Spiritual Experiences (Odhner) n. 1194

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1194. Now when I had sensed with conviction that these were the symbolic meanings of the vision, someone asked, so as to understand, "What difference is there between the several levels of meaning in the Word?" For many do not allow that there is more than one meaning, or an inward one in the New Testament, and to be sure also for the reason that more inward things are said here and there. For the Word is such that in some places it lays open inward [truths] also, as well as very inward, even innermost ones. To clarify this it was granted me to explain how one can recognize what is an innermost, a very inward, an inward and an outward element, namely, from good works. Good works separate from a true caring of the inward person, are outer acts, and they are like that ugly face [1193]. Inward elements are good works when they come from true caring, so that there is charity toward one's neighbor, and when the works come from that source, and the neighbor is loved. So they come from love, which is something that also exists with unconverted peoples. Very inward elements, however, are recognized by a caring that issues from compassion, a compassion toward those who are "poor" in the very inward sense. For then it is a caring that comes from the Lord, Who Alone is Mercy. But there are innermost elements when innocence is within the compassion, so that it is innocence that turns into compassion, compassion that turns into caring that turns into good in one's actions. In this way [the good done] is from the Lord Alone. Then only are works called fruits of faith, for the Lord Alone is Innocence. 1748, 7 March.


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