thorn and the brier were "good," and thus were among the things originally created, which were all good,—why should they be spoken of as things to be destroyed or supplanted? Have not all things that are good a place and a use in the Lord's creation,—and a distinct place where they interfere with no other thing? But these are spoken of as being opposite to what is good and useful in the vegetable kingdom, and as necessary to be removed or destroyed. But, it may be said—"these material objects are only mentioned figuratively, to represent qualities in man's mind—as signifying that evil thoughts and desires are to be removed, and that good ones are to take their place—not that the literal brier and myrtle- tree are meant." Grant it; but why should good things in nature be used as types of evil things in the mind? If the thorn and the brier be good and a part of the original and beautiful order of creation, with what propriety can they be taken as emblems of what is evil and disorderly in the mind of man? This would be a most unfit use of figures. No! it is because such things in nature are truly emblematic of evil things in man, that they are adduced and made mention of in the Sacred Scriptures. And they are emblematic of such things in man,—because they really flow and proceed from them as effects from their causes. As the whole material world is an out-birth from the whole spiritual or moral world, so each and every object in the former must be derived from some principle or affection in the latter. The myrtle is an emblem of peace and love, only because it exists originally from what is peaceful and lovely in the world of mind; as, in like manner, all that is good and lovely in the mind of man is derived from Him who is Good-
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