Page:The Parable of Creation.djvu/85

Rh This, as we learned, was represented in the parable by the command of God, "Let there be light," and its resulting consequence, "there was light." And this, the first day of creation, symbolizes the first stage of regeneration some light let in upon the darkness of the mind.

Having gained this much, the second step is to acquire a habit of understanding spiritual truth when it is presented to the mind; in other words, to have the spiritual understanding opened or the spiritual mind developed. This, we found to be represented by the creation of the firmament. The natural firmament or sky is the region above, through which light irradiates the realms of space and pours in upon the earth. Correspondingly the spiritual firmament of the mind is where light on spiritual themes is received and spread around, and into all the various faculties.

Having now obtained a mental power of receiving the Lord's spiritual teachings, and of comprehending them, the third step is the bringing forth of that which we have thus far gained into fruits of a good life. The prominent feature of the third day of creation was the earth bringing forth grass and the herb yielding seed and the fruit tree yielding fruit. These, being the first springings forth of life on earth, we found to be symbolic of the mind's first effort to bring forth into life something living and