Doc. of Life (Dick) n. 46

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46. The faith of a wicked man is an intellectual faith, in which there is nothing of good from the will. Thus it is a dead faith, which is like the respiration of the lungs without its animation from the heart. The understanding moreover corresponds to the lungs and the will to the heart. It is also like a beautiful harlot, adorned even with purple and gold, who is inwardly full of malignant disease. A harlot moreover corresponds to the falsification of truth, and consequently signifies that in the Word. Again, it is like a tree abounding with leaves and yielding no fruit, which the gardener cuts down. A tree moreover signifies man, its leaves and blossoms the truths of faith, and its fruit the good of love. But it is otherwise with faith in the understanding in which there is good from the will. This faith is alive and is like the respiration of the lungs in which there is animation from the heart; and it is like a beautiful wife whom chastity endears to her husband; and it is like a tree that bears fruit.


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