Page:Swedenborgs Maximus Homo.pdf/79

 succeeding the Last Judgment, which is contrary to the oft-repeated teaching of the Writings. But we are assured that there was a church during that period—a church signified by the New Jerusalem—and that it "increased daily" on earth as it did in the spiritual world. And the ordinances of Baptism and the Holy Supper then administered were, therefore, valid Christian ordinances.

We are further taught in the Apocalypse Revealed that the New Church is to "tarry among those who are in the doctrine of faith separate from charity" until it grows to its fullness or maturity; that it will be protected against "the subtle reasonings of those who are principled in faith separate from charity," and will be helped in its growth and development by those who are of the Church [or visible organization] which is not in truth. This, it is said, is what is meant by the words, "and the earth helped the woman."

"It is said that the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, and afterward that she got the wings of an eagle and flew to her own place; by which is meant that the Church which is called the New Jerusalem is to tarry among those who are in the doctrine of faith separate from charity until it grows to its fullness. . . . But in that Church there are dragons who separate faith from good works, not only in doctrine, but also in life;