THE DOCTKINE OF DEGREES. 205 



appear iii a general and particular form of embodiment that 

 will be intelligible to most minds. 



Each Complete Degree, viewed in this light, will appear 

 connected with the contiguous Complete Degree, in the same 

 way as each Discreet Degree is connected with its contiguous 

 Discreet Degree, and as each Elemental Degree is connected 

 with its contiguous Elemental Degree ; so that Nature, as a 

 whole, will exhibit the same ascending order of Complete De- 

 grees (or systems) that is exhibited by the Elemental Degrees 

 composing any seven-fold series. I can not avoid the thought 

 that this classification of Degrees, duly understood, would 

 present a new and important aid to a proper comprehension 

 of the ensemble, as well as the particulars of nature, with 

 her forces, modes of operation, and mutual relations of 

 parts. 



In view of the circular constitution and order of procession 

 of each system of being, as illustrated in the chapter im- 

 mediately preceding this, we are prepared to further remark, 

 that Degrees of altitude of each of these kinds, result from a 

 spiral uprising, so to speak, of the circle of development, by 

 which the first Elemental Degree ascends to the altitude of the 

 second, the second to the third, and so on ; or by which the first 

 Discreet Degree progressively rises to the altitude of the 

 second, and the second to the third, and by which one whole 

 circle of "developments, in being completed, thus forming a 

 Complete Degree, passes out into another and higher circle or 

 Complete Degree. For example, one octave in music, which 

 may be considered as a series of Elemental Degrees of sound, 

 forms one Complete Degree of sound, and each other octave 

 forms another Complete Degree, superior or inferior to it, ac- 

 cording as it is above or below it ; and a similar remark is 

 applicable to the Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal Kingdoms, 



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