Spiritual Experiences (Buss) n. 5828

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

5828. THOSE IN FAITH ALONE: THEY BECOME HEATHEN, OF NO RELIGION WHATEVER. THE DRAGON. Those who have confirmed themselves in the doctrine of faith alone, and have cultivated only doctrine, and have enjoined nothing of the truth and good of life, since they have rejected all moral life and good works, saying that they avail nothing, but that no evils whatever are imputed, because the Lord fulfilled the law - these, again and again, became rebels, wishing to totally destroy heavenly doctrine to such a degree that they at length chattered blasphemies against the Lord as regards the Human, - that He was as they were and no better; and more things which they do not utter on account of the scandal. They were at length explored; and it was found that they have enjoined nothing of Christian truth and good of life. Then, doctrinals, which were only scientifics and matters of memory, were taken away from them; and they were thus left without them. They appeared, also, to be without clothes, because clothes signify such things; and then they understood nothing at all, not even justice or right, and were altogether like Gentiles who had no religion, inasmuch as they lived without religion. Those who have been their spirits, were cast into a certain gloomy gulf in the south, where they are in darkness, and were thus removed out of the world of spirits.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church