Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 162
218. From all this it can be seen what the governors there
are, namely, that they are such as are preeminent in love and
wisdom, and therefore desire the good of all, and from wisdom
know how to provide for the realization of that good. Such
governors do not domineer or dictate, but they minister and
serve (to serve meaning to do good to others from a love of the
good, and to minister meaning to see to it that the good is
done); nor do they make themselves greater than others, but
less, for they put the good of society and of the neighbor in the
first place, and put their own good last; and whatever is in the
first place is greater and what is last is less. Nevertheless, the
rulers have honor and glory; they dwell in the midst of the
society, in higher position than the rest, and also in
magnificent palaces; and this glory and honor they accept not
for the sake of themselves but for the sake of obedience; for all
there know that they have this honor and glory from the Lord,
and on that account should be obeyed. This is what is meant
by the Lord’s words to his disciples:
Whosoever would become great among you let him be your
minister; and whosoever would be first among you let him be your
servant; as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto but to
minister (Matt. 20:27, 28).
He that is greatest among you let him be as the least, and he
that is chief as he that doth minister (Luke 22:26).
219. Also in each house there is a like government in a lesser
form. In every house there is a master and there are servants;
the master loves the servants and the servants love the master,
consequently they serve each other from love. The master
teaches how they ought to live, and tells what is to be done; the
servants obey and perform their duties. To perform use is the
delight of everyone’s life. This shows that the Lord’s kingdom
is a kingdom of uses.
220. Also in the hells there are governments, for without
governments they could not be kept in restraint; but the
governments there are opposite to the governments in the
heavens; they are governments of the love of self. Everyone