ne, because they are of and from God; and that men ought to
go to the Lord, in order that he may lead them to do the latter. Let any
one consult himself and consider, whether a man derives good from any
other source; and if he has not good, he has not salvation. In regard to
the FOURTH point,--that good, when it is thus implanted, cannot be
transferred, (that is, the good of one person into another,) it is
evident from what has been already said; for from that it follows, that
a man by regeneration is made altogether new as to his spirit, which is
effected by a life according to the Lord's precepts. Who does not see
that this renewing can only be effected from time to time, in nearly the
same manner as a tree successively takes root and grows from a seed, and
is perfected? Those who have other perceptions of regeneration, do not
know any thing about the state of man, or about evil and good, which two
are altogether opposite, and that good can only be implanted so far as
evil is removed; nor do they know, that so long as any one is in evil,
he is averse from the good which in itself is good; wherefore if the
good of one should be transferred into any one who is in evil, it would
be as if a lamb should be cast before a wolf, or as if a pearl should be
tied to a swine's snout: from which considerations it is evident, that
any such transfer is impossible.

526. III. IMPUTATION, IF BY IT IS MEANT SUCH TRANSFERENCE, IS A
FRIVOLOUS TERM. That the evil in which every one is principled, is
imputed to him after death, and so also the good, was proved above, n.
524; hence it is evident what is meant by imputation: but if by
imputation is meant the tranference of good into any one that is in
evil, it is a frivolous term, because any such transference is
impossible, as was also proved above, in 525. In the world, merits may
as it were be transferred by men; that is, good may be done to children
for the sake of their parents, or to the friends of any client out of
favor; but the good of merit cannot be inscribed on their souls, but
only be externally adjoined. The like is not possible with men as to
their spiritual life: this, as was shewn above, must be implanted; and
if it is not implanted by a life according to the Lord's precepts, as
above-mentioned, a man remains in the evil in which he was born. Before
such implantation, it is impossible for any good to reach him, or if it
reaches him, it is instantly struck back and rebounds li