True Christian Religion (Chadwick) n. 809

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

809. There are two large cities resembling London, to which most of the English come after death. The first of these I have been allowed to view and walk through. In the middle of the city, where in London is the meeting place of the merchants, is what they call the Exchange; that is where the rulers live. Above this centre is the east, below it the west, on the right side the south, on the left the north. In the eastern quarter live those who have been particularly distinguished by leading charitable lives; there are magnificent palaces there. In the southern quarter live the wise, amid much splendour. In the northern quarter live those who have above others loved freedom of speech and writing. In the western quarter live those who preach justification by faith alone. On the right in this quarter is the entrance to this city, and also the way out; those who live wicked lives are sent out by it. The priests in the west, who teach faith alone, do not dare to enter the city by the main streets, but only through the narrower lanes, since the only inhabitants who are tolerated in that city are those who believe in charity. I heard complaints about the preachers in the west, that they display such skill and eloquence in their elegant sermons, bringing in the dogma of justification by faith which is unknown to their hearers, that they do not know whether good is to be done or not. They preach about faith as intrinsically good, and separate it from the good of charity, which they call merit-seeking and thus is unacceptable to God. But when those who live in the eastern and southern quarters of the city hear such sermons, they leave the churches and afterwards the preachers are deprived of their priestly office.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church