354# 四、真理无论多么众多，并且显得彼此各异，却从主而合为一；主就是圣言，是天地的上帝，是凡有血气者的上帝，是葡萄园即教会的上帝，是信仰的上帝，并且是光本身、真理本身、永生本身。
信仰的真理各有其类，在人面前也显得彼此有别。例如：有些真理论创造者上帝，有些论救赎主——主；有些论圣灵与神性运行；有些论信仰与仁义；又有些论自由意志、悔改、改造与重生、归算，诸如此类。然而，它们仍在主里面合而为一，并且在人里面由主而合为一，如同许多枝条在一棵葡萄树上合为一（约15:1及以下）。因为主将分散而分离的真理联结起来，仿佛构成一个形态；在此形态中，诸真理呈现为一个总体景象，并表现为一个统一行动。
这可用一个身体中的肢体、脏腑与器官来说明：它们虽各有不同，并且在人眼看来彼此有别，然而人作为它们的总体形态，所感觉到的仍只是一个整体；并且当人由这一切而行动时，也是如同由一个整体而行动。
天堂亦是如此；天堂虽分为无数群体，然而在主面前仍显为一；并且如前所示，显为一个人。又如一个王国，虽分为若干行政部门、省区与城市，然而在有公义与审判的君王之下，仍构成一体。
由主而来的信仰真理也是如此，教会凭这些真理成为教会；因为主就是圣言，是天地的上帝，是一切肉体的上帝，是葡萄园即教会的上帝，是信仰的上帝，并且是光本身、真理本身、永生本身。
【2】主是圣言，因而是天堂与教会的一切真理，这一点见于约翰福音：“太初有道，道与上帝同在，上帝就是道；……道成了肉身。”（约1:1，14） 主是天地的上帝，这一点见于马太福音：耶稣说：“天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。”（太28:18） 主是一切肉体的上帝，这一点见于约翰福音：父将“管理凡有血气的权柄”赐给子。（约17:2） 主是葡萄园即教会的上帝，这一点见于以赛亚书：“我所亲爱的有葡萄园在肥美的山冈上。”（赛5:1，2）又见于约翰福音：“我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。”（约15:5） 主是信仰的上帝，这一点见于保罗：“并且得以在他里面，不是有自己因律法而得的义，乃是有信基督的义，就是因信神而来的义。”（腓3:9） 主是光本身，这一点见于约翰福音：“那光是真光，照亮一切生在世上的人。”（约1:9）又在别处，耶稣说：“我到世上来，乃是光，叫凡信我的，不住在黑暗里。”（约12:46） 主是真理本身，这一点见于约翰福音：耶稣说：“我就是道路、真理、生命。”（约14:6） 主是永生，这一点见于约翰一书：“我们也知道神的儿子已经来到，且将智慧赐给我们，使我们认识那位真实的，我们也在那位真实的里面，就是在他儿子耶稣基督里面。这是真神，也是永生。”（约壹5:20）
【3】还须补充一点：人因其在世事务之故，不能为自己取得许多信仰真理；然而，只要他趋近主，并单单敬拜他，便进入认识一切真理的能力。因此，每一位真正敬拜主的人，一旦听见某个此前不知的信仰真理，立刻就能看见、承认并接受它。原因在于：主在他里面，他也在主里面；因此，真理之光在他里面，他也在真理之光中。因为如上所说，主就是光本身、真理本身。
这一点可由以下经历加以确认：我曾见一灵，在同伴之中显得朴实无华，原因是他只承认主为天地的上帝，并且用圣言中的若干真理坚固了自己的信仰。后来他被提升到天堂，在较有智慧的天使中间；有人告诉我，他在那里与他们同样智慧，甚至能大量讲述真理，完全如同出于自己；而这些真理，他此前一无所知。
【4】凡将要进入主的新教会之人，也将处于类似状态。这也正是耶利米书所描述的状态：“那些日子以后，我与以色列家所立的约乃是这样：我要将我的律法放在他们里面，写在他们心上；……他们各人不再教导自己的邻舍和自己的弟兄说：你该认识耶和华，因为他们从最小的到至大的都必认识我。”（耶31:33，34） 这也将是以赛亚书所描述的状态：“从耶西的本必发一条，从他根生的枝子必结果实；……信实必当他胁下的带子；……豺狼必与绵羊羔同居，豹子与山羊羔同卧；……吃奶的孩子必玩耍在虺蛇的洞口，断奶的婴儿必按手在毒蛇的穴上；……因为认识耶和华的知识要充满遍地，好像水充满洋海一般。……到那日，耶西的根立作万民的大旗；外邦人必寻求他，他安息之所大有荣耀。”（赛11:1，5，6-10）
354# （4）信之真理无论多么众多，看起来多么多样化，它们仍被主构成一体，主是圣言，天地之神，一切肉体的神，葡萄园或教会的神，信仰的神，是光本身，以及真理和永生。信之真理是各种各样的，在人看来，它们似乎具有多样性；例如，有些真理与神创造者有关，有些真理与主救赎主有关，有些真理与圣灵和神性运作有关，有些真理与信仰和仁爱有关，有些真理与自由意志或自由选择、悔改、改造和重生，以及归算有关，等等。然而，在主里面，并从主那里而在人里面，它们仍构成一体，就像一棵葡萄树上的许多枝子（约翰福音5:1等）一样。因为主将分散和分离的真理可以说联结成一种形式，它们在这种形式中呈现为一个方面，并展现为一个行为，或统一行动。这一点可通过对比一个身体中的肢体、内脏和器官来说明；它们虽然各种各样，在人看来是多样化的，但仍被人，即它们的总体形式，感觉为一；当他用它们全部来行动时，他就像用一个来行动一样。天堂也是如此；它虽然分为无数社群，但在主眼里仍作为一个出现，也就是说，作为一个人出现，如前所示（TCR 65，268节）。一个国家同样如此，它虽然分为许多行政区、省、市，但仍在一个以公义和公平来管理的国王的统治下构成一体。主用来使教会成为一个教会的信之真理亦是如此，这是因为主是圣言，天地之神，一切肉体的神，葡萄园或教会的神，信仰的神，是光本身，以及真理和永生。
主是圣言，因而是天堂和教会的一切真理，这一点从约翰福音明显看出来，：
圣言与神同在，神就是圣言，圣言成了肉身。（约翰福音1:1，14）
主是天地之神，这一点从马太福音明显看出来：
耶稣说，天上地上一切的权柄都赐给我了。（马太福音28:18）
主是一切肉体的神，这一点从约翰福音明显看出来：
父赐给儿子权柄管理一切肉体。（约翰福音17:2）
主是葡萄园或教会的神，这一点从以下经文明显看出来；以赛亚书：
我所亲爱的有葡萄园。（以赛亚书5:1-2）
约翰福音：
我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。（约翰福音15:5）
保罗教导说，主是信仰的神：
有信基督的义，就是因信神而来的义。（腓立比书3:9）
主是光本身，这一点从约翰福音明显看出来：
祂是真光，照亮一切来到世上的人。（约翰福音1:9）
另一处：
耶稣说，我到世上来，乃是光，叫凡信我的，不住在黑暗里。（约翰福音12:46）
主是真理本身，这一点从约翰福音明显看出来：
耶稣说，我就是道路，真理，生命。（约翰福音14:6）
主是永生，这一点从约翰一书明显看出来：
我们知道神的儿子已经来到，使我们认识那位真实的，就是祂儿子耶稣基督。这是真神，也是永生。（约翰一书5:20）
对此，必须补充的是：一个人因其世俗的职业，只能为自己获得少许信之真理。然而，他若靠近主，只敬拜祂，就会获得认识一切真理的能力。因此，每一个真正敬拜主的人一听到他以前不知道的任何信之真理，就会立刻看到、承认并接受它，因为主在他里面，他在主里面；因此，真理之光在他里面，他在真理之光里面；因为如前所述，主是光本身和真理本身。以下经历可以证实这一点：我曾看见一个灵人，当与其他灵人互动时，他似乎很简单，或具有简单的信仰，因为他只承认主是天地之神，并通过来自圣言的一些真理确认或强化了他的信仰。这个灵人被提入天堂，在更智慧的天使当中；我被告知，他在那里和他们一样智慧；他好像完全凭他自己讲了大量真理，尽管他以前对这些真理一无所知。
这将是那些进入主的新教会之人的状态。这就是耶利米书所描述的那种状态：
我与以色列家所立的约乃是这样；那些日子以后，我要将我的律法放在他们的内在部分或里面，写在他们心上，他们各人不再教导自己的同伴或自己的弟兄，说，你该认识耶和华。因为他们从最小的到至大的，都必认识我。（耶利米书31:33，34）
以赛亚书所描述的，也是这种状态：
从耶西的树墩子必生出一个嫩芽；真理必作祂大腿的带子。豺狼必与绵羊羔同居，豹子与山羊羔同卧。吃奶的必在蝰蛇的洞口玩耍，断奶的孩子必按手在毒蛇的穴上；因为地充满认识耶和华的知识，好像水覆盖海洋一般。到那日，列族必寻求耶西的根，外邦人必寻求它；祂安息之所大有荣耀。（以赛亚书11:1，5，6，9，10）
V. 没有仁爱的信仰不是信仰，没有信仰的仁爱不是仁爱；两者都没有生命，除非来自主
354. [d] However numerous these truths of faith are and however divergent they appear, they are united by the Lord who is the Word; the God of heaven and earth; the God of all flesh; the God of the vineyard, or the church; the God of faith; the light itself; the truth itself; and eternal life. The truths of faith are various, and appear divergent to us. For example, some are about God the Creator, some are about the Lord the Redeemer, some are about the Holy Spirit and the divine action, some are about faith and about goodwill, some are about free choice, repentance, reformation, regeneration, the assignment of spiritual credit and blame, and so on. Yet they are united in the Lord, and the Lord unites them in us, the way one vine unites many branches (John 5:1 and following). The Lord connects scattered and divided truths into one form so that they present one picture and form one action.
This can be illustrated by a comparison with the limbs, internal organs, and other organs in one body. Although they are different from each other and appear to our sight to be distinct, the human being composed of them does not feel like more than one entity. When a human being uses them all to act, he or she performs that action as if all these components constituted a single entity.
The same is true of heaven. Although it is divided into countless communities, before the Lord it nevertheless looks like one thing - in fact, like one human being, as I have shown above [65, , 268; ]. The same thing is true of a country. Although it is broken up into many jurisdictions, provinces, and cities, it is united under a monarch who exercises justice and judgment. It is the same with the truths of faith that the Lord uses to make the church a church. This is because the Lord is the Word; the God of heaven and earth; the God of all flesh; the God of the vineyard, or the church; the God of faith; the light itself; the truth itself; and eternal life.
[2] It is clear from John that the Lord is the Word and is therefore all the truth in heaven and the church: "The Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh" (John 1:1, 14).
It is clear from Matthew that the Lord is the God of heaven and earth: "Jesus said, 'All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me'" (Matthew 28:18).
It is clear from John that the Lord is the God of all flesh: "The Father has given the Son power over all flesh" (John 17:2).
It is clear from Isaiah and from John that the Lord is the God of the vineyard, or the church: "My beloved had a vineyard" (Isaiah 5:1-2); "I am the vine; you are the branches" (John 15:5).
It is clear from Paul that the Lord is the God of faith: "You have the justice that comes from faith in Christ, from the God of faith" (Philippians 3:9).
It is clear from John that the Lord is the light itself: "He was the true light that enlightens everyone who comes into the world" (John 1:9). In another passage Jesus said, "I have come into the world as a light so that all who believe in me would not remain in darkness" (John 12:46).
It is clear from John that the Lord is the truth itself: "Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. '" (John 14:6).
It is clear from John that the Lord is eternal life: "We know that the Son of God came into the world so that we would know the truth. We are in the truth in Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life" (1 John 5:20).
[3] To these things I should add that because people are busy in this world, they cannot acquire for themselves more than a few truths of faith. Nevertheless, if they turn to the Lord and worship him alone, they gain the ability to recognize all truths. For this reason, as soon as all true worshipers of the Lord hear some truth of faith they had not known before, they immediately see it, acknowledge it, and accept it. The reason is that the Lord is in them and they are in the Lord. Therefore the light of truth is in them and they are in the light of truth because, as I said before, the Lord is the light itself and the truth itself.
I can support this point from experience. I saw a spirit who seemed simple in his interaction with other spirits because he acknowledged the Lord alone as the God of heaven and earth, basing this faith of his on a few truths from the Word. He was taken up into heaven among the wiser angels. I was told that when he was there he was just as wise as they were. In fact, he uttered a great many truths, completely as if they were his own ideas, although he had known none of them before.
[4] Those who come into the Lord's new church will experience the same state. This is the state that is described in Jeremiah:
This will be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after these days. I will put my law inside them. I will write it on their hearts. No longer will people teach their friends, and brothers and sisters, saying "Know the Lord. " They will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. (Jeremiah 31:33-34)
This state will also be like Isaiah's description:
A branch will come out of the trunk of Jesse. The truth will wrap his thighs. Then the wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat. A nursing child will play over a cobra's hole, and a weaned child will reach a hand over the den of a poisonous snake, because the earth will be full of the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters cover the sea. In that day the nations will seek the root of Jesse and glory will be his rest. (Isaiah 11:1, )
354. (iv) However numerous the truths of faith are and however varied they appear, they are made one by the Lord, who is the Word, the God of heaven and earth, the God of all flesh, the God of the vineyard or the church, the God of faith and light itself, truth and everlasting life. The truths which make up faith are varied and to human sight appear different. For example, some are concerned with God the Creator, others with the Lord the Redeemer, others with the Holy Spirit and the way God works, others with faith, and charity, others with free will, repentance, reformation and regeneration, imputation, and so on. Yet they all make one in the Lord, and are made one by the Lord in human beings, like many branches on one vine (John 15:1ff). For the Lord links together scattered and divided truths, so to speak, into a single form, so that they present the appearance of being one and function as one.
This can be illustrated by a comparison with the limbs, viscera and organs in a single body: despite their variety and their apparent difference to our sight, still the person whose whole form they compose is only aware of them as a single unit, and when he uses them all in action, he acts as if with a single unit. It is much the same with heaven: although it is divided into countless communities, yet it looks like one in the sight of the Lord. I showed above that it looks like one person. It is much the same with a kingdom, which although divided into many administrative districts, provinces and towns, still acts as one under the guidance of a king endowed with righteousness and judgment. The reason why, by the Lord's doing, the truths that make up faith and make the church truly a church behave in the same way, is that the Lord is the Word, the God of heaven and earth, the God of all flesh, the God of the vineyard or the church, the God of faith, and light itself, truth and everlasting life.
[2] It is evident in John's gospel that the Lord is the Word, and thus all the truth of heaven and the church.
The Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, John 1:1, 14.
It is evident in Matthew that the Lord is the God of heaven and earth.
Elsewhere:
Jesus said, All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth, 28:18.
The Lord is the God of all flesh, in John:
The Father gave the Son power over all flesh, 17:2.
The Lord is the God of the vineyard or the church, in Isaiah:
My beloved had a vineyard, 5:1-2.
In John:
I am the vine and you are the branches, 15:5.
The Lord is the God of faith, in Paul:
Having righteousness, which is from faith in Christ, from faith in God, Philippians 3:9.
The Lord is light itself, in John:
He was the true light, which enlightens everyone who comes into the world, 1:9.
Elsewhere:
Jesus said, I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness, 12:46.
The Lord is truth itself, in John:
Jesus said, I am the way, truth and life, 14:6.
The Lord is everlasting life, in John:
We know that the Son of God came, so that we might Know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true in His son Jesus Christ. 1 He is the true God and everlasting life, 1 John 5:20.
[3] It needs to be added that worldly affairs prevent people from acquiring more than a few truths to make up faith. Still, if anyone approaches the Lord and worships Him alone, he is enabled to get to know all truths. As soon, therefore, as every true worshipper of the Lord hears some truth of faith previously unknown to him, he immediately sees, acknowledges and accepts it. The reason is that the Lord is in him, and he is in the Lord. Consequently the light of truth is in him, and he is in the light of truth, for, as was said above, the Lord is light itself and truth itself.
The following experience can support this. I saw a spirit who in the company of others appeared simple, because he had acknowledged the Lord alone as God of heaven and earth, and had established his faith by means of a few truths taken from the Word. He was carried up into heaven to join the wiser angels, and I was told that there he was as wise as they were; in fact, he uttered numerous truths, entirely as if of himself, of which he had previously been totally ignorant.
[4] The state of those who are to come into the Lord's new church will be similar. This is the same state as is described by Jeremiah:
This shall be the covenant which I shall make with the house of Israel after these days. I will set my law in their midst, and I will write it upon their heart. Nor shall they any more teach a man his companion, or a man his brother, saying, get to know Jehovah 2 ; for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest of them, 31:33-34.
That state will also be as described by Isaiah:
A shoot will come forth from the stock of Jesse. Truth will be the belt around his thighs. Then the wolf will stay with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid. The sucking child will play on the hole of the viper, and the weaned child will thrust his hand on the den of the basilisk. For the earth will be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea. On that day the nations will seek the root of Jesse, and peace will be his glory, [1, 5,].
Footnotes:
1. The first edition reads strictly '... came into the world, so that we might know the truth. And we are in the truth in Jesus Christ.' But the author's copy has been corrected in keeping with the original Greek.
2. Corrected from 'the Lord' in the author's copy.
354. (4) However numerous the truths of faith are, and however diverse they appear, they make one from the Lord, who is the Word, the God of heaven and earth, the God of all flesh, the God of the vineyard or church, the God of faith, light itself, the truth, and life eternal. The truths of faith are various, and to man they seem diverse; some, for example, have relation to God the Creator, others to the Lord the Redeemer, others to the Holy Spirit and the Divine Operation, others to faith and charity, others to freedom of choice, repentance, reformation and regeneration, imputation, and so on; still in the Lord and in man from the Lord they make one, like many branches on one vine (John 15:1, seq .). For the Lord unites scattered and separate truths into one form, as it were, in which they present one aspect and exhibit one action. This may be illustrated by a comparison with the members, viscera and organs in one body; which although various, and in man's sight diverse, are nevertheless felt by man, who is their general form, to be one, and when he is acting from them all he acts as if from one. It is the same with heaven, which, although divided into innumerable societies, still in the Lord's sight appears as a one. (That heaven appears as one Man has been shown above.) It is the same again with a kingdom, which although divided into several governments, and also into provinces and cities, still makes one under a king who governs with justice and judgment. So do the truths of faith from which the church is a church make one from the Lord, because the Lord is the Word, the God of heaven and earth, the God of all flesh, the God of the vineyard or church, the God of faith, light itself, the truth, and life eternal.
[2] That the Lord is the Word, and therefore all truth of heaven and the church, is evident from John:
The Word was with God, and God was the Word, and the Word became flesh (1:1, 14).
That the Lord is the God of heaven and earth is evident from Matthew:
Jesus said, All power hath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth (28:18).
That the Lord is the God of all flesh, can be seen from John
The Father gave to the Son power over all flesh (17:2).
That the Lord is the God of the vineyard or church, in Isaiah:
My well-beloved hath a vineyard (5:1);
and in John:
I am the Vine, ye are the branches (15:5).
That the Lord is the God of faith, Paul teaches:
Having the righteousness, which is from the faith of Christ, from the God of faith (Philippians 3:9).
That the Lord is light itself, appears from John:
There was the true Light, which lighteth every man coming into the world (1:9).
And elsewhere:
Jesus said, I come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth in Me may not abide in darkness (John 12:46).
That the Lord is the truth itself, appears from John:
Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (14:6).
That the Lord is life eternal, in John:
We know that the Son of God is come that we may know Him that is True, even His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life (1John 5:20).
[3] To this must be added, that owing to his worldly occupations man can acquire for himself only a few of the truths of faith; nevertheless if he goes to the Lord and worships Him alone, he acquires the power to gain a knowledge of all truths. Therefore every true worshiper of God, as soon as he hears any truth of faith which he has not known before, at once sees, acknowledges, and accepts it; and for the reason that the Lord is in him, and he in the Lord; and consequently the light of truth is in him, and he is in the light of truth; for as before said, the Lord is light itself, and truth itself. This may be corroborated by the following experience: A spirit appeared to me, who in the company of some others seemed simple, because he had acknowledged the Lord alone as the God of heaven and earth, and had strengthened this his faith by certain truths from the Word; this spirit was taken up into heaven among the wiser angels; and it was told me that there he was as wise as they; and that altogether as if from himself he spoke truths in great abundance, of which he had before known nothing.
[4] In a like state will those be who come into the Lord's New Church. This is the state that is described in Jeremiah:
This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days I will put my law in their inward parts, and upon their hearts I will write it and they shall teach no more every man his fellow, or every man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them (Jeremiah 31:33-34).
It is such a state that is described in Isaiah:
There shall go forth a Shoot out of the stem of Jesse; truth shall be the girdle of His thighs. There the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid. The suckling shall play on the hole of the adder, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the basilisk's den; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea. In that day the nations shall seek a Root of Jesse, to it shall the Gentiles seek; and His rest shall be glory (11:1, 5, 6, 8, 10).
354. (4) The truths of faith, however numerous they are and diverse they appear, make one from the Lord, who is the Word, the God of heaven and earth, the God of all flesh, the God of the vineyard or Church, the God of faith, and Light itself, Truth, and Life eternal. The truths of faith are various, and to man they seem diverse: as for example, some relate to God the Creator, some to the Lord the Redeemer, some to the Holy Spirit and the Divine Operation, some to Faith and to Charity, and some to Free Will, Repentance, Reformation and Regeneration, Imputation, and other subjects. Nevertheless they make one in the Lord, and with man from the Lord, like the many branches in one vine, John 15:1 and following verses; for the Lord unites scattered and separated truths, as it were into one form, in which they present a united aspect and act in unity. This may be illustrated by comparison with the members, viscera and organs in one body. These are various, and in the sight of man, diverse; yet man, who is their common form, only feels them as one; and when he is acting from them all, he acts as if from a united whole. So heaven, although divided into innumerable societies, yet in the Lord's sight appears as one, that is, as one Man, as has been shown above. Similarly, a kingdom on earth, although divided into many administrative areas, provinces and cities, is yet one when under a king who rules with justice and judgment. It is the same with the truths of faith from the Lord, in virtue of which a Church is such in reality, 1 because the Lord is the Word, the God of heaven and earth, the God of all flesh, the God of the vineyard or Church, the God of faith, and Light itself, Truth, and Life eternal.
[2] That the Lord is the Word, and thus all the truth of heaven and the Church, is evident from this passage in John:
"The Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word was made flesh" 1:1, 14.
That the Lord is the God of heaven and earth is evident in Matthew:
Jesus said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" 28:18.
That the Lord is the God of all flesh is evident in John:
The Father has given the Son "power over all flesh" 17:2.
That the Lord is the God of the vineyard or Church is shown in Isaiah:
"My well-beloved hath a vineyard" 5:1-2;
and in John:
"I am the vine, ye are the branches," 15:5.
That the Lord is the God of faith is evident from Paul:
"Thou hast the righteousness of the faith of Christ, from the God of faith (A.V., having righteousness 'which is through the faith of Christ, from the God of faith')" Philippians 3:9.
That the Lord is Light itself is evident in John:
"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world," 1:9;
and in another place,
Jesus said: "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness," 12:46.
That the Lord is Truth itself is also shown in John:
"Jesus said... I am the way, the truth, and the life," 14:6.
That the Lord is Life eternal is declared by John:
"We know that the Son of God is come into the world... that we may know Him that is true; and we are in the truth in Jesus Christ. (A.V., and we are in Him that is true; even in... Jesus Christ). This is the true God, and eternal life," 1 John 5:20.
[3] To the above it should be added that a man, owing to his worldly occupations, can acquire for himself only a few truths of faith. Still, if he approaches the Lord, and worships Him alone, he receives the power to know all truths. Thus every true worshiper of the Lord, on hearing any truth of faith which he had not known before, instantly sees, acknowledges and accepts it, for the Lord is in him, and he is in the Lord. Consequently the light of truth is in him, and he is in the light of truth; for, as has been said above, the Lord is Light itself and Truth itself. The following experience may confirm this. I once saw a certain spirit who, when in company with others, seemed to be of simple faith, because he acknowledged the Lord alone as God of heaven and earth, and confirmed his faith by several truths from the Word. He was taken up into heaven among some wiser angels; and I was told that there he was as wise as they; indeed that he spoke truths in abundance, entirely as of himself, of which he had known nothing before.
[4] This will be the state of those who come into the Lord's New Church, and is the state described in Jeremiah:
"This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days... I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts... And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them" 31:33-34
Their state will also be like that described in Isaiah:
"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse... truth (A. V., faithfulness) shall be the girdle of His reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid... And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den... for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of JEHOVAH, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse... to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest shall be glorious." 11 [1, 5],
11:0.
Footnotes:
1. Quod simile sit cum Veritstibus fidei, ex quibus Ecclesia est Ecclesia, a Domino. The comma after Ecclesia throws back a Domino to fidei. Other translations translate as though a Domino were attached to Ecclesia.
354. QUOD VERITATES FIDEI, UTCUNQUE NUMEROSAE SUNT, ET DIVERSAE APPARENT, A DOMINO, QUI EST VERBUM, DEUS COELI ET TERRAE, DEUS OMNIS CARNIS, DEUS VINEAE SEU ECCLESIAE, DEUS FIDEI, ET IPSA LUX, VERITAS, ET VITA AETERNA, UNUM FACIANT. Veritates fidei sunt variae et coram homine apparent diversae, sicut pro exemplo, aliae de Deo Creatore, aliae de Domino Redemptore, aliae de Spiritu Sancto et Divina Operatione, aliae de Fide deque Charitate, et aliae de Libero Arbitrio, Poenitentia, Reformatione et Regeneratione, Imputatione, et sic porro; usque unum faciunt in Domino, et apud hominem a Domino, sicut multi palmites in una Vite, Johannes 15:1, 1 seq. Dominus enim conjungit veritates sparsas et divisas sicut in unam formam, in qua unum conspectum praebent, et unum actum sistunt: hoc illustrari potest per comparationem cum membris, visceribus, et organis in uno corpore, quae tametsi varia sunt, et coram visu hominis diversa, usque tamen homo, qui est communis forma illorum, non sentit nisi unum, et cum ex omnibus agit, agit sicut ut ex uno. Simile est cum Coelo, quod tametsi in innumerabiles Societates distinctum est, usque illud coram Domino apparet ut unum; quod sicut unus Homo, supra ostensum est. Simile etiam est sicut cum Regno, quod tametsi in plures administraturas, et quoque provincias et urbes divisum est, usque tamen illud 2 sub Rege, cui est justitia et judicium, unum facit. Quod simile sit cum Veritatibus fidei, ex quibus Ecclesia est Ecclesia, a Domino, est quia Dominus est Verbum, Deus Coeli et Terrae, Deus omnis carnis, Deus Vineae seu Ecclesiae, Deus fidei, et ipsa Lux, Veritas, et Vita aeterna.
[2] Quod Dominus sit Verbum, et sic omne Verum Coeli et Ecclesiae, constat apud Johannem, Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum, et Verbum Caro factum est, Johannes 1:1, 14. 3 Quod Dominus sit Deus Coeli et Terrae, constat apud Matthaeum, Jesus dixit, data est Mihi omnis potestas in Coelo et in Terra, Matthaeus 28:18. Quod Dominus sit Deus omnis Carnis, apud Johannem, "Pater dedit Filio potestatem omnis carnis," Matthaeus 17:2. 4 Quod Dominus sit Deus Vineae seu Ecclesiae, apud Esajam, Vinea fuit dilecto meo, Esajas 5:1-2, et apud Johannem, Ego sum Vitis et vos palmites, 15:5. Quod Dominus sit Deus fidei, apud Paulum, Habes justitiam, quae ex fide Christi, ex Deo fidei, Philippenses 3:9. Quod Dominus sit ipsa Lux, apud Johannem, Erat vera Lux, quae illuminat omnem hominem venientem in Mundum, 1:9 et alibi, Jesus dixit, Ego Lux in Mundum veni, ut omnis qui credit in Me, in tenebris non maneat, 12:46. Quod Dominus sit ipsa Veritas, apud Johannem, Jesus dixit, Ego sum Via, Veritas, et Vita, 14:6. Quod Dominus sit Vita aeterna, apud Johannem, "Scimus quod Filius Dei in Mundum venerit, ut cognoscamus veritatem, et sumus in Veritate in Jesu Christo; Hic est Verus Deus, et Vita aeterna," 1 Johannes 5:20. 5
[3] His adjiciendum est, quod homo propter sua negotia in Mundo non possit sibi comparare Veritates fidei nisi paucas; sed usque si adit Dominum, et Ipsum Solum colit, in potentiam cognoscendi omnes veritates venit, quapropter omnis vere Cultor Domini, ut primum audit aliquam veritatem fidei, quam prius non noverat, illico videt, agnoscit et recipit illam, causa est, quia Dominus est in illo, et 6 ille in Domino; consequenter est Lux veritatis in illo, et ille in luce veritatis, nam ut supra dictum est, 7 Dominus est ipsa Lux, et ipsa Veritas. Hoc confirmari potest ex hac experientia, visus mihi est Spiritus, qui in consortio aliorum apparuit simplex, ex causa quia Solum Dominum pro Deo Coeli et Terrae agnovit, et hanc suam fidem per aliquas veritates ex Verbo stabilivit; ille sublatus est in Coelum inter Angelos sapientiores, et dictum mihi est, quod ibi aeque Sapiens esset ut illi, imo quod loquutus sit veritates in copia, prorsus ut ex se, de quibus nihil quicquam noverat prius.
[4] Similis status erit illis, qui in Novam Domini Ecclesiam venturi sunt: idem hic status est, qui describitur apud Jeremiam, "Hoc foedus erit, quod pangam cum Domo Israelis post dies hos; dabo legem meam in medio illorum, et super cor illorum scribam illam: neque docebunt amplius vir socium suum, aut vir fratrem suum, dicendo, cognoscite Jehovam, 8 omnes enim cognoscent Me, a minimo eorum usque ad maximum eorum," Jeremias 31:33-34. Erit etiam status ille, qualis describitur apud Esajam: "Exibit virga de trunco Jischaji; erit Veritas cingulum feminum ejus; tunc commorabitur lupus cum agno, et pardus cum haedo cubabit; ludet sugens super foramine viperae, et super speluncam basilisci ablactatus manum impellet; quia plena erit Terra scientia Jehovae, sicut aquae mare contegunt; in die illo Radicem Jischaji gentes quaerent, et erit quies Ejus gloria," 11:1, 5-10. 9
Footnotes:
1. Prima editio: Johannes 5.
2. Prima editio: illad.
3. Prima editio: 2.
4. Prima editio: 16.
5. Prima editio: 20, 21.
6. Prima editio: est.
7. Prima editio: est.
8. Sic in Schmidt, Biblia Hebraica et margine exemplaris scriptoris. Prima editio: Dominum.
9. Prima editio: 11:6-10.