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.
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.
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.
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.
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.