AC 3207 - Good Itself, Truth and Appearances of Truth

AC 3207 [2-3, 5]

Good itself is holy,
because it is the Divine proceeding from the Lord,
and flows in by the higher way or gate in a person;
but insofar as its origin is concerned,
truth is not holy;
because it flows in by a lower way or gate,
and at first is of the natural person;
but when it is elevated from there
toward the rational person
it is by degrees purified;
and at the first sight of the affection of good
it is separated from memory-knowledges,
and puts on appearances of truth,
and thus comes near to good;
an indication that such is its origin,
and that it could not endure
the first sight of Divine good
until it has entered into the bridegroom's chamber
(that is, into the sanctuary of good),
and the conjunction has been effected;
for then truth no longer looks at good
from appearances, or through appearances;
but it is looked at from good apart from them.

Be it known, however, that neither with a person,
nor indeed with an angel,
are any truths ever pure, that is, devoid of appearances;
for all both in general and in particular
are appearances of truth;
nevertheless they are accepted by the Lord as truths,
provided good is in them.
To the Lord alone belong pure truths,
because Divine;
for as the Lord is Good itself,
so He is Truth itself.

In order that some idea may be formed
of what appearances of truth are,
let the following examples serve for illustration.

I.  A person believes
that he is reformed and regenerated
through the truth of faith;
but this is an appearance;
he is reformed and regenerated
through the good of faith,
that is, through charity toward the neighbor
and love to the Lord.

II.  A person believes
that truth enables us to perceive what good is,
because it teaches;
but this is an appearance;
it is good that enables truth to perceive,
for good is the soul or life of truth.

III.  A person believes
that truth introduces to good
when he lives
according to the truth which he has learned;
but it is good which flows into truth,
and introduces it to itself. 

IV.  It appears to a person
that truth perfects good,
when yet good perfects truth.

V.  Goods of life appear to a person
to be the fruits of faith;
but they are the fruits of charity.

From these few examples
it may in some measure be known
what appearances of truth are.
Such appearances are innumerable.