The veriest truth of the church is
that love to the Lord and love toward the neighbor are the primary things (Mark 12:29-31).
Cupidities extinguish this truth;
for those who are in a life of cupidities cannot be in a life of love and charity,
for the two are exact opposites.
A life of cupidities consists in loving self only,
and not the neighbor except from self, or for the sake of self.
Hence those who are in this life extinguish charity in themselves;
and those who extinguish charity, extinguish also love to the Lord;
for there is no other means of loving the Lord than charity,
because the Lord is in charity.
The affection of charity is heavenly affection itself,
which is from the Lord alone.
Mark 12:28-31:
One of the scribes came and heard them arguing,
and recognizing that He had answered them well,
asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?"
Jesus answered, "The foremost is,
'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;
AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD
WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL,
AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.'
"The second is this, '
YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'
There is no other commandment greater than these."
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