CHARLES. Jesus' being subject to his father and mother means, that he felt their superiority in knowledge and age. MR. ALCOTT. Did Jesus always do such things with his hands as he was asked to do by his parents ? (All thought so.) But the mind does things as well as the hands. (See Note 142.) Authority of Are children's minds ever superior to those of their parents? (Some thonght so.) Give an instance. ONE. A child is superior to a drunken father. EMMA. An infant is superior to its parents in goodness. (See Note 143.) MR. ALCOTT. Name some of that goodness. EMMA. An infant is more holy. It has a different kind of goodness from that of an excellent man. LUCIA. It never knew how to do wrong. men did wrong when they were young. But good MR. ALCOTT. But how did the first persons begin? LUCIA. They were tempted by their pas Liability to LUCIA. sions. MR. ALCOTT. passions? Yes. Have little children any MR. ALCOTT. Where do passions come from? (There was no reply.) Suppose the parents are good as usual; honest, kind, generous; do they ever have children superior to themselves? FREDERIC. If the child loves God and the man does not, the child is best. EMMA. The child is superior, because it is more holy. MR. ALCOTT. Which do you suppose is best, Jesus as at thirty years old, or an infant? SEVERAL. They are alike good. SOME. The infant. OTHERS. No, Jesus, because he resisted temptation. He loved. MR. ALCOTT. Could you keep yourselves from loving entirely? (All thought no.) (See note 144.) Is there any virtue in loving because you cannot help it ? (There was a difference of opinion.) Is God good? (All held up hands.) Was he ever tempted? (There were opposite opinions.) (See Note 145.) How many think that temptation proves, but does not give goodness ? (Some held up hands.) Do you remember the two trees in Paradise? What is the tree of life in a baby's spirit ? WELLES. Goodness. MR. ALCOTT. What is the tree of knowledge there? EMMA. The senses. MR. ALCOTT. Was Jesus tempted while a child? and did he eat of the tree of knowledge ? WILLIAM B. He was tempted, but he did not do the evil, and he was not tempted so often as we, because he was holy. (See Note 146.) MR. ALCOTT. How was Jesus employed eighteen years at Nazareth? SEVERAL. Working in his father's shop. MR. ALCOTT. What was his mind doing? Mission of Life. SEVERAL. He was thinking of what he came into the world for? MR. ALCOTT. Each one of you may think what you came into the world for, and tell me. (See Note 147.) (They did not seem to think they came into the world on any particular mission, but Mr. Alcott seemed to convince them that they must have done so, and that each one must find out for himself what it was, as Jesus probably did, by self insight, and observation of nature and life.*) * The review, as given in the appendix, closed with this conversation. By means of the notes, the reader will be able to realize the general spirit of the preceding conversations, though much of the detail is lost in the record. From this point, the conversations are more fully reported, ED. CONVERSATION XVI. ORGANIZATION OF SPIRIT. CORPOREAL RELATIONS. Genealogy of Jesus, from the Sacred Text. Transmission of Life. Lineage of Spirit. Era of the Incarnation. Pre-existence of Spirit. - Eternity of Spirit. - Incarnation of Spirit. - Analogy and Emblem of Human Birth. - Spirit organizes Body. Organic Law of Temperance. Violation of Organic Law. - Hereditary Disease. - Longevity of Body. -Laws of Life. Transfiguration of Spirit. - Laws of Renovation and Decay. Mutability of Matter. - Transfusion of Spirit. - Review. Mr. Alcott asked how they felt disposed towards the conversation to-day. Two or three thought they should not be interested; and he asked why? LEMUEL. I don't feel as if I should. MR. ALCOTT. Well, can you not master this feeling? Try to-day. WILLIAM C. I have the headache. MR. ALCOTT. We have spoken sometimes of the power of spirit over body. Now see if you cannot exert your spirit so as to drive the headache away. He then read the Eternity. GENEALOGY OF JESUS FROM GOD. LUKE iii. 23-38. MATT. i. 1-17. Transmission 23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, 24 Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, 25 Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge, 26 Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda, 27 Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri, 28 Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er, 29 Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, 30 Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim, 31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, 32 Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson, 33 Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda, 34 Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor, 35 Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala, 36 Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech, 37 Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan, 38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. MATT. i. 1-17. 1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren. 3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar ; and Phares begat Esrom. Aud Esrom begat Aram; |