Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/162

what is true, sincere and just in them, is spiritual love; for truth, sincerity and justice are spiritual things, because they are from heaven and given by the Lord. No one can of himself think, will and do anything good which is good in itself; but all is from the Lord. And truth, sincerity and justice are goods which are good in themselves when derived from the Lord. Now these things are our neighbor in the spiritual sense, and hence it is manifest what is to be understood in that sense by neighborly love or charity. Hence spiritual faith is derived; for whatever is loved is said to be true when it enters into the thought. All truths in the aggregate, because they are believed, are called faith. Hence it is manifest that spiritual faith in its essence is charity. (A. E. 204.)

Let it be well considered whether to have faith be anything else than to live according to it; and whether to live according to it, be not only to know and think, but also to will and do. For faith is not in man while it is only in his knowledge and thought, but when it is also in his will and deeds.

Faith in man is faith of the life; but faith not yet in him is faith of the memory and of the thought thence derived. By faith of the life is meant believing in God. But to believe those things which are from God, and not to believe in God, is mere historical faith which is not saving. Who that is a true priest and good pastor does not desire that men may live well? And who