Page:The Doctrines of the New Church Briefly Explained.djvu/134

128 Truth, indeed, is important, but only as a means to this great end; and the higher and purer the truth we accept, the higher and more blessed the state of life to which we may attain—shall attain if we religiously obey the truth.

But religious truth, according to the teachings of the New Church—no matter how pure, exalted, or abundant it be—is of no advantage to the receiver, unless he make it the means of restraining and overcoming in himself his selfish and infernal propensities, and developing the higher and nobler life; and this he does only by faithfully living or doing the truth—following whithersoever it points the way, and shunning, as a sin against God, whatever evil the truth condemns. Hundreds of passages confirmatory of this, might be quoted from the writings of Swedenborg; but three or four brief extracts will serve for illustration. Bear in mind that every one's character is according to the state of his heart or the nature of his dominant love—the ruling purpose of his life.

"Charity constitutes the church, and not faith separate from charity." (A. C. n. 3121. See also n. 809, 916, 1798, 1799, 1834, 1844, 2190, 2228, 2442.) And "Genuine charity is to believe in the Lord, and to act justly and rightly in every employment and office. That man, therefore, who from the Lord loves justice and practices it with judgment, is charity in its image and likeness." (T. C. R. n. 449.)