Gates" in ancient times had a significance that does not hold in the modern world. Cities then were enclosed by walls for protection; gates in the walls let people in and out to do their business, but were also the weak points in the cities' defenses. In the Bible, cities on one level represent the minds of individual people. On a broader level, they represent beliefs shared by a community. The gates, then, represent openings where the Lord can feed us an understanding of truth and a desire for good. They also represent points where the hells can invade and sway us with false ideas and evil desires. We are kept in balance during our lifetimes, with influences from both the Lord and from hell. Ideally, we will over our lifetimes continue to invite the Lord farther and farther in and drive the hells back until ultimately the Lord can occupy our minds completely. And that point our belief in Him and His power and love will hold the gates and deny evil any entrance. As individuals, we at that point become angels. As communities, we at that point become part of the Lord's church. And at that point the gates become an entry point, introductory truths that allow people to enter churches and start bringing the Lord into their lives.

9280. “使牛, 驴可以歇息” 表外在良善和真理同时所享受的和平与安宁. 这从 “歇息”,

“牛” 和 “驴” 的含义清楚可知:

“歇息” 当论及第七日或安息日时, 是指和平与安宁, 如刚才所述 (9279节);

“牛” 是指外在良善,

“驴” 是指外在真理 (2781, 9134, 9255节). 牲畜表示诸如人类与它们共有的那类情感和倾向 (参看45-46, 142, 143, 246, 714, 715, 776, 2179-2781, 3218, 3519, 5198, 5913, 8937, 9090, 9135节). 牲畜照其灵义而用于祭祀 (参看1823, 2180, 2805, 2807, 2830, 3519节). 存在于自然界三个王国度中的一切事物都是主国度的属灵和属天事物的代表 (参看1632, 1881, 2758, 2987-3003, 3213-3227, 3483, 3624-3649, 4939, 5116, 5427, 5428, 5477, 8211节). 一切事物都有对应关系 (参看2987-3003, 3213-3226, 3337-3352, 3472-3485, 3624-3649, 3745-3750, 3883-3896, 4039-4055, 4218-4228, 4318-4331, 4403-4420, 4523-4533, 4622-4634, 4652-4660, 4791-4806, 4931-4952, 5050-5062, 5171-5189, 5377-5396, 5552-5573, 5711-5727, 8615节).

这些参考章节汇集在一起能表明, 不仅所有牲畜, 而且世上的所有事物都对应于属灵和属天事物, 并照它们的对应关系而代表并表示这些事物, 在至高意义上则代表并表示主的神性事物; 由此可以看出被称为代表性教会的古教会是何性质, 即: 他们的一切神圣仪式皆代表主及其国度的事物, 因而代表对祂的爱与信的事物; 天堂通过这些事物与教会成员结合; 因为内在事物出现在天堂. 主的圣言也是为这个目的而被赐予的, 因为其中的每一个细节, 直至一点一划, 都有一个对应关系和灵义. 因此, 天堂唯独通过圣言与人类联系在一起.

如今没有人知道情况就是这样. 因此, 当属世人阅读圣言, 试图找出神性藏在圣言的何处, 却由于它极其普通的风格而在文字上找不到时, 他首先开始轻视它, 然后否认它是神所口述, 并通过天堂被送到人类这里的. 属世人不知道, 圣言凭它的灵义而为神性, 而这灵义在文字上是看不见的, 然而却仍存在于文字中; 他也不知道, 当某个世人虔诚地阅读圣言时, 这灵义就出现在天堂; 灵义论述的主题是主和祂的国度. 正是这些神性事物使得圣言成为神性, 从主经由天堂而来的圣洁通过它们流入, 甚至流入字义和文字本身. 但是, 只要一个人不知道可为属灵之物, 他就不可能知道何为灵义, 因而不知道何为对应. 而且, 只要一个人爱世界胜过天堂, 爱自己胜过主, 他就不想知道并明白这些事. 然而, 古时的一切聪明, 以及天使的智慧皆来自这个源头; 或说它们是古人当中的一切聪明的源头, 也是天使当中的智慧的源头. 许多占卜者在圣言中辛辛苦苦, 徒劳追踪的神秘奥妙, 唯独藏在这些事物, 也就是它的灵义中.