641. For their works follow with them, signifies as they have loved and believed, and thence have done and spoken. By "the works which follow with them" are signified all things which remain with man after death. It is known, that the externals, which appear before men, derive their essence, soul, and life from the internals, which do not appear before men, but which appear before the Lord and the angels; the latter and the former, or the externals and the internals taken together, are works; good works, if the internals are in love and faith, and the externals act and speak from them; but evil works, if the internals are not in love and faith, and the externals act and speak from them. If the externals act and speak as if from love and faith, those works are either hypocritical or meritorious. Ten persons may do works which are similar in externals, but still they are dissimilar, because the internals from which the externals 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 will are the internal of man, and speech and action his external? For who can speak and act without the understanding and the will? And since everyone sees this, he may also see that works are external and internal at the same time; and because the external derives its essence, soul, and life from its internal, as was said above, it follows that the external is such as is its internal; consequently, that "the works which follow with them" are according as they have loved and believed, and thence have done and spoken. That good works are charity and faith, may be seen above (n. 73, 76, 94, 141); and that the internal of man or the internal man does not consist in understanding without willing, but in willing and thence understanding, consequently that it does not consist in believing without loving, but in loving and thence believing; and that the doing these things is the external of man, or the external man, may also be seen above (n. 510). From these things it is evident, that by "the works that follow with them" is signified according as they have loved and believed, and thence have done and spoken. The same is signified by "works" in the following passages:
In the day of judgment God will render to every man according to his works (Rom. 2:6). We must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, that each one may give account of the things which he hath done by the body, whether good or evil (2 Cor. 5:10). The Son of man will come in the glory of His Father, and then shall He render to everyone according to his works (Matt. 16:27). They that have done good shall come forth unto the resurrection of life, but they that have done evil unto the resurrection of judgment (John 5:29). They were judged according to those things which were written in the books, all according to their works (Rev. 20:12-13).
Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his works (Rev. 22:12). I will give to everyone of you according to his works (Rev. 2:23). I know thy works (Rev. 2:1-2, 4, 9, 13, 19, 26; 3:1-3, 7-8, 14-15, 19). I will recompense them according to their work, and according to the deed of their hands (Jer. 25:14). Jehovah doeth with us according to our ways and according to our works (Zech. 1:6; and in many other places).
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