478. What I have said so far, though, is addressed only to our rational thought. In order to present the matter to sensory observation, I should like to add some experiences that may serve to illustrate and support the claims that first, we are our love or intention after death; second, we remain the same forever in regard to our volition or dominant love; third, we come into heaven if our love is heavenly and spiritual, and into hell if our love is carnal and worldly without any heavenly and spiritual dimension; fourth, our faith does not stay with us unless it comes from a heavenly love; and fifth, love in action, and therefore our life, is what remains.
Divine Providence #72
72. However, since not many people know that this law can be a law of divine providence (primarily because in spite of the fact that divine providence is constantly leading us to think and intend what is good and true, we have a freedom to consider what is evil and false), I need to proceed clearly, step by step, so that this will be grasped. The sequence will be as follows:
1. We have a capacity for disciplined thought and a certain latitude, or rationality and freedom, and these two abilities are in us as gifts from the Lord.
2. Whatever we do from our freedom, whether we have thought it through rationally or not, seems to be ours as long as it is in accord with our reason.
3. Whatever we have done from our freedom in accord with our thinking becomes a permanent part of us.
4. It is by means of these two abilities that the Lord reforms and regenerates us; without them we could not be reformed and regenerated.
5. We can be reformed and regenerated by means of these two abilities to the extent that we are brought to a realization that anything good and true that we think and do comes from the Lord and not from us.
6. The Lord's union with us and our responsive union with the Lord comes about by means of these two abilities.
7. Through the whole course of his divine providence, the Lord protects these two abilities untouched within us, as though they were sacred.
8. This is why it is integral to divine providence that we act from freedom, and in accord with reason.
