第十节 这个新教会是迄今世上众教会的冠冕
786# 前文已经说明，从起初以来，在这地球上大体有四个教会：一个在洪水以前，一个在洪水以后，第三个是以色列教会，第四个称为基督教会。由于一切教会都依赖于对一位上帝的认识和承认，人若属于教会，就能与这位上帝结合；而这四个教会都不在这一真理中，因此必有一个教会继这四个教会之后兴起，它将认识并承认一位上帝。
上帝的神性之爱在创造世界时，除一个目的以外，别无其他目的，就是使人与祂自己结合，并使祂自己与人结合，从而与人同住。前几个教会不在这一真理中，是因为：洪水以前的至古教会敬拜不可见的上帝，而与不可见的上帝不可能有结合；洪水以后的古教会也是如此。以色列教会敬拜雅威，雅威本身是不可见的上帝（出33:18–23），但祂是在人的形态之下显现的；这是雅威上帝藉着天使所取的形态，祂曾在这种形态中向摩西、亚伯拉罕、撒拉、夏甲、基甸、约书亚，有时也向先知显现。这人的形态乃是将要来的主的代表；因为这形态是代表性的，所以他们教会中的一切事物，连每一细节，也都成了代表性的。
众所周知，他们的献祭和敬拜中的其余事物都代表将要来的主；并且当祂来临时，这些事物就被废除了。第四个教会，即称为基督教会的教会，虽然口头上承认一位上帝，却是在三个位格中承认；这三个位格各自分别地，或各自独立地，都是上帝；这样便是一个被分开的三位一体，而不是在一位格中合一的三一。因此，在人的心思中固着的是三位上帝的观念，尽管唇舌上说的是一位上帝。
此外，教会的教师们根据他们在尼西亚会议之后所编造的教义，教导人应当信父上帝、子上帝和圣灵上帝；三者都是不可见的，因为他们在世界以前就存在于同一神性本质中。然而，如上所说，与不可见的上帝不可能有结合。他们仍不知道，那一位不可见的上帝已经来到世上，并取了人性；这不只是为了救赎人，也是为了成为可见的，从而能与人结合。因为经上记着：“道与上帝同在，道就是上帝。……道成了肉身。”（约1:1，14）又在以赛亚书中说：“因有一婴孩为我们而生，有一子赐给我们；……祂名称为……全能的上帝、永在的父。”（赛9:6）先知书中也多次说，雅威自己要来到世上，并要成为救赎主；这事也在祂所取的人性中成就了。
786# 前面（TCR 760节）已经说明，总的来说，这个地球上从一开始有四个教会，第一个在大洪水之前，第二个在大洪水之后，第三个被称为以色列教会，第四个被称为基督教会。由于所有教会都取决于对一位神的认识和承认，教会之人能与这一位神结合，而这四个教会没有一个拥有这一真理，所以可推知，必有一个教会接替这四个教会，这个教会将认识并承认一位神。当神创造这个世界时，祂的神性之爱的唯一目的，就是将人与祂自己结合，并将祂自己与人结合，从而与人同住。以前的教会并没有这个真理，因为存在于大洪水之前的上古教会敬拜一位不可见的神，与不可见的神结合是不可能的；而存在于大洪水之后的古教会也是如此；以色列教会敬拜耶和华，耶和华本身也是一位不可见的神（出埃及记33:18-23），但祂在一个人的形式之下，耶和华神藉着一位天使披上这个形式；祂以该形式向摩西、亚伯拉罕、撒拉、夏甲、基甸、约书亚显现，有时也向先知显现。这人的形式代表了即将降临的主；由于这是代表，所以他们教会的每一个和一切事物都成了代表。众所周知，他们的祭祀，以及与他们的敬拜有关的其它一切，都代表即将降临的主，当主降临时，它们就被废除了。
被称为基督教会的第四个教会，口头上的确承认一位神，但承认的是三个位格的神，其中每个位格都单独或独自为神；因此，它承认一个分裂的三位一体，而不是统一于一个位格的一个三位一体。结果，三位神的观念在他们的脑海中固定下来，尽管他们口头上说“一位神”。此外，教会的教师或神学家根据他们在尼西亚议会之后编造的教义，教导说，人们应相信圣父神、圣子神和圣灵神，这三者都是不可见的，因为在世界存在以先，他们就存在于一个相似的神性本质中。然而，如前所述，与一位不可见的神结合是不可能的；他们还不知道，这一位不可见的神已经降世，并取得人身，以便祂不仅可以救赎人类，还可以变得可见，从而与人结合。因为我们读到：
圣言与神同在，神就是圣言。圣言成了肉身。（约翰福音1:1，14）
以赛亚书：
有一婴孩为我们而生，有一子赐给我们，祂名称为神、勇士、永在的父。（以赛亚书9:6）
先知书经常宣称，耶和华自己要降世，成为救赎主；这也通过祂所取的人身发生了。
786. This New Church Is the Crown of All the Churches That Have Ever Existed on This Planet
As I have shown above [760], to speak in general terms there have been four churches on this planet since the beginning: there was one before the Flood, a second after the Flood; the Israelite church was the third, and the church called Christian was the fourth.
All churches depend on the recognition and acknowledgment of the one only God, with whom the individual in the church is able to form a partnership. Yet all four churches so far on this earth have lacked this truth. Therefore it follows that after these four will come a church that will recognize and acknowledge the one only God. God's divine love had no other purpose in creating the world than to unite humankind to himself, unite himself to humankind, and live with us in a partnership like this.
The former churches lacked this truth, because the earliest church, which existed before the Flood, worshiped a God who could not be seen. No partnership is possible with a God like that. The early church, which existed after the Flood, did the same. The Israelite church worshiped Jehovah, who was essentially unable to be seen (Exodus 33:18-23), although Jehovah God did appear in a human form that he took on through an angel. In this form he appeared to Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Gideon, Joshua, and sometimes the prophets. That human form was a symbolic representation of the Lord who was yet to come. Because that form was symbolic, everything else in that church became symbolic as well. (It is well known that the sacrifices and other rituals of their worship symbolized the Lord who was to come, and that these symbolic acts were done away with when he came.)
[2] Now, the fourth church, which was called Christian, did indeed orally acknowledge one God, but a God in three persons, each of whom is individually a god in his own right. Therefore their Trinity was divided; it was not united in one Person. As a result, even though their lips would speak of one God, the picture of three gods was stuck fast in their minds. In fact, after the Council of Nicaea the church's theologians came up with a new teaching of their own. They said that we ought to believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, none of whom can be seen, because all three came into being with the same divine essence before the world began. And yet, as mentioned just above, it is not possible to form a partnership with a God who cannot be seen. People are therefore still unaware that the one only God, who cannot be seen, came into the world and took on a human manifestation, not only for the purpose of redeeming humankind but also in order to become someone we could see and form a partnership with. We read, "The Word was with God, and the Word was God, and the Word became flesh" (John 1:1, 14). And in Isaiah, "A Child is born to us; a Son is given to us. His name will be called God, Hero, Father of Eternity" (Isaiah 9:6). The prophets also say many times that Jehovah himself is going to come into the world and become the Redeemer. This took place through the human manifestation he took on.
786. X. This new church is the crown of all the churches which have up to now existed upon earth.
It was shown above that from the beginning there have been, generally speaking, four churches on this earth; one before the flood, one after the flood, a third the Israelite, and the fourth that named Christian. Since all churches depend upon the knowledge and acknowledgment of one God, with whom a member of the church can be linked, and since all four churches lacked that truth, it follows that a church will take the place of those four, which will know and acknowledge one God. God's Divine love had no other end in view in creating the world than the linking of man to Himself and of Himself to man, so that He might dwell with man. The reason why the former churches lacked that truth is that the Most Ancient Church, which existed before the flood, worshipped an invisible God, with whom no linking is possible. The Ancient Church, which existed after the flood, did likewise. The Israelite Church worshipped Jehovah, who is in Himself an invisible God (Exodus 33:18-23), but in human form, which Jehovah God put on by means of an angel; in this He was seen by Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Gideon, Joshua and on occasions by the Prophets. This human form was a representation of the Lord who was to come, and because this was representative, each and every detail in their church was made representative. It is well known that the sacrifices and other rites of their worship represented the Lord who was to come, and on His coming they were done away with.
[2] The fourth church, however, that called Christian, certainly acknowledged in speech one God, but in three Persons, each of whom is singly or by Himself God, thus making a divided Trinity, not one united in one Person. Hence the idea of three Gods clung to their minds, although the expression 'one God' was upon their lips. Moreover, the doctors of the church by their own peculiar teaching, which they devised after the Council of Nicaea, teach that we should believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, all being invisible, because they came into existence before the world having a similar essence - yet, as said above, linking is not possible with an invisible God; for they did not yet know that the one God, who is invisible, had come into the world, and had taken on human form, not only so as to redeem mankind, but also so as to become visible and thus capable of being linked with mankind. For we read:
The Word was with God, and the Word was God; and the Word was made flesh, John 1:1, 14.
And in Isaiah,
A boy is born for us, a son is given to us, whose name is God, Hero, the Everlasting Father, Isaiah 9:6.
Many passages in the Prophets state that Jehovah Himself was to come into the world, to be the Redeemer; and this too He did in the human which He put on.
786. X. THIS NEW CHURCH IS THE CROWN OF ALL THE CHURCHES THAT HAVE HITHERTO EXISTED ON THE EARTH.
It has been shown above that there have been, in general, from the beginning, four churches on this earth, one before the flood, the second after it, the third the Israelitish church, and the fourth that which is called the Christian church; and as all churches depend on a knowledge and acknowledgment of one God, with whom the man of the church can be conjoined, and as none of these four churches has possessed that truth, it follows that a church must follow these four which will know and acknowledge one God. The sole end of God's Divine love, when He created the world, was to conjoin man to Himself and Himself to man that He might thus dwell with man. This truth the former churches did not possess, the Most Ancient church, which preceded the flood, worshiping an invisible God with whom no conjunction is possible; the Ancient church which followed the flood, did likewise; the Israelitish church worshiped Jehovah, who in Himself is an invisible God (Exodus 33:18-23), but under a human form, which Jehovah God put on by means of an angel, in which He was seen by Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Gideon, Joshua, and sometimes by the prophets. This human form was a representative of the Lord who was to come, and because this was representative so each thing and all things in their church were made representative. It is a well known fact that the sacrifices and everything else pertaining to their worship represented the Lord who was to come, and that when He came they were abrogated. The fourth, which is called the Christian church, did indeed with the lips acknowledge one God, but in three Persons, each One of whom was singly or by Himself God; thus it acknowledged a divided Trinity, but not a Trinity united in one Person; and from this an idea of three Gods adhered to their minds, although the expression "one God" was on their lips. Moreover, the teachers of the church from that doctrine of theirs which they concocted after the Nicene Council, teach that men ought to believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, all of them invisible, because existent in a similar Divine essence before the world was (although, as said above, with an invisible God no conjunction is possible), for they still do not know that the one God who is invisible came into the world and assumed a Human, not only that He might redeem men, but also that He might become visible, that thereby conjunction with man might become possible. For we read:
The Word was with God, and God was the Word. And the Word was made flesh (John 1:1, 14).
And in Isaiah:
Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and His name, God, Mighty, Father of Eternity (9:6).
It is also frequently declared in the Prophets that Jehovah Himself would come into the world, and would be a Redeemer, which He also became in the Human which He assumed.
786. X. THIS NEW CHURCH IS THE CROWN OF ALL THE CHURCHES THAT HAVE HITHERTO EXISTED ON EARTH.
It has been shown above that there have existed on this earth from the beginning four Churches in general, one before the Flood, another after the Flood, a third called the Israelitish Church, and a fourth the Christian. Now all Churches depend on the knowledge and acknowledgment of one God with whom the man of the Church can be conjoined. As, however, all the four Churches were not in that truth, it follows that a Church is to succeed them which will know and acknowledge one God. For the Divine Love of God had no other end in creating the world than to conjoin man to Himself, and Himself to man, and thus to dwell with man. The former Churches were not in that truth, since the Most Ancient Church, which existed before the Flood, worshiped an invisible God, with whom there can be no conjunction; so also did the Ancient Church, which existed after the Flood; while the Israelitish Church worshiped Jehovah, who in Himself is an invisible God, Exodus 33:18-23, but under a human form. This form Jehovah God assumed by means of an angel, and in it He appeared to Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Gideon, Joshua, and sometimes to the Prophets. This human form was representative of the Lord who was to come; and this being representative, their sacrifices, and all else pertaining to their worship, represented the Lord who was to come, and that they were abrogated when He came.
The fourth Church, however, which was called Christian, acknowledged one God indeed with the lips, but in three Persons, each of whom singly or by Himself was God. Thus they worshiped a divided Trinity, and not a Trinity united in one Person. The result was that an idea of three Gods was fixed in the mind, although the expression, one God, was on the lips. Moreover, the doctors of that Church, from their doctrine which they composed after the Council of Nice, 1 teach that men ought to believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, all three invisible because existing in a like Divine Essence before the world was. Yet, as was said above, there can be no conjunction with an invisible God; and they do not yet know that the one God who is invisible, came into the world and assumed the Human, not only that He might redeem men, but also that He might become visible, and that He might thus be conjoined with men. For it is written,
"The Word was with God, and the Word was God... and the Word became flesh" John 1:1, 14;
and in Isaiah,
"Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given... and His name... The Mighty God, The everlasting Father" Isaiah 9:6.
It is also frequently declared in the Prophets that Jehovah Himself would come into the world, and would be the Redeemer; and this He became in the Human which He assumed.
Footnotes:
1. Nice (Nicaea), city of Asia Minor, in Bithynia. In A.D. 325 it was the seat of a Council summoned to settle the Arian controversy. The creed there adopted is known as the Nicene Creed.
786. Quod Nova haec Ecclesia sit Corona omnium Ecclesiarum, quae huc usque in terrarum Orbe fuerunt.
Quod quatuor Ecclesiae in communi a principio in hac Tellure fuerint, una ante Diluvium, altera post Diluvium, tertia Israelitica, et quarta nominata Christiana, supra ostensum est; et quia omnes Ecclesiae pendent a cognitione et agnitione Unius Dei, cum quo homo Ecclesiae potest conjungi, et omnes quatuor Ecclesiae non in illa veritate fuerunt, sequitur quod una Ecclesia illis quatuor successura sit, quae 1 unum Deum cognoscet et agnoscet: Divinus Amor Dei non aliud pro fine habuit, cum creavit Mundum, quam ut hominem conjungat Sibi, et Se homini, et sic habitet cum homine. Quod Ecclesiae priores non in veritate fuerint, est quia Antiquissima Ecclesia, quae fuit ante diluvium, coluit Deum invisibilem, cum quo nulla conjunctio dabilis est; Antiqua Ecclesia, quae fuit post diluvium, similiter; Ecclesia Israelitica coluit Jehovam, qui in se est Deus Invisibilis, Exodus 33:18-23, sed sub forma humana, quam Jehovah Deus per Angelum induit, in qua visus est Mosi, Abrahamo, Sarae, Hagari, Guideoni, Josuae, et quandoque Prophetis, quae Humana forma fuit repraesentativa Domini venturi, et quia haec fuit repraesentativa, ideo etiam omnia et singula Ecclesiae illorum facta sunt repraesentativa; quod Sacrificia et reliqua Cultus illorum repraesentaverint Dominum venturum, et quod illa abrogata sint, dum venit, notum est.
[2] Quarta autem est Ecclesia, quae vocata est Christiana, quidem oretenus agnovit Deum unum, sed in tribus personis, quarum unaquaevis singulatim seu per se, esset Deus, et sic Trinitatem divisam, et non in una Persona unitam, inde haesit in mente idea trium Deorum, tametsi in labiis vox unius Dei; et insuper Doctores Ecclesiae, ex ipsa sua Doctrina, quam post Concilium Nicaenum concinnarunt, docent quod credendum sit in Deum Patrem, Deum Filium, et Deum Spiritum sanctum, omnes invisibiles, quia ante Mundum in simili Essentia Divina existentes; et tamen cum Deo invisibili, ut supra dictum est, non dabilis est conjunctio; adhuc nescientes, quod Deus unus, qui invisibilis, in Mundum venerit, et assumserit Humanum, non modo ut redimeret homines, sed etiam ut visibilis fieret, et sic conjungibilis, nam legitur, Verbum erat apud Deum, et DEUS ERAT VERBUM, et VERBUM CARO FACTUM EST, Johannes 1:1, 14; 2 et apud Esajam, "Puer natus est nobis, et Filius datus est nobis, cujus Nomen, DEUS, Heros, PATER AETERNITATIS, 9:5; 3 et apud Prophetas pluries, quod Ipse Jehovah in Mundum venturus sit, et futurus Redemptor, quod etiam factus est in Humano, quod assumsit.
Footnotes:
1. Prima editio: qui.
2. Prima editio: 1 - 14.
3. Sic Schmidt et Biblia Hebraica, sed 9:6 apud Biblia Anglica.