Conjugial Love (Acton) n. 347

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347. XII. THAT A POLYGAMIST, SO LONG AS HE REMAINS A POLYGAMIST, CANNOT BECOME SPIRITUAL. To become spiritual is to be elevated from the natural [to the spiritual], that is, from the light and heat of the world, to the light and heat of heaven. None knows of this elevation save one who is elevated. Nevertheless, the natural man not elevated perceives no otherwise than that he is elevated. The reason is because, equally with the spiritual man, he can elevate his understanding into the light of heaven, and can think and talk spiritually. Yet, if at the same time the will does not follow the understanding into that height, he is not elevated; for he does not remain in that elevation but after some moments lets himself down to his will and there fixes his station. It is said the will, but the love also is meant, the Will being the receptacle of love; for what a man loves, that he wills. From these few words, it can be evident that a polygamist, so long as he remains a polygamist, or, what is the same thing, a natural man, so long as he remains natural, cannot become spiritual.


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