Page:The Gist of Swedenborg.djvu/104

88 spirit acts from a nature which cannot be coerced or broken except by punishment. —Heaven and Hell, n. 509

It is a law in the other life that no one shall become worse than he had been in the world. —Arcana Cœlestia, n. 6559

F men could be saved by immediate mercy, all would be saved, even those in hell; and indeed there would be no hell, because the Lord is mercy itself and good itself. Therefore it is contrary to His Divine Nature to say that He can save all immediately, and does not save them. We know from the Word that the Lord wills the salvation of all and the damnation of none. —Heaven and Hell, n. 524

OVE of self and love of the world rule in the hells and also constitute them. Love to the Lord and love toward the neighbor rule in the heavens and also constitute them. These loves are diametrically opposite. Love of self consists in wishing well to