Conjugial Love (Chadwick) n. 363

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

363. (iv) The zeal of a good love and that of an evil love are outwardly similar, but utterly different inwardly.

In each case zeal looks outwardly like anger and exasperation, as it is love fired and inflamed to protect itself against and get rid of anyone who violates it. The reason why the zeal of a good love and that of an evil love look outwardly alike is that, when love is zealous, in either case it blazes; but in the case of a good person this only happens outwardly, but in the case of a wicked person both outwardly and inwardly. So when the inward level is unseen, both kinds of zeal look outwardly alike. It will be seen in the next section that they are inwardly totally different. Zeal looking outwardly like anger and exasperation can be seen and heard by considering all who speak and act from zeal. For instance, when a priest preaches with zeal, his tone of voice is deep, strong, sharp and rough, his face grows warm and perspires, he becomes carried away, bangs on the pulpit and threatens evil-doers with fire from hell. Similar behaviour is to be seen in many other cases.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church