9996. “要把它们装在一个筐子里” 表包含它们或这些事物的感官层. 这从 “一个筐子” 的含义清楚可知, “一个筐子” 是指感官层. “一个筐子” 之所以表示感官层, 是因为感官层构成一个人生命的最末和最低层, 最末和最低层依次隐藏着一切内层在自己里面, 或说一切内层都依次储存在最末和最低层里面 (参看9828, 9836节); 在圣言中, 各种器皿都表示含有内层事物的外在事物 (3079节). 这解释了为何经上说无酵的饼, 糕饼和薄饼要装在一个筐子里, 要用一个筐子带来. 关于感官层是一个人生命的最末和最低层, 可参看前文 (9212, 9216节). 此处的情况如下: 有两样事物或心智的能力构成一个人的生命, 即理解力和意愿. 理解力的最低层被称为感官知识, 意愿的最低层被称为感官快乐. 感官知识, 就是理解力的最低层通过两种感官, 即听觉和视觉被吸收; 感官快乐, 就是意愿的最低层也通过两种感官, 即味觉和触觉被吸收. 属于这二者感知的最低层, 或说属于心智的这两种能力的感知的最低层是嗅觉.

感官知识, 就是理解力的最低层在圣言中由 “杯子” 或 “碗” 来表示, 因为它里面的酒或水是指属于理解力的真理; 而感官快乐, 就是意愿的最低层, 在圣言中由 “筐子或篮子” 来表示. 由于最末和最低之物是一切内层事物的容器, 所以这些内层事物也由这些器皿来表示. “杯子” 或 “碗” 表示理解力中的真理, 在反面意义上表示虚假; “筐子或篮子” 表示意愿中的良善, 在反面意义上表示邪恶; 因为良善属于意愿, 真理属于理解力. “杯子” 或 “碗” 是指都共存于理解力中的真理 (参看5120, 9557节); “筐子或篮子” 是指都共存于意愿中的良善 (5144节). 无论你说 “意愿中的良善”, 还是说 “属天良善”, 意思都一样; 无论你说理解力中的真理, 还是说 “属灵真理”, 意思也都一样. 装在筐子或篮子里的东西表示属天良善 (可参看刚才9992-9994节). 由于感官层是它们的最末和最低层, 所以经上说, 所有这些东西都要 “装在一个筐子里”.

18. Verses4-6. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you, and peace, from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come; and from the seven spirits which are in sight of His throne; and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loveth us, and washeth us from our sins in His blood; and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be the glory and the might unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

4. "John," signifies the Lord in respect to doctrine (n. 19); "to the seven churches," signifies to all who are in truths from good, or in faith from charity (n. 20); "in Asia," signifies those who are in the light of intelligence (n. 21); "Grace to you, and peace," signifies the delight of truth and good (n. 22); "from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come," signifies from Him who is the All in all things of heaven and of the church from eternity to eternity (n. 23); "and from the seven spirits," signifies the Divine in heaven (n. 24); "which are in sight of His throne," signifies presence and providence (n. 25).

5. "And from Jesus Christ," signifies from the Lord in respect to the Divine Human (n. 26); "the faithful witness," signifies from whom is all truth in heaven (n. 27[1-4]); "the Firstborn from the dead," signifies from whom is all good in heaven n. 28; "and the Prince of the kings of the earth," signifies from whom is all truth from good in the church n. 29; "Unto Him that loveth us, and washeth us from our sins in His blood," signifies His love, and regeneration from Him through truths that are from Him n. 30.

6. "And hath made us kings and priests," signifies that from Him we are in His spiritual and celestial kingdom n. 31; "unto God and His Father," signifies by Divine truth and Divine good (n. 32); "to Him be the glory and the might unto the ages of the ages," signifies that these things are from Him alone to eternity (n. 33); "Amen," signifies Divine confirmation (n. 34).