True Christian Religion (Chadwick) n. 602

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

602. It needs to be known that a person as regards his understanding can rise almost into the light enjoyed by the angels of heaven. But if he does not also rise as regards his will, he is still the old person, not a new one. I showed earlier how the understanding raises the will to an even higher level to match itself. Regeneration, therefore, is primarily a matter of the will, secondarily of the understanding. For a person's understanding resembles light in the world, his will heat there. It is well known that light without heat does not make things live and grow, but only light combined with heat. In respect of the lower region of the mind the understanding really is enlightened by the light of the world, but in respect of the upper region by the light of heaven. Therefore unless the will is raised from the lower region to the upper and is there linked to the understanding, it remains in the world. Then the understanding swoops up and down, but every night sinks down to the will and rests there; and they couple like a man with a whore, and bring forth offspring with two heads. These facts too make it plain that unless a person acquires a new will and a new understanding, he has not been regenerated.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church