The Doctrine of Charity - Swedenborg Foundation

CHARITY 257the Lord as the “door” into the sheepfold is an evil shepherd, whois called a thief and a robber (John 10:1–9).161. (2) Charity in magistrates. By magistrates are meant thehighest functionaries in kingdoms, commonwealths, provinces,cities, and societies, who have jurisdiction over them in civil affairs.Each one of them in his own place, if he looks to the Lord andshuns evils as sins, and sincerely, justly, and faithfully performs thework of his exalted office, does the good of use to the communityand the individuals in the community continually and becomescharity in form. And this he does when he is influenced by anaffection for the good of the subjects or citizens; and when he is soinfluenced he is moved, in common with men that are wise andfear God, to establish useful laws, to see that they are observed, andespecially to live under them; and also to appoint intelligent and atthe same time benevolent officers under him over the people,through whom, under his supervision, judgment and justice shallreign, and continually effect the good of the community. He willregard himself as highest in the order of those that serve others; andthus not as the head, for the head leads all things of its body fromlove and wisdom in itself, and the Lord alone is Love and Wisdomin itself; by whom he too will be led as a servant.162. (3) Charity in the officials under them. By the officialsunder magistrates are meant those who are appointed by them overthe people to perform various necessary and useful functions. Everyone of them, if he looks to the Lord and shuns evils as sins, andsincerely, justly, and faithfully performs the work of his office,becomes charity in form, because he does the goods of usecontinually, while in the performance of official duty and alsowhen not in official duty; for then an affection for doing it isestablished in his mind, and an affection for doing the goods of useis charity in its life. Use affects him, and not honor except for thesake of use. There is a certain lesser general good under eachofficial, according to the extent of his function, subordinate to thegreater and greatest general good, which is that of the kingdom orcommonwealth. An official who is charity, when he sincerely,justly, and faithfully does his work, consults the less general good,