NOTE. In this Volume, the numbers referring to passages have been revised and corrected; but where the correct number could not be discovered the erroneous one is retained, and distinguished by an asterisk. THE HEAVENLY ARCANA CONTAINED IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES OR WORD OF THE LORD UNFOLDED, BEGINNING WITH THE BOOK OF GENESIS: TOGETHER WITH WONDERFUL THINGS SEEN IN THE WORLD OF SPIRITS BX8712 1570 Published by THE AMERICAN SWEDENBORG PRINTING AND PUBLISHING SOCIETY, organized for the purpose of Stereotyping, Printing, and Publishing Uniform Editions of the Theological Writings of EMANUEL SWEDENBORG, and incorporated in the State of New York, A. D. 1850. EXODUS. UNIVERSITY OF CHAPTER THE TWENTY-NINTH. THE DOCTRINE OF CHARITY AND OF FAITH. 9974. THOSE who believe, that by the goods which they do they merit heaven, do good from themselves, and not from the Lord. 9975. The goods which men do from themselves, are all of them not good, because they are done for the sake of self, since for the sake of reward, thus in them they primarily respect themselves; but the goods which men do from the Lord are all of them good, since they are done for the sake of the Lord and for the sake of the neighbor; thus in them the doers primarily respect the Lord and the neighbor. 9976. Wherefore those who place merit in works, love themselves, and those who love themselves despise the neighbor, yea they are angry with God Himself, if they do not receive the hoped-for recompense, for what they do is for the sake of the recompense. 9977. Hence it is evident, that their works are not from celestial love, thus neither from a true faith, for the faith which regards good as derived from self, and not from God, is not true faith. Such persons cannot receive heaven in themselves, for heaven with man is from celestial love and from true faith. 9978. Those who place merit in works, cannot fight against the evils which are from the hells, for no one can do this from himself; but in the case of those who do not place merit in works, the Lord fights for them and conquers. 9979. The Lord alone has merit, because He alone from Himself conquered the hells, and subdued them; hence the Lord alone is merit and justice. 9980. Moreover man of himself is nothing but evil, therefore to do good from himself is to do it from evil. 9981. That good ought not to be done for the sake of recompense, the Lord Himself teaches in Luke," If ye love those who love you, what favor have ye? if ye do good to those who do good to you, what favor have ye? for sinners do the same: rather love your enemies, and do good, and lend hoping for nothing, then shall your recompense be great, and ye shall be the sons of |