649. THAT MAN, WHO IS AN INSTRUMENT, SUPPOSES FROM FALLACY THAT HE IS THE FORCE THAT ACTS IN SINGLE THINGS That human philosophy has discovered many truths can be confirmed from the fact that men know that the acting force, together with the instrumental force, make one cause. But the fallacy comes from this, that man, who is the instrumental force or the instrument, supposes that he is the acting force, because the effecting cause proceeds from both; hence it is from the fallacy of sense that he, who is the instrument, attributes to himself that which is the Lord's, Who alone is the One Who acts. This was said to those in heaven, and they acknowledged it. Thus it is that man knows many truths, but that he knows nothing whatever in their application; but the instrument still supposes that it is the force itself. Hence there exists a perverted order of life, and hence are the phantasies which torture their souls so much. 1748, Feb. 5.