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THE SWEDENBORG LIBRARY.

celestial and spiritual, in the world ecclesiastical and theological; and there is the thought not of light concerning them. The thought not of light belongs to persons who know these things and do not understand them. Such are all at this day who are willing that the understanding be kept under obedience to faith; yea, that what is not intelligible should be believed, saying, that intellectual faith is not true faith. But these are they who are not in the genuine affection of truth from an interior principle, and consequently are not in any illustration, while several of them are in the conceit of their own intelligence, and in the love of domineering, by the holy things of the church, over the souls of men; not aware that truth wills to be in the light, since the light of heaven is divine truth, and the understanding truly human is affected by that light, and sees from it; and if it did not see, it would be the memory that has faith, and not the man. Such faith is blind, because without an idea from the light of truth; for the understanding is the man, and the memory is introductory.

If what is not understood is to be believed, man like a parrot might be taught to say and remember even that there is sanctity in the bones of the dead, and in sepulchres; that carcasses perform miracles; that man will be tormented in purgatory if he does not consecrate his wealth to idols or monasteries; that men are gods because heaven and hell are in their power; not to mention other similar articles of faith, which man

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