AC 1304, 1306 - The Love of Self in Worship

AC 1304

The church is of such a nature

that when charity toward the neighbor departs,

and the love of self succeeds in its place,

the doctrine of faith is of no account

except in so far as it can be turned into the worship of self;

and nothing whatever is accounted holy in worship

unless it is for the sake of self,

and thus unless it is self-worship.

All love of self is attended with this;

for he who loves himself more than others,

not only hates all who are not subservient to him,

and shows them no favor 

except when they have become subservient,

but also, in so far as he is not under restraint,

he rushes on even until he exalts himself above God.

AC 1306 [3]

The love of self in worship,

or the worship of self,

is called a "tower,"

for the reason that a "city" signifies a doctrine;

and cities were formerly fortified with towers,

in which there were watchmen . . ..