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“Whosoever being in this world does not so love a woman as to obtain possession of her,
is not of the truth, nor shall attain to the truth. But whosoever being of92 this world has in-
tercourse with woman, shall not attain to the truth, because he has so acted under the power
of concupiscence.” On this account, they tell us that it is necessary for us whom they call
animal men, and describe as being of the world, to practise continence and good works,
that by this means we may attain at length to the intermediate habitation, but that to them
who are called “the spiritual and perfect” such a course of conduct is not at all necessary.
For it is not conduct of any kind which leads into the Pleroma, but the seed sent forth thence
in a feeble, immature state, and here brought to perfection.
92 Comp. John xvii. 16. The Valentinians, while in the world, claimed to be not of the world, as animal men
were.
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Chapter VI.—The threefold kind of man feigned by these heretics: good works…