Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/236

... that they do know that the slavery and captivity in which the man of the Church was formerly, is removed; and that from restored liberty he can now better perceive interior truths if he wills to perceive them, and thus can be made more internal if he wills it. (L. J. 73, 74)

The state of the world and of the church before the Last Judgment was as evening and night, but after it as morning and day. When the light of truth does not appear, there is a state of the church in the world like evening and night; but when the light of truth appears, and the truth is received, there is a state of the church in the world like morning and day. Hence it is, that these two states of the church are called evening and morning, and night and day in the Word. (Contin. L. J. 18.)

"And the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches," signifies the New Church upon earth, which is the New Jerusalem descending from the Lord out of the New Heaven. By the seven candlesticks are not meant seven churches, but the church in the aggregate, which in itself is one, but various according to reception. These varieties may be compared to the various jewels in the crown of a king; and also to the various members and organs in a perfect body, which yet make one. The perfection of every form consists in various things suitably disposed in their order. Hence it is, that the entire New Church is