2474. I was engaged in a conversation with angels about this matter and was shown by means of a comparison with the human body that faith and works relate like soul and body, works without faith being like a body without a soul, consequently like a corpse, and faith without works being like a soul having no body. Faith occurs with much variety: faith merely by rote, faith [acquired] by learning, faith [acquired] by understanding, faith with conviction, faith with conviction from love toward the neighbor. This shows what kind of life can be in faith of the mouth, and faith by learning, and faith by understanding, for it is love that fashions human character and gives a person the ability to be a suitable vessel. From this it is therefore obvious how the character develops from belief without conviction, and from belief together with conviction, and from conviction without love toward the neighbor, and from conviction having love toward the neighbor within it, consequently belief together with the works of charity. 1748, 1 July. mFrom heaven these words were today confirmed in general, as if the Lord had been seen.n* * These words appear written vertically in the left margin of paragraphs 2473 and 2474.