399. XI. THAT WITH PARENTS THERE IS A RATIONAL STATE OF INNOCENCE AND PEACE IN RESPECT TO THEIR INFANTS, IN THAT THE LATTER KNOW NOTHING AND CAN DO NOTHING FROM THEMSELVES BUT FROM OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THEIR FATHER AND MOTHER; AND THAT THIS STATE SUCCESSIVELY RECEDES AS THEY ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE AND ARE ABLE TO ACT FROM THEMSELVES AND NOT FROM THEIR PARENTS. That the sphere of the love of infants is a sphere of protection and support of those who cannot protect and support themselves, was shown above in its own article, no. 391. It was there stated, that with man this is only the rational cause of the love with them, but not the cause itself. The originating cause of that love is innocence from the Lord. This flows in unknown to the man and brings forth the rational cause. Therefore, as the first cause effects recession from that love, so at the same time does this second cause; or, what is the same thing, as the communication of innocence recedes, so the persuading reason accompanies it. This, however, is the case only with man, and this in order that he may do what he does from freedom according to reason, and that from this, as from rational and at the same time moral law, he may support his grown-up offspring according to necessity and use. This second cause is lacking in animals devoid of reason. They have only the prior cause which with them is instinct.