Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 385
enlightenment they think what is true and will it, or what is
the same, they believe what is true and love it. 267
474. But it must be understood that it is the will that makes
the man, while thought makes the man only so far as it goes
forth from the will; and deeds and works go forth from both;
or what is the same, it is love that makes the man, and faith
only so far as it goes forth from love; and deeds or works go
forth from both. Consequently, the will or love is the man
himself, for whatever goes forth belongs to that from which it
goes forth. To go forth is to be brought forth and presented in
suitable form for being perceived and seen. 268
All this makes
267. As all things that exist according to order in the universe have
relation to good and truth, so in man all things have relation to will and
understanding (n. 803, 10122).
For the reason that the will is a recipient of good and the understanding
a recipient of truth (n. 3332, 3623, 5232, 6065, 6125, 7503, 9300, 9995).
It amounts to the same whether you say truth or faith, for faith belongs
to truth and truth belongs to faith; and it amounts to the same whether you
say good or love, for love belongs to good and good belongs to love (n. 4353,
4997, 7179, 10122, 10367).
From this it follows that the understanding is a recipient of faith, and
the will a recipient of love (n. 7179, 10122, 10367). And since the
understanding of man is capable of receiving faith in God and the will is
capable of receiving love to God, man is capable of being conjoined with
God in faith and love, and he that is capable of being conjoined with God in
love and faith can never die (n. 4525, 6323, 9231).
268. The will of man is the very being [esse] of his life, because it is the
receptacle of love or good, and the understanding is the outgo [existere] of life
therefrom, because it is the receptacle of faith or truth (n. 3619, 5002, 9282).
Thus the life of the will is the chief life of man, and the life of the
understanding proceeds therefrom (n. 585, 590, 3619, 7342, 8885, 9282,
10076, 10109, 10110). In the same way as light proceeds from fire or flame
(n. 6032, 6314). From this it follows that man is man by virtue of his will
and his understanding therefrom (n. 8911, 9069, 9071, 10076, 10109,
10110).
Every man is loved and esteemed by others in accordance with the good
of his will and of his understanding therefrom, for he that wills well and