are their works. And the
more expert they are in bringing such devices into effect under the
pretense of sincerity, justice, and piety, the more evil still are their
works. The more delight a merchant feels in such things the more do his
works have their origin in hell.

But if he acts sincerely and justly in order to acquire reputation, and
wealth through reputation, even so as to seem to act from a love of
sincerity and justice, and yet does not act sincerely and justly from
affection for the Divine law or from obedience to it, he is still
inwardly insincere and unjust, and his works are thefts, for through a
pretense of sincerity and justice he seeks to steal.

That this is so becomes evident after death, when man acts from his
inner will and love, and not from the outer; for then he thinks about
and devises nothing but sharp practices and robberies, and withdraws
himself from those who are sincere, and betakes himself either to
forests or deserts, where he devotes himself to stratagems. In a word,
all such become robbers.

But it is otherwise with merchants who shun as sins thefts of every
kind, especially the more interior and hidden, which are effected by
craft and deceit. All the works of such are good, because they are from
the Lord; for the influx from heaven, that is, through heaven from the
Lord, for accomplishing such works is not intercepted by the evils just
mentioned. To such riches do no harm, because to them riches are means
for uses. Their tradings are the uses by which they serve their country
and their fellow citizens; and through their riches they are in a
condition to perform those uses to which affection for good leads them.
(A.E., n. 978.)

From what has been said above, what is meant in the Word by good works
can now be seen, namely, that they are all works done by man when evils
have been set aside as sins. For the works done after this are done by
man only as if by him; for they are done by the Lord; and all works done
by the Lord are good, and are called goods of life, goods of charity,
and good works; as for instance, all judgments of a judge who has
justice as his end, all who venerates and loves it as Divine, and who
detests as infamous decisions made for the sake of rewards or
friendship, or from favor. Thus he consults the good of his country by
causing justice and judgment to reign therein as in heaven; and thus he
consults the peace of every innocent citizen and protects him f