HH 38
Degrees are of two kinds,
those
that are continuous and those that are not.
Continuous degrees are
related
like the degrees of the waning of a light
from its bright blaze
to darkness,
or like the degrees of the decrease of vision
from objects
in the light to those in the shade,
or like degrees of purity in the
atmosphere
from bottom to top.
These degrees are determined by distance.
On the other hand,
degrees that are not continuous, but discrete,
are distinguished like prior and posterior,
like cause and effect,
and
like what produces and what is produced.
. . . Until one has acquired for himself
a perception of these degrees
he
cannot possibly understand
the differences between the heavens,
nor
between the interior and exterior
faculties of a person,
nor the differences
between
the spiritual world and the natural world,
nor between the
spirit of a person and his body.
So neither can he understand the nature and
source
of correspondences and representations,
or the nature of influx.
Sensual people do not apprehend these differences,
for they make increase
and decrease,
even according to these degrees,
to be continuous,
and are
therefore unable to conceive
of what is spiritual
otherwise than as a
purer natural.
And in consequence
they remain outside of
and a great way
off from intelligence.
HH 39
In every angel and also in every person
there is an inmost or highest
degree,
or an inmost or highest something,
into which the Divine of the
Lord
primarily or proximately flows,
and from which it disposes the
other interiors in him
that follow in accordance with the degrees of
order.
This inmost or highest degree may be called
the entrance of the
Lord to the angel or person,
and His veriest dwelling-place in them.
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