200. All perfections increase and ascend along with degrees and in accordance with them because all predicates follow their subjects, and perfection and imperfection are general predicates, for they are predicated of life, of forces, and of forms.
Perfection of life is perfection of love and wisdom; and because the will and the understanding are receptacles of these, perfection of life is also perfection of will and understanding, and therefore of affections and thoughts. And because spiritual heat is the containant of love, and spiritual light is the containant of wisdom, perfection of these can also be referred to perfection of life.
Perfection of forces is perfection of all things which are actuated and moved through the agency in which, however, there is no life. Such forces are the atmospheres as to movements. Such forces also are interior and exterior organic substances with man, and with animals of every kind. Such forces are also all things in the natural world which are endowed with active powers both immediately and mediately from the sun there.
Perfection of forms and perfection of forces make one, for such as the forces are, such are the forms, with the difference only that forms are substances, while forces are their activities. Therefore similar degrees of affection belong to both. Forms which are not at the same time forces are also degrees of perfection.
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