(42:3) Again, in proportion as the mind rejoices more in this divine
love or blessedness, so does it the more understand ([xxxii] ); that
is ([iii] Coroll.), so much the more power has it over the emotions,
and ([xxxviii] ) so much the less is it subject to those emotions
which are evil; therefore, in proportion as the mind rejoices in
this divine love or blessedness, so has it the power of controlling
lusts. (42:4) And, since human power in controlling the emotions consists
solely in the understanding, it follows that no one rejoices in
blessedness, because he has controlled his lusts, but, contrariwise,
his power of controlling his lusts arises from this blessedness itself.
Q.E.D.
Note.- (42:5) I have thus completed all I wished to set forth touching
the mind's power over the emotions and the mind's freedom. (6) Whence
it appears, how potent is the wise man, and how much he surpasses the
ignorant man, who is driven only by his lusts. (7) For the ignorant
man is not only distracted in various ways by external causes without
ever gaining, the true acquiescence of his spirit, but moreover lives,
as it were unwitting of himself, and of God, and of things, and as
soon as he ceases to suffer, ceases also to be.
(42:8) Whereas the wise man, in so far as he is regarded as such, is
scarcely at all disturbed in spirit, but, being conscious of himself,
and of God, and of things, by a certain eternal necessity, never ceases
to be, but always possesses true acquiescence of his spirit.
Pages:
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358