AC 10175 - The Exodus; AC 10177 - Externals and Internals; AC 10178 - "Shittim Wood"

AC 10175

The subjects treated of in this chapter
are the altar of incense;
the expiation of everyone by means of silver;
the laver and the washing from it;
and the preparation of the oil of anointing,
and of the incense.
In the internal sense by "burning incense"
is signified the hearing and reception by the Lord
of all things of the worship which is from love and charity;
by "the expiation of everyone by means of silver,"
is signified the ascription of all things of worship
to the Lord, and nothing to self,
that no one may have merit.
By "the laver and the washing"
is signified purification from evils first in all worship.
By "the preparation of the oil of anointing"
is signified the quality of the love in worship;
and by "the preparation of the incense,"
the quality of the worship from it.

AC 10177

. . . a holy external from a holy internal
penetrates even into heaven,
according to the quality of the internal,
thus to the Lord.
For a holy external without an internal
is merely from the mouth and the gestures,
whereras a holy external from an internal
is at the same time from the heart.

AC 10178

. . . the good of the Lord's merit is His Divine love.
. . ."shittim wood" has such and so great a signification.
. . . in the supreme sense "wood" signifies Divine good,
because all things which in the internal sense
signify such things as belong to the church and heaven,
in the supreme sense signify Divine things.