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Ezekiel 44

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1 και-C επιστρεφω-VAI-AAI3S εγω- P--AS κατα-P ο- A--ASF οδος-N2--ASF ο- A--GSF πυλη-N1--GSF ο- A--GPM αγιος-A1A-GPM ο- A--GSF εξωτερος-A1A-GSF ο- A--GSF βλεπω-V1--PAPGSF κατα-P ανατολη-N1--APF και-C ουτος- D--NSF ειμι-V9--IAI3S κλειω-VT--XPPNSF

2 και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM προς-P εγω- P--AS ο- A--NSF πυλη-N1--NSF ουτος- D--NSF κλειω-VT--XPPNSF ειμι-VF--FMI3S ου-D αναοιγω-VQ--FPI3S και-C ουδεις-A3--NSM μη-D διαερχομαι-VB--AAS3S δια-P αυτος- D--GSF οτι-C κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM ο- A--GSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM ειςερχομαι-VF--FMI3S δια-P αυτος- D--GSF και-C ειμι-VF--FMI3S κλειω-VT--XPPNSF

3 διοτι-C ο- A--NSM ηγεομαι-V2--PMPNSM ουτος- D--NSM καταιημι-VF--FMI3S εν-P αυτος- D--DSF ο- A--GSN εσθιω-VB--AAN αρτος-N2--ASM εναντιον-P κυριος-N2--GSM κατα-P ο- A--ASF οδος-N2--ASF αιλαμ-N---GSN ο- A--GSF πυλη-N1--GSF ειςερχομαι-VF--FMI3S και-C κατα-P ο- A--ASF οδος-N2--ASF αυτος- D--GSM εκερχομαι-VF--FMI3S

4 και-C ειςαγω-VBI-AAI3S εγω- P--AS κατα-P ο- A--ASF οδος-N2--ASF ο- A--GSF πυλη-N1--GSF ο- A--GSF προς-P βορεας-N1T-ASM κατεναντι-D ο- A--GSM οικος-N2--GSM και-C οραω-VBI-AAI1S και-C ιδου-I πληρης-A3H-NSM δοξα-N1S-GSF ο- A--NSM οικος-N2--NSM κυριος-N2--GSM και-C πιπτω-V1--PAI1S επι-P προσωπον-N2N-ASN εγω- P--GS

5 και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM προς-P εγω- P--AS υιος-N2--VSM ανθρωπος-N2--GSM τασσω-VA--AAD2S εις-P ο- A--ASF καρδια-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS και-C οραω-VB--AAD2S ο- A--DPM οφθαλμος-N2--DPM συ- P--GS και-C ο- A--DPN ους-N3T-DPN συ- P--GS ακουω-V1--PAD2S πας-A3--APN οσος-A1--APN εγω- P--NS λαλεω-V2--PAI1S μετα-P συ- P--GS κατα-P πας-A3--APN ο- A--APN προσταγμα-N3M-APN οικος-N2--GSM κυριος-N2--GSM και-C κατα-P πας-A3--APN ο- A--APN νομιμος-A1--APN αυτος- D--GSM και-C τασσω-VF--FAI2S ο- A--ASF καρδια-N1A-ASF συ- P--GS εις-P ο- A--ASF εισοδος-N2--ASF ο- A--GSM οικος-N2--GSM κατα-P πας-A1S-APF ο- A--APF εξοδος-N2--APF αυτος- D--GSM εν-P πας-A3--DPM ο- A--DPM αγιος-A1A-DPM

6 και-C ειπον-VF2-FAI2S προς-P ο- A--ASM οικος-N2--ASM ο- A--ASM παραπικραινω-V1--PAPASM προς-P ο- A--ASM οικος-N2--ASM ο- A--GSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM οδε- D--APN λεγω-V1--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM ικανοω-V4--PMD3S συ- P--DP απο-P πας-A1S-GPF ο- A--GPF ανομια-N1A-GPF συ- P--GP οικος-N2--NSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM

7 ο- A--GSN ειςαγω-VB--AAN συ- P--AP υιος-N2--APM αλλογενης-A3H-APM απεριτμητος-A1B-APM καρδια-N1A-DSF και-C απεριτμητος-A1B-APM σαρξ-N3K-DSF ο- A--GSN γιγνομαι-V1--PMN εν-P ο- A--DPM αγιος-A1A-DPM εγω- P--GS και-C βεβηλοω-V4I-IAI3P αυτος- D--APN εν-P ο- A--DSN προςφερω-V1--PAN συ- P--AP αρτος-N2--APM στεαρ-N3--ASN και-C αιμα-N3M-ASN και-C παραβαινω-V1I-IAI2P ο- A--ASF διαθηκη-N1--ASF εγω- P--GS εν-P πας-A1S-DPF ο- A--DPF ανομια-N1A-DPF συ- P--GP

8 και-C διατασσω-VAI-AAD2P ο- A--GSN φυλασσω-V1--PAN φυλακη-N1--APF εν-P ο- A--DPN αγιος-A1A-DPN εγω- P--GS

9 δια-P ουτος- D--ASN οδε- D--APN λεγω-V1--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM πας-A3--NSM υιος-N2--NSM αλλογενης-A3H-NSM απεριτμητος-A1B-NSM καρδια-N1A-DSF και-C απεριτμητος-A1B-NSM σαρξ-N3K-DSF ου-D ειςερχομαι-VF--FMI3S εις-P ο- A--APN αγιος-A1A-APN εγω- P--GS εν-P πας-A3--DPM υιος-N2--DPM αλλογενης-A3H-GPM ο- A--GPM ειμι-V9--PAPGPM εν-P μεσος-A1--DSM οικος-N2--GSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM

10 αλλα-C η-C ο- A--NPM *λευιτης-N1M-NPM οστις- X--NPM αποαλλομαι-VAI-AMI3P απο-P εγω- P--GS εν-P ο- A--DSN πλαναω-V3--PMN ο- A--ASM *ισραηλ-N---ASM απο-P εγω- P--GS κατοπισθεν-D ο- A--GPN ενθυμημα-N3M-GPN αυτος- D--GPM και-C λαμβανω-VF--FMI3P αδικια-N1A-ASF αυτος- D--GPM

11 και-C ειμι-VF--FMI3P εν-P ο- A--DPN αγιος-A1A-DPN εγω- P--GS λειτουργεω-V2--PAPNPM θυρωρος-N2--NPM επι-P ο- A--GPF πυλη-N1--GPF ο- A--GSM οικος-N2--GSM και-C λειτουργεω-V2--PAPNPM ο- A--DSM οικος-N2--DSM ουτος- D--NPM σφαζω-VF--FAI3P ο- A--APN ολοκαυτωμα-N3M-APN και-C ο- A--APF θυσια-N1A-APF ο- A--DSM λαος-N2--DSM και-C ουτος- D--NPM ιστημι-VF--FMI3P εναντιον-P ο- A--GSM λαος-N2--GSM ο- A--GSN λειτουργεω-V2--PAN αυτος- D--DPM

12 αντι-P ος- --GPM λειτουργεω-V2I-IAI3P αυτος- D--DPM προ-P προσωπον-N2N-GSN ο- A--GPN ειδωλον-N2N-GPN αυτος- D--GPM και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S ο- A--DSM οικος-N2--DSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM εις-P κολασις-N3I-ASF αδικια-N1A-GSF ενεκα-P ουτος- D--GSM αιρω-VAI-AAI1S ο- A--ASF χειρ-N3--ASF εγω- P--GS επι-P αυτος- D--APM λεγω-V1--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM

13 και-C ου-D εγγιζω-VF2-FAI3P προς-P εγω- P--AS ο- A--GSN ιερατευω-V1--PAN εγω- P--DS ουδε-C ο- A--GSN προςαγω-V1--PAN προς-P ο- A--APN αγιος-A1A-APN υιος-N2--GPM ο- A--GSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM ουδε-C προς-P ο- A--APN αγιος-A1A-APN ο- A--GPN αγιος-A1A-GPN εγω- P--GS και-C λαμβανω-VF--FMI3P ατιμια-N1A-ASF αυτος- D--GPM εν-P ο- A--DSF πλανησις-N3I-DSF ος- --DSF πλαναω-VCI-API3P

14 και-C κατατασσω-VF--FAI3P αυτος- D--APM φυλασσω-V1--PAN φυλακη-N1--APF ο- A--GSM οικος-N2--GSM εις-P πας-A3--APN ο- A--APN εργον-N2N-APN αυτος- D--GSM και-C εις-P πας-A3--APN οσος-A1--APN αν-X ποιεω-VA--AAS3P

15 ο- A--NPM ιερευς-N3V-NPM ο- A--NPM *λευιτης-N1M-NPM ο- A--NPM υιος-N2--NPM ο- A--GSM *σαδδουκ-N---GSM οστις- X--NPM φυλασσω-VAI-AMI3P ο- A--APF φυλακη-N1--APF ο- A--GPM αγιος-A1A-GPM εγω- P--GS εν-P ο- A--DSN πλαναω-V3--PMN οικος-N2--ASM *ισραηλ-N---GSM απο-P εγω- P--GS ουτος- D--NPM προςαγω-VF--FAI3P προς-P εγω- P--AS ο- A--GSN λειτουργεω-V2--PAN εγω- P--DS και-C ιστημι-VF--FMI3P προ-P προσωπον-N2N-GSN εγω- P--GS ο- A--GSN προςφερω-V1--PAN εγω- P--DS θυσια-N1A-ASF στεαρ-N3--ASN και-C αιμα-N3M-ASN λεγω-V1--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM

16 ουτος- D--NPM ειςερχομαι-VF--FMI3P εις-P ο- A--APN αγιος-A1A-APN εγω- P--GS και-C ουτος- D--NPM προςερχομαι-VF--FMI3P προς-P ο- A--ASF τραπεζα-N1S-ASF εγω- P--GS ο- A--GSN λειτουργεω-V2--PAN εγω- P--DS και-C φυλασσω-VF--FAI3P ο- A--APF φυλακη-N1--APF εγω- P--GS

17 και-C ειμι-VF--FMI3S εν-P ο- A--DSN ειςπορευομαι-V1--PMN αυτος- D--APM ο- A--APF πυλη-N1--APF ο- A--GSF αυλη-N1--GSF ο- A--GSF εσωτερος-A1A-GSF στολη-N1--APF λινους-A1C-APF ενδυω-VF--FMI3P και-C ου-D ενδυω-VF--FMI3P ερεα-N3--ASF εν-P ο- A--DSN λειτουργεω-V2--PAN αυτος- D--APM απο-P ο- A--GSF πυλη-N1--GSF ο- A--GSF εσωτερος-A1A-GSF αυλη-N1--GSF

18 και-C κιδαρις-N3I-APF λινους-A1C-APF εχω-VF--FAI3P επι-P ο- A--DPF κεφαλη-N1--DPF αυτος- D--GPM και-C περισκελης-A3H-APN λινους-A1C-APN εχω-VF--FAI3P επι-P ο- A--APF οσφυς-N3U-APF αυτος- D--GPM και-C ου-D περιζωννυω-VF--FMI3P βια-N1A-DSF

19 και-C εν-P ο- A--DSN εκπορευομαι-V1--PMN αυτος- D--APM εις-P ο- A--ASF αυλη-N1--ASF ο- A--ASF εξωτερος-A1A-ASF προς-P ο- A--ASM λαος-N2--ASM εκδυω-VF--FMI3P ο- A--APF στολη-N1--APF αυτος- D--GPM εν-P ος- --DPF αυτος- D--NPM λειτουργεω-V2--PAI3P εν-P αυτος- D--DPF και-C τιθημι-VF--FAI3P αυτος- D--APF εν-P ο- A--DPF εξεδρα-N1--DPF ο- A--GPN αγιος-A1A-GPN και-C ενδυω-VF--FMI3P στολη-N1--APF ετερος-A1A-APF και-C ου-D μη-D αγιαζω-VA--AAS3P ο- A--ASM λαος-N2--ASM εν-P ο- A--DPF στολη-N1--DPF αυτος- D--GPM

20 και-C ο- A--APF κεφαλη-N1--APF αυτος- D--GPM ου-D ξυραω-VF--FMI3P και-C ο- A--APF κομη-N1--APF αυτος- D--GPM ου-D ψιλοω-VF--FAI3P καλυπτω-V1--PAPNPM καλυπτω-VF--FAI3P ο- A--APF κεφαλη-N1--APF αυτος- D--GPM

21 και-C οινος-N2--ASM ου-D μη-D πινω-VB--AAS3P πας-A3--NSM ιερευς-N3V-NSM εν-P ο- A--DSN ειςπορευομαι-V1--PMN αυτος- D--APM εις-P ο- A--ASF αυλη-N1--ASF ο- A--ASF εσωτερος-A1A-ASF

22 και-C χηρα-N1A-ASF και-C εκβεβηλοω-VM--XPPASF ου-D λαμβανω-VF--FMI3P εαυτου- D--DPM εις-P γυνη-N3K-ASF αλλα-C η-C παρθενος-N2--ASF εκ-P ο- A--GSN σπερμα-N3M-GSN *ισραηλ-N---GSM και-C χηρα-N1A-NSF εαν-C γιγνομαι-VB--AMS3S εκ-P ιερευς-N3V-GSM λαμβανω-VF--FMI3P

23 και-C ο- A--ASM λαος-N2--ASM εγω- P--GS διδασκω-VF--FAI3P ανα-P μεσος-A1--ASM αγιος-A1A-GSN και-C βεβηλος-A1B-GSN και-C ανα-P μεσος-A1--ASM ακαθαρτος-A1B-GSN και-C καθαρος-A1A-GSN γνωριζω-VF2-FAI3P αυτος- D--DPM

24 και-C επι-P κρισις-N3I-ASF αιμα-N3M-GSN ουτος- D--NPM επιιστημι-VF--FMI3P ο- A--GSN διακρινω-V1--PAN ο- A--APN δικαιωμα-N3M-APN εγω- P--GS δικαιοω-VF--FAI3P και-C ο- A--APN κριμα-N3M-APN εγω- P--GS κρινω-VF2-FAI3P και-C ο- A--APN νομιμος-A1--APN εγω- P--GS και-C ο- A--APN προσταγμα-N3M-APN εγω- P--GS εν-P πας-A1S-DPF ο- A--DPF εορτη-N1--DPF εγω- P--GS φυλασσω-VF--FMI3P και-C ο- A--APN σαββατον-N2N-APN εγω- P--GS αγιαζω-VF--FAI3P

25 και-C επι-P ψυχη-N1--ASF ανθρωπος-N2--GSM ου-D ειςερχομαι-VF--FMI3P ο- A--GSN μιαινω-VC--APN αλλα-C η-C επι-P πατηρ-N3--DSM και-C επι-P μητηρ-N3--DSF και-C επι-P υιος-N2--DSM και-C επι-P θυγατηρ-N3--DSF και-C επι-P αδελφος-N2--DSM και-C επι-P αδελφη-N1--DSF αυτος- D--GSM ος- --NSF ου-D γιγνομαι-VX--XAI3S ανηρ-N3--DSM μιαινω-VC--FPI3S

26 και-C μετα-P ο- A--ASN καθαριζω-VS--APN αυτος- D--ASM επτα-M ημερα-N1A-APF εκαριθμεω-VF--FAI3S αυτος- D--DSM

27 και-C ος- --DSF αν-X ημερα-N1A-DSF ειςπορευομαι-V1--PMS3P εις-P ο- A--ASF αυλη-N1--ASF ο- A--ASF εσωτερος-A1A-ASF ο- A--GSN λειτουργεω-V2--PAN εν-P ο- A--DSN αγιος-A1A-DSN προςφερω-VF--FAI3P ιλασμος-N2--ASM λεγω-V1--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM

28 και-C ειμι-VF--FMI3S αυτος- D--DPM εις-P κληρονομια-N1A-ASF εγω- P--NS κληρονομια-N1A-NSF αυτος- D--DPM και-C κατασχεσις-N3I-NSF αυτος- D--DPM ου-D διδωμι-VC--FPI3S εν-P ο- A--DPM υιος-N2--DPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM οτι-C εγω- P--NS κατασχεσις-N3I-NSF αυτος- D--GPM

29 και-C ο- A--APF θυσια-N1A-APF και-C ο- A--APN υπερ-P αμαρτια-N1A-APF και-C ο- A--APN υπερ-P αγνοια-N1A-APF ουτος- D--NPM εσθιω-VF--FMI3P και-C πας-A3--NSN αφορισμα-N3M-NSN εν-P ο- A--DSM *ισραηλ-N---DSM αυτος- D--DPM ειμι-VF--FMI3S

30 απαρχη-N1--NPF πας-A3--GPN και-C ο- A--APN πρωτοτοκος-A1B-APN πας-A3--GPN και-C ο- A--APN αφαιρεμα-N3M-APN πας-A3--APN εκ-P πας-A3--GPF ο- A--GPF απαρχη-N1--GPF συ- P--GP ο- A--DPM ιερευς-N3V-DPM ειμι-VF--FMI3S και-C ο- A--APN πρωτογενημα-N3M-APN συ- P--GP διδωμι-VF--FAI2P ο- A--DSM ιερευς-N3V-DSM ο- A--GSN τιθημι-VE--AAN ευλογια-N1A-APF συ- P--GP επι-P ο- A--APM οικος-N2--APM συ- P--GP

31 και-C πας-A3--NSN θνησιμαιος-A1A-NSN και-C θηριαλωτος-A1B-NSN εκ-P ο- A--GPN πετεινον-N2N-GPN και-C εκ-P ο- A--GPN κτηνος-N3E-GPN ου-D εσθιω-VF--FMI3P ο- A--NPM ιερευς-N3V-NPM

   

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Apocalypse Explained # 951

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951. As "the seven angels that had the seven last plagues," signify the manifestation of the evils and falsities that have devastated the church, and as these are made manifest by means of the Divine truth in the Word, therefore those angels appeared "clothed in linen clean and bright;" for "linen clean and bright" signifies genuine truth. All angels appear clothed according to their functions; for the garments in which they go clothed correspond to their ministries, and in general to their interiors. The angels who are wise from Divine truth appear in white garments of muslin, lawn, or linen, because "muslin," "lawn," and "linen," correspond to the truths in which they are; and for this reason Aaron and his sons had garments of linen in which they ministered. These are described in Moses:

Thou shalt make for Aaron and his sons linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness, from the loins even unto the thighs; these shall be upon them when they shall go into the Tent of meeting and when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place, that they bear not iniquity and die (Exodus 28:42, 43).

Again:

When Aaron shall enter into the holy place he shall put on the linen coat of holiness and the linen breeches shall be upon his flesh, and he shall gird himself with a linen belt and shall put on a linen miter (Leviticus 16:4).

He should put on the same garments when expiating the people (Leviticus 16:32).

Also when he took the ashes from the altar after the burnt-offering (Leviticus 6:10).

[2] In like manner the priests were to minister in the new temple. In Ezekiel:

When the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok shall enter at the gates of the inner court they shall put on linen garments; no wool shall come upon them while they shall minister in the gates of the inner court and within; linen miters shall be upon their head and linen breeches shall be upon their loins (Ezekiel 44:15, 17, 18).

They put on linen garments when they ministered holy things, because all holy administration is effected by the Divine truth. For the priesthood in which Aaron and his sons officiated represented the Lord as to the Divine good; and this ministers all things by means of the Divine truth. Moreover, the Divine truth protects from falsities and evils, which are from hell; therefore it is said "that they bear not iniquity and die," which signifies that otherwise falsities from hell would destroy them. These garments were called "garments of holiness," because holiness is predicated of the Divine truth. As the garments of ministry were linen garments, the priests wore a linen ephod when they ministered, as is read of Samuel (1 Samuel 2:18), and of the priests whom Saul slew (1 Samuel 22:18), and of David when he went before the ark (2 Samuel 6:14).

[3] Also of the Lord Himself in John:

Jesus rose up from supper and laid aside His garments, and took a linen cloth and girded Himself, and poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the linen cloth with which He was girded (Jeremiah 13:4, 5).

The washing of the disciples' feet represented and thus signified purification from evils and falsities by means of the Divine truth from the Lord; for all purification from evils and falsities is effected by the Lord by means of the Divine truth; and this is signified by "the linen cloth" with which the Lord girded Himself and with which He wiped the disciples' feet.

[4] Besides these seven angels treated of in Revelation there have been other angels seen in linen garments; as:

The angel who shall set a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh; and who shall go in between the wheels of cherubim and take coals of fire and scatter them over the city (Ezekiel 9:3, 4, 11; 10:2, 6, 7).

Likewise the angel seen by Daniel, clothed in linen, whose loins were girt with gold of Uphas (Daniel 10:5; 12:6, 7).

These appeared clothed in linen because girded for ministry. The angel who measured the new temple, whose appearance was like that of brass:

Was seen to have a line of flax in his hand and a measuring reed (Ezekiel 40:3).

By "the measuring of the temple" there, is described the New Church as to its quality; this is signified by the number of the measures; and as all the quality of the church is known by the Divine truth, therefore "a line of flax" was in his hand.

[5] As "linen" signifies truth, and "a girdle" everything of it, for it is what embraces and includes all things, and as nothing of truth any longer remained with the sons of Israel, therefore:

The prophet Jeremiah was commanded to buy himself a linen girdle, and to hide it in the cleft of a rock at the Euphrates; and at the end of many days it was spoiled and was profitable for nothing (Jeremiah 13:1-7).

"The linen girdle" signifies all the truth of doctrine from the Word. What is signified by its being "hidden in the cleft of a rock at the Euphrates and was there spoiled," may be seen above n. 569.

[6] "Linen" signifies the truth of the church also in Isaiah:

A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not extinguish, and He will bring forth judgment in truth (Isaiah 42:3).

This was said of the Lord; and "the smoking flax," that He will not extinguish signifies the small amount of truth from good with anyone. (The rest may be seen explained above, n. 627.) "Linen" signifies also truth from the Word, especially the truth of the sense of its letter (Hosea 2:5, 9).

[7] Moreover, it was a statute with the sons of Israel:

That they should not wear a garment of wool and linen mixed together (Deuteronomy 22:11).

The reason was that "wool" signifies good and "linen" truth, also because man has communication with the societies of heaven by means of his garments; and there are societies that are in good and societies that are in truth; and man must not have communication with different societies at the same time, which would cause confusion. That this was the reason for this statute no one has heretofore known. But it has been granted me to know it from changing my garments; for when I have laid aside a linen garment those in the spiritual world who were in truths have complained that they could not be present; and when I again put on the garment the same spirits became present. That there is such correspondence with the very garments of man has not been known heretofore, and yet it can be seen from the passages cited above, namely, from what is said of the linen garments of Aaron and his sons, the linen ephod that the priests and David wore, the linen in which the angels appeared clothed, and the linen cloth with which the Lord girded Himself and wiped the disciples' feet, also the other garments of Aaron and his sons, all of which were representative; also from the signification of garments in general, as being truths clothing good (See above, n. 64, 65, 195, 271, 395, 475, 476, 637).

(Continuation respecting the First Commandment)

[8] It is not believed in the world that the love of ruling from the mere delight of ruling, and the love of possessing goods from the mere delight of possession, and not from the delight of uses, conceal in themselves all evils, and also a contempt for and rejection of all things pertaining to heaven and the church; and for the reason that man is stirred up by the love of self and the love of the world to doing good to the church, the country, society, and the neighbor, by making good deeds honorable and looking for reward. Therefore this love is called by many the fire of life, and the incitement to great things. But it is to be known that so far as these two loves regard uses in the first place and self in the second they are good, while so far as they regard self in the first place and uses in the second they are evil, since man then does all things for the sake of self and consequently from self, and thus in every least thing he does there is self and what is his own [proprium], which regarded in itself is nothing but evil. But to regard uses in the first place and self in the second is to do good for the sake of the church, the country, society, and the neighbor; and the goods that man does to these for the sake of these are not from man but from the Lord. The difference between these two is like the difference between heaven and hell. Man does not know that there is such a difference, because from birth and thus from nature he is in these loves, and because the delight of these loves continually flatters and pleases him.

[9] But let him consider that the love of ruling from the delight of ruling, and not from the delight of uses, is wholly devilish; and such a man may be called an atheist; for so far as he is in that love he does not in his heart believe in the existence of God, and to the same extent he derides in his heart all things of the church, and even hates and pursues with hatred all who acknowledge God, and especially those who acknowledge the Lord. The very delight of their life is to do evil and to commit wicked and infamous deeds of every kind. In a word, they are very devils. This a man does not know so long as he lives in the world; but he will know that it is so when he comes into the spiritual world, as he does immediately after death. Hell is full of such, where instead of having dominion they are in servitude. Moreover, when they are looked at in the light of heaven they appear inverted, with the head downwards and the feet upwards, since they gave rule the first place and uses the second, and that which is in the first place is the head, and that which is the second is the feet; and that which is the head is loved, but that which is the feet is trampled upon.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.