The Doctrine of Charity - Swedenborg Foundation

CHARITY 226that is, in proportion as he believes that all good is from the Lord,and does not place merit in it.9. That no one can do good, which is good, from himself, butthat as far as a man shuns evils as sins, so far he does good not fromhimself, but from the Lord, may be seen in Doctrine of Life (n.9–31).10. From all this it is plain that before repentance there is notcharity the good of which is from the Lord, but from the man; butafter repentance it becomes charity the good of which is not fromthe man, but from the Lord. For the Lord cannot enter into a manand do any good from Himself through him, before the devil, thatis, evil, is cast out, but after he is cast out. The devil is cast out byrepentance; and when he is cast out the Lord enters, and does goodthere through the man, but always so that the man does notperceive but that he does it from himself. And yet he knows that itis from the Lord.11. It is clear then, from these considerations, that the first ofcharity is to shun evils as sins, which is done by repentance. Whodoes not see that an impenitent man is evil? And who does not seethat an evil man has not charity? And who does not see that he whohas not charity cannot do charity? Charity must be from charitywithin a man.12. (6) Finally, some passages may be adduced from the Word,as, from the Lord’s words to the Pharisees, that the internal manmust be purified; the words in the first chapter of Isaiah; and someof those that are quoted in Doctrine of Life (n. 28–31 and 50–52).The second of charity is to do goods, because they are usesTo be explained in this order:2