Wherefore angels could then converse with men, and lead their minds almost separated from corporeal things with themselves into heaven, and conduct them around, and show them the magnificent and happy things there, and likewise communicate to them their own happiness and enjoyment. These times were also known to ancient writers, and were called by them the golden and also the Saturnian ages. Those times were of this nature because, as already 2 said, they lived distinguished into tribes, and tribes into families, and families into houses, and each house dwelt by itself; and because it never then entered into any one's mind to invade the inheritance of another, and acquire to himself thence wealth and dominion. Self-love and the love of the world were then far away, and every one from his heart was glad of his own, and not less of another's good. But in succeeding times this scene was changed 3 and totally reversed, when the lust of dominion and of possessing the goods of others invaded the mind. Then mankind for the sake of self-defence gathered into kingdoms and empires. And as the laws of charity and conscience, which were inscribed on hearts, ceased to operate, it became necessary to enact laws to restrain acts of violence, in which laws, honors and riches were the rewards, and privations of these were the punishments. When the state was thus changed, heaven removed itself from man, and this more and more, even to the present age, when it is no longer known whether there is a heaven, consequently whether there is a hell, yea, when it is denied that they exist. These things have been told in order to illustrate by the parallel what is the quality of the state of those who are on the earth Jupiter, and whence comes their good disposition, and also their wisdom, of which more will be Isaid in what follows. 8119. A continuation concerning the spirits and inhabitants of the earth Jupiter will be found at the end of the following chapter. CHAPTER FOURTEENTH. THE DOCTRINE OF CHARITY. 8120. It is believed that charity toward the neighbor consists in giving to the poor, in relieving the needy, and in doing good to every one. And yet genuine charity consists in acting prudently, and to the end that good may come thereby. He who relieves any poor or needy villain, does evil to his neighbor through him, for by the relief which he affords he confirms him in evil, and supplies him with the means of doing evil to others. It is otherwise with him who gives assistance to the good. 8121. But charity toward the neighbor extends much more widely than to the poor and needy. Charity toward the neighbor consists in doing right in every work, and one's duty in every office. If a judge does what is just for the sake of justice, he exercises charity toward his neighbor; if he punishes the guilty and acquits the guiltless, he exercises charity toward the neighbor, for thus he takes care for his fellow-citizen, for his country, and also for the Lord's kingdom- by doing what is just for the sake of justice he cares for the Lord's kingdom, by acquitting the guiltless, for his fellow-citizen, and by punishing the guilty, for his country. The priest who teaches truth and leads to good for the sake of truth and good, exercises charity; but he who does such things for the sake of himself and the world does not exercise charity, because he does not love his neighbor, but himself. 8122. The case is the same in all other instances, whether men be in any office or not-as with children toward their parents and with parents toward their children, with ser vants toward their masters and with masters toward their servants, with subjects toward their king and with the king toward his subjects. In these cases he who does his duty from a sense of duty, and what is just from a sense of justice, exercises charity. 8123. That such things are of charity toward the neighbor, is because every man is the neighbor, but in various degree (see n. 6818); a society smaller or larger is more the neighbor (n. 6819, 6820); one's country is yet more the neighbor (n. 6819, 6821); the church still more (n. 6819, 6822); the kingdom of the Lord again more (n. 6819, 6823); and the Lord above all (n. 6819, 6824); in a universal sense the good which proceeds from the Lord is the neighbor (n. 6706, 6711), consequently also justice and right is the neighbor. Wherefore he who does any good whatsoever for the sake of good, and anything just for the sake of justice, loves the neighbor and exercises charity, for he acts from the love of goodness and the love of justice, and thus from love of those in whom goodness and justice are. But he who does what is unjust for the sake of any gain whatever, hates his neighbor. 8124. He who is in charity toward the neighbor from internal affection, in everything which he thinks and speaks and which he wills and does, is charity toward his neighbor. It may be said that a man or angel as to his interiors is charity when good is to him the neighbor-so widely does charity toward the neighbor extend. CHAPTER XIV. 1. And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 2. Speak unto the sons of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon: over against it shall ye encamp by the sea. 3. And Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. 4. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he shall follow after them; and I will get Me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; and the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah. And they did so. : 5. And it was told the king of Egypt that the people were fled and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned about against the people, and they said, What is this we have done, that we have sent Israel away from serving us? 6. And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him : 7. And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and leaders of three were upon all of them. 8. And Jehovah hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the sons of Israel and the sons of Israel went out with a high hand. : 9. And the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon. 10. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the sons of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptian marching after them; and they were sore afraid and the sons of Israel cried out unto Jehovah. II. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to bring us forth out of Egypt? 12. Is not this the word that we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egypserve the Egyptians, tians? For it were good for us to rather than that we should die in the wilderness. 13. And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah, which He will work for you to-day for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14. Jehovah shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. 15. And Jehovah said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto Me? speak unto the sons of Israel, that they go forward. 16. And lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the sea, and divide it: and the sons of Israel shall go into the midst of the sea on dry ground. : 17. And I, behold, I will harden the heart of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them and I will get Me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 18. And the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have gotten Me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 19. And removing, the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, went also behind them; and removing, the pillar of cloud from before them stood also behind them : 20. And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet gave it light by night: and the one came not near the other all the night. 21. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22. And the sons of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 23. And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. |