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Divine Providence # 67

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67. Next, since we are by creation heavens in smallest form and therefore images of the Lord, and since heaven is made up of as many desires as there are angels, each of which is a person as to its form, it follows that the constant effort in divine providence is for each of us to become a heaven in form and therefore an image of the Lord. Further, since this is accomplished by means of the desire for what is good and true, it is for us to become that desire. This, then, is the constant effort in divine providence.

The very heart of providence, though, is that we should be in some particular place in heaven or in some particular place in the divine heavenly person and therefore in the Lord. This is what happens for people whom the Lord can lead to heaven. Since the Lord foresees this, he also constantly provides for it, with the result that all of us who are allowing ourselves to be led to heaven are being prepared for our own places in heaven.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for the permission to use this translation.

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Divine Love and Wisdom # 17

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17. The infinite elements in the human God are, in a distinct combination, one. People know that God is infinite, because He is called infinite; but He is called infinite because He is infinite. He is infinite not only for the reason that He is being and expression itself in itself, but because He has infinite elements in Him. An infinite entity without infinite elements in it is not infinite except in name only.

The infinite elements in God cannot be said to be infinitely many or even to be infinitely all, because of people's natural idea of "many" and "all." For a natural idea of "infinitely many" is limited, and the idea of "infinitely all," while being indeed unlimited, still draws its origin from the limited elements in the universe. Consequently, because people have a natural idea of these, they cannot by extrapolation or estimation arrive at a perception of the infinite elements in God. On the other hand, because angels have a spiritual idea of them, they can by extrapolation and estimation arrive at a perception of them beyond the level attainable by people, though still not reaching the goal.

  
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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.