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for they are in a like proportion, and in a like degree. Or, according to the common expression, they keep pace with each other, which may indeed seem a paradox, but still it is really so.

Good is the very essence of truth. Truth without its essence is not truth, however it may appear so. It is only a kind of tinkling thing, and like an empty vessel. Whoever wishes to possess truth in himself, not only ought to know but also to acknowledge it, and have faith therein. When he does this, he then first begins to have truth, because then it affects him and abides with him. It is otherwise when he only knows truth, and does not acknowledge it and has not faith in it; in this case he has not truth in himself. Many who are principled in evil are in this state. They are capable of knowing truths, and sometimes of knowing them in a superior manner; but still they have not truth, yea, they are so much the further from having it, in proportion as they deny it in their hearts. (A. C. 2429.)

The doctrinals of the Church appertaining to those who are in evil of life, are called doctrinals of the false, although they may be in part (lesser or greater) true. The reason is, that the truths appertaining to those who are in evil of life, so far as relates to themselves, are not truths; for by application to evil which is of the life, they put off the essence of truth and put on the nature of the false, for they have respect to evil to which they conjoin themselves.