indeed can be alike to eternity, no matter how many times they are multiplied
to myriads of myriads.
It is plain then, in view of the variety of form among angels and spirits,
that loves have infinite variety. The same is true of zeal, because this attaches
to love; that is to say, the zeal of one person cannot be absolutely like another’s
or the same as it. In general there are the zeal of good love and the zeal of evil
love.
363. The zeal of a good love and the zeal of an evil love resemble each
other in externals but are utterly unlike in internals. In the external expression,
zeal has the appearance of anger and wrath, and this is the case with everyone.
For it is love on fire and inflamed to protect itself from a violator and to drive
away that violator.
The zeal of a good love and the zeal of an evil love appear alike in their
external expression because when love is in a state of zeal, it blazes forth.
With the good person it blazes only in externals. With the evil person it blazes
in both externals and internals. However, since internals are not visible, the
two kinds of zeal look the same in their external expression.
Nevertheless, they are utterly unlike in internals. The resemblance of zeal
to wrath and anger in externals is plain to see and hear in all who speak and act
from it. Take, for example, the zealous priest who exhorts the congregation.
While doing this, the sound of his voice is loud, vehement, sharp and harsh;
his face heats and perspires; he throws himself into his sermon, pounds the
pulpit, and invokes fire from hell against evil doers. This is zeal, and there are
many other examples.
364. To get a distinct idea of zeal with the good and of zeal with the evil,
and of their dissimilarity, one must have some conception of internals and
externals in man. Let it be a concept that anyone can understand. Take, for
example, a nut, an almond, say, and its kernel. With the good the internals are
like sound, good kernels, enclosed in their usual and native shell. With the
evil, on the contrary, the internals are like rotten or wormy kernels, or so bitter
they are inedible, but their externals are shells or coats either like the native
shell of the almond, or like shiny conchs, or like multicolor rainbow-stones.
So do their externals look, in which are concealed the internals we have just
described. It is the same with the two kinds of zeal in people.
365. The zeal of a good love harbors love and friendship in its internals,
but the zeal of an evil harbors hatred and revenge in its internals. We have said
that zeal in externals looks like anger and wrath with those in a good love as
well as with those in an evil love. But as the internals are different, the anger
and wrath are, too. The differences are as follows:
1. The zeal of good love is like a heavenly flame which never bursts
forth against another, but only defends itself, doing no more than
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