Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/93

nay, more, such is his doctrine. For life forms its doctrine and faith for itself. (D. P. 101.)

At this day the doctrinals of faith are generally considered as the sole constituents of the church, and as the characteristic marks whereby the several churches are distinguished, without any regard to the life which their members lead, even though they cherish intestine hatred, tear each other to pieces like wild beasts, rob and plunder each other of reputation, honor and wealth, and deny in heart whatsoever is sacred and holy; when nevertheless the church cannot possibly exist among such, but only among those who love the Lord, and their neighbor as themselves, who have conscience, and who hold in aversion the life of hatred above-mentioned. The latter, however, are, among the former, like strangers, being abused and persecuted by them to the utmost of their power, and being regarded as simple, vile and contemptible people. (A. C. 1844.)

Let this truth be received as a principle, that love to the Lord and charity towards our neighbor are the essentials on which hangs all the Law and concerning which all the Prophets speak, and thus that they are the essentials of all doctrine and all worship, and the mind would be enlightened by innumerable things contained in the Word, which otherwise lie concealed in the obscurity of a false principle; yea, in this case all heresies would vanish and be done away, and out of many there would be formed one church, however dif-