A major book to understand the Swedenborgian movement (or Swedenborgian "moment") ... ... XIXth century Church History... Swedenborg... Swedenborgians... New Church...
OATHOLICITY 01' THE NEW CHURCH; AND BY ll. 1<'. BARRE'rr, Author of U Lectures on tho New Dispensatlon," The Golden Rl?eu , t1 U U U Beauty for AsheB/' The Vit:dblo Church," at Dlnding and Loosing," Letten to Henry Ward Boocher on U the DIvine Trinity," &c• •1 The religioD oC Jesua Cbrlst i. not:L creed, but a Hrc."-RonERTSO:f. NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY MASON BROTHERS. BOSTON: MASON &. HAVLIN. LOSDOll: FRED. PITlllAN', PATERNOSTER Row. 1863.
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1.OATHOLICITY01' THE NEW CHURCH; AND BYll. 1IISU){ENTFRQ)! ALL
OUR CHURCHES; A~D WHO FEEL IT TO BE A Rf:LIGIOUS DUTY TO REGARDAND
TRF:AT AS BRETHRE:>I, ALL WHO HAVETIlE MASTER'S SPIRIT, AND
HUMBLY STRIVE TO DO HIS WILL;TlIESK PAGES ARE AFFKCnO;';ATELY
l~ocmU~D,BY .97/,(} stutMr. 4. PREFACE.SECTARIANISM: has been the
bane of the Christian Church, al most from its commencement till
the present hour. And although it is less virulent now than
formerly, it still hovers around our ecclesiastical assemblics,
eaus.ing its dark shadow to be seen and its malign influence to be
folt in nearly all our churches. It is an evil tree, whose fruit is
altogether eorrupt. And all who would honor the Master, should be
eager to lay the axe to the root of this tree.I do not mean that
Sects should cease to exist; or that Christ's followers should be
all organized under onc name, or all profess the same creed, unless
that creed be exLremely brief and simple. This is not to be
expected-nor is it even desirable. Variety is observ able
everywhere in the material universe. It is stamped on all things
here below. 'We see it throughout the whole realm of na tnre; alike
in the stars above and in the earth beneath; in beasts and birds,
in forests and fields, in mountains and clouds, in fishes and
flowers. 'Why, then, should there not be a similar vari ety in the
moral univcrse ? 'Vhy shouhl not the Church of Christ present an
example of variety in nnity, as conspicuous, at least, as the trees
that adorn a landscape or the flowers that beautify a garden? Vhy
should there not be. as much diversity among the follovers of the
Lord Jesns-diversity in doctrine and ritual, as well as in kinu and
degree of goodness-as there is among the members and organs of the
human body? 'And why, with such diversity, may they not all be
nnited to their true and living Head,-be bound as closely and
lovingly to each other, and work as harmoniously together, as the
'arious bodily members? May wc not expecL that such will be the
case, when the lif~ of Christ 5. 6 PREFlCE. sh:!ll descend into the
churches with increascd powcr antI fulIlCSS, and His spirit begin
to flood the hearts of His pcople ?The apostle, I think, justifies
such expectation, whcn he sa)'s, that" tho body is not ono member,
but many"; and that there onght to be "no schism in tho body, but
the members should have thc same care one of another." A more
beautiful illustration than this, of variety in unity, cannot be
conceived. For what more various in form ami function, than the
multitudinous parts of the human body? Yet how admirably are
tbeyall combined in one, and with what perfect hannony do they work
together, each rejoicing or suffering with all the rest! This
illustrates Paul's idea of the church of Christ; for he adds: "Now
ye arc the body of Christ, and mcmbers in particular." It is also
Swcdenborg's oft repeated illustration of the Lord's kingdom in
heaven as well as on earth. His whole doctrine concerning the
"Grand Man," is but an amplification of the same idea.But to this
enlarged and catholic "iew of the church, Sectarian ism is forever
opposed. It. is unable to see how unity can co-exist with variety.
It regards diversity as incompatible with harmony. In its own
nature contracted and anti-Christian, it cannot admitthat there is
any truth outside of its own formulas, or any good ness different
from its own variety, or any church wider than its own communion.
It makesits own creed the measure of all othe.., and approves or
condemnsaecording as theysqua.re orfai! to square with this assumed
standard. It neVer invites to independent and manly thought, or
free and earnest inquiry; for it knows that va riets-some degree of
doctrinal difference-must inevitably result from this. On the
contrary, it seeks by "arious arts and endless machinery-by pains
and penalties, church censures and with drawal of fellowship--to
discourage and repress free thought, andcompel a dead uniformit).
Sectarianism, therefore, isas unfriendlyto religious progress as it
is to Christian union. Its spirit i the spirit of anti-Christ-not
large, loving, generous, and all-embra cing, but narrow, ~elfish,
conceited and unprogressive.What, then, is the remedy for this
great evil? I know of nonebetter than the stC