185. Each and all things which have existence in the spiritual world and in the natural world have co-existence from discrete degrees and at the same time from continuous degrees, that is, from degrees of height and degrees of breadth. That dimension which consists of discrete degrees is called height, and that which consists of continuous degrees is called breadth. Their position relatively to the sight of the eye does not change the designation. Without a knowledge of these degrees nothing can be known about the difference between the three heavens, nor about the difference between the love and wisdom of the angels there, nor between the heat and light in which they are, nor about the difference between the atmospheres which surround and contain them. Again without a knowledge of these degrees, nothing can be known about the differences among the interior faculties belonging to the minds of men, and so nothing about their state as to reformation and regeneration, nor the differences of the exterior faculties belonging to the body, in the case of angels as well as men. And certainly nothing can be known about the difference between the spiritual and the natural, and thus nothing about correspondence. Indeed nothing can be known of any difference of life between men and beasts, nor of the difference between more perfect and less perfect beasts, nor yet about the differences among forms of the vegetable kingdom, and matters of the mineral kingdom. From which it can be established that those who have no knowledge of these degrees cannot from any judgment see causes. They only see effects and judge causes from these, and this is done for the most part from induction which is continuous with effects, when yet causes produce effects not continuously but discretely. For cause is one thing, and effect is another. The difference is like that between prior and posterior, or between that which forms and that which is formed.