Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 1.djvu/232

 among the good. All those, therefore, who can imitate spiritual life in externals, and present it to appearance in a moral life as if it were really within, whatever they may be as to love and faith in internals, are preserved; as are those also who have outward though they have not inward sanctity. Such were many of that people, for they could discourse piously with the vulgar, and adore the Lord devotionally with them; could implant religion in their minds, and lead them to think of heaven and hell, and could uphold them in doing good by preaching works.

Thus they were enabled to lead numbers to a life of good, and therefore into the way to heaven; on which account also many of that religion were saved, although few of their leaders,—the leaders being such as the Lord means by "false prophets who come in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves" (Matt. vii. 15). By prophets in the internal sense of the Word, are meant those who teach truth and lead to good by means of it; and by false prophets, those who teach the false and seduce by means of it. They are also like the scribes and pharisees, described by the Lord in Matt, xxiii. 1-34.

Another reason, moreover, why they were there tolerated was, that every man after death retains the religion he has imbibed in the world; into which therefore, when he first comes into the other life, he is yielded up. Now with this people the religious