Page:The Doctrines of the New Church Briefly Explained.djvu/249

Rh that conjunction. Such a thing would be against his very nature. The benevolence of his character is a perpetual guarantee that He will leave none of his intelligent creatures without the means of salvation. There must be, therefore, in every nation and for every people endowed with an immortal nature, some form of religion and worship, and some truths which, if religiously obeyed, will bind the creature to the Creator, and save him from sinking into the realms of darkness. And a complete history of the various religions on earth, or a full account of their doctrinal teachings, would show that such is actually the case; for some vital truths—some simple precepts inculcating a life of charity—would be found interwoven among them all. And obedience to these truths must, therefore, develop some degree of heavenly life in the receiver, and consequently save him in that degree.

Now, what has been revealed through Swedenborg concerning the Heathen in the other world? This will tell what the New Church believes and teaches on this subject. The following brief extracts will show what he teaches, and what the New Church, therefore, believes respecting the salvation of the heathen:

"It is a common opinion that those born out of the church, who are called Heathen or Gentiles, cannot be saved, because they have not the