And so we find the teaching of the Bible to agree with that of Swedenborg on this subject; and the testimony of both to be in complete accord with the whole spirit of the Christian religion as well as with the verdict of enlightened reason.
And not only does Swedenborg teach that the heathen may be saved, but he says that more of them actually are saved than of those who profess the Christian religion; and he tells us why.
"It is a very common thing with those who have conceived an opinion respecting any truth of faith, to judge of others that they cannot be saved but by believing as they do, which nevertheless the Lord forbids. Matt, vii. 1, 2. Accordingly it has been made known to me by much experience that persons of every religion are saved, if so be, by a life of charity, they have received remains of good and of apparent truth. . . The life of charity consists in man's thinking well of others, and desiring good to others, and perceiving joy in himself at the salvation of others. But they have not the life of charity, who are not willing that any should be saved but such as believe as they themselves do, and especially if they are indignant that it should be otherwise. This may appear from this single circumstance, that more are saved from the Gentiles than from among the Christians; for such of the Gentiles as have thought well of their neighbor, and lived in good-will to him, receive the truths of faith in another life better than they who are called Christians, and acknowledge the Lord more gladly than Christians do; for nothing is more delightful and happy to the angels, than to instruct those who come from earth into another life."—A. C, n. 2284; also, 1059.
This, we doubt not, will have a strange sound to the
