Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/176

Wherefore if these things are not inwardly in adoration and prayers, there is no soul or life in these latter, hut only what is external, such as is the external of flatterers and pretenders who, it is known, are not pleasing even to a wise man in the world.

In a word, to act according to the precepts of the Lord is really the worship of Him, yea it is the genuine love and faith, as may he manifest to every considerate person. For he who loves and believes any one, desires nothing more than to will and do what the other wills and thinks; for he only desires to know his will and thought, thus his good pleasure.

The case is otherwise with the man who does not love, neither believe. And so it is with love to God, which also the Lord teaches in John: "He that hath my precepts and doeth them, he it is that loveth me: but he that loveth me not, keepeth not my words," xiv. 21, 24. (A. C. 10,143.)

That to serve the Lord means to perform uses, is because true worship consists in the performance of uses, thus in the exercises of charity. He who believes that the service of the Lord consists solely in frequenting the temple, hearing preaching there and praying, and that this is sufficient, is much deceived.

The real worship of the Lord consists in performing uses; and uses consist, during a man's life in the world, in the faithful performance of every one's duty in his respective station; thus in serving his country, society