'fhese doctrines and the whole government of divine love and wisdom in creation and provi dence, are opened philosophically to the rational faculty from the interiors of the Word and from the facts and laws of the spiritual world, to the end, as Swedenborg affirms, that the man of the church may enter intellectually into the mysteries of faith and by living according to the light of intelligence be conjoined with heaven and the Lord.
Although Swedenborg affirmed a New Church it was no part of his mission to institute an exter nal ecclesiastical body. Those of his own time who understood or cared to read what he had written, were very few. In 1783 a society was formed in London, England, for the study of his works. His books, which were written in Latin, were translated, and the number of believers in creased more rapidly, but at first entertained no thought of separate organization. In process of time, however, theological controversies with their old ecclesiastical associates, and the longing for association with those agreed in faith and life, led to the organization of a church. The first
society of this kind was formed in London in 1787 and was quickly followed by others in various parts of the kingdom. The name selected was "The Church upon Earth Signified in the Revela tion by the New Jerusalem Descending from God Out of Heaven." This cumbrous title has been shortened to "The Church of the New Jerusa lem," or "The New Jerusalem Church." The doctrines were first introduced into Amer ica in 1784, and the societies organized from time to time are now grouped into State Associations, and these into a General Convention. The gov ernment is practically congregational, with a sort of episcopal advisory supervision. The worship in this country and England, and where the church has a foothold in the continent of Europe, is liturgical.
The church is of the least as to actual member ship, but is acknowledged as a formative power by virtue of the rationality and virility of the faith of its members, and by the astonishing activity of its publishing societies in printing and distributing the literature of its doctrinal teach ing. L. P. NI.