Spiritual Experiences (Buss) n. 6044

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6044. THOSE WHO ARE IN FAITH ALONE. I spoke [with] Jac[ob] Benzel[ius] concerning faith alone, and said that, at the present day, the summing up of the faith of all is, that, from trust and confidence, they believe that Christ was sent by the Father, and that He redeemed us through the passion of the cross; also, that in that summary and in that creed there is not a particle of truth, and that with those who confirm themselves in them these things are falsities. He acknowledged this; and, in order that he might know that it was so, he was sent into the plains, and was held in that faith; and then he saw nothing but sand and stones, and no grass at all. He sought, but found none. Grass signifies somewhat of truth. He mentioned this to others; and when he thought about the confirmations of that summary [of faith], then serpents appeared, which wanted to fly at his feet: hence he was convinced, by experience itself, that there is nothing whatever of truth in that faith. Plains, however, in which dwelt some who were in the like faith, appeared at a distance: these had grass, shrubs and trees, and buildings wherein they dwelt. They were joyful in mind, and were industrious in their labors; but they acknowledged that they only knew that creed, but had not thought beyond the sense of the letter of the Word; and, inasmuch as they did not go deeper than this in their thought, they were also able to receive some truths: [they said] also, that, still, they had thought of God in their life. Afterwards, J[acob] B[enzelius] was deeply grieved, being desirous of receiving truths, and thus of rejecting falsities, but unable to do so because falsities and evils therefrom hindered - for, when these are in the mind, no truths at all can enter - also, because the whole man becomes such as he is from his falsities and evils. It was likewise stated that he who is in such, is able to think, [even] about Divine things, nothing save falsities and evils - yea, nor yet in moral and civil life, inasmuch as these form his understanding and will. He said, moreover, that it is astounding that man does not think of God and eternal life while in the world, when yet he becomes such [as he is in the world] to eternity: and those who are in the falsities of evil and in the evils of falsity, cannot be in any society of heaven; also, that he is miserably lodged, miserably clothed, and miserably fed, and he must live in hell with such as were infamous, thus continually in misery.


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