“Arise AFRICKA, The New Empress of the sky and child of the universe”.
The saying of old Nzylavu ya Unkulu
ORDER OF THE SOLAR STAR
CHAPTERS ON SLAVERY
The AFRICAN SOCIETIES.
"THE NEW ANTI-SLAVERY LEAGUE"
WHEN GOD IS NOT IN HISTORY, HISTORY IS DEAD
Arise Cush (South Sudan)
Last update 09/07/2011
Oh God!
We praise and glorify you
For your grace upon Cush,
The Land of great warriors
And origin of world civilization
Oh Cush!
Arise, shine, raise your flag with the guiding star
And sing songs of freedom with joy.
For peace, liberty and justice
Shall for ever more reign.
So Lord bless South Sudan!
Oh black warriors!
Let's stand up in silence and respect saluting millions of martyrs
Whose blood cemented our national foundation
We vow to protect our nation
Oh Eden!
Land of milk and honey and hard working people.
Uphold us united in peace and harmony.
The nile, valleys, forest, and mountains
shall be our sources of joy and pride
So Lord bless south Sudan
Last update 19/02/11
Nkosi Sikelela Afrika (Ophia)
Malupa Ma Yesu Tumbolayo
I Zua Ya Mitanda Nzo Yesu
Nkosi Sikelela
Nkosi Nzingelela
Nkosi Nzingelela
O Lua Moya Twele Nkosi Sikelela Afrika
Luswapolua
Murena Muluka Nzintabata Yesu
Moka ya Nzi Mulemoyo
Nkosi Tumbolayo
Nkosi Tumbolayo
Moro ya Nkosi To ye
THE FUTURE OF THE NEW CHURCH.
NEW CHURCH LIFE
BY THE REV. F. E. WAELCHLI.
Aug-Sept. 1803 p. 414
An address read to the Council of Ministers of the General Church of the New Jerusalem, June 23, 1803.
Every one who loves the New Church, and every one who has some perception of the beauty of the Holy City, the New Jerusalem descending from God out of heaven, adorned as a bride for her husband, is filled with delight at the thought of the greatness and glory which that Church will some day attain; his mind dwells with affection upon the words of Divine Promise that “this establishing, will endure to eternity, and was foreseen from the creation of the world; it will be the crown of the four preceding churches, because it will have true faith and true charity, and internal blessedness of life. These things will be in the New Church, because of conjunction with the Lord, and by Him with God the father.” (Sum. Of Cor. 59-61).
But not all passages in the Writings, which of the future of the New Church at this day something of regret, for they teach that there is but little hope for the establishment of the New Church in Christian lands, and that it will take root and grow chiefly with the Gentiles. This teaching causes something of regret, because every true man of the Church loves his country, which love with him is principally a love for the spiritual welfare of those who live in it, and when he learns that neither now nor in time to come will there be many in his country who will receive the Heavenly Doctrine, and that possibly the Church in it may in time die out altogether, he cannot otherwise than be saddened as such a prospect. But such sadness and regret will pass away as he elevates his mind above his earthly country and thinks of his eternal country, which is the Lord'’ kingdom in the heavens and on the earth. Filled with love for that kingdom, he will rejoice that there are those on this earth, with whom it can be established, and with gratification and pleasure he will read the teachings concerning the noble quality of the nations with whom the New Church is to established, and concerning the vast areas throughout which it will extend. There are many passages in the Writhing which teach that the New Church, like the preceding churches, will be established with the Gentiles; and who are meant by them is clearly stated in the following words: “By the Holy Jerusalem, in the Apocalypse, is meant a New Church among the Gentiles, after the present Church which is in our European world has been vastated.” (A. C. 9407.)
The reasons why the New Church will be established with the Gentiles, are, in general, the following: 1. Because they have not, like Christians, extirpated the heaven-implanted perception that God is a Divine Man. (A. E. 52.) 2. Because they live a much more moral life than Christians, and consequently embrace and receive much more readily the doctrines of the true faith. (A. C. 932, 1032.) 3. Because there is no such cloud in their intellectual part, since they have no principles of falsity contrary to the truths of faith, being ignorant of these truths. (A. C. 1059, 2986.)
The New Church will be established with the Gentiles first in the spiritual world and then in the natural. A Church most always be established in the spiritual world before it can be on earth. Therefore, at the Second Coming of the Lord, the New Heaven was first formed, and from it the Church in the world of spirits, and from this again the Church on earth. That the Church on earth depends on the Church in the world of spirits for its establishment and growth, is taught as follows in the Apocalypse Explained:
“The New Church on earth increase according to its increase in the world of spirits, for spirits from thence are with men, and they are from those who were in the faith of their Church, whilst they lived on earth, and no others of them receive the doctrine but those who were in the spiritual affection of truth; such only are conjoined to heaven where that doctrine is, and conjoin heaven to man; the number of those in the spiritual world now increases daily, wherefore according to their increase the Church which is called the New Jerusalem increases on earth.” (732.)
It is here said that the spirits of the new Church which are with men, are such as were in the faith of their Church, whilst they lived on earth, Consequently, the spirits which must be with the gentiles who are to be of the New Church, must be such as were Gentiles when on earth, and in each case of the same particular Gentile religion.
The New Church in the world of spirits consists of those who, in their third state in that world, which is their state of instruction in the Heavenly Doctrine, are being prepared for heaven. That there are Gentiles among them, and that these are instructed by angels of the New heaven who were once Gentiles, is clearly taught in the Writings. (H. H. 524, 525, H. D. 3.)
It is, therefore, from the New Heaven, through New Church spirits, once Gentiles, in the world of spirits, that the New Church descends to the Gentiles upon earth. But it cannot descend unless there be with those on earth the means of acquiring the knowledge of the heavenly Doctrine by an external way, that is, by hearing or reading them. These means the Lord has provided and will provide more fully. He has provided them by the revelation of the Heavenly Doctrines in the interior of Africa; and He will provide them more fully in time to come both by the expression of the Church from Africa into the interior of Asia, and by its extension from Christian lands to the Gentiles of other regions.
Swedenborg tells us, from his own observation and experience, of the institution of the New Church with the African both in the world of spirits and on earth. These people, he said, are more receptive than others in this earth of the Heavenly Doctrine. They willingly receive from the angels the doctrine concerning the Lord; and, more than others, have it implanted in themselves that the Lord must appear altogether as a Man. They are in the capacity of receiving not only the truths of faith, but especially its good, being of the celestial genius. (S. D. 4783.)
Concerning the formation of the Church from Africans in the world of spirits, by means of instruction there given them in the Heavenly Doctrine, many interesting particulars are related in the Spiritual Diary. In several passages we are told of angels being sent to them, who instructed them in the Heavenly Doctrine; and that the spirits said they would communicate these truths to their people on earth. (4771, 4775, 4776.) We also learn that the Letter of the Word was given to African spirits, and that they perceived its holiness; and that afterwards there were given to them the following of the Writings: Heaven and Hell, The Last Judgment, The Earths in the Universe, The White Horse, and The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem. (S. D. 6956.) The fact that these books were given them, indicates that in the establishment of the Church among these people there was also active the instrumentality of “the man before whom the Lord manifested Himself in Person, and whom He fill with His Spirit, to teach the Doctrine of the New Church by the Word from Him.” Nor was it only by these books being given them that Swedenborg performed His mission to these people, but he also on several occasions taught them in person; we read that once he instructed some of them in the Doctrine of the Lord, before angels and spirits were sent to teach them (5517); and that at another time he gave them instruction concerning representatives and correspondences (5956)
Concerning the revelation of the Heavenly Doctrine to the Africans on earth many interesting particulars are also given (4772, 4774, 5946); but we can here present only the general doctrine on this subject, as given in the Continuation concerning the Last Judgment:
“The Africans in the spiritual world comprehend and receive interior truths, because they think more internally and spiritual than other nations. Such being the character of the Africans even in the world, there is, at the present day, a revelation among them, which, commencing in the centre of their continent, is communicated around, but does not reach their coast. They acknowledge the Lord as the God of heaven and earth, and call ingenious wickedness stupidity. I have heard the angels rejoicing over this revelation, because, by means of it, a communication is opened for them with the human rational, hitherto closed up by the blind which has been drawn over the things of faith. It was told me from heaven, that the truths now published in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Lord, concerning the Word, and in the Doctrine of life for the New Jerusalem, are orally dictated by angelic spirits to the inhabitants of this portion of the globe.” 75, 76.)
To this must be added the teaching given in the Diary (5946), that the letter of the Word has been dictated to them from heaven.
The teaching given in the Writings concerning the genius of the Africans, can be summarized as follows:
They are of the genius of the angels of the celestial kingdom. S. D. 5518, 4783. J. post. 118.)
They, differently from Christians, perceive truths from good. (S. D. 5946.)
They have a perception, or interior sight, which is singularly clear and strong, and they think much more interiorly than Christians. (T. C. R. 837-840, S. D. 5518.)
The prize conjugial love, and are wise in its acana. (Con. L. J. 77; C. L. 113.)
They detest their blackness, knowing that their souls are white. (J. post. 115.)
From these teachings it can be seen how exalted is the character of these people, and consequently how heavenly is the state of the Church cannot but rejoice that so glorious a future awaits the Church. It needs, however, to be noted, that this Church will not be of the same dwell in the centre, it is, at least at this day, more interior than with those round about. And in the progress of this Church into Asia, it will also be of various qualities with different nations.
Just where in Africa the New Church commences, is difficult to determine. In the passage quoted above (Con, L. J. 76), it is said that “it commenced in the centre of the continent, whence it was communicated round about;” here, we are told, the best of the Africans dwell. (S. D. 5946, J. post. 124.) In another place (S. D. 4471) we read that the revelation took place “as if somewhere in Asia, in the vicinity of Africa.” And in still another passage (S. D. 4776, 4777), we are told that the place from which the Heavenly Doctrine would advance is “in the entrance to Africa.”
From this place, wherever it may be, the Church spreads into various parts of Africa and Asia. The course of it progress is described as follows:
“It was shown, in an obscure vision, in what way the Heavenly Doctrine would advance in Africa, namely, from this place [i.e., the entrance to Africa] towards the interiors of Africa, but, still, not to the middle of it; and, then, should bend itself to the inhabitants who are in interior Africa, nearer to the Mediterranean Sea, and thus go on for a long distance, but not far as the coasts; and, far as towards Egypt; and, also, should then proceed from there, to some in Asia under the government of the Turks also in Asia round about.” (S. D. 4777.)
The greater part of the regions here mentioned is but little known to Christians; for the people dwelling there do not admit Europeans (S. D. 5946.) One portion, however, is an exception, namely, that towards the northeast of Africa, and concerning this Swedenborg says:
“This region is known to European, and in the maps is called Ethiopia, where a noble race dwell in tents.” (S. D. 5947)
This noble race is probably the Gallas, who, from all accounts, answer the description here given of them. Travelers speak of them as a people of many excellent qualities. It is generally supposed that they came from the interior of Africa. But this is not positively established, and their race affinity is a matter of doubt. Some of them are Mohammedans, but the most of them are pagans, or, rather, are believed to be such.
The country still further to the northeast, or Abyssinia, is even better known to us. Concerning inhabitants of this country Swedenborg speaks most highly. (S. D. 5947.) But it can hardly be supposed that the people of whom he speaks are the Abyssinians proper, among whom there exists a most debased from of Christianity. Those who are meant are in all likelihood people of the Gallas tribes, who have settled in large numbers in that country and occupy a considerable region of it.
In the account of the extension of the Church, given above, it is said from Africa it would proceed “to some in Asia under the government of the Turks, also into Asia round about.” Those “in Asia under the government of the Turks” can be none other than people dwelling in Arabia; and “Asia round about,” is, we believe, the entire region of central Asia. That this is what is meant by “Asia round about,” we shall now endeavor to show. Swedenborg, in concluding the relation concerning the people to whom the New Church will extend from Africa, says:` “I was afterwards brought back, but higher up, where were spirits from the regions of the north part of Asia; and it was perceived that they were of such a disposition from their life in the world, as to be able to receive the heavenly Doctrine of which I have spoken above.” (S. D. 4770.)
The north part of Asia, here spoken of, cannot mean Siberia, the inhabitants of which country are the most part Christians, and, from all accounts, not a remarkably good people. What is meant is undoubtedly the north part of well-inhabited Asia, or the region which in the Writings is called Tartary. It is here that the Ancient Word is preserved, and worship conducted assorting to it. Jehovah is worshipped, by some as an invisible God, and by others as visible. (A. R. II.) Concerning the noble character of the people of at least one part of this region, we have the following teaching in the Spiritual Diary:
“There were some from Tartary close to China, or Lesser Tartary, with me. They spoke of the country where they lived, that it was populous. And that they knew nothing about war. They knew of China and of Siberia. They said that, with them, he governs who is able to govern, and if he is not able, he is dismissed with a fine. They accord him no other honor than as a wise man who can tell them whether this or that is just. They stated that they are all engaged in their labors at home, in a making clothes, in cultivating the land, and the like. They marveled that they should be questioned by Christians, when they came, as to God being a Man; inasmuch as they believed that all knew this, without any question whether it be so, in like manner respecting the precepts of the Decalogue; for example, regarding only one wife, whether they live so, as if they did not know that everyone so lived, since the Lord wills it. They stated that they have houses, where they are taught about life, and about the commandments of God. They said that they had a book, respecting which people elsewhere do not know that they have it. They called it the Divine Book; they read this, and are instructed by it and understanding it. inquiry was made, and it was the Psalms of David. They said that strangers are indeed admitted among them, but they do not give them the means of going away. They give them necessary food; and if one wishes to work, he is accepted. They also possess the Decalogue. They call the Chinese their friends, because they are of their race: they do not think of wars, in their country. They have some fear of Siberia, but say that they have nothing, and that, if they came, they would at once surrender to them; but still they would all go away with their belongings, unawares to them.” (6077.)
In the light of this account of these people, it hardly seems possible to doubts that the “north of Asia,” where are the people capable of receiving the Heavenly Doctrine, must be in Tartary. How widespread the Church will be in that country, we cannot say. The Tartary of which Swedenborg speaks includes Manchuria and Mongolia, and perhaps also Tibet. It includes Manchuria, for thence is the reigning dynasty of China, which the Writings speaks of as coming from Great Tartary. It includes Mongolia, because there dwell the people so well spoken of in the number quoted above. And it may include Tibet, because the inhabitants of this region, more than those of Manchuria and Mongolia, permit no strangers to enter their country, and this, we are told, is a practice of the Tartars.
In order that the new Church may spread to this north part of Asia, it will be necessary for it to pass through a great region of central Asia. Hence our belief that the Church will exist throughout that region.
But besides the Gentiles in the interior of Africa and in the interior of Asia, there are also many others, to whom the New Church will undoubtedly some day be brought by New Church evangelists from Christian lands. There is, it is true, no direct teaching that this will be done,—at least none that we have been able to find. The passages which teach that the New Church will be transplanted to the Gentiles, all apparently treats of its establishment in Africa. There are, however, three reasons why it can be believed that such will nevertheless be the course of events: 1. That in the establishment of the former Churches, a beginning was made with a remnant of the preceding Church, and from them the Church spread to other nations is always the first of the Church with another, the last being continued into the first.” (A. C. 529, 770, 788, 1104, 1126, 4901, A. R. 409, S. D. 4074.) 2. That it is of the Divine Providence that the Letter of the Word should be carried to the gentiles (S. S. 108), which it being done; and this must have the establishment of the new Church as its ultimate end. 3. That the character of some of these Gentiles, as given in the Writings, is so excellent, that it cannot doubted that the new Church will extend to them.
Among the Gentiles well spoken of in the Writings are the Chinese and the Indo-Chinese.
Concerning the Chinese we are taught, that they are in charity, and seek to avoid doing injury to others or giving offense. Swedenborg spoke with the Chinese spirits concerning the Lord. When he called Him Christ, a kind of repugnance was perceivable amongst them; the cause, however, was perceived to be this, that they had contracted a prejudice against that name, during their abode in the world, by observing that Christians lived worse than Gentiles, and were not in charity. But when he simply called Him Lord, they were inwardly moved. Afterwards they were instructed by the angels, that the Christian doctrine inculcates love and charity above any other doctrine in the whole earth, but that there are few who live according to it. (A. C. 2596.)
Concerning the Indo-Chinese, or inhabitants of Further India, it is related that
“Angels spoke wisely to them about God and about His marvelous attributes, and that they were so delighted at this , that they were in the tranquility of peace. Others were unable to approach, because it was a spiritual-celestial sphere.” (S. D. 6067.)
The way is at this day being prepared for New Church evangelization among the Gentiles, by the work which Christian missionaries are doing; for these bring to them the Word in the Letter, the reception of which must precede the reception of the Word in its internal sense. The thought may occur that these missionaries are doing more harm than good to the cause of the New Church, because of their falsities of doctrine. But of this we need not have much fear, as we are taught that the Gentiles do not imbibe these falsities. On this subject we read as follows:
“There were some from Tartary close to China, or Lesser Tartary, with me. They spoke of the country where they lived, that it was populous. And that they knew nothing about war. They knew of China and of Siberia. They said that, with them, he governs who is able to govern, and if he is not able, he is dismissed with a fine. They accord him no other honor than as a wise man who can tell them whether this or that is just. They stated that they are all engaged in their labors at home, in a making clothes, in cultivating the land, and the like. They marveled that they should be questioned by Christians, when they came, as to God being a Man; inasmuch as they believed that all knew this, without any question whether it be so, in like manner respecting the precepts of the Decalogue; for example, regarding only one wife, whether they live so, as if they did not know that everyone so lived, since the Lord wills it. They stated that they have houses, where they are taught about life, and about the commandments of God. They said that they had a book, respecting which people elsewhere do not know that they have it. They called it the Divine Book; they read this, and are instructed by it and understanding it. inquiry was made, and it was the Psalms of David. They said that strangers are indeed admitted among them, but they do not give them the means of going away. They give them necessary food; and if one wishes to work, he is accepted. They also possess the Decalogue. They call the Chinese their friends, because they are of their race: they do not think of wars, in their country. They have some fear of Siberia, but say that they have nothing, and that, if they came, they would at once surrender to them; but still they would all go away with their belongings, unawares to them.” (6077.)
In the light of this account of these people, it hardly seems possible to doubts that the “north of Asia,” where are the people capable of receiving the Heavenly Doctrine, must be in Tartary. How widespread the Church will be in that country, we cannot say. The Tartary of which Swedenborg speaks includes Manchuria and Mongolia, and perhaps also Tibet. It includes Manchuria, for thence is the reigning dynasty of China, which the Writings speaks of as coming from Great Tartary. It includes Mongolia, because there dwell the people so well spoken of in the number quoted above. And it may include Tibet, because the inhabitants of this region, more than those of Manchuria and Mongolia, permit no strangers to enter their country, and this, we are told, is a practice of the Tartars.
In order that the new Church may spread to this north part of Asia, it will be necessary for it to pass through a great region of central Asia. Hence our belief that the Church will exist throughout that region.
But besides the Gentiles in the interior of Africa and in the interior of Asia, there are also many others, to whom the New Church will undoubtedly some day be brought by New Church evangelists from Christian lands. There is, it is true, no direct teaching that this will be done,—at least none that we have been able to find. The passages which teach that the New Church will be transplanted to the Gentiles, all apparently treats of its establishment in Africa. There are, however, three reasons why it can be believed that such will nevertheless be the course of events: 1. That in the establishment of the former Churches, a beginning was made with a remnant of the preceding Church, and from them the Church spread to other nations is always the first of the Church with another, the last being continued into the first.” (A. C. 529, 770, 788, 1104, 1126, 4901, A. R. 409, S. D. 4074.) 2. That it is of the Divine Providence that the Letter of the Word should be carried to the gentiles (S. S. 108), which it being done; and this must have the establishment of the new Church as its ultimate end. 3. That the character of some of these Gentiles, as given in the Writings, is so excellent, that it cannot doubted that the new Church will extend to them.
Among the Gentiles well spoken of in the Writings are the Chinese and the Indo-Chinese.
Concerning the Chinese we are taught, that they are in charity, and seek to avoid doing injury to others or giving offense. Swedenborg spoke with the Chinese spirits concerning the Lord. When he called Him Christ, a kind of repugnance was perceivable amongst them; the cause, however, was perceived to be this, that they had contracted a prejudice against that name, during their abode in the world, by observing that Christians lived worse than Gentiles, and were not in charity. But when he simply called Him Lord, they were inwardly moved. Afterwards they were instructed by the angels, that the Christian doctrine inculcates love and charity above any other doctrine in the whole earth, but that there are few who live according to it. (A. C. 2596.)
Concerning the Indo-Chinese, or inhabitants of Further India, it is related that
“Angels spoke wisely to them about God and about His marvelous attributes, and that they were so delighted at this , that they were in the tranquility of peace. Others were unable to approach, because it was a spiritual-celestial sphere.” (S. D. 6067.)
The way is at this day being prepared for New Church evangelization among the Gentiles, by the work which Christian missionaries are doing; for these bring to them the Word in the Letter, the reception of which must precede the reception of the Word in its internal sense. The thought may occur that these missionaries are doing more harm than good to the cause of the New Church, because of their falsities of doctrine. But of this we need not have much fear, as we are taught that the Gentiles do not imbibe these falsities. On this subject we read as follows:
“The Lord is received otherwise by the converted Gentiles outside the Church; these worship and adore Him as their Only God; and they say with the mouth and think in the heart, that they acknowledge Him as God, because He has appeared in a human form. It is contrary within the Church.” (A. C. 9198.) [See also A. C. 5256, S. D. 4676, D. P. 322, A. E. 1008]
The work which the missionaries are doing is, however, progressing very slowly and it is not probable that it will result in a general acceptance of Christianity by the Gentiles to whom they have access. The Gentiles believe that religion must be of life, and they see that such is not case with Christians. Hence they are averse to the Christian religion, as is taught in the following word;
“There are gentiles who had heard, in the life of the body, concerning Christians, that they led a very life, in adulteries, quarrels, hatreds, and drunkenness, and who then a horror of them, because such things in the other life, are more timid than others about receiving the truths of faith, because they retain that fear, and a certain species of horror against Christians so-called. Wherefore they are instructed by the angels, that there are very many such, and they are moreover instructed by experience, that there are others, though dew, who are not such, and that the Christian doctrine dictates quite the contrary. They then receive the truths of faith.” (S. D. 4401.)
When the day comes for the New Church evangelists to take up the work among the Gentiles, they will need to give same instruction as that given by the angels in the passage just quoted, namely, that “the Christian doctrine dictates quite a contrary life;” and this instruction will need to be supplemented, as was the case in the other life by “instruction by experience,” that there are Christians, though few in number, who do endeavor to lead good lives, and that these few are the remnant whom the Lord brings into His New Church. The removal of the prejudice against Christianity will be no easy matter; in fact, it will not be possible for it to take place without the aid of a powerful influx from the other world. Therefore the day when the New Church will begin to evangelize among the gentiles, will not be at hand until the New Church in the world of spirits, formed from Gentiles, has attained sufficient strength to co-operate with the work being done on earth.
Will the two forms of the New Church,—that of the interiors of Africa and Asia, and that of Christian lands and thence with Gentiles,—ever meet and consociate? We believe that they will, and that the meeting-place will probably be in Tartary.
To the New Church in Christian lands it is said: “Seek for the Ancient Word in China, and you may perhaps find it there among the Tartars.” (A. R. II.) it does not seem possible that any New Church man or men will be able to carry on this search without the active co-operation of the Chinese and the Tartars among them; for these people jealously guard their treasure. And their co-operation will not be given unless they are in sympathy with those carrying on the research, which sympathy will not exist unless they, too, know of the command given in the Writings to “search,” and from a love for the cause of the New Church open the way to the Ancient Word. It will therefore be necessary that the new Church be established with Chinese and with Tartars among them before the Ancient Word can be found. When this has taken place, the way will readily open for communication with Tartary. Into that country, as we have seen, the New Church will advance from Africa, and reach its furthermost boundary. Therefore there we believe will be the meeting-place of the two forms of the Church. The Church which is of celestial of spiritual quality, similar to the Most Ancient, will meet the Church of spiritual quality of this day, on the ground where there is still a remnant of the state of the Ancient Church. That the two forms of the New Church are respectively celestial and spiritual, is taught in these words:
“The Africans in our globe are the ones of the genius in which are the angels in the celestial kingdom; Europeans those who are of the spiritual.” (S. D. 5518.)
Why has the Lord provided for the preservation of the Ancient Word? There can be but one answer: for the sake of the New Church. And not only for the sake of the establishment of the New Church in Tartary, but also for the sake of the uses which that Word will perform in all time to come throughout the universal New Church. What those uses will be, it may be difficult now to say; yet one of them is evident, namely, that the heavens of the Ancient Church.
Although the two forms of the new Church will some day meet and consociate, yet they will remain distinct, because of the difference of the genius. The consociation will, however, be of benefit to each: those of the celestial Church will learn those more ultimate forms of truth which are with the spiritual; and those of the spiritual Church will receive that more interior light which the celestial can impart. The truth revealed to the Church in Africa are the same as those revealed to us; but the form in which they are imparted or their clothing, is different. Nevertheless the day will come when the Writings will be read and studied in the celestial New Church. we have seen that books of the Writings were given to Africans in the other world; they were given to them, because they would be of use to them; and since they were of use to them, we can conclude that they will also be of use to those of their Church in this world, and will come into their hands when the day that this will be arrives. The meeting and consociation of the two forms of the Church could have no other effect than the further perfection of the state of each; and since such would be the effect, we can conclude that they will some day meet and consociate.
From what has been presented it can be seen that it will be in Gentiles lands that the new Church will attain unto that greatness and glory for which it is destined. There will it enter into knowledge, intelligence, and wisdom, such as has never been on earth before; and there, too, will far exceed those of any of the preceding Churches. And this mighty Kingdom of the Lord will endure forever. “His dominion is the dominion of an age, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom that shall not perish.” (Dan. vii. 14.)
And what will become of the New Church in Christian lands? Will it, after it has fulfilled the mission of imparting the Truth to the Gentiles, die out as did the Christian among the Jews, after it had served the use of propagating the Truth in Gentile lands? Or will it endure, united in the bonds of brotherhood with the Church established with the Gentiles? These are questions which even the angels of heaven cannot answer, as is evident from the following teaching:
“I have had various converse with the angels concerning the state of the Church hereafter. They said, that things to come they knew not, for that the knowledge of things to come belong to the Lord alone; but that they do know that the slavery and captivity in which the man of the Church was formerly, is removed, and that now, from restored liberty, he can better perceive interior truths, it he wills to perceive them, and thus be made more internal, if he wills it; but that still they have slender hope for the men of the Christian Church, but much for some nation far distant from the Christian world, and therefore removed from infesters, which nation is such it is capable of receiving spiritual light, and of being made a celestial-spiritual man.” (L. J. 74.)
We are here told that the angels have slender hope of the establishment of the New Church in Christian lands. There is hope, but it is slender; yet, because there is some hope, it is also possible that the New Church will endure in the country in which we live, and which we love.
It can readily be seen how easily the same fate may overtake the New Church from among the Jews. The Christian Jews were zealous for their faith; and yet there was with them a clinging to Jewish traditions to Jewish customs, and to the Jewish life; their children were instructed by Jews and imbibed the spirit of the life of that nation, and for the most part fell back into the old faith. It was otherwise with the gentiles, for they were totally separated from Judaism, and their children also were kept separate from it.
Will the history of the primitive Church with the Jew be repeated in the history of the New Church in Christian lands? We cannot tell. The history of the Church thus far does not encourage us to say that it will be different. And yet it is possible for it to different, if we, and our children after us, do our duty. Let us do what is necessary for the perpetuation of the Church, and thrust that our children will do the same. What is it that we must do to this end? First of all, we must separate ourselves from the Christian Church, full acknowledging that it is dead, utterly dead as a Church, and will never be revived; there must be on our guard against every thing in it that is clothed in the grab of religion, however plausible it may appear. Next, we must separate ourselves from the life which prevails among Christians, abhorring it as the Gentiles do,—abhorring the selfishness, the adultery, the lasciviousness, the greed, the dishonesty, and all the other evils which hold say, by shunning them as sins against God. These are the things we must do, and in them we must also instruct our children. If the Church is to continue in Christians lands, the children must be educated in the Church. They must be taught the doctrines of the Church; they must be made to see how false are the doctrines of the Old Church, and how evil is the life of Christians; they must have implanted the love and desire to find their social life within the Church, and also to marry within the Church. Unless our children are thus educated, they will go the way in which the children of the Jewish Christians wandered to their destruction. The hope of the New Church is in its distinctiveness.
The angels said to Swedenborg that they had but slender hope for the establishment of the new Church among Christians. Yet we can believe that hope is stronger today than it was in Swedenborg’s time; and the reason why we can believe this is, that the angels know that there are those of the new Church on earth who are receiving the doctrine of the New Heaven and of the New Church, “that offspring, born of two who are good and truth, from which they have an inclination and faculty, if a son, for perceiving the things which are of wisdom, and if a daughter, for loving the things wisdom teaches.” (C. L. 202.) in other words, this doctrine teaches, that children, born of those who are in love truly conjugial, will have the inclination and find a faculty to love the Church. and to be of the Church, and to enter into the life of conjugial love. Do we not see herein a bright ray of hope for the permanence of the Church with our children, for all ages to come? Let us then, one and all, earnestly strive to come ever more fully into love truly conjugial, shunning all the evils which oppose that love, and at the same time do all in our power to educate our children in and for the Church. The more we do this, the greater can be the hope of the angels for the eternal duration of the Church with the generation which are to follow us and the greater also be our hope.
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