The Human Heart Shown as a Temple of God and the Holy Spirit or a Workshop of the Devil and Evil Spirits — L. W. de Laurence — 1935

The Human Heart Shown as a Temple of God and the Holy Spirit or a Workshop of the Devil and Evil Spirits (1935) by L. W. de Laurence

This work presents a moral and spiritual duality of the human inner life, portraying the heart (or inner consciousness) as a space that can be shaped into either a sacred dwelling of divine presence or a center of destructive and negative influence. L. W. de Laurence frames the individual as the determining force in this outcome, emphasizing inner condition as the root of external experience.

At its core, the book teaches that the human heart is not neutral—it is actively formed by thought, intention, and alignment, becoming either a vessel of higher influence or a channel for disorder.

Core Themes

1. The Heart as a Spiritual Center
De Laurence uses the “heart” symbolically to represent the inner seat of thought, emotion, and will. It is the space where influences—both constructive and destructive—take root and express themselves.

2. Dual Potential: Divine vs. Destructive
A central idea is that every individual holds the capacity for two opposing conditions:

• A “temple”—marked by clarity, discipline, truth, and alignment with higher principles

• A “workshop”—marked by confusion, negativity, indulgence, and disorder

The state of the heart determines which influence predominates.

3. Thought and Influence
The book emphasizes that thoughts act as entry points for influence. Constructive thinking invites harmony and strength, while negative or uncontrolled thinking invites instability and harmful tendencies.

4. Responsibility and Choice
De Laurence places strong emphasis on personal responsibility. The individual is not passively acted upon, but actively shapes their inner condition through choices, habits, and mental discipline.

5. Moral and Spiritual Discipline
To cultivate the “temple,” the reader is encouraged to develop:

• Self-control

• Ethical conduct

• Focused and constructive thought

• Awareness of inner states

Without discipline, the heart becomes disordered and susceptible to negative patterns.

6. Inner State Reflecting Outer Life
As with many metaphysical teachings, the book suggests that outer conditions mirror inner realities. A disciplined, ordered heart leads to clarity and stability in life, while inner disorder manifests as confusion and struggle.

Tone and Style

The tone is moralistic, symbolic, and instructive, blending religious imagery with metaphysical ideas about mind and influence. De Laurence uses stark contrasts—light vs. dark, order vs. chaos—to emphasize the importance of inner governance.

Overall Message

The central message of the book is:
The condition of your inner life determines the nature of your experience.

By consciously shaping thought, emotion, and intention, the individual can transform the heart into a center of strength, clarity, and higher alignment—rather than a place of disorder and destructive influence.

In essence, the work teaches that the “battle” is internal, and that mastery of the heart is the foundation of both spiritual and practical life.