sake; but He loves these for man’s sake, because by means of them man comes into a state in which the Divine can flow in and be perceived; since by means of them man puts away that which is his own, which hinders influx and reception, for what is man’s own, which is self-love, hardens the heart and shuts it up.  This is removed by man’s acknowledging that from himself comes nothing but evil and from the Lord nothing but good; from this acknowledgment there is a softening of the heart and humiliation, out of which flow forth adoration and worship.  From all this it follows, that the use which the Lord performs for Himself through man is that Man may be able to do good from love, and since this is the Lord’s love, its reception is the enjoyment of His love.  Therefore, let no one believe that the Lord is with those who merely worship Him, He is with those who do His commandments, thus who perform uses; with such He has His abode, but not with the former. (See what was said above on this subject, n. 47-49.)

336.  Evil uses were not created by the lord, but originated together with hell.

All good things that take form in act are called uses; and all evil things that take form in act are also called uses, but evil uses, while the former are called good uses.  Now, since all good things are from the Lord and all evil things from hell, it follows that none but good uses were created by the Lord, and that evil uses arose out of hell.  By the uses specially treated of in this chapter are meant all those things which are to be seen upon the earth, as animals of every kind and plants of every kind.  Such things of both kingdoms as are useful to man are from the Lord, but those which are harmful to man are from hell.  By uses from the Lord are likewise meant all things that perfect the rational of man, and cause him to receive the spiritual from the Lord; but by evil uses are meant all things that destroy the rational, and make man unable to become spiritual.  Those things that are harmful to man are called uses because they are of use to the evil in doing evil, and also are serviceable in absorbing malignities and thus also as remedies.  “Use” is employed in both senses, as love is when we speak of good love and evil love; moreover, everything that love does it calls use.

337.  That good uses are from the Lord, and evil uses from hell, will be shown in the following order.

(1) What is meant by evil uses on the earth.

(2) All things that are evil uses are in hell, and all things that are good uses are in heaven.

(3) There is unceasing influx from the spiritual world into the natural world.

(4) Those things that are evil uses are effected by the operation of influx from hell, wherever there are such things as correspond thereto.

(5) This is done by the lowest spiritual separated from what is above it.