SS 54, 61 - doctrine

SS 54

But doctrine is not only to be drawn

from the sense of the letter of the Word,

but must also be confirmed thereby;

for if not so confirmed

the truth of doctrine appears

as if only man's intelligence were in it,

and not the Lord's Divine wisdom;

and so the doctrine would be

like a house in the air,

and not on the earth,

and would lack a foundation.

SS 61 [2,3]

When people read the Word

while themselves and the world are the ends in view,

their minds cleave to themselves and the world,

and this causes them to be

constantly thinking from their proprium,

which is in thick darkness

in respect to all things of heaven,

in which state the person cannot be

withdrawn by the Lord from his proprium,

and thus be raised into the light of heaven,

and consequently cannot receive through heaven

any influx from the Lord.

Very different has it been

with those who had studied the Word

from the affection of knowing truth

because it is truth,

and because it is of service to the uses of life,

not only to their own uses

but also to those of the neighbor.

I have seen these raised up into heaven,

and thus into the light in which is Divine truth there,

and at the same time

exalted into angelic wisdom and its happiness,

which is eternal life.