446. II. THAT LOVE OF THE SEX, FROM WHICH IS FORNICATION, COMMENCES WHEN A YOUTH BEGINS TO THINK AND ACT FROM HIS OWN UNDERSTANDING, AND HIS SPEAKING VOICE BEGINS TO BECOME MASCULINE. This is adduced to the end that it may be known that love of the sex and thence fornication has its rise when the understanding commences to become rational of itself, that is, from its own reason to discern and look out for things which shall be advantageous and useful. That which is in the memory from parents and masters then serves it as a plane. At this time a turning takes place in the mind. Prior to this, the boy has thought only from things introduced into the memory, meditating on them and obeying them. After it, he thinks of them from reason; and then, under the leadership of his love, he disposes the things seated in his memory into a new order and begins a life of his own in conformity therewith, gradually thinking more and more according to his own reason, and willing from his own freedom.
That love of the sex follows the initiament of a man's understanding, and progresses according to its vigor, is known; and it is a sign that the love ascends and descends as the understanding ascends and descends. By ascending is meant ascending into Wisdom, and by descending, descending into insanity, it being Wisdom to restrain love of the sex, and insanity to let it go forth broadcast. If it go forth into fornication, which is the beginning of its activity, then, from principles of honor and morality implanted in his memory and thence in his reason, and afterwards in his reason and thence in his memory, it behooves the man to restrain it.
That with the beginning of a man's understanding his voice also begins to become masculine, is because the understanding thinks, and it is by means of thought that it speaks. This is a sign that the understanding makes the man and also his masculinity; consequently, that as his understanding is elevated, he becomes a male man and also a masculine man; see above (nos. 433, 444).