15. A person who is not spiritual can still think rationally and so speak rationally, like a spiritual person, because a person’s intellect can be raised into the light of heaven, which is truth, and see in that light. But a person’s will cannot in the same way be raised into the warmth of heaven, which is love, and be impelled to act by it.

That is why truth and love do not operate together in a person unless he is spiritual. It is also why a person can speak. It is also responsible for the difference between man and animal. The fact that his intellect can be raised into heaven and not yet his will is what makes it possible for a person to be reformed and become spiritual; but he is then for the first time reformed and becomes spiritual when his will is raised as well.

It is because of this ability of the intellect, above and beyond that of the will, that a person, whatever his character, even if he is evil, can think rationally and so speak rationally, like a spiritual one. But he is still not a rational person, because the intellect does not lead the will, but the will leads the intellect. The intellect only informs and shows the way, as we said in The Doctrine Regarding the Sacred Scripture 115. Moreover, as long as the will is not together with the intellect in heaven, the person is not a spiritual one, and so not a rational one either; for when he is left to his will or his love, he throws aside the rational considerations of his intellect regarding God, heaven, and eternal life, and instead adopts views in harmony with his will’s love, calling them rational.

But these matters will be seen explained in treatises on Angelic Wisdom.