TCR 647 - the new and the old are too different to mix

TCR 647

The faith and concept of imputation in the new church
cannot by any means be combined
with the faith and concept of imputation current
in the former church.
If they are combined,
there is such a clash and conflict
that a person loses all trace of anything
to do with the church.

The faith of the former church teaches
that three Divine Persons existed from eternity,
each of which is singly or by Himself God,
and there are also three creators.
** But the faith of the new church is
that there was only one Divine Person,
and so only one God, from eternity,
and there is no other God beside Him.

The faith of the former church therefore has held
that the Divine Trinity is divided into three Persons;
** but the faith of the new church holds
that the Divine Trinity is united in one Person.

[2] The faith of the former church was in a God
who is invisible, inaccessible
and with whom we cannot be conjoined.
Their concept of God was like their concept of a spirit,
being like that of the ether or the wind.
** But the faith of the new church is in a God
who is visible, accessible
and with whom we can be conjoined,
in whom is the God who is invisible,
inaccessible and with whom we cannot be linked,
just as the soul is in the body.

[3] The faith of the former church attributes
all power to the invisible God,
and takes it away from the visible God.
For it holds that God the Father imputes faith,
and by means of it confers everlasting life;
and that the visible God only intercedes,
and both give
(or according to the Greek church, God the Father gives)
to the Holy Spirit,
who occupies the third position as God by Himself,
all power to carry out the effects of that faith.
** But the faith of the new church attributes
to the visible God,
in whom is the invisible God,
all power to impute
and also to carry out the effects of salvation.

[4] The faith of the former church is primarily
in God the Creator,
and not at the same time
in God as Redeemer and Savior.
** But the faith of the new church is in one God,
who is at the same time
Creator, Redeemer and Savior.

[5] The faith of the former church is
that the gift and imputation of faith
is followed automatically by
repentance, the forgiveness of sins,
renewal, regeneration,
sanctification and salvation,
without the person taking any part in
or being connected with them.
** But the faith of the new church teaches repentance,
reformation and regeneration leading to
the forgiveness of sins with the person's co-operation.

[6] The faith of the former church holds
that Christ's merit is imputed,
and the bestowal of faith embraces this imputation.
** But the faith of the new church teaches
that good and evil are imputed, and so is faith,
this imputation being in agreement with Holy Scripture,
while the other is contrary to it.

[7] The former church holds that faith,
in which Christ's merit is contained, is bestowed,
while the person remains like a block of wood or a stone;
it also holds that a person is totally powerless
in spiritual matters.
** But the new church teaches a completely different faith,
which is not in Christ's merit,
but in Jesus Christ Himself, God, Redeemer and Savior,
holding that a person has free will
to devote himself both to receiving faith
and to co-operating.

[8] The former church attaches
charity as an appendage to its faith,
but not that which brings about salvation,
and this is the basis of its religion.
** But the new church conjoins faith in the Lord
with charity towards the neighbor,
making them inseparable,
and thus the basis of its religion.

There are many other disagreements besides these.