Page:Swedenborg's Doctrine of Correspondence.djvu/180

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THE SCIENCE OF CORRESPONDENCE.

their confidence by persistent importunity, is a direct invitation to such spirits. Healing of the body may follow, at least a change of its state which passes for healing; but the mind is held in the power of such spirits and the blind lead the blind, till the last case is worse than the first. The chemical laboratory is rather to be preferred, than such faith and prayer.

But there is a true faith directed to the Lord Jesus Christ as the God of heaven and earth, which is an internal acknowledgment that His will is good-will to men; that He operates His will according to the laws of Divine order revealed in His Word and its doctrine; that the divine order of His goverment conspires to health and usefulness, and the removal of all obstructions to these consistent with man's spiritual welfare. It is in harmony with this faith to feel that health is a good thing which the Lord has abundantly showed His will and power to give, with the prayer that we may come into a state to receive it. Such faith causes the Lord to be present, and when there is in it the love of Him and of having His will done, the love conjoins. Such acknowledgment of faith, and prayer to the Lord in such faith,