211. Since all civil, moral and spiritual matters progress by degrees in the same way as natural phenomena, not only by continuous degrees but also by discrete degrees, and since the progressions of discrete degrees are like the progressions of ends to causes and of causes to effects, therefore in order to illustrate and confirm the present proposition, which is that the last degree embraces, contains, and is the foundation of the prior degrees, I have chosen to do so by showing it in relation to the aforementioned instances, namely, by citing the examples of love and wisdom, of will and intellect, of affection and thought, and of charity and faith.