Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/239

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THE TWO ESSENTIALS.
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I. That there is one God, in whom is a divine trinity [not of persons, but of essential divine principles], and that He is the Lord Jesus Christ.

II. That saving faith is to believe in Him.

III. That evils are to be shunned because they are of the devil and from the devil; that goods are to be done because they are of God and from God; and that this is to be done by man as of himself, in the belief, however, that it is of the Lord working in and through man.

That these three are true, is proved by the whole Sacred Scripture from beginning to end. What else is therein more insisted on, than to shun evil and do good, and believe in the Lord God?

Besides, without these three there is no religion. Is not religion of the life? And what is life but to shun evil and do good? How can a man do these things and believe the other, but as of himself? Therefore if you remove these from the church, you remove from it the Sacred Scripture and also religion; and these being removed, the church is no church. (C. L. 82.)


THE TWO ESSENTIALS.

There are two essentials whereby conjunction with the Lord and thence salvation are effected: these are, the acknowledgment of one God, and repentance of life. But at this day, instead of the acknowledgment of one God, there is an acknowledgment of three; and instead

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