AC 3493 - First the Rational Then the Natural; AC 3504 - Being Blessed

AC 3493

. . .the rational is regenerated before the natural,
for the reason that the rational is more interior
and thus nearer to the Divine;
and also because it is purer,
and thus fitter to receive the Divine than is the natural;
and further because the natural
is to be regenerated through the rational.

AC 3502 [2]

The natural does not become new,
or receive life corresponding to the rational,
that is, is not regenerated,
except by means of doctrinal things,
or the knowledges of good and truth --
the celestial man by the knowledges of good first,
but the spiritual man by the knowledges of truth first.
Doctrinal things, or the knowledges of good and truth,
cannot be communicated to the natural person,
thus cannot be conjoined and appropriated,
except by means of
delights and pleasantnesses accommodated to it,
for they are insinuated
by an external or sensuous way;
and whatever does not enter
by some delight or pleasantness
does not inhere, thus does not continue.

AC 3504

That my soul may bless you.
(Genesis 27:4)

. . .the meaning of " being blessed,"
as being to be gifted with celestial and spiritual good;
for the good of infancy and of the consequent life,
which is the same as the good of the natural,
and which is represented by Esau,
is not spiritual good --
the good of infancy being devoid
of knowledge and intelligence,
and thus of wisdom.
The good of infancy becomes spiritual good
through the implanting of truth,
thus through regeneration;
from which comes the correspondence
between rational and natural things . . ..