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THE SWEDENBORG LIBRARY.

according to his precepts; for by them man is regenerated and made spiritual, and thus can be elevated into heaven.

But to love the Lord without a life according to his precepts is not to love Him; for in such case there is not anything in man into which the Lord can flow, and elevate him to Himself; for he is an empty vessel, since there is nothing of life in his faith or his love. The life of heaven, which is called eternal life, is not infused into any one immediately, but mediately. From these things it may be clearly seen what it is to love the Lord. (A. C. 10,578.)


NO TRUTH WHERE THERE IS NO GOOD.

The Lord can enlighten the understanding in every man, and so flow-in with divine truths, since the faculty of understanding truth is given to every man, and this for the sake of his reformation; but still the Lord does not so flow-in, because truths do not remain but in proportion as the will is reformed. To enlighten the understanding in truths even to faith, except in proportion as the will acts as one with it, would also be dangerous; for man can then pervert, adulterate and profane truths, which exposes him to severe condemnation.

Moreover, truths, however they are known and understood, if they are not at the same time lived, are nothing but inanimate truths; and inanimate truths are as it were statues which are without life. From these considera-

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