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prived of a considerable share of their excellence, as arising from their adaptation to each other, and from the harmony produced by such adaptation. This case may be illustrated by that of the cake, or meat-offering, under the Jewish dispensation, which cake was composed, we learn, of fine flour, of oil, and of frankincense, [Levit. ii. 1.] and thus, as we are further taught by our enlightened author, was a representative and significative figure of Charity, or that neighbourly love which is the peculiar characteristic of the spiritual church. [See A. C. 2177.] How plain now is it to see, that no description of the parts, of which this cake was compounded, let it be ever so correct and full, can possibly give an adequate idea of the cake itself, and that consequently the intrinsic virtues of the cake, together with its peculiar qualities and uses, must remain for ever unknown, until the parts be viewed in their combination with each other! How plainly also may it be further seen, that the fine flour, the oil, and the frankincense, whatsoever excellencies each may possess singly, acquire new and increased perfection by their assemblage, and that thus to decide on the character and quality of any one of them, when in a state of separation from the rest, would be a very imperfect decision, and would of course suggest a very imperfect idea of the proper value and use of each, whether it be the fine flour, the oil, or the frankincense! Yet such is the decision which we make concerning the evangelical grace of Charity, whensoever we look only at its component parts, without viewing them in their complex, or in their union with each other.
But perhaps the best illustration of the above case may be found in the heavenly doctrine of the New Jerusalem respecting the grace under consideration; and therefore, I shall proceed, without further interruption, to state the distinct views exhibited in that doctrine, first, of the several degrees of Charity, called internal, interior, and external; and secondly, of their combination, or of that union of all in one, which form the evangelical excellence called Charity, or the love of our neighbour.
1. And first, in regard to the internal degree of Charity.
It is the continual edifying testimony of the heavenly doctrine of the New Jerusalem, that this degree consists in an internal affection to do the truth, thus that it consists in performing uses for the sake of uses; and further, that it is an image of God, and that it contains in it love to the Lord, thus the Lord, although man is
