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THE SWEDENBORG LIBRARY.

MEANS AND ENDS.

The majority of men, by the truths which they learn and the goods which they do, think of gain thence derived, or of honor in the country where they live. But if these things are regarded as an end, then the natural man rules and the spiritual serves; but if they are not regarded as an end, but only as means conducive to an end, then the spiritual man rules and the natural serves. For when gain or honor is regarded as a means conducive to an end, and not as an end, then gain or honor is not regarded, but the end which is use. As he who desires and procures to himself riches for the sake of a use which he loves above all things, is not delighted with riches for the sake of riches, but for the sake of uses. Uses themselves also constitute spiritual life with man, and riches only serve for means.

Hence it may be seen what must be the quality of the natural man, in order that he may be conjoined with the spiritual, viz.: that he must regard gain and honor, thus riches and dignities, as means and not as an end; for what is regarded by man as an end, constitutes his veriest life; for he loves it above all things, and what is loved supremely is regarded as an end.

He who does not know that the end regarded, or what is the same thing, the love, constitutes the spiritual life of man, consequently that the man is where his love is — in heaven if the love be heavenly, in hell if the love be infernal — cannot comprehend how the case

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