Page:The Philosophy of Creation.djvu/182

 is distinctly higher than the Rational is again evident from some men not attaining moral truths or a moral life, though they are strong reasoners. They, having neither the perceptions of spiritual order nor the impressions of goodwilling, fail to open and to form the Spiritual-Natural, which is constituted by moral truths with their life. Such are false reasoners because their Rational does not lead them to the perception of moral truths, the purpose of which is to guide and direct the Rational. All spiritual men are rational, but not all rational men are spiritual. The Spiritual-Natural plane is above the Rational plane just as a good moral life is superior to a merely rational life, which may be false and evil. A good moral life originates in opening and forming the Spiritual-Natural plane.

Next above the Spiritual-Natural is the Spiritual plane, E. What this is and its distinctness may appear by contrast with the Spiritual-Natural. The Spiritual-Natural is opened and formed by a knowledge of and a life according to the external laws of the spiritual world, but without any concern about their origin or cause. The Spiritual plane is opened and formed not merely by the order, harmony, and delights of Spiritual-Natural laws, or the external laws of the spiritual world, but by the perceptions