new church life: jan uary/february 2015
From the Swedenborg Library web page: www.swedenborglibrary.org
in addition to make oneself useful to society in general.”
(Tafel, ii. p. 18)
Even if we cannot find an original list, can we still
recreate these Rules from “Swedenborg’s papers”? The
Writings say the same rules, everywhere! “Read the
Word.” “Be content with your lot.”(Arcana Coelestia 8478)
“Behave in a friendly manner.” (Heavenly Doctrines 92)
“Have a true conscience.” (Arcana Coelestia 1063, True
Christian Religion 666) “Obey the commandments.”
(Heavenly Doctrines 106, 129 – referring to Arcana passim) “Perform duties
for the sake of use and the neighbor.” (Arcana Coelestia 7038) “Enter into uses
in society.” (Ibid. 1103.2, True Christian Religion 406) We see that the Rules
of Life could easily have been re-created by Sandels, even without an original
listing by Swedenborg.11
We close with some more of Sandel’s Eulogy:
“Our Swedenborg was not satisfied with knowing much; he desired to
know more than can be comprehended by any man here below, in that state of
perfection which belongs to him while the soul dwells in a frail material body.
“Of the gentle and earnest piety of his soul we have a striking proof in
his Rules of Life. More need not be said on this head, than that he kept these
vows.... At no time did Swedenborg insult his Maker with upbraiding that his
11 Portrait, Emanuel Swedenborg, artist unknown, 1771. Lately turned up after centuries of private
ownership.
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