Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/211

charity and conscience, he being thus a man of the internal church, or Shem. They who know little but yet possess conscience, become enlightened in the other world, even so as to become angels; and then their wisdom and intelligence are inexpressible. These are they who are signified by Japheth. (A. C. 1100.)

In all good there must be innocence to make it good. Without innocence good is as without its soul. The reason is, that the Lord by innocence flows in, and thereby vivifies the good appertaining to those who are regenerating. The good which innocence vivifies, is internal and external; internal good appertains to those who are called men of the internal church, but external good appertains to those who are men of the external church.

Men of the internal church are they who have qualified their good by interior truths, such as are those of the internal sense of the Word; but men of the external church are they who have qualified their good by exterior truths, such as are those of the literal sense of the Word. Men of the internal church are they who from the affection of charity do good to their neighbor; but men of the external church are they who do good from obedience.

Every man when he is regenerating, first becomes a man of the external church, but afterwards a man of the internal church. They who are of the internal church are in superior intelligence and wisdom to those who are of the external church, and on that account also more interiorly in heaven. (A. C. 7840.)