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saying that he has only included the internal sense .
It is sad that Dr . Mansfield seeks to dismiss my comments by saying that I haven ’ t read his books . One does not need to . The comments by him , Bishop Buss and Mr . Beiswenger all state clearly that Dr . Mansfield has omitted those parts of the Writings which he has determined are not the internal sense or do not have an internal sense .
One can only conclude that both Bishop Buss and Dr . Mansfield are able to determine what is the internal sense and what may be omitted . Or are they both saying that the Writings in the naked natural letter have no spiritual or celestial sense but , in the earthly sense of the letter are only the internal sense of the Bible , the same for us humans as for those in heaven ? Or are they suggesting that only parts of the Writings have an internal sense or are the internal sense , in which case , those other parts cannot be regarded as the Word , and the parts that Dr . Mansfield has omitted are not part of the Word ?
In addition , Dr . Mansfield suggests that what he has done is no more than what ministers do all the time . I would suggest that what ministers do is not the same . Ministers , as far as I am aware , do not suggest in their sermons or elsewhere that passages they quote do not have an internal sense . They draw doctrine from the Writings and attempt to explain the meaning of various passages . Dr . Mansfield , on the other hand , has decided that some parts of the Writings are not part of the internal sense . That is an entirely different matter – a man doing exactly what the Writings tell us we are unable to do .
I was surprised by his sweeping judgment that the reason for my expressed views is because I am unhappy “ with any manipulation of the Writings in any way .” How would he know what is in my mind ? I have clearly stated my concerns with his work . And , if “ manipulation ” includes changes to what the Lord has given us , then should not every New Churchman fight for the integrity of the Word ?
The Lord has told us that every jot and tittle of every word is holy and has a meaning seen by the angels . Given that our reading of the Word conjoins heaven and earth and the angels see the internal sense of the Word when we read it , it is vital that we do not manipulate the Word . It would seem that Dr . Mansfield does not object to manipulation . Are the Writings not the Word ? If one edits the Writings or decides that some parts do not form part of the internal sense , then one is not maintaining the “ essential internal sense ” or its continuity .
In my original letter all I was saying was that the Word of the Second Coming states clearly that only the angels and regenerate men are able to see the internal sense of the Word and that the General Church needs to tread with great care before accepting that a person may decide which parts of the Arcana have an internal sense .
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