Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/94

fering as to doctrinals and rituals, either flowing from the above essentials, or leading thereto. Such was the ancient church, which extended itself over several kingdoms, viz., Assyria, Mesopotamia, Syria, Ethiopia, Arabia, Lybia, Egypt, Philistea, even to Tyre and Sidon, through the land of Canaan on each side of Jordan. In each of these kingdoms there was a difference as to doctrinals and rituals, but still the church was one, because charity was essential in all. And then the Lord's kingdom was on earth as in heaven, for such is the nature and constitution of heaven.

Supposing this to be the case, all would be governed as one man by the Lord; for all would be as members and organs of one body, which, although they are not of similar form or function, have nevertheless relation to one heart, on which they all depend, both in general and in particular, be their respective forms ever so various: In this case, too, every one would say of another, in whatsoever doctrine or in whatsoever external worship he might be principled, This is my brother: I see that he worships the Lord, and that he is a good man. (A. C. 2385.)

All the members of the primitive Christian church lived together as brethren, and also called each other brethren, and mutually loved each other. But in process of time charity diminished, and at length vanished away. And as charity vanished, evils succeeded, and with evils falsities also insinuated themselves, whence arose schisms