Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/159

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NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL FAITH.
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believeth in Him hath eternal life; and whoso doth not believe hath not life. But He also teaches at the same time, that they have faith in Him who live according to his precepts, so that life thence enters into faith. (A. C. 10,083.)

Faith merely natural is the faith which is insinuated by an external way, as sensual faith which consists in believing a thing to be so because the eye has seen and the hand has touched. This is the faith concerning which the Lord said to Thomas, "Thomas, because thou hast seen, thou hast believed! Blessed are they who do not see, and [yet] believe," John xx. 29; also as the faith of miracles, which consists in believing a thing to be so merely from miracles; also as the faith of authority, which consists in believing a thing to be so, because another to whom credit is given has said it.

But spiritual faith is what is insinuated by an internal way, and at the same time external. Insinuation by an internal way causes it to be believed; and in this case what is insinuated by an external way causes it to be confirmed. The spiritual principle of faith is the affection of charity, and hence the affection of truth for the sake of good use and for the sake of life; these make faith to be spiritual. The insinuation of faith by an internal way is effected by the reading of the Word, and on such occasion by enlightenment from the Lord, which is given according to the quality of one's affection, that is, according to his end in knowing truth. (A. C. 8078.)

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