AC 7007 - Reformation Requires Freedom Not Compulsion; AC 7012 - Enlightenment and Confirmation of Truths

AC 7007 - Reformation Requires Freedom Not Compulsion

. . . the Lord leaves to everyone his own freedom;
for unless a person is in freedom,
he can never be reformed.
Compulsion does not reform,
because it inroots nothing,
for that which is compulsory is not of a person's will;
but that which is free is of his will.
Nevertheless good and truth,
in order to be a person's as his own,
must be inrooted in his will,
for that which is outside the will is not the person's.
For this reason everyone is left to his freedom,
a person is allowed to think evil, and to do evil,
insofar as external fears do not restrain.
And also for the same reason,
in this world the wicked person is apparently glad
and in his glory more than the upright;
but the glorying and gladness of the wicked
are external, or of the body,
which in the other life
are turned into infernal unhappiness;
whereas the glorying and gladness of the upright
are internal, or of the spirit,
and remain and become heavenly happiness.

AC 7012 - Enlightenment and Confirmation of Truths

. . . the confirmation of truths
is effected by means of enlightenment from the Lord
when a person studies the Word
with the end of knowing truths.
As regards enlightenment
and the consequent confirmation of truths,
be it known that those
who are in externals without an internal
(as were the Jews and the Israelites)
cannot be enlightened;
thus neither can they be confirmed in truths,
whereas when those
who are in externals and at the same time in internals
read the Word, they are enlightened,
and in their enlightenment see truths,
in which they are afterward more and more confirmed;
and, wonderful to say,
everyone has such enlightenment
as is his affection of truth;
and such affection of truth as is his good of life.
Also so it is that those
who are in no affection of truth for the sake of truth,
but for the sake of their own advantage,
are not at all enlightened when they read the Word,
but are only confirmed in doctrinal things,
no matter of what kind,
whether false, as heresies are,
or entirely contrary to truths . . .;
for they do not seek the kingdom of the Lord,
but the world;
not faith, but fame;
thus not heavenly riches, but only earthly;
and if perchance they are seized with a desire
of knowing truths from the Word,
falsities present themselves instead of truths,
and at last there is denial of all things.
These things have been said
in order that it may be known
what enlightenment is,
and the consequent confirmation of truth.