21. IX. THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE OF THE LORD CAUSES WHAT IS EVIL AND AT THE SAME TIME FALSE TO SERVE FOR EQUILIBRIUM, RELATION AND PURIFICATION, AND SO FOR THE UNION OF GOOD AND TRUTH IN OTHERS. From what has been said it may be evident that the Divine Providence of the Lord is continually operating to unite truth to good and good to truth in man, because this union is the Church, and is also heaven; for this union is in the Lord and in all things that proceed from Him. It is from this union that heaven is called a marriage, as also is the Church; and hence in the Word the kingdom of God is likened to a marriage. From this union the Sabbath in the Israelitish Church was the holiest thing in their worship, for it signified this union. Hence also in the Word, in the whole and in every part of it, there is a marriage of good and truth, as may be seen in THE DOCTRINE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM CONCERNING THE SACRED SCRIPTURE (n. 80-90). The marriage of good and truth is from the marriage of the Lord with the Church, and this is from the marriage of Love and Wisdom in the Lord; for good pertains to love, and truth to wisdom. From these things it may be seen that it is the unceasing purpose of the Divine Providence to unite good to truth and truth to good in man, for thus is man united to the Lord.