Since these two loves - love toward the Lord
and a love of ruling
stemming from a love of self -
are altogether opposed to each other,
and
because people
who are prompted by love toward the Lord
all turn to the
Lord as the sun . . .,
it can be
seen
that people who are prompted by a love of ruling
stemming from a
love of self
all turn their back to the Lord.
They turn thus in
opposite directions
for the reason that people
who are prompted by love
toward the Lord
love nothing more than to be led by the Lord,
and they
want the Lord alone to rule,
whereas people who are prompted by a love
of ruling
stemming from a love of self
love nothing more than to lead
themselves,
and they want only themselves to rule.
We say a love
of ruling stemming from a love of self,
because a love of ruling is
possible
that stems from a love of performing useful services,
a love
which,
because it goes hand in hand with love for the neighbor,
is a
spiritual love.
But this love cannot be called a love of ruling,
but a
love of performing useful services.
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