UNITY OP SYSTEM. 133 



remark applies to the Bible, and accords with the injunction at the close 

 of the latter. 



It has been already mentioned how each creature, both in itself, and in 

 relation to others, is figurative of the whole creation, though only partially 

 so; for the laws of Nature, like the Deity who has ordained them, are 

 never fully disclosed. In like manner periods of thousands of years are 

 prefigured in the Bible by means of a few words, and by the description 

 of a single event. 



The whole Bible is one continued and progressive preparation for another 

 life, and its tendency from beginning to end is to disengage man succes- 

 sively more and more from the earth; the law of degradation before men- 

 tioned being the means applied. 



This law, with regard to man, has three divisions; the first being 

 degradation or destruction, on account of the prevalence of evil, and of a 

 total inaptitude for a better state of existence, as the creatures of each of 

 the early epochs, when they had attained their most flourishing state, began 

 to dwindle and to pass away. The second division is humiliation or repen- 

 tance of evil; and the third is self-renunciation, or a voluntary separation 

 from the present state. This last is 



"That golden key, 

 That ope's the palace of eternity." 



It appears figuratively in most of the events and circumstances mentioned 

 in the Old Testament, is more distinctly enjoined by the Prophets, and is 

 fully and continually disclosed throughout the New Testament. There is 

 no compromise or reservation; total renunciation is there required, and it 

 insures perfect liberty, as an existence independent of this life being then 

 without fear and doubt. Love is the motive for a change of state or of 

 situation on the earth, and the greater the change the more must be the 

 love for the state to come; all the various events of life being preparatory 

 to, or figurative of, the final change, lliches, birth, rank, honours, learning, 

 imagination, and all other advantages, and all virtues which are only suited 

 to this life, must be inwardly renounced, for they will all cease with the 

 present existence. Self-renunciation is true faith, and is all that is required 

 )f man, for its motive must be love, and it will shew itself by good works 

 when it has the means, though it will be equally efficacious without them, 

 as frequently no means are allowed for them. It is easier to renounce 

 vices than to renounce trust in virtues, as appears by many examples in 

 the Bible; and the ignorant and savage having little to trust to, are often 

 more easily induced to self-renunciation than are the civilized heathen, with 

 their elaborate laws, and ceremonies, and mythology. The Jews having 

 most to trust to, and not seeing beyond their law, are most difficult to 

 convert to Christianity. 



VOL. VII. * 



