Communication proper belongs to the sphere of manifestation, and signifies, as I use the term, the imparting by one, and the receiving by another, of that which is imparted, or that which represents that which is imparted. When we look at man as a finite being, born as he is without conscious knowledge, and without conscious affection, and developed from that negative point by that which flows or enters into his consciousness and daguerreotypes itself there, we readily see that he can only develop by being subject to the principles of communication: that is, he must receive that which is without into his consciousness; therefore it must be communicated to him. Hence it becomes necessary for us to understand somewhat the laws of communication. As communication belongs to the sphere of manifestation, or the sphere of the finite, we must examine and see what are the means by which man as a conscious being is addressed, and the law by which the influence exerted upon him is governed. The mind when looked at in its simplest nature consists of its perceptions and its affections: that is, its knowledge, if you please, and its love; but in the order of unfolding, perception, as a conscious principle, precedes affection. That is, an individual as a finite being can not love till he perceives an object to call forth that love or affection. Whether it pertain to unconscious or to conscious nature, he must perceive the object before the affection is known to exist in his consciousness. For instance, a husband can know nothing of conjugal love, neither can the wife, until the object calling it forth exists in his or her perceptions. Neither can the mother love her babe until the object exists in her perceptions. Neither can the brother love brother or sister, or the child love its parents, until they perceive the objects of their affection. So you understand what I mean when I say in all finite natures perception precedes affection as a conscious principle; hence the law of communication pertains to perception and affection. As perception precedes affection, it is more external, view it in what sphere you will. I am now using perception in the sense of thought. The individual, by the means of communication, may be addressed externally by first addressing his perceptions, and thence through his perceptions addressing his affections; or he may be addressed by first addressing his affections, and through them his thoughts. I shall use for the purpose of convenience the expression thought and affection.