The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
Emanuel Swedenborg
• Doctrinal Series •
PROVIDENCE
(pt. 6)
To be led to felicities in the world by arts, appears to man as if it were from his own prudence, but still the Divine providence continually accompanies by permitting and continually leading away from evil.
But to be led to felicities in heaven is known and perceived to be not from man's own prudence, because it is from the Lord, and is effected of His Divine providence by disposing and continually leading to good.
That this is so, man cannot comprehend from the light of nature, for from that light he does not know the laws of Divine order.
It is to be known that there is providence, and there is foresight;
good is what is provided by the Lord, but evil is what is foreseen by the Lord. The one must accompany the other, for what comes from man is nothing but evil, but what comes from the Lord is nothing but good.
(The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 273-275)
