FOREWORD
Truth needs no defence, it is its own power and explanation. Truth is not a mere statement of words, it is the consciously perceived activity of God's love and wisdom in the plane of the human mind. We advance, therefore, by the affirmation, "yea, yea," of good and the negation, "nay, nay," of evil.
This brief compilation of statements from the voluminous works of Swedenborg comes forth to meet the cry—"What portion of Truth lies back of those systems claiming the power of Divine Healing?"
No attempt is made to analyse the intellectual concepts of popular systems, such as "New-Thought," "Mental Healing," "Christian Science," and other forms of Psychopathy. If there is error in their explanation of the Law, we shall be of small service in beholding the "mote," merely, and calling attention to it, before we have considered the "beam" in our own eye. Trees are judged by their fruits; the good which they inaugurate comes forth by another and inmutable law whereby life flows into that mind which affirms and seeks good.
It is hoped that those who read these pages will find reason for that broader charity, first enunciated by our Lord,—"he that is not against us is on our part."
As an indication of Swedenborg's entire system, even upon the one subject of the relation of soul and body, this compilation is too fragmentary and exclusive. But those who are familiar with modern thought cannot fail to see that the true philosophy of how the Divine life restores and heals humanity was more fully set forth by Swedenborg, long before the partial and limited teachings of to-day were conceived.
Students who seek a fuller knowledge of Divine order, of which health is an effect, will find ample reward in the teachings concerning Degrees, Influx, Correspondences, Soul, Body, and related subjects.
