2967. “商人通用” 表适合他们的状态. 这从 “商人”, 因而 “商人通用” 的含义清楚可知. 在圣言中, “商人” 表示那些拥有良善与真理的认知之人, 而他们的货物则表示那些认知本身. 因此, “商人通用的银子” 表示尽管可能被接受的真理, 或也可说, 适合各人状态和能力的真理. 谁都能看出, 所加上的这个词含有某种奥秘.

下面会说明 “商人” 和 “货物” 的具体含义, 不过, 整个词语总的含义乃是这样: 凡正被改造和重生的人都被主赋予仁与信, 但各人照自己的能力和状态来接受. 因为人从小所吸收的邪恶与虚假使得一个人接受被赋予之物的方式不同于其他人的. 在人能被重生之前, 这些邪恶与虚假必须先被消磨掉. 消磨后剩余的属天和属灵生命的量就决定了剩下的东西能被真理照亮, 并富含良善的程度. 这就是余留, 也就是主储存在人里面, 那时接受生命的良善与真理. 这些良善与真理是从婴幼儿甚至直到改造之时所获得的, 并且在这个人身上可能多一些, 在那个人身上可能少一些. 它们被保存在他的内在人里面, 无法被带出来, 除非他的外在人被带入与内在人相对应的状态, 这种对应状态主要通过试探, 以及多种多样的消磨实现. 事实上, 在违背良善与真理 (这就是构成我欲和物欲的渴望的性质) 的渴望沉寂之前, 属于对良善与真理情感的属天和属灵的渴望无法流入进来. 这就是为何各人照自己的状态和能力被改造的原因. 这也是主针对往国外去的人以比喻所教导的:

他就叫了仆人来, 把他的家业交给他们; 按着各人的才干, 一个给了五千, 一个给了二千, 一个给了一千. 那领五千的拿它们做买卖, 另外赚了五千; 那领二千的也照样另赚了二千. (马太福音 25:14-17等)

对于十个仆人, 也是这样教导的: 他交给他们十锭银子, 好叫他们拿去作生意 (路加福音 19:12-13等).

“商人” 表那些拥有良善与真理的认知之人, “货物” 表这些认知本身. 这从刚才所引用的马太福音和路加福音的经文, 以及下面这些经文明显看出来. 以西结书:

对推罗说, 推罗啊, 你居住海口, 是众民的商埠, 交易通到许多海岛, 他施人因你多有各类的财物, 就作你的客商, 拿银, 铁, 锡, 铅兑换你的货物. 雅完人, 土巴人, 米设人都与你交易; 他们用人口 (soul of man) 和铜器兑换你的货物. 底但人与你交易; 许多海岛作你手下的码头. 亚兰人因你的手工品很多, 就作你的客商. 犹大和以色列地都与你交易; 他们用米匿的麦子, 饼, 蜜, 油, 乳香兑换你的货物. 大马色人因你的手工品很多, 又因你多有各类的财物, 就拿黑本酒和白羊毛与你交易. 威但人和雅完人拿纺成的线兑换你的货物. 底但人用骑马的坐垫与你交易. 亚拉伯人和基达的一切首领都作你手下的客商, 用羊羔, 公绵羊, 公山羊与你交易. 示巴和拉玛的商人与你交易, 他们用各类上好的香料跟你交易. 亚述人, 基抹人与你交易. 这些商人以美好的货物与你交易. (以西结书 27:3, 12-13, 15-24).

这几节经文论及推罗, “推罗” 表示良善与真理的认知 (参看1201节), 这从所有细节明显看出来. 此处所提到的 “交易”, “货物” 和 “器物” 无非是指这些认知, 推罗因此被称为 “居住海口” 的 (“水” 表认知, “海” 表这些认知的汇集, 参看28节). 推罗还被称为 “众民的商埠, 交易通到许多海岛”, 也就是说, 甚至延伸到那些在敬拜上更遥远的人那里, “海岛” 表示更遥远的敬拜形式 (参看1158节). 至于 “他施” 表示什么, 这在前面已解释过 (1156节). 他施的 “银, 铁, 锡, 铅” 表甚至直到最后的感官真理都井然有序的真理. 从前文可以看出 “银子” 表示什么 (1551, 2048节), “铁” 表示什么 (425, 426节), 以及 “雅完人, 土巴人, 米设人” 又表示什么 (1151-1153, 1155节). “人口” (soul of man) 和那些地方的铜器表示与属世生命有关的事物, “灵魂” (soul) 表来自主的一切生命 (参看1000, 1040, 1436, 1742节); “铜器” 表示从那生命所接受的属灵良善 (425, 1551节). 前面解释了 “底但” (参看1172节) 和 “亚兰” (Syria, 参看1232, 1234节) 的含义. “犹大和以色列地用米匿的麦子, 饼, 蜜, 油, 乳香与你交易” 表示来自主的属天和属灵之物. 所提到的其它民族及其货物则表示真理与良善的各种属和种类, 因而表示 “推罗” 所指的那些人具有的认知.

智慧和聪明就出自这类认知, 这明显可见于以西结书, 在那里, 经上如此说:

人子啊, 你对推罗君王说你靠自己的智慧聪明得了资财, 得了金银财宝, 收入库中. 你靠自己的大智慧和贸易增添资财, 又因资财心里高傲. 所以, 看哪, 我必使外邦人, 就是列族中凶暴的人临到你这里. (以西结书 28:2, 4-7)

显然, 他们交易的货物表示良善与真理的认知, 因为智慧和聪明由此而来, 并非出自其它源头. 故经上说 “你靠自己的智慧聪明得了资财, 得了金银财宝, 收入库中”. 不过, 若出于自私的目的寻求这些认知, 如为了显赫, 为了赚取名声或财富, 那么它们就没有任何生命可言, 那些拥有它们的人也会完全丧失它们. 在世时, 他们通过信奉虚假而非真理, 信奉邪恶而非良善丧失这些认知, 在来世甚至会完全推动那些真实事物. 这就是为何经上说 “又因资财心里高傲, 所以, 看哪, 我必使外邦人 (即虚假), 就是列族中凶暴的人 (即邪恶) 临到你这里”.

在同一先知书的另一处:

推罗就像在海中沉寂的一座城; 你由海上运出货物, 就使许多国民充足; 你以许多资财, 货物, 使地上的君王丰富. 你在深水中被海浪打破的时候, 你的货物和你中间所有的同伴, 就都沉下去了; 各民中的客商都向你发嘶声. (以西结书 27:32-34, 36)

以赛亚书:

关于推罗的预言. 沿海的居民当静默无言; 西顿的商人横渡洋海的人充满了你; 在大水之上, 西曷的种, 尼罗河的庄稼是她的进项, 作列族的商埠. 谁策划这事来攻击推罗呢? 她是赐自己冠冕的, 她的商人是王子. (以赛亚书 23:2-3, 8)

这论述的是推罗的荒凉.

“交易” 和 “货物” 同样用来论及 “巴比伦”, 不过, 它们是被玷污的良善的认知和被歪曲的真理的认知. 如启示录:

巴比伦使列族喝她邪淫大怒的酒, 地上的君王与她行淫, 地上的客商因她极度奢华就发了财. 地上的客商也都为她哭泣悲哀, 因为没有人再买他们的货物了; 这货物就是金, 银, 宝石, 珍珠, 细麻布, 紫色料, 绸子, 朱红色料. 这些物件的商人藉着她发了财, 因怕她的折磨, 必远远地站着哭泣悲哀. (启示录 18:3, 11, 15)

“巴比伦” 表敬拜, 其外在看似神圣, 但内在却是污秽的 (参看1182, 1283, 1295, 1304, 1306, 1326节). 由此明显可知其 “交易” 和 “货物” 是什么.

“商人” 表示为自己获取真理与良善的认知, 并由此获得聪明和智慧的人. 这可从主在马太福音中的话明显看出来:

天国又好像商人寻找好珠子, 遇见一颗重价的珠子, 就去变卖他一切所有的, 买了它. (马太福音 13:45-46);

“好珠子” 就是仁爱, 或信之良善.

一切良善与真理的认知皆来自主, 这在以赛亚书中有所教导:

耶和华如此说, 埃及劳碌得来的和古实的货物必归你, 身量高大的西巴人必过来归你, 也要属你. 他们必随从你, 又向你下拜, 向你祈求你说, 神真在你们中间, 此外再没有别神! (以赛亚书 45:14)

这论述的是主的神性人.

综上所述, 可以看出 “交易”, 也就是买卖, 是什么意思; 也就是为自己获取良善与真理的认知, 并利用它们获得良善本身 . 这良善唯独从主那里获得, 这清楚可见于同一先知书:

你们一切干渴的都当就近水来, 没有银钱的, 你们也来买了吃; 你们要来, 买酒和奶, 不用银子, 也不用付钱. (以赛亚书 55:1-2)

此处 “买” 表为自己获取; “酒” 表属灵的真理 (1071, 1798节); “奶” 表属灵的良善 (2184节). 谁都能看出, “就近水来” 在此并不是指就近水, “买” 不是指购买, “银子” 不是指银子, “酒和奶” 也不是指酒和奶, 这些事物各自表示在内义上与其相对应的某种事物. 因为圣言是神性, 其中所用的一切表述尽管都来自尘世和人的感官印象, 但都具有与其相对应的神性属灵和属天之物. 圣言是以这种方式而非其它方式成为神性启示的.

2967. 'Current with the merchant' means in conformity with their state. This becomes clear from the meaning of 'a merchant', and, from this, of 'current with the merchant'. In the Word 'a merchant' means people who possess cognitions of good and truth, while 'merchandise' means those cognitions themselves. Consequently 'silver current with the merchant' means truth to the extent that it can be received, or what amounts to the same, in conformity with each individual's state and ability. For the embodiment of some arcanum within this added phrase may be seen by anyone. The specific meaning of 'a merchant' and of 'merchandise' is dealt with below, but the general meaning of the whole phrase is this: Everyone who is being reformed and regenerated has charity and faith conferred on him from the Lord; but each individual receives these according to his ability and his state. For the evils and falsities which a person absorbs from earliest childhood make it impossible for one individual to receive what is given in the same way as any other receives it. Those evils and falsities must first undergo vastation before a person can be regenerated. The amount of celestial and spiritual life left following vastation determines how far what is then left can be enlightened with truth and enriched with good.

[2] It is the remnants, that is, the goods and truths from the Lord stored away in a person, that receive life at that time. The goods and truths acquired in the period from early childhood to when reformation takes place are with one person more, with another less. They are preserved in his internal man, and cannot be brought out until his external man has been brought into a state of correspondence with the internal, which is effected chiefly by means of temptations, and by many kinds of vastation. Indeed until bodily desires which are contrary to goods and truths - as is the nature of desires which constitute self-love and love of the world - become dormant, celestial and spiritual desires that belong to the affection for good and truth cannot enter in. This is the reason why each individual is reformed in conformity with his state and ability. This is also the Lord's teaching in the parable about a man who went away on a journey,

He called his servants and delivered to them his riches. To the first he gave five talents, to the second two, and to the third one, to each according to his own ability. He who received the five talents traded with them and earned five talents more. So too he who received the two earned two more. Matthew 25:14-17, and following verses.

The same teaching also occurs in the parable about the ten servants to whom he gave ten pounds to trade with, Luke 19:12-13, and following verses.

[3] As regards 'a merchant' meaning those who possess cognitions of good and truth and 'merchandise' meaning those cognitions themselves, this is clear from the places which have just been quoted from Matthew and Luke, and also from the following: In Ezekiel,

Say to Tyre, one that dwells upon the entrances of the sea, she that is the trader of the peoples to many islands: Tarshish was your merchant because of the abundance of all riches; silver, iron, tin, and lead they exchanged for your wares. Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were your traders in the souls of men - and they gave vessels of bronze for your commerce. The sons of Dedan were your traders, many islands were the merchandise of your hand. Syria was your merchant in the multitude of your handyworks; Judah and the land of Israel, they were your traders. Wheat of minnith and pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm, they exchanged for your commerce. Damascus was your merchant in the multitude of your handyworks because of the multitude of all riches - in the wine of Helbon and the wool of Zahar. And Dan and Javan exchanged yarn for your wares. Dedan was your trader in chariot-cloaks. ¹ The Arab and all the princes of Kedar were the merchants of your hand in lambs, in rams and goats; in these they were your merchants. The traders of Sheba and Raamah, they were your traders in the best of every spice. Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the traders of Shebah; Asshur, Chilmad, was your trader. These were your traders in choice wares. Ezekiel 27:3, 12-13, 15-24.

These verses refer to Tyre, by which - as may be seen in 1201 and as is evident from all the specific details contained in these verses - cognitions of truth are meant. The tracings and merchandise, and also the wares, mentioned there have no other meaning, for which reason Tyre is described as 'one that dwells upon the entrances of the sea' - 'waters' meaning cognitions and 'the sea' a gathering together of these, 28. Tyre is also called 'the trader of the peoples to many islands', that is, extending even to those whose worship is more remote - 'islands' meaning more remote forms of worship, see 1158. What Tarshish means is explained in 1156, while 'silver, iron, tin, and lead' from there means truths in their own order even to the last, which are sensory truths - what 'silver' means being explained in 1551, 2048, 'iron' in 425, 426.

What 'Javan, Tubal and Meshech' means is explained in 1151-1153, 1155, while 'the souls of men' and 'vessels of bronze' from those places mean things that have to do with natural life - 'soul' meaning all life that comes from the Lord, 1000, 1040, 1436, 1742; 'vessels of bronze' the natural goods which receive that life, 425, 1551. What 'Dedan' means is explained in 1172, 'Syria' in 1232, 1234. 'Judah and the land of Israel were your traders in wheat of minnith and pannag, honey, oil, and balm' means celestial and spiritual things from the Word. The rest of the nations and their merchandise that are mentioned mean different genera and species of truth and good, and so the cognitions that exist with those meant by 'Tyre'.

[4] On such cognitions wisdom and understanding rest, as is quite clear in the same prophet where the following is stated,

Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, By your wisdom and by your intelligence you have gained riches for yourself and gained gold and silver in your treasuries. By the vastness of your wisdom, by your trading, you have increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up on account of your riches; therefore, behold, I am bringing strangers - the terrible of the nations - upon you. Ezekiel 28:2, 4-7.

Here it is quite evident that the commodities with which they traded mean cognitions of good and truth since there is no other source from which wisdom and intelligence may be derived. Hence the statement, 'By your wisdom and by your intelligence you have gained riches for yourself and gained gold and silver in your treasuries'. But when cognitions are sought for the selfish purpose of becoming pre-eminent, and of gaining either reputation or riches, they have no life, and those people who possess them are deprived of such altogether. In this life they are deprived of them by embracing falsities instead of truths and evils instead of goods, and in the next life too they are deprived altogether of those things that are true. This is why it is said, 'Because your heart is lifted up on account of your riches, therefore I am bringing strangers (meaning falsities) - the terrible of nations (meaning evils) - upon you'. And elsewhere in the same prophet,

Tyre is like [a city] destroyed in the midst of the sea. When your wares came out of the seas you satisfied many peoples; with the multitude of your riches and of your commerce you enriched the kings of the earth. Now you are broken by the seas, in the depths of the waters; your commerce and all your company have sunk in the midst of you. The merchants among the peoples hiss at you. ² Ezekiel 27:32-34, 36.

And in Isaiah,

The prophecy concerning Tyre. The inhabitants of the island are silent, O merchant of Sidon passing over the sea; they have replenished you. On the great waters the seed of Shihor, the harvest of the river, was her revenue and was the merchandise of nations. Who has purposed this against Tyre crowning itself, whose merchants were princes? Isaiah 23:2-3, 8.

This refers to the vastation of Tyre.

[5] Merchandise and wares are in a similar way spoken of in reference to Babylon, these being adulterated cognitions of good, and falsified cognitions of truth. In John,

Babylon has given all nations drink from the wine of the fury of her whoredom, and the kings of the earth have committed whoredom with her; and the merchants of the earth, have grown rich from the abundance of her luxuries. The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, since no one buys their wares any more, wares of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, etc. The merchants in these things who were made rich by her will stand far off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning. Revelation 18:3, 11-12, 15.

'Babylon' means worship, the external features of which seem holy but the interior features are unholy, see 1182, 1283, 1295, 1304, 1306, 1326. From this it is evident what its merchandise and wares mean.

[6] That 'a merchant' means one who acquires to himself cognitions of truth and good, and from these intelligence and wisdom, is clear from the Lord's words in Matthew,

The kingdom of heaven is like a trader seeking fine pearls, who, having found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:45-46.

'A fine pearl' is charity or the good of faith.

[7] That all cognitions of good and truth come from the Lord is taught in Isaiah,

Thus said Jehovah, The labour of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush and of the Sabaeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours. They will follow after you, they will come over in chains and bow down to you. To you they will make the supplication, God is with you only, and there is no other besides God. Isaiah 45:14.

This refers to the Lord's Divine Human.

[8] From all these places one may now see what is meant by acting as a merchant, or buying and selling, namely acquiring cognitions of good and truth for oneself, and by means of these cognitions acquiring good itself. This good is acquired from the Lord alone, as is clear in the same prophet,

Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters, and he who has no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isaiah 55:1-2.

Here 'buying' stands for acquiring for oneself, 'wine' stands for spiritual truth, 1071, 1798, 'milk' for spiritual good, 2184. Anyone may see that here 'coming to the waters' does not mean coming to the waters, nor that 'buying' means buying, nor 'money' money, nor 'wine and milk' wine and milk, but that each of these means something corresponding to it in the internal sense. For this is the Divine Word, in which all the expressions used - though fashioned out of things perceptible in the natural world and out of man's sensory impressions - have Divine spiritual and celestial things corresponding to them. In this and no other way is the Word Divinely inspired.

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