641. 'For their works follow with them' signifies according as they have loved and believed, and thence done and spoken. By the 'works that follow them' are signified all the things that remain with a man after death. It is known that the external things that appear before men derive their essence, soul and life from internal things that do not appear before men but appear before the Lord and the angels. The latter and the former, or external and internal things taken together, are works; good works if the internal things are in love and faith, and they do and speak external things from them; but evil works if the internal things are not in love and faith, and they do and speak external things from them. If they do and speak external things as if out of love and faith, those works are either hypocritical or merit-seeking. Ten persons can do works similar in external things, but still they are dissimilar because the internal things out of which the external proceed are dissimilar. [2] Who does not see that there is an internal and an external, and that these two make one? For who does not see that the understanding and the will are a man's internal, while speech and action are his external? For who is able to speak and act without the understanding and the will? And because everyone sees this, he can also see that works are the external and the internal together. And because the external derives its essence, soul and life from its own internal, as was said above, it follows that the external is of such a quality as is its internal, consequently that the 'works that follow with them' are according as they have loved and believed and thence done and spoken. That good works are charity and faith may be seen above (n. 72, 76, 94, 141); and that a man's internal or the internal man is not understanding without willing, but it is to will and thence understand, consequently that it is not believing without loving, but it is to love and thence believe; and that doing these things is a man s external or the external man may also be seen above (n. 625). From these considerations it can be established that by 'the works that follow with them' is signified according as they have loved and believed and thence done and spoken. Similar things are signified by 'works' in the following places:-
In the day of judgment God will render to each one in accordance with his works Rom. ii 6.
We shall all be discovered before the tribunal of Christ, that each may give an account of the things that he has don by the body, whether good or evil 2 Cor. v 10.
The Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father, and then shall render to each one in accordance with his works Matt. xvi 27.
Those who have done goods shall go forth into the resurrection of life, but those who have done evils into the resurrection of judgment John v 29.
They were judged in accordance with the things that have been written in the book, all in accordance with their works Rev. xx 12, 13.
Behold, I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me, that I may give to each one in accordance with his work Rev. xxii 12.
I will give to each one in accordance with his works Rev. ii 23.
I know thy works Rev. ii 1, 2, 4, [5,] 8, [ 9,] 13, 19, 26; iii 1-3, 7, 8, 14, 15, 19.
I will recompense them according to their own work, and according to the deed of their hands Jer. xxv 14.
Jehovah does to us according to our ways and according to our works Zech. i 6;
and in many other places.
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