Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/201

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WHAT UNITES CHURCHES?
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the good of love and faith rules therein. Here also the Lord makes a whole from parts that are different; that is, from several churches He makes one church. (H. H. 56, 57.)

Mutual love and charity are effective of unity or oneness even among varieties, uniting these so that together they form one. For let numbers be multiplied ever so many times, even to thousands and tens of thousands, if all are principled in charity or mutual love, they all have one end, viz., the common good, the kingdom of the Lord, and the Lord himself. In which case the varieties in matters of doctrine and worship are like the varieties of the senses and viscera in man, which contribute to the perfection of the whole. For then the Lord, by means of charity, enters into and operates upon all, with a difference of manner according to the particular temper of each, and thus arranges all and every one into order, as in heaven so on earth. (A. C. 1285.)

When love to the Lord and charity toward the neighbor, that is, the good of life, are made essentials with all and with every individual, then churches, how many soever they may be, make one; and each is then one in the kingdom of the Lord.

This is also the case in respect to heaven, where there are innumerable societies, all different from each other; but still they constitute one heaven, because all are principled in love to the Lord and charity toward their neighbor.

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