and in tabernacles
of flesh continue in the eternal course of progress, as has been marked
out and explained to you."

Then, to the still defiant forms of Lucifer and his adherents this was
said:

"Lucifer, son of the morning, thou hast withdrawn from the Father many
of the children of heaven. They have their agency, and have chosen to
believe thy lies. They have fallen with thee from before the face of
God. Thus hast thou used the power given thee. Thou hast said in thy
heart, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.... I will be like
the Most High! Thou hast sought to usurp power, to take a kingdom that
does not belong to thee. God holds you all as in the hollow of His hand;
yet He has not restrained thine agency. He has been patient and
longsuffering with you. Rebellious children of heaven, the Father's
bosom heaves with sorrow for you; but justice claims its own--your
punishment is that you be cast out of heaven. Bodies of flesh and bones
ye shall not have; but ye shall wander without tabernacles over the face
of the earth. Ye shall be 'reserved in everlasting chains under darkness
unto the judgment of the great day.'"

Thus went forth the decree of the Almighty, and with it the force of His
power. Lucifer and many of the hosts of heaven were cast down. The whole
realm was thrilled with the power of God. The celestial elements were
stirred to their depths. Heaven wept over the fallen spirits, and the
cry went out, "Lo, lo, he is fallen, even the Son of the Morning."

III.

"For thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."--_John
17:24._

There was a calm in heaven like unto that of a summer morning after a
night of storm.

Throughout the whole strife, the dark clouds of evil had been gathering.
In the fierce struggle, the spirits of heaven had been storm-tossed as
on two contending waves; but when Lucifer and his forces were cast out,
the atmosphere became purged of its uncleanness, and a sweet peace
brooded over all. Save for sorrow for the lost ones, nothing marred the
perfect joy of heaven. All now looked forward to the consummation of
that plan whereby they would become inhabitants of another world, fitted
for their school of experience in the flesh. All prepared themselves
with this end in view.

None was more grateful to his Father than Homan. In the midst of the
strife, he had done what he could for what he thought was right. All his
influence had been used with the waver