AC 5623 - The Ability & Capacity to Receive Truth

AC 5623

Truth in the abilities means in the capacities for receiving it,
thus according to the capacities.
But the capacities or abilities for receiving truth
are wholly according to good,
because the Lord adjoins them to good;
for when the Lord flows in with good
He also flows in with capacity.
Consequently truth received in the abilities
means according to goods.
. . . But on the other hand
those who are in evil,
have no capacity for receiving truth.
This comes from pleasure and consequent desire.
Those who are in good
have pleasure in perfecting good by means of truth,
because good takes its quality from truths;
and therefore they desire truths.
But those who are in evil have pleasure in evil,
and in confirming it by falsities,
and therefore they desire falsities;
and because they desire falsities
they are averse to truths.
For this reason they have no capacity for receiving truths,
for they reject or stifle or pervert them
as soon as they reach the ear
or occur to the thought.
Besides, every person who is of sound mind
has a capacity for receiving truths;
but those who turn to evil
extinguish this capacity,
and those exalt it
who turn to good.