Neither ought they to form their judgment from truth alone, but from truth in conjunction with it's good, v. 24. That the opposition of the perverted church to the LORD in His DIVINE HUMANITY, was known to those who were principled in the doctrine of truth, and who thus, seeing the power of the divine truth over it's adversaries, are led to enquire how far they, who are principled in knowledges, believe in that bumanity, v. 25, 26. Yet they are perplexed about the origin of that humanity, because they could not discern His divinity, v. 27. Therefore they are taught, that the humanity was known, and also it's origin, since it is not self-derived, but from the invisible and unknown divinity, v. 28. Yet the humanity knows the divinity, because it proceedeth from the divinity, v. 29. That this doctrine excites violent opposition in will, but not in act, being restrained for the present by the LORD's di vine providence, v. 30. Nevertheless, with those who are principled in truth, it excites faith in the LORD's humanity, the operation of which humanity is exalted by them above every other operation, v. $1. But this faith so excited tends only to increase the spirit of opposition amongst those of the perverted church, who are priests sent officers to lay hold of Him. 33. Then JESUS said unto them, Yet a little while I am with you, and I go unto Him that sent me. 34. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find; and where I am, ye cannot come. 35. Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither is He about to go, that we shall not find Him? Is He about to go to the dispersion of the Hellenists, and teach the Hellenists? 36. What word is this which He said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find, and where 1 am, ye cannot come? 37. But in the last day, the great [day] of the feast, JESUS stood and cried, saying, If any one thirst, let him come to me, and drink. 38. He that believeth in me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39. But this said He of the Spirit, which they that believe in Him were about to receive, for the Holy Spirit was not yet, because JESUS was not yet glorified. 40. Many of the multitude theref re hearing the Word, said, This is truly the prophet. 41. Others said, This is the CHRIST; but others said, principled in self-love, and therefore they are taught, that the LORD's humanity will certainly be united with His divinity, on which occasion He cannot be approached by those who merely speculate about Him, because they are destitute of the love and life in which He dwells, v. 32, 33, 34. Still they who are principled. in self-love are not able to comprehend what is meant by the union of the LORD's humanity with His divinity, v. 35, 36. Therefore they are further instructed, that if they are desirous of attaining the know ledge of truth, they must receive from the LORD in His DIVINE HUMANITY the truths of doctrine and their faith, since hence comes spiritual intelligence of divine truth from the LORD, inasmuch as to impart such intelligence is the great purpose of the glorification of the LORD's humanity, v. 37, 38, 39. For spiritual intelligence of divine truth cannot be given but from divinity and humanity united in the one divine person of the LORD, v. 39, latter part. That in consequence of this instruction, they, who are principled in truth, are led to acknowledge the LORD's bumapity as the all of doctrine, and Doth CHRIST come out of the all of truth, whilst others Galilee? 42. Hath not the Scripture said, that CHRIST cometh out of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was ? 43. So there was a schism among the multitude, because of flim. 44. But some of them were desirous to apprehend Him, but no one laid hands upon Him. 45. Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, Why have ye not brought Him? 46. The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. 47. Then the Pharisees answered them, Are ye also deceived? 48. Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in Him? 49. But this multitude, who know not the law, are cursed. 50. Nicodemus saith to them, He that came to him by night, being one of them; 51. Doth our law judge a man, unless it first hear him, and knoweth what he doeth? 52. They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search and look that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. 53. And every one went to his own home. .are perplexed about the divine origin of that humanity as taught in the Word, v. 40, 41, 42, 43. Hence inclination is inwardly cherished to do violence to that humanity, but the power to do it is checked, v. 44. And on enquiry how it was checked, it is discovered, that the truth proceeding from that humanity was more than human, so that the simple could not resist it, v. 45, 46. Therefore they, who are blinded by self-love, and who fancy themselves qualified by their superior learning to decide on what is true, or otherwise, condemn the simple as ignorant of the truth, v. 47, 48, 49. Yet their own learning sug gests the consideration, that no one ought to be condemned, until it be first known whether he be guilty, and what his guilt is, v. 50, 51. But this consideration is over-ruled, as not applicable to the LORD's humanity and the doctrine which He taught, since no teacher of truth can be born out of the church, therefore all abide in their own ruling love and persuasions, V. 52, 53. CHAPTER VII. Extracts from the Theological Writings OF THE HON. EMANUEL SWEDENBORG. VERSE 7. The world cannot hate you, but me it hateth, because I testify of it that the works thereof are evil. From these words it is evident that they, who are against the good of cha rity, are against the Lord, or what is the same thing, that they, who are in evil, hate the light, neither come to the light. A. Č. 2349. From the above words it is evident, that works are what save man, and what condemn man, viz. that good works save, and that evil works condemn; for in works is the will principle of man; he who willeth good, doeth good, but he who doth not do good, howsoever he may say that he willeth good, still be doth not will it when he doth not do it; it is as if he should say, I will it, but I do not will it; and whereas the will itself is in works, and charity is of the will, and faith is of charity, it is evident what of will, or what of charity and faith appertains to man, when he doth not do good works, and especially when he doeth the contrary, viz. evil works. A. C. 3954. Verse 16. My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me. See also verses 18, 28, 29. That the Lord as to the divine human [principle] is called angel, may be seen, n. 6280, and is likewise manifest from several passages in the New Testament, where the Lord saith that He was sent by the Father; and to be sent signifies to proceed, and sent in the Hebrew tongue signifies an angel. A. C. 6831.. Verse 23. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken, are ye angry at me, because I have made a whole man sound on the sabbath day ? The sabbath was representative of the Lord's conjunction with the human race, on which account it was prohibited to light a fire on the sabbath-day, Exod. xxxv. 3, because by a fire was signified every thing which is of life, and by kindling a fire what is of life from the proprium or self-hood. From these considerations it is evident that the Lord is the Lord of the sabbath, according to his words in Mark, chap. xii. 1 to 9, and why most of the cures wrought by the Lord were wrought on the sabbath days; for the diseases, which were cured by the Lord, involved spiritual diseases, which are from evil. A. C. 8495. Verse 27. Howbeit we know this man whence He is, but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence He is. In this passage Christ denotes the Messiah, and the reason why no one knew whence He is, was, because He was not acknowledged. A. C. 3008. Verse 29. But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He hath sent me. By being sent by the Father into the world is meant the assumption of the human [principle], as is manifest from all the passages where it is also said, that He did the will of the Father and His works, which works consisted in overcoming the hells, in glorifying the human [principle], in teaching the Word, and in establishing a new church, which things could not have been done except by the human [principle] conceived of Jehovah, and born of a virgin, that is, unless God had been made a man. Treatise on the Lord, 20, 31. Verses 37, 38, 39. In the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this said He of the spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive. By coming to the Lord and drinking, is signified to receive from Him the truths of doctrine and their faith; that hence comes spiritual intelligence, is signified by rivers of liv ing water flowing forth from his belly, living water denoting the divine truth, which is from the Lord alone, rivers denoting those things which are of intelligence, and the belly signifying thought from the memory, for it corresponds to it: And whereas by rivers of living water is signified intelligence by divine truth from the Lord, therefore it is added, these things said He of the spirit which they that believe on Him should receive, the spirit denoting divine truth and intelligence thence derived, wherefore also the Lord calls the spirit whom they were to receive, the spirit of truth. Ap. Ex. 518. See also A. C. 2702. That by the spirit, which they that believe on the Lord were to receive from Him, is meant the life which is from the Lord, which is the life of faith and of love, is evident from singular the expressions in the above passage; for to thirst and to drink signifies the desire of knowing and of perceiving truth; rivers |