The reason why they were seen standing near the glassy sea is, that those who live a life of charity, and reject the doctrine of faith separated, remain in the truths of the sense of the letter of the Word, and do not pervert and falsify them. As, for example, where mention is made in the Word of doing and working, also of deeds and works, they do not involve those things of faith, as though stored up therein, but they will actually to do them. For they know that faith without them is not faith; and that faith is so far faith, as works are rightly joined with it; therefore they condemn as a heresy their being involved in faith and their separation from it. Hence it may appear, that they stand at the glassy sea, that is, are in truths from the Word.

Continuation:-

[3] Concerning works it was said in the preceding article, that works from man are not good, but only those that are done by the Lord with man. But in order that they may be done by the Lord, and not from man, two things are necessary. First, That the Divine of the Lord be acknowledged, and also that He is the God of heaven and earth, even as to the Human, and that from Him is all good that is good. Secondly, That a man live according to the precepts of the Decalogue by abstaining from those evils which are there forbidden - as from the worship of other gods; from the profanation of the name of God; from thefts; from adulteries; from murders; from false witness; from coveting the possessions and property which belong to others. These are the two requisites in order that the works done by man may be good. The reason is, that all good comes from the Lord alone; and that the Lord cannot enter into a man, and lead him, so long as those evils are not removed as sins; for they are infernal, in fact, they are hell with man. And unless hell is removed, the Lord cannot enter and open heaven.

These things are also meant by the Lord's words to the rich man, who questioned Him concerning life eternal, and said that he had kept the precepts of the Decalogue from his youth. The Lord is said to have loved him, and to have taught, that one thing was wanting in him - to sell all that he had, and take up the cross (Matt. xix. 16-22; Mark x. 19-21; Luke xviii. 18- 23). By selling all that he had, is signified that he should give up his religious ideas, which were traditions, for he was a Jew; and that he should also relinquish the things of his proprium - loving self and the world more than God, thus leading himself. And by following the Lord is signified to acknowledge Him alone and to be led by Him. Therefore the Lord also said, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but God only. By taking up his cross, is signified to fight against evils and falsities, which are from the proprium.