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16 as spiritual money, and that every man possesses more or less of it. Jesus Christ speaks of it in the parables of the talents and the pounds, and reproves us for not using it, when he adds, Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers: (see Matt. xxv. 27.) Spiritual money appears to be the knowledge of the truths of God’s Word, and the right use of this money is to purchase the necessaries and conveniences of spiritual life, especially to procure heavenly love and charity. This is properly to put it to the exchangers, for in this case, what was mere science of truth in the understanding, by living according to it, is changed into saving and substantial good in the will and life; but as in the case of the money of this world, it is possible to make a wrong use of it, and thereby convert it into an instrument of mischief; so also it is true of spiritual money, that it may be, and is, much abused, and not being applied to its proper end—the procurement of heavenly love and charity,—becomes the means of destruction rather than of salvation.

54. Jesus Christ teaches to be wise as serpents, and harmless as dozes, (Matt. x. 16,) whence it should appear, that the perfection of the human character arises from the combined perfections of the animal, referred to their Divine Source; that is to say, connected with Jesus Christ. Query, then, whether the perfection of the human character will not be increased in proportion to the addition therein of the perfections of the inferior creatures, and decreased in proportion to their subtraction? Certain it is, that the life of man is a compounded life, made up of an indefinite variety of