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language of one of our hymns, and say, with sincere heartfelt

affection to every one present,

"O let us then as one combine,

To live a life so much divine;
In truth and goodness all agree,
And walk in love and charity!
Then will our souls be truly blest;
Celestial peace shall fill each breast;
And soon in better kingdoms, we
Shall live indeed in charity."

Amen.

SERMON XXXIX.

THE POWER CONFERRED ON THE LORD'S REAL

DISCIPLES.

BY THE LATE REV. J. PROUD.

Luke x. 17.

"And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."

As it is the spiritual and interior meaning of these words which we intend to consider, it will be unnecessary to dwell long upon the literal and external circumstances with which they are connected. Nevertheless it may be proper to remind you that the seventy here mentioned were so many disciples of Jesus Christ, whom he sent forth before him to tell the people the kingdom of God was at hand. And they went forth by two and two. After they had taken a certain circuit, they returned to their Lord, and told him with much joy the success they had met with. So much for the literal sense. I might now take up half an hour of your time by explaining and laying before you what you have frequently read, and now know as well, and perhaps better, than I can tell you, about the correspondence of the term seventy with spiritual things, of these disciples in particular, of their going forth two by two, and several other things mentioned in this chapter. But to mention the things barely without entering into the interior and divine subjects they contain, relative to our regeneration and heavenly progress, would be of very little use, if any at all. I shall therefore only observe, that by the terms seven and seventy, what is holy is signified; for these are holy numbers; they relate to truth and good, to states of regeneration, and to heaven. By the terms two and two, a conjunction or heavenly marriage is signified; that is, the union of truth and good, faith and charity, internal and external man, and similar things. To be sent forth by the Lord, implies man's state of regeneration, or progress to eternal life and heaven. So much will suffice for the present. You will please then to take notice, that the following subjects are contained in our text: 1. That the seventy spiritually represent those disciples and servants of the Lord who are in holy states.

2. That in them is a divine conjunction, or marriage, formed, signified by "two and two." 3. That these have devils to subdue and bring into subjection. 4. That this is to be done through the name of the Lord; and, 5. That they are to return with joy, telling the Lord that devils are subject to them through his name. Now, if these subjects are really contained in the few words of our text, we can but acknowledge, how full of divine interest and spiritual wisdom, the holy Word of the Lord is, when seen in its own true light. And, I should think, we must also see in what a peculiar and particular manner this holy Word will be fulfilled in the latter days— under the present dispensation, with respect to the Lord's New Church and kingdom, and the true living subjects thereof.

1st. then, by the twenty, are here represented those disciples and servants of the Lord at this day, who are in holy states. But, what are we to understand by the holy states ?-Why, my brethren, internal states-and not external ones separate from internal. This subject deserves our more than common attention and consideration. An external state is a most delusive one-a hypocritical, and most dangerous one. Permit me, in a few words, to explain them both. An external state is this. 1. A state of knowledge, when we have learnt, understand, and comprehend the holy, the divine, yea, the spiritual truths and doctrines of the Lord's holy Word, as now opened. But these knowledges, and these truths, remain in the outer court, in the understanding of the natural man, and are not elevated into the interiors, to form principles of heavenly life therein. 2. It is a state of outward confession, when these truths and doctrines are owned and confessed before men- but only as scientific, rather than holy truths and doctrines of life. 3. It is a state of outward acknowledgement and worship, when we acknowledge the Lord as God alone, join in the devotion and worship which is according to genuine truth, profess our faith in him, and in his Word, and distinguish ourselves as belonging to his New Church and kingdom. But, all this is done from the knowledge and affection of the natural man, and not from an interior change, -an internal ground of faith and love. When this is the case we are only in an external state, and herein we are deluded, deceived; because prone to think it a right state, a good state, especially if the natural mind is a little warm and zealous. Whereas the fact is, that the truths we know and profess, are only connected with our own proprium, and defiled by the evils of it, and therefore, have no influence as to our regeneration. It is a hypocritical state, because we profess that we do not possess, and pretend to be what we are

not. Consequently, it is a dangerous state; this is plain without any comment. But, I will not enlarge upon this subject, as I hope there are none before me in such an awful state as this assuredly is. However, that there are such in the world, we have too great reason to believe, and therefore, the awful deceptions they are in, ought to be a warning to us, and excite us to guard most diligently and watchfully against the like danger. But, 2nd. what are we to understand by internal states, which are holy states? Why, my brethren, they are as follows: 1. When, by the divine truths and doctrines of the Lord's Word, which we understand and believe, we are brought into an interior state of true unfeigned repentance, seeing thereby our evils as they are, abhorring ourselves as in dust and ashes, and shunning, from the heart, our evils as sins against God, putting them away with detestation, and feeling such a compunction, shame, and self-abasement of soul, as cannot by words be uttered, or explained. This sin, however unclean and abominable a state it may appear to us, is, nevertheless, in the eyes of the Lord, a holy state. It is a desiring, a thirsting, an agonizing for purification, for a total deliverance from evil and hell: and, so far from this being an initiatory or introductory state only, it continues, it encreases with the true disciple of Jesus Christ. As evils are further manifested, the contrition, the abhorrence, the self-abasement become more deep and sincere. 2. By an internal state is signified an interior and heart confession, that the truths and doctrines of the Lord's blessed Word and kingdom are truths of life; that they must be applied to the heart, to the affections, to the conduct, for the removal of evil and false, the implantation of what is good, the renewal and regeneration of the whole man. The outward knowledge and confession of truth before men is of little consequence in comparison of this. It is the interior knowledge and confession of truth, what it is, why given, what it is to do and effect in and for the soul. And this is a holy state.

Again, 3, it is an interior acknowledgment and worship: that is, an interior acknowledgment of the Lord Jesus Christ as our only God, Redeemer, and Regenerator; an acknowledgment that he must be our God, redeem and regenerate us by his Divine Spirit of love and truth; and therefore an interior heart-desire and prayer that the blessed Lord will be our God; that he will redeem us from all iniquity, and regenerate us, a spiritual, a holy people, in body, soul, and spirit. This is a holy state. Also that we not only acknowledge the Lord, and confess him in outward external worship, but that we worship him in spirit and in truth; acknow

ledge his divine presence, that he dwells within us, is ever present in the interiors of our souls, and therefore that all our powers and faculties bow down to him, submit to his authority, and reverence his adorable name. This, my brethren, is a holy state. We are ready to say frequently, such a person is an interior man, and such an one an exterior man; this person is internal, and that is external. But what do we mean? Do we mean that a man is very internal-quite an interior man, because he comprehends and understands many interior and spiritual truths as now opened from the Lord? And do we call another an external and exterior man because he is not acquainted with so many of these mystical truths-does not enter so fully and comprehensively into them— or at least it does not so appear? Alas! my brethren, if we so judge, we make a most inaccurate and false judgment indeed. Nay, perhaps we judge from our own standard, and feed our own pride by the deception, because we ourselves may, by the strength of our intellectual faculties, comprehend more than some others. But the truly internal or interior mind, is that man who is in interior and holy states of soul, such as I have just mentioned, whatever may be the compass of his knowledge; whereas the external or exterior mind is the man who is in the external and outward states we have above noticed, whatever his knowledge, yea, though he knew all mysteries, and were wise as an angel of light.

Having seen that by the seventy are signified the disciples of the Lord who are in holy states, we proceed, 2dly, to observe that in them is formed a divine conjunction or marriage, signified by two and two. He sent them forth two and two before his face. I shall not dwell long upon this subject, as it is, I presume, well known to my Christian friends that there is no probability of our being the Lord's disciples or servants, much less of subjecting devils, unless this holy conjunction takes place; that is, unless pure heavenly love in the will be united with truth in the understanding, charity with faith, and heat with light; for as love is the life of man, and the will is the seat of that love; so if the will be in evil, under the influence of evil loves and lusts, then it matters not what the man knows and believes, or whatever he is outwardly. Now if his inward love is evil his life is such, and the man is an infernal before the Lord and his angels, whatsoever mask he may wear, or character assume before men. Hence it is that the holy Word, and those invaluable writings which open the Word, dwell so much upon that most essential doctrine, and bring it forward to

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