The Quality of the New Church
By Rev. Paul Booth
Lessons: Exodus 1: 1-5 | John 8: 28-32 | Arcana C&œ;lestia 6637
By Rev. Paul Booth
Lessons: Exodus 1: 1-5 | John 8: 28-32 | Arcana C&œ;lestia 6637
These are the names of the sons of Israel, signifies the quality of the Church. This appears from the signification of a name, as denoting quality; from the representation of the sons of Israel, as denoting spiritual truths and from the representation of Israel as denoting the good of truth or spiritual good. . . .for the Church is a Church by virtue of spiritual good, and of the truths thence.
(Arcana C&œ;lestia 6637)
(Arcana C&œ;lestia 6637)
What is revealed in the Third Testament here is the New Church, not the Israelitish Church, though in the Word of the Old Testament this truth was spiritually within it. The Word is adapted to the apprehension and understanding of man and, so, it may appear to some that the Third Testament also reveals the establishment of the Israelitish Church because it natural understanding concerns the people of the history of that Church. The New Church is a true or spiritual Church, while the Israelitish Church is not, but was a representative of a Church. Therefore, it is not the quality of the Church of Israel that is here to be understood, for its qualities were natural not spiritual nor could it or a man change from the natural state to the spiritual until the Lord came on earth.
We are taught in the Third Testament of a marriage in the Word which reflects the marriage of the Lord with the Church. Such a marriage is seen in the Word from what is now revealed as signifying the Lord and as representing the Church. In other words the Word concerns, first, primarily the Lord but also the Church since the church in man comes only from the Lord and exists in man from the Lord. Here, it is the Church that is clearly revealed as one comes to understands that by 'sons' in the Word is meant truths and truths are what teach and lead the man in whom the Church is. In this case, it is the sons of Israel and by Israel is signified the good that is of truth or what is called spiritual good. Thus, from number 6637 of Arcana C&œ;lestia, we read that the 'sons of Israel' denote spiritual truths, that is, the things of heaven and the Church or the things of love to the Lord and of love in those truths in man that are for the sake of life and, thus such knowledge is kept in the memory by which one can be taught by the Lord that he might come to receive within himself the true Church. Keep in mind that though the natural sense of the Word may treat of the sons of the man whose name was now called Israel, it is here the quality of the Church that is represented since we learn that names in the Word signify qualities and since inwardly the Word is living because of these qualities that are from the Lord which in man are good and truth that when conjoined are of use, that being life. We see the sons of Israel denoted 'spiritual truth' and, of course, this has reference to the New Church, which is a spiritual church, while the natural Church sees only the literal sense. Not to mention that like the disciples, who also were twelve names or qualities that were seen as those of the Christian Church, the sons of Israel were twelve or all the qualities and, so too, were the aggregate or all of the qualities of the true Church. And like man who has both a natural and spiritual, the Church also has both an external and internal. Let us recall that 'Jacob' was blessed and became called 'Israel'; thus, there was a change in the quality signified by truths and goods that were with the natural man making him spiritual and in this case this is signified by the Lord coming on earth, and putting on the Natural, and becoming the Divine Human. However, here, you can see that we have turned from the subject of the Church to the Lord since, as we have shown, there is seen in the Word this marriage of good and truths, and of the Lord and the Church. Thus, it is that the Lord, as to His Natural state, when He came on earth was in that state - the truths within Him were spiritual/celestial - the Divine being within Him. Therefore, the truths of the Church that is here meant were spiritual truths just as the Lord is signified by Israel, referring the Natural state as having come on earth, so too, are the truths of the Church spiritual that is represented here, though those who are in the external of the Church do not see the internal sense.
Because Israel signifies the Lord, and because the Church is a Church from both faith and charity, and because these attributes of truth and good are and come from the Lord, the qualities of the true Church are the good that is from truth, or spiritual good. These with the church are in truth and will and in act and are what cause (spiritual) life. This is seen in the Church as love to the neighbor or charity and there is formed in man a conscience by which he is guided, since these qualities come into man through his natural senses.
Our text AC 6637 reads further, "He who is not in spiritual good, that is, in the good of charity, and in spiritual truths, that is, in the truths of faith, is not in the Church." The Churches before the Lord's New Church were all representative churches, their worship being only representative; they were not a spiritual Church, nor was their doctrine genuine. The reason that those prior churches were not true Churches was because they were not conjoined with heaven, that conjunction being severed. Moreover, the Lord had not yet come and accomplished that conjunction. Continuing again we read, "Those who are not of this character are not of the Church, but are outside of it; and are those who live in evil, thus contrary to doctrine". It is plain from the text what makes a church a true church and it is not because it has the Word or even doctrinals or teachings from the Word; nor is because the Lord is known and where one receives the sacraments. It is only from one living according to the Word, that is, in accordance with the doctrine from the Word. It is also plainly seen in this quote that anyone not in the church is outside of it. We notice there are two classes not in the Church that both live in evil, and thus contrary to doctrine. One, there are those called the Gentiles and the second, those who live even further outside the Church. It is this last group that extinguishes the Church within their selves. While the Gentiles are those who know nothing at all about the Word, the Lord, or sacraments, however, if they have lived a good life while on earth they will be taught in Heaven the true doctrine. It can be seen that while such are outside the Church if they have lived in charity towards the neighbor for the sake of good that in the spiritual world they will be taught and see or understand spiritual truths.
We further read, "It ought to also be known, that every one who lives in the good of charity and faith, is a Church, and that he is a kingdom of the Lord" (AC 6637§2e). It has pointed out that the text describes the true or New Church, which is a spiritual Church, and here this is substantiated when the term 'the good of charity and faith' is more fully understood. Here, can be seen the Church's two states - its internal and its external - the spiritual and natural state of the Church. By the natural Church here does not mean that the true Church is within the man who is not in regeneration, for when the Church is not within man then a man is not of the Church, being outside it. The true Church is with the man who is in regeneration and as such is a spiritual man living in the good of charity and faith. Though they are in differing degrees, the natural doing good from obedience to their love of truths and faith because it is commanded, the spiritual from their love and charity and so receive truths there from. So, one may say, in that respect, there is an internal and an external Church, though both are true or spiritual. Those in the internal Church see the truths of faith, while those in the external Church look from faith to charity.
Now it may appear that anyone can do charity towards the neighbor, the unregenerate as well as the regenerate. However when one sees or understands that the Lord who is the Word teaches that one must become spiritually born again, it may be realized that in order to be in true charity and faith a new will and understanding must be had from the Lord. This is seen possible only in spiritual good, not in natural good, and is called the good of faith, since it is love towards the neighbor and in this the man must have a new will that is from the Lord. Many of the old Christian Churches reject charity accepting only the doctrine of faith alone. Thus the spiritual man's faith is from a new understanding that is also from the Lord. And that understanding has its light from his new will from the Lord, while the nature man has understanding from only this world's light. One sees, then, that only those who are in regeneration can do good or charity towards the neighbor whether they are of the internal or external true or spiritual Church. Thus, it is that the true Church is constituted in those in whom the Church is in no matter how far remote they are from one another.
Let us continue reading about the New Church's quality. "'That came to Egypt with Jacob' signifies after truths had been initiated into scientifics" (AC 6638). It is not just these truths within one that makes the Church a true Church with man, but it is as these truths are introduced into the memory and become in man a new rational from the Lord in him. Here it can be seen that the true Church is a spiritual Church, and that it is to be so in the Natural state, thus, is the true or New Church's progression or establishment with and in man. We can also see that this is the reason why the Lord came on earth and into the Natural (Human) state - so that He might, in His glorification prepare a place in Heaven for them, which is within them. This is done through truths being initiated into scientifics concerning things of charity and faith that the man may serve the spiritual or rational within man from the Lord who there meets the man 'as it were' and from where the Lord reigns.
That preparation with man has not taken place out mercy; a man is not just raised up into heaven where there is spiritual understanding, nor is the true Church initiated into him through mercy where his will is the Lord's will. Its progression is through many assaults by evils and falsities; it must be through purification of these. This of course is seen in the treatment of Israelites by the Egyptians and in these as signifying the Lord's combats against evils in His human that He put on in coming to earth. The truths and goods that make man in an image and likeness of the Lord are treated of here. Earlier we have shown that the knowledge of truths alone or even the doctrine of such truths is not what makes the true Church. But, when the truths that one has are initiated into interior scientifics through the good of love, through good coming from love, then the man's understanding ascends above and thus, into heavenly light.
What is understood spiritually in our text is the Church being established from the goods and truths, from all the things of love and of faith as is signified by the twelve sons of Israel. Now, the Word of the Old Testament has things in that often are understood merely literally and does not make rational sense. (That is why before the New Church came it can be said the Church's faith was not rational.) One such place is here. We read, "and all the souls that went forth out of the thigh of Jacob" (Exodus 1:5). If you understand "out of the thigh' as meaning those sired by Jacob, then from a natural understanding this means not just the sons of Israel, but all those of the tribe or clan of Jacob. Had Jacob sired all those in his household, even the servants and the sons wives? So, how is this "out of the thigh of Jacob" spiritually to be understood? The Third Testament says that "all things which are from general truth because soul generally refers to man" and, in this case, to the man of the spiritual Church. Here, the Third Testament reveals the signification of 'thigh' as conjugial love, or marriage love of man and wife, the man as truth, the wife as good, which two is the basis or fundamental of all loves and can be see in the marriage of good and truth in man and throughout the entire Word.
Thus, it is not meant those 'souls' or people who were born from Jacob's the thigh or loins as indicating born from him, but who are born spiritually in the marriage of good and truth or in the marriage of the celestial and spiritual, which are of the Lord's Divine qualities that make man in His image and likeness. The Third Testament teaches that the 'thigh' is where there is the conjunction of spiritual-celestial good, which good is meant by the name 'Israel'. By 'Jacob' is meant natural good. Let us recall that the representative Church is not conjoined spiritually with Heaven since it has not this conjunction. Therefore, by Jacob fighting or wrestling with an angel and his thigh being out of joint and he asking to be blessed signifies that Jacob would be called Israel. Though Israel signified the conjunction of the spiritual-celestial those then living were only the representative Church, for the Lord had not come who was the true Celestial man. We see that the word 'Jacob' and not 'Israel' is used in the text and that is because good and truth in the Natural is here meant. Hadn't the Lord come to earth into the natural in the human to make that conjunction possible though uniting or conjoining His Natural Human with the Divine?
Therefore, first, the true or spiritual Church comes from truths in general - the religious scientifics - and is introduced in its own good. In other words, the spiritual man acknowledges good only through truths, not having perception of truth from good.
Our text ends "And Joseph was in Egypt, signifies that the internal Celestial was in the Natural" (AC 6643). A new, a true or spiritual Church was only possible through the Lord coming, becoming a man on earth. Now, we know that the Divine was within the Lord's natural. We know that it was the Lord who was able to arrange all things so that the man's natural understanding would no longer rule, but the Lord in the rational would through the will in man through the quality of good. It was the internal Celestial of the Lord that ruled in man and that arranges all things in man in their proper order. (Note: with the Lord who came into the Natural the Divine ruled.) In this way, the things of good and truth, the scientifics of faith and charity enter and a rational from the Lord is set over all things of the Church. We see this in, "Joseph (the Celestial) being made lord over the whole land of Egypt, and by his being set over the house of Pharaoh". If the Lord's Celestial is over the Lord's Natural man signified by Egypt, then there is made a conjunction of the Spiritual with the Natural. With the man of the Church this means faith conjoined with charity and these in man becoming of use determines the true Church, which is a spiritual Church in man where scientifics of faith relate to spiritual life, for in living according to true doctrine is true life. By "Joseph" being "set over the house of Pharaoh" is meant the new man, that is, a new natural man that enters the next life. These are the interior things which the Lord (seen as Joseph) has now has arranged in man in proper order, that lead into spiritual and celestial life, if not in this world, then in the next. You can see here it is the natural mind and the rational mind of man that is meant, for that is understood by the word 'house'. By "Pharaoh" is meant the scientifics in general in a good sense in which all men's mind are capable to have.
Our text states that this was represented by these words in Exodus 1: 5 because in the internal sense is the establishment of the spiritual Church and because the natural of man could not become a Church unless the internal Celestial was within and does all things. What is the 'internal Celestial"? Isn't it the internal the good of love and of faith and so, the spiritual man? Of course, the spiritual man is in the light of heaven, which is spiritual light. By 'Celestial' is meant all good, good being of love and charity, thus the Lord being over the natural, even as the Divine had to be over the Natural of the Lord in Truth which became united therewith becoming one.
Amen
We are taught in the Third Testament of a marriage in the Word which reflects the marriage of the Lord with the Church. Such a marriage is seen in the Word from what is now revealed as signifying the Lord and as representing the Church. In other words the Word concerns, first, primarily the Lord but also the Church since the church in man comes only from the Lord and exists in man from the Lord. Here, it is the Church that is clearly revealed as one comes to understands that by 'sons' in the Word is meant truths and truths are what teach and lead the man in whom the Church is. In this case, it is the sons of Israel and by Israel is signified the good that is of truth or what is called spiritual good. Thus, from number 6637 of Arcana C&œ;lestia, we read that the 'sons of Israel' denote spiritual truths, that is, the things of heaven and the Church or the things of love to the Lord and of love in those truths in man that are for the sake of life and, thus such knowledge is kept in the memory by which one can be taught by the Lord that he might come to receive within himself the true Church. Keep in mind that though the natural sense of the Word may treat of the sons of the man whose name was now called Israel, it is here the quality of the Church that is represented since we learn that names in the Word signify qualities and since inwardly the Word is living because of these qualities that are from the Lord which in man are good and truth that when conjoined are of use, that being life. We see the sons of Israel denoted 'spiritual truth' and, of course, this has reference to the New Church, which is a spiritual church, while the natural Church sees only the literal sense. Not to mention that like the disciples, who also were twelve names or qualities that were seen as those of the Christian Church, the sons of Israel were twelve or all the qualities and, so too, were the aggregate or all of the qualities of the true Church. And like man who has both a natural and spiritual, the Church also has both an external and internal. Let us recall that 'Jacob' was blessed and became called 'Israel'; thus, there was a change in the quality signified by truths and goods that were with the natural man making him spiritual and in this case this is signified by the Lord coming on earth, and putting on the Natural, and becoming the Divine Human. However, here, you can see that we have turned from the subject of the Church to the Lord since, as we have shown, there is seen in the Word this marriage of good and truths, and of the Lord and the Church. Thus, it is that the Lord, as to His Natural state, when He came on earth was in that state - the truths within Him were spiritual/celestial - the Divine being within Him. Therefore, the truths of the Church that is here meant were spiritual truths just as the Lord is signified by Israel, referring the Natural state as having come on earth, so too, are the truths of the Church spiritual that is represented here, though those who are in the external of the Church do not see the internal sense.
Because Israel signifies the Lord, and because the Church is a Church from both faith and charity, and because these attributes of truth and good are and come from the Lord, the qualities of the true Church are the good that is from truth, or spiritual good. These with the church are in truth and will and in act and are what cause (spiritual) life. This is seen in the Church as love to the neighbor or charity and there is formed in man a conscience by which he is guided, since these qualities come into man through his natural senses.
Our text AC 6637 reads further, "He who is not in spiritual good, that is, in the good of charity, and in spiritual truths, that is, in the truths of faith, is not in the Church." The Churches before the Lord's New Church were all representative churches, their worship being only representative; they were not a spiritual Church, nor was their doctrine genuine. The reason that those prior churches were not true Churches was because they were not conjoined with heaven, that conjunction being severed. Moreover, the Lord had not yet come and accomplished that conjunction. Continuing again we read, "Those who are not of this character are not of the Church, but are outside of it; and are those who live in evil, thus contrary to doctrine". It is plain from the text what makes a church a true church and it is not because it has the Word or even doctrinals or teachings from the Word; nor is because the Lord is known and where one receives the sacraments. It is only from one living according to the Word, that is, in accordance with the doctrine from the Word. It is also plainly seen in this quote that anyone not in the church is outside of it. We notice there are two classes not in the Church that both live in evil, and thus contrary to doctrine. One, there are those called the Gentiles and the second, those who live even further outside the Church. It is this last group that extinguishes the Church within their selves. While the Gentiles are those who know nothing at all about the Word, the Lord, or sacraments, however, if they have lived a good life while on earth they will be taught in Heaven the true doctrine. It can be seen that while such are outside the Church if they have lived in charity towards the neighbor for the sake of good that in the spiritual world they will be taught and see or understand spiritual truths.
We further read, "It ought to also be known, that every one who lives in the good of charity and faith, is a Church, and that he is a kingdom of the Lord" (AC 6637§2e). It has pointed out that the text describes the true or New Church, which is a spiritual Church, and here this is substantiated when the term 'the good of charity and faith' is more fully understood. Here, can be seen the Church's two states - its internal and its external - the spiritual and natural state of the Church. By the natural Church here does not mean that the true Church is within the man who is not in regeneration, for when the Church is not within man then a man is not of the Church, being outside it. The true Church is with the man who is in regeneration and as such is a spiritual man living in the good of charity and faith. Though they are in differing degrees, the natural doing good from obedience to their love of truths and faith because it is commanded, the spiritual from their love and charity and so receive truths there from. So, one may say, in that respect, there is an internal and an external Church, though both are true or spiritual. Those in the internal Church see the truths of faith, while those in the external Church look from faith to charity.
Now it may appear that anyone can do charity towards the neighbor, the unregenerate as well as the regenerate. However when one sees or understands that the Lord who is the Word teaches that one must become spiritually born again, it may be realized that in order to be in true charity and faith a new will and understanding must be had from the Lord. This is seen possible only in spiritual good, not in natural good, and is called the good of faith, since it is love towards the neighbor and in this the man must have a new will that is from the Lord. Many of the old Christian Churches reject charity accepting only the doctrine of faith alone. Thus the spiritual man's faith is from a new understanding that is also from the Lord. And that understanding has its light from his new will from the Lord, while the nature man has understanding from only this world's light. One sees, then, that only those who are in regeneration can do good or charity towards the neighbor whether they are of the internal or external true or spiritual Church. Thus, it is that the true Church is constituted in those in whom the Church is in no matter how far remote they are from one another.
Let us continue reading about the New Church's quality. "'That came to Egypt with Jacob' signifies after truths had been initiated into scientifics" (AC 6638). It is not just these truths within one that makes the Church a true Church with man, but it is as these truths are introduced into the memory and become in man a new rational from the Lord in him. Here it can be seen that the true Church is a spiritual Church, and that it is to be so in the Natural state, thus, is the true or New Church's progression or establishment with and in man. We can also see that this is the reason why the Lord came on earth and into the Natural (Human) state - so that He might, in His glorification prepare a place in Heaven for them, which is within them. This is done through truths being initiated into scientifics concerning things of charity and faith that the man may serve the spiritual or rational within man from the Lord who there meets the man 'as it were' and from where the Lord reigns.
That preparation with man has not taken place out mercy; a man is not just raised up into heaven where there is spiritual understanding, nor is the true Church initiated into him through mercy where his will is the Lord's will. Its progression is through many assaults by evils and falsities; it must be through purification of these. This of course is seen in the treatment of Israelites by the Egyptians and in these as signifying the Lord's combats against evils in His human that He put on in coming to earth. The truths and goods that make man in an image and likeness of the Lord are treated of here. Earlier we have shown that the knowledge of truths alone or even the doctrine of such truths is not what makes the true Church. But, when the truths that one has are initiated into interior scientifics through the good of love, through good coming from love, then the man's understanding ascends above and thus, into heavenly light.
What is understood spiritually in our text is the Church being established from the goods and truths, from all the things of love and of faith as is signified by the twelve sons of Israel. Now, the Word of the Old Testament has things in that often are understood merely literally and does not make rational sense. (That is why before the New Church came it can be said the Church's faith was not rational.) One such place is here. We read, "and all the souls that went forth out of the thigh of Jacob" (Exodus 1:5). If you understand "out of the thigh' as meaning those sired by Jacob, then from a natural understanding this means not just the sons of Israel, but all those of the tribe or clan of Jacob. Had Jacob sired all those in his household, even the servants and the sons wives? So, how is this "out of the thigh of Jacob" spiritually to be understood? The Third Testament says that "all things which are from general truth because soul generally refers to man" and, in this case, to the man of the spiritual Church. Here, the Third Testament reveals the signification of 'thigh' as conjugial love, or marriage love of man and wife, the man as truth, the wife as good, which two is the basis or fundamental of all loves and can be see in the marriage of good and truth in man and throughout the entire Word.
Thus, it is not meant those 'souls' or people who were born from Jacob's the thigh or loins as indicating born from him, but who are born spiritually in the marriage of good and truth or in the marriage of the celestial and spiritual, which are of the Lord's Divine qualities that make man in His image and likeness. The Third Testament teaches that the 'thigh' is where there is the conjunction of spiritual-celestial good, which good is meant by the name 'Israel'. By 'Jacob' is meant natural good. Let us recall that the representative Church is not conjoined spiritually with Heaven since it has not this conjunction. Therefore, by Jacob fighting or wrestling with an angel and his thigh being out of joint and he asking to be blessed signifies that Jacob would be called Israel. Though Israel signified the conjunction of the spiritual-celestial those then living were only the representative Church, for the Lord had not come who was the true Celestial man. We see that the word 'Jacob' and not 'Israel' is used in the text and that is because good and truth in the Natural is here meant. Hadn't the Lord come to earth into the natural in the human to make that conjunction possible though uniting or conjoining His Natural Human with the Divine?
Therefore, first, the true or spiritual Church comes from truths in general - the religious scientifics - and is introduced in its own good. In other words, the spiritual man acknowledges good only through truths, not having perception of truth from good.
Our text ends "And Joseph was in Egypt, signifies that the internal Celestial was in the Natural" (AC 6643). A new, a true or spiritual Church was only possible through the Lord coming, becoming a man on earth. Now, we know that the Divine was within the Lord's natural. We know that it was the Lord who was able to arrange all things so that the man's natural understanding would no longer rule, but the Lord in the rational would through the will in man through the quality of good. It was the internal Celestial of the Lord that ruled in man and that arranges all things in man in their proper order. (Note: with the Lord who came into the Natural the Divine ruled.) In this way, the things of good and truth, the scientifics of faith and charity enter and a rational from the Lord is set over all things of the Church. We see this in, "Joseph (the Celestial) being made lord over the whole land of Egypt, and by his being set over the house of Pharaoh". If the Lord's Celestial is over the Lord's Natural man signified by Egypt, then there is made a conjunction of the Spiritual with the Natural. With the man of the Church this means faith conjoined with charity and these in man becoming of use determines the true Church, which is a spiritual Church in man where scientifics of faith relate to spiritual life, for in living according to true doctrine is true life. By "Joseph" being "set over the house of Pharaoh" is meant the new man, that is, a new natural man that enters the next life. These are the interior things which the Lord (seen as Joseph) has now has arranged in man in proper order, that lead into spiritual and celestial life, if not in this world, then in the next. You can see here it is the natural mind and the rational mind of man that is meant, for that is understood by the word 'house'. By "Pharaoh" is meant the scientifics in general in a good sense in which all men's mind are capable to have.
Our text states that this was represented by these words in Exodus 1: 5 because in the internal sense is the establishment of the spiritual Church and because the natural of man could not become a Church unless the internal Celestial was within and does all things. What is the 'internal Celestial"? Isn't it the internal the good of love and of faith and so, the spiritual man? Of course, the spiritual man is in the light of heaven, which is spiritual light. By 'Celestial' is meant all good, good being of love and charity, thus the Lord being over the natural, even as the Divine had to be over the Natural of the Lord in Truth which became united therewith becoming one.
Amen
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