Divine Love and Wisdom (Harleys) n. 318

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

318. (iv) In all forms of uses there is a certain image of the Infinite and the Eternal. The image of the Infinite in these forms is plain from their conatus and power to fill the spaces of the whole world, and even of many worlds, to infinity. For from one seed is produced a tree, shrub or plant which fills its own space. And from this tree, shrub or plant seeds are produced, in some cases thousands of them which, when sown and germinated, fill their own spaces. And if from each of their seeds there should come forth as many more, reproduced again and again, in the course of years the whole world would be filled. And if the productions were still continued, many worlds would be filled, and this to infinity. Estimate a thousand seeds from one and multiply thousands by thousands, ten times, twenty times, a hundred times, and you will see. The image of the Eternal in these forms is similar. Seeds are propagated from year to year, and propagations never cease. They have not ceased from the creation of the world till now, and will not cease to eternity. These two facts are outstanding indications and witnessing signs that all things of the universe have been created by an Infinite and Eternal God. Besides these images of the Infinite and Eternal, there is a further image of the Infinite and Eternal in varieties, in that there can never be a substance, state or thing in the created universe the same as another, neither in the atmospheres, nor in earths nor in the forms arising out of these, thus not in any of the things which fill the universe, can anything identical be produced to eternity. This is outstandingly observable in the variety of faces of mankind. No one face can be found throughout the world the same as another, nor can there be such to eternity. Consequently, no one mind is the same as another, for the face is the image of the mind.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church