They are His
abiding-place in the race. Thence it is that every human being, evil
as well as good, lives to eternity.
--_Divine Love and Wisdom, n._ 240
THE DRAG OF HEREDITY
Man inclines to the nature he derives hereditarily, and lapses into
it. Thus he strengthens any evil in it, and also adds others of
himself. These evils are quite opposed to the spiritual life. They
destroy it. Unless, therefore, a man receives new life from the Lord,
which is spiritual life, he is condemned; for he wills nothing else
and thinks nothing else than concerns him and the world.
--_Heavenly Doctrine, n._ 176
LOVES OF SELF AND THE WORLD
The reason why the love of self and the love of the world are infernal
loves, and yet man has been able to come into them, and thus to ruin
will and understanding in him, is as follows: By creation the love of
self and the love of the world are heavenly loves; for they are loves
of the natural man serving his spiritual loves, as a foundation does a
house. From the love of self and the world, a man wishes well by his
body, desires food, clothing and habitation, takes thought for his
household, seeks occupation to be useful, wishes also for obedience's
sake to be honored according to the dignity of the thing he does, and
to be delighted and recreated by the pleasures of the world;--yet all
this for the sake of the end, which must be use.
Pages:
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28