AE 356 - Doctrine; AE 357, 358 - A Few Short Truths

AE 356 [1, 4]

Here first let something be said respecting doctrine:

1. Without doctrine no one can understand the Word.

2. Without doctrine from the Word
no one can fight against evils and falsities,
and disperse them.

3. Without doctrine from the Word
no one within the church, where the Word is,
can become spiritual.

4. Doctrine can be acquired from no other source
than from the Word,
and by none except those
who are in illustration from the Lord.

Fourth, "That doctrine can be acquired
from no other source than from the Word,
and by none except those
who are in illustration from the Lord,"
can be seen from this,
that the Word is Divine truth itself,
and is such that the Lord is in it;
for the Lord is in His Divine truth that proceeds from Him;
those, therefore, who frame doctrine
from any other source than from the Word,
do not frame it from Divine truth nor from the Lord.
Moreover, in the particulars of the Word
there is a spiritual sense,
and the angels of heaven are in that sense;
consequently there is a conjunction of heaven
with the church by means of the Word; those,
therefore, who frame doctrine from any other source
than the Word
do not frame it in conjunction with heaven,
from which nevertheless is all illustration.
. . . Those are in illustration from the Lord
who love truths because they are truths;
and because such as these do them,
they are in the Lord and the Lord is in them.

AE 357 [28, 31]

. . . knowledge avails nothing
if it does not serve the rational and spiritual person.

No one can be reformed,
that is, withdrawn from falsities and evils,
but by truths.

AE 358

. . . in wisdom and eternal happiness
the very life of heaven consists.