are most beloved, for they receive
the goods and truths of heaven more readily than others. They
especially wish to be called obedient, but not faithful. They say
that as Christians possess the doctrine of faith they may be called
faithful; but not they unless they accept that doctrine, or as they
say, have the ability to accept it.

327. I have talked with some who were in the Ancient Church. That is
called the Ancient Church that was established after the deluge, and
extended through many kingdoms, namely, Assyria, Mesopotamia, Syria,
Ethiopia, Arabia, Libya, Egypt, Philistia as far as Tyre and Zidon,
and through the land of Canaan on both sides of the Jordan.{1} The
men of this church knew about the Lord that He was to come, and were
imbued with the goods of faith, and yet they fell away and became
idolaters. These spirits were in front towards the left, in a dark
place and in a miserable state. Their speech was like the sound of a
pipe of one tone, almost without rational thought. They said they had
been there for many centuries, and that they are sometimes taken out
that they may serve others for certain uses of a low order. From this
I was led to think about many Christians--who are inwardly though not
outwardly idolaters, since they are worshipers of self and of the
world, and in heart deny the Lord-what lot awaits such in the other
life.

{Footnote 1} The first and Most Ancient Church on this earth
was that which is described in the first chapters of Genesis,
and that church above all others was celestial (n. 607, 895,
920, 1121-1124, 2896, 4493, 8891, 9942, 10545). What the
celestial are in heaven (n. 1114-1125). There were various
churches after the flood which are called ancient churches (n.
1125-1127, 1327, 10355). What the men of the Ancient Church
were (n. 609, 895). The ancient churches were representative
churches (n. 519, 521, 2896). In the Ancient Church there was a
Word, but it has been lost (n. 2897). The character of the
Ancient Church when it began to decline (n. 1128). The
difference between the Most Ancient Church and the Ancient
Church (n. 597, 607, 640, 641, 765, 784, 895, 4493). The
statutes, the judgments, and the laws, which were commanded in
the Jewish Church, were in part like those in the Ancient
Church (n. 4288, 4449, 10149). The God of the Most Ancient
Church and of the Ancient Church was the Lord, and He was
called Jehovah (n. 1343, 6846).