not from himself but from the Lord. (A.E., n. 973.)

When a man begins to shun and turn away from evils because they are sins
all things that he does are good, and may be called good works; with a
difference according to the excellence of the use. For what a man does
before he shuns and turns away from evils as sins are works done by the
man himself; and as the man's own (proprium), which is nothing but evil,
is in these, and they are done for the sake of the world, so they are
evil works. But the works that a man does after he shuns and turns away
from evils as sins are works from the Lord, and because the Lord is in
these and heaven with Him they are good works.

The difference between works done by man and works done by the Lord in
man is not apparent to man's vision, but is clearly evident to the
vision of angels. Works done by man are like sepulchers outwardly
whitened, which within are full of dead men's bones. They are like
platters and cups outwardly clean, but containing unclean things of
every kind. They are like fruits inwardly rotten, but with the outer
skin still shining; or like nuts and almonds eaten by worms within,
while the shell remains untouched; or like a foul harlot with a fair
face. Such are the good works done by man himself, since however good
they appear on the outside, within they are full of impurities of every
kind; for their interiors are infernal, while their exteriors appear
heavenly.

But as soon as man shuns and turns away from evils as sins his works
are good not only outwardly but inwardly also; and the more interior
they are the more they are good, for the more interior they are the
nearer they are to the Lord. Then they are like fruits that have a
fine-flavored pulp, in the center of which are depositories with many