To arrive at a better understanding of what these various beings are, and their relation to us, we may take an illustration: Let us suppose that a mechanic is making an engine, and meanwhile a dog is watching him. It _sees_ the man at his labor, and how he uses various tools to shape his materials, also how, from the crude iron, steel, brass and other metals the engine slowly takes shape. The dog is a being from a lower evolution and does not comprehend the purpose of the mechanic but it _sees_ both the workman, his labor and the result thereof, which manifests as an engine. Let us now suppose that the dog were able to see the materials which slowly change their shape, assemble and become an engine but that it is unable to perceive the workman and to see the work he does. The dog would then be in the same relation to the mechanic as we are to the great intelligences we call laws of nature, and their assistants, the nature spirits, for we behold the manifestations of their work as _force_ moving matter in various ways but always under immutable conditions. In the ether we may also observe the angels, whose densest body is made of that material, as our dense body is formed of gases, liquids and solids. These beings are one step beyond the human stage, as we are a degree in advance of the animal evolution. We have never been animals like our present fauna, however, but at a previous stage in the development of our planet we had an animal-like constitution. Then the angels were human, though they have never possessed a dense body such as ours, nor ever functioned in any material denser than ether. At some time, in a future condition, the earth will again become ethereal. Then man will be _like_ the angels. Therefore the Bible tells us that man was made _a little while_ lower than the angels (Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, second chapter, seventh verse; _see marginal reading_.) As ether is the avenue of vital, creative forces, and as angels are such expert builders of ether, we may readily understand that they are eminently fitted to be warders of the propagative forces in plant, animal and man. All through the Bible we find them thus engaged: Two _angels_ came to Abraham and announced the birth of Isaac, they _promised_ a child to the man who had obeyed God. Later _these same angels_ destroyed Sodom for _abuse of the creative force_. _Angels_ foretold _to the parents_ of Samuel and Samson, the birth of these giants of brain and brawn. To Elizabeth came the _angel_ (not archangel) Gabriel and announced the birth of John, later he appeared also to Mary with the message that she was chosen to bear Jesus. _The Desire World._