Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 8254

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8254. Worship of the Lord consists primarily in a charitable life, and not in a religious life without it. A religious life without the charitable life is no more than a selfish wish to look after oneself; there is no concern in it for one's neighbour. But the pursuit of a religious life together with that of a charitable life is indeed a wish to look after oneself, yet out of concern for one's neighbour. The pursuit of a religious life alone is motivated by love directed towards self, but the pursuit of both together is motivated by love directed towards the neighbour.


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