act which constitutes a crime, but, in the sight of the Lord, the intention to commit the act is sufficient; nor is it necessary that there should be a conscious intention in the thought; but the existence of that spirit, that feeling in the heart, which may, if carried out, lead to the intention, and finally to the act,—this is sufficient to constitute the crime, for it is the very essence of the crime— and that essence has only to clothe itself with a form, and the crime is complete—the deed is done. He, therefore, who has in his heart the spirit of murder—though, in this world, regard for appearances, fear of the law, a habit of self-command, and a variety of external restraints, may operate to prevent him from committing, or even intending or thinking of the act itself—yet, in the spiritual world, after death, where all such external bonds and restraints are cast off,—where feelings instantly assume a corresponding external form,—where, in a word, the man acts himself fully out,—there, that man will be seen to act the murderer, or at least, to endeavor to do so. Thus may it be seen, that it is the spirit of murder, which constitutes in reality, and in the Lord's sight, the crime itself.
And now let us inquire, what is the spirit of murder—what constitutes it? Let us hear the Doctrine of the New Church on this point. It is as follows: "The spiritual moral sense of this Commandment, 'Thou shalt not kill,' is, that thou shalt not hate thy brother or thy neighbor, and thence not treat him with contumely and ignominy, for thus you injure and kill his fame and honor, from which is his life amongst his brethren, which is called the civil life; whence he will
