himself for the accomplishment of a mission, does he feel
the same anxiety in regard to it as the spirit whose mission has been undertaken as a trial?
"No; for he has the results of experience to guide him."
581. The men who enlighten the human race by their genius have certainly a mission; but
there are among them many who make mistakes, and who, along 'with important truths,
spread abroad serious errors. In what way should we regard their mission?
"As having been falsified by themselves. They are unequal to the task they have undertaken.
In judging of them, however, you must take into account the circumstances in which they
have been placed. Men of genius have had to speak according to their time; and teachings
which appear erroneous or puerile, in the light of a later epoch, may have been sufficient for
the epoch at which they were given."
582. Can paternity be considered a mission?
"It is undeniably a mission; and also a most serious duty, the responsibilities of which will
exercise a more important influence upon his future than a man is apt to suppose. God has
placed the child under the tutelage of his parents, in order that they should direct his steps into
the path of rectitude; and he has facilitated their task by giving to the child a frail and delicate
organisation, that renders him. accessible to new impressions. But there are many parents
who take more pains to train the trees in their gardens, and to make them bring forth a large
crop of fine fruit,