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HIS LETTERS TO DR. G. A. BEYER.
"It is now generally thought here at Stockhohn, that faith and charity must
advance together, and that the one cannot exist without the other, by reason that
good works are the fruits offaith, and show themselves in a state ofjustification (yet
very few of the Lutherans think beyond this); although the learned have not
yet discovered any connexion between faith and goo^Z works,- for which reason
they assert good works to be only things of a moral and civil nature, and so far good,
but not available unto salvation, &c. They are also in the right, because from
such a faith no other works can be derived ; the case is different as to faith in
Jesus Christ.
" With respect to the Divine Humanity of the Lord it is not contrary to the For-
mula Concordice, where we are taught, that ’ in Christ God is Man, and Man is God,
and the assertion of Paul is confirmed, that in Christ all the fullness of the Godhead
dwelleth bodily,’ &c. Of the writings of Behmen I cannot judge, as I have never
ead them.—I remain, &c.,
•’
Emanuel Swedenborg.
«’
Stockholm, Sept. 25, 1766."
LETTER IV.
To Dr. Beyer.
" By your friend. Sir, I have been asked several questions, to which be pleased
to receive the foUowing as an answer :
—
"I. My opinion concerning the writings of Behmen andL ?—Answer. I have
never read them, as I was prohibited reading dogmatic and systematic theology,
before heaven was opened to me, by reason, that, unfounded opinions and in-
ventions might thereby easily have insinuated themselves, which with difficulty
could afterwards have been extirpated, wherefore, when heaven was opened to
me, it was necessary first to learn the Hebrew language, as well as the corres-
pondences of which the whole Bible is composed, which led me to read the
Word of God over many times ; and inasmuch as the Word of God is the source,
whence all theology must be derived, 1 was thereby enabled to receive instruc-
tions from the Lord, who is the Word,
" II. How soon the New Church is to be expected ?—Answer. The Lord is preparing
at this time a new heaven of such as believe in Him, and acknowledge Him
to be the true God of heaven and earth, and also look to Him in their lives,
which is to shun evil and do good ; because from that heaven shall the New
Jerusalem, mentioned in Rev. xxi. 2, descend. I daily see spirits and anoels,
from ten to twenty thousand, descending and ascending, who are set in order.
By degrees as that heaven is formed, the New Church likewise begins and in-
creases. The universities in Christendom are now first instructed, from whence
will come ministers; because the new heaven has no influence over the old
clergy, who conceive themselves to be too well skilled in the doctrine of justifi-
cation by faith alone.
" III. Respecting the promised treatise concernirig infinity, omnipotence, and omni-
presence ?—Answer. There are many things interspersed in the Angelic Wisdom
concerning Divine Providence, on these subjects, at No. 46-51, and 157 ; also in the
treatise On Angelic Wisdom concerning Divine Love and Divine Wisdom, No. 4, 17
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