Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 448
employment, in every business, and in every work, from an
interior, that is, from a heavenly, motive; and this motive is in
that life whenever man acts honestly and justly because doing
so is in accord with the Divine laws. Such a life is not difficult.
But a life of piety separate from a life of charity is difficult; and
as much as such a life is believed to lead toward heaven so
much it leads away from heaven. 283
283. A life of piety separated from a life of charity is of no avail, but
united with charity it is profitable for all things (n. 8252, 8253). Charity to
the neighbor consists in doing what is good, just, and right in every work and
in every employment (n. 8120–8122). Charity to the neighbor takes in all
things and each thing that a man thinks, wills, and does (n. 8124). A life of
charity is a life in accordance with the Lord’s commandments (n. 3249).
Living in accordance with the Lord’s commandments is loving the Lord (n.
10143, 10153, 10310, 10578, 10645). Genuine charity claims no merit,
because it is from interior affection and consequent delight (n. 2371, 2380,
2400, 3816, 3887, 6388–6393). Man continues to be after death such as was
his life of charity in the world (n. 8256). Heavenly blessedness flows in from
the Lord into a life of charity (n. 2363). Mere thinking admits no one into
heaven; it must be accompanied by willing and doing good (n. 2401, 3459).
Unless doing good is joined with willing good and thinking good there
is no salvation nor any conjunction of the internal man with the external (n.
3987).