THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 89)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 89)
IN PROPORTION AS ANYONE SHUNS FALSE
WITNESS OF EVERY KIND AS SIN,
IN THE SAME PROPORTION HE LOVES THE TRUTH

In proportion as anyone loves the truth, in the same proportion he desires to know it, and in the same proportion is affected at heart when he finds it. No one else comes into wisdom.

And in proportion as anyone loves to do the truth, in the same proportion he is sensible of the pleasantness of the light in which the truth is.

It is the same with all the other things spoken of above [in the foregoing articles]; with sincerity and justice in the case of one who shuns thefts of every kind; with chastity and purity in the case of one who shuns adulteries of every kind; and with love and charity in the case of one who shuns murders of every kind; and so forth.

On the other hand, one who is in the opposites to these heavenly things knows nothing about them, although everything that is truly something is present in them.

(LIFE 89)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 88)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 88)
IN PROPORTION AS ANYONE SHUNS FALSE
WITNESS OF EVERY KIND AS SIN,
IN THE SAME PROPORTION HE LOVES THE TRUTH

As lying and the truth are two opposite things, it follows that in proportion as anyone shuns lying as sin, in the same proportion he loves the truth.

(LIFE 88)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 87)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 87)
IN PROPORTION AS ANYONE SHUNS FALSE
WITNESS OF EVERY KIND AS SIN,
IN THE SAME PROPORTION HE LOVES THE TRUTH

• To "bear false witness," in the natural sense, means not only to play the false witness, but also to lie, and to defame.

• In the spiritual sense, to "bear false witness" means to declare some false thing to be true or some evil thing good, and to persuade others that it is so; and the converse.

• And in the highest sense, to "bear false witness" means to blaspheme the Lord and the Word.

These are the three senses of "bearing false witness." That these make a one in the man who bears false witness, utters a lie, or defames, is evident from ... the three senses of all things of the Word....

(LIFE 87)