Page:The Doctrines of the New Church Briefly Explained.djvu/181

Rh of charity. . . . The life of charity is the essential of worship, and posture and prayer its instrumental; or, the primary part of worship is a life of charity, and its secondary is praying. From which it is evident that they who place all divine worship in oral and not in actual piety, err exceedingly. Actual piety is to act in every work and office from sincerity and rectitude, and according to what is just and equitable; and this, because it is commanded by the Lord in the Word." (Ap. Ex. 325.)

Among all the interesting and sublime disclosures which the Lord has been pleased to make for the use of his New Church, few are more important in a practical point of view, than the doctrine concerning the Divine Providence. Within the whole compass of theological literature, we know of nothing to be compared with Swedenborg's treatise on this subject, either in depth of wisdom, breadth of thought, conclusiveness of reasoning, or capability of satisfying the cravings of both head and heart.

Agreeable to these disclosures, the New Church believes and teaches that there is no such thing as blind chance; that the universe in general, and in all its minutest particulars, is governed by infinite