National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-16
THE NEW JERUSALEM.
Doctrine OF the swedenborgian Chnreh
Explained.

Explained.
A correspondent, who signs himself j.
H. g." sends Us the following: With reference to
the article which appeared in THE REPUBLICAN, of
Monday, under the caption of The New Jerusa-
lem, and in view of the interest which has proba-
bly, been awakened in the public mind by the en-
trance ofthe Rev. Mr.. King into that communion to
learn something of the doctrines of the church,
you will perhaps be gratified to publish the follow
ing brief statement respecting the leading views
held by New Church people: The fundamental
doctrine of the New Church is that in the Lord
Jesus Christ resides the trinity of Father, Son. and
Holy Spirit, in the same manner as there is with
man the indwelling spirit SOUL the natural body
inelOsing it, and a sphere of influence proceeding
from these two. Previous to the incarnation there
was no Son neither was there Holy Spirit as it
is said in the Word: The Holy Spirit not yet
because Jesus was not yet glOrifed' The incarna-
ton consisted in the assumption by Jehovah OF the
human form in the person of Jesus of Nazareth
This natural body was gradually made divine, or
gtoritied, until at last all matcriahty was lost,
AND IT BECAME SPIRIT,
and enc with the indWelling divine, and is now
the abiding tabernacle Of deity. Hence our Lord
left nothing in the scpulchre but rose with all His
parts gloTied deied. At the time of the advent
men for ages had been spiritually declining, until
the lowest limit was reached, and the devils of
he'll were actually taking complete possession OF
them, as recorded in Holy Writ; and unless the
Redeemer had come all would have been totally
lost. God out of Christ is a consuming fire.
Therefore Jehovah, as He is in His essence, could
not approach the devils in hell aud reduce them
to order: but by the assumption of a glorifed
human form and passage through the world Of
spirits He could do So Neither could He have
eommuned with man, for the brightness of His
presence would have deprived man Of all con-
SciouS life. God was in Christ reeonciling the
world to HIMSELF" and sacrifice of one God was
not made to appease the wrath of another, and
thereby reconcile the latter to mankind. The pas
sion of the the last act in the process of
making the human derived from Mary part Of
the internal divine. Our Lord appears in the
heavens as a sun, and from Him proceed spiritual
heat and light, corresponding to the heat and
light emitted by the of the natural world; and
this. proceeding divine, termed the Holy Spirit,
enters man as imperceptbly as do the rays OF the
sun into vegetation This proceeding divine is in
all men, for the light shneth in darkness, and the
darkness comprehendeth itnot;' but, like
THE GENTLE, ALL-ENBRACING SUNLIGHT,
which fills and animates our natural universe,
raises into the life of the angels, because of
their recepvty and in others tits received is the
suns rays by rank and noxious vegetation; but it
is the same generous sun which shines upon all
flower and weed alike. Unless, therefore, man
opens the door and permits the warm fountain of
life to enter in its fullnesS and co-operates with
the divine by stunning evils sins against God,
he lives contrary to the law of his being and op
posed to God, and upon death, voluntarily enters
into the society of the evil because like seeks like,
and he cannot endure the presence of the good
and the true He'll has not been formed by any
arbitrary dicta, but is the result of law CORE
spending to the well-recognized law of affinity.
Hell has been formed by vast bodies of men con-
sociating and living a similar existence in the
world of spirit which they had followed in the !
natural. for Immediately upon death each indi- |
vdual seeks the society of those good evil, who
are in like state with himself; and this he does
most freely, because the life of Heaven is to him
ntolerabe anguish, and it is merciful dispensa-
ton of the Divine Providence that he is permitted
to do this There is no fallen angel who is lord of
the internal regions nor any abode of fire and |
birthstone.
MAN, UPON DEATH, ENTERS TIE WORLD
of spirits which is intermediate between heaven |
and hell, and is called Hades Here, if the ten |
dency has been good he loses all disposition to |
evilsand connects himself with the good; but if |
on the other hand his natural disposition has been
evil, he is diyested of every particle of goodness
and devotes himself to the pursuit Of that which is
evil. TO him that hath shall be given, and he |
shall have more abundantly; but to him that hath !
IN the other world spirit must be entirely in good
entirely in evil for the unity ofhcaven and hell
both depend on this law. Within the Word is con- !
tanned spiritual sense, which reconciles allthe /
apparent defects, inconsistencies and contradic- |
ticns of the letter and which is the life of the |
Word.
THE SECOND COMING OF OUR LORD
consists not in some grand scenic display in the /
armament, but III the unfolding of the internal /
Signification of the sacred Scriptures. Jesus came
as the word and is the word; consequently, his /
coming in the clouds of Heaven means the revela- !
ton of divine truth from Heaven given through |
Swedenborg) which at first would be misty and not
clearly perceived, but would grow brighter and |
brighter and clearer and clearer with time. The /
reason this internal sense has not been discovered
before is because men were not prepared for it and
spiritualized TO receive it. Educa- |
ton must become general first and liberty every
where prevail. This second coming took place |
some 125 years ago and has been becoming intenser
every day since. The spirit of inquiry everywhere
prevailing is due TO it, and the theological systems
of the past are being overthrown gradually by it.
Saving faith is not an acknowledgment of doc |
trine but life ofuse
Il have not said one half enough respecting this
beautiful, philosophical, and elevating faith,
which makes God being of love and wisdom and /
not a remorseless tyrant: which dissipates all the
horrid, barbarous Inateralistic notions, which are
the outgrowth of the middle ages, when the true
doctrine lost. Many other points might be
touched upon, but space viii not permit. No such
doctrine as three gods in god VicaIious atone
ment. general resurrection, predestnation, elec-
ton, and host of others are known to the New !
Church, but only that which is beautiful and har-
monious."