AC 4368 - Reading the Word in Love to the Lord vs. Self; AC 4372 - Spiritual Riches; AC 4373 - Inspiration

AC 4368 [2] - Reading the Word in Love to the Lord vs. Self

It is known that there are many within the church
who are affected by the Word of the Lord,
and who bestow much pains on the reading of it;
but still there are few who have as their end
that they may be instructed in the truth,
for most remain in their own dogma,
the confirmation of which from the Word
is their sole aim.
These seem to be in the affection of truth, but are not;
for those alone are in the affection of truth
who love to be instructed about truths,
that is, to know what the truth is,
and to search the Scriptures for this end.
No one is in this affection
except the person who is in good,
that is, who is in charity toward the neighbor,
and still more he who is in love to the Lord.
With these
good itself flows into truth,
and produces the affection,
for the Lord is present in this good.

AC 4372 - Spiritual Riches

Spiritual riches are predicated of truth,
and their uses of good.

AC 4373 [2] - Inspiration

. . . when these things are being read by a person
the angels . . . have no other idea than a spiritual one,
and with them the historical sense
is turned into this idea.
In this way do angelic thoughts
correspond with human thoughts.
It is such perpetual correspondences
that make the Word holy and Divine;
for thus by ascent the literal sense becomes spiritual,
and this even to the Lord,
where it is Divine.
This is inspiration.