Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 290
this makes clear that a life of charity toward the neighbor,
which is doing what is just and right in every work and in every
employment, is what leads to heaven, and not a life of piety
apart from charity; 235
and from this it follows that only to the
extent that man is engaged in the employments of life can
charity be exercised and the life of charity grow; and this is
impossible to the extent that man separates himself from those
employments.
[3] On this subject I will speak now from experience. Of
those who while in the world were employed in trade and
commerce and became rich through these pursuits there are
many in heaven, but not so many of those who were in stations
of honor and became rich through those employments; and for
the reason that these latter by the gains and honors that
resulted from their dispensing justice and equity, and also by
the lucrative and honorable positions bestowed on them were
led into loving themselves and the world, and thereby
separating their thoughts and affections from heaven and
turning them to themselves. For to the extent that a man loves
self and the world and looks to self and the world in
everything, he alienates himself from the Divine and separates
himself from heaven.
361. As to the lot of the rich in heaven, they live more
splendidly than others. Some of them dwell in palaces within
which everything is resplendent as if with gold and silver. They
have an abundance of all things for the uses of life, but they do
not in the least set their heart on these things, but only on uses.
Uses are clearly seen as if they were in light, but the gold and
235. Charity toward the neighbor is doing what is good, just, and right,
in every work and every employment (n. 8120–8122).
Thus charity toward the neighbor extends to all things and each thing
that a man thinks, wills, and does (n. 8124).
A life of piety apart from a life of charity is of no avail, but together they
are profitable for all things (n. 8252, 8253).