5p36csc.md (1673B)
1 From what has been said we clearly understand, wherein 2 our salvation, or blessedness, or freedom, consists: namely, in 3 the constant and eternal love towards God, or in God's love 4 towards men. This love or blessedness is, in the Bible, called 5 Glory, and not undeservedly. For whether this love be referred 6 to God or to the mind, it may rightly be called acquiescence of 7 spirit, which (Def. of the Emotions, xxv. xxx.) is not really 8 distinguished from glory. In so far as it is referred to God, it 9 is (V. xxxv.) pleasure, if we may still use that term, 10 accompanied by the idea of itself, and, in so far as it is 11 referred to the mind, it is the same (V. xxvii.). 12 13 Again, since the essence of our mind consists solely in 14 knowledge, whereof the beginning and the foundation is God (I. 15 xv., and II. xlvii. note), it becomes clear to us, in what manner 16 and way our mind, as to its essence and existence, follows from 17 the divine nature and constantly depends on God. I have thought 18 it worth while here to call attention to this, in order to show 19 by this example how the knowledge of particular things, which I 20 have called intuitive or of the third kind (II. xl. note. ii.), 21 is potent, and more powerful than the universal knowledge, which 22 I have styled knowledge of the second kind. For, although in 23 Part I. I showed in general terms, that all things (and 24 consequently, also, the human mind) depend as to their essence 25 and existence on God, yet that demonstration, though legitimate 26 and placed beyond the chances of doubt, does not affect our mind 27 so much, as when the same conclusion is derived from the actual 28 essence of some particular thing, which we say depends on God. 29 30