Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 272
consequently reception is measured by the love. This is what is
meant by the Lord’s words,
To him that hath it shall be given, that he may have more
abundantly (Matt. 13:12; 25:29).
Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running
over, shall be given into your bosom (Luke 6:38).
350. All are received into heaven who have loved truth and
good for the sake of truth and good; therefore those that have
loved much are called the wise, and those that have loved little
are called the simple. The wise in heaven are in much light, the
simple in less light, everyone in accordance with the degree of
his love for good and truth. To love truth and good for the
sake of truth and good is to will and do them; for those love
who will and do, while those who do not will and do, do not
love. Such also love the Lord and are loved by the Lord,
because good and truth are from the Lord. And inasmuch as
good and truth are from the Lord the Lord is in good and
truth; and he is in those who receive good and truth in their
life by willing and doing. Moreover, when man is viewed in
himself he is nothing but his own good and truth, because
good is of his will and truth of his understanding, and man is
such as his will and understanding are. Evidently, then, man is
loved by the Lord just to the extent that his will is formed from
good and his understanding from truth. Also to be loved by the
Lord is to love the Lord, since love is reciprocal; for upon him
who is loved the Lord bestows ability to love.
351. It is believed in the world that those who have much
knowledge, whether it be knowledge of the teachings of the
church and the Word or of the sciences, have a more interior
and keen vision of truth than others, that is, are more
intelligent and wise; and such have this opinion of themselves.
But what true intelligence and wisdom are, and what spurious
and false intelligence and wisdom are, shall be told in what
now follows.