[7] Influx is not physical but spiritual, that is, influx is from the internal man into the external, thus into the knowledges of the external; and not from the external into the internal, thus not from the knowledges [scientificis] of the external into truths of faith (n. 3219, 5119, 5259, 5427, 5428, 5478, 6322, 9110).
A beginning must be made from the truths of doctrine of the church, which are from the Word, and those truths must first be acknowledged, and then it is permissible to consult knowledges [scientifica] (n. 6047).
Thus it is permissible for those who are in an affirmative state in regard to truths of faith to confirm them intellectually by means of knowledges [scientifica], but not for those who are in a negative state (n. 2568, 2588, 4760, 6047).
He that will not believe
Divine truths until he is
convinced by means of
knowledges [scientificis] will never
believe (n. 2094, 2832).
To enter from knowledge
[scientificis] into the truths of
faith is contrary to
order (n. 10236).
Those who do so become
demented respecting the things of
heaven and the church
(n. 128, 129, 130).
They fall into the falsities of evil (n. 232, 233, 6047).
In the other life when
they think about spiritual matters
they become as it were
drunken (n. 1072).
More respecting the character of such (n. 196).
Examples showing
that things spiritual cannot be
comprehended when
entered into through knowledges
[scientifica]
(n. 233, 2094, 2196, 2203, 2209).
In spiritual things many of the learned are more demented than the simple, for the reason that they are in a negative state, which they confirm by means of the knowledges [scientifica] which they have continually and in abundance before their sight (n. 4760, 8629).
[8] Those who reason from knowledges [scientificis] against the truths of faith reason keenly because they reason from the fallacies of the senses, which are engaging and convincing, because they cannot easily be dispelled (n. 5700).
What things are fallacies
of the senses, and what they are
(n. 5084, 5094, 6400,
6948).
Those that have no understanding of truth, and also those that are in evil, are able to reason about the truths and goods of faith, but are not able to understand them (n. 4214).
Intelligence does not
consist in merely confirming dogma
but in seeing whether
it is true or not before it is
confirmed (n. 4741,
6047).
[9] Knowledges [scientiae]
are of no avail after death,
but only that which
man has imbibed in his understanding
and life by means of
knowledges [scientias] (n. 2480).
Still all knowledge
[scientifica] remains after death,
although it is quiescent
(n. 2476-2479, 2481-2486).


