T. The sun and moon stood where God placed them. They never stood otherwise. But you will find other suns, and other moons, and other stars, than thou seest in heaven. I hold a banner, and on it you may see a sun and a moon. It stands still at my command, or it moves as I control. So, with the enemies of Joshua. They stood still; and when they stood still, the banner did not move, neither did the sun, or the moon, on their banners. The sun and the moon which were on their banners moved not, till the enemy was no longer able to contend with the victors. I see no contradiction of nature in that passage. C. I see no contradiction in your interpretation. T. It is not my interpretation. C. Whose is it? T. It is the interpretation of Joshua. C. From whom did you receive it? T. I received it from a circle belonging to a sphere, who received it from him. C. How may I know the truth of what you affirm? T. By advancement in wisdom. C. How may I advance in wisdom? T. By receiving wisdom from superior minds. C. How may I know who is my superior? T. By their works. When the work of a mind harmonizes with the law of God in nature, you may know that the doer of that work is your superior. C. But nature is an incomprehensible volume. T. It is incomprehensible to those only who do not understand it. It is mysterious to those who have not examined or explored its golden page. It is wise, and what is wise you may learn. C. Who will aid me? T. Nature will not leave you without an instructor. C. That is your opinion, I suppose. T. It is a fact which I know. I have not come here to teach you opinions, but facts. I see your mind is overstocked already with opinions, and this is the cause of your wrangling in this circle. Minds do not wrangle with each other about facts, which they know; but all wrangling is about things not understood. I have seen your condition, and know the fact which I affirm. C. This is narrowing to a small compass the circumference of minds. It gives little scope for thought and energy. T. The energy of this circle will not be circumscribed by right direction. It will not be without sufficient scope for the wisdom it possesses. But wrangling about things, never increases the wisdom, nor the happiness of those engaged in it. Confine yourselves to what you know, and peace will be multiplied among you. Contention will gather secret remorse. No good thing can come from the evil of strife. The wisdom of brutes scorns what some minds practice. They never quarrel about things of which they know nothing; and surely minds of a higher order need not to dispute about facts which they know. All who wrangle are not wise. All who dispute are not wise. It is a weakness which fools may pursue, but minds of understanding disdain to become weak in the wrongs of wrangling. C. Then you are for submitting to every indignity, which the weakness and malice of wicked minds may heap upon your reputation.