EMANUEL SWEDENBORG
and the purer blood, it on no account follows them as ends. Persons of this cast regard the arts and sciences only as aids to wisdom, and learn them as helps to its attainment, not that they may be reputed wise for possessing them. They modestly restrain all tendency to inflated ideas of themselves, knowing that the sciences are an ocean of which they can catch but a few drops. They look on no one with a scornful brow or supercilious air, nor arrogate any praise to themselves. They ascribe all to the Deity, and regard Him as the source from which all true wisdom descends. In the promotion of His glory they place the end and object of their own."
Remarking now how sensual and worldly cares impair this noble faculty, he says, "Nothing super-induces more darkness on the human mind than the interference of its own fancied providence in matters that properly belong to the Divine providence." And then he goes on to say, still as from experience—
"This faculty, however, is chiefly impaired by the thirst for glory and the love of self. I know not what darkness overspreads the rational faculties when the mind begins to swell with pride,
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