Divine Love and Wisdom (Rogers) n. 240

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

240. A person has in him two faculties from the Lord which distinguish him from animals. One of these faculties is his ability to understand what is true and what is good. This faculty is called rationality, and it is a faculty of his intellect. The other faculty is his ability to do what is true and good. This faculty is called freedom, and it is a faculty of his will. For a person can think in accordance with his rationality whatever he wishes, either in accord with God or in opposition to God, or in accord with the neighbor or in opposition to the neighbor, and he can also will and do what he thinks. Or, when he envisions misfortune or fears punishment, he can in freedom refrain from doing it. [2] It is because of these two faculties that a person is human and distinguished from animals. A person has these two faculties from the Lord, and he has them continually from the Lord. Nor are they taken away, for if they were taken away, his humanity would perish. The Lord dwells with every person, be he good or evil, in these two faculties. They are the Lord's abode in the human race. It is because of this that everyone, whether good or evil, lives to eternity. However, the Lord's dwelling in a person is nearer as the person uses these faculties to open the higher degrees in him. For by their opening he comes into higher degrees of love and wisdom, thus drawing nearer to the Lord. It can be seen from this that according as these degrees are opened, so the person is in the Lord, and the Lord in him.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church