Heaven and Hell (Harley) n. 64

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

64. So many different things act as one in a man, because there is nothing whatever in him which does not contribute something to the general welfare and perform a use. The general performs a use for its parts, and the parts for the general, for the general is composed of the parts and the parts make up the general. Therefore, they provide for one another, have regard to one another and are conjoined in such a form that each single thing and all things have reference to the general and its good. So it comes about that they act as one. [2] In the heavens there are the same sort of consociations. Those there are conjoined in a like form in accordance with uses. Consequently, those who do not perform a use for the community are cast out of heaven because they are heterogeneous. To perform use is to will well to others for the sake of the common good, and not to perform use is to will well to others, not for the sake of the common good but for the sake of self. The latter are those who love themselves above all things while the former are those who love the Lord above all things. Thus it is that those who are in heaven act as a one. This, however, they do, not from themselves but from the Lord, for they look to Him as the one and only Source of all things, and to His kingdom as the community whose welfare is to be considered. This is what is meant by the Lord's words,
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His justice, and all things shall be added unto you. Matt. vi. 33.
[3] To seek His justice is to seek His good.# Those who in the world love their country's good more than their own, and their neighbour's good as their own, are those who in the other life love and seek the Lord's kingdom, for there the Lord's kingdom takes the place of their country. Also, those who love to do good to others, not for the sake of self but for the sake of good, love the neighbour, for in heaven good is the neighbour.## All such are in the Grand Man, that is, in heaven. # Justice in the Word is predicated of good, and judgment of truth, and hence to do justice and judgment is to do what is good and true (n. 2235, 9857). ## In the highest sense the Lord is the neighbour, and hence to love the Lord is to love that which is from Him, because He Himself is in everything that is from Him; thus good and truth (n. 2425, 3419, 6706, 6711, 6819, 6823, 8123). Therefore, all good which is from the Lord is the neighbour, and to will and to do that good is to love the neighbour (n. 5026, 10336).


This page is part of the Heavenly Doctrines

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church