The Establishment of the Church with man or the Internal Presence of the Lord
Known as the Most Ancient Church Part 5
By Rev. Paul Booth
Known as the Most Ancient Church Part 5
By Rev. Paul Booth
Let us further investigate the faith of the Most Ancient Church. First, that faith was from the Lord through love. Next, we seen that there arose in some the desire to separate that faith from love. The man of the celestial Church, as we said, began to change; their faith began being derived from their self-love and not from the Lord's love. This was now their faith a faith that was separated from the Lord's love. We see this when we read, "And the man knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man, Jehovah" (Gen. 4:1). What is meant here is that the doctrine of the Most Ancient Church began to change. The doctrine is the Lord, the goods and truths that are in man. Here, we see that those of the Most Ancient Church conceived a new doctrine. It is a doctrine that separates faith from charity, the doctrine that they now began to acknowledge. The new doctrine is here seen as Cain, who was conceived by those of that Church. As we have shown, faith became separated and acknowledged as a thing by itself. We see this in the fact that Able was also conceived and formed as doctrine in that Church, that is, they also had the doctrine of charity presented to them as well as the doctrine of faith. Thus, the story of Cain killing Able his brother tells of faith killing charity and leads to the doctrine of faith alone. To this we add here, that because of man's eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, that is, because of desiring to know truth from the self, through an external way and not through perception which is an internal way from the Lord, man was sent from his celestial state and life. "Therefore, Jehovah God, sent him forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken" (Gen., 3:23).
Next, we see Cain or "faith", as it were, tilling the ground; however, faith without charity cultivates false doctrine in the Church. Faith was now their first principle and Charity, which was represented as Able, who was a shepherd of the flock, was the second principle of the Church. The Lord is the Good Shepherd and the flock is the Church. What is it that grows and is produced out of ground? Isn't it truths? Aren't seeds of truth planted in 'ground' within man? Now, if the truth now comes from self and not the Lord, then instead of truth drawing him to the Lord, falsities turn him away from the Lord, and the man loves his self more than he does the Lord. Remember, when Jehovah God put man into the garden to till it and take care of it? The affections of goods brought forth the truths and there were delights to them. Now it is not easy tilling or cultivating and instead of truth falsities are grown. Hence, the statement, "Therefore, Jehovah God, sent him (Adam or man) forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken" (Gen. 3:23). When the crop is finally gathered not only does one have a false doctrine instead of a true doctrine, but also, he does not have good or charity from the Lord, and what he thinks as good and true are only apparent good and truths. Remember that the celestial man was conjoined to the Lord through love or charity. Thus, Able's offering was accepted by the Lord, for he brought the "firstlings (or firstborn) of the flock" to the Lord. The firstborn is, of course, meant the Lord, that is, His Love. It is the Divine's first love and the only begotten.
The doctrine of the Most Ancient Church became one of 'faith' alone and, as such, it was not a true faith or a genuine doctrine. Love is opposite to anger, which is without or devoid of charity. The posterity of the celestial or Heavenly man began to change from being celestial to becoming natural and we see that their "faces fell" (Gen. 4:5). With the celestial man, like the angels, their faces reflect what is within, like a smile of a child when they have inward joy or a frown when they are sad. The disposition of a man's mind reflects through the face. The change was from love to evil, from truth to false.
Next, we see that the Lord still had love for this Church in man even though it had divided charity from faith, and those who, now, thought that faith was first and foremost, could still become conjoined with the Lord. And, Jehovah God could instruct them, explaining what they must do. "If thou doest well, is there not an uplifting? There is also a warning. "And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door" (Gen. 4: 6). What had happen to the celestial man was that the order had now changed. Truths no longer entered through his will or through in internal way, but through the understanding, which is an external way. Yet, through faith one can have charity, for, spiritual good acts that enters the natural mind or understanding can be obeyed. We see that the Most Ancient Church's posterity developed faith and their faith became more essential than love, thus the love of self became confirmed by doctrine, which became their main intent, instead of love to the Lord, which we learned was the true doctrine of the Heavenly man of the Most Ancient Church. Their faith became separated from love or charity and faith began to rule over charity. Mankind now became led by their evil wills, which was now inherited; though mankind thinks his decisions are rational. The faith that he has is now not a true faith. This is easy confirmed when you see that the truth one believes is the light that shines for one to understand. If what you believe is true is really a lie, then how much light is that 'so called' truth? It is indeed very little light. Again, unless there is a flame or charity there is no light. So, now, the man of the Most Ancient Church gradually became natural and corporeal and the light he had became darkness and the heat or flame of love turned to evil.
The doctrine became false, and faith wanted to extinguish all charity and a struggle arose between faith and charity in that Church. Thus, that Church ended in vastation, devoid of any love, as did all the Proceeding Churches, up until the establishment of the Lord's New Church. "And Cain spake to Able his brother; and it came to pass when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Able his brother and slew him" (Gen. 4:8). The doctrine was now faith alone, for faith killed charity. Faith is the brother of charity; and they should live together. In fact, when they live together in a man, the man is conjoined with the Lord. But, now, how can they live together when faith wishes to kill charity? Here, we need to see that faith (the truths) instructs us and we need to follow or do what truth or the Lord teaches. We see that the Lord taught that, "Whosoever hears these sayings of mine, (truths of faith) and does them, (does charity) I will liken to a wise man. And everyone that hears these saying of mine, and does them not, (separates faith from charity) shall be like a foolish man" (Matt. 7:24,26).
The doctrine of the Most Ancient Church became more distorted and in time the celestial man descended into the natural state, cut-off 'as it were' from the Lord; they became sensual and corporeal. They thought charity was nothing. The result was that they cursed themselves and heresies were then taught-not truths. By putting faith first in their life their doctrine became faith alone or faith separated from charity, and the truths that now come to them through their own understanding are now what they see as only appearances of truth. Before, their decline, truth or faith was through love to the Lord and they perceived that truth was, now, they must learn what is the truth as we do. "When thou tillest the ground, (that is, cultivates heresies) it shall not henceforth yield unto to thee its strength&…;." In other words, faith alone is barren. (Gen. 4:12).
At first, those in the Most Ancient Church knew that they had sinned and so were disparate. Some good still remained with those in that Church when they first began to enter this new state. Later, it can be seen that what good remained perished, for as we said, faith alone kills charity. Their desperation is seen in, "Behold, thou has cast me out this day from the faces of the ground, and from Thy faces shall I be hid&…;. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth" (Gen. 4:14). A man knows that from self there is nothing good; the celestial man knew that good and truth come from the Lord. What had conjoined them to the Lord was now broken; their love was, now, turned to themselves and their only faith came from knowing scientifics that they learn without the Lord's love. "Where there is no charity, there is disjunction, and where man is left to himself or to his proprium" (AC 389).
When the celestial man turned to his proprium, he no long remained innocent and turned from the Lord's interior teaching. He no longer perceived, but he could develop a conscience and this by believing the Word of the Lord and by so doing, he believes truth for truths sake. At first the Word of God was transferred by word of mouth to the posterity of the Most Ancient Church. Later they were written down. Thus, was faith preserved for mankind, for from faith a man can now become reformed and the order reversed back through a man's will and so he can receive charity or the Lord's love again. Such a man is in regeneration. We can understand this in that the Church is bound to the Lord through the first and great commandments, which is a commandment to respect others with love, and, thus, not to kill faith within man. "And Jehovah set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should smite him" (Gen. 4:15).
The understanding of the celestial man was no longer of his will and his understanding was not united with it. The Lord was not looked to and the Lord's will did not reign in man, but the understanding did; faith instead of love reigned now in a man. This process continued in the posterity of the Most Ancient Church and each succeeding doctrine derived in the man of that Church further declined into falsities. The process of bringing forth or acknowledging something new from self continued until man was nothing but falsity and evil and was vastated of any good and truth. Schism or heresy was begot one after another. We see this in the words that Cain "built a city and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch" (Gen. 4:17). The city refers to doctrine even as it can be seen that the New Church that now descends is called Nova Hierosolyma or New Jerusalem that is descending to men on earth.
There are two principles that the Church declined into after its falsities and evils were vastated. These are the remains that were hid within the posterity of the Most Ancient Church, which were later to become the Ancient Church. The first is the celestial and spiritual things of faith and the second is their natural things. The internal that are the celestial and spiritual are now to born again from the remains that were stored within man. They could now come out; they could be conceived and become born or brought forth when the evils and their falsities have been vastated. The Church could begin anew with mankind, however the natural or external things, which did not exist with him before, were now applied to internal things, not to the external things of self or proprium or to worldly things as the worldly and corporeal man applied them.
Again, the vastation of the Most Ancient Church is seen in Lemech when he said to his two wives, "I have slain a man to my wounding, and a little one to my hurt. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lemech seventy and seven" (Gen. 4: 23,24). Now, not only was faith separated, but also charity was devastated with the man of the Most Ancient Church, and thus, that Church ended. However, we know that a new Church rose up as we have said that the Lord in man could again be seen, even as every man has celestial and spiritual good and truth within and this can be opened and the Lord communicate directly with that person. A man can have the true doctrine and follow it. "And the man (Homo) knew his wife again&…;." This we know signifies a new Church. "And she bare a son and called his name Seth," We learn that this son (called Seth) signify a new charity, for the son 'Able' was slain. "God hath provided another seed instead of Able for Cain slew him." This we can understand is charity provided in man. Seth, as that new charity, is through that faith from which charity now comes. It is because the doctrine is to regard charity the chief thing, not faith, that charity now can come to man.
"And to Seth to him also there was born a son, and he called his name, Enosh. Then began they to call upon the name of Jehovah" (Gen. 4:26). The difference between this new Church and the Most Ancient Church is that the man of the Most Ancient Church was celestial or Heavenly while the man of this new Church was human spiritual. His human was rational and from the Lord. Enosh also means man, but unlike Adam, it is a mortal man that is meant and not an eternal man. Remember that death had entered man. Though the Celestial Church ended, a new Spiritual Church was being established with man in the doctrine that now was from a faith in the Lord and from the Word as it was past down to them.
End.
Next, we see Cain or "faith", as it were, tilling the ground; however, faith without charity cultivates false doctrine in the Church. Faith was now their first principle and Charity, which was represented as Able, who was a shepherd of the flock, was the second principle of the Church. The Lord is the Good Shepherd and the flock is the Church. What is it that grows and is produced out of ground? Isn't it truths? Aren't seeds of truth planted in 'ground' within man? Now, if the truth now comes from self and not the Lord, then instead of truth drawing him to the Lord, falsities turn him away from the Lord, and the man loves his self more than he does the Lord. Remember, when Jehovah God put man into the garden to till it and take care of it? The affections of goods brought forth the truths and there were delights to them. Now it is not easy tilling or cultivating and instead of truth falsities are grown. Hence, the statement, "Therefore, Jehovah God, sent him (Adam or man) forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken" (Gen. 3:23). When the crop is finally gathered not only does one have a false doctrine instead of a true doctrine, but also, he does not have good or charity from the Lord, and what he thinks as good and true are only apparent good and truths. Remember that the celestial man was conjoined to the Lord through love or charity. Thus, Able's offering was accepted by the Lord, for he brought the "firstlings (or firstborn) of the flock" to the Lord. The firstborn is, of course, meant the Lord, that is, His Love. It is the Divine's first love and the only begotten.
The doctrine of the Most Ancient Church became one of 'faith' alone and, as such, it was not a true faith or a genuine doctrine. Love is opposite to anger, which is without or devoid of charity. The posterity of the celestial or Heavenly man began to change from being celestial to becoming natural and we see that their "faces fell" (Gen. 4:5). With the celestial man, like the angels, their faces reflect what is within, like a smile of a child when they have inward joy or a frown when they are sad. The disposition of a man's mind reflects through the face. The change was from love to evil, from truth to false.
Next, we see that the Lord still had love for this Church in man even though it had divided charity from faith, and those who, now, thought that faith was first and foremost, could still become conjoined with the Lord. And, Jehovah God could instruct them, explaining what they must do. "If thou doest well, is there not an uplifting? There is also a warning. "And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door" (Gen. 4: 6). What had happen to the celestial man was that the order had now changed. Truths no longer entered through his will or through in internal way, but through the understanding, which is an external way. Yet, through faith one can have charity, for, spiritual good acts that enters the natural mind or understanding can be obeyed. We see that the Most Ancient Church's posterity developed faith and their faith became more essential than love, thus the love of self became confirmed by doctrine, which became their main intent, instead of love to the Lord, which we learned was the true doctrine of the Heavenly man of the Most Ancient Church. Their faith became separated from love or charity and faith began to rule over charity. Mankind now became led by their evil wills, which was now inherited; though mankind thinks his decisions are rational. The faith that he has is now not a true faith. This is easy confirmed when you see that the truth one believes is the light that shines for one to understand. If what you believe is true is really a lie, then how much light is that 'so called' truth? It is indeed very little light. Again, unless there is a flame or charity there is no light. So, now, the man of the Most Ancient Church gradually became natural and corporeal and the light he had became darkness and the heat or flame of love turned to evil.
The doctrine became false, and faith wanted to extinguish all charity and a struggle arose between faith and charity in that Church. Thus, that Church ended in vastation, devoid of any love, as did all the Proceeding Churches, up until the establishment of the Lord's New Church. "And Cain spake to Able his brother; and it came to pass when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Able his brother and slew him" (Gen. 4:8). The doctrine was now faith alone, for faith killed charity. Faith is the brother of charity; and they should live together. In fact, when they live together in a man, the man is conjoined with the Lord. But, now, how can they live together when faith wishes to kill charity? Here, we need to see that faith (the truths) instructs us and we need to follow or do what truth or the Lord teaches. We see that the Lord taught that, "Whosoever hears these sayings of mine, (truths of faith) and does them, (does charity) I will liken to a wise man. And everyone that hears these saying of mine, and does them not, (separates faith from charity) shall be like a foolish man" (Matt. 7:24,26).
The doctrine of the Most Ancient Church became more distorted and in time the celestial man descended into the natural state, cut-off 'as it were' from the Lord; they became sensual and corporeal. They thought charity was nothing. The result was that they cursed themselves and heresies were then taught-not truths. By putting faith first in their life their doctrine became faith alone or faith separated from charity, and the truths that now come to them through their own understanding are now what they see as only appearances of truth. Before, their decline, truth or faith was through love to the Lord and they perceived that truth was, now, they must learn what is the truth as we do. "When thou tillest the ground, (that is, cultivates heresies) it shall not henceforth yield unto to thee its strength&…;." In other words, faith alone is barren. (Gen. 4:12).
At first, those in the Most Ancient Church knew that they had sinned and so were disparate. Some good still remained with those in that Church when they first began to enter this new state. Later, it can be seen that what good remained perished, for as we said, faith alone kills charity. Their desperation is seen in, "Behold, thou has cast me out this day from the faces of the ground, and from Thy faces shall I be hid&…;. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth" (Gen. 4:14). A man knows that from self there is nothing good; the celestial man knew that good and truth come from the Lord. What had conjoined them to the Lord was now broken; their love was, now, turned to themselves and their only faith came from knowing scientifics that they learn without the Lord's love. "Where there is no charity, there is disjunction, and where man is left to himself or to his proprium" (AC 389).
When the celestial man turned to his proprium, he no long remained innocent and turned from the Lord's interior teaching. He no longer perceived, but he could develop a conscience and this by believing the Word of the Lord and by so doing, he believes truth for truths sake. At first the Word of God was transferred by word of mouth to the posterity of the Most Ancient Church. Later they were written down. Thus, was faith preserved for mankind, for from faith a man can now become reformed and the order reversed back through a man's will and so he can receive charity or the Lord's love again. Such a man is in regeneration. We can understand this in that the Church is bound to the Lord through the first and great commandments, which is a commandment to respect others with love, and, thus, not to kill faith within man. "And Jehovah set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should smite him" (Gen. 4:15).
The understanding of the celestial man was no longer of his will and his understanding was not united with it. The Lord was not looked to and the Lord's will did not reign in man, but the understanding did; faith instead of love reigned now in a man. This process continued in the posterity of the Most Ancient Church and each succeeding doctrine derived in the man of that Church further declined into falsities. The process of bringing forth or acknowledging something new from self continued until man was nothing but falsity and evil and was vastated of any good and truth. Schism or heresy was begot one after another. We see this in the words that Cain "built a city and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch" (Gen. 4:17). The city refers to doctrine even as it can be seen that the New Church that now descends is called Nova Hierosolyma or New Jerusalem that is descending to men on earth.
There are two principles that the Church declined into after its falsities and evils were vastated. These are the remains that were hid within the posterity of the Most Ancient Church, which were later to become the Ancient Church. The first is the celestial and spiritual things of faith and the second is their natural things. The internal that are the celestial and spiritual are now to born again from the remains that were stored within man. They could now come out; they could be conceived and become born or brought forth when the evils and their falsities have been vastated. The Church could begin anew with mankind, however the natural or external things, which did not exist with him before, were now applied to internal things, not to the external things of self or proprium or to worldly things as the worldly and corporeal man applied them.
Again, the vastation of the Most Ancient Church is seen in Lemech when he said to his two wives, "I have slain a man to my wounding, and a little one to my hurt. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lemech seventy and seven" (Gen. 4: 23,24). Now, not only was faith separated, but also charity was devastated with the man of the Most Ancient Church, and thus, that Church ended. However, we know that a new Church rose up as we have said that the Lord in man could again be seen, even as every man has celestial and spiritual good and truth within and this can be opened and the Lord communicate directly with that person. A man can have the true doctrine and follow it. "And the man (Homo) knew his wife again&…;." This we know signifies a new Church. "And she bare a son and called his name Seth," We learn that this son (called Seth) signify a new charity, for the son 'Able' was slain. "God hath provided another seed instead of Able for Cain slew him." This we can understand is charity provided in man. Seth, as that new charity, is through that faith from which charity now comes. It is because the doctrine is to regard charity the chief thing, not faith, that charity now can come to man.
"And to Seth to him also there was born a son, and he called his name, Enosh. Then began they to call upon the name of Jehovah" (Gen. 4:26). The difference between this new Church and the Most Ancient Church is that the man of the Most Ancient Church was celestial or Heavenly while the man of this new Church was human spiritual. His human was rational and from the Lord. Enosh also means man, but unlike Adam, it is a mortal man that is meant and not an eternal man. Remember that death had entered man. Though the Celestial Church ended, a new Spiritual Church was being established with man in the doctrine that now was from a faith in the Lord and from the Word as it was past down to them.
End.
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