Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/179

and the renunciation of the world; yet piety without charity, external without internal sanctity, and a renunciation of the world without a life in the world, do not constitute spiritual life.

Piety consists in thinking and speaking piously; in devoting much time to prayer; in behaving with becoming humility during that time; in frequenting places of public worship, and attending devoutly to the discourses delivered there; in often receiving the sacrament of the holy supper every year; and in a due observance of the various other parts of divine worship according to the appointments of the church.

But the life of charity consists in cultivating good will toward the neighbor, and endeavoring to promote his interest; in being guided in all our actions by justice and equity, good and truth, and in this manner discharging every duty. In a word, the life of charity consists in the performance of uses.

Divine worship primarily consists in the life of charity, and secondarily in that of piety. He, therefore, who separates one from the other, that is, who lives in the practice of piety and not at the same time in the exercise of charity, does not worship God. He thinks, indeed, of God, yet not from God but from himself. He thinks of himself continually, and not at all of his neighbor: and even if he does think of his neighbor, it is with disesteem, unless he be like himself. He likewise thinks of heaven as a reward, and he entertains in his mind the idea of merit, and also the love