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THE SWEDENBORG LIBRARY.

OF WHOM DOES THE CHURCH CONSIST?

"It is generally believed that the church exists wherever the Word is and the Lord is thereby known. Whereas the church consists only of those who from the heart acknowledge the Divinity of the Lord,[1] learn truths from Him by the Word, and do them. No others form any part of the church whatever." (Ap. Ex. 388.)

A church is said to be spiritual when acting from a principle of charity, or from the good of charity. But it is never so called when it says that it has faith without charity, since it is then no church at all. For what is the doctrine of faith but that of charity? And to what purpose is the doctrine of faith, but that men should act as they are taught?

Where men know and think according to doctrine, there the church may be; but where men live according to doctrine, there alone the church is.

  1. ↑ [All those "from the heart acknowledge the Divinity of the Lord," who shun evils as sins, and live a life of charity, whatever be their professed doctrinal belief. Accordingly Swedenborg, speaking of "the Divine Humanity" says: "This is denied in heart by all those who are in the life of evil. Hence it is evident that they who are in the life of evil cannot acknowledge the Lord, but form to themselves innumerable contradictions against Him, inasmuch as they are receptive of an influx of phantasies from hell. But they who are in the life of good, acknowledge Him, for they are under the influence of heaven, the principle whereof is love or charity; because heaven is of the Lord, from whom come all things appertaining to love and charity." (A. C. 2354.) — Ed.]
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