302 PHYSICAL SCIENCE IN THE MIDDLE AGES. 



is not the same in body and in the soul ; in that, 

 the middle point is local, in this, it is that on 

 which the rest depends. There is, however, an 

 analogy ; for as in one case, so in the other, there 

 must be a middle point, and as the sphere revolves 

 about its center, the soul revolves about God 

 through its affections." 



The conclusion of the work is 3 , as might be 

 supposed, upon the approach to, union with, and 

 fruition of God. The author refers again to the 

 analogy between the movements of the soul and 

 those of the heavens. " We move round him like 

 a choral dance ; even when we look from him we 

 revolve about him ; we do not always look at him, 

 but when we do, we have satisfaction and rest, and 

 the harmony which belongs to that divine move- 

 ment. In this movement, the mind beholds the 

 fountain of life, the fountain of mind, the origin 

 of being, the cause of good, the root of the soul 4 ." 

 " There will be a time when this vision shall be 

 continual; the mind being no more interrupted, 

 nor suffering any perturbation from the body. Yet 

 that which beholds is not that which is disturbed ; 

 and when this vision becomes dim, it does not 

 obscure the knowledge which resides in demon- 

 stration, and faith, and reasoning; but the vision 

 itself is not reason, but greater than reason, and 

 before reason 5 .'* 



The fifth book of the third Ennead, has for its 



3 vi. Eim. ix. 8. 4 Ib. 9. Ib. 10. 



