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In short, the point is this, that the world of man
is supernatural in its relation to the vegetable
kingdom, though in reality it is not so. Relatively
to the plant, the reality of man, his power of hearing
and sight, are all supernatural, and for the plant
to comprehend that reality and the nature of the
powers of man's mind is impossible. In like manner
for man to comprehend the Divine Essence and the
nature of the great Hereafter is in no wise possible.
The merciful outpourings of that Divine Essence,
however, are vouchsafed unto all beings and it is
incumbent upon man to ponder in his heart upon
the effusions of the Divine Grace, the soul being
counted as one, rather than upon the Divine
Essence itself. This is the utmost limit for human
understanding. As it hath previously been mentioned,
these attributes and perfections that we recount
of the Divine Essence, these we have derived
from the existence and observation of beings,
and it is not that we have comprehended the
essence and perfection of God. When we say that
the Divine Essence understandeth and is free, we
do not mean that we have discovered the Divine
Will and Purpose, but rather that we have acquired