Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/106

The things contained in the literal sense of the Word are representatives and significatives of truth, consequently in themselves are not truths; some of them are falsities which yet may serve as vessels and recipients. Still, however, these spiritual things may be so adapted as to serve things celestial, which respect love and charity, as vessels for receiving them, being those things which constitute the cloud of the intellectual part, wherein the Lord insinuates charity and thus forms conscience. As for example: with those who abide in the literal sense of the Word, and imagine that it is the Lord who leads into temptation, and who then troubles man's conscience; and because He permits evil, that He is the cause of evil, and that He casts the wicked down into hell; with other things of a like nature.

These are appearances of truth, but not real truths. Nevertheless, the Lord leaves these things entire in man, and adapts them in a miraculous manner by charity, so that they may serve as vessels for the reception of things celestial. The case is the same in respect to the worship, doctrinals, morals, yea, and even the idols of the Gentiles who are of upright and sincere lives. These persuasions, in like manner, the Lord leaves entire, and still by charity so adapts them that they may serve as recipient vessels. (A. C. 1832.)

In the other life the Lord is always the sun and essential light; yet before the wicked He appears as darkness; for He appears to every one according to his state. And so it is in respect to the church when it is