THE DURATION OF MY LABORS.

According to my way of appraising things, I calculated that I still had about ten years left for the conclusion of my labors; but I had spoken of this to no one. I was therefore much surprised to receive from one of my correspondents in Limoges a communication given spontaneously, in which the Spirit, speaking of my labors, said that ten years would pass before I finished them. Question. (to the Spirit of Truth.) — How is it that a Spirit, communicating in Limoges, where I have never been, was able to say precisely what I was thinking concerning the duration of my labors?

Answer. — We know what remains for you to do and, consequently, the approximate time you need to finish your task. It is therefore quite natural that some Spirits should have said so in Limoges and elsewhere, in order to give an idea of the magnitude of the matter, by the labor it requires. However, the term of ten years is not absolute; it may be prolonged by a few more, by virtue of unforeseen circumstances independent of your will.

NOTE. — (Written in December 1866.) — I have published four substantial volumes, not to speak of accessory matters. The Spirits urge me to publish Genesis in 1867, before the disturbances. During the period of the great disturbance I shall have to work on the complementary books of the Doctrine, which cannot appear until after the strong tempest, and for which I need three to four years. This brings us, at the earliest, to 1870, that is, around ten years.