Page:The Other Life.djvu/178

 covered by those who will give the matter a patient and candid investigation.

The apostolic writings, however, are of great theological value. They have subserved an important use in the first Christian Church, and will ever be referred to under the New Dispensation, as only of less importance than the veritable Word of God. Swedenborg's estimate of their character is thus given:

"In regard to the writings of Paul and the other apostles, I have not given them a place in the Arcana Cœlestia, because they are dogmatic writings merely, and not written in the style of the Word, as are those of the Prophets, of David, of the Evangelists and the Revelation of St. John. The style of the Word consists throughout in correspondences, and thence effects an immediate communication with heaven; but the style of these dogmatic writings is quite different, having indeed communication with heaven, but only mediately or indirectly."

"The reason why the apostles wrote in this style was, that the new Christian Church had to make its beginning through them; consequently the style used in the Word would not have been proper for such doctrinal tenets, which required plain and