AC 5116 - The Rebirth of a Person

AC 5116

. . . the budding and fruiting of a tree
represent the rebirth of a person --
its becoming green from the leaves
represents the first state;
the blossoming the second,
which is the next before regeneration;
and the fruiting the third,
which is the very state of the regenerate.
It is from this that "leaves" signify (mean)
the things of intelligence, or the truths of faith,
for these are the first things of the rebirth or regeneration;
while "blossoms" signify the things of wisdom,
or the goods of faith,
because these immediately precede
the rebirth or regeneration;
and "fruits" signify those things which are of life,
or the works of charity,
because these follow and constitute
the very state of the regenerate.