Having thought it right to make these prefatory observations, I proceed to the prosecution of my work.

CHAP.  I.

The Almighty created the Universe by means of his spirit—­and also man—­He gave man, besides his intellect, an emanation from his own spirit, thus making him in his own image—­But this image he lost—­A portion, however, of the same spirit was continued to his posterity—­These possessed it in different degrees—­Abraham, Moses, and the prophets, had more of it than some others—­Jesus possessed it immeasurably, and without limit—­Evangelists and apostles possessed it, but in a limited manner, and in different degrees.

The Quakers believe, that when the Almighty created the Universe, he effected it by means of the life, or vital or vivifying energy that was in his own spirit.  “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

This life of the spirit has been differently named, but is concisely stiled by St. John the evangelist “the word” for he says, “in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.  All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made, that was made.”

The Almighty also, by means of the same divine energy or life of the spirit which had thus created the universe, became the cause also of material life, and of vital functions.  He called forth all animated nature into existence; for he “made the living creature after his kind.”

He created man also by the same power.  He made his corporeal and organic nature.  He furnished him also with intellect, or a mental understanding.  By this latter gift he gave to man, what he had not given to other animated nature, the power of reason, by which he had the superiority over it, and by means of which he was enabled to guide himself in his temporal concerns.  Thus when he made the natural man, he made him a rational agent also.

But he gave to man, at the same time, independently of this intellect or understanding, a spiritual faculty, or a portion of the life of his own spirit, to reside in him.  This gift occasioned man to become more immediately, as it is expressed, the image of the Almighty.  It set him above the animal and rational part of his nature.  It made him know things not intelligible solely by his reason.  It made him spiritually minded.  It enabled him to know his duty to God, and to hold a heavenly intercourse with his maker.