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find that the Apostle spoke the literal truth； when he said； that we shall become like Him when we see Him AS HE IS； because the whole process by which our individuality is produced is one of reflection of the image existing in the Divine Mind。 When we thus learn the Law of our own being we shall be able to specialize it in ways of which we have hitherto but little conception； but as in the case of all natural laws the specialization cannot take place until the fundamental principle of the generic law has been fully realized。 For these reasons the student should endeavour to realize more and more perfectly； both in theory and practice； the law of the relation between the Universal and the Individual Minds。 It is that of RECIPROCAL action。 If this fact of reciprocity is grasped； it will be found to explain both why the individual falls short of expressing the fulness of Life； which the Spirit is； and why he can attain to the fulness of that expression； just as the same law explains why iron sinks in water； and how it can be made to float。 It is the individualizing of the Universal Spirit； by recognizing its reciprocity to ourselves； that is the secret of the perpetuation and growth of our own individuality。
THE NEW THOUGHT AND THE NEW ORDER。
In the two preceding lectures I have endeavoured to reach some conception of what the All…originating Spirit is in itself； and of the relation of the individual to it。 So far as we can form any conception of these things at all we see that they are universal principles applicable to all nature； and； at the human level； applicable to all men： they are general laws the recognition of which is an essential preliminary to any further advance； because progress is made； not by setting aside the inherent law of things； which is impossible； but by specializing it through presenting conditions which will enable the same principle to act in a less limited manner。 Having therefore got a general idea of these two ultimates； the universal and the individual； and of their relation to one another； let us now consider the process of specialization。 In what does the specialization of a natural law consist？ It consists in making that law or principle produce an effect which it could not produce under the simply generic conditions spontaneously provided by nature。 This selection of suitable conditions is the work of Intelligence； it is a process of consciously arranging things in a new order； so as to produce a new result。 The principle is never new； for principles are eternal and universal； but the knowledge that the same principle will produce new results when working under new conditions is the key to the unfoldment of infinite possibilities。 What we have therefore to consider is the working of Intelligence in providing specific conditions for the operation of universal principles； so as to bring about new results which will transcend our past experiences。 The process does not consist in the introduction of new elements； but in making new combinations of elements which are always present； just as our ancestors had no conception of carriages that could go without horses； and yet by a suitable combination of elements which were always in existence； such vehicles are common objects in our streets today。 How； then； is the power of Intelligence to be brought to bear upon the generic law of the relation between the Individual and the Universal so as to specialize it into the production of greater results than those which we have hitherto obtained？
All the practical attainments of science； which place the civilized world of to…day in advance of the times of King Alfred or Charlemagne； have been gained by a uniform method； and that a very simple one。 It is by always enquiring what is the affirmative factor in any existing combination； and asking ourselves why； in that particular combination； it does not act beyond certain limits。 What makes the thing a success； so far as it goes； and what prevents it going further？ Then； by carefully considering the nature of the affirmative factor； we see what sort of conditions to provide to enable it to express itself more fully。 This is the scientific method； it has proved itself true in respect of material things； and there is no reason why it should not be equally reliable in respect of spiritual things also。
Taking this as our method； we ask； What is the affirmative factor in the whole creation； and in ourselves as included in the creation； and； as we found in the first lecture； this factor is Spiritthat invisible power which concentrates…the primordial ether into forms； and endows those forms with various modes of motion； from the simply mechanical motion of the planet up to the volitional motion in man。 And； since this is so； the primary affirmative factor can only be the Feeling and the Thought of the Universal Spirit。* Now； by the hypothesis of the case； the Universal Spirit must be the Pure Essence of Life； and therefore its feeling and thought can only be towards the continually increasing expression of the livingness which it is； and accordingly the specialization； of which we are in search； must be along the line of affording it a centre from which it may more perfectly realize this feeling and express this thought： in other words the way to specialize the generic principle of Spirit is by providing new mental conditions in consonance with its own original nature。
* See my 〃Edinburgh Lectures on Mental Science。〃
The scientific method of enquiry therefore brings us to the conclusion that the required conditions for translating the racial or generic operation of the Spirit into a specialized individual operation is a new way of THINKING mode of thought concurring with； and not in opposition to； the essential forward movement of the Creative Spirit itself。 This implies an entire reversal of our old conceptions。 Hitherto we have taken forms and conditions as the starting point of our thought and inferred that they are the causes of mental states； now we have learnt that the true order of the creative process is exactly the reverse； and that thought and feeling are the causes； and forms and conditions the effects。 When we have learnt this lesson we have grasped the foundation principle on which individual specialization of the generic law of the creative process becomes a practical possibility。
New Thought； then； is not the name of a particular sect； but is the essential factor by which our own future development is to be carried on； and its essence consists in seeing the relation of things in a New Order。 Hitherto we have inverted the true order of cause and effect； now； by carefully considering the real nature of the Principle of Causation in itselfcausa causans as distinguished from cause causatawe return to the true order and adopt a new method of thinking in accordance with it。
In themselves this order and this method of thinking are not new。 They are older than the foundation of the world； for they are those of the Creative Spirit itself； and all through the ages this teaching has been handed down under various forms； the true meaning of which has been perceived only by a few in each generation。 But as the light breaks in upon any individual it is a new light to him； and so to each one in succession it becomes the New Thought。 And when anyone reaches it； he finds himself in a New Order。 He continues indeed to be included in the universal order of the cosmos； but in a perfectly different way to what he had previously supposed； for； from his new standpoint； he finds that he is included； not so much as a part of the general effect； but as a part of the general cause； and when he perceives this he then sees that the method of his further advance must be by letting the General Cause flow more and more freely into his own specific centre； and he therefore seeks to provide thought conditions which will enable him to do so。
Then； still employing the scientific method of following up the affirmative factor； he realizes that this universal causative power； by whatever name he may call it； manifests as Supreme Intelligence in the adaptation of means to ends。 It does so in the mechanism of the planet； in the production of supply for the support of physical life； and in the maintenance of the race as a whole。 True； the investigator is met at every turn with individual failure； but his answer to this is that there is no cosmic failure； and that the apparent individual failure is itself a part of the cosmic process； and will diminish in proportion as the individual attains to the recognition of the Moving Principle of that process； and provides the necessary conditions to enable it to take a new starting point in his own
individuality。 Now； one of these conditions is to recognize it as Intelligence； and to remember that when working through our own mentality it in no way changes its essential nature； just as electricity loses none of its essential qualities in passing through the special apparatus which enables it to manifest as light。
When we see this； our line of thought will run something as follows：〃My mind is a centre of Divine operation。 The Divine operation is always for expansion and fuller expression； and this means the production of something