Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/187

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THE CHURCH IS LIKE HEAVEN.
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goods of charity from the Lord, and to be imbued with intelligence and wisdom, and thus to be gifted with eternal happiness.

Such is the lot of all, who, according to their religious principles, have lived in good.

Therefore the church of the Lord is scattered throughout the whole world. But his entire church on earth is like the Grand Man in heaven, whose heart and lungs are where the Word is; and the rest of the members and viscera which live from the heart and lungs, are where the Word is not. (A. C. 9256.)

The good of faith or charity is the essential, that is, in the first place, to those who are of the genuine spiritual church; but to those with whom faith is separate from its good, both as to doctrine and life, the truth of faith is the essential, or in the first place. These latter are not of that church; for life constitutes the church, but not doctrine, except so far as it be of the life.

Hence it is evident that the Lord's church is not here or there, but everywhere, as well within as without those kingdoms where the church is, where the life is formed according to the precepts of charity. Therefore the church of the Lord is spread through the whole world; and yet it is one. For when life constitutes the church, and not doctrine separate from life, then the church is one; but when doctrine constitutes the church, then there are many. (A. C. 8152.)

The universal heaven represents one man, and the

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