AC 8853, 8857 - What a Person Loves Most; AC 8859 - Exodus 20

AC 8853, AC 8857

Every man has something of his own
which he loves above all things.
This is called that which rules,
or if you will, that which reigns universally with him.
This is constantly present in his thought,
and also in his will, and makes his veriest life.

The case is the same with love to the Lord.
When this love is that which rules,
it is present in every single thing of the man's life;
as for instance with him
who loves his king, or his parent,
his love toward them shines forth in their presence
from every feature of his face,
it is heard in every expression of his speech,
and is seen in his every gesture.
This is meant by having God continually before the eyes,
and by loving Him above all things,
with all the soul and with all the heart.

AC 8859

In this chapter (Exodus 20)
the subject treated of in the internal sense
is the truths Divine
which are to be implanted in the good
with those who are of the Lord's spiritual church.
The ten commandments of the Decalogue
denote these truths.
The commandments concerning sacrifices,
and concerning the altar,
which follow in this chapter,
denote the external truths which are of worship.