408. (17) This love in spiritual partners comes from within or from a prior cause, while in natural partners it comes from without or from the subsequent effect. To think and draw conclusions from an inner or prior cause is to proceed from ends and causes to effects, whereas to think and draw conclusions from the outward or subsequent effect is to proceed from effects to causes and ends. This latter course is contrary to order, whereas the first is in accordance with order. For to think and draw conclusions from ends and causes is to proceed from goods and truths seen in the higher region of the mind to their effects in the lower region - this being the way of human rationality from creation; whereas to think and draw conclusions from effects is to proceed from the lower region of the mind, and on the basis of the sense impressions of the body there, with their appearances and misconceptions, to guess at causes and ends, which, in itself, is nothing else than to confirm falsities and lusts, and after confirming them to see and believe them to be truths of wisdom and the goods of a love of wisdom. It is similar with the love of little and older children in spiritual parents and that in natural ones. Spiritual parents love their children from a prior cause, thus in accordance with order; whereas natural parents love them from the subsequent effect, thus contrary to order. This consideration has been presented simply to corroborate the preceding discussion.