AC 7977 - Flock and Herd

AC 7977

And flock, and herd, a very great acquisition.
(Exodus 12:38)

That this means the good acquired by means of truth,
interior and exterior,
in great abundance,
is evident from the meaning of "flock,"
as being interior good,
and from the meaning of "herd,"
as being exterior good.
That it was acquired is meant by "acquisition,"
for with those who are of the spiritual church
all good is acquired by means of truth,
because without the truth which is of faith
they do not know what spiritual truth is,
nor what spiritual good is.
They are indeed capable of knowing civil truth,
also moral truth, and their goods,
because they are in agreement with
things which are in the world,
from which they also have a perception
of these truths and goods.
But spiritual truth and its good
are not in agreement with those things
which are in the world,
and in many cases are even quite at variance with them,
and therefore those of the spiritual church
have to be instructed about them.
These things have been said to show
that with those who are of the spiritual church
all good must be acquired by means of truth.
That "very great" denotes great abundance, is evident.

AC 7957, 7966 - The Spiritual Church; AC 7964 - Opposites Repel

AC 7957 - The Spiritual Church

For the spiritual church is distinguished
from the celestial church in this,
that through truth which is of faith
it is introduced into the good which is of charity,
thus that it has truth for its essential.
The initiation is effected through truth,
for through truth they are instructed what must be done,
and when they do this truth,
it is called good.
From this good,
when they have been initiated,
they afterward see truths,
according to which they again act.
From this it is evident
that whether you say "those who are of the spiritual church,"
or "those who are in truth through which is good,
and in truth which is from good,"
it is the same.

AC 7966 [2]

These are the two states
in which those who are of the spiritual church,
when in good,
are kept by the Lord --
the first, that from the good which is of the will
they see and think truth;
the second, that from this marriage of good and truth
they produce truths,
which by willing them and doing them,
again become goods,
and so on continually.
Such are the productions and derivations of truth
with those who are of the spiritual church.
In the spiritual world this is presented representatively
as a tree with leaves and fruits;
the leaves there are truths;
the fruits are the goods of truth;
the seeds are the goods themselves,
from which are the rest.

AC 7964 - Opposites Repel

. . . those who are in mere falsity from evil
are so averse to those who are in truth from good
that they cannot endure even their presence.

AC 7944 - Going and Doing; AC 7945 - "And So They Did"

AC 7944

And the sons of Israel went and they did
as Jehovah commanded Moses and Aaron.
(Exodus 7:28)

That this means that those who are of the spiritual church
will obey truth Divine,
is evident from the meaning of "going and doing,"
as being to obey;
from the representation of the sons of Israel,
as being those who are of the spiritual church;
and from the representation of Moses and Aaron,
as being truth Divine;
Moses internal truth,
and Aaron external.

AC 7945

So did they.
(Exodus 7:28)

That this means performance from the will,
is evident from the fact that it is said a second time "they did,"
and that the first time
it means performance from the understanding,
and this second time from the will.
For it is common in the Word
for a thing to be seemingly repeated;
but the first mention
relates to the truth which is of the understanding,
and the second to the good which is of the will.
The reason is that in every detail of the Word
there is the heavenly marriage,
which is that of good and truth;
and, in the supreme sense, the Divine marriage,
which is that of the Divine good in the Lord
and of the Divine truth proceeding from Him.
From this also it can be seen
that the Word is most holy.

AC 7919 - "Hyssop"; AC 7920 - Natural Good and Good of the Natural

AC 7919 [1, 2]

. . . "hyssop" denotes external truth as a means of purification,
because all spiritual purification is effected by means of truths.
For the earthly and worldly loves
from which a person is to be purified,
are not recognized except by means of truths,
and when these are instilled by the Lord,
there is also instilled at the same time
horror for these loves as for things unclean and damnable,
the effect of which is
that when anything of the kind flows into the thought,
this feeling of horror returns,
and consequently aversion for such things.
Thus a person is purified by truths as by an external means.

As "hyssop" has this meaning,
it was therefore employed in cleansings,
which in the internal sense
meant purifications from falsities and evils . . ..

AC7920

Natural good is that which a person has hereditarily;
and the good of the natural
is that which he has from the Lord by regeneration.

AC 7902 - When Truth is Purified From Falsity; AC 7910 - Those Who Are In the Lord

AC 7902

. . . truth is said to be purified from falsity
when the person is capable
of being kept by the Lord
in the good of innocence.
Innocence consists in acknowledging
that in oneself there is nothing but evil,
and that all good is from the Lord;
and also in believing
that a person does not know or perceive
anything from himself,
but from the Lord,
thus also the truth which is of faith.
When person is in this state,
then falsity can be removed from him,
and truth can be instilled by the Lord.
This state is what is meant by the unleavened things,
and also by the eating of the paschal lamb.

AC 7910

. . . be it known that with those who are in the Lord,
that is, who are in the life of faith and charity,
good dwells in the interiors,
and the more interiorly it dwells with them,
the purer and the more heavenly the good is;
but truth dwells in the exteriors,
and the more exteriorly it dwells with them,
the more is truth widowed from good.
The reason is
that a person as to his interiors is in heaven,
and as to his inmosts is near the Lord,
but as to exteriors he is in the world;
and so it is that the truths which are of faith
enter by an external way,
but good by an internal way,
also that the appropriation of truth
is effected in the interiors where good is.

AC 7873 - "Gods"; AC 7884 - An Eternal Statute

AC 7873 - "Gods"

In the Word "gods" are often mentioned.
When the angels are so called, truths are meant;
consequently in the opposite sense
by "the gods of the nations," are meant falsities.
That truths are called "gods"
is because truth proceeds from the Divine Itself,
and in itself is Divine;
consequently they who receive it are called "gods"-
not that they are gods,
but that the truth which is with them is Divine.
That is why in the original tongue God is called "Elohim,"
in the plural.
The Divine Itself is the Divine good,
but that which proceeds from it is the Divine truth,
which fills the universal heaven.

AC 7884 - An Eternal Statute

That "an eternal statute" denotes the order of heaven,
is because all the statutes
that were commanded to the sons of Israel
were such as flowed from the order of heaven;
consequently they also represented
the things that are of heaven.
By worship according to the order of heaven
is meant all practicing of good
according to the Lord's precepts.
By the worship of God at this day
is chiefly meant the oral worship in a temple,
both morning and evening.
But the worship of God
does not consist essentially in this,
but in a life of uses;
this latter worship is according to the order of heaven.
Oral worship is also worship,
but it is of no avail whatever
unless there is the worship that belongs to the life;
for this worship is of the heart;
and oral worship, that it may be worship,
must proceed from this.

AC 7847 - Posts and the Lintel; AC 7848 - Houses and Minds

AC 7847 - Posts and the Lintel

. . . the natural person is instructed before the rational,
and the things which the person then learns
are natural things,
in which spiritual things are successively instilled,
which are interior.
From this it is evident how the natural
in respect to truths and goods
serves to introduce.
Moreover, the lintel and the posts have a like meaning
to the forehead and hands with a person.
Angelic ideas are of such a nature
that natural things bear relation
to such things as belong to a person.
The reason is that the spiritual world or heaven
is in the form of a person,
and all things of that world, that is, all spiritual things,
which are truths and goods,
bear relation to this form . . ..
And whereas in angelic ideas
natural things become spiritual,
so also does a house,
which to the angels is the mind of a person;
the bedchambers and inner rooms
being the interiors of the mind;
and the windows, the doors, the posts, and the lintels,
the exteriors of the mind, which introduce.
As angelic ideas are of such a nature,
they are also living;
and so when the things in the natural world
which are dead objects,
pass into the spiritual world,
they become living objects;
for everything spiritual is living,
because it proceeds from the Lord.

That the "posts" and the "lintel" have a like meaning
to the forehead and hands with a person,
appears from these words in Moses:

Thou shalt love Jehovah thy God from thy whole heart,
and from thy whole soul, and from all thy forces;
thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand,
and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes;
and thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house,
and on thy gates
(Deuteronomy 6:5, 8-9; 11:13, 18, 20);

because they involve a similar meaning, both are mentioned.

That in the spiritual sense the "lintel and posts"
denote the goods and truths of the natural
through which there is introduction to spiritual things,
is evident from the description of the new temple in Ezekiel,
by which is meant the spiritual church.
"Posts and lintels" are there frequently mentioned,
and they are also measured,
which would never have been done
unless they had meant something
of the church and of heaven,
that is, something spiritual;
as in the following passages in that prophet:

The priest shall take of the blood of the sin-offering,
and shall put it upon the post of the house,
and upon the four corners of the projection of the altar,
and upon the post of the gate of the inner court,
on the first day of the month.
(Ezekiel. 45:18-19)

The prince shall enter by way of the porch without,
and shall stand by the post of the gate,
and the priests shall prepare his burnt-offering;
then shall he adore upon the threshold of the gate
(Ezekiel 46:2);

that by the "temple" here is not meant a temple,
but the church of the Lord,
everyone can know;
for such things as have there been described
in many chapters
never came to pass, nor will come to pass.

That in the supreme sense by "temple"
is meant the Lord as to the Divine Human,
He Himself teaches in John 2:19-22.
Therefore in the representative sense
by a "temple" is meant His church.
That an angel measured the lintels of that new temple,
see Ezekiel 40:9-10, 14, 16, 24; 41:21, 25,
which measuring would have been of no importance
unless the lintels, and likewise the numbers,
meant some thing of the church.
Because the "posts" and the "lintels"
mean the truths and goods in the natural
which serve for introduction,
therefore in that new temple
they were made square in prospect (Ezekiel 41:21);
and therefore in the temple of Solomon
the posts were made of olive wood (1 Kings 6:31, 33).
"Olive wood" mean the good of truth,
or the good which is of the spiritual church.

AC 7848 - Houses and Minds

The reason why by a "house" is also meant the will,
is that by it
is meaning a person,
and a person is a person chiefly from his will.
Moreover, whether we speak of a person,
or of his mind, it is the same;
for a person is not a person from the form of his body,
but from his mind;
and a person is such as his mind is,
that is, such as his understanding and will are,
especially such as his will is.

AC 7839 - A Full State

AC 7839

A state is called "full,"
when the good is such that there is not anything lacking
for the reception of the influx of innocence.
The truths of faith conjoined with the good of charity
cause good to be such;
for spiritual good receives its quality from the truths of faith.
This is here meant by the "full state"
which is signified by the "son of a year."
But the state is not full
when truths have not as yet qualified good,
so that this can receive
the corresponding states of innocence.
This state first becomes full
when truths are regarded from good;
and it is not yet full
when good is regarded from truths.
In this latter state are they who are being regenerated,
but in the former are they who are regenerated.
The former are in truth leading to good,
but the latter are in truth which is from good;
or the former are in obedience to truth,
but the latter are in the affection of doing truth;
and therefore the former are people of the external church,
but the latter of the internal church.

AC 7814 - 7816: Look Up!

AC 7814

People have been so created that we can look upward,
or above himself;
and can also look downward, or below himself.
To look above himself
is to look to his neighbor, to his country, to the church,
to heaven, especially to the Lord;
but to look below himself
is to look to the earth, to the world, and especially to himself.

AC 7815

That to look to his neighbor, to his country, and to the church,
is to look above himself,
is because this is to look to the Lord;
for the Lord is in charity,
and it is of charity to look
to the neighbor, to one's country, and to the church,
that is, to will well to them.
But they look below themselves
who turn themselves away from these,
and will well only to themselves.

AC 7816

To look above oneself is to be uplifted by the Lord;
for no one can look above himself,
unless he is uplifted by Him who is above.
But to look below himself is of a person,
because then he does not suffer himself to be uplifted.

AC 7802 - Long Ago

AC 7802

It was also a common thing on our earth in ancient times
to speak with spirits and angels, from a like cause,
namely, that those people thought about heaven,
and little about the world.
But this living communication with heaven
was in time closed,
as a person from internal became external,
that is, as he began to think about the world
and little about heaven,
and especially when he no longer believed
that there is a heaven or a hell,
nor that there is in himself a spirit person who lives after death.
For at this day it is believed that the body lives from itself,
and not from its spirit;
and therefore unless a person could now have faith
that he is to rise again with the body,
he would have no belief in a resurrection.

AC 7796 - "Moses and Aaron did these wonders."

AC 7796

And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh.
(Exodus 11: 10)

It is said that "Moses and Aaron did these wonders,"
when yet they were not done by them,
but by the Divine;
but it is so said
because by Moses and Aaron is represented truth Divine,
and the wonders were wrought by the Divine
by means of truth proceeding from Itself;
for all things which are done by the Divine Itself
are done by means of truth proceeding from Itself;
the Divine Itself is the being [esse] of all things,
whereas the truth proceeding from It
is the derivative manifestation [existere] of all things;
Good Itself, which is the Divine Esse,
produces all things by means of its truth.

 

AC 7780 - Millstones

AC 7780

It is said "behind the millstones"
because a "millstone" is predicated of
those things which are of faith;
for by millstones grain is ground into flour,
and is thus prepared for bread;
and by "flour" is meant the truth from which is good,
and by "bread" that very good
which is derived from those truths.
Thus "to sit at the millstones"
is to learn and be filled with such things
as may be serviceable to faith,
and through faith to charity.
For this reason the ancients, when they described
the first rudiments of the doctrine of faith,
described them by "sitting at the millstones,"
and the things which were still more rudimentary
by "sitting behind the millstones."

Because of such a meaning,
the Lord, where He teaches about
the last time of the church, says:

Two women shall be grinding at the mill,
the one shall be taken and the other left
(Matthew 24:41),

which would never have been said unless a "mill"
had meant those things which are of faith.

As to the truths of faith which are in the first place,
and those which are in the last,
be it known that those truths of faith
which immediately proceed from the good of charity
are what are in the first place,
for they are goods in form;
but the truths which are in the last place are naked truths;
for when truths are successively derived,
they recede at each step from good,
and finally become naked truths.
Such truths are meant by
"maidservants behind the millstones."

AC 7778 - The Outcome of Faith Without Charity

AC 7778 [1-3]

. . . the "firstborn in the land of Egypt"
denotes faith without charity.

As regards faith without charity,
it is to be said further
that faith without charity is not faith,
but only the memory-knowledge
of such things as are of faith;
for the truths of faith look to charity as their ultimate end,
and afterward proceed from charity as their first end.
From this it is clear
that those things which are of faith
have no existence with those who are not in charity,
and yet it is known
that the memory-knowledge of the truths of faith
does exist with them.
This memory-knowledge is that which they call faith.
And when the memory-knowledges
of the truth and good of faith
are applied by them to confirm falsities and evils,
then the truths and goods of faith
no longer exist with them,
because the truths and goods
give assent to the falsities and evils which they serve,
for then those very falsities and evils
which they confirm are seen in them.

Those things which are of genuine faith
look upward to heaven and to the Lord;
but those which are of faith separate from charity
look downward,
and when they confirm evils and falsities
they look toward hell.
From this also it is evident
that faith separate from charity is not faith.
From all this it can be seen what is meant by
the damnation of faith separate from charity,
namely, that it is the damnation of
the falsified truth and adulterated good of faith;
for when good has been falsified
it is no longer truth but falsity,
and when good has been adulterated
it is no longer good but evil;
and faith itself is no longer the faith of truth and good,
but of falsity and evil,
no matter how it may appear and sound
in the outward form.
And (what is a secret)
the quality of everyone's faith is such
as is the quality of his life.
If therefore the life has been damned,
so also has the faith;
for it is the faith of falsity
when the life is a life of evil.

AC 7770 - Are Memory-knowledges the Essential Truths and Goods of Faith?

AC 7770 [1, 3]

It is believed that the memory-knowledges of truth and good
are the very truths and goods of faith;
but they are not.
It is the affections of truth and good that make faith,
and these flow into memory-knowledges,
as into their vessels.

. . . with the evil
the knowledges of good and truth are applied to evil uses,
and with the good
the knowledges of good and truth are applied to good uses;
the knowledges are the same,
but the application to uses
effects their quality with each person.
The case herein is like that of worldly riches,
which with one person are disposed for good uses,
with another for evil uses;
consequently riches are such with each person
as are the uses unto which they are disposed.
From this also it is evident that the same knowledges,
like the same riches,
which the evil had possessed,
can be with the good and serve for good uses.

AC 7757-7758 - When Good Is Conjoined With Truth

AC 7757

The conjunction of the good of charity with the truth of faith
is effected in the interiors of a person.
The good itself which flows in from the Lord
adopts truth there,
and appropriates it to itself,
and thereby causes the good with the person to be good,
and the truth to be truth;
or the charity to be charity,
and the faith to be faith.
Without this conjunction charity is not charity,
but only natural goodness;
neither is faith faith,
but only the memory-knowledge of such things
as are of faith,
and in some cases a persuasion
that a thing is so for the sake of earning gain or honor.

AC 7758

When truth has been conjoined with good
it is no longer called truth, but good;
and so when faith has been conjoined with charity
it is no longer called faith, but charity;
the reason is
that the person then wills and does the truth,
and that which he wills and does is called good.

AC 7724 - True Worship: An Offering Made from Good Through Truth

 AC 7724

The truest kind of worship consists in an offering
made from good through truth,
for the Lord is present in good;
but worship offered from truth without good is not worship,
only outward religious ceremony and action alone
with nothing real in them
since without good
truth is no more than the knowledge of truth.
To become the truth of faith
that knowledge must be combined with good,
and when combined with good
it passes into the internal person and becomes faith.
. . . By the good from which worship springs
one should understand the good of life,
good that has been made spiritual
through combination with truth,
for spiritual good derives its particular nature from truth,
and the essence of truth is good,
so that good is the soul of truth.
From this one may again see what truth without good is like,
namely like a body without its soul, that is, like a corpse.

Three Quotes from Micah

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us His ways,
so that we may walk in His paths."
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Every man will sit under his own vine
and under his own fig tree,
and no one will make them afraid,
for the Lord Almighty has spoken.
(Micah 4:2, 5)

******************************************************

He has shown you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
(Micah 6:8)

******************************************************

But as for me,
I watch in hope for the Lord,
I wait for God my savior;
my God will hear me.
(Micah 7:7)

******************************************************

AC 7715 - Three Days

AC 7715

For three days.
(Exodus 10:22)

That this signifies a full state,
is evident from the signification of "three days,"
as being a full state.
By a full state is meant an entire state
from beginning to end;
for every state has its beginning,
its increments,
and its maximum.
This period is what is meant by a full state,
and is signified by "three days."

AC 7696 - Pharaoh Says, "I have sinned."

AC 7696

And he said, I have sinned to Jehovah your God,
and to you.
(Exodus 10:16)

That this means confession
that they have not obeyed the Divine and the truth,
is evident from the meaning of "sinning,"
as being to do contrary to Divine order,
and to avert and separate one's self from it,
thus from good and truth,
consequently it also denotes not to obey
the Divine and the truth,
for he who does not obey averts himself.
The Divine is what is meant by "Jehovah your God,"
and the truth by "Moses and Aaron".

 

AC 7693 - What Is the Sensuous Person?

AC 7693

The sensuous person,
or he who thinks and acts from the sensuous,
is he who believes nothing
except what is obvious to the outward senses,
and who is led solely by the bodily appetites,
by pleasures, and by concupiscences,
and not by reasons,
believing those to be reasons which favor such things.
Such being the sensuous person,
he therefore rejects everything internal,
until at last he is not willing even to hear it mentioned;
consequently at heart he denies whatever is of heaven;
the life after death he certainly does not believe in,
because he makes life to consist solely in the body,
and therefore he supposes
that he himself will die like a beast.
He thinks as it were in the surface,
that is, in the ultimates or in the extremes,
and is quite ignorant of the existence of an interior thought
according to the perception of truth and good.
The reason why he does not know this,
nor even that there is an internal person,
is because his interiors look downward
to the things of the world, of the body, and of the earth,
with which they make a one;
consequently they have been removed
from looking upward, or to heaven,
because they look in the opposite direction.
To look upward, or to heaven,
is not to think about the things that belong to heaven,
but it is to have these things as the end,
that is, to love them more than all other things;
for a person's interiors turn to where his love turns,
and consequently so does his thought.
From all this it can be seen
what is the nature of a person's sensuous,
that is, of his natural in the extremes;
for that person is called sensuous
who thinks from what is sensuous.

AC 7673 - Stretching Out the Arm

AC 7673

Stretch out thy hand.
(Exodus 10:12)

That "to stretch out the hand" denotes the rule of power
is because the hand or arm has power
when it is stretched out;
and therefore when it is said of Jehovah
that "He stretches out the hand" or "arm,"
there is meant power unlimited or infinite in act.
This is the reason why Jehovah so often said to Moses
when miracles were to be done,
that he should "stretch out his hand" or "rod," . . ..

Also, in many passages
omnipotence is described by
"Jehovah stretching out His hand,"
as also by "His outstretched hand,"
and by "His outstretched arm" --
by "Jehovah stretching out the hand," . . ..

It is also said of Jehovah
that "He stretches out the heaven,"
and here also by "stretching out" is meant omnipotence;
that is, that He enlarges the boundaries of heaven,
and fills its inhabitants with life and wisdom . . ..

From all this it can now be seen why
Moses was commanded to stretch out his hand and rod,
and that then miracles were done;
and that thus by "stretching out the hand"
is meant the rule of power,
and in the supreme sense omnipotence.

AC 7652, 7655 - The Evil

AC 7652

. . . the evil never advise what is good
except from fear.

AC 7655

. . . the evil call all those "simple"
who are of the church
and live according to its goods and truths,
that is, a life of faith and charity.

AC 7636 - "I am Jehovah"; AC 7640 - Obedience and Humility

AC 7636 - "I am Jehovah"

That by "I am Jehovah"
is meant that the Lord is the only God,
is because the name "Jehovah" means Is,
thus Him from whom is
the being and coming-forth of all things,
who cannot but be the sole and only one.

AC 7640 - Obedience and Humility

How long dost thou refuse to be humbled before Me?
(Exodus 10:3)

That this means no obedience,
is evident from the meaning of "refusing to be humbled,"
as being not to obey.
This is meant because it is said to those who are in evil,
who cannot be humbled before the Divine;
for there are two things in humiliation,
namely, the acknowledgment of self,
that it is nothing but evil,
and that relatively to the Divine it is as nothing;
and the acknowledgment of the Divine,
that it is nothing but good, and is infinite.
These two things are not possible with the evil,
because they are in the love of self.
If they humble themselves it is either from fear,
or that they may be honored or enriched;
thus they humble themselves only as to the body,
and not as to the mind,
which sometimes then jeers.
Such is the humiliation of fear,
and also that for the sake of gain and honor.
Such it is before the Divine,
although they do not know this;
for the internal with those
who are in evil from the love of self
is solely to regard and magnify themselves,
and to turn away from all who do not favor.
As humiliation is not possible with the evil,
therefore in the internal sense by "to be humbled"
is meant obedience,
and thus by "refusing to be humbled"
is meant no obedience.

AC 7601 - Flax

AC 7601 [2-3, 5, 6]

It is from representatives in heaven
that "flax" means truth.
In heaven those who are in the truth of the natural
appear clothed in white,
which white appears as of linen.

The truth itself of the natural is also there represented
as if woven from the purer threads of the flax.
These threads appear like threads of silk
-- bright, beautifully translucent, and soft;
and the clothing made of them appears similar
if the truth which is so represented is from good;
but on the other hand these threads,
which are like those of flax,
do not appear translucent, nor bright, nor soft,
but hard and brittle,
and yet white,
if the truth which is so represented is not from good.

As "flax" means the truth of the exterior natural,
and the exterior natural is what clothes the interiors,
therefore this truth is what was represented by
the linen garments with which the angels were clothed;
and also by the garments of flax (or linen)
with which Aaron was clothed
when he ministered in the holy place . . ..

From all this it can also be seen why the Lord,
when He washed the feet of His disciples,
girded Himself with a linen towel,
and wiped their feet with the linen towel
with which He was girded (John 13:4, 5);
for the washing of the feet meant purification from sins,
which is effected by means of the truths of faith,
for by means of these a person is taught how to live.

AC 7596 - Gestures; AC 7598 - The Church is the Lord's

AC 7596 - Gestures

There are gestures or actions of the body
which correspond to every affection of the mind,
as falling on the knees corresponds to humiliation,
and prostration to the earth to deeper humiliation;
but the spreading out of the hands toward heaven
corresponds to supplication, and so on.
These gestures or acts in the Word
signify the very affections to which they correspond,
for the reason that they represent them.
From this it can be seen what representations are.

AC 7598 - The Church Is the Lord's

. . . the church is the Lord's,
thus the Lord is the only God of the church.
 

AC 598 - Mercy or Grace?; AC 7573 - Voices

AC 598 [2] - Mercy or Grace?

In the Word however
a distinction is made between mercy and grace,
a distinction which depends in fact
on differences in those who are their recipients.
Mercy applies to those who are celestial,
but grace to those who are spiritual,
for celestial people acknowledge nothing other than mercy,
while spiritual acknowledge hardly anything other than grace.
Celestial people do not know what grace is,
while the spiritual scarcely know what mercy is,
for they make mercy and grace to be one and the same.
The reason for the difference
springs from each one's humility.
People in whom there is humility of heart
plead for the Lord's mercy,
but those in whom there is humility of mind
seek His grace.
Or if the latter do plead for mercy
they do so in a state of temptation
or with the lips only and not with the heart.

AC 7573 [1, 6] - "Voices"

And Jehovah gave voices of thunder.
(Exodus 9:23)

As regards truth Divine in heaven and in hell,
which truth is meant by the "voices,"
. . . in heaven truth Divine is mild and gentle,
but in hell is terrible.

. . . "voices" denote truth Divine;
"thunders," those who carry it
and bring it from heaven to earth.
Everyone can see that by "thunders" and "voices"
are meant Divine things, not thunders and sounds;
and because they mean Divine things,
and are called "the voices of Jehovah,"
it is evident that they denote Divine truth.
It was for this reason
that when Jehovah descended upon Mount Sinai
and promulgated Divine truth
there were voices, lightnings, and thunders
(Exodus 19:16; 20:18);
and He spoke out of the midst of the fire
(Deuteronomy 4:11-12; 5:22-25).

AC 7555, 7556 - Gather in Your Cattle (Exodus 9:19-21)

AC 7555

"And now send, gather in your cattle,"
means that the truth of good should be collected;
"and all that you have in the field,"
means which is of the church;
"every man and beast,"
means interior and exterior good;
"that shall be found in the field,"
means that is of the church;
"and shall not be brought to the house,"
means which is not reserved;
"the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die,"
means that they shall be quite destroyed by falsity;
"he that feared the word of Jehovah
of the servants of Pharaoh,"
means those things in the natural mind
which were of the Lord;
"made his servants and his cattle flee unto the houses,"
means that they were stored up
and reserved in the interiors;
"and he that did not set his heart
unto the word of Jehovah,"
means the things which were not from the Lord;
"left his servants and his cattle in the field,"
means that they were not stored up and reserved.

AC 7556

The subject treated of in this verse
and in the two following,
is the good and truth which are reserved by the Lord,
even with the evil;
for the good and truth
which have not been adjoined to evils and falsities,
are not vastated;
but are stored up by the Lord in the interiors,
and are afterward brought forth for use.
The reservation of good and truth
with a person by the Lord
is meant by "remains" in the Word.

 

AC 7550 - The Lord's Power and Glory in the Word

AC 7550

That Jehovah or the Lord
in this and in many other passages
wills that His might and power may appear,
and His name be told,
and elsewhere that He be humbly worshiped and adored,
seems as if He desires to show forth His glory,
and as if He loves adoration for the sake of Himself.
But quite different is the real case.
It is not for the sake of Himself,
but for the sake of the human race;
not from self-glory,
but from love;
for He wills to be conjoined with the human race,
and to give them eternal life and happiness.
This cannot be done unless
the person is in humble worship;
and there can be no humble worship
unless the person acknowledges and believes
that he himself is dust and ashes,
that is, nothing but evil,
and that Jehovah or the Lord
is the Greatest and the Holiest,
and that he dare not from himself approach Him.
When a person is in such humble worship,
then the Lord can flow in with the life of His love,
and give heaven and eternal happiness.
This is the reason why Jehovah or the Lord
so greatly extols
His own power and glory in the Word.

AC 7517 - "Jehovah said" Means New Instruction; AC 7533 - Pharaoh's Stubborn Heart

AC 7517 - "Jehovah said" Means New Instruction

And Jehovah said unto Moses and unto Aaron.
(Exodus 9:8)           

That this means a new instruction
is evident from the signification of "Jehovah said,"
as being instruction;
that it is a new instruction
is because a new state is now treated of,
the former being ended.
The instruction which is from Jehovah
is given by means of the truth which proceeds from Him.
The truth which proceeds from Jehovah
is represented by Moses and Aaron;
internal truth by Moses,
and external truth by Aaron.

AC 7533 - Pharaoh's Stubborn Heart

And Jehovah made firm the heart of Pharaoh.
(Exodus 9:12)

That this means that they were determined,
is evident from the meaning of
"the heart being made firm," "being hardened,"
and "being made heavy,"
as being obstinacy.
Its being said that
"Jehovah made firm the heart of Pharaoh,"
in the internal sense means that they themselves,
and not Jehovah,
made firm their heart,
that is, that they were determined;
for it is the evil with a person
which makes him firm or determined against the Divine;
and evil comes from a person,
and flows in from hell,
but not from heaven.
Nothing but good flows in through heaven from the Lord;
evil cannot come forth from good,
still less from the veriest Good;
evil comes forth from its own origin,
 namely, from things contrary to love to God
and to love to the neighbor;
such origins exist in person,
and not at all in God.
From this it is evident that when it is said in the Word
that "God leads into evil,"
this is said according to the appearance.

AC 7503 - Animals

AC 7503

On the horses, on the asses, on the camels.
(Exodus 9:3)

That this means the intellectual things
and the memory-knowledges of the truth that is of faith,
is evident from the meaning of "horses,"
as being things of the intellect;
from the meaning of "asses,"
as being things that are of service to the intellect,
so also memory-knowledges;
and from the meaning of "camels,"
as being memory-knowledges in general.
These three animals mean things
that belong to the intellectual part;
the other animals,
which pertain to the herd and to the flock,
mean things that are of the will part.
As regards the intellectual part,
it is this which receives the truths of faith;
for the intellect is the internal sight,
which is enlightened by the light of heaven,
and insofar as it is enlightened,
it notices, sees, and acknowledges the truths of faith
when it reads the Word.
From here it is that those
who are in perception of the truth of faith,
are called "intelligent" and "wise," and also "enlightened."

AC 7501 - What Evil Spirits Do; AC 7502 - "Field"

AC 7501 - What Evil Spirits Do

When evil spirits assault anyone,
they know how to instill themselves
into the delights that belong to his cupidities (greeds),
and also into the pleasant feelings
connected with his principles,
thus into all things of his love;
and so long as they are engaged in this instilling
they withhold the person whom they are infesting
as if bound,
nor can he be loosed,
however he struggles,
except with the Lord's Divine aid,
for love
and instilling into the delight of the love
conjoin.
Such is the art
employed by evil spirits and genii in the other life.
The same thing is seen in this world;
for he who instills himself into another's delight
which is of his love,
holds him bound and also leads him.

AC 7502 - "Field"

That "field" denotes the church
is because the seeds sown in a field
mean the truths which are of faith,
and also because the produce from the field,
such as wheat, barley, spelt, and so forth,
denotes the goods which are of charity,
and the truths which are of faith,
thus such things as belong to the church.

AC 7499 - He Made His Human Divine Good

AC 7499

In the Word the Lord is called "Jehovah" as to Divine good,
for Divine good is the Divine Itself;
and the Lord is called the "Son of God" as to Divine truth,
for Divine truth proceeds from the Divine good
as a son from a father,
and also is said to be "born:"
how this is shall be further told.
When the Lord was in the world
He made His Human Divine truth,
and then called the Divine good
which is Jehovah, His "Father;"
because, as just said,
Divine truth proceeds and is born from Divine good.
But after the Lord had fully glorified Himself,
which was done
when He endured the last of temptation on the cross,
He then made His Human also Divine good,
that is, Jehovah;
and thereby the Divine truth itself
proceeded from His Divine Human.
The Divine truth is what is called the "Holy Spirit,"
and is the holy which proceeds from the Divine Human.
From this is evident
what is meant by the Lord's words in John:

The Holy Spirit was not yet,
because Jesus was not yet glorified.
(John 7:39)

AC 7463 - Why Pharaoh Relented Then Hardened His Heart

AC 7463 [1-2]

As regards the presence and the removal
of truth Divine with the evil,
be it known that truth from the Divine
sometimes appears to them,
and this through the presence of an angel near them;
but truth from the Divine
does not flow in with them through the interiors,
as with the good,
because with them the interiors have been closed;
but it affects their exteriors only.
When this happens they are in fear,
and from this in humiliation,
for the presence of truth from the Divine
strikes them with dismay,
and inspires them with fear as of death;
but when truth from the Divine is removed
they return into their former state and are devoid of fear.
This is what is meant by
the presence of the appearance of truth Divine,
and by its removal.
This also was represented by Pharaoh,
in that when Moses was present
he humbled himself and promised to let the people go,
that they might sacrifice to Jehovah;
but when Moses had gone forth from him
he made heavy his heart;
for as shown above,
Moses represented the law Divine, or truth Divine.

That the law Divine is the same as truth Divine,
is because the "law Divine" signifies the Word,
and thus truth Divine.

AC 7433 - The Noisome Fly; AC 7437 - Thinking; AC 7439 - Mercy

AC 7433 - The Noisome Fly - Exodus 8:17-18

. . . "behold I send against you, and against your servants,
and against your people, and into your houses,
the noisome fly"
means that they would have malevolent falsity
in all things and in each;
"and the houses of the Egyptians
shall be filled with the noisome fly,
and also the land whereon they are"
means that the falsities of malevolence
will take possession of all things of the natural mind;
and I will sever in that day the land of Goshen,
upon which My people stands,
that no noisome fly be there"
means that they shall not be able to infest
by falsities of malevolence
those who are of the spiritual church,
although they will be near them . . .

AC 7437 [3] - Thinking

. . . those who are in evils
cannot do otherwise than think from evils to falsities.
It is the same also with those who are in a state of good,
in that they cannot do otherwise
than think from good to truths;
for good and truth are conjoined,
and also evil and falsity,
insomuch that he who knows that anyone is in good,
can (he) know that he is in the truth of his good;
and that he who is in evil is in the falsity of his evil;
and that he is in this falsity
in proportion as he excels
in the gift of reasoning and perverting.
And also, in proportion as he is in the fear
of the loss of reputation
for the sake of gain and honors,
and in proportion as he desires
to be in the freedom of doing evil.
Strange to say,
after such persons have
for some time
defended evils by means of falsities,
they at last persuade themselves
that evils are goods,
and that falsities are truths.

AC 7439 [3] - Mercy

. . . a person must be prepared for heaven
by his whole life in the world,
and that this is done of the Lord's mercy,
and that none are admitted into heaven
from mercy alone,
regardless of how they have lived in the world.

AC 7410 - Dust & Lice; AC 7430 - The Finger of God

AC 7410 - Dust & Lice (Exodus 8:13-14)

. . . "and Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod,"
means the power of internal truth through external truth;
"and smote the dust of the land,"
means that things damned were removed;
"and there was lice on man and on beast,"
means the interior and exterior evils
derived from cupidities (greeds for money);
"all the dust of the land
became louse in all the land of Egypt,"
means that these evils were from
the things that had been damned;
"and the magicians did so with their enchantments,
to bring forth lice,"
means an endeavor to pervert Divine order,
and to portray the like in these things also;
"and they could not,"
means in vain . . .

AC 7430 - The Finger of God

This is the finger of God.
(Exodus 8:15)

That this means that the power was from the Divine,
is evident from the meaning of "the finger of God,"
as being power from the Divine;
that "finger" denotes power
is because the fingers belong to the hands,
and by "hands" is meant power . . ..

AC 7406 - Moses Begged the Lord and the Lord Took Away the Frogs

AC 7406

And Jehovah did according to the word of Moses.
(Exodus 8:12)

That this means that it was so done
according to the word of the Lord,
is evident from the fact
that what Moses supplicated
was indeed from the mouth of Moses,
but still was from the Lord;
for whatever a person thinks and then speaks,
and whatever he wills and then does,
flows in,
the person being merely a recipient organ;
just so it was with what Moses spoke and did;
therefore here by
"Jehovah did according to the word of Moses"
is meant that it was so done
according to the word of the Lord.

(That "Jehovah" in the Word denotes the Lord,
see n. 1343, 1736, 2921, 3023,
3035, 5663, 6281, 6303, 6905.)

 

AC 7378 - Exodus Chap. 8 - Frogs Con't, Lice, Noisome Fly; AC 7381 - Internal & External Law

AC 7378 - Exodus Chap. 8 - Frogs Con't, Lice, Noisome Fly

Reasonings from mere falsities are meant by "the frogs;"
which subject is continued in this chapter . . ..
The fourth degree is
that they were in evils
which destroyed every good with them,
also whatever they had from natural good;
these are meant by the lice from the dust of the land.
The fifth degree is
that they were in falsities from these evils,
whereby every truth would be destroyed;
these are signified by the noisome fly.

AC 7381 [2-3]

As the internal law which Moses represents
is truth accommodated to angels,
and the external law which Aaron represents
is truth accommodated to people,
I may here say something about them.
Truth accommodated to angels
is for the most part incomprehensible to people,
as is evident from the fact
that things are seen and said in heaven
such as eye has never seen, nor ear has ever heard.
The reason is that the things said among the angels
are spiritual things
which have been abstracted from natural things,
and consequently are remote from
the ideas and expressions of human speech;
for a person has formed his ideas
from the things in nature, and indeed in grosser nature,
that is, from those
which he has seen in the world and upon the earth,
and has touched by sense,
which things are material.
The ideas of interior thought with a person,
although they are above material things,
nevertheless terminate in material things,
and where they terminate, there they appear to be,
and from this he perceives that which he is thinking.
From this it is evident how the case is
with that truth of faith, and what is its quality,
which falls into the thought of a person,
and is called the external law,
and is represented by Aaron.

To illustrate this by an example:
A person cannot possibly think
without the idea of time and space,
which idea adheres
to almost everything which he thinks;
if ideas from time and space
were taken away from a person,
he would not know what he is thinking;
and scarcely whether he is thinking.
But in the ideas of the angels
there is nothing from time and space,
but instead of these there are states . . ..

 

AC 7352 - "Frogs" - Reasoning; AC 7356 - The Chief Delights of the Evil

AC 7352 - "Frogs" - Reasoning

And the river shall make frogs to creep forth.
(Exodus 7:28)

That this means that there will be
reasonings from these falsities,
is evident from the meaning of "the river of Egypt,"
as being falsity;
and from the meaning of "frogs,"
as being reasonings.

That "frogs" denote reasonings
is because they are in waters,
where they make a chattering noise and croak,
and are also among things unclean.
What reasoning from mere falsities is,
shall be illustrated by some examples.

• That a person reasons from mere falsities
  who attributes all things to nature,
  and scarcely anything to the Divine;
  when yet all things are from the Divine,
  and nature is only the instrumental means
  by which the Divine works.
• He reasons from mere falsities
  who believes that a person is like a beast,
  only more perfect,
  because he can think;
  and thus that a person will die like a beast;
  by thus denying the conjunction
  of a person with the Divine
  through the thought which is of faith,
  and the affection which is of love,
  and consequently his resurrection and life eternal,
  such a person speaks from mere falsities.
• In like manner is one who believes that there is no hell.
• And also he who believes that all a person has
  is the delight of this world's life,
  and therefore he must enjoy this,
  because when he dies, he dies altogether.
• He reasons from mere falsities
  who believes that all things depend
  upon his own sagacity, and on fortune;
  and not on the Divine Providence,
  except such as is universal.
• And also he who believes that religion
  is good for nothing except to keep the simple in bonds.
• Especially do they reason from mere falsities
  who believe that the Word is not Divine.
  

In short, all those reason from mere falsities
who utterly deny truths Divine.

AC 7356 - The Chief Delights of the Evil

It is moreover one of the chief delights of the evil
to spread falsities,
to confirm them,
to deride truths,
and especially to seduce others.

 

AC 7317 - Waters Into Blood; AC 7318 - What Is the Falsification of Truth?

AC 7317 - Waters Into Blood

And they shall be turned into blood.
(Exodus 7:17)

That this means that they shall falsify truths,
is evident from the meaning of "blood,"
as being truth falsified;
for "blood" in the genuine sense
denotes the truth proceeding from the Lord,
thus the holy of faith;
this is meant by "blood" in the Holy Supper;
but in the opposite sense "blood"
denotes violence done to Divine truth,
and as this violence is done by means of falsifications,
"blood" denotes the falsification of truth.

AC 7318 - What Is the Falsification of Truth?

What the falsification of truth is
shall be illustrated by some examples.

• Truth is falsified when from reasonings
  it is concluded and said
  that because no one can do what is good from himself,
  therefore good effects nothing toward salvation.
  
  
• Truth is also falsified when it is said
  that all the good which a person does regards himself
  and is done for the sake of recompense,
  and this being so,
  works of charity are not to be done.
  
  
• Truth is falsified when it is said
  that because all good is from the Lord,
  therefore a person ought to do nothing of good,
  but should await influx.
  
  
• Truth is falsified when it said
  that truth can exist in a person
  without the good which is of charity,
  thus faith without charity.
  
  
• Truth is falsified when it is said
  that no one can enter into heaven
  except one who is miserable and poor;
  also when it is said,
  unless he gives all he has to the poor
  and reduces himself to miseries.
  
  
• Truth is falsified when it is said
  that everyone can be admitted into heaven from mercy,
  no matter how he has lived.
  
  
• Truth is still more falsified when it is said
  that there has been given to a person the power
  of admitting into heaven whomsoever he pleases.
  
  
• Truth is falsified when it is said
  that sins are wiped and washed away like filth by water;
  
  
• and truth is still more falsified when it is said
  that a person has the power of remitting sins,
  and that when they have been remitted,
  they are altogether wiped away,
  and the person is pure.
  
  
• Truth is falsified when it is said
  that the Lord has taken all sins upon Himself,
  and so has taken them away,
  and that thus a person can be saved,
  no matter what his life is.
  
  
• Truth is falsified when it is said
  that no one is saved
  except one who is within the church.
  The reasonings by which such falsification is effected,
  are that they who are within the church
  have been baptized,
  have the Word, know about the Lord,
  about the resurrection, life eternal, heaven, and hell,
  and thus they know what the faith is
  by which they can be justified.
  

There are countless such things as these,
for there is not a single truth which cannot be falsified,
and the falsification confirmed by reasonings from fallacies.

AC 7296 - Misuse of Order; AC 7298 - Fallacies

AC 7296 - Misuse of Order

A misuse of order and of correspondences
exists when things that belong to order
are not applied to good ends but to evil ones,
for example to exercising control over others
and bringing about their destruction;
for salvation, thus the doing of good to all,
is the end that order holds in view.
From this one may see what one is to understand
by a misuse of order, meant by 'the sorcerers'.

AC 7298 - Fallacies

. . . in proportion as fallacies
cause truths not to be noticed,
so dullness induced.

 

AC 7273 - Signs and Wonders

AC 7273

And I will multiply my signs and My wonders.
(Exodus 7:3)

That this means warnings of every kind,
nor shall anything be wanting,
is evident from the meaning of "signs and wonders,"
as being confirmations of the truth,
and also means of Divine power;
here warnings;
for thereby they both (Moses & Aaron) saw
that they were in falsities,
and saw the Divine power,
and in this way were warned.

The reason why it is said that to those who are in falsities
warnings are given of every kind,
nor shall anything be wanting,
is that the condemnation of those who are in evils
is not effected in a moment
when they come into the other life,
but after they have first been visited, that is, examined.
The examinations are made
in order that they themselves may take notice
that they cannot but be condemned,
because they have not lived differently,
and also in order that spirits and angels may know
that they have been of such a character;
so that they can no longer be excused
either by themselves or by others.
The order in accordance with which they are examined
is the order of truth Divine,
which is such that nothing whatever is wanting.
The order of truth Divine,
which is for the evil who are being condemned,
differs from that of truth Divine for the good
who are being saved.
The difference is,
that the order for the evil who are being condemned,
is of truth Divine separated from Divine good,
thus from mercy,
because they have not received the Divine good,
and thus have rejected mercy.
But the order which is for the good
who are being saved,
is of truth Divine conjoined with Divine good,
thus with mercy;
because they have received the Divine good,
thus the mercy of the Lord.
As the evil are examined in accordance with order,
by degrees, so also are they judged and condemned.
This shows that warnings of every kind are given,
in order that nothing may be wanting
before they are condemned to hell.
These then are the things which are meant
by the signs and wonders wrought in Egypt,
before the firstborn were slain,
and the Egyptians perished in the sea Suph;
for the sea Suph denotes hell.

AC 7264-7265 - Exodus 7 Is About Different Vastations

AC 7264-7265

The subject treated of in the internal sense in what follows
is the vastation,
and at last the damnation,
of those who are in falsities and evils.
The process of their devastation is described
by the eleven plagues
brought on the Egyptians and their land.

In this chapter
the subject treated of in the internal sense
is the first three degrees of vastation.
The first, which is
that mere fallacies began to reign with them,
from which came falsities,
is described by the serpent
into which the rod of Aaron was turned.
The second, which is
that truths themselves became falsities with them,
and that falsities became truths,
is described by the blood
into which the waters were turned.
The third degree, which is
that from falsities they reasoned against
the truths and goods of the church,
is described by the frogs out of the river.

 

AC 7225 - "Uncircumcised" or Unclean or Impure

AC 7225 [2-3]

. . . "to be uncircumcised" denotes to be impure;
and as everything impure is from impure loves,
which are the love of the world and the love of self,
therefore by "uncircumcised" is meant
that which impedes the influx of good and truth.
Where these loves are,
the inflowing good and truth are extinguished,
for they are contraries, like heaven and hell.
So by the "uncircumcised ear" is meant disobedience,
and by the "uncircumcised heart"
the rejection of good and truth,
which is especially the case
when these loves have fortified themselves with falsity
as with a wall.

That Moses, because he stammered,
calls himself "uncircumcised in lips,"
is for the sake of the internal sense,
that thereby might be meant
that those who are in falsities,
who are represented by Pharaoh,
would not listen to the things that would be said to them
from the law Divine,
because those who are in falsities
call the truths which are of the law Divine, falsities;
and the falsities which are contrary to
the truths of the law Divine
they call truths,
for they are wholly in the opposite.
Consequently by them the truths of doctrine
are not perceived otherwise than as impure;
even heavenly loves appear to them impure.

AC 7233 - The Enlightened Intellectual

AC 7233 [3]

For the enlightened intellectual discriminates
between apparent truths and real truths,
especially between falsities and truths,
although it does not judge about real truths in themselves.

But the intellectual cannot be enlightened
unless it is believed
that love to the Lord and charity toward the neighbor
are the principal and essential things of the church.
He who proceeds from the acknowledgment of these,
provided he himself is in them,
sees innumerable truths;
indeed he sees very many secrets disclosed to him,
and this from interior acknowledgment,
according to the degree of the enlightenment
from the Lord.

AC 7205 - "Stretched Out Arm"

AC 7205

And I will redeem you with a stretched out arm.
(Exodus 6:6)

That this means leading forth from hell
by virtue of Divine power,
 is evident from the meaning of "redeeming,"
as being to bring forth from hell,
and from the meaning of a "stretched out arm,"
as being Divine power.
. . . "arm" denotes power;
but that a "stretched out arm"
denotes omnipotence or Divine power,
is because
when an arm appears stretched out in the heavens,
there is represented power from the Divine;
and when not stretched out, but bent,
there is represented power in a general sense.
So then it is, that in the Word,
Divine power is very often expressed by
a "stretched out arm," and by a "strong hand,"
as in these passages:

I have made the earth, the man, and the beast,
that are upon the faces of the earth,
by My great power and by My stretched-out arm.
(Jeremiah 27:5)

I will lead you out from the peoples,
and will gather you
out of the lands wherein you are scattered,
by a strong hand and by a stretched-out arm.
(Ezekiel 20:34).

AC 7191 - Before Punctuation

AC 7191

And God spoke unto Moses.
(Exodus 6:2)

That this means
what is new but continuous with what was before,
is evident from the fact
that we often read in continuation of the text,
"Jehovah said," and "Jehovah spoke,"
as also in this chapter, verse 1,
"Jehovah said unto Moses,"
in this verse, "God spoke unto Moses,"
and similarly in verses 10, 13, 28, 29,
and also in other places,
which repetition means nothing else
than something new that begins there,
which, however, is to be connected with what goes before.

Be it known that the Word in its original tongue
is devoid of stops (punctuation),
and therefore instead of them there were such phrases;
and instead of the lesser stops or distinctions
there was "and,"
which is the reason why this occurs so frequently.
Angelic speech also is continuous,
with stops indeed,
but such that what precedes
is wonderfully connected with what follows;
for angelic ideas are very full of realities,
and of countless things that are unutterable,
and to a person, while in the world, incomprehensible;
and therefore the endings of the preceding periods
can be fully connected
with the beginnings of the following ones;
and in this way one series can be formed out of many.
Astonishing and incredible to say,
the form of heaven is represented
in the angelic discourse,
and therefore in all angelic discourse
there is a harmony like that of songs,
which at every stop closes in a word of one syllable,
thus in a unity;
and I have been told that the reason of this is
that each and all things in heaven
have relation to the one God as to their end.
From all this also it was evident
that everything of thought
and of the consequent discourse
flows in through heaven from the Lord,
and that from this
there is such a harmony in discourse closing in a unity.

AC 7186 - Evil Is Removed by Degrees

AC 7186 [1, 3]

That "Jehovah said unto Moses,"
means instruction about the law Divine,
is because at the end of the preceding chapter
it was believed from the law Divine,
that it would come to pass
that those who are of the spiritual church
would be immediately liberated from infestations;
when yet it is according to order
that the evil who infest
should be removed by degrees,
and that they who are of the spiritual church
should be liberated by degrees;
for such is the Divine order;
and therefore such is the law Divine;
for all law Divine is of order,
insomuch that whether we say the law Divine,
or the law of Divine order, it is the same.

Those who believe that a person
can be immediately introduced into heaven,
and that this is solely of the Lord's mercy,
are very much mistaken.
If this were possible,
all whatsoever who are in hell
would be raised into heaven,
for the Lord's mercy extends to all.
But it is according to order
that everyone carries with him his life
which he had lived in the world,
and his state in the other life is according to this,
and that the mercy of the Lord flows in with all,
but is diversely received,
and by those who are in evil, is rejected;
and as in the world
they have permeated themselves with evil,
they also retain it in the other life,
nor is amendment possible in the other life,
for the tree lies where it has fallen.
From all this it is evident
that it is according to order
that those who have lived in good,
and with whom there are also gross and impure things
which pertain to the love of the world and the love of self,
cannot be associated with those who are in the heavens
until these things have been removed.
From all this it is evident
that liberation from infestations
is effected successively by degrees.

AC 7167 - The Law Divine

AC 7167

For the law Divine
is truth Divine proceeding from the Lord,
and that which proceeds from the Lord
is Divine good and truth;
and Divine good is love and charity,
and Divine truth is faith.

AC 7155 - "They Saw They Were in Evil"; AC 7161 - Odor and Stink

AC 7155 - "They Saw They Were in Evil

. . . that by "they saw that they were in evil" (Exodus 5:19)
is meant that they perceived themselves
to be near damnation.
For as those who are in despair
suppose that they can no longer endure the assaults,
they think that they must need
to deliver themselves up as captives to falsities,
such being the state of despair;
but then they begin to be relieved,
and to be led as it were out of thick darkness into light.

AC 7161 - Odor and Stink

. . . the meaning of "odor,"
as being the perceptivity of what is grateful;
and as "odor" denotes the perceptivity of what is grateful,
it denotes the perceptivity of faith and charity,
for these are grateful;
and because these are grateful,
compliance is most grateful,
for compliance is the very good itself of faith and charity;
so here it is that by "odor" is here meant compliance.

As "odor" denotes all that which is grateful to the Lord,
so "stink" denotes that which is ungrateful to the Lord,
consequently "stink" denotes aversion,
and also abomination.
Moreover, "stink" actually corresponds to
the aversion and abomination which are of falsity and evil.
As "stink" denotes that which belongs to aversion,
it is used in the Word to denote aversion . . ..

AC 7131 - Stubble for Straw; AC 7153 - What Seems to Matter Little

AC 7131 - Stubble for Straw

To gather stubble for straw.
(Exodus 5:12)

That this means to find some truth of memory-knowledge,
is evident from the meaning of "stubble for straw,"
as being the truth of memory-knowledge,
for "stubble" denotes such truth
as is accommodated to the memory-knowledge
that is signified by "straw."
That "stubble" denotes such truth
is because it is the stalk in the top of which is the seed,
and by "seeds" in the Word are meant truths and goods;
thus by the stalk which is beneath them
is meant the general vessel of truth,
consequently the truth of memory-knowledge;
for the memory-knowledges of faith and charity
are indeed truths, but general truths,
thus are the recipient vessels
of particular and singular truths,
as can also be seen by everyone.

AC 7153 - What Seems to Matter Little

These then are the things contained in these verses
in the internal sense,
and which to people
may perhaps appear as of but little moment,
and also disconnected;
nevertheless they are each of them
essential to the subject treated of,
and cohere most beautifully.
That this is so is perceived by the angels,
for they see the series and connection of things
in the light of heaven,
together with countless secret things
that are shaped from interior truths,
giving rise to a form that is most beautiful and pleasing;
which cannot possibly be done by a person,
because interior truths have been hidden from him,
and consequently he cannot connect them together;
but they appear to him disconnected,
and therefore, as just said, of little moment.

AC 7122 - The Combat for Our Soul

AC 7122

. . . before truths and goods can appear,
and the person can then be associated
with those who are in heaven,
it is necessary that these evils and falsities be uncovered,
so that he may see them and know them,
and thus learn what is true and what is good.
This cannot possibly be done
without combat with the evils and falsities in himself;
which combat takes place actually,
the evil spirits exciting falsities and evils,
and the angels excusing if the end has been good,
and instilling truths.
This is perceived as if it were in himself,
as is the case with temptation in a person,
which is felt no otherwise than as being in him,
when yet it is
the combat of angels with evil spirits outside of him.

AC 7090 - Temptations and the Church Militant

AC 7090 [3-4]

At this day also,
those who are of the church and have filled their ideas
with worldly and also with earthly things,
and have caused the truths of faith
to be joined to such things,
are let down to the lower earth,
and are also in combats there;
and this until these worldly and earthly things
have been separated from the truths of faith,
and such things have been implanted
as will prevent their being further joined together.
When this is over,
they are lifted up from there into heaven;
for until such things have been removed,
they cannot possibly be with the angels,
because these worldly and earthly things
are darkness and defilements,
which do not accord with the light and purity of heaven.
These worldly and earthly things
cannot be separated and removed
except by means of combats against falsities.
These combats take place in this way:
they who are in the lower earth
are infested by the fallacies and derivative falsities
which are sent forth from the infernals round about,
but are refuted by the Lord through heaven;
and at the same time truths are instilled,
and these truths appear
as if they were in those who are in the combats.

So it is that the spiritual church is to be called "militant."
But at this day it is rarely a militant church
with anyone in the world,
for while the person of the church lives in the world
he cannot endure combat,
because of the crowd of evil ones
in the midst of whom he is;
and because of the flesh in which he is,
which is weak.
In the other life
a person can be kept firmly in the bonds of conscience,
but not so in the world;
for if in the world he is brought into anything of despair,
as those are wont to be who are in combats,
he forthwith bursts these bonds;
and if he bursts them,
he then yields;
and if he so yields,
it is all over with his salvation.
So it is that few within the church at this day
are admitted by the Lord
into combats for truths against falsities.
These combats are spiritual temptations.

AC 7089 - The Divine Law

AC 7089

By the Divine law which Moses represents
is meant the Word such as it is in its internal sense,
thus such as it is in the heavens;
but by doctrine is meant the Word
such as it is in its literal sense,
thus as it is on the earth;
how much these differ,
can be seen from what has been thus far unfolded
in respect to the internal sense of the Word.

Take as an illustration the ten commandments,
which specifically are called the "Law."
The literal sense of these is that parents are to be honored,
that murder is not to be committed,
nor adultery, nor theft, and so on;
but the internal sense is that the Lord is to be worshiped;
that hatred must not be felt;
that truth must not be falsified;
and that we must not claim for ourselves
that which belongs to the Lord.
This is how these four commandments of the Decalogue
are understood in heaven,
and the rest also in their own way.
For in the heavens
they know no other Father than the Lord;
therefore by that parents are to be honored,
they understand that the Lord is to be worshiped:
neither do they know in the heavens what killing is,
for they live to eternity;
but instead of killing they understand feeling hatred,
and injuring the spiritual life of anyone;
neither do they know in the heavens
what it is to commit adultery,
and therefore instead they perceive
that which corresponds, namely, not to falsify truth;
and instead of stealing
they perceive not to take anything away from the Lord,
and claim it to themselves,
as for instance good and truth.

Such is this law, and the whole Word too, in the heavens;
thus such it is in the internal sense;
indeed, it is still deeper,
for most things that are thought and said in the heavens
do not fall into words of human speech,
because in the heavens is a spiritual world
and not a natural;
and the things of the spiritual world
transcend those of the natural world,
as immaterial things transcend those which are material.
Yet as material things correspond to immaterial,
the latter can be set forth by means of material things,
thus by natural speech,
but not by spiritual speech.
For spiritual speech is not a speech of material words,
but of spiritual words,
which are ideas modified into words in the spiritual aura,
and represented by variations of heavenly light,
which light in itself is nothing
but Divine intelligence and wisdom
proceeding from the Lord.
From all this it can be seen
what is meant in its genuine sense
by the Divine law which Moses represents,
and what by the doctrine derived from there,
which Aaron represents.

AC 7083 - Heat and Light

AC 7083

The heat and light in the natural world
arise from the sun of the world;
but spiritual heat and light, or love and faith,
arise from the sun of heaven.
The sun of heaven is the Lord;
the heat which comes from Him as a sun is love,
and the light which comes from Him as a sun is faith.
That the Lord is light is evident from these words in John:

Jesus said, I am the light of the world,
he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life.
(John 8:12);

and that the Lord is a sun is evident in Matthew:

When Jesus was transfigured,
His face shone as the sun,
and His garments became white as the light.
(Matthew 17:2)  

AC 7058 - Moses, Aaron, the Lord and the Truth Proceeding

AC 7058 [1, 3]

And Moses told Aaron all the words of Jehovah.
(Exodus 4:30)

That this signifies the influx
of the truth proceeding immediately
from the Divine of the Lord
into the truth which proceeds mediately,
and instruction in the details of doctrine,
is evident from the signification of "telling," as being influx;
from the representation of Moses,
as being the truth proceeding immediately
from the Divine of the Lord;
from the representation of Aaron,
as being the truth proceeding mediately
from the Divine of the Lord;
and from the signification of "all the words of Jehovah,"
as being the details of doctrine.
Instruction is signified by
"Moses told the words to Aaron,"
for instruction from the Divine
is effected by means of influx,
which influx is signified by "telling."
From all this it is evident that
by "Moses told Aaron all the words of Jehovah"
is signified the influx of the truth
proceeding immediately from the Divine of the Lord
into the truth which proceeds mediately,
and instruction in the details of doctrine.

It is said truth proceeding immediately
from the Divine of the Lord,
although in the internal sense
the subject here treated of is the Lord
when He was in the world,
and when He called upon His Father
as separate from Himself.
But how the case herein is,
has been occasionally told before, namely,
that the Divine Itself, or Jehovah, was in Him,
for He was conceived of Jehovah;
and therefore He also calls Him His "Father,"
and Himself His "Son."
But the Lord was then in the human
that was infirm by heredity from the mother,
and insofar as He was in this,
so far Jehovah or the Divine Itself
which was in Him appeared to be absent;
but insofar as the Lord was in the Human glorified,
or made Divine,
so far Jehovah or the Divine Itself was present,
and in the very Human.
From this then it can be known how it is to be understood
that the truth
which had proceeded immediately from the Divine
was from the Divine of the Lord.

AC 7044 - Purification and the Truths of Faith; AC 7048 - Representing or Being a Church; AC 7051 - The Mercy of the Lord

AC 7044 - Purification and the Truths of Faith

The reason why purification
is effected by means of the truths of faith,
is that these teach what is good,
and also what is evil,
and thus what ought to be done,
and what ought not to be done;
and when a person knows these truths,
and wills to act according to them,
he is then led by the Lord,
and is purified by His Divine means.

AC 7048 - Representing or Being a Church

That is one thing to represent a church,
and another to be a church,
is evident from the fact
that even the evil can represent a church,
but none except the good can be a church;
for to represent a church is merely external.

AC 7051 - The Mercy of the Lord

. . . the mercy of the Lord is toward
every person who abstains from evil
and is willing to live in good,
and thus who suffers himself
to be led of the Lord and to be regenerated,
which is effected by the unbroken course of his life.

 

AC 7038 - "To Serve the Lord"

AC 7038

That "to serve the Lord" denotes to perform uses,
is because true worship consists in the performance of uses,
thus in the exercises of charity.
He who believes that serving the Lord
consists solely in frequenting a place of worship,
in hearing preaching there, and in praying,
and that this is sufficient,
is much mistaken.
The very worship of the Lord consists in performing uses;
and during a person's life in the world
uses consist in everyone's discharging aright
his duty in his station,
thus from the heart being of service to his country,
to societies, and to the neighbor,
in dealing sincerely with his fellow,
and in performing kind offices with prudence
in accordance with each person's character.
These uses are chiefly the works of charity,
and are those whereby the Lord is chiefly worshiped.
Frequenting a place of worship,
hearing sermons, and saying prayers,
are also necessary;
but without the above uses they avail nothing,
because they are not of the life,
but teach what the life must be.
The angels in heaven have all happiness from uses,
and according to uses,
so that to them uses are heaven.