NUMERICAL CLASSIFICATION. 61 



exteriors and interiors. Hence it is the pivotal and governing 

 number of the series.* 



This septinary classification may also be embodied in the 

 triad. Thus the first, second, and third members of any 

 seven-fold series, form one trinity, and therefore may count as 

 a unit ; the fourth, fifth, and sixth members form a second 

 trinity, and count another unit; while the seventh member, 

 which is always equal, or rather superior, to all the rest put 

 together, forms a third unit, and completes a general trinity. 

 As a guide to correctness in any septinary classification, it is 

 important to observe that the first and second trinities in the 

 series, should bear a certain general and particular correspond- 

 ence with each other. 



Whatever obscurities may at first exist in the foregoing 

 statement, will be abundantly clarified by the illustrative 

 examples which will incidentally occur as we proceed. It is here 

 given mainly as a hint to the reader, that the classifications in 

 which we shall have to deal, are not arbitrary, but founded 

 in the nature of things. Considering, therefore, that each 

 natural seven-fold series corresponds to, and illustrates every 

 other, and that this septinary arrangement runs through every 

 complete creation, system, and Kingdom in nature, the degree 

 of reliance which may be placed on the legitimate results of 

 the method of investigation now propose^, as well as the 

 character and extent of those results, as compared with what 

 may be obtained by other processes, may be illustrated as 

 follows: Suppose there are a large number of timbers, 

 hewn, squared, morticed, etc., and piled confusedly together. 



* The ancient inspired records also deal largely in the number twelve and its 

 multiples, as an interiorly significant number. It may be remarked that the number 

 twelve is evolved from the seven-fold series, and is simply the number of six pro- 

 ductive unities, or positive and negative, active and passive, or male and female, 

 principles. It is therefore, also, a number of subordinal association. 



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