AC 6110
... truths and goods and the knowledges thereof
make the spiritual life of those who are in heaven,
for these are the celestial and spiritual foods
with which they are nourished.
These foods are given them daily by the Lord.
When it is morning with them, goods are supplied;
when it is noon, truths are supplied;
but when it is evening, goods and truths are lacking,
and this even unto twilight and the return of morning.
The angels are then kept in a state of appetite,
which is of such a nature
that they long for these things more
than those who are hungry on earth long for food.
[4] What is still more worthy of note is
that the shades of evening and the darkness of night
do not come from the Lord,
but from things that belong to angels, spirits, and men
[5] The reason why these alternations exist in the spiritual world
is that all who are in heaven may be continually perfected.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
AC 6097 - temptations; AC 6107 - real innocence
AC 6097
All temptations appear evil, for the reason that they are interior anxieties and griefs, and as it were damnations; for the person is then let into the state of his evils, consequently among evil spirits, who accuse him, and thus torment the conscience; nevertheless the angels defend him, that is, the Lord through angels, for the Lord keeps him in hope and trust, which are the forces of combat from within whereby he resists. Especially is the natural let into temptations when it is receiving the spiritual, because in the natural reside evils of life and falsities of doctrine.
AC 6107
In regard to influx from the internal celestial into the spiritual good and into the truths of the church in the natural according to the quality of the good of innocence, the case is this.
Innocence is that from the inmost which qualifies
all the good of charity and of love.
For the Lord flows in through innocence into charity,
and in proportion to the innocence,
such is the reception of charity;
for innocence is the very essential of charity.
Real innocence dwells soley in wisdom,
and wisdom consists in bearing one's self toward the Lord,
from the good of love and of faith,
as do little children toward their parents...
All temptations appear evil, for the reason that they are interior anxieties and griefs, and as it were damnations; for the person is then let into the state of his evils, consequently among evil spirits, who accuse him, and thus torment the conscience; nevertheless the angels defend him, that is, the Lord through angels, for the Lord keeps him in hope and trust, which are the forces of combat from within whereby he resists. Especially is the natural let into temptations when it is receiving the spiritual, because in the natural reside evils of life and falsities of doctrine.
AC 6107
In regard to influx from the internal celestial into the spiritual good and into the truths of the church in the natural according to the quality of the good of innocence, the case is this.
Innocence is that from the inmost which qualifies
all the good of charity and of love.
For the Lord flows in through innocence into charity,
and in proportion to the innocence,
such is the reception of charity;
for innocence is the very essential of charity.
Real innocence dwells soley in wisdom,
and wisdom consists in bearing one's self toward the Lord,
from the good of love and of faith,
as do little children toward their parents...
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
AC 6078 - memory-knowledges and truths sustain the soul of a person
AC 6078
That truths nourish the spiritual life is especially manifest with good spirits and with the angels in heaven, for both good spirits and angels have a constant longing to know things and to be wise; and when they lack this spiritual food they feel desolate, their life is languid, and they are hungry; and they are not restored and raised into the bliss of their life until their longing is satisfied. But in order that memory-knowledges may yield healthful nourishment to the soul, there must be in them life from the goods of truth.
[5] John 10:9:
I am the door;
by Me if any one enter in,
he shall be saved,
and shall go in and go out,
and shall find pasture.
where "pasture" denotes the goods and truths
which those have who acknowledge the Lord,
and seek life from Him alone.
That truths nourish the spiritual life is especially manifest with good spirits and with the angels in heaven, for both good spirits and angels have a constant longing to know things and to be wise; and when they lack this spiritual food they feel desolate, their life is languid, and they are hungry; and they are not restored and raised into the bliss of their life until their longing is satisfied. But in order that memory-knowledges may yield healthful nourishment to the soul, there must be in them life from the goods of truth.
[5] John 10:9:
I am the door;
by Me if any one enter in,
he shall be saved,
and shall go in and go out,
and shall find pasture.
where "pasture" denotes the goods and truths
which those have who acknowledge the Lord,
and seek life from Him alone.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
AC 6073 - What are the goods of charity?
AC 6073
All the goods which are called goods of charity are nothing but uses,
and uses are nothing but works for the neighbor,
for our country, for the church, for the Lord's kingdom.
Moreover regarded in itself charity itself does not become charity
until it comes into act and becomes work.
For to love anyone, and not do him good when we have the power,
is not to love him;
but to do him good when we have the power, and to do it from our hearts,
this is to love him;
and then all things of charity toward him
are contained within the very deed or work;
for a man's works are the complex of all things of his charity and faith,
and are what are called spiritual goods,
and indeed become goods by exercise, that is, by means of uses.
[2] As the angels who are in heaven are in good from the Lord,
they long for nothing more than to perform uses.
These are the very delights of their life,
and it is also according to uses that they enjoy bliss and happiness.
All the goods which are called goods of charity are nothing but uses,
and uses are nothing but works for the neighbor,
for our country, for the church, for the Lord's kingdom.
Moreover regarded in itself charity itself does not become charity
until it comes into act and becomes work.
For to love anyone, and not do him good when we have the power,
is not to love him;
but to do him good when we have the power, and to do it from our hearts,
this is to love him;
and then all things of charity toward him
are contained within the very deed or work;
for a man's works are the complex of all things of his charity and faith,
and are what are called spiritual goods,
and indeed become goods by exercise, that is, by means of uses.
[2] As the angels who are in heaven are in good from the Lord,
they long for nothing more than to perform uses.
These are the very delights of their life,
and it is also according to uses that they enjoy bliss and happiness.
AC 6071 - bending
AC 6071 [3]
... nothing but good comes from God,
for in so far as a person suffers it,
God bends evil into good.
... nothing but good comes from God,
for in so far as a person suffers it,
God bends evil into good.
Monday, February 25, 2008
AC 6057 - the soul = spirit = internal person
AC 6057 [2]
... the internal person has been created to be an angel,
he is heaven in the least form.
... the internal person has been created to be an angel,
he is heaven in the least form.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
AC 6044 - the Lord has created nothing whatever except of the sake of an end
AC 6044
... the Lord has created nothing whatever except of the sake of an end....
In its first origin
the end itself is nothing but the Divine good of the Divine love;
thus it is the Lord Himself...
This being the case,
it is necessary that each and all things
which pertain to the life with a person
should have relation to an end and should look to it.
He who has any rational ability can see
that the memory-knowledges with a person look to truths as their end,
and that the truths look to goods,
and the good look to the Lord as the last and the first end;
as the last end when they look at Him from truths,
and as the first end when they look at Him from good.
... the Lord has created nothing whatever except of the sake of an end....
In its first origin
the end itself is nothing but the Divine good of the Divine love;
thus it is the Lord Himself...
This being the case,
it is necessary that each and all things
which pertain to the life with a person
should have relation to an end and should look to it.
He who has any rational ability can see
that the memory-knowledges with a person look to truths as their end,
and that the truths look to goods,
and the good look to the Lord as the last and the first end;
as the last end when they look at Him from truths,
and as the first end when they look at Him from good.
AC 6044 - truths which are of faith lead to good which is of charity
AC 6044
... truths which are of faith lead to good which is of charity....
... truths which are of faith lead to good which is of charity....
Saturday, February 23, 2008
AC 6032 - spiritual heat
AC 6032 [3]
... in its first origin, which origin is from the Lord, spiritual heat is nothing else than the Divine love toward the universal human race, and from this the reciprocal love of man to Him and also toward the neighbor.
... in its first origin, which origin is from the Lord, spiritual heat is nothing else than the Divine love toward the universal human race, and from this the reciprocal love of man to Him and also toward the neighbor.
Friday, February 22, 2008
AC 6012 & 6013 - the order of things
AC 6012 & 6013
... natural truth cannot be advanced from any other source than spiritual truth,
for its life and force of acting are thence derived.
... without innocence and charity,
natural truth cannot be caused to advance by spiritual truths;
for in order that truth may be genuine,
it must derive its essence and life from charity,
and charity from innocence.
For the interior things which vivify truth
succeed one another in the following order:
inmost is innocence;
next lower is charity;
and lowest is work of charity from truth or according to truth.
The reason why they succeed one another in this order
is that they so succeed one another in the heavens.
... a regenerated man is a heaven in particular on in least form.
As man's external senses are formed
after the whole image of the natural world,
so his internal sense, which belong to his understanding and will,
are formed after the whole image of heaven,
to the end that every man
may be in particular a recipient of Divine good from the Lord,
as heaven is in general.
... natural truth cannot be advanced from any other source than spiritual truth,
for its life and force of acting are thence derived.
... without innocence and charity,
natural truth cannot be caused to advance by spiritual truths;
for in order that truth may be genuine,
it must derive its essence and life from charity,
and charity from innocence.
For the interior things which vivify truth
succeed one another in the following order:
inmost is innocence;
next lower is charity;
and lowest is work of charity from truth or according to truth.
The reason why they succeed one another in this order
is that they so succeed one another in the heavens.
... a regenerated man is a heaven in particular on in least form.
As man's external senses are formed
after the whole image of the natural world,
so his internal sense, which belong to his understanding and will,
are formed after the whole image of heaven,
to the end that every man
may be in particular a recipient of Divine good from the Lord,
as heaven is in general.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
AC 6000 - John 11: 9, 10 and more
AC 6000 [2]
Jesus said, Are there not twelve hours in the day?
If any one walk in the day, he stumbles not.
But if any one walk in the night, he stumbles,
because the light is not in him.
(John 11: 9, 10)
"twelve hours" denote all the states of truth;
"walking in the day," denotes to live in truth;
and "walking in the night," to live in falsity.
[3]
I must work the works of Him that sent Me while it is day;
the night cometh when no one can work (John 9:4);
"day" denotes truth from good; and "night," falsity from evil.
It is the first time of the church which is meant by "day,"
for then truth is received, because men are in good;
and it is the last time of the church which is meant by "night,"
for then nothing of truth is received, because men are not in good.
For when man is not in good,
that is, when he is not in charity toward the neighbor,
then even if the veriest truths are told him, he receives them not,
for then it is not at all perceived what is true,
because the light of truth
falls into such things as are of the body and the world,
which alone are attended to,
and alone are loved and estimated as real;
but not into such things as are of heaven,
because with such men these are relatively of little or no account.
Thus the light of truth is absorbed and smothered
in what is densely dark, as is the light of the sun in what is black.
This is signified by "the night cometh when no one can work."
It is also such a time at this day.
Jesus said, Are there not twelve hours in the day?
If any one walk in the day, he stumbles not.
But if any one walk in the night, he stumbles,
because the light is not in him.
(John 11: 9, 10)
"twelve hours" denote all the states of truth;
"walking in the day," denotes to live in truth;
and "walking in the night," to live in falsity.
[3]
I must work the works of Him that sent Me while it is day;
the night cometh when no one can work (John 9:4);
"day" denotes truth from good; and "night," falsity from evil.
It is the first time of the church which is meant by "day,"
for then truth is received, because men are in good;
and it is the last time of the church which is meant by "night,"
for then nothing of truth is received, because men are not in good.
For when man is not in good,
that is, when he is not in charity toward the neighbor,
then even if the veriest truths are told him, he receives them not,
for then it is not at all perceived what is true,
because the light of truth
falls into such things as are of the body and the world,
which alone are attended to,
and alone are loved and estimated as real;
but not into such things as are of heaven,
because with such men these are relatively of little or no account.
Thus the light of truth is absorbed and smothered
in what is densely dark, as is the light of the sun in what is black.
This is signified by "the night cometh when no one can work."
It is also such a time at this day.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
AC 5992 - the work the angels love to do for the Lord
AC 5992
The angels, through whom the Lord leads and also protects a person, are near his head. It is their office to inspire charity and faith, and to observe in what direction the person's delights turn, and in so far as they can, without interfering with the person's freedom, moderate them and bend them to good.
Infernal spirits continually attack, and the angels protect; such is the order.
[3] Especially do the angels call forth the goods and truth that are with a person, and set them in opposition to the evils and falsities which the evil spirits excite. Thus the person is in the midst, and does not perceive either the evil or the good; and being in the midst, he is in freedom to turn himself either to the one or to the other. By such means do angels from the Lord lead and protect a person, and this every moment, and every moment of a moment; for if the angels were to break their care for a single moment, the person would be precipitated into evil from which he could never afterward be brought out. These things the angels do from the love they have from the Lord, for they perceive nothing more delightful and happy than to remove evils from a person, and lead him to heaven. Scarcely any person believes that the Lord takes such care of a person, and this continually from the first thread of his life to the last of it, and afterward to eternity.
The angels, through whom the Lord leads and also protects a person, are near his head. It is their office to inspire charity and faith, and to observe in what direction the person's delights turn, and in so far as they can, without interfering with the person's freedom, moderate them and bend them to good.
Infernal spirits continually attack, and the angels protect; such is the order.
[3] Especially do the angels call forth the goods and truth that are with a person, and set them in opposition to the evils and falsities which the evil spirits excite. Thus the person is in the midst, and does not perceive either the evil or the good; and being in the midst, he is in freedom to turn himself either to the one or to the other. By such means do angels from the Lord lead and protect a person, and this every moment, and every moment of a moment; for if the angels were to break their care for a single moment, the person would be precipitated into evil from which he could never afterward be brought out. These things the angels do from the love they have from the Lord, for they perceive nothing more delightful and happy than to remove evils from a person, and lead him to heaven. Scarcely any person believes that the Lord takes such care of a person, and this continually from the first thread of his life to the last of it, and afterward to eternity.
AC 5992 - the work the angels love to do for the Lord
AC 5992
The angels, through whom the Lord leads and also protects a person, are near his head. It is their office to inspire charity and faith, and to observe in what direction the person's delights turn, and in so far as they can, without interfering with the person's freedom, moderate them and bend them to good.
Infernal spirits continually attack, and the angels protect; such is the order.
[3] Especially to the angels call forth the goods and truth that are with a person, and set them in opposition to the evils and falsities which the evil spirits excite. Thus the person is in the midst, and does not perceive either the evil or the good; and being in the midst, he is in freedom to turn himself either to the one or to the other. By such means do angels from the Lord lead and protect a person, and this every moment, and every moment of a moment; for if the angels were to break their care for a single moment, the person would be precipitated into evil from which he could never afterward be brought out. These things the angels do from the love they have from the Lord, for they perceive nothing more delightful and happy than to remove evils from a person, and lead him to heaven. Scarcely any person believes that the Lord takes such care of a person, and this continually from the first thread of his life to the last of it, and afterward to eternity.
The angels, through whom the Lord leads and also protects a person, are near his head. It is their office to inspire charity and faith, and to observe in what direction the person's delights turn, and in so far as they can, without interfering with the person's freedom, moderate them and bend them to good.
Infernal spirits continually attack, and the angels protect; such is the order.
[3] Especially to the angels call forth the goods and truth that are with a person, and set them in opposition to the evils and falsities which the evil spirits excite. Thus the person is in the midst, and does not perceive either the evil or the good; and being in the midst, he is in freedom to turn himself either to the one or to the other. By such means do angels from the Lord lead and protect a person, and this every moment, and every moment of a moment; for if the angels were to break their care for a single moment, the person would be precipitated into evil from which he could never afterward be brought out. These things the angels do from the love they have from the Lord, for they perceive nothing more delightful and happy than to remove evils from a person, and lead him to heaven. Scarcely any person believes that the Lord takes such care of a person, and this continually from the first thread of his life to the last of it, and afterward to eternity.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
AC 5962 - the time of day in heaven
AC 5962 [2, 4]
In heaven . . . spirits and angels have their morning, midday, and evening, also twilight, and again morning, and so on. It is their morning when the Lord is present and blesses them with manifest happiness: they are then in the perception of good. It is their midday when they are in the light of truths; and it is their evening when they are removed therefrom, and then it appears to them that the Lord is more remote and is hidden from them. All who are in heaven undergo and pass through these alternations, and cannot otherwise be continually perfected, for thereby they . . . know what is not happy, because they thereby know what is not good and what is not true.
The concealment which is signified by "Joseph's sending his brethren away and their departing," is called in the Word "evening," and occurs with the angels at the times when they do not perceive the Lord to be present; for there is in heaven a continual perception of the Lord. When they are in a state of non-perception they are not then affected with good, neither do they see truth, as before; this troubles them, but shortly afterward the dawn comes, and so the morning.
In heaven . . . spirits and angels have their morning, midday, and evening, also twilight, and again morning, and so on. It is their morning when the Lord is present and blesses them with manifest happiness: they are then in the perception of good. It is their midday when they are in the light of truths; and it is their evening when they are removed therefrom, and then it appears to them that the Lord is more remote and is hidden from them. All who are in heaven undergo and pass through these alternations, and cannot otherwise be continually perfected, for thereby they . . . know what is not happy, because they thereby know what is not good and what is not true.
The concealment which is signified by "Joseph's sending his brethren away and their departing," is called in the Word "evening," and occurs with the angels at the times when they do not perceive the Lord to be present; for there is in heaven a continual perception of the Lord. When they are in a state of non-perception they are not then affected with good, neither do they see truth, as before; this troubles them, but shortly afterward the dawn comes, and so the morning.
AC 5962 - the time of day in heaven
AC 5962 [2, 4]
In heaven . . . spirits and angels have their morning, midday, and evening, also twilight, and again morning, and so on. It is their morning when the Lord is present and blesses them with manifest happiness: they are then in the perception of good. It is their midday when they are in the light of truths; and it is their evening when they are removed therefrom, and then it appears to them that the Lord is more remote and is hidden from them. All who are in heaven undergo and pass through these alternations, and cannot otherwise be continually perfected, for thereby they have relatives, and from the relatives a more perfect conception, since they thereby know what is not happy, because they thereby know what is not good and what is not true.
The concealment which is signified by "Joseph's sending his brethren away and their departing," is called in the Word "evening," and occurs with the angels at the times when they do not perceive the Lord to be present; for there is in heaven a continual perception of the Lord. When they are in a state of non-perception they are not then affected with good, neither do they see truth, as before; this troubles them, but shortly afterward the dawn comes, and so the morning.
In heaven . . . spirits and angels have their morning, midday, and evening, also twilight, and again morning, and so on. It is their morning when the Lord is present and blesses them with manifest happiness: they are then in the perception of good. It is their midday when they are in the light of truths; and it is their evening when they are removed therefrom, and then it appears to them that the Lord is more remote and is hidden from them. All who are in heaven undergo and pass through these alternations, and cannot otherwise be continually perfected, for thereby they have relatives, and from the relatives a more perfect conception, since they thereby know what is not happy, because they thereby know what is not good and what is not true.
The concealment which is signified by "Joseph's sending his brethren away and their departing," is called in the Word "evening," and occurs with the angels at the times when they do not perceive the Lord to be present; for there is in heaven a continual perception of the Lord. When they are in a state of non-perception they are not then affected with good, neither do they see truth, as before; this troubles them, but shortly afterward the dawn comes, and so the morning.
Monday, February 18, 2008
AC 5952 & 5957 - how & when the Lord leads us
AC 5952
For the Lord does not openly teach any one truths,
but through good leads to the thinking of what is true,
and unknown to the person
He also inspires the perception and consequent choice
that a thing is true because the Word so declares,
and because it accords therewith.
Thus the Lord adapts truths
according to the reception of good by each person;
and as this takes place according to each person's affection,
thus in freedom,
it is here said "as was pleasing."
AC 5957
... when a person is in humiliation
he can receive good from the Lord,
because he has then separated from the love of self and its evils,
which are the obstacle;
and therefore the Lord wills a state of humiliation in a person
for his own sake;
because when he is in this state
the Lord can flow in with heavenly good.
For the Lord does not openly teach any one truths,
but through good leads to the thinking of what is true,
and unknown to the person
He also inspires the perception and consequent choice
that a thing is true because the Word so declares,
and because it accords therewith.
Thus the Lord adapts truths
according to the reception of good by each person;
and as this takes place according to each person's affection,
thus in freedom,
it is here said "as was pleasing."
AC 5957
... when a person is in humiliation
he can receive good from the Lord,
because he has then separated from the love of self and its evils,
which are the obstacle;
and therefore the Lord wills a state of humiliation in a person
for his own sake;
because when he is in this state
the Lord can flow in with heavenly good.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
AC 5948 & 5949 - ends
AC 5948 [2]
... if truths are not regarded as the end,
and good is not cared for,
good at last so vanishes as not to be.
AC 5949 [2 & 4]
... when a person has uses as the end,
he has the Lord as the end....
... God must be always kept before the eyes;
not that He must be constantly thought about,
but that the fear or the love of Him must reign universally,
in which case God is kept before the eyes in every detail.
When this is the case
the person does not think, speak, or do
what is against Him and displeasing to Him;
or if he does,
that which universally reigns, and lies hidden within,
manifests itself and admonishes him.
... if truths are not regarded as the end,
and good is not cared for,
good at last so vanishes as not to be.
AC 5949 [2 & 4]
... when a person has uses as the end,
he has the Lord as the end....
... God must be always kept before the eyes;
not that He must be constantly thought about,
but that the fear or the love of Him must reign universally,
in which case God is kept before the eyes in every detail.
When this is the case
the person does not think, speak, or do
what is against Him and displeasing to Him;
or if he does,
that which universally reigns, and lies hidden within,
manifests itself and admonishes him.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
AC 5937 - perception
AC 5937 [2-3]
There is with every person a capacity of perceiving
whether a thing is so or is not so.
The capacity of drawing a conclusion within himself,
or in his own mind, causes a thing to be perceived.
This capacity is utterly impossible
unless there is influx from the spiritual world.
In this gift one person excels another.
He who would have perception in spiritual things
must be in the affection of truth from good,
and must continually long to know truths.
Thereby his intellectual is enlightened,
and when the intellectual has been enlightened,
then it is given him to perceive something inwardly within himself.
There is with every person a capacity of perceiving
whether a thing is so or is not so.
The capacity of drawing a conclusion within himself,
or in his own mind, causes a thing to be perceived.
This capacity is utterly impossible
unless there is influx from the spiritual world.
In this gift one person excels another.
He who would have perception in spiritual things
must be in the affection of truth from good,
and must continually long to know truths.
Thereby his intellectual is enlightened,
and when the intellectual has been enlightened,
then it is given him to perceive something inwardly within himself.
Friday, February 15, 2008
AC 5922 - glory
AC 5922 [3]
"Glory" in the supreme sense is the Lord as to Divine truth,
thus it is the Divine truth which proceeds from the Lord.
But "glory" in the representative sense
is the good of love toward the neighbor, or charity,
which is the external good of the celestial kingdom
and the internal good of the spiritual kingdom of the Lord,
for this good in a genuine sense is the Divine truth in heaven.
"Glory" in the supreme sense is the Lord as to Divine truth,
thus it is the Divine truth which proceeds from the Lord.
But "glory" in the representative sense
is the good of love toward the neighbor, or charity,
which is the external good of the celestial kingdom
and the internal good of the spiritual kingdom of the Lord,
for this good in a genuine sense is the Divine truth in heaven.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
AC 5897 - remains are the goods and truths stored up by the Lord for our salvation
AC 5897 [5]
... a person is continually among evils and falsities,
and is held in captivity by them....
The external person, when separated from the internal,
is altogether in these,
and therefore unless the Lord were to gather up the goods and truths
which as occasion offers
are insinuated into a person during the progress of life,
the person could not possibly be saved,
for without remains there is salvation for none.
... a person is continually among evils and falsities,
and is held in captivity by them....
The external person, when separated from the internal,
is altogether in these,
and therefore unless the Lord were to gather up the goods and truths
which as occasion offers
are insinuated into a person during the progress of life,
the person could not possibly be saved,
for without remains there is salvation for none.
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