faith, a faith akin to a hope for what was not known. Now faith is to be an intelligent faith, that sees by means of definite and mathematical doctrine. In the Ancient Church and in the Apostolic Church, God was not clearly understood. A mystery was a part of their faith.
In the New Church, mystery is cleared away. Here is definite doctrine that enables one to see clearly the essentials of faith. This church is shown plainly of the Godhead. It has definite doctrine, making clear, rational, and intelligible the foundation of religion, which is a right idea of God.
The fundamental doctrine of the New Church is that there is one God, that the Lord Jesus Christ is that God. In Him is a trinity, not of persons, but of essentials, called the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, represented in man, who is the image of God, by the soul, the body, and the proceeding life. Such as is one's idea of God, so is his whole religion.
