Verse 26. For how can a man (says the soul), whose natural life is derived from the loves of self and of the world, carry out the dictates and follow the example of the Lord Jesus Christ, proceeding, as they did, from His ardent love to the human race as now perceived by the mind, and live from them, and retain anything of the natural life of self-enjoyment?

1849. That 'the nation also which they are going to serve' means the evil who oppress is clear from the meaning of 'nation' and of 'serving'. In the genuine sense 'a nation' means goods, or what amounts to the same, those who are good, for when goods are thus spoken of abstractedly they still have reference to the subject, which is a man, spirit, or angel. In the contrary sense however 'nation' means evils, or what amounts to the same, those who are evil, dealt with in 1159, 1258-1260. 'Serving' however, or slavery, means oppression, as in the previous verse.