Proof.- (23:1) There is necessarily in God a concept or idea, which
expresses the essence of the human body ([xxii] ), which, therefore,
is necessarily something appertaining to the essence of the human mind
(II:[xiii] ). (2) But we have not assigned to the human mind any,
duration, definable by time, except in so far as it expresses the actual
existence of the body, which is explained through duration, and may be
defined by time - that is (II:[viii] Coroll.), we do not assign to it
duration, except while the body endures. (23:3) Yet, as there is something,
notwithstanding, which is conceived by a certain eternal necessity through
the very essence of God ([xxii] ); this something, which appertains to
the essence of the mind, will necessarily be eternal. Q.E.D.
Note.- (23:4) This idea, which expresses the essence of the body under
the form of eternity, is, as we have said, a certain mode of thinking,
which belongs to the essence of the mind, and is necessarily eternal.
(5) Yet it is not possible that we should remember that we existed
before our body, for our body can bear no trace of such existence,
neither can eternity be defined in terms of time, or have any relation
to time. (6) But, notwithstanding, we feel and know that we are eternal.
(23:7) For the mind feels those things that it conceives by understanding,
no less than those things that it remembers.
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