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THE SWEDENBORG LIBRARY.

CHARITY THE CENTRE OF UNITY.

All doctrines whatsoever, provided they are derived from the Word, are accepted of the Lord, if the person who is principled in them be in the life of charity; for to the life of charity all things which are of the Word may be conjoined. (A. C. 3452.)

With respect to the Lord's kingdom on earth, that is, with respect to his Church, the case is this: that, since it derives its doctrines from the literal sense of the Word, it must needs be various and diverse as to those doctrines; that is, one society will profess one thing to be a truth of faith, because it is so said in the Word, another society will profess another thing, for the same reason; and so on. Consequently the church of the Lord, inasmuch as it derives its doctrines from the literal sense of the Word, will differ in different places; and this difference will not only exist among societies in general, but sometimes among persons in each society.

Nevertheless, a difference in doctrines of faith is no reason why the church should not be one, provided only there be unanimity as to willing and doing what is good. As for example: if any one acknowledges for a doctrine that charity is grounded in faith, and lives in charity towards his neighbor, in this case he is not indeed in the truth as to doctrine, but still he is in the truth as to life; consequently there is in him the Lord's church or kingdom.

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