Thursday, September 25, 2008

AC 9180 - upside down or upside up

AC 9180
Those who learn and draw forth truths from the Word,
or from the doctrine of the church,
or from anyone soever,
or even by means of inferences, from themselves,
for the sake of self-advantage,
that is, in order that they may acquire honors or wealth,
or that they may merit heaven;
are those who are meant in the internal sense by
"hirelings who shall come in their hire,"
that is, who will submit themselves and serve.
For self-advantage ought to be in the last place with the person of the church,
and not in the first.
When it is in the last place, it is a servant;
but if it is in the first place, it is a lord.
He who regards self-advantage in the first place is an inverted man,
and in the other life is also represented as being so, with his head in hell;
but he who regards charity and faith in the first place,
and thus the Lord and the neighbor, is an upright man,
and in the other life is represented as standing so, with his head in heaven.

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