472. But by deeds and works, are not meant deeds and works as they appear in external form, but the way they appear in internal form. For everyone knows that every deed and work goes forth from the man's will and thought. Otherwise, it would be nothing but a movement like that of an automaton or image. Consequently, a deed or work viewed in itself is merely an effect that derives its soul and life from will and thought, even to the extent that it is will and thought in effect, and thus is will and thought in external form. From this it follows that a deed or work is in quality such as are the will and thought that produce it. If the thought and will are good then the deeds and works are good; but if the thought and will are evil then the deeds and works are evil, although in external form they appear alike. A thousand men may act alike, that is, may do like deeds, so alike in external form as to be almost undistinguishable, and yet each one regarded in itself is different, because from an unlike will. [2] For example, when one acts honestly and justly with a companion, one person may do it for the purpose of appearing to be honest and just out of regard for himself and his own honour; another on account of the world and gain; a third with a view to reward and merit; a fourth out of regard for friendship; a fifth from fear of the law and the loss of reputation or employment; a sixth that he may draw someone to his own side, even when he is in the wrong; a seventh that he may deceive; and others from other motives. In all these instances, although the deeds are good in appearance, since it is a good thing to act honestly and justly with a companion, they are nevertheless evil, because they are done, not out of regard for honesty and justice and for the love of these, but out of regard for love of self and the world which the man loves; and honesty and justice are made to serve that love as servants who serve a lord, and whom the lord despises and dismisses when they fail to serve him. [3] In external form those act in a like way who act honestly and justly with a companion because they love what is honest and just. Some of these act from the truth of faith or from obedience, because so it is commanded in the Word; some from the good of faith or from conscience, because from a religious motive; some from good of charity towards the neighbour because his good should be regarded; some from the good of love to the Lord because good should be done for the sake of good, as also what is honest and just should be done for the sake of honesty and justice; and these things they love because they are from the Lord, and because the Divine that goes forth from the Lord is in them, and consequently regarded in their very essence they are Divine. The deeds or works of such are interiorly good, and therefore are exteriorly good also; for, as has been said above, deeds or works are precisely such in quality as the thought and will from which they proceed, and apart from thought and will they are not deeds and works, but only inanimate movements. All these things confirm what is meant in the Word by works and deeds.