on sufficiently well to
use it either affirmatively or negatively, and of those who do know it
sufficiently to make use of it, I am convinced that the majority would
wish only to use it in all kindness, and for the benefit of the person
concerned. That, I am confident, is the attitude of nine-tenths, or I
might perhaps say ninety-nine hundredths, of the students of this
subject. They wish to do well, and look upon their use of mental power
as an additional means of doing good. But after all, human nature is
human nature, and there remains a small minority who are both able and
willing to use this hidden power injuriously for their own purposes.

Now how are we to deal with this minority? The answer is simple. Just
see them in their true light, see them for what they really are, that is
to say, persons who are ignorant of the real spiritual power. They think
they have it, and they have not. That is what it is. See them in their
true light and their power will fall away from them. The real and
ultimate power is that of the affirmative; the negative is destructive,
the affirmative is constructive. So this negative use of the hidden
power is to be destroyed by the use of the affirmative, the constructive
power. The affirmative destroys the negative always in one way, and that
is not by attacking it, not by running at it like a bull in a china
shop; but by building up life. It is always a building power--it is
building, building, building life and more life, and when that life
comes in, the negative of necessity goes out.

The ultimate affirmative position is that of conscious union with the
source of life. Realise this, and you need not trouble yourself about
any action of the negative whatever. Seek conscious union with the
ultimate, the first cause, that which is the starting point of all
things, whether in the universe or in yourself as the individual. That
starting point is always present; it is the same yesterday, to-day and
forever, and you are the world and the universe in miniature, and it is
always there working in you if you will recognise it. Remember the
reciprocity between yourself and this truly hidden power. The power of
suggestion is _a_ hidden power, but the power which creates all things
is _the_ hidden power which is at the back of all things. Now realise
that it is in yourselves and you need trouble about the negative no
longer. This is the Bible teaching regarding Christ; and that teaching
is to bring