n e w c h u r c h l i f e : j u ly / au g u s t 2 0 1 5
For example: “In regard to influx from the internal celestial into spiritual
good and into the truths of the church in the natural according to the quality of
the good of innocence, the case is this.” (Arcana Coelestia 6701) Then follows
the explanation.
The point is, that the things revealed in these books are not presented as
speculation, or as ideas Swedenborg arrived at by his own reasoning, but as
facts. We’re not dealing with “perhaps,” or “probably,” or “it must be that,” or
“most who have studied these things have concluded.” No, again and again
what we have is a simple assertion that this is the way it is.
Some readers have found this off-putting. Even during his lifetime a friend
advised Swedenborg that if he simply published his books as his own theology,
instead of Divine revelation, they would be hailed as brilliant. But this was not
an option for Swedenborg, because the case is that the books really aren’t his.
For those seeking Divine truth, and who believe they have found it in
these books, the definiteness and authority with which the truth is presented
in them is very satisfying. If these books really are the second coming of the
Lord, as claimed, then we would expect them to contain solid truth, stated
absolutely, with no “maybe,” “might” or “could be” about it.
In fact, when we consider the kinds of things described and explained
in the Writings – the nature of God, the inner meaning of Scripture, Divine
providence, the deep workings of the human mind, the spiritual world, and
so on – it is clear that these things could only have been revealed by the Lord.
Those who truly desire spiritual knowledge and wish they could find a
reliable source of it – a source that offers the certainty they wish for, but which
they doubt exists – should know that the case is this: such a source does exist.
As the Lord said in His first coming: “Come and see.”
(WEO)
‘of the lord’s divine mercy’
Here we have the reason and context for the new r