The Doctrine of Charity - Swedenborg Foundation

CHARITY 234man angel be loved, and not the man devil? You show favor to theman angel, on account of the good and truth in him, but not to theman devil. It is charity that he should be punished if he does evil,and that the man angel should be rewarded.49. If you observe ten virgins, among whom five are harlots andfive are chaste, and would choose one for a wife, do you not chooseone of the chaste, according to her good, which accords with yourgood?50. (3) The quality of the neighbor is according to the quality of thegood in a man; or such as the man is, such is the neighbor. That allmen are not equally the neighbor, the Lord’s parable of the manwounded by robbers teaches, where it is declared that “he isneighbor who showed mercy on him.” (Luke 10:29–37.)51. Whoever does not distinguish the neighbor according to thequality of good and truth in him may be deceived a thousandtimes, and his charity become confused and at length no charity. Aman devil may exclaim, “I am a neighbor; do good to me.” And ifyou do good to him he may kill you or others. You are placing aknife or a sword in his hand.52. The simple act thus. They say every man is equally aneighbor, and that they deem it no business of theirs to search intohis quality; but God looks to that; I may only render assistance to aneighbor. But this is not loving the neighbor. He who fromgenuine charity loves the neighbor inquires what the quality of aman is, and does good to him discreetly, and according to thequality of his good.53. Such simple ones are withdrawn and separated in the otherlife; for if they come among diabolical spirits they are allured to dogood to them, and to do evil to the good. These spirits cry out, “Setme free! Help me!” This is the greatest strength which the evilacquire. Without help from and, as it were, conjunction with them,they have no power at all; but with them whom they have deceivedby the name of neighbor, they are strong.