Translations from the Greek of the Following Treatises Viz on Suicide Two Books on Truly Existing Being [

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1834. Excerpt: ... of this not to be despised. For that which is appropriate, unless it is good, is indeed familiar and allied, but may by some one be avoided. Since other things, also, which are remote, and of a subordinate nature, may indeed excite the soul; but a strenuous love of them is then only produced, not while they remain what they are, but when, in addition to what they are, they receive something else from the good. Just as in bodies, though light is mingled with them, another light is at the same time necessary, that the colour, viz. the light which is in them," may become apparent. Thus, also, in supernal natures, though they possess an abundance of light, yet they are in want of a still more excellent light, in order that they may be visible to themselves and to some other thing, (p. 714.) When, therefore, some one perceives this light, he is then excited to supernal natures, and aspiring after the splendour which surrounds them, he is excessively delighted. Just as he who loves these terrene bodies, is not a lover of the subjects of them, but of the beauty in them which presents itself to the view. For each thing is that which it is in itself; but it becomes desirable in consequence of being coloured over by the good, which imparts to it, as it were, an alluring gracefulness, and infuses love in the natures which aspire after good. Hence, soul receiving an influx from thence into a Plato in the Timaeus says, that colour is a flame flowing from bodies. itself, is moved, is divinely inspired, is filled with vehement desire, and becomes inflamed with love. Prior to this, however, it was not excited to intellect, though intellect is beautiful. For the beauty of it is sluggish till it receives the light of the good; and the soul falls, as it were, from itself re...