shall on earth have attained, or can ever attain, to such a state of wisdom and goodness as to have no need for the outward observance of the Sabbath, and for meeting with our fellow-believers in public worship.
The great benefits to be derived from attendance on public worship, are thus strongly set forth in the New Church Writings:—"Worship, in the internal sense, signifies conjunction by love and charity. Man is continually in worship, when he is in love and charity, external worship being only an effect. The angels are in such worship; wherefore with them there is a perpetual Sabbath: whence, also, the Sabbath, in the internal sense, signifies the kingdom of the Lord. But man, during his abode in the world, ought not to omit the practice of external worship also; for by external worship the internals are excited; and by external worship the externals also are kept in a state of sanctity, so that internal things can flow in; moreover, man is thus imbued with knowledges, and so prepared to receive heavenly things: he is also thereby gifted with states of sanctity, though he may be ignorant of it, which states are preserved by the Lord for his use in eternal life, for in the other life all man's states return."[1]
Now, here is most important information. Observe, the distinct uses mentioned are four in number: 1. By external worship, internal things are excited; 2. by external worship, externals are kept in a state of sanctity, so that internal things can flow in; 3. moreover, man is thus imbued with knowledges, and so prepared to receive heavenly things; 4. and lastly, he is
- ↑ A. C., n. 1618.
