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 104
1
Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
2
Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
3
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
4
Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
5
Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
6
Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
7
At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
8
They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
9
Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
10
He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
11
They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
12
By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
13
He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
14
He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
15
And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
16
The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
17
Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
18
The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
19
He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
20
Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
21
The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
22
The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
23
Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
24
O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
25
So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
26
There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
27
These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
28
That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
29
Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
30
Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
31
The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
32
He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
33
I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34
My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
35
Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
