Divine Love and Wisdom (Harleys) n. 414

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414. (xiv) Love or the will can be elevated in like manner and can receive such things as are of heat out of heaven, provided it loves wisdom, its partner, in that degree. It was shown in the preceding number and in many places above that the understanding can be elevated into the light of heaven, and from it can draw forth wisdom; but it has also been frequently shown that love or the will can be elevated in like manner if it loves things that belong to the light of heaven, or to wisdom. Yet love or the will cannot be elevated through anything of honour, glory, or gain, as an end, but through a love of use, thus not for the sake of self, but for the sake of the neighbour; and because this love is given only by the Lord when man shuns evils as sins, therefore love or the will can be raised by this means and in no other way. Love or the will is elevated into heaven's heat, the understanding, however, into its light; and if both be raised, their marriage is celebrated there, and is called a heavenly marriage, because it is a marriage of heavenly love and wisdom; consequently it is said that love also is elevated if it loves wisdom, its partner, in that degree. The love of wisdom, or the genuine love of the human understanding, is love towards the neighbour from the Lord. It is the same with light and heat in the world. Light exists without heat and with heat, the former in winter and the latter in summer. When there is heat with light all things flourish. Light in man corresponding to the light of winter is wisdom without its love, and light in man corresponding to the light of summer is wisdom with its love.


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