16. Ik heb een paar keer met engelen over deze zaak gesproken, die hun verwondering erover uitspraken dat de mensen van de kerk niet wisten dat de Heer en de naaste liefhebben eruit bestaat het goede en het ware lief te hebben en dit te willen doen. Terwijl zij toch kunnen weten dat iemand zijn liefde betuigt door de dingen te willen en te doen die de ander wil; op deze manier wordt hij op zijn beurt liefgehad en verenigd met diegene die hij liefheeft, niet door hem lief te hebben zonder te doen wat hij wil, wat op zich niet liefhebben is. Ze zeiden ook dat men zou moeten weten dat het goede dat uit de Heer voortgaat een gelijkenis van Hem is, aangezien Hijzelf daarin aanwezig is, en dat diegenen die door middel van voornemen en doen het goede en het ware tot hoofdbestanddelen maken van hun leven, gelijkenissen van Hem worden en met Hem worden verenigd. ten slotte is willen, ergens van houden om te doen. Bovendien leert de Heer in het Woord dat dit zo is, door te zeggen: Wie mijn geboden heeft en ze bewaart, die is het, die Mij liefheeft... en Ik zal hem liefhebben... en bij hem wonen Johannes 14:21, 23). En elders: Indien gij mijn geboden bewaart, zult gij in mijn liefde blijven (Johannes 15:10, 12).
Apocalypse Explained #251
251. I will come in to him, signifies conjunction. This is evident from the signification of "coming in," as being, in reference to the Lord, to be conjoined with Him (See Arcana Coelestia 3914, 3918, 6782, 6783). The Lord is conjoined with those who receive Him in heart and life, because the Lord enters or flows in into life; He enters or flows in only with those who are in a life of spiritual love, or in a life of charity; for charity is spiritual love. When that love makes a man's life, the Lord enters or flows in through it into the truths of faith, and causes man to see, or to know them; from this man has the spiritual affection of truth. It is a great mistake to suppose that the Lord enters or flows in into faith alone or into faith separate from charity with man; in such a faith there is no life, for it is like the breathing of the lungs without the inflow from the heart, which breathing would be only a lifeless movement, for the breathing of the lungs is made alive by the inflow from the heart, as is well known.
This makes clear by what way the Divine proceeding from the Lord is admitted, namely, by the way of the heart, that is, of the love; whether you say the heart or the love, it is the same as the life of the spirit therefrom. Love makes man's life, as anyone may know and see if he is only willing to give thought to it; for what is a man without love? Is he not a stock? Therefore, as the love is so is the man. Love is willing and doing, for what man loves he wills and does. An idea of the good of charity and of the truth of faith may be formed from the sun's light and heat. When the light that proceeds from the sun is conjoined with heat, as in spring and summer time, then all things of the earth bud and blossom; but when there is no heat in the light, as in winter time, then all things of the earth become torpid and die. Spiritual light also is the truth of faith, and spiritual heat is the good of charity. From this an idea may be formed of the man of the church; that when faith with him is conjoined to charity he is like a garden and a paradise; but when faith in him is not conjoined to charity he is like a desert, or a land covered with snow.
Matthew 22:2-14
2
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4
Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5
But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6
And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7
But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8
Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9
Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10
So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12
And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14
For many are called, but few are chosen.
