Page:The Doctrines of the New Church Briefly Explained.djvu/138

132 it. And he declares that a blind belief is dangerous, and unworthy to be called a belief.

"Shut people's eyes," he says, "stop their ears, that is, induce them not to think from any understanding, and then tell those impressed with some idea of eternal life whatever you will, and they will believe it; yes, even if you should tell them that God can be angry and breathe vengeance; that He can inflict eternal damnation upon any one; that He requires to be moved to pity by his own Son's blood; . . . with other like extravagances. But open your eyes and unstop your ears, that is, think of these things from your understanding, and you will straightway see their utter disagreement with the truth." (D. F. n. 46.)

He says that no one in heaven accepts for truth anything which seems to him unreasonable, or which does not satisfy the demands of his intellect.

"All in heaven see truths with the understanding, and so receive them [that is, rationally]; but what they do not see with the understanding, they do not receive. And if any one says to them that they must have faith, although they neither see nor understand, they turn away, saying: How is that possible? What I see or understand; I believe; but I cannot believe what I do not see nor understand." (Ap. Ex. n. 239. See also D. P. n. 73-88. A. R. 564, 914. Ap. Ex. 1100, 232, 242, 759. D. F. 46, '7, '8. A. C. 5432.)

And throughout his theological writings this illumined teacher vindicates the claims of reason,