clothed in the form of apparent truth. This way of presenting truth is, however, by no means peculiar to the Word of the Lord. Many natural truths at first fall into the mind in the same way. The apparent truth, that the sun passes around the earth, is first received, and conducts us to the real truth, that the earth revolves on its axis. So also the apparent truth, that a variety of colors appertain to the various objects around us, leads to the discovery, that the real distinction of colors exists in the solar rays. The same divine mercy which leads us to the perception of natural truths, by first permitting them to be seen in an apparent form, leads us also to the perception of spiritual truths, in a similar way. But in each case, those who have no deep love for the truth, never rise above its apparent form. The ignorant man lives and dies in the belief that the earth is stationary, and that the sun passes around it. So also, multitudes, even of religious men, never elevate their minds above the apparent truth, that the Lord is angry with the wicked. And yet angels and all good men, who are in any measure spiritually enlightened. know that the real truth is, that the Lord loves all his creatures, however vile they may be; and that the wrath and anger with which he seems to be clothed, results from the position which they sustain towards him, and not from his position towards them. It seems to devils and wicked men, as if God were angry with them, because they are conscious of being rebels against his divine government and kingdom; just as the offender against the civil laws regards those who make and execute the laws, as his enemies; whereas, if they are good men, they regard him with kindness and pity, and administer the laws, not because they wish him to suffer punishment, but because they wish to prevent him from inflicting greater injuries upon himself and society. The anger and wrath, which the wicked man supposes himself to be the object, come from his perversion of the divine love and mercy. And yet the sufferings that he endures appear to him
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