10258. “桂皮” 表源于良善的更内层的真理. 这从 “桂皮” 的含义清楚可知, “桂皮” 是指内在人的内层真理. “桂皮” 具有这种含义, 从前面的说明清楚看出来; 因为天上的事实按从最外层到最内层的次序接踵而来. 因此, “桂皮” 所表示的, 是至内层的真理, 因为至内在的真理在次序上是第四个. “桂皮” 之所以表示源于良善的真理, 是因为至内在的真理直接从良善发出, 并在低层与良善联合行动, 如理解力与意愿完全作为一体行动, 以至于无法分辨一个行为是源于意愿还是源于理解力时的情形. 此外, 天上的事物更越内在, 就越完美; 因为一切完美都朝更内在的部分增长, 一切完美皆源于良善, 也就是从主经由良善而来.

在以西结书, 桂皮作为那些表示天上事物的货物之一被提及:

但人和雅完人拿纺成的线, 亮铁, 桂皮, 菖蒲兑换你的货物. (以西结书 27:19)

此处论述的主题是推罗, 推罗表示教会中关于真理和良善的认知或知识 (参看1201节), “但人和雅完人” 表示那些拥有关于天上事物的认知或知识之人; “亮铁” 是指最末和最低的天上真理; “桂皮” 是指至内在的真理.

在圣言的其它经文中, 经上没有提到这种桂皮, 但在诗篇, 经上提到了一种肉桂 (kessia), 这也是一种桂皮:

神, 就是你的神用喜乐油, 没药, 沉香, 肉桂膏你, 膏你所有的衣服. (诗篇 45:7, 8)

这一整章诗篇论述的主题是主, 尤其是祂人性的荣耀. 人若缺乏内义的知识, 绝无可能知道当论述的主题是主时, “用没药, 沉香, 肉桂膏祂所有的衣服” 表示什么.

显然, 所指的并不是衣服, 也不是膏抹衣服的没药, 沉香和肉桂, 而是源于神性良善的神性真理, 主以神性真理为衣披在祂的人身上; 因为膏抹无非是主的神性人身里面的神性良善的一个代表. 因此, “没药, 沉香和肉桂” 表示从在祂里面的神性良善发出的, 在自己适当次序中的神性真理; 故 “衣服” 表示祂的神性人身. 无论你说主的神性人身还是说神性真理, 意思都一样, 因为当主在世时, 祂就是神性真理本身; 当祂离开这个世界时, 将自己变成神性良善, 神性真理便从这神性良善流出 (参看9199末尾, 9315末尾节提到的地方). 此外, 在圣言中, 凡披在其它某种事物上为衣的东西, 无论这种东西是什么, 都被称为 “衣服”. 在以赛亚书 (63:2, 3), 以及其它地方, 主的衣服就具有这种含义. 因为 “衣服” 表示披在良善上为衣的真理 (参看2576, 4545, 4763, 5248, 5319, 5954, 9093, 9212, 9216, 9952节). 由此明显可知, 在诗篇中, 作为一种桂皮的肉桂 (kessia) 表示直接从神性良善发出的神性真理, 这真理是至内在的真理.

457. Still did not repent of the works of their hands. This symbolically means, nor did they refrain from their native proclivities, which are evils of every kind, as being sins.

The works of a person's hands symbolize a person's native proclivities, which are evils and their attendant falsities, because the hands symbolize in summary the things that emanate from a person; for the forces of the mind and consequently of the body are directed into the hands and terminate there. Consequently the hands in the Word symbolize power. For the same reason the works of a person's hands symbolize his native proclivities, which are evils and falsities of every kind. Evils are the native proclivities of his will, and the attendant falsities the native proclivities of his intellect.

We are told regarding the people who are the subject here that they did not repent, because people who make faith alone the totality of religion say to themselves, "What need do I have of repentance, when through faith alone our sins are forgiven and we are saved? What do our works contribute to this? I know that I was born in sin and that I am a sinner. If I confess this and pray that my faults not be imputed to me, then I have repented. What need do I have of anything more?"

Thus the person then gives no thought to sin, even to the point of not knowing what sins are. Consequently the delight and gratification they afford continually carry him along in them and into them, the way a favorable wind and current carry a ship onto rocks when both captain and crew are asleep.

[2] In the natural sense of the Word, the works of a person's hands mean carved images, cast images, and idols; but in its spiritual sense, they symbolize evils and falsities of every kind, which are a person's native proclivities. As, for example, in the following passages:

...do not provoke Me to anger by the work of your hands...; (if you were) to provoke Me to anger by the work of your hands to your own hurt..., I will repay them according to their work and according to the deeds of their hands. (Jeremiah 25:6-7, 14)

...the children of Israel have provoked Me... to anger by the work of their hands... (Jeremiah 32:30, cf. 44:8)

I will utter My judgments against them concerning all their wickedness, because they... bowed themselves to the works of their hands. (Jeremiah 1:16)

In that day... people's eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel, and... not to the altars, the work of their hands, and... what their fingers have made... (Isaiah 17:7-8, cf. 31:7; 37:19, Jeremiah 10:9)

[3] The work of a person's hands is his own doing, thus evil and falsity, and this can be clearly seen from the fact that it was for this reason that the Israelites were forbidden to built an altar or temple out of hewn stones, or to use an iron tool on those stones; for they symbolized the work of a person's hands:

If you make Me an altar of stones, you shall not build it of hewn stones; for if you use your chisel on it, you will profane it. (Exodus 20:25)

Joshua built... an altar of... stones, on which he did not use an iron tool. (Joshua 8:30-31)

The temple (at Jerusalem)...was built of whole stone, and no hammer or axe or any iron tool was heard... while it was being built. (1 Kings 6:7)

[4] Everything that the Lord does is likewise called the work of His hands, and these are His inherent attributes, which in themselves are goods and truths. As, for example, in the following places:

The works of (Jehovah's) hands are truth and judgment. (Psalms 111:7)

Your mercy, O Jehovah, endures forever; do not cease the works of Your hands. (Psalms 138:8)

Thus said Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: "Seek from Me signs concerning My children; concerning the work of My hands, command Me." (Isaiah 45:11)

Your people are all just..., the offshoot of My planting, the work of My hands... (Isaiah 60:21)

...O Jehovah, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter, and all we the work of Your hands. (Isaiah 64:8)