kingdom. This Great Father, therefore, is called the Highest, and is said to dwell On High, because He is the inmost of all beings, and dwells within. Whatsoever, then, doth not respect this High Being, and is not conjoined in life with Him, is comparatively low, and dwells in what is low, degraded, and base. This is the case with science of every degree, so long as it remains conjoined to an inordinate love of self and of the world; for as the love of God is the highest love, because it points and leads to the Highest, so the love of self and of the world is the lowest love, because it turns itself downwards from God into the deep abyss d' its own corruptions and defilements. Science, then, whilst it is conjoined to self-love and to the love of the world, is depressed and sunk; but in proportion as it is elevated to conjunction with Jesus Christ and His kingdom, it arises out of defilement into purity, out of hell and death into heaven and-life.
It is greatly to be lamented that the above ascent of science is a subject, at this day, little considered, and less experienced, by the generality of Christians. The learned, therefore, fondly imagine that they have attained the heights of science, provided they have read many books with attention and observation. But they forget that science has no height unless it is conjoined with the love of God, and that it then only becomes exalted when it ascends towards heaven, and. is made to adminster to heavenly life and purity. In this blessed state of ascent, science may be compared to the
