Divine Love and Wisdom (Rogers) n. 249

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249. Natural people fall into three classes. The first class consists of those who know nothing of Divine precepts, the second of those who know of the existence of these precepts but give no thought to living in accordance with them, and the third of those who regard these precepts with disdain and reject them. As regards the first class, which consists of people who know nothing of Divine precepts, they cannot help but remain natural, because they cannot learn these precepts on their own. Everyone learns of Divine precepts from others who know them from religion, and not as a result of direct revelations (on which subject see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Sacred Scripture, nos. 114-118). [2] People of the second class, who know of the existence of Divine precepts but give no thought to living in accordance with them, also remain natural, being concerned only with matters connected with the world and their own person. After death they become menials and servants according to the services they are able to perform for those who are spiritual. For the natural self is a menial and servant, while the spiritual self is master and lord. [3] People of the third class, who regard Divine precepts with disdain and reject them, not only remain natural, but become also sensual to the extent of their disdain and rejection. Sensual people are the lowest class of natural people, being unable to rise in their thinking above appearances and the misconceptions of their bodily senses. Such people after death are in hell.


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