Page:The Judgment Day.pdf/89

 ty successive order is, also what and of what quality simultaneous order is, may be seen above: hence it is evident, that all creation is effected in ultimates, and that all divine operation pervades to ultimates, and there creates and operates. That an angelic mind is formed in man, is evident from his formation in the womb, also from his formation after birth, and because it is agreeable to the law of divine order, that all things from ultimates should return to the first principle from which they are derived, and man to the Creator from whom he receives being. From the formation of man in the womb, is evident from what was said above, where it was shown, that man is there formed fully for birth, by virtue of life which is from the Lord, for the reception of life from him, for the reception of love by a future will, and for the reception of wisdom by a future understanding, which together make the mind capable of becoming angelic. From his formation after birth, it is evident that all means are provided that man may become such a mind; for every nation has religion, and the presence of the Lord is everywhere, and there is conjunction according to love and the wisdom thence derived: thus there is in every man a capacity of being formed (formabilitas,) and wheresoever there is an inclination, a continual formation takes place, from infancy to old age, for heaven, that he may become an angel. That it is agreeable to the law of divine order, that all things from ultimates should return to the first principle from which they are derived; this may be seen from every thing created in the world; for seed is the first principle of a tree; this latter rising out of the earth from the former, growing into branch es, blossoming, producing fruits, and storing up seed in them, returns thus to the principle from which it was derived; the case is the same with every shrub, plant and flower. The seed also is the first principle of an animal; this is formed for the birth either in the matrix or in the egg, afterwards it grows and becomes a like animal, and also, when it comes to maturity, it has seed in itself; thus every thing in the animal kingdom, as well as every thing in the vegetable, rises from its first principle to the last, and from the last rises again to the first from which it was derived.—The case is similar in man, but with the difference, that the first principle of an animal and a vegetable is natural, and that therefore, when it returns to its first principle, it relapses into nature; whereas the first principle of man is spiritual, like to his soul, receptible of the divine love and the divine wisdom; this, separated from the body, lapsing into nature, must needs return to the Lord, from whom it has life. Other