The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
Emanuel Swedenborg
• Doctrinal Series •
PROVIDENCE
(pt. 5)
The reason why the evil succeed in evils according to their arts is, because it is according to Divine order that everyone should act what he acts from reason, and also from freedom; wherefore, unless man were left to act from freedom according to his reason, and thus unless the arts which are thence derived were to succeed, man could by no means be disposed to receive eternal life, for this is insinuated when man is in freedom, and his reason is enlightened. For -
• no one can be compelled to good because nothing that is compelled inheres with him, for it is not his own:
• that becomes a man's own, which is done from freedom according to his reason
• that is done from freedom which is done from the will or love,
• the will or love is the man himself.
If a man were compelled to that which he does not will, his mind would continually incline to that which he wills; and besides, everyone strives after what is forbidden, and this from a latent cause, because he strives for freedom.
Whence it is evident that unless man were kept in freedom, good could not be provided for him.
To leave man from his own freedom also to think, to will, and, so far as the laws do not restrain him, to do evil, is called permitting.
(The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 271-272)
