Page:The Philosophy of Creation.djvu/350

 can be laid off, for the spiritual part is the real person and a complete spiritual being. The order of creation is such as first to form us; then to bring us into natural knowledge and life; then to introduce us by means of these into the knowledge and life of a spiritual world; and then when this knowledge and life is attained in a suitable preparatory degree, and life's uses are done, the natural body, through which the man makes such acquisition, yet which prevents full entrance into the spiritual world and consequent advancement, is shed, that the person may come fully into the truth and life of the spiritual world. That mankind should pursue this order and development until through wisdom in his understanding and love in his soul he comes into the knowledge and presence of God the Creator, is the one purpose of his creation and existence manifested in the design of the human organism, evidenced by the law of use, and corroborated by all genuine science, enlightened reason, and the Divine Word. "Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth?"

The natural body, coinciding with the degrees in nature, having served the purpose of enabling