to superior knowledge, feels a delight in performing all the good he can, for the express purpose of contributing, to the utmost of his ability, to the general good—he, and the class to which he belongs, forms the third or natural degree. But we must not suppose that those who constitute the celestial degree, are not in the love of truth as well as goodness; or, that those in the spiritual and natural degrees are not in the love of the Lord. The love of the Lord exists in the whole of them, or they could not enter heaven. Each loves in his own degree. The first love the Lord for His goodness, the Lord being essential goodness. The second love Him for His truth, and He is essential truth. The third endeavour to do what is right, and, by simple obedience, without question, love Him in striving, from moral good, to shew themselves His confiding children. Or, to render the illustration still more familiar—the celestial love the Lord as celestial goodness, and serve as the media of conveying that goodness to, the next in degree. The second, or spiritual, who are in the love of truth, shew the love they bear to the Lord by the visible love with which they regard their neighbour: "By this all men know them to be the Lord's disciples, because they have love one to another." In the third degree, the celestial and spiritual characteristics are almost hidden; but yet love is seen and exemplified in the natural charity and good works by which they are distinguished.
Those represented by the dove are actuated by truth derived from love; who, with the purest affection, desire the truth not only for its own sake, but for the sake of uses. These are figured by the dove. Harmless—they are capable of being elevated into
