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1298 NOTES TO VOLUME II.
what is commonly called ’ conjugal love ;’ for this with some is a
merely limited love of the sex. Love truly conjugial is only with
those who have a desire for wisdom, and who, prompted by this
desire, progress in it more and more. These the Lord foresees, and
for these He provides conjugial love. This love, indeed, with them
commences from the love of the sex, or rather by the love of the
sex, but it does not originate in it. It takes its origin in propor
tion as wisdom advances with them, and progresses to light; for
wisdom and conjugial love are inseparable companions. Conjugial
love commences by the love of the sex, because before a suitable
companion is found, the sex is loved in a general way; it is regarded
with a fond eye, and is treated with civility from a ground of mora
lity: for the young man has to make his choice; and while this is
determining, from an innate inclination to marriage with one woman,
which lies concealed in the inmost of his mind, his external part
receives a gentle warmth. And as the determinations to marriage
for various reasons are delayed even to riper years, the beginning
of conjugial love meanwhile has the appearance of lust, which with
some actually passes off into the love of the sex; yet even with them
the bridle is relaxed not more than is conducive to health. This,
however, is said of the male sex ; because this has stimulations which
actually inflame; but it does not apply to the female sex."
The nature of the love of the sex is further described by Sweden
borg in the chapter on "Fornication" from nos. 444-460. We read
there, "The love of sex is as a fountain from which both conjugial
love and scortatory love may be derived. They may be derived by
passing through fornication, and they may be derived without passing
through it. For the love of sex belongs to every man, and it either
manifests itself in act (exserit se), or it does not manifest itself in act.
If it manifests itself in act before marriage with a prostitute, it is
called fornication ; if it manifests itself first with a wife, it is called
marriage; if after marriage with another woman it is called adultery;
wherefore, as mentioned above, the love of sex is like a fountain from
which both chaste love and unchaste love may proceed" (no. 445).
Again the Author says, "That the lust of fornication is not the lust
of adultery every one sees from common perception. What law, and
what judge imputes a like criminality to the fornicator as to the
adulterer? Common perception sees this difference, because fornication
is not opposed to conjugial love like adultery. In fornication con
jugial love may lie stored up, as what is spiritual may lie stored
up within what is natural" (no. 449).
Swedenborg afterwards continues to treat this subject under the
following heads : (a) "With some men the love of the sex cannot
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