276. 那些相信依靠自己的聰明就能獲得關於上帝,天國與地獄以及關於教會屬靈方面的知識, 他們意識不到屬世人的自我認識其實與屬靈人截然相反。人的屬世自我要麼試圖去根除,要麼試圖用偽謬來掩蓋進入其思想的任何屬靈事物。這些偽謬如同蛆蟲蠶食蔬菜和穀物的根。此類人就好比夢中人想像自己坐在鷹背上高飛, 又或坐在飛馬之上越過帕拿蘇斯山到埃利孔山。事實上, 他們則如同地獄中的路西弗, 在那裡仍自稱為光明之子(以賽亞書14:12)。他們如同那些在示拿平原建造通天塔的人(創世記11:2, 4)。他們自滿如歌利亞, 怎樣都預想不到, 自己會被一顆小甩石擊中前額而僕地死亡。死後等待他們的命運:最初, 所有這樣的人變得如同酒醉之人, 然後變得愚蠢, 最後成了白癡, 坐在黑暗之中。因此要謹慎, 免得變得如此瘋狂。

'Thirty' has a twofold significance because it is is the product of five and six, and also three and ten. From five multiplied by six, it signifies some aspect of combat, because 'five' signifies some part or aspect, and 'six,' combat. From three multiplied by ten, it signifies something full of remains of good and truth, because 'three' signifies fullness, and 'ten,' remains of good and truth. A composite number involves the same as the simple numbers it has as its factors.

(Odkazy: 2 Samuel 5:4; Arcana Coelestia 5335; Luke 3, 3:23, 23; Numbers 4:3, 4:23, 4:30)