Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-01-31
sBRDAT RgADsRG.
INTERNAL AND ETERNAL
CHARITY

The nature Of a mans internal cannot
manifest itself 10 the man except by
means ofhis eternal: and when it does
so manifest itself, there is then a combat
with his eternal. 1t especially manifests
itself when a man examines himself, sees
his evil, and confesses them from thought
and thinks of repentance, and then re-
sists or rejects his evils, and strives to
lead a new life.
If any one omits to do these things,
his internal man is evil. but if he does
them. il is good for the Lord operates
in the external man through the internal
and since evil is then residing in the ex-
%ternal, a combat ensues. For the spirits
OF hell, who are called the devil, are adj
mitted into the external man, which is
called the flesh; and the Lord combats
them in the man, and il the man also
fights as from himself, he conquers and
in propoiion as he conquers, room is
made in his external for good spirits to
enter and thus he gradually becomes a
new man, and is regenerated.
Whatever the internal man produces
and presents to vision and sensation in
the external, is called a sign. If char
ity exists in the internal, It causes the
man to reflect upon, and have actual
cognizance and knowledge of, his evils
and SO forth. If il has not this effect,
his eternal is not a sign Of charity, and
If still he has a worshipful and pious ex-
%ternal, it is not a sign Of charity but it
is external charity without internal char
ity, which is no charity at all.
TEMPTATIoNs-WHERE ARE THEY?-
While man is being regenerated and be-
coming spiritual, he is continually in
combat, on which account the church Of
the Lord is called militant for before
regeneration, lusts have had the domin-
ion, inasmuch as the whole man is COM
posed of mere lusts, and ~falsities thence.
Temptations are nothing else but the
combats of spirits with the angels who
are attendant on man the evil shirts
stir up or excite all the wicked things
that a man has either done or though
from his infancy, consequently both e
wills and falses, and condemn him. Blu
the Lord, by angels, protects man.
Temptation is in no case wrought BY
good spirits, but by evil, for temptation
is an excitation of the evil and the false
which are with man.
The angels who are attendant on man
bring or press forth his goods and truth.
and thereby defend him this combat i
a what is made sensible and ~perceivabl
d in man. and causes remorse and pain 0
conscience.
d Temptations are no other than mites
q tine combats, disputes, and contentious
K respecting power and dominion /; evil
contending on one side. and goods O.
the other.
II is the evil with man which causes
d temptations, and which also leads int
temptation, of which evil there is n
cause in God.
The tempted are in the interior ankle
u ty, even to desperation, in which the,
a are kept more especially for the end tina
they may finally be confirmed in thi:
n that all things ale Of the Lords mercy
d that they are saved by Him alone, an
that in themselves there is nothing bu
n evil, in which truths they are confirme
by combats wherein they conquer.
He who is in the combats of tempts
Is ton. and conquers, acquires to himse
a more and more power over evil spirits
le or over the diabolicaF crew, till at lengt
they dare not assault him but on ever
" victory obtained, the Lord reduces
order the goods and truths from whic
the combat was supported, when. cons'
re quently, these are purified; and, in pr,
rs portion as these are purified, the celesti
things of love are insinuated into the e,
b. terror man..
r.