Arcana Coelestia # 34
34. Love and faith cannot possibly be separated for they constitute one and the same thing. This is why, when first the [great] lights are dealt with and they are taken to be one, it is said [using a singular verb with a plural noun], 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens'. Let some marvels relating to this be mentioned here. Since celestial angels possess from the Lord that kind of love, they possess by virtue of that love every cognition of faith, and by virtue of that love the kind of life and light of understanding that almost defies description altogether. On the other hand spirits who without love have a knowledge of the doctrinal matters concerning faith live such cold lives and are in such dull light that they cannot approach even the outer gateway to heaven before running off in the opposite direction. Some claim to have believed in the Lord, but they have not lived according to His teaching. The Lord refers to these people in Matthew as follows,
Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does My will. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? and so on. Matthew 7:21-22-end.
[2] From this is clear that those who have love have faith as well, and so heavenly life, whereas those who claim to have faith and yet have none of the life inherent in love do not. The life of faith devoid of love is like sunlight devoid of warmth, as is the case in wintertime when nothing grows and every single thing is inactive and dies off. But faith deriving from love is like the sunlight in springtime when everything grows and blossoms, for it is the warmth of the sun that brings it out. It is similar with spiritual and celestial things, which are normally represented in the Word by the things found in the world and on earth. An absence of faith, and faith devoid of love, are also compared by the Lord to winter where He foretold the close of the age in Mark,
Pray that your flight may not happen in winter, for those will be days of affliction. Mark 13:18-19.
'Flight' means the final period, also the time when a person dies; 'winter' is life which is destitute of love, 'days of affliction' his wretched condition in the next life.
Psalms 17
1
Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer, that doesn't go out of deceitful lips.
2
Let my sentence come forth from your presence. Let your eyes look on equity.
3
You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.
4
As for the works of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
5
My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped.
6
I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech.
7
Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.
8
Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
9
from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me.
10
They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.
11
They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.
12
He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13
Arise, Yahweh, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword;
14
from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.
15
As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form. For the Chief Musician. By David the servant of Yahweh, who spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said,
