various. I shall therefore only adduce some particular instances, from which a conclusion may be formed respecting the rest.
They who have loved themselves above all things, and in their offices and employments have regarded their own honor, and have performed uses, not for the sake of the uses and because they took delight in them, but for the sake of reputation that they might be esteemed more worthy than others on account of them, and have thus been delighted with the fame of their own honor—these, when in this second state, are more stupid than others. For in proportion as any one loves himself, he is removed from heaven; and in proportion as he is removed from heaven, he is removed from wisdom.
But they who have been in self-love, and at the same time have been crafty, and raised themselves to honors by artful practices, consociate themselves with the worst of spirits, and learn magic arts, which are abuses of divine order, whereby they trouble and infest all who do not honor them. They lay snares; they cherish hatred; they burn with revenge; and seek to vent their rage against all who do not submit themselves. And they rush into all these enormities in proportion as the wicked crew favors them; and at last they deliberate with themselves how they may climb up into heaven so as to destroy that, or be worshipped there as gods. To such lengths does their madness go.
