NJHD 142 - freedom

NJHD 142
To do evil from freedom,
appears as freedom,
but it is slavery,
because that freedom is from the love of self
and from the love of the world,
and these loves are from hell.
Such freedom is actually turned into slavery after death,
for the person who has been in such freedom
then becomes a vile servant in hell.

But to do good from freedom is freedom itself,
because it is from love to the Lord
and from love towards the neighbor,
and these loves are from heaven.
This freedom also remains after death,
and then becomes freedom indeed,
for the person who has been in such freedom,
becomes in heaven like a son of the house.
This the Lord teaches:

Everyone that does sin is the servant of sin;
the servant abides not in the house forever:
the son abides forever;
if the Son shall have made you free,
you shall be truly free.
(John 8:34-36)

Now, because all good is from the Lord,
and all evil from hell,
it follows that freedom consists in being led by the Lord,
and slavery is being led by hell.