(20:14) Again, it must be observed, that spiritual unhealthiness; and
misfortunes can generally be traced to excessive love for something which
is subject to many variations, and which we can never become masters of.
(15) For no one is solicitous or anxious about anything, unless he loves
it; neither do wrongs, suspicions, enmities, &c. arise, except in regard
to things whereof no one can be really master.
(20:16) We may thus readily conceive the power which clear and distinct
knowledge, and especially that third kind of knowledge (II:[xlvii] Note),
founded on the actual knowledge of God, possesses over the emotions: if
it does not absolutely destroy them, in so far as they are passions
([iii] and [iv] Note); at any rate, it causes them to occupy a very small
part of the mind ([xiv] ). (17) Further, it begets a love towards a
thing immutable and eternal ([xv] ), whereof we may really enter into
possession (II:[xlv] ); neither can it be defiled with those faults
which are inherent in ordinary love; but it may grow from strength to
strength, and may engross the greater part of the mind, and deeply
penetrate it. (20:18) And now I have finished with all that concerns this
present life: for, as I said in the beginning of this note, I have briefly
described all the remedies against the emotions.
(20:19) And this everyone may readily have seen for himself, if he has
attended to what is advanced in the present note, and also to the
definitions of the mind and its emotions, and, lastly, to Propositions
III:[i] and III:[iii] .
Pages:
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351