m beings because it is their essential requirement, as it is the
essential requirement of fire to burn.

Thus it is established that this movement is necessary to existence, which
is either growing or declining. Now, as the spirit continues to exist
after death, it necessarily progresses or declines: and in the other
world, to cease to progress is the same as to decline; but it never leaves
its own condition, in which it continues to develop. For example, the
reality of the spirit of Peter, however far it may progress, will not
reach to the condition of the Reality of Christ; it progresses only in its
own environment.

Look at this mineral: however far it may evolve, it only evolves in its
own condition; you cannot bring the crystal to a state where it can attain
to sight: this is impossible. So the moon which is in the heavens, however
far it might evolve, could never become a luminous sun; but in its own
condition it has apogee and perigee. However far the disciples might
progress, they could never become Christ. It is true that coal could
become a diamond, but both are in the mineral condition and their
component elements are the same.

PROGRESS AFTER DEATH

When we consider beings with the seeing eye, we observe that they are
limited to three sorts: that is to say, as a whole, they are either
mineral, vegetable, or animal; each of these three classes containing
species. Man is the highest species because he is the possessor of the
perfections of all the classes; that is, he has a body which grows and
which feels. As well as having the perfections of the mineral, of the
vegetable, and of the animal, he also possesses an especial excellence
which the other beings are without; that is, the intellectual perfections.
Therefore man is the most noble of beings.

Man is in the highest degree of materiality, and at the beginning of
spirituality; that is to say, he is the end of imperfection and the
beginning of perfection. He is at the last degree of darkness, and at the
beginning of light; that is why it has been said that the condition of man
is the end of the night and the beginning of day, meaning that he is the
sum of all the degrees of imperfection, and that he possesses the degrees
of perfection. He has the animal side as well as the angelic side; and the
aim of an educator is to so train human souls, that their angelic aspect
may overcome their animal side. Then, if the divine power in man which is
his e