VII

They who are in faith separated from charity, are represented in the Word by the Philistines

In the Word, by all the names of nations and peoples, as well as of persons and places, are signified things relating to the Church. The Church itself is signified by Israel and Judah, because it was established among their people; and various religious persuasions are signified by the nations and peoples round about them, the religions in harmony with the Church itself being signified by the good nations, and those not in harmony, by the wicked nations.

There are two evil religious persuasions into which every Church degenerates in course of time, one which adulterates its good principles and the other which falsifies its truths. That religion which adulterates the goods of the Church derives its origin from the love of rule; and the other, which falsifies the truths of the Church, derives its origin from the pride of self- intelligence. The religious persuasion which derives its origin from the love of rule, is meant in the Word by Babylon; and the religious persuasion which derives its origin from the pride of self-intelligence, is meant in the Word by Philistia. It is well known who they of Babylon are at the present day; but it is not known who they of Philistia are. They are of Philistia who are in faith and not in charity.