wmcm 1914. Co , A EN. Br A BE L L . LL Published March. 1 9 1 4 . FOREWORD THOUSANDS oi people are constantly aski n g three q uestion s : Wh at is New Thought ? Wherein does it differ from the o rthodox re ligion s? Wh at is the line of divergence be tween New Thought and Ch risti an Science ? The purpose ofthis volum e is to answer these T n inquiries . o that end it h as been my e deavor on l , not y to set forth the basic ideas New Thou h al o of g t, but s to compare its principles and teachings with those of the orthodox religion s and Christian Science . This course has been adopted for several reasons . So many cults are spri n gi n g into existence whose teachings differ widely from New T those of hought, yet are parading its under banner, that it is thought desirable to state its principles and philosophy with such certainty and clearness that its real mes sage may hereafter be understood and that its name may be rescued from those seeking to appropriate it without warrant . Great efforts have also been made to blend and com vi Foreword bine the philosophy of New Thought with of I the teachings the recognized creeds . leave it to the reader to judge whether such a result is possible or not, when he has finished reading this volume . The hope and belief are freely entertained that the fundamental distinctions between New Thought and Christian Science have been stated in such a manner that they may be The ica l readily understood . e th l va ue s o fthe teachings of New Thought as compared with those of the orthod ox religions are duly set forth and emphasized , that each may be care fully studied and weighed . New Thought is largely a restatement of old thought, vitalized with new life and meaning from the discoveries ofmodern psy chology and the latest deductions of science . The reader must bear in mind , however, that the Old Thought was suppressed in the West ern Hemisphere for nearly two thousand years ; for the first time it is sending its illu m in atin g rays to gladden the Western world . The effort has been made to set forth the essential teachings of New Thought in a concrete form in one convenient volume , and to that end I have drawn with considerable Foreword freedom from modern science , philosophy, and the leading writers on New Thought . The quotations employed embrace some of the best thought of modern times . It is my earnest hope that this volume m ay arouse and animate a general interest in the study of New T hought, and awaken a responsive chord to the beauty and sublimity of its teachings. ABEL EIG ' ALLEN L H m N . C ONTENTS rm NEW T HOUGHT D EFINED O RIGIN OF THE CREEDS NEW T HOUGHT A ND THE CR EEDS NEW T HOUGHT A ND CH RI STI A N SCI ENCE U NIVERSAL MIND I N MA N MA N ILLIM ITABLE MA N U NFI NI SHED As MA N I NK VIII . A T H ETH ' ET I CS OF CR DS I . H THE EE ETHI CS OF NEW T HOUGHT 'I VOI C S OF NEW OUG . E T H HT ART OF L V G 'II . THE I IN TH E MESSAGE OF NEW TH OU GHT CHAPTER I NEW THOUGHT DEFINED “ 0 e can w e w ait no long r, We e sh 0 s u too tak ip, o l ; us we too u ch out ac ess se s Joy o , la n on tr kl a , Fe ess u w sh es w es ecs s s arl , for nkno n or , on av of ta y to ail, m the w w s A id afting ind , Ch n ur ch f e ex anti g o ant O pl asant ploration. 0 m y brave soul, 0 he the s , fart r, far r ail, O a o but s e are he the seas Of God? d ring j y , af , t y not, all ” 0 e e s . , farth r, farth r ail T WAL WH ITMA N. NEW T U is as HO GHT not, many believe , a name or expression employed to define any o r fixed system of thought, philosophy, relig ion , but is a term used to convey the idea r n of growing o developing thought. In co “ siderin New g this subject, the word should be duly and freely emphasized , because the ” expression New Thought relates only to what is new and progressive . 2 The M essage ofNew Th ought It would be a misuse of terms to apply the “ ” expression New Thought to a system of thought, because when thought is molded and formed into a system , it ceases to be new . When a system of thought has reached ma turit y and ceases to grow, expand , and de veIO p, it can no longer be defined by the “ ” Ne w. word It follows , therefore, as a t of necessary conclusion, hat no system new or thought, no system Of thought defined by that expression , now exists or ever can exist. “ ” New Thought is the result or creation of Th perpetually advancing mind . e growing mind is n ot content with the past o r its n o achievements . It is t satisfied with systems ofphilosophy o r religion originating in other ages and handed down through succeeding T generations . hey do not satisfy the wants of the mind . Systems do not grow, mind de l ve ops. It wants something larger and bet ter ; it wants improvement, growth , and de is velopm en t. It merely the logical and natural effort of the mind in its struggle for advancement ; it is following its basic and in herent law. A s the growing mind applies thought to whatever enters into consciousness, it gains New Thought D efin ed 3 l s new and en arged conception and , therefore, is e grows , and what it thinks new . N w Thought has been defined as the latest prod uct A of growing mind . distinguished writer h as characterized New Thought as an atti tude of mind and not a cult . Those who grasp the true meaning and New T is spirit of hought, or, as it sometimes called , progressive or unfolding thought, do n ot conceive that a finished or completed sys of re tem thought, either philosophical or i i li ous s t . g , a possibili y All systems of D thought change with the flight of time . e T cay follows growth . he philosophies and religions Of to - day differ from those of yes terda of - un y, and those to morrow will be h f - like t ose o to day . History alone demon on strates the truth of this statement . This c clusion is inevitable also from the very laws ’ that govern man s growth and existence . ’ Man s body is not the only result Of the processes of evolution , growth , and develop of ment, but his mind is likewise the product M an is the same great law . an evolved and evolving being, physically, mentally, and Spiritually. Change and growth are the si Th lent mandates of divinity . e eternal cur 4 The M essa ge ofNew Thought rent ever moves onward . We do n ot reckon ’ of all n u with all of nature s forces . Back , on e seen yet all powerful , is the universal or law cosmic urge, forever pushing and pro ectin j g man forward into higher physical , mental , and spiritual development. T of hrough the principle evolution , physi cal man was brought to his present state of development . By the same principle has he come to his present mental and sp i ritual con is dition . It a principle operating through E out the un iverse . volution is a movement from the lower to the higher, from the simple th e su to the complex, from the inferior to perior . How can there be a fixed system of thought, a com plete philosophy, a perfect o r ? theology, a defined religion For as man grows mentally and spiritually he moves away A from such limitations . s his mental and r his Spiritual visions expand , the ve y laws of being lead him to higher and still higher conceptions Of philosophical and religious “T truth . hrough Spiritual evolution are we ” led to God . Every system of philosophy or religion is of the result an evolutionary process , the p roduct Of the human mind and understand New Th ought D efin ed 5 . e h e ing Wh n thought changes , when t mind e e is e d velops , when the und rstanding enlarg d , philosophies and religions must likewise T - change. his is a self evident truth . Were e of it oth rwise, systems thought, philosophies , and religions would be greater than the minds that created them and launched them Upon the world—the things created would be so greater than their creators . Were it not , systems that have no inherent power of growth would become greater than man, i whose very law s growth . M of oreover, fixed systems thought, either be philosophical or religious , are impossible , cause they are not the same to any two persons but convey different meanings to each indi n or .