AC 2876-2877, 2882 - Freedom and Reformation & Regeneration

AC 2876-2877

. . . it is an eternal law
that everyone should be in freedom
as to his interiors, that is,
as to his affections and thoughts,
in order that the affection of good and truth
may be implanted in him.

Whenever the affection of truth
and the affection of good
are implanted by the Lord,
which is done without man's knowledge,
he then takes in truth
and does good in freedom,
because from affection;
for when anything is done from affection,
then as before said there is freedom;
and the truth of faith conjoins itself
with the good of charity.
Unless a man had freedom
in everything he thinks and wills,
the freedom of thinking truth and of willing good
could never be instilled by the Lord into anyone;
for in order that a man may be reformed
he must think truth as of himself,
and do good as of himself;
and what is done as of one's self is done in freedom.
Unless this were so, there would never be
any reformation or regeneration.

AC 2882

. . . the freedom of thinking the truth of faith,
and of doing the good of charity,
all flows in from the Lord.
The Lord is Good itself and Truth itself;
and is from Him is their fountain.
All the angels are in such freedom,
and indeed in the very perception
that what we have just stated is the truth.
The inmost angels perceive
how much is from the Lord,
and how much from themselves;
and so far as it is from the Lord,
they are in happiness;
but so far as it is from themselves,
they are not in what is happy.