. . . when good is beginning to have the dominion over truth,
the natural person is in fear and distress,
and also enters into temptations.
The reason is that when truth was in the first place,
that is, when it seemed to itself to have the dominion,
falsities intermingled themselves;
for from itself truth cannot see whether it is truth,
but must see this from good;
and where falsities are,
there is fear at the approach of good.
. . . This is the reason why those who are to be regenerated,
after fear and distress come also into temptations,
for temptations are the Divine means for removing the falsities.
This is the most secret cause why a person
when being regenerated undergoes spiritual temptations.
But this cause is in no way apparent to the person,
because it is above the sphere of his observation,
as is everything which moves, harasses,
and torments the conscience.
the natural person is in fear and distress,
and also enters into temptations.
The reason is that when truth was in the first place,
that is, when it seemed to itself to have the dominion,
falsities intermingled themselves;
for from itself truth cannot see whether it is truth,
but must see this from good;
and where falsities are,
there is fear at the approach of good.
. . . This is the reason why those who are to be regenerated,
after fear and distress come also into temptations,
for temptations are the Divine means for removing the falsities.
This is the most secret cause why a person
when being regenerated undergoes spiritual temptations.
But this cause is in no way apparent to the person,
because it is above the sphere of his observation,
as is everything which moves, harasses,
and torments the conscience.
Comment re AC 4247 & 4256:
There are numbers that teach us that charity unites and doctrine divides. These are often brought up in sermons, classes, etc. as 'the' only truth we should live. But this truth is only part of the picture.
Good comes first because it is the essence of the Lord and His gift to us. In order to really receive this good, we have to learn stuff - worldly things (knowledges), and spiritual things (truths). Those things, the real truths, hold the good, and become a tool we can put into action or use. The more we do what the Lord wants us to do, such as living by the Ten Commandments (because He told us to), and apologizing and trying again not to hurt Him (shunning evils as sins), the more the truths we learn are filled with His good, and become charity. Doctrine should not be seen as evil, but as something we look to the Lord with. The more we focus on His Will and the less we focus on ours, the better the doctrine, and the more useful He makes us when we are serving Him and our neighbor. The circle.
There are numbers that teach us that charity unites and doctrine divides. These are often brought up in sermons, classes, etc. as 'the' only truth we should live. But this truth is only part of the picture.
Good comes first because it is the essence of the Lord and His gift to us. In order to really receive this good, we have to learn stuff - worldly things (knowledges), and spiritual things (truths). Those things, the real truths, hold the good, and become a tool we can put into action or use. The more we do what the Lord wants us to do, such as living by the Ten Commandments (because He told us to), and apologizing and trying again not to hurt Him (shunning evils as sins), the more the truths we learn are filled with His good, and become charity. Doctrine should not be seen as evil, but as something we look to the Lord with. The more we focus on His Will and the less we focus on ours, the better the doctrine, and the more useful He makes us when we are serving Him and our neighbor. The circle.
No comments:
Post a Comment