May 15, 2018

Love to the Lord is from the Lord

Selection from Arcana Cœlestia ~ Emanuel Swedenborg
There are two kinds of good that are distinct from each other, namely, celestial good and spiritual good. Celestial good is that of love to the Lord, spiritual good is that of love toward the neighbor. From the former, or celestial good, comes the latter, or spiritual good; for-
No one can love the Lord unless he also loves his neighbor.
In love to the Lord is love toward the neighbor; for-
Love to the Lord is from the Lord, and thus is from love itself toward the universal human race.
To be in love to the Lord is the same as to be in the Lord; and he who is in the Lord cannot be otherwise than in His love; which is toward the human race and thus toward the neighbor; thus is he in both kinds of good, celestial and spiritual. The former is the veriest good itself; but the latter is its truth, or the truth therefrom; which truth is spiritual good ...
(from Arcana Cœlestia 2227)