774. That by the “wild animal after its kind” is signified every spiritual good, and by “beast after its kind” every natural good, and by “creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” every sensuous and corporeal good, has been stated and shown before n. 45, 46, 142, 143, 246). At first view it may appear as if it could not be that the “wild animal” signifies spiritual good; yet that this is the true signification appears from the series of expressions, in that mention is first made of “they” meaning the man of the church; next of “wild animal;” then of “beast;” and lastly of “creeping thing.” So that “wild animal” involves what is of higher worth and excellence than “beast” the reason of which is that in the Hebrew language the expression “wild animal” means also an animal in which there is a living soul. And so it does not here mean every wild animal, but every animal in which there is a living soul, for it is the same word. That by “animals” “beasts” and “creeping things that creep upon the earth” are signified things pertaining to the will, has been stated and shown before, and will be further shown in what presently follows, where birds will be spoken of.