AC 3817 - Loving One's Country

AC 3817 [3]

. . . he who loves his country,
and has such an affection toward it
as to find a pleasure in promoting
its good from good will,
would lament if this should be denied him,
and would entreat that there might be granted
the opportunity to do good to it;
for this is the object of his affection,
consequently the source of his pleasure and bliss.
Such a one is also honored,
and is exalted to posts of dignity;
for to him these are means of serving his country,
although they are called rewards.
But those who have no affection for their country,
but only an affection of self and the world,
are moved to take action
for the sake of honors and wealth,
which also they regard as the ends.
Such persons set themselves before their country
(that is, their own good before the common good),
and are relatively sordid;
and yet they more than all others
are desirous to make it appear
that they do what they do from a sincere love.
But when they think privately about it,
they deny that anyone does this,
and marvel that anyone can.
Those who are such in the life of the body
with regard to their country, or the public good,
are such also in the other life
with regard to the Lord's kingdom,
for everyone's affection or love follows him,
because affection or love is the life of everyone.