42. III. THE NEIGHBOR THAT IS TO BE LOVED, IN THE SPIRITUAL IDEA, IS GOOD, AND TRUTH. It is said, in the spiritual idea, because this is the idea in which the spiritual man is, inwardly; and the angels are in the same idea. This idea is abstract from matter, space, and time, and especially is abstract from person. Arrangement in order:
(I.) Man is man not from his form, but from the good and truth in him, or what is the same, from will and understanding. (II.) Therefore the good and truth in a man is the neighbor that is to be loved. (III.) The quality of the neighbor is according to the quality of the good and truth in a man; or such as the man is, such is the neighbor. (IV.) The degree of neighbor is according to the degree of good and truth in a man; consequently, one man is not neighbor in the same degree as another. (V.) The good of the internal will is the neighbor that is to be loved, and not the good of the external will, unless this makes one with the other. (VI.) Truth is the neighbor as far as it proceeds from good and makes one with it, as form and essence.
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