DLW 335
Even though we call
these forms of use,
because they have relation
through mankind to
the Lord,
still it cannot be said
that they are forms of use
originating from
mankind for the sake of the Lord.
Rather they are
forms of use originating from
the Lord for the sake of mankind,
because all useful ends
are infinitely one in the Lord,
and do not
originate in mankind
except from the Lord.
For a person cannot do
good of himself
but only from the Lord.
Good is what we are
calling a useful end.
The essence of spiritual love
is to do good to others,
not for
one's own sake,
but for their sake.
Infinitely more is it the
essence of Divine love.
The case is the same as with
the love of parents for their
children,
who do good to them out of love,
not for their own sake
but for the children's sake.
This is clearly seen
in a mother's
love for her little children.
Because the Lord is to be
adored, worshiped and glorified,
people believe that He loves
adoration,
worship and glory for His own sake.
But in fact He
loves these for mankind's sake,
since a person comes thereby into
a state
such that the Divine can flow in and be perceived,
because
the person thereby
sets aside his native character
which inhibits
the influx and reception.
For his native character,
which is love
of self,
hardens the heart and closes it up.
He sets this
character aside by acknowledging
that of himself he does nothing
but evil,
and from the Lord only good,
thus occasioning
a
softening and humbling of the heart
from which springs adoration
and worship.
It follows from this
that the uses the Lord performs
for Himself
through mankind
exist to the end that He may
do good to people out
of love,
and because this is His love,
their reception of it is
His love's delight.
Let no one suppose, therefore,
that the Lord dwells in those
who
merely adore Him,
but that He dwells in those
who do His
commandments,
thus who do things of use.
It is in such
people that He has His abode,
and not the first.
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