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MAN’S INNATE POWERS 312 |
The beginning of the existence of man on the terrestrial globe
resembles his formation in the womb of the mother. The embryo
in the womb of the mother gradually grows and develops until
birth, after which it continues to grow and develop until it reaches
the age of discretion and maturity. Though in infancy the signs
of the mind and spirit appear in man, they do not reach the
degree of perfection; they are imperfect. Only when man attains
maturity do the mind and the spirit appear and become evident
in utmost perfection.
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So also the formation of man in the matrix of the world was
in the beginning like the embryo; then gradually he made progress
in perfection, and grew and developed until he reached the state
of maturity, when the mind and spirit became visible in the
greatest power. In the beginning of his formation the mind and
spirit also existed, but they were hidden; later they were manifested.
In the womb of the world mind and spirit also existed in
the embryo, but they were concealed; afterwards they appeared.
So it is that in the seed the tree exists, but it is hidden and concealed;
when it develops and grows, the complete tree appears.
In the same way the growth and development of all beings is
gradual; this is the universal divine organization, and the natural
system. The seed does not at once become a tree, the embryo does
not at once become a man, the mineral does not suddenly become
a stone. No, they grow and develop gradually, and attain the
limit of perfection.
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All beings, whether large or small, were created perfect and
complete from the first, but their perfections appear in them by
degrees. The organization of God is one: the evolution of existence
is one: the divine system is one. Whether they be small or great
beings, all are subject to one law and system. Each seed has in it
from the first all the vegetable perfections. For example, in the
seed all the vegetable perfections exist from the beginning, but
not visibly; afterwards little by little they appear. So it is first
the shoot which appears from the seed, then the branches, leaves,
blossoms, and fruits; but from the beginning of its existence all
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these things are in the seed, potentially, though not apparently.
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Similarly, the terrestrial globe from the beginning was created
with all its elements, substances, minerals, atoms, and organisms;
but these only appeared by degrees: first the mineral, then the
plant, afterward the animal, and finally man. But from the first
these kinds and species existed, but were undeveloped in the terrestrial
globe, and then appeared only gradually. For the supreme
organization of God, and the universal natural system, surrounds
all beings, and all are subject to this rule. When you consider
this universal system, you see that there is not one of the beings,
which at its coming into existence has reached the limit of perfection.
No, they gradually grow and develop, and then attain the
degree of perfection.
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