lvi INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS. 



which one thing might represent another. If he was informed by his 

 Creator that the works of creation constituted such a book, by the 

 right interpretation of which he might arrive at spiritual verities as 

 well as natural knowledge, curiosity and the desire of information 

 concerning these high and important subjects would stimulate him to 

 the study of the mystic volume placed before him, in the progress of 

 which he would doubtless be assisted by that divine guidance which 

 even now is with those who honestly seek the truth. Both divines 

 and philosophers have embraced this opinion, which is built upon the 

 word of God itself*." 



10. All that we can know with certainty on the nature of this 

 Almighty Being must be gathered from the inspired volume. We 

 are there expressly told that the Godhead is three-fold, yet one 

 and undivided. If to awaken, to strengthen, or to increase our faith 

 in this high mystery, the Almighty condescended to employ other 

 means and other helps for our conviction, we can conceive no other so 

 intelligible to human reason, as that this great truth should be pro- 

 claimed by the wonders of creation. These instruments of " spiritual 

 verities," as they have prophetically been termed-]-, surround us on 

 every side ; — they are within our grasp — they speak to our perceptions. 

 Let us not then believe, that the power of discerning such spiritual 

 truths by these their material symbols has been withheld from us, 

 even in this our fallen state. Let us rather, with humble thank- 

 fulness, adore that God, who, to increase our faith in his word, 

 enables us to discern, however dimly, in earthly things, the shadows 

 of such as are heavenly. Sw. 



Tittenhanger Green, St. Albaris, 

 July, 1831. 



* Kirby, Int. to Ent., iv. 402. 



t The most natural and consistent interpretation of 1 Cor.xiii. 12. B\e7ropev <yap apn St' eooTnpov 

 ev uiviy/icni, is, that " we see now as it were in a mirror the glory of God reflected enigmatically by 

 the things that he has made." — Kirby, Int. to Ent., p. 402, note. 



