396. A COMPARISON OF [MAN'S] NATURE WITH TREES AND FRUITS. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE WORLD WHICH IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF CELESTIAL THINGS, AND, AS IT WERE, AN EFFECT OF SPIRITUAL THINGS All things whatsoever in the vegetable kingdom and in the animal kingdom, are the representations, and, as it were, the effects of spiritual and celestial things, and indeed in innumerable variety; for natural things could never exist, nor thus subsist, except from things spiritual, which can be demonstrated by innumerable considerations: here it shall only be demonstrated how the nature of man is formed in him while he is growing up.* This is clearly seen in trees and their fruits, as in apples and other fruits. The surface or skin is the mother of the interiors of the fruit or of the kernels. By means of the surface, and the fibers extended therefrom, all the interiors are formed; the flavor relates to delight. After the interiors have been formed from the surface by means of the fibers ramified on every side, then the shells are separated - as in almonds - and the kernels remain. This is in the likeness of those things that take place in the formation of man from cognitions, thus from intellectual things, whence is derived a nature which is the resemblance of the kernel formed in this manner; from the flavor of the kernel, it is evident of what quality the sap or life has been. These things have been written in the presence of angels and spirits. 1747, Dec. 25. Because natures or human souls are for the most part like immature and sour fruit, the odor of which is fetid, they therefore cannot be otherwise compared than to what needs to be reformed in good ground. * Crescit: the Latin text has nescit ("he is ignorant"), but the reading is doubtful.