Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/183

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XIII.

THE GREAT CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE.

THE essential doctrine derived from the literal sense of the Word is only one, viz.: the doctrine of charity and love — of charity toward our neighbor and of love to the Lord; for this doctrine and a life according to it, is the whole Word, as the Lord teaches in Matthew xxii. 35-40." (A. C. 3445.)

"The whole of the Sacred Scripture is nothing else but the doctrine of love or charity, which the Lord also teaches when He says:

"'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.' Matt. xxii. 37-40. The Law and the Prophets are the Word in general and in particular." (N. J. D. n. 9.)

From the doctrine of love and charity the internal sense of the Word is known, inasmuch as this sense is the very doctrine of love to the Lord and charity toward the neighbor; which the Lord himself also teaches, saying, "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matt. xxii. 40. (A. C. 9409.)

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