The Gist of Swedenborg by Emanuel Swedenborg
page 36 of 72 (50%)
page 36 of 72 (50%)
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"He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the
Lord require of thee, but to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." --_Micah,_ VI, 8 THE LAW OF CHARITY Not to do evil to the neighbor is the first thing of charity, and to do good to him fills the second place.... That a man cannot do good which in itself is good before evil has been removed, the Lord teaches in many places: "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit"--_Matt._ XVI, 18. So in Isaiah: "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well" (I, 16,17). --_True Christian Religion, n._ 445 GOOD IN ITS WHOLENESS Before repentance good is not done from the Lord, but from the man. It has not, therefore, the essence of good within it, however it appears like good outwardly. Good after repentance is another thing altogether. It is a whole good, unobstructed from the Lord Himself. It is lovely; it is innocent; it is agreeable, and heavenly. The Lord is in it, and heaven. Good itself is in it. It is alive, fashioned of |
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