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is a church, and together with those who are in like disposition constitutes the church in general.

Hence it may he manifest that, to make the church a church, there ought to be spiritual good, that is, the good of truth; but not truth alone, from which the church at this day is called the church, and by which one church is distinguished from another.

Let every one think with himself whether truth be anything unless it regards life as its end. What are doctrinals separate from that end? What, for instance, are the commandments of the Decalogue separate from a. life according to them? For if any one is acquainted with them, and with the meaning of them in its full extent, of what advantage is such knowledge? Is it not wholly unprofitable, and in some cases damnable?

The case is the same with the doctrinals of faith derived from the Word, which are the precepts of Christian life; for they are spiritual laws. These are of no manner of use unless they become laws of the life. Let a man consider with himself whether there appertains to him anything except what enters into his very life; and whether the life which is truly life, be elsewhere than in his will. Hence it was declared by the Lord in the Old Testament and confirmed in the New, that all the law and all the prophets are founded in love to God and love toward the neighbor, that is, in the very life, but not in faith without life. (A. C. 5826.)