Page:Swedenborg, Harbinger of the New Age of the Christian Church.djvu/207

 made the former work so voluminous. And from the very beginning of this later work he treats of those of the Christian Church of the first age who on being enlightened are to form the Church in its new age—the New Church of the New Jerusalem, the genuine Christian Church. The descent of the light of the Divine Human presence through heaven effecting the judgment in the world of spirits and for a beginning on this earth, was already bringing this enlightenment and was forming the new heaven.

The part taken in this judgment and enlightenment by Swedenborg's reception of this new light from the inner sense of the Word, with its publication and demonstration from the Word in the letter, is not set forth by him, but may in some degree be inferred. We have seen the doctrine of salvation by faith alone attacked by him from boyhood. It was the dominant power in the Protestant Church of his day, and his attacks which pervaded his theological works aroused the hostility of the Swedish clergy in this world, as well as of the numberless supporters of this doctrine in the world of spirits. Of the virulence with which his demonstration of the falsity of this