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 103
1
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, Bless his holy name.
2
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6
The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7
He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9
He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18
To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19
The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20
Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21
Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22
Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: Bless the LORD, O my soul.
