Page:The New Church - What, How, Why .djvu/18

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THE • NEW • CHURCH—WHAT

1. A New Revelation of Divine Truth

A new church is always accompanied by a new revelation of truth from God and the gathering together of a few who accept, preserve, and propagate the truth and life of it. The Most Ancient Church was openly instructed by angels, and so had perpetual revelation. The Ancient Church had a revelation, of which the book of "Jasher," referred to in Joshua, was a part. The Israelitish Church was given the Old Testament. The Apostolic Church had the New Testament. The New Church of to-day is likewise the conservator and propagator of a new revelation, confined to a few at first, but gradually to extend as the capacity to receive internal truth and form an internal Church developes.

God is a self-revealing Being. He did not create men to serve Him, but that He might serve them. From the beginning He has given revelation of heavenly and