was the same God, who spoke that commandment from Mount Sinai, that now stood there, clothed with Humanity, explaining it to the Jews and to the world). He there shows, that to kill is not merely to commit the outward act—but even to be angry with our brother or neighbor, and to have in our hearts that spirit which causes us to utter violent, malicious, and bitter words against him. Thus, we perceive, that the essential spirit of murder is hatred; and he, therefore, who cherishes or indulges within himself a feeling of hatred, malice, or bitterness towards any one, is just in that degree breaking this commandment—and though he may be unconscious of it now, he will know it after death.
On the subject of hatred, the Doctrine of the New Church thus speaks: "Hatred has in itself a fire, which is the effort of killing man: that fire is manifested by anger." "Inasmuch as hatred, which consists in wishing to kill, is opposite to love to the Lord, and also to love towards the neighbor, and these latter loves make heaven with man, it is manifest that hatred, being thus opposite, makes hell with him. Nor is the infernal fire anything else but hatred: wherefore, also, the hells appear as in a fire of dusky red, according to the quality and quantity of the hatred, and in a fire of dusky flame, according to the quantity and quality of the revenge arising from hatred." And now we may inquire, who of us are influenced by the spirit of hatred, or in danger of being so influenced. The Doctrine answers this question. It thus continues: "Every
