May 17, 2019

ECCLESIASTICAL and CIVIL GOVERNMENT (pt. 10)

The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
Emanuel Swedenborg
Doctrinal Series
ECCLESIASTICAL and CIVIL GOVERNMENT
(pt. 10)


Royalty consists in administering according to the laws of the realm and in judging according to them from justice.

The king who regards the laws as above himself is wise, but he who regards himself as above the laws is not wise.

The king who regards the laws as above himself places the royalty in the law, and the law has dominion over him, for he knows that the law is justice, and that all justice which is justice is Divine.

But he who regards himself as above the laws places the royalty in himself, and either believes himself to be the law, or the law, which is justice, to be from himself; hence he arrogates to himself that which is Divine, under which nevertheless he ought to be.
(The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 322)

May 16, 2019

ECCLESIASTICAL and CIVIL GOVERNMENT (pt. 9)

The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
Emanuel Swedenborg
Doctrinal Series
ECCLESIASTICAL and CIVIL GOVERNMENT
(pt. 9)


As priests are appointed to administer those things which relate to the Divine law and worship, so kings and magistrates are appointed to administer those things which relate to civil law and judgment.

Because the king alone cannot administer all things, therefore there are governors under him, to each of whom a province is given to administer, which the king cannot and is not able to administer alone. These governors, taken together, constitute the royalty, but the king himself is the chief.

Royalty itself is not in the person, but is adjoined to the person. The king who believes that royalty is in his own person, and the governor who believes that the dignity of the government is in his own person, is not wise.
(The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 319-321)

May 15, 2019

ECCLESIASTICAL and CIVIL GOVERNMENT (pt. 8)

The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
Emanuel Swedenborg
Doctrinal Series
ECCLESIASTICAL and CIVIL GOVERNMENT
(pt. 8)


Priests ought to teach the people, and to lead them by truths to the good of life, but still they ought to compel no one, since no one can be compelled to believe contrary to what he thinks from his heart to be true. He who believes otherwise than the priest, and makes no disturbance, ought to be left in peace; but he who makes disturbance, ought to be separated; for this also is of order, for the sake of which the priesthood is established.
(The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 318)