Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 9975

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9975. No good deeds performed by people which commence in self are really good, for they are done for a selfish reason since they are done for the sake of some kind of return; thus in such deeds those people have chiefly themselves in view. But all good deeds performed by people which commence in the Lord are truly good, since they are done for the Lord's sake and the neighbour's sake; thus in their deeds these people have chiefly the Lord and the neighbour in view.


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