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1302 NOTES TO VOLUME II.
The causes of Divorce are stated by Swedenborg in no. 468, and
the causes of separation from the bed, and also from the house in
nos. 252 and 253; and these causes he says, in nos. 468-473, are
also "legitimate and just causes of concubinage."
Swedenborg in laying down the just causes of separation, which
are also just causes of concubinage, is most particular in stating that
the mental and bodily union with the wife must be permanently
broken off or obstructed, and Mr. White, according to his own
judgment in 1856, has not only misrepresented, but even "grossly
calumniated❞ Swedenborg by withholding from his readers Sweden
borg’s definite language on this subject.
The language which Mr. White supressed is contained in no. 253,
to which Swedenborg especially referred in no. 470, from which
Mr. White quoted in Vol. II, p. 417. We read there, "By vitiated
states of the body are not meant accidental diseases which pass
away; but inherent diseases which do not pass away, and which are
taught by pathology."
On the strength of his garbled statement of Swedenborg’s doctrine,
Mr. White exclaims (II, p. 418), "Under these elastic conditions
it would be hard to say who might not find an cuse for Con
cubinage. Swedenborg trusts to husbands not to abuse their liberty,
or seek a license for indulgence in the temporary ailments of their
Wives; holding firmly moreover to the proviso, ’that whilst Con
cubinage continues no connection with a Wife is allowable."
In conclusion Mr. White repeats (p. 419) an exclamation which
he already made on p. 415 in connection with Mistresses, "As of
Mistresses so of Concubines, our Author assumes their existence,
and does not deign to bestow on them a syllable of consideration.
The heartlessness is noteworthy in the Apostle of the New Jeru
salem." In respect to the first statement we have simply to repeat
here, that if there are no women to fill the places of mistresses and
concubines, the men will have to do without them. But in respect
to the alleged "heartlessness of the Apostle of the New Jerusalem,”
we shall simply quote against Mr. White in 1867, Mr. White in
1856, who says, "When the spirit of Jesus more fully actuates the
church, and the love of the neighbour prompts to heal the world’s
evils by all efficient means, then, we have no doubt, Swedenborg on
Scortatory Love will be taken into counsel."
Thus far we have answered the objections which Mr. White takes
to Swedenborg’s statements on concubinage. Yet there is another
objection which is frequently raised to Swedenborg’s treatment of
this question. It is said, "This indulgence, i. e. concubinage,
according to the doctrine set forth by Swedenborg, is granted to
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