commit adultery, or about the seventh when they steal or defraud
secretly, and so on, and still less that such acts are contrary to divine
law, thus contrary to God.

* Swedenborg follows the numbering of the Commandments customary with
Lutherans, as with Roman Catholics.

[4] When I recalled to them many things from the teachings of the
churches and from the Word confirming the fact that to avoid and be
averse to evils as sins is the Christian religion's very self and that
one who does so has faith, they fell silent. They were convinced of it,
however, when they saw that all were examined as to their life and judged
according to their deeds, and no one was judged according to faith apart
from life, for everyone has faith according to his life.

[5] Christendom in large part has not known this because by a law of
divine providence everyone is left to act in freedom according to reason
(on this, above, nn. 71-91 and nn. 101-128); and by another law no one is
taught directly from heaven but by means of the Word and by doctrine and
preaching from it; there are besides all the laws on permission which are
also laws of divine providence. On these see above, n. 258.

274.* _A doubt may be raised against divine providence in that it has not
been known before that a man lives as a human being after death and that
this has not been disclosed before._ It has been unknown because with
those who do not shun evils as sins the belief lies hidden that man does
not live after death. It is of no moment therefore to them whether one
says that man lives after death or will rise again on the day of the last
judgment. If belief in resurrection happens to visit one, he tells
himself, "I shall fare no worse than others; if I go to hell I shall have