Charity and Good Works (pt. 23)

Selection from True Christian Religion ~ Emanuel Swedenborg
Charity and Good Works (pt. 23)
v Doctrinal Series v

VI. TO LOVE THE NEIGHBOR, VIEWED IN ITSELF,

IS NOT TO LOVE THE PERSON,
BUT THE GOOD THAT IS IN THE PERSON

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Good is the neighbor, because good belongs to the will, and the will is the being [esse] of man's life.

The truth of the understanding is also the neighbor, but only so far as it proceeds from the good of the will; for the good of the will take form in the understanding, and makes itself visible there is the light of reason.

That good is the neighbor is evident from all experience.

Who loves a person except from the quality of his will and understanding, that is, from what is good and just in him?

For example, who loves a king, a prince, a general, a governor, a consul, any magistrate or judge, except for the judgment from which they act and speak? Who loves a primate, a minister of the church, or a canon, except for his learning, his integrity of life, and his zeal for the salvation of souls? Who loves the general of an army or any officer over him, except for bravery combined with prudence? Who loves a merchant except for his honesty? Who loves a workman or a servant, except for his fidelity? Nay, who loves a tree except for its fruit, the soil except for its fertility, a precious stone except for its value? and so on.

And what is remarkable, it is not only the upright man who loves what is good and just in another, the man who is not upright does so also, because with him he is in no fear of losing reputation, honor, or wealth. But the love of good in one who is not upright, is not love of the neighbor; for he loves another interiorly only so far as he is of service to him. But loving what is good in another from the good in oneself is genuine love to the neighbor; for the goods then kiss and mutually unite with each other.

The man who loves good because it is good, and truth because it is truth, loves the neighbor eminently, because he loves the Lord who is good itself and truth itself. There is no love of good and love of truth from good, that is, love to the neighbor, from any other source. Love to the neighbor is thus formed from a heavenly origin. It is the same thing whether you say use or good; therefore performing uses is doing good; and according to the quantity and quality of the use in the good so far in quantity and quality the good is good.

(True Christian Religion 418 - 419)

To be continued ...