The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1890-02-13

wait till the next seal is opened. But
the mind will soon show some con
trolling principle, which will indica te
the direction it Is taking, AMI tn
| plant Will push up trunk or stem
showing it's direction. The second
seal OF each is open. Now we must
walt and see in what other directions
| the mind will branch out, and what
| KIND OF branches the tree will put
out, and, when each has finished its
growth, the third seal is Open Now
the natural principles and forms of
the mind are complete and contains
also the germs of the higher life,
which now begin to bloom into
Heavenly thoughts, motives and as
piratiOns. The trees also bloom in
preparation for higher uses, and the
forth seal is open. The fifth seal
opens, and we see the mind, under
the influence of these new principles,
slowly producing the fruits of the
new life, but not yet in perfection.
The tree likewise begins slowly to de-
Nelop its fruit. The opening of the
sixth seal reveals the perfect fruits of
both mind and tree, and the end of
all their labors, and the seventh seal
opens upon the sabbath of rest, and
the life that shall never end.
Thus we see that mental growth,
states and qualities might be de-
scribed by the description of plant
or tree. Indeed it would be impossi-
BILE to describe them at all without
words derived from the forms and
qualities of natural objects; and as
the mineral, vegetable and animal
Kingdoms contain the representa-
tives of all the thoughts and affec-
lions, every principle of the mind,
good or bad, could be thus described
Ii this be so, is not the natural object
from which an idea is derived itself
the best expression of that idea?
True, we have learned to think of
mental states and activities without
reverting to their forms in nature,
and speak of broad principles with
out measuring them with yard
stick, and of light or weighty con-
slderatiOns without ever thinking of
weighing them on scales; yet the
great book of nature is always be-
fore us, and contains q language
that is interchangeable and universal.
There, then, we have the science of
us Ictectleu ny OWE
denborg, according to which the an
imal kingdom represents the affec-
tions, the vegetable kingdom the
truths and principles Of the under
standing, and the mineral kingdom
both these in a lower or more exter-
nal form.
Swedenborg also tells us that every
single thing in the animal, vegetable
and mineral kingdoms was actually
created through and by means of the
affections, thoughts and principles in
man, and therefore represents that
principle of the mind to which it owes
its existence.
Now if the Bible is written accord
ing to these laws of correspondence,
as Swedenborg affirms it is. then ev-
erything mentioned in the word will
represent something in man, in Hea-
ven or the Lord. And as correspon-
dences include everything in creation,
and therefore every subject of human
thought, true science, reason and
revelation must be in perfect agree
ment with each other Hence, Swe-
denborg says: ''Any doctrine of the
church that does not agree with
science, reason and revelation must
be rejected Will those who inter
pref the Bible literally submit their
doctrines to this test? They dare
not NEW CHJrRCHNA