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THE SWEDENBORG LIBRARY.

the quality of his life. It matters not whether he assumes a humble deportment, kneels and sighs when he prays; these are external things.

In everything which a man utters there is affection; and every man, spirit and angel is his own affection, for his affection is his life. It is the affection itself which speaks, and not the man without it; therefore, according to the quality of the affection, such is the prayer. Spiritual affection is what is called charity towards our neighbor. To be in that affection is to be in a state, of true worship; prayer is what thence proceeds.

Hence it is plain that the essential principle of worship is a life of charity, and the instrumental thereof is gesture and prayer; or that the primary constituent of worship is a life of charity, and its secondary is praying. From which it is evident that they who place all divine worship in oral and not in actual piety, err exceedingly. Actual piety is to act in every work and in every office from what is sincere and right, just and equitable, and this because it is commanded by the Lord in the Word; for thus man in every work looks to heaven and the Lord, with whom he is thereby conjoined. (A. E. 325.)

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