Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 163
there wishes to dictate to others and to be over others. They
hate those that do not favor them, and make them objects of
their vengeance and fury, for such is the nature of the love of
self. Therefore the more malignant are set over them as
governors, and these they obey from fear. 160
But of this below,
where the hells are treated of.
160. There are two kinds of rule, one from love toward the neighbor,
the other from love of self (n. 10814). From the rule that is from love toward
the neighbor flow all goods and all happinesses (n. 10160, 10814). In heaven
no one desires to rule from the love of self, but all desire to minister, which
means to rule from love to the neighbor; this is the source of their great
power (n. 5732). From rule from the love of self all evils flow in (n. 10038).
When the loves of self and the world had begun to prevail men were
compelled to subject themselves to governments as a means of security (n.
7364, 10160, 10814).