Page:Swedenborg, Harbinger of the New Age of the Christian Church.djvu/116

 Observing now that this is not the place to explain the nature of the connection by the nexus, he stops to consider the difficulty which may be felt as to the condition of those who have not learned and believed in the Messiah. He concludes that though the coming of the Messiah is the essential means of salvation, yet "those who did not know and do not know that He has come, could and can become partakers by the grace of God through His coming; for otherwise we should suppose something in God that would seem at variance with His Divine nature and end. But as for those who know the Messiah, or have the opportunity to know Him, we say that they too are made partakers through His coming; but the knowledge also of His coming is necessary to them in order to their faith, for the quality of faith is determined by knowledge, and its perception rendered distinct and full; and therefore where knowledge is given, it and faith are inseparable."

The summing up of our author's argument is as follows: "Observe what we have gained. We have the affirmation of reason for the existence of God, and also for His Infinity; and as this is