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Doc. 292.] 731
SWEDENBORG’S GARDENER-FOLKS.
you, and I thought it would be God’s pleasure that we should
die in your garden, and under your eyes ; but, but— ”
"Speak out, woman; what lies so heavily upon your
heart? I know that both of you think a great deal of me.
Is it not so ?"
"Yes, before God it is so," said both of them together.
"Speak out then," said Swedenborg, with a smile, " and then
we may be able to help the matter."
The housewife, whose strong emotion gave her courage
to speak, and words to express her thoughts, at last began.
"Yes, people say we ought not to serve you any longer, because
you are not a right Christian."
"Nothing else, my good woman," said Swedenborg quietly;
"nothing else? Well, let the world judge so ; but why should
you think so?"
"You see you never go to church; for years you have never
been inside St. Mary’s Church."
"Have you never read," replied Swedenborg, solemnly, "that
where two or three are gathered together in the Lord’s name,
that there is His church and meeting place? Do you believe
that it is the steeple and copper roof which make a holy place
of it? Do you believe that it is holy for any one else but
him who has in his heart Christ’s church? Do you believe
that it is the walls, organ, and pulpit, which constitute its
holiness ?"
"No, no ; I know that well enough."
"Well, then, here at home, in this room, in the arbour, in
the garden, wherever a man or spirit lives within or without
space and time, wherever a prayer is either thought or read,
wherever a voice of thanksgiving is sent up to Him who is the
Giver of all good, there is His church; and it is consequently
here where I live sheltered from the world."
Both the faithful servants bowed their heads and said,
"But this is not the way of the world."
"The way of the world, my friends ?" replied Swedenborg,
" I suppose the way of the world is Christian, is it not?"
"Yes, it is."
"In name it is, but not in spirit and in truth. Faith
without works is a dead faith ; a flower which does not live
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