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MAN'S INNATE POWERS
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	| 1 | 
	
     The beginning of the existence of man on the terrestrial globe 
resembles his formation in the womb of the mother.  The embryo 
in the womb of the mother gradually grows and develops until 
birth, after which it continues to grow and develop until it reaches 
the age of discretion and maturity.  Though in infancy the signs 
of the mind and spirit appear in man, they do not reach the 
degree of perfection; they are imperfect.  Only when man attains 
maturity do the mind and the spirit appear and become evident 
in utmost perfection.  
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	| 2 | 
	
     So also the formation of man in the matrix of the world was 
in the beginning like the embryo; then gradually he made progress 
in perfection, and grew and developed until he reached the state 
of maturity, when the mind and spirit became visible in the 
greatest power.  In the beginning of his formation the mind and 
spirit also existed, but they were hidden; later they were manifested.  
In the womb of the world mind and spirit also existed in 
the embryo, but they were concealed; afterwards they appeared.  
So it is that in the seed the tree exists, but it is hidden and concealed; 
when it develops and grows, the complete tree appears.  
In the same way the growth and development of all beings is 
gradual; this is the universal divine organization, and the natural 
system.  The seed does not at once become a tree, the embryo does 
not at once become a man, the mineral does not suddenly become 
a stone.  No, they grow and develop gradually, and attain the 
limit of perfection.  
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	| 3 | 
	
     All beings, whether large or small, were created perfect and 
complete from the first, but their perfections appear in them by 
degrees.  The organization of God is one:  the evolution of existence 
is one:  the divine system is one.  Whether they be small or great 
beings, all are subject to one law and system.  Each seed has in it 
from the first all the vegetable perfections.  For example, in the 
seed all the vegetable perfections exist from the beginning, but 
not visibly; afterwards little by little they appear.  So it is first 
the shoot which appears from the seed, then the branches, leaves, 
blossoms, and fruits; but from the beginning of its existence all 
these things are in the seed, potentially, though not apparently.  
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	| 4 | 
	
     In the same way, the embryo possesses from the first all perfections, 
such as the spirit, the mind, the sight, the smell, the taste--
in one word, all the powers--but they are not visible, and become 
so only by degrees.  
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	| 5 | 
	
     Similarly, the terrestrial globe from the beginning was created 
with all its elements, substances, minerals, atoms, and organisms; 
but these only appeared by degrees:  first the mineral, then the 
plant, afterward the animal, and finally man.  But from the first 
these kinds and species existed, but were undeveloped in the terrestrial 
globe, and then appeared only gradually.  For the supreme 
organization of God, and the universal natural system, surrounds 
all beings, and all are subject to this rule.  When you consider 
this universal system, you see that there is not one of the beings, 
which at its coming into existence has reached the limit of perfection.  
No, they gradually grow and develop, and then attain the 
degree of perfection.  
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