Page:A Compendium of the Chief Doctrines of the True Christian Religion.djvu/150

146 general and particular government of societies. By the Lord's saying, that in the last times there would be wars, and then nation would rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and that there would be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places, Matt. xxiv. 6, 7, is not however signified, that such things would take place in the natural world, but events corresponding thereto in the spiritual world: for the prophetical parts of the Word do not treat of the kingdoms and nations on earth, nor consequently of their wars; neither do they treat of famine, pestilence, and earthquakes in this world, but of such things as correspond thereto in the spiritual world, the nature of which may be seen explained in art. XLIV. on the Divine Science of Correspondences.

But with regard to the state of the church, that will not be exactly the same as heretofore: it will be similar indeed as to external appearance, but dissimilar as to internal. In respect to the external appearance, there will be distinct and separate churches as before, their various doctrines will be taught as before, and there will be the like religious worship among the Gentiles. But men are and will hereafter be in a freer state of thinking about matters of faith, consequently about the spiritual things of heaven, inasmuch as spiritual liberty is now restored; as must be evident to every person, who will take the trouble of comparing the present state of religious society with what it was some years ago, that is, previous to the accomplishment of the last judgment, and the commencement of the New Jerusalem. Neither is it likely that any body of men, calling themselves ministers and propagators of the gospel of Jesus Christ, would at this day sit down, and deliberately draw up, and afterwards publish to the world, such detestable