Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/31

mere machines without any self-determination; and if so, that they must hang down their hands, and suffer themselves to be acted upon without any exertion on their part. But they are told that they ought to think, will and do good from themselves, and that otherwise they cannot receive a heavenly proprium or heavenly freedom; but still to acknowledge that good and truth are not from them, but from the Lord. And they are instructed that all the angels are in such acknowledgment, yea, in a perception that it is so; and the more clearly they perceive themselves to be led of the Lord, and thereby to be in Him, so much the more freedom they enjoy.

Whoever lives in good, and believes that the Lord governs the universe, and that from Him alone come all the good which is of love and charity, and all the truth which is of faith, yea, that from Him comes life, consequently that from Him we live, move and have our being, is in such a state as to be capable of being gifted with celestial freedom, and therewith also with peace; for in such case he will trust only in the Lord, and will count other things of no concern, and is certain that then all things tend to his good, blessedness and happiness to eternity. But whoso believes that he governs himself, is in continual disquiet, being betrayed into evil lusts, anxieties concerning things to come, and thereby into manifold solicitudes; and inasmuch as he believes so, therefore also the lusts of evil and the persuasions of what is false adhere to him.