he lowest sense natural, differs
from the beast only in this, that he can fill his memory with knowledges,
and think and speak therefrom; this power he gets from a capacity proper
to every man, of being able to understand truth if he chooses; it is this
capacity that makes the difference. Nevertheless many, by abuse of this
capacity, have made themselves lower than beasts.

256. THE NATURAL DEGREE OF THE HUMAN MIND REGARDED IN ITSELF IS CONTINUOUS,
BUT BY CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE TWO HIGHER DEGREES IT APPEARS WHEN IT IS
ELEVATED AS IF IT WERE DISCRETE.

Although this is hardly comprehensible, by those who have as yet no
knowledge of degrees of height, it must nevertheless be revealed, because
it is a part of angelic wisdom; and while the natural man is unable to
think about this wisdom in the same way as angels do, nevertheless it can
be comprehended by his understanding, when it has been raised into the
degree of light in which angels are; for his understanding can be elevated
even to that extent, and enlightened according to its elevation. But this
enlightenment of the natural mind does not ascend by discrete degrees; but
increases in a continuous degree, and as it increases, that mind is
enlightened from within by the light of the two higher degrees. How this
occurs can be comprehended from a perception of degrees of height, as
being one above another, while the natural degree, which is the lowest,
is a kind of general covering to the two higher degrees. Then, as the
natural degree is raised up towards a degree of the higher kind, the
higher acts from within upon the outer natural and illuminates it. This
illumination is effected, indeed, from within, by the light of the higher
degrees, but the natural degree which envelops and surrounds the higher
receives it by continuity, thus more lucidly and purely in proportion to
its ascent; that is, from within, by the light of the higher degrees, the
natural degree is enlightened discretely, but in itself is enlightened
continuously. From this it is evident that so long as man lives in the
world, and is thereby in the natural degree, he cannot be elevated into
very wisdom, such as the angels have, but only into higher light, even up
to angels, and can receive enlightenment from their light that flows in
from within and illuminates. But these things cannot as yet be more
clearly described; they can be better comprehended from effects; for
effects present causes in themselves i