SD 5945, 5952, 5961 - how to live and the reading of the Word

SD 5945
It should be known . . .
that so long as a person is in knowledges only,
and not in any life according to them,
he is in his proprium and led by self;
but, when he is in a life according to them
. . . he is elevated out of his proprium,
and is led by the Lord.
This person does not perceive, but still it is so;
and so far as a person is led by the Lord,
so far is there good in him,
or good is what he wills and thinks.
But it should be thoroughly known,
that nobody can live according to the knowledges from the Word,
except from them
he reflect upon his thoughts, intentions and deeds,
that is, examine himself,
and abstain from evils and do good as from himself:
otherwise, there is no reception by a person;
and if there is no reception,
there is no conjunction with the Lord;
therefore, neither can he be led by the Lord. 

SD 5952
. . . to not lead a life according to the Divine laws,
but merely to regard the civil laws, separately,
is foolish.

SD 5961
I spoke with those who placed the only means of salvation
in reading the Word.
. . . I told them, that this does not save,
but that they must live according to the Word,
and that nobody can live according to the Word
except he be in the doctrine of truth from it;
otherwise, they do not know how they are to live,
for, from the sense of the letter of the Word,
they are able to defend everything that belongs to their life . . ..
It was shown also what is the nature of the Word in the letter,
but that those who are in doctrine from the Word,
see the Word and read it, quite differently;
they consequently understand it,
and are thus able to become rational:
otherwise, this cannot take place.
It was shown, also,
that the reading of the Word is not attended to by the Lord,
and therefore does not promote salvation,
unless they are in the life of truth;
and that they cannot be in the life of truth,
except they be in doctrine from the Word;
for the Lord regards
a person's heart and soul, or love and faith,
and according as these are, or as is the quality of the person,
in such a manner is the Word attended to and received.
The reading of the Word, apart from these,
is mere sound destitute of rational or spiritual thought.