Page:The Philosophy of Creation.djvu/366

 mal, except that there are in him, by virtue of the form of his mind, elementary faculties whereby he may voluntarily appropriate knowledge, and by it subjugate the animal nature, remove error, purify his desires, and become a form receptive of and sensitive to Divine human love from the Creator. Thus from animal he may become human, angelic, and God-like.

The human mind consists of two comprehensive and distinct faculties, the will, from which are affections; and the understanding, from which are thoughts. Consequently development consists in the two-fold office of instructing the understanding and of exalting the quality of the affections or will. The actual and only true development of man is the transformation of his affections so that from natural they become human and spiritual. This transformation is effected by means of truths which appertain to the understanding. To outward appearance animal or natural affections may appear like human or spiritual affection, but their nature is interiorly different. Animal and natural affections are self-seeking, self-centered, self-regarding, and as to their essence are self-love. Human or spiritual