The Rt. Rev. Brian W. Keith is Executive Bishop of the General
Church, General Pastor of the General Church, Chancellor of
the Academy of the New Church, and President of the General
Church in Canada, the General Church in South Africa and of
the General Church International, Incorporated. He lives with
his wife, Gretchen (Umberger), in Bryn Athyn. Contact: Brian.
[email protected].
O U R N E W C H U RC H V O C A B U L A R Y
Part of a continuing series developed by the Rev. W. Cairns Henderson, 1961-1966.
FREEDOM
Because of the difference between heavenly and infernal freedom, some have had
difficulty in framing a comprehensive definition of this term. The Writings overcome this
difficulty, however, and supply one which covers every kind of freedom by saying that
freedom is to think and will from affection, and to act from liberty according to what seems
to be reason.
If these are heavenly, the freedom is heavenly, real, and what is called freedom itself; if
they are infernal, it is infernal freedom, only apparent, and actually non-freedom.
The difference is that in the former man is led gently by the Lord according to his
affections; in the latter he is driven roughly by infernal spirits according to their affections.
Note that freedom which is essential for regeneration is spiritual – freedom to will and
think; freedom to do evil and speak falsity is rightly limited. Note also that freedom goes
hand in hand with rationality, for which reason it cannot exist until man is of the age at which
rationality begins. (See True Christian Religion 489; Arcana Coelestia 4130, 5786.)
GENERALS, PARTICULARS AND SINGULARS
The use of these terms in the Writings is indicated by the teaching that the body, external
sense and action are generals, the natural mind and the things that belong to it are particulars,
while the rational mind and all that pertain to it are singulars.
It is according to Divine order that there should be generals and particulars, and that
both should be together in every single thing; otherwise particulars cannot exist. In the case
of man, particulars must be surrounded by generals to subsist. (See Arcana Coelestia 4345;
True Christian Religion 775.)
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