Page:The Philosophy of Creation.djvu/393

 may be procured; and how by scientifics, reason is to be developed, and rational truth and life acquired. Then through rational truth and life spiritual-natural truth and life are obtained; and then through these, spiritual truth and life; and lastly through these, celestial love. In this series, the lower serve as vessels receptive of influx by which the next higher are brought forth. We have shown how, by obedience to the law of our creation, celestial love or love of the Lord develops in man as the fruit of his being, just as by branches, leaves, and flowers, a tree bears fruit. The process of continually advancing in the quality and degree of truth and love is regeneration. They who perfect themselves in the highest degree, and finish the work, are regenerated. From this substantial basis of reality, regeneration is a real process fixed in the substance and form of the spirit; and religion, considered as the knowledge of and a life according to the law by which regeneration takes place, is a definite science, the science of all sciences. The destiny of man is that he shall know this science; work out its results in himself; finish the work of this life by opening the interior planes of his being, and then enter into the spiritual world, in close presence to His Creator, who will then fill him with His spirit, and bring to his daily life the