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Swedenborg, Emanuel - The Infinite - Free will
Identifier
006366
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Emmanuel Swedenborg –The Infinite and the final cause of creation
Some will interrupt our argument by declaring that …. All we have to do is simply proclaim … that God is the provider of all contingent circumstances … that God is present to every contingent circumstance in succession …. He can change or not change all things agreeably to the causes and effects that He sees in operation.
There are, we know, great numbers of persons who think this line of reasoning preferable, because thereby we have the Divine Omnipotence manifest in time, and know that at all times It will provide for human affairs, accompanying them through all their windings and changes.
And especially do those appear anxious to urge this view of the subject, who cherish a finite conception of God, and cannot refrain from likening His power and will to those of some earthly potentate; who can issue his mandate either in obedience to causes and laws, or the contrary; or frame new laws at will, and impose them on human action, and afterwards either modify or reverse them.
Such sentiments are peculiarly grateful to all who fancy themselves to be the near objects of regard to the Infinite and His favoured friends and deem therefore that they can win Him to their side, to work their will and to enable them to govern human souls and societies under a pretext of divine authority.