39. That goodness loves truth may be illustrated by analogy in the case of priests, soldiers, businessmen, and craftsmen.

In the case of a priest: If a priest is prompted by the good of the priesthood, which is to provide for the salvation of souls, to teach the way to heaven, and to lead those whom he teaches, then to the extent that he is prompted by that good, thus by a love of it and desire for it, he acquires the truths he needs for him to teach and by which to lead.

On the other hand, if a priest is not prompted by the good of the priesthood, but by the enjoyment of his function out of a love of self and the world, which is to him the only good, then he is also prompted by a love of it and desire for it to acquire for himself an abundance of truths in the measure of the enjoyment that inspires him, which is his good.

In the case of a soldier: If a soldier is prompted by a love of military service, and feels his good to lie in the national defense or personal honor, then he is moved by that good and in the measure of it to acquire for himself its discipline, and if he is an officer, the science of it. These serve as the truths by which the delight of his love — which is his good — is nourished and given form.

[2] In the case of a businessman: If a businessman has devoted himself to business out of a love of it, he learns with pleasure everything that enters into that love as the means and gives expression to it. These, too, serve as its truths when the business is its good.

In the case of a craftsman: If a craftsman earnestly applies himself to his work and loves it as his life’s good, he buys the necessary tools and improves his skills by whatever contributes to his knowledge of the craft. By these means he makes his work good.

It is apparent from this that truths are the means by which the goodness of love finds expression and becomes real; consequently, that good loves truths in order to exist.

In the Word, therefore, to do truth means to give goodness expression. This is the meaning of doing the truth in John 3:21; of doing the Lord’s sayings in Luke 6:47; of doing His commandments in John 14:21; of doing His words in Matthew 7:24; of doing the word of God in Luke 8:21; and of doing His statutes and judgments in Leviticus 18:5.

This, too, is the meaning of doing good and producing fruit; for good and fruit are what result.