new church life: september/october 2017
the sense of the words. Concerning the things before us, which appear
so obscure to man, the angels have ideas so clear and distinct, and
enriched with so many representations, that were only a small part of
them described, they would fill a volume.”
• “For there is absolutely nothing in the Word that has not what is
Divine within it, or that does not possess an internal sense.” (Arcana
Coelestia 1988) Does this not apply also to the Writings, which the
General Church holds to be the Word? Further, what is the relevance
of this statement to Dr. Mansfield’s decision to omit sections of Arcana
Coelestia from his books on the grounds that they are not part of the
continuous internal sense?
Regarding the above, it seems that this is a subject of great importance both for
myself and the whole reading church community, which requires considerable
study. It might well be that there are different views, each of which is significant
and appropriate for different people, depending particularly on his/her state
and the needs that the Lord sees for each individual at any particular time.
Writer’s name removed from online edition per his request.
Canberra, Australia
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.
LOVE TO THE LORD
Here we have another term which expresses a concept peculiar to the Writings and
strikingly at variance with the one held in the world. It does not mean love of the Lord’s
person on account of His example, sufferings and death on the cross, but love of the Divine
things that are in Him and from Him. Thus the term does not refer to a personal affection
such as is implicit in the evangelical Christian idea of the Lord as Companion, Elder Brother
and Friend, but to a love that is spiritual in origin and extension – believing in and loving the
Lord’s precepts and loving and doing in sincerity what is good. (See Apocalypse Revealed 903;
Heaven and Hell 278)
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