way of One who was to follow. In the first baptism, through the power of the word, the sense man is erased from consciousness, and the mind is purged and made ready for the second baptism.

Second Baptism

Putting away of sin from the consciousness (baptism through denial, plus forgiveness) is very closely allied to the deeper work that is to follow; so much so that to the observer it seems the same. Hence the followers of John, when they saw the works he did, asked if he was the Messiah. His answer was that the One who followed him was to baptize with the Holy Spirit.

In the second baptism, the creative law of divine affirmation, set into action by Mind, lights its fires at the center of man's being, and when thus kindled raises soul and body to a high degree of purity. This process is known as regeneration.

From this we discern that mental cleansing and the reforms that put the conscious mind in order are designed to prepare the way for that larger and more permanent consciousness which is to follow. This is the denial of "self" or personality. We are all guilty in a way of undue devotion to personal aims, which are always narrow and selfish. So long as these exist and