Arcana Coelestia #33
33. Everyone is capable of knowing very well that no life is possible without love of some kind, nor any type of joy whatsoever except the joy that flows out from the love. Furthermore the nature of the love determines the nature of the life and of the joy. If you took away your loves, and what amounts to the same, your desires (since these stem from love), thought would instantly perish and you would be as one dead. This I have been shown convincingly. Self-love and the love of the world present a semblance of life and of joy, but because they are absolutely contrary to true love, which is loving the Lord above all things and the neighbour as oneself, it is clear that neither of them is love but hatred. For the more anyone loves himself and the world, the more he hates his neighbour and so the Lord. Consequently true love is love to the Lord, true life is the life inherent in love from Him, and true joy is the joy of that life. The existence of more than one true love is not possible. Nor consequently is the existence of more than one true life possible which is the source of all true joy and happiness, such as angels in the heavens enjoy.
Ephesians 6
1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2
Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
3
That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
5
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6
Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
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With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
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Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
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And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
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And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
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Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
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And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
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Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
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And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
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For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21
But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
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Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23
Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
