Inward affections mean the mutual inclinations coming from heaven which each party has in his or her mind; outward affections are the inclinations coming from the world which each party has in his or her mind. Outward affections or inclinations are indeed equally in the mind, but they occupy its lower level, while the inward affections occupy the upper level. It might be thought that, since they both have their seat in the mind, they are alike and agree. But even though they are unlike, they can still look as if alike; in some cases they come into being as if by agreement, in others by polite pretence.

[2] From the beginning of the marriage compact there is a sharing implanted in both partners, which remains rooted in them, however much their minds disagree. For instance, the sharing of possessions, in many cases the sharing of services undertaken and the various needs of the household; this leads to the sharing of thoughts and of some secrets. There is also the sharing of a bed, and a shared love of children; not to mention many more things which are present in their minds, because they are involved in the marriage compact. These are the chief source of outward affections resembling inward ones. Outward affections, however, which are merely pretended, are partly from the same source, but partly from another; both of these will be discussed further in what follows.