TEMPTATION (pt. 7)

The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
Emanuel Swedenborg
• Doctrinal Series •
TEMPTATION
(pt. 7)

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Temptations conduce to acquire for good dominion over evil, and for truth dominion over falsity; also to confirm truths, and conjoin them to goods, and at the same time to disperse evils and the falsities thence derived.

They serve also to open the internal spiritual man, and to subject the natural man to it; as also to break the loves of self and the world, and to subdue the lusts which proceed from them.

When these things are effected, man acquires enlightenment and perception as to what are truth and good, and what falsity and evil are; whence man obtains intelligence and wisdom, which afterwards increase continually.

(The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 194)

TEMPTATION (pt. 6)

The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
Emanuel Swedenborg
• Doctrinal Series •
TEMPTATION
(pt. 6)

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When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.  Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. (Matt. 12: 43 -45)

If man succumbs in temptation, his state after it becomes worse than before, because evil has acquired power over good, and falsity over truth.

Since at this day faith is rare because there is no charity, for the church is at its end, therefore few at this day are admitted into any spiritual temptations; hence it is scarcely known what they are, and to what they are conducive.

(The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 192-193)

TEMPTATION (pt. 5)

The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
Emanuel Swedenborg
• Doctrinal Series •
TEMPTATION
(pt. 5)

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The dominion of good over evil, or of evil over good is contended for

These combats are carried on by the truths of faith which are from the Word.  From these, man must combat against evils and falsities; for if he combats from any other principles, he cannot conquer, because in other principles the Lord is not present.

Because this combat is carried on by the truths of faith, therefore man is not admitted into it until he is in the knowledges of good and truth, and has thence obtained some spiritual life; therefore such combats do not take place till man has arrived at years of maturity.

(The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 191)