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THE SWEDENBORG LIBRARY.

what he has received from them. To confirm the things received from others, whether they be true or false, is very easy, nothing being requisite for this but ingenuity alone.

These truths of the church, or they who in such manner are in them, are signified by spies coming to see the nakedness of the land; for they do not believe the doctrinals of their church from any affection of truth, but from the affection of hunting after honors, or of catching at gain; on which account they scarcely believe anything, for the most part cherishing denial in heart. — That they are spies, may be evident enough from this consideration, that men of this description seek for nothing else but spots and blemishes among those who are principled in truth from good, to the intent that they may fix upon them a charge of blame, and condemn them.

Such, whether they be of the Papists so called, or of the Reformed, or of the Quakers, or of the Socinians, or of the Jews, when once they have confirmed with themselves the doctrines of their own particular church, what are they but spies, inasmuch as they ridicule and condemn the most essential truths, if taught in any other church than their own; not apprehending that truths are truths [in whatever church, or under whatever name, they may be taught]. The reason is, that they have not an affection of truth for truth's sake, still less for the sake of life, but for the sake of gain. Such also when they read the Word, scrutinize it solely

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