231. That thou art neither cold nor hot, signifies that it is between heaven and hell, because it is without charity. This is evident from the signification of "cold," as meaning to be not in spiritual love but in infernal love (of which presently); also from the signification of "hot," as meaning to be in spiritual love (of which also presently). From this it is clear that "to be neither cold nor hot" signifies to be neither in infernal love nor in spiritual love, but between the two, and he who is between the two is between hell and heaven. [2] That those who are in faith alone, or in faith separate from charity, are in this state, has not been known; but it is evident that they are so, from the particulars of what is written to the angel of this church, and moreover from this, that those who are in faith separate from charity live for themselves, the world, and appetite, and those who so live are in infernal love; and yet these, by reading the Word, by hearing discourses therefrom, by receiving the Holy Supper, and by many things from the Word that they merely retain in the memory, look towards heaven; and when they do this, they are in some spiritual heat; but yet because this is not spiritual heat, or spiritual love, since they do not live according to the Word; consequently they are neither hot nor cold. Moreover, they thus draw the mind in two directions, for by the things that are from the Word they turn themselves towards heaven, and by the things that are of the life they turn themselves towards hell, thus they halt between the two. When such as these come into the other life, they are eager for heaven, saying, that they have had faith, have read the Word, heard sermons, often attended the Holy Supper, and by these things ought to be saved. But when their life is explored, it is seen to be altogether infernal, that is, they have made enmities, hatred, revenge, craft, deceitful devices, of no account, and when they did what was upright, sincere, and just, it was only in the external form for the sake of appearing such before the world, whilst within themselves, or in their spirit, they had other thoughts, and many opposite thoughts, believing that thoughts and intentions are of no account providing they do not become manifest to the world. For this reason their spirit becomes such when freed from the ties of the earthly body; for it is the spirit of man that thinks and purposes. [3] These are meant by the Lord's words in Matthew:
Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied by Thy name, and by Thy name cast out demons, and in Thy name done many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity (Matt. 7:22-23). Also by these words in Luke:
When ye begin to stand without and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say, I know you not whence ye are; then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk before Thee, and Thou hast taught in our streets. But He shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity (Luke 13:25-27). [4] "Cold" signifies infernal love, because "heat" signifies heavenly love. (That "heat" signifies heavenly love, see in the work on Heaven and Hell, n. 126-140, 567, 568; and that love to the Lord, and love toward the neighbor or charity are heavenly loves, and make heaven, n. 13-19; and that the love of self and the love of the world are infernal loves and constitute hell, n. 551-565. That in the hells also there is heat, but unclean, see Arcana Coelestia, n. 1773, 2757, 3340; and that that heat is turned into cold when heavenly heat flows in, see in the work on Heaven and Hell, n. 572.)
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