Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 8391

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8391. Those who lead the life of faith repent daily. They pay attention to the evils present with them, acknowledge them, are on their guard against them, and implore the Lord for help. For by himself a person is constantly falling, but the Lord is constantly putting him on his feet again. By himself he falls whenever his mind desires something evil, but the Lord puts him on his feet again whenever he resists evil and therefore does not carry it out. This is the condition of all who are governed by good. Those however who are ruled by evil are constantly falling, and they are also being raised constantly by the Lord. But He does this so that they will fall not into the most oppressive hell of all, to which if left to themselves all their efforts take them, only into a milder one.


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