Page:Heaven Revealed.djvu/365

 the order as well as the things of heaven, are distinctly imaged in things of earth.

"Everything in the world," says Swedenborg, "possessing the three dimensions, or called composite, is constituted of discrete degrees." And "although the progress of end, cause, and effect, is by discrete degrees, yet of these degrees little or nothing is known in the world."—D. L. W. n. 189, '90.

But if the three angelic heavens exist in accordance with the eternal laws of divine order, having their foundation, as we have said, in the constitution of the human soul, why, it will be asked, do we not see some illustration of this doctrine in the social or collective as well as in the individual man here on earth? There can be no law of human nature so deeply implanted as to determine the angelic heavens into one or another form, which does not manifest itself with greater or less distinctness in this natural sphere. The veil of flesh which is here thrown over the spirit, is not sufficient to hide any of its deep-seated laws or fixed determinations. The same law which draws angels of like character into the same heavenly society, determines people everywhere on earth to seek the companionship of those most like themselves. And so with all biological laws. They exist and are alike operative in both worlds, the natural and the spiritual. Not more certainly does the form of the eagle while yet unfledged and in its shell, point to the future destiny of the bird and the element in which it is to move, than do the laws and tendencies of our human nature as manifested in the flesh, point to the general order and arrangement of that world which is to be our final home.