Apocalypse Revealed (Coulsons) n. 161

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161. [verse 3] 'Remember therefore how thou hast accepted and heard' signifies so that it may come into the thought that all worship is natural to begin with, and afterwards becomes spiritual by means of truths out of the Word and a life in accordance with them, besides many [other things]. These are the things that are understood by means of these words; then also that every one has knowledge out of the Word, and out of sermons, that truths ought to be learned, and that men have faith, charity, and everything of the Church by means of truths. [2] That this is the case has been shown frequently in ARCANA CAELESTIA published at London; as that by means of truths there is faith (n. 4353, 4977, 7178, 10,367); that by means of truths there is love towards the neighbour, or charity (n. 4368, 7623, 7624, 8034); that by means of truths there is love directed to the Lord (n. 10,143, 10,153, 10,310, 10,578, 10,645); that by means of truths there is intelligence and wisdom (n. 3182, 3190, 3387, 10,064); that by means of truths there is regeneration (n. 1555, 1904, 2046, 2189, 9088, 9959, 10,028); that by means of truths there is power against evils and untruths, and against hell (n. 3091, 4015, 10,488); that by means of truths there is purification from evils and untruths (n. 2799, 5954, 7044, 7918, 10,229, 10,237); that by means of truths there is the Church (n. 798, 1799, 3963, 4468, 4672); that by means of truths there is heaven (n. 6690, 9832, 9931, 10,303); that by means of truths there is the innocence of wisdom (n. 3183, 3494, 6013); that by means of truths there is conscience (n. 1077, 2053, 9113); that by means of truths there is order (n. 3316, 3417, 3570, 4704*, 5339, 5343, 6028, 10,303); that by means of truths angels have beauty, and men also as to the interiors that are of their spirit (n. 553, 3080, 4985, 5199); that by means of truths a man is a man (n. 3175, 3387, 8370, 10,298): nevertheless all these things are by means of truths derived from good, and not by means of truths without good, and good is from the Lord (n. 2434, 4070, 4736, 5147). That every good is from the Lord (n. 1614, 2016, 2904, 4151, 9981, 5147). [3] But who thinks this? At this day is it not a matter of indifference whether a man knows one set of truths or another, provided he is in worship? And because few search the Word with the purpose of learning truths and living them, therefore nothing is known about the worship, whether it is dead or alive; and yet in accordance with the quality of the worship a man himself is dead or alive. Otherwise what [use] would the Word be, and the doctrine therefrom? What [use] would sabbaths be, and sermons, as well as dogmatical books? In fact, what would the Church and religion be otherwise? That all worship is natural to begin with, and that it afterwards becomes spiritual by means of truths out of the Word and a life in accordance with them, is known; for a man is born natural, but is educated to become civil and moral, and afterwards spiritual, for in such a manner he is reborn. These latter things therefore, and the former, are signified by 'Remember how thou hast accepted and heard'. * This number is incorrect. Probably it should be 4104, or possibly 5704.


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