Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 10653

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10653. 'You shall not make gods of cast metal for yourself' means worship of self and not of the Lord. This is clear from the meaning of 'making gods of cast metal' as establishing worship in tune with self-love, dealt with in 10406, 10503, and worship that is in tune with self-love is worship of self and not of the Lord, because worship of self is the end, whereas worship of the Lord is the means to that end. Whatever is the end is the master and whatever is the means is the servant; and the means is regarded by the end in no other way than as a servant is by his master. This is what worship is like with those who regard the holy things of the Church as the means, and mastery as the end.


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