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 after such an announcement; and by not one congregation in a hundred would he be retained, and if he were it would be by a bare majority. Thus would discord, strife, and division be produced where all had been unity, harmony, and peace. And this would be in direct violation of the plain teaching of the Writings. These tell us that a minister ought to search the Word—using, of course, all the helps to a right interpretation of it within his reach—to see if the doctrinals of his church or creed be correct; and if he finds they are not, he should reject them and accept and teach the truth, but take care to do it in such a way as not to disturb his congregation or church.

"Doctrinals," says Swedenborg, "are not true because men of eminence in the church have said so. . . . When this exploration of the Word is made from the affection of truth, the man is enlightened by the Lord to perceive what is true, and is confirmed therein according to the good in which he is principled. If these truths [found by searching] disagree with the doctrinals or creed of his denomination], let him take care not to disturb the church." (A. C. 6047.)

No teaching could be plainer than this. Every minister knows perfectly well, that, on account of the intense but blind prejudice against Swedenborg in nearly every Christian community, he could not announce his acceptance of this man's