therefore, bear some resemblance to the rest of the Creator's works.
And how does the Divine creative energy display itself throughout the material universe? Why, in every formative process it proceeds gradually. Nothing comes forth full-formed and complete all at once—no, nor very suddenly. All things endowed with life—trees, plants, animals, men—commence from something minute, and advance by slow degrees to their mature state. And trees and animals that are destined to live longest, are always slowest of growth and latest in arriving at maturity. All orderly divine processes are gradual. Our globe itself—so science teaches—was many ages in becoming fitted for the abode of man. The face of nature shorn of its verdure by November's frosts, is gradually renewed by Spring's warm sunshine. The tiny germ within the acorn is gradually developed into the sturdy oak. The infant advances by slow degrees to the full stature of manhood. Must not the new spiritual man, then, advance by a corresponding process to the full stature of angelhood? All analogy proves that a man's ruling love is never suddenly changed.
And the same doctrine agrees with and is confirmed by universal experience. For who does not know from experience that the uprooting of avarice and selfishness from the natural heart, and implanting therein the loves of heaven, is no sudden work? Conviction of sin and conversion (which is simply turning about and facing in the opposite direction) may be sudden. But who ever heard of a man's ruling love (which means his entire character) being suddenly changed from evil to good?
