256. Regarded in itself, the natural degree of the human mind is continuous, but by correspondence with the two higher degrees, it appears, when elevated, as though it were distinguished into levels. Even though this can hardly be comprehended by people who do not yet possess a knowledge of degrees of height, it must nevertheless still be revealed, because it is a matter of angelic wisdom. And while the natural person cannot think of this wisdom in the same way as angels, he can still comprehend it intellectually when his intellect is elevated to the degree of light in which angels dwell. For the intellect can be elevated even to that point and be enlightened to the extent that it is elevated. [2] But even so, the enlightenment of the natural mind does not ascend by discrete degrees, but increases by a continuous progression. As it increases, then, the mind is accordingly enlightened from within by the light of the two higher degrees. How this occurs can be comprehended from a conception of degrees of height as being one above another, with the natural or lowest degree serving as a kind of common covering enveloping the two higher degrees. As the natural degree is elevated to a higher degree, then, the higher degree accordingly acts from within upon the outer, natural degree and illumines it. The illumination, indeed, comes from within from the light of the higher degrees, but the natural degree which envelops and surrounds them receives it through a continuous ascent, thus more clearly and purely in the measure of its ascent. That is to say, the natural degree is enlightened from within by the light of the higher degrees discretely, but in itself is enlightened in a continuous progression. [3] It is apparent from this that as long as a person lives in the world and is as a result in the natural degree, he cannot be elevated into wisdom itself such as it exists in angels, but can be elevated only into a higher light extending up to that of angels and so receive enlightenment from their light, a light which flows in from within and illumines him. But this cannot be any more clearly described. It can be better comprehended from its effects; for when the causes to some extent are first known, the effects bring the causes in them to light and so illuminate them.