THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 42)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 42)
IN PROPORTION AS ANYONE SHUNS EVILS AS SINS, IN THE SAME PROPORTION HE HAS FAITH, AND IS SPIRITUAL.

Faith and life are distinct from each other in the same way as are thinking and doing — thinking is of the understanding — doing is of the will. It follows that faith and life are distinct from each other in the same way as are the understanding and the will. He who knows the distinction between the two latter knows that between the two former; and he who knows the conjunction of the two latter knows that of the two former. ...

(LIFE 42)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 40-41)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 40-41)
IN PROPORTION AS ANYONE SHUNS EVILS AS SINS,
IN THE SAME PROPORTION HE LOVES TRUTHS.

That good loves truth and wills to be conjoined with it, may also be illustrated by comparison with food and water, or with bread and wine. Both are necessary. Food or bread alone effects nothing in the body in the way of nourishment; it does so only together with water or with wine; and therefore the one has an appetite and longing for the other. Moreover in the Word "food" and "bread" mean good, in the spiritual sense; and "water" and "wine" mean truth.

From all that has been said [throughout this series] it is now evident that he who shuns evils as sins, loves truths and longs for them; and that the more he shuns them, so much the more love and longing does he feel, because so much the more he is in good. The result is that he comes into the heavenly marriage, which is the marriage of good and truth, in which is heaven, and in which must be the church.

(LIFE 40-41)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 39)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 39)
IN PROPORTION AS ANYONE SHUNS EVILS AS SINS,
IN THE SAME PROPORTION HE LOVES TRUTHS.

That good loves truth may be illustrated by comparison with a priest, a soldier, a trader, and an artificer.

With a priest:--If he is in the good of the priesthood, which is to care for the salvation of souls, to teach the way to heaven, and to lead those whom he teaches, then in proportion as he is in this good (thus from his love and its desire) he acquires the truths which he may teach, and by means of which he may lead. But a priest who is not in the good of the priesthood, but is in the delight of his office from the love of self and of the world, which to him is the only good, he too from his love and its desire acquires those truths in abundance in proportion as he is inspired by the delight which is his good.

With a soldier:--If he is in the love of military service, and is sensible of its good, whether it be that of national defense, or that of his own fame, from this good and according to it he acquires its special knowledge, and if he is a commander, its intelligence; these are like truths by which the delight of love which is his good is nourished and formed.

With a trader:--If he has taken up this calling from the love of it, he learns with avidity everything that enters into and makes up that love as its means; these also are like truths, while trading is his good.

With an artificer:--If he applies himself with earnestness to his work, and loves it as the good of his life, he purchases tools, and perfects himself by whatever pertains to a knowledge of it, and by these means he so does his work that it is a good.

From these comparisons it is evident that truths are the means through which the good of love comes into manifest being, and becomes something; consequently that good loves truths in order that it may do so. Hence in the Word to "do the truth" means to cause good to come into manifest being. This is meant by —

• Doing the truth (John 3:21);
• Doing the Lord's sayings (Luke 6:47);
• Keeping His commandments (John 14:24);
• Doing His words (Matt. 7:24);
• Doing the Word of God (Luke 8:21);
• Doing the statutes and judgments (Lev. 18:5).

And this also is to "do what is good," and to "bear fruit," for "good" and "fruit" are that which comes into manifest being [est id quod existit].

(LIFE 39)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 38)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 38)
IN PROPORTION AS ANYONE SHUNS EVILS AS SINS,
IN THE SAME PROPORTION HE LOVES TRUTHS.

In proportion as anyone is in good, and from good loves truths, in the same proportion he loves the Lord, because the Lord is good itself and truth itself. The Lord is therefore with man in good and in truth. If the latter is loved from good the Lord is loved, but not otherwise.

This the Lord teaches in John:

He that hath My commandments, and doeth them, he it is that loveth Me; He that loveth Me not keepeth not My words (John 14:21, 24).

If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love (John 15:10).

The "commandments" and "words" of the Lord are truths.

(LIFE 38)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 37)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 37)
IN PROPORTION AS ANYONE SHUNS EVILS AS SINS,
IN THE SAME PROPORTION HE LOVES TRUTHS.

As good is not good unless it is conjoined with truth, as already said, it follows that previous thereto good does not come into manifest being. But as it continually desires to come into manifest being it longs for and procures truths in order to do so, for truths are the agency of its nourishment and formation. This is the reason why a man loves truths in the same proportion that he is in good, consequently in the same proportion that he shuns evils as sins, for it is in proportion that he does this that anyone is in good.

(LIFE 37)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 36)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 36)
IN PROPORTION AS ANYONE SHUNS EVILS AS SINS,
IN THE SAME PROPORTION HE LOVES TRUTHS.

Good is of the will, truth of the understanding.

From the love of good in the will proceeds the love of truth in the understanding

From the love of truth proceeds the perception of truth

From the perception of truth comes thought about truth

From all of these together comes the acknowledgment of truth which in the true sense is faith.

(LIFE 36)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 34-35)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 34-35)
IN PROPORTION AS ANYONE SHUNS EVILS AS SINS,
IN THE SAME PROPORTION HE LOVES TRUTHS.

... in proportion as anyone shuns evils as sins, in the same proportion he loves truths ... for in the same proportion he is in good ... in proportion as anyone does not shun evils as sins, in the same proportion he does not love truths, because in the same proportion he is not in good.

It is indeed possible for a man to love truths who does not shun evils as sins; yet he does not love them because they are truths, but because they minister to his reputation, and thereby to his honors or gains, so that if they do not minister to it he loves them not.

(LIFE 34-35)