213. And to know that I have loved thee. That this signifies knowledge thence, that the Lord is present in charity and not in faith without it, is evident from the signification of knowing, as denoting knowledge; and from the signification of, I have loved thee, when predicated of the Lord, as denoting that He is present. The reason why it denotes His being present in charity and not in faith without it is, that the subject treated of is those who are in the faith of charity (as may be seen above, n. 203). The Lord is present in affection or love with man, thus in the life of his spirit; for love, or affection, constitutes the life of his spirit; consequently, the Lord is present in charity, charity being man's essential affection or spiritual love. And because the Lord is present in charity with man, it is evident that He is not present in faith without charity; nor is faith without charity spiritual, therefore neither is it inwardly in the man so as to constitute his life, but outside him in the memory, and thence in some natural thought. The reason why to love, when said of the Lord, denotes His presence is, that love causes conjunction and thence presence, and to him who loves, the Lord enters in, and teaches and leads, and also gives him power to love Him, that, is, to do His commandments and precepts; for this is to love the Lord. That the Lord is present with him whom He loves, and that He loves him who keeps His commandments and precepts He Himself teaches in John: