5897. “为要给你们存留余种在这地上” 表教会的中间和至内在部分。这从 “余种” 的含义清楚可知, “余种” 是指与真理联结并被主储存在人里面的良善 (468, 530, 560, 561, 660, 1050, 1906, 2284, 5135, 5342节), 在此是指教会中间和至内在部分。之所以说 “中间和至内在部分”, 是因为人里面的至内在之物占据属世层的中间, 至内在之物和相对内在之物便在那里共存。一般来说, 哪里有一系列连续接踵而来的事物, 并又有另一个系列使得它们能在其中分布并共存, 如属世层的情形, 哪里这个系列的至内在部分与另一个系列的中间或中心部分是同一个东西。这就是至内在的事物在更外在的事物里面排列自己的方式。

“为要给你们存留余种在这地上” 暗示教会的至内在部分必存在于雅各的儿子们中间。并不是说他们自己要在这至内在部分, 而是说表面上处处看似一个真教会的教会代表要建在他们中间, 圣言也要存在于那里。这些就是当论及教会、从这个民族抽象出来理解时的 “余种” (经上或译为余剩）所表示的事。

圣言各处都提到 “余种” 或 “余剩”, 以及 “余民”; 照纯文字来理解这两个词的话, 它们表示一个人民或民族当中的余剩或余民。但迄今为止, 人们完全不知道它们在灵义上表示被主储存在内层人中的良善与真理; 如在以下经文中, 以赛亚书:

到那日, 耶和华发生的苗必华美尊荣, 地出产的果实必为以色列逃脱的人显为荣华茂盛。那时, 剩在锡安留在耶路撒冷的, 就是一切住耶路撒冷, 在生命册上记名的, 必称为圣。(以赛亚书 4:2, 3)

“剩在锡安留在耶路撒冷的”, 以及 “在生命册上记名的” 和其他人一样, 绝不会成圣; 因此, “剩下和留下的” 明显表示神圣并记在生命册上的事物。这些事物就是与真理联结并被主储存在内层人中的良善。

同一先知书:

到那日, 以色列所剩下的和雅各家所逃脱的, 不再倚靠那击打他们的, 却要诚实倚靠耶和华以色列的圣者。所剩下的, 就是雅各家所剩下的, 必归回大能的神。(以赛亚书 10:20, 21)

“剩下的 (或余剩）” 不是指任何人民或民族的余民, 这一点从以下事实可以看出来: 在圣言中, 尤其在先知书部分, “以色列” 不是指以色列, “雅各” 也不是指雅各; 这二者表示教会和构成教会的东西。正因如此, “剩下的 (或余剩）” 不是指以色列和雅各的余民, 而是指构成教会的真理和良善。当经上说 “一个人民的余剩” 和 “一个民族的余民” 时, 他们并非表示任何人民的余剩或任何民族的余民; 因为 “人民 (经上或译百姓）” 在内义上表示真理 (1259, 1260, 3295, 3581节), “民族” 表示良善 (1259, 1260, 1416节)。这一点, 即 “剩下的 (或余剩）” 表示真理与良善之所以一直不为人知, 看似很奇怪, 是因为字义, 尤其它呈现为历史形式的地方, 将人的心思吸引走, 并强有力地阻止它深入思考这类观念。

同一先知书:

余剩的百姓, 就是从亚述剩下回来的, 必有一条大道, 如当日以色列从埃及地上来经过红海一样。(以赛亚书 11:16)

“从亚述剩下的” 同样是指那些没有通过错误的推理而被毁坏的人; 因为 “亚述” 表示这类推理 (参看1186节)。又:

到那日, 万军之耶和华必作祂余剩之民的荣冠华冕。(以赛亚书 28:5)

又:

犹大家所逃脱余剩的, 仍要往下扎根, 向上结果。必有余剩的民从耶路撒冷而出; 必有逃脱的人从锡安山而来。(以赛亚书 37:31, 32)

又:

在地中所剩的人都要吃奶油与蜂蜜。(以赛亚书 7:22)

耶利米书:

我要将我羊群中所余剩的, 从我赶他们到的各地内招聚出来, 领他们归回本圈, 他们也必繁殖增多。(耶利米书 23:3)

又:

在剑下幸存的人民, 在旷野蒙恩, 我要将安息赐给他, 赐给以色列。(耶利米书 31:2)

“在剑下幸存的人民” 是指那些被称为 “小孩子” 的人, 其余的都死了以后, 他们被领到迦南地。这些 “小孩子” 就是余民, 他们表示纯真的良善, 把他们引到迦南地代表并入主的国度。

以西结书:

我要保留一些余剩的人, 你们中有人得以在列族中逃脱刀剑, 分散在地上。那时, 你们那些逃脱的人必在被掳所到的各族中记念我。(以西结书 6:8, 9)

“他们分散并被掳所到的各族中余剩的人和留下的人” 之所以代表主储存在人之内层中的良善与真理, 是因为人不断在邪恶与虚假当中, 被它们所掳。邪恶与虚假就是 “各族或列邦” 所表示的。外在人在脱离内在人时, 完全就在它们中间, 所以若非主将良善与真理聚敛起来, 它们在人生命过程的各个阶段被注入人, 此人就绝无可能得救。没有余留或余剩, 任何人都没有救恩。

约珥书:

到那凡求告耶和华名的必得逃脱; 因为照耶和华所说的, 在锡安山, 耶路撒冷必有逃脱的人, 在剩下的人中, 必有耶和华所召的。(约珥书 2:32)

弥迦书:

雅各余剩的人必在列族当中, 在多民中间, 如森林间百兽中的狮子。(弥迦书 5:8)

西番雅书:

以色列所剩下的人必不作罪孽, 不说谎言, 口中也没有诡诈的舌头; 而且吃喝躺卧, 无人惊吓。(西番雅书 3:13)

这些话描述了剩下之人的品质, 众所周知, 被称为 “以色列” 的百姓从来就不曾有这种品质。由此也明显可知, “剩下的人” (或余民）具有其它含义; 显然, 这些是指良善与真理, 因为这些才是那 “不作罪孽, 不说谎言, 口中也没有诡诈的舌头” 的。

撒迦利亚书:

城中街上必满有男孩女孩在街上玩耍。这事在我余剩的民眼中看为希奇, 但如今, 我待这余剩的民必不像从前。因为这余剩的民将是平安之种; 葡萄树必结果子, 地土必有出产, 天也必降甘露。我要使这余剩的民承受这一切。(撒迦利亚书 8:5, 6, 11, 12);

“余剩的民” 在此被称为 “平安之种”, 他们就是拥有源于良善的真理之人, “葡萄树必结果子, 地土必有出产, 天也必降甘露” 描述了这些真理所结的硕果。

灵义上所指的余留或余剩因邪恶的生活和虚假的信念而被如此封闭, 以至于不再显现。当首先出于情感接受真理, 后来又出于情感否认它时, 它们就被毁了; 因为当这种情况发生时, 真理与虚假就会混在一起, 这就是所谓的亵渎。关于这类余剩或余留, 我们在圣言, 如以赛亚书中读到:

耶和华将人迁走; 旷野在这地中增多; 那里若还有十分之一, 也必连根拔起。(以赛亚书 6:12, 13)

“十” 表示余剩或余留 (参看276, 1906, 2284节)。又:

我必治死你的根; 你所余剩的人他必杀戮。(以赛亚书 14:30)

这论及非利士人, 他们是指那些拥有认知的知识, 但没有照之生活的人 (1197, 1198, 3412, 3413节); 所余剩的人被称为 “根”, 是因为使得人成为真正之人的良善与真理从他们, 如同从根发出。所以, “耶和华将人迁走” (如刚才所引用的以赛亚书中的经文）表示毁灭余留或余剩。

耶利米书:

年轻人必死在剑下; 他们的儿女必因饥荒而死; 并且没有余剩的人留给他们。(耶利米书 11:22, 23);

这论及亚拿突人。又:

我必使那转脸进入埃及地寄居在那里的犹大余剩的人, 尽都灭绝; 进入埃及地, 住在那里的, 无人逃脱, 也没有一个犹大余剩的人。(耶利米书 44:12, 14, 28)

犹大人之所以不能在埃及寄居, 也不能住在那里, 他们被严厉禁止这样做, 是因为犹大支派代表主的属天教会, 属天之人根本不想知道 “埃及” 所表示的记忆知识。因为他们从他们所在的属天良善知道一切, 如果他们真的去往或使用记忆知识, 属天良善就会灭亡。事实上, 由于主的属天国度的成员处于属天良善, 属天真理是仁爱, 而属灵真理是信仰, 所以他们甚至不愿提及信仰, 唯恐他们从良善 “下去” 并 “回头看” (参看202, 337, 2715, 3246, 4448节)。这些事也是这些话的意思:

在房顶上的, 不要下来拿家里的东西。在田里的, 也不要回去取衣裳。(马太福音 24:17, 18)

参看刚才5895节。这些事同样路加福音中这句话的意思:

你们要回想罗得的妻子。(路加福音 17:32)

她回头看, 变成一根盐柱。关于一看和回头, 可参看前文 (2454, 3652节)。

彻底被毁, 甚至没有一个人剩下的列族代表他们当中的罪孽满盈, 以致没有丝毫良善与真理幸存下来, 因而没有任何余留或余剩; 如摩西五经:

他们击杀了巴珊王噩和他的众子并他的众民, 没有留下一个幸存者。(民数记 21:35; 申命记 3:3)

又:

我们夺了西宏的一切城邑, 将有人居住的各城, 连男带女, 以及小孩子尽都毁灭, 没有留下一个幸存者。(申命记 2:34)

其它经文也记着列族的彻底毁灭。

关于余留或余剩, 即主储存在人之内层中的良善与真理, 情况是这样: 当人出于情感, 因而出于自由处于良善与真理时, 良善与真理就被植入人内。并且当这种情况发生时, 天堂的天使就会靠近, 并与此人联结。正是天使与他的这种联结使得与真理结合的良善来存在于人的内层中。但是, 当外在事物占据人的注意力, 如他忙于追求世俗和肉体事物时, 天使就会离开; 一旦他们离开, 这些良善与真理就连一丝痕迹也不显现了。然而, 由于这种联结已经实现, 所以此人有能力与天使联结, 进而与属于他们的良善并真理联结。只是这种联结不如主所愿的那样经常和充分, 主照着对那人最有利的方向来掌控局势。

9828. 'And a belt' means a common bond to ensure that everything has the same end in view. This is clear from the meaning of 'a belt' or girdle as a common bond; for it gathers together, encloses, holds in connection within itself, and strengthens everything within, which without it would fall apart and drift away. The reason why it is a common bond whose purpose is to ensure that everything has the same end in view is that in the spiritual world the end in view holds sway, so much so that everything there should be called an end. For the Lord's kingdom, which is a spiritual world, is a kingdom of useful services, and such services there are ends in view, so that it is a kingdom of ends. But the ends there follow one another in various order, and they also stand in association with one another. The ends which follow one another are called middle ends, but those which stand in association with one another are called associate ends. All these ends have been so linked together and made subordinate to one another that without exception they have one end in view. This end is the Lord; and in heaven, among those who accept it, it is a love of and faith in Him. Love there is the end in view of all the powers of the will there, and faith is the end in view of all the powers of thought, which are those of the understanding.

[2] When every single thing has the same end in view all things are then held in uninterrupted connection and make one; for everything is then under the eye, government, and providence of the One who, acting in accord with the laws of subordination and association, turns everyone towards Himself, and thereby joins them to Himself. At the same time He turns all to face their companions, and thereby joins them to one another. This explains why the faces of all who are in heaven are kept turned towards the Lord, who is the Sun there, and so is the centre point in front of everyone's eyes; and the marvel is that He is there in whatever direction angels turn round to face, 3638. And since the Lord is present within the good of mutual love and within the good of charity towards the neighbour - for all are loved by Him, and are joined to one another by Him through love - their regard for their companions, which that love gives them, also serves to turn them towards the Lord.

[3] Those things therefore on last and lowest levels, gathering others together and enclosing them so they may be held, every single one, in such connection, were represented by belts or girdles, which in the spiritual world are nothing other than the forms of good and the truths present on lowest or outermost levels which enclose more internal ones. Celestial forms of good on lowest or outermost levels were represented by girdles that went around the loins, and spiritual forms of good and truths on those levels by girdles that went around the thighs and also around the breast.

[4] Such things are meant by 'girdles around the loins' in the following places: In Jeremiah,

Jehovah said to the prophet, Buy yourself a linen girdle, and place it over your loins; but you are not to pass it through water. I therefore bought a girdle, and placed it over my loins. Then the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Take the girdle, and go away to the Euphrates, and hide it in the cleft of a rock. At the end of many days I went away to the Euphrates, and took the girdle, and behold, it was ruined; it was profitable for nothing. Then Jehovah said, This people is evil, refusing to hear My words; and they have gone after other gods. Therefore they will be just like this girdle that is profitable for nothing. Jeremiah 13:1-12.

'A linen girdle' here is used to mean in the spiritual sense the Church's good, which encloses the truths there and holds them in connection within itself. The non-existence of the Church's good at that time, and the consequent dispersal of its truths, are the reason for its being said that the girdle was not to be passed through water; for 'water' means truth that purifies and thereby restores. 'The cleft of a rock' in which it was hidden is falsified truth; 'the Euphrates' is the full extent and boundary of the celestial realities that belong to good on its lowest level. Anyone unacquainted with the essential nature of the Word may think that the passage is no more than a comparison of the people and their ruination with a girdle and its ruination. But in the Word all comparisons and metaphorical ways of speaking are real correspondences, 3579, 8989. Unless each detail in this description were of a correspondential nature the prophet would never have been told not to pass the girdle through water, or to place it over his loins, or to go to the Euphrates and hide it there in the cleft of a rock. The reason why it says that the girdle should be placed over his loins is that by 'the loins', because of their correspondence, is meant the good of celestial love, 3021, 4280, 5050-5062. A girdle placed over the loins accordingly means being joined to the Lord through the good of love, the Word serving as the intermediary.

[5] The meaning of 'a girdle' as good that acts as a boundary and holds things together is also evident in Isaiah,

There will come forth a shoot from the trunk of Jesse. Righteousness will be the girdle of His loins, and truth the girdle of His thighs. Isaiah 11:1, 5.

This refers to the Lord. 'Righteousness' that will be 'the girdle of His loins' is the good of His love, which protects heaven and the Church. The requirement stated in Exodus 12:11 that when the children of Israel ate the Passover their loins were to be girded means that all things should be present in their proper order, made ready to receive good from the Lord and to take action, 7863. This explains why those who have been made ready are said to be 'girded', as is also said of the seven angels in the Book of Revelation,

Out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in linen, white and splendid, and girded around their breasts with golden girdles. Revelation 15:6.

[6] It is said of Elijah in 2 Kings 1:8 that he was a hairy man and wore a girdle of skin around his loins. Much the same is said of John,

John had a garment of camel hair and a skin girdle around his waist. Matthew 3:4.

The reason why Elijah and John were clothed and girded in this way was that both men represented the Word, and therefore their clothes mean the Word in its external sense, which is the natural sense. For 'hair' means the natural, 3301, 5247, 5569-5573, and 'camels' general facts within the natural, 3048, 3071, 3143, 3145. And 'skin' means the external, 3540, so that 'a girdle of skin' means that which collects together, encloses, and holds in connection the things within itself. For the representation of Elijah as the Word, see Preface to Genesis 18, and 2762, 5247 (end), and John the Baptist similarly, 9372.

[7] Since truths and forms of good are dissolved and dispersed by wicked deeds it says of Joab that after he had tricked and killed Abner he put the blood of war on his girdle that was on his loins, 1 Kings 2:5. This means that he dispersed and destroyed such truths and forms of good. This accounts for its being said, when truths have been dispersed and destroyed, that instead of a girdle there will be a falling apart, and instead of well-set hair, baldness, Isaiah 3:24. This refers to the daughters of Zion, by whom forms of good belonging to the celestial Church are meant. 'Instead of a girdle, a falling apart' stands for the dispersal of celestial good.

[8] It is also said in Ezekiel of Oholibah, who is Jerusalem, that when she looked at men portrayed on the wall, images of Chaldeans portrayed in vermilion, girded with girdles on their loins, she fell in love with them, Ezekiel 23:14-16. Here truths which have been rendered profane are meant, for 'the Chaldeans' are those who outwardly claim to believe in truths but inwardly repudiate them, and in so doing render them profane. 'Men portrayed on the wall' are the appearances of truth in outward things, as in like manner are 'images portrayed in vermilion'. 'Girdles' with which their loins were girded are the forms of good which they fake to induce belief in their truths.

[9] From all this it may now be clear what it was that girdles gathering garments into one served to mean in the representative Church. Yet the natural man can scarcely be brought to believe that such things were meant, because he finds it difficult to put aside the natural idea of a girdle, and in general of garments, and instead adopt a spiritual idea, which is that of good holding truths in connection within itself. For the natural level on which a person sees things holds the mind down on that level, and it is not removed from there unless the sight of the understanding is able to be raised right up into the light of heaven and the person is for this reason able to think on a level virtually divorced from natural things. When this happens to a person spiritual ideas of the truth of faith and of the good of love, which the merely natural man cannot understand, enter in.