Angelic Wisdom about Divine Providence by Emanuel Swedenborg
page 81 of 404 (20%)
page 81 of 404 (20%)
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saved. This makes plain what kind of religion it is only to think about
the Lord from faith, so called, and not to do something from charity. Therefore the Lord says, Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? Everyone who comes to Me and hears my words and does them .. . is like a house-builder who has placed the foundation on a rock, but the man who hears and does not do, is like a man building a house on the ground without a foundation (Lu 6:46-49). 92. (vi) _The conjunction of the Lord with man and man's reciprocal conjunction with the Lord is effected by these two faculties._ Conjunction with the Lord and regeneration are one and the same thing, for a man is regenerated in the measure that he is conjoined with the Lord. All that we have said above about regeneration can be said therefore of the conjunction, and all we said about conjunction can be said about regeneration. The Lord Himself teaches in John that there is a conjunction of the Lord with man and a reciprocal conjunction of man with the Lord. Abide in Me, and I in you. . . . He that abides in Me and I in him, brings forth much fruit (15:4, 5). In that day you will know that you are in Me and I in you (14:20). [2] From reason alone anyone can see that there is no conjunction of minds unless it is reciprocal, and that what is reciprocal conjoins. If one loves another without being loved in return, then as he approaches, the other withdraws; but if he is loved in return, as he approaches, the other does also, and there is conjunction. Love also wills to be loved; |
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