The uses of all things that have been created
ascend by degrees
from
the lowest created forms to mankind,
and through mankind to God the
Creator
from whom they originate.
The lowest created forms are . . .
each and every constituent of the mineral kingdom . . ..
Intermediate created forms are
each and every constituent of the
plant kingdom.
The highest created forms are
each and every constituent of the
animal kingdom.
. . . every kingdom has in it
its lowest, intermediate, and highest
constituents,
the lowest existing to serve the intermediate,
and the
intermediate existing to serve the highest.
Thus do the uses of
all things that have been created
ascend in turn from the lowest created
forms
to mankind, which is the highest in order.
DLW 67
A person is born into
the lowest degree of the natural world.
He is
afterward elevated by various forms of learning
into the second degree.
And as by his studies he perfects his intellect,
he is elevated into the
third degree,
and he then becomes rational.
The three ascending
degrees in the spiritual world
exist in a person above the three natural
degrees,
but these do not appear
until he has put off his earthly body.
When he has put this off,
he has opened to him the first spiritual
degree,
after that the second spiritual degree,
and finally the third -
although the last is opened only in the case of people
who become angels
of the third heaven.
These are the people who see God.
(Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Matthew 5:8)
Those in whom the second degree can be opened
become angels of the
second heaven,
and those in whom the lowest degree can be opened
become
angels of the lowest heaven.
Each spiritual degree in a person
is
opened in accordance with his reception
of Divine love and wisdom from
the Lord.
Those who receive some measure of these
come into the first or
lowest spiritual degree.
Those who receive more
come into the second or
intermediate spiritual degree.
And those who receive much
come into the
third or highest degree.
On the other hand,
those who receive nothing
of these
remain in the natural degrees
and gain from the spiritual
degrees
no more than their ability to think and thus speak,
and to will
and thus act, though not intelligently.
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