THE DIVINE LOVE IS THE DIVINE GOOD, AND THE DIVINE WISDOM IS THE DIVINE TRUTH.

This is because everything that love does is good, and everything that wisdom teaches is truth. From this it is clear that the Divine love is called the Divine good from its effect, which is use; also that the Divine wisdom is called the Divine truth from its effect, which is use. For effect is doing and also teaching, the former having relation to love and the latter to wisdom; also every effect is a use, and use is what is called good and truth; good being the essence of use, and truth its form. It is needless to explain this further and to enlarge upon it, since anyone can see from reason that love is what does and wisdom is what teaches, and that which love does is good and that which wisdom teaches is truth; also that the good that love does is use, and that the truth that wisdom teaches is likewise use. Consider only what love is apart from good in effect, and what good in effect is apart from use, whether the love is anything or whether the, good is anything, and you will see it is something in use, consequently that love exists in use. The same is true of wisdom by means of truth; for wisdom teaches and love does. This is why the heat which is from the sun which is the Lord is called the Divine good, and the light from that sun is called the Divine truth. They are so called from the effect, for that heat is the effect of love, and that light is the effect of wisdom, and each is use; for that heat vivifies angels and also men, and that light enlightens them.

[[2]] It has been told in the preceding article what the Divine love is; it shall now be told what the Divine wisdom is. The Divine wisdom is what is called the Divine providence, and what is called also Divine order, and Divine truths are called the laws of the Divine providence, which have been treated of as above; they are also called the laws of Divine order. These laws on the one side have regard to the Lord, and on the other to man, and on both sides to conjunction. The Divine love has for its object to lead and to bring man to itself; and the Divine wisdom has for its object to teach man the way in which he must go that he may come into conjunction with the Lord. This way the Lord teaches in the Word, and particularly in the Decalogue; and on this account the two tables of the Decalogue were written by the finger of the Lord Himself, one of which has regard to the Lord and the other to man, and both to conjunction. In order, therefore, that the way may be known, the Decalogue shall be explained, which shall be done hereafter.

[[3]] As man is a recipient both of the Divine love and of the Divine wisdom, a will has been given him, and an understanding has been given him, a will in which he may receive the Divine love, and an understanding in which he may receive the Divine wisdom, the Divine love in the will through life, and the Divine wisdom in the understanding through doctrine. But how reception is effected through doctrine in life, and through life in doctrine, is the sole subject that will be taught as clearly as possible in the explanation of the Decalogue.