Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 1.djvu/183

 love, seem to speak in the world like wise men, still it is only from the memory and not from any rational light. Therefore in the other life, when it is no longer permitted to reproduce the things of the natural memory, they are more stupid than others; the reason of which is, that they are separated from the Divine.

There are two kinds of dominion; one is that of love toward the neighbor, and the other that of self-love. These two kinds of dominion are, in their essence, altogether opposite to each other. He who exercises rule from love toward the neighbor, wishes to do good to all, and loves nothing more than to perform uses, that is, to serve others. By serving others is meant to seek their good, and to perform uses, whether it be to the church, the country, society or a fellow-citizen. This is his love and this the delight of his heart. So far also as he is exalted to dignities above others, he is glad; yet not on account of the dignities, but on account of the uses which he is then able to perform in greater abundance and of a higher order. Such is the dominion that is exercised in heaven.

But he who rules from the love of self, wills good to no one but himself alone; the uses which he performs are for the sake of his own honor and glory which to him are the only uses. His end in serving others is, that he may himself be served, honored and exalted to dominion. He courts dignities, not for the sake of the good service which may thereby be