There is a constitutional affection manifested between every particle and compound in being. This is the Law of Association, which is the rudimental principle of Nature established by God Who is love. It creates, develops and perfects man, distributing the race, in common with all created things, to those places of the earth which are congenial with their respective qualities. Every form in the vegetable is distributed according to this law, which is especially and fully developed in the human form. It constitutes men differently, gives them diverse inclinations, passions and properties of soul. But if it thus distinguishes them, the variety is necessary to harmonise and unite the whole.2 Diversity manifests
order of development, is the mode of progress, the source of happiness, the spring of life and energy. Men inherit their various attributes from the womb of Nature, where they have been deposited and impregnated by the love and wisdom of God. Such attributes constitute the affinity which man sustains to Nature and to her provisions. There is no desire of man for the gratification of which she has not provided means, more especially when such desire is governed by that wisdom which should regulate its satisfaction also. This inseparable relation between man, Nature and Divine Principle is established by the Law of Association, and it is Divine Law because it is the love and life of Deity. It distributes impartial blessings to all, and for every action dispenses an adequate reward or punishment.
On this indestructible basis rests the connected law of reciprocal justice and consequent morality and happiness. Every being is entitled by Nature to liberty and happiness. If the desires of any single being are not gratified there is an unjust absorption in some parts of the body general of humanity, which does injury to absorber and absorbed. Those who have superfluous gratifications are as miserable as those whose wants are supplied inadequately. It is an injury for one to have more than he can well employ and unjust to deprive anyone of that which is necessary to his existence, or of any blessing to which he is entitled by Nature. To prevent absorption in any part of the great human body the wisdom of men must recognise the Divine Law of Association, by making all situations and all degrees of human industry correspond to its uniform requirements. Man must become acquainted with his own nature, the God Who made him, and the laws which unite all created things. It is the Law of Association which establishes harmony and forbids injustice to anything. There is another truth—that man has an important duty and an end to fulfil. Hence each must have a distinct position in the great structure of
society, which position must be determined by his constitutional qualifications and his ability to discharge obligations. He must gravitate to his peculiar centre, to whatever soil, climate, occupation may be most congenial with his natural dispositions, as these are governed by wisdom.
Each man is an organ of the great human body, but in the present condition of things one is opposed to another, absorbing its strength and happiness, and thus generating every species of evil, pain, wretchedness and disorganisation. But it is proper that each individual, as an organ of the general body, should occupy a position agreeable to the demands of his own nature and that of others. Distributive and impartial justice would thus be generated, promoting health, unity and happiness throughout the frame. To establish harmony in society, every man must be well instructed and properly placed, so that his movements may accord with those of the whole. Society can only be harmonised by enlightened wisdom, under the rule of which discord cannot arise. It will make all industry attractive, every dispensation just, and will determine every position by specific qualifications. It will advance the lower strata of society until every man shall do that for which he is destined and all contention shall merge in the harmony of the whole.
By acquaintance with the law of association and its distributions, and so only, can there be established a true brotherhood on earth, a perfect system of order, analogous to that displayed in the structure of the universe.1
Under such a scheme the lowest and most imperfect will occupy the lowest point in society, and a graduated development will characterise the ascending groups, until they rise to the highest point of human perfection. He then who is most perfect in physical and spiritual constitution will occupy the highest position as governor, will pervade the whole by wisdom, directing it righteously according to universal order. Every group in human society will be comparable to a planet; all groups will revolve about a central object, embodying all industries, all knowledge, all human wisdom, and such object will be as a sun of the entire race. Moreover, the various departments of society will represent the solar system in their exchange of purified parts. Persons in the lowest society, who advance and become capable of associating with the second, will be enabled to ascend, and this progressive development will continue through all groups, even to the central power. There will thus be a constant supply from the extremities to the seat of government. Proximity to the centre will be determined by innate capabilities and relation to wisdom. Every individual will feel attraction toward that centre, but his true capacity to approach it will be in proportion to purity in his progress and correspondence with the law of reciprocity, in virtue of which each group will form a congregation of affectionate and inseparable individuals, working for each other's welfare. Mankind, so incorporated, will represent the harmony of the solar system, wherein no disturbance is discoverable, because the central sun is parent and governor, whose prevailing influence maintains an indestructible equilibrium. So will God's kingdom come and His will be done on earth
as it is in heaven. The race of man, formerly misdirected, will be brought to the fulness of the stature of a perfect being. The Sun of Righteousness will arise over the horizon of universal industry and shed its genial rays upon fields of peace, plenty and human happiness.