Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 1.djvu/110

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

heart they believe quite differently from what they talk, and love themselves alone.

From these considerations it may be evident that there are two classes of thoughts, one exterior and the other interior; and that people speak from their exterior thought, and in their interior they entertain different sentiments; and that these two classes of thoughts are separated, care being taken lest the interior flow into the exterior, and in any way appear. Man is so formed by creation that his interior thought should act as one with his exterior by correspondence; and it likewise does so act with those who are in good, for they think and speak only what is good.

But with those who are in evil, interior thought does not act in unity with exterior, for they think what is evil and speak what is good. With these, order is inverted; for good with them is without, and evil within. Hence it is that evil with them has dominion over good, and subjects it to itself as a servant, that it may serve it as a means to obtain its ends, which are the things belonging to their love. And because such an end lies concealed in the good which they speak and do, it is evident that the good appertaining to them is not good, but infected with evil, however it may appear as good, in the external form, to those who are not acquainted with their interiors.

It is otherwise with those who are in good. With them order is not inverted, but good from interior