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Exodus 29

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1 Således skal du bære dig ad med dem, når du helliger dem til at gøre Præstetjeneste for mig: Tag en ung Tyr, to lydefri Vædre,

2 usyrede Brød, usyrede Kager, rørte i Olie, og usyrede Fladbrød, smurte med Olie; af fint Hvedemel skal du bage dem.

3 Læg dem så i een Kurv og bær dem frem i Kurven sammen med Tyren og de to Vædre.

4 Lad derpå Aron og hans Sønner træde hen til Åbenbaringsteltets Indgang og tvæt dem med Vand.

5 Tag så Klæderne og ifør Aron Kjortelen, Efodkåben, Efoden og Brystskjoldet og bind Efoden fast på ham med Bæltet.

6 Læg Hovedklædet om hans Hoved og fæst det hellige Diadem på Hovedklædet.

7 Tag så Salveolien og udgyd den på hans Hoved og salv ham.

8 Lad dernæst hans Sønner træde frem og ifør dem Kjortler,

9 omgjord dem med Bælter og bind Huerne på dem. Og Præsteværdigheden skal tilhøre dem med evig et. Så skal du indsætte Aron og hans Sønner.

10 Før Tyren frem foran Åbenbaringsteltet, og Aron og hans Sønner skal lægge deres Hænder på Tyrens Hoved.

11 Slagt så Tyren for HE ENs Åsyn ved Indgangen til Åbenbaringsteltet

12 og tag noget af Tyrens Blod og stryg det på Alterets Horn med din Finger og udgyd esten af Blodet ved Alterets Fod.

13 Tag så alt Fedtet på Indvoldene, Leverlappen og begge Nyrerne med Fedtet på dem og bring det som øgoffer på Alteret;

14 men Tyrens Kød, dens Hud og dens Skarn skal du brænde uden for Lejren. Det er et Syndoffer.

15 Derpå skal du tage den ene Væder, og Aron og hans Sønner skal lægge deres Hænder på dens Hoved.

16 Slagt så Væderen, tag dens Blod og spræng det rundt om på Alteret.

17 Skær så Væderen i Stykker, tvæt dens Indvolde og Skinneben, læg dem på Stykkerne og Hovedet

18 og bring så hele Væderen som øgoffer på Alteret. Det er et Brændoffer for HE EN; en liflig Duft, et Ildoffer for HE EN er det.

19 Derpå skal du tage den anden Væder, og Aron og hans Sønner skal lægge deres Hænder på dens Hoved.

20 Slagt så Væderen, tag noget af dens Blod og stryg det på Arons og hans Sønners højre Øreflip og på deres højre Tommelfinger og højre Tommeltå og spræng esten af Blodet rundt om på Alteret.

21 Tag så noget af Blodet på Alteret og af Salveolien og stænk det på Aron og hans Klæder, ligeledes på hans Sønner og deres Klæder. så bliver han hellig, han selv og hans Klæder og ligeledes hans Sønner og deres Klæder.

22 Derpå skal du tage Fedtet af Væderen, Fedthalen, Fedtet på Indvoldene, Leverlappen, begge Nyrerne med Fedtet på dem, dertil den højre Kølle, thi det er en Indsættelsesvæder,

23 og en Skive Brød, en Oliebrødkage og et Fladbrød af Kurven med de usyrede Brød, som står for HE ENs Åsyn,

24 og lægge det alt sammen på Arons og hans Sønners Hænder og lade dem udføre Svingningen dermed for HE ENs Åsyn.

25 Tag det så igen fra dem og bring det som øgoffer på Alteret oven på Brændofferet til en liflig Duft for HE ENs Åsyn, et Ildoffer er det for HE EN.

26 Tag derpå Brystet af Arons Indsættelsesvæder og udfør Svingningen dermed for HE ENs Åsyn: det skal være din Del.

27 Således skal du hellige Svingningsbrystet og Offerydelseskøllen. det, hvormed Svingningen udføres. og det, som ydes af Arons og hans Sønners Indsættelsesvæder.

28 Og det skal tilfalde Aron og hans Sønner som en ettighed, de har Krav på fra Israeliternes Side til evig Tid; thi det er en Offerydelse, og som Offerydelse skal Israeliterne give det af deres Takofre, som deres Offerydelse til HE EN.

29 Arons hellige Klæder skal tilfalde hans Sønner efter ham, for at de kan salves og indsættes i dem.

30 I syv Dage skal de bæres af den af hans Sønner, som bliver Præst i hans Sted, den, som skal gå ind i Åbenbaringsteltet for at gøre Tjeneste i Helligdommen.

31 Så skal du tage Indsættelsesvæderen og koge dens Kød på et helligt Sted;

32 og Aron og hans Sønner skal spise Væderens Kød og Brødet i Kurven ved Indgangen til Åbenbaringsteltet;

33 de skal spise de Stykker, hvorved der skaffes Soning ved deres Indsættelse og Indvielse, og ingen Lægmand må spise deraf, thi det er helligt.

34 Og dersom der bliver noget af Indsættelseskødet eller Brødet tilovers til næste Morgen, da skal du opbrænde det tiloversblevne; spises må det ikke, thi det er helligt.

35 Således skal du forholde dig over for Aron og hans Sønner, ganske som jeg har pålagt dig. Syv Dage skal du foretage Indsættelsen;

36 daglig skal du ofre en Syndoffertyr til Soning og rense Alteret for Synd ved at fuldbyrde Soningen på det, og du skal salve det for at hellige det.

37 Syv dage skal du fuldbyrde Soningen på Alteret og hellige det; således bliver Alteret højhelligt; enhver, der kommer i Berøring med Alteret, bliver hellig".

38 Hvad du skal ofre på Alteret, er følgende: Hver Dag to årgamle Lam som stadigt Offer.

39 Det ene Lam skal du ofre om Morgenen og det andet ved Aftenstid.

40 Sammen med det første Lam skal du bringe en Tiendedel Efa fint Hvedemel, rørt i en Fjerdedel Hin Olie af knuste Oliven, og et Drikoffer af en Fjerdedel Hin Vin.

41 Og det andet Lam skal du ofre ved Aftenstid; sammen med det skal du ofre et Afgrødeoffer og et Drikoffer som om Morgenen til en liflig Duft, et Ildoffer for HE EN.

42 Det skal være et stadigt Brændoffer, som I skal bringe, Slægt efter Slægt, ved Indgangen til Åbenbaringsteltet for HE ENs Åsyn, hvor jeg vil åbenbare mig for dig for at tale til dig,

43 og hvor jeg vil åbenbare mig for Israels Børn, og det skal helliges ved min Herlighed.

44 Jeg vil hellige Åbenbaringsteltet og Alteret, og Aron og hans Sønner vil jeg hellige til at gøre Præstetjeneste for mig.

45 Og jeg vil bo midt iblandt Israels Børn og være deres Gud;

46 og de skal kende, at jeg HE EN er deres Gud, som førte dem ud af Ægypten for at bo midt iblandt dem, jeg HE EN deres Gud!

   


The Project Gutenberg Association at Carnegie Mellon University

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Arcana Coelestia # 10134

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10134. The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning. That this signifies the removal of evils through the good of innocence from the Lord in a state of love and of the consequent light in the internal man, is evident from the signification of “offering a lamb,” or sacrificing it, as being the removal of evils through the good of innocence from the Lord (of which below); and from the signification of “morning,” as being a state of love and of the consequent light in the internal man (of which also below). By “offering,” or “sacrificing, a lamb” is signified the removal of evils through the good of innocence from the Lord, because by burnt-offerings and sacrifices was signified purification from evils and the derivative falsities, or what is the same, their removal, and the implantation of good and truth, and their conjunction by the the Lord, (n. 9990, 9991, 10022, 10042, 10053). (That purification from evils is their removal, see the places cited in n. 10057; and that a “lamb” denotes the good of innocence, n. 10132)

[2] That the removal of evils, and the implantation of good and truth, and their conjunction, are effected through the good of innocence by the Lord, is because in all good there must be innocence in order that it be good, and because without innocence good is not good. For innocence is not only the plane in which truths are sown, but is also the very essence of good; so far therefore as a man is in innocence, so far good becomes good, and truth lives from good; consequently so far the man becomes alive, and so far the evils with him are removed; and insofar as they are removed, goods and truths are implanted and conjoined by the Lord. This is the reason why the continual burnt-offering was made by means of lambs. (That all the good of heaven and the church has innocence in it, and that without innocence good is not good, see n. 2736, 2780, 6013, 7840, 7887, 9262; also what innocence is, n. 3994, 4001, 4797, 5236, 6107, 6765, 7902, 9262, 9936)

[3] That “morning” denotes a state of love and of the consequent light in the internal man, is because in the heavens the states with the angels vary as to love and the faith thence derived, as in the world with men times vary as to heat and its attendant light. These times, as is well known, are morning, noon, evening, and night; hence in the Word by “morning” is signified a state of love; by “noon,” a state of light in clearness; by “evening,” a state of light in obscurity; and by “night,” or “twilight,” a state of love in obscurity. (That there are such variations of states in the heavens, see n. 5672, 5962, 6110, 7218, 8426; and that morning there is a state of peace and innocence, thus a state of love to the Lord, n. 2405, 2780, 8426, 8812, 10114; that noon is a state of light in clearness, n. 3708, 5672, 9642; evening a state of light in obscurity, n. 3056, 3833, 6110; and that there is no night in heaven, but twilight, n. 6110, by which is signified a state of love in obscurity.)

[4] That by “morning” is signified a state of love and of the consequent light in the internal man, is because when an angel is in a state of love and light, he is then in his internal man; but when he is in a state of light and love in obscurity, he is then in the external man. For the angels have an internal and an external, and when they are in the internal, the external is almost quiescent; but when they are in the external, they are in a more gross and obscure state. Consequently when they are in a state of love and light, they are in their internal, thus in their morning; and when they are in a state of light and love in obscurity, they are in the external, thus in their evening; from which it is plain that variations of states are made by elevations toward more interior things, thus into a higher sphere of heavenly light and heat, consequently nearer to the Lord; and by lowerings toward more exterior things, into a lower sphere of heavenly light and heat, and thus more remote from the Lord.

[5] Be it known that interior things are higher, thus nearer to the Lord; and that exterior things are lower, thus more remote from the Lord; and that light in the heavens is the Divine truth which is of faith, and heat in the heavens is the Divine good which is of love, both proceeding from the Lord. For the Lord in heaven is a Sun, from which the angels have everything of life, and from it man has everything of spiritual and heavenly life (see the p laces cited in n. 9548, 9684; also that interior things are higher, thus nearer to the Lord, n. 2148, 3084, 4599, 5146, 8325).

[6] The man who is being regenerated, and likewise the man who has been regenerated, also undergo variations of state as to love and as to faith, by means of elevations toward more interior things, and by lowerings toward more exterior things; but there are few who are able to reflect upon this, because they do not know what it is to think and to will in the internal man, and in the external; nor indeed what the internal man is, and what the external. To think and to will in the internal man is to think and to will in heaven, for the internal man is there; but to think and to will in the external man is to think and to will in the world, for the external man is there; and therefore when a man is in love to God and in the consequent faith, he is in the internal man, because in heaven; but when he is in obscurity as to love and the consequent faith, he is in the external man, because in the world. These states also are meant by “morning,” “noon,” “evening,” and “night” or “twilight” in the Word.

[7] It is similar with the states of the church, the first state of which is also called “morning” in the Word, the second “noon,” the third “evening,” and the fourth or last, “night.” But when the church is in its night, in which it is when no longer in love to God and in faith, then from the twilight morning begins with another nation, where a new church is set up.

[8] For it is with the church in general as with man in particular; his first state is a state of innocence, thus also of love toward his parents, nurse, and infant companions; his second is a state of light, for when the infant becomes a child, he learns things that belong to light, that is, the truths of faith, and believes them; the third state is when he begins to love the world and to love himself, which takes place when he becomes a youth and when he thinks from himself, and in proportion as these loves increase, faith decreases, and with faith charity toward the neighbor and love to God; the fourth and last state is when he does not care for these things, and still more when he denies them.

[9] Such also are the states of every church from its beginning to its end. Its first state is likewise a state of infancy, thus also of innocence, consequently of love to the Lord, which state is called “morning;” the second state is a state of light; the third is a state of light in obscurity, which is its “evening;” and the fourth is a state of no love and hence of no light, which is its “night.” This is so because evils increase day by day, and insofar as they increase, one person infects another like a contagion; especially parents their children, besides that hereditary evils are successively condensed, and so transmitted.

[10] That “morning” signifies the first state of the church, and also a state of love, is evident from Daniel:

A holy one said, How long shall be the vision, the continual sacrifice, and the wasting transgressions? And he said to me, Until evening and morning two thousand three hundred; then shall the holy thing be justified (Daniel 8:13-14).

The subject here treated of is the coming of the Lord; “evening” denotes the state of the church before his coming, while “morning” denotes the first state of the church after His coming, and in the supreme sense it denotes the Lord Himself. That in the supreme sense the Lord is the “morning” is because He is the Sun of heaven, and the Sun of heaven never sets, but is always rising; hence also the Lord is called the “east,” consequently also the “morning” (n. 2405, 2780, 9668).

[11] And in Isaiah:

One crieth unto me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night (Isaiah 21:11-12);

by the “watchman” in the internal sense is meant one who observes the states of the church and its changes, thus every prophet; by “night” is meant the last state of the church; by “morning” its first state; by “Seir,” from which the watchman crieth, is signified the enlightening of the nations which are in darkness (that “Seir” has this meaning, see n. 4240; and that “night” denotes the last state of the church, n. 6000); “the morning cometh, and also the night,” signifies that though there is enlightening to those who are of the new church, yet there is night to those who are in the old. The like is signified by “morning” in David:

In the evening weeping may pass the night, but in the morning shall be singing (Psalms 30:5).

About the time of evening behold terror; before the morning he is not (Isaiah 17:14).

[12] As in the supreme sense “morning” signifies the Lord, and from this, love from Him to Him, therefore the manna, which was heavenly bread, “rained down every morning” (Exodus 16:8, 12-13, 21). (That the Lord is the bread which comes down from heaven, thus the manna, see John 6:33, 35, 48, 50; and that “bread” denotes celestial love, which is love from the Lord to the Lord, n. 2165, 2177, 3464, 4217, 4735, 5405, 5915, 9545.) And as the Lord is “the east,” and “the morning,” and as all celestial love is from Him, therefore also He rose “in the morning on the day of the Sabbath” (Mark 16:9); and therefore also the day before the feast of the passover was called “the evening;” for by the feast of the passover was signified the presence of the Lord and the liberation of the faithful by Him from damnation (n. 7867, 9286-9292).

[13] He who is acquainted with the internal sense of the Word, is able to know what is involved in Peter’s thrice denying the Lord before the cock crew twice (Matthew 26:34, 74-75; Mark 14:30, 68, 72; Luke 22:34, 60-61; John 18:27); for by Peter was represented the faith of the church, or what is the same, the church as to faith; by the time when the cock crew was signified the last state of the church, which time was also called “cockcrowing;” by the denial three times was signified full and complete denial of the Lord in the end of the church. That Peter represented the faith of the church, thus the church as to faith, see the preface to Genesis 18 and Genesis 22, and also n. 3750, 4738; and that these words to Peter signified the denial of the Lord in the church at the time of its end (n. 6000, 6073, 10087); for the Lord is denied when there is no longer any faith, and there is no faith when there is no longer any charity. That “three” signifies what is full and complete, see n. 2788, 4495, 7715, 8347, 9198, 9488, 9489; and from this it was said that he would deny three times. That this was done in twilight, when morning was about to come, is evident in John 18:28; and that cock crowing and twilight are the same, is evident in Mark:

Watch ye, for ye know not when the lord of the house will come; at even, or at midnight, or at cock crowing, or in the morning (Mark 13:35).

From all this it can now be seen what is signified by “morning.”

  
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Arcana Coelestia # 3993

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3993. Removing from thence every small cattle that is speckled and spotted. That this signifies that all the good and truth that is His will be separated wherewith there is mingled evil (signified by the “speckled”), and falsity (signified by the “spotted”), is evident from the signification of “removing,” as being to separate; and from the signification of a “flock” (here one of goats and lambs), as being goods and truths (see n. 1824, 3519). That there are arcana in these and the following verses of this chapter, may be seen from many of the things being such as would not be worthy of mention in the Divine Word, unless there were within them things more arcane than appear in the letter; as that Jacob asked for his reward or hire the speckled and spotted among the goats, and the black among the lambs; that he then placed in the gutters rods of hazel and plane-tree with the bark peeled off to the white before the flocks of Laban when they grew warm, and that as regards the lambs, he set the face of the flock toward the variegated and the black in Laban’s flock; and that he thus became rich, not by a good but by an evil art. In these things there does not appear anything Divine, whereas all things of the Word both in general and in particular, down to the smallest jot, are Divine. Moreover to know all this is not of the slightest avail for salvation; and yet the Word, being Divine, contains within it nothing that is not conducive to salvation and eternal life.

[2] From all this, and the like things elsewhere, everyone may conclude that some arcanum is contained within, and that each one of the particulars, notwithstanding its being of such a character in the letter, yields things more Divine within. But what they yield within cannot possibly appear to anyone, except from the internal sense; that is, unless he knows how these things are perceived by the angels, who are in the spiritual sense while man is in the historic natural sense. And how remote these two senses appear from each other, although most closely conjoined, may be clearly seen from the particulars already explained and from all the rest. The arcanum itself contained in this and the following verses of this chapter, can indeed be known in some degree from what has been already said concerning Laban and Jacob, namely, that “Laban” is such good as can serve to introduce genuine goods and truths, and that “Jacob” is the good of truth. But as few persons know what the natural is that corresponds to spiritual good, and still fewer what spiritual good is, and that there must be a correspondence between them; and as still fewer know that a kind of good which only appears to be good is the means of introducing genuine goods and truths, the arcana that treat of these things cannot be easily explained to the apprehension, for they fall into the shade of the understanding, and it is as if one were speaking in a foreign language, so that however clearly the matter may be set forth, the hearer does not understand. Nevertheless it is to be set forth, because that which the Word stores up in its internal sense is now to be opened.

[3] In the supreme sense the subject here treated of is the Lord, how He made His natural Divine; and in the representative sense the natural in man, how the Lord regenerates it, and reduces it to correspondence with the man that is within; that is, with him who will live after the death of the body, and is then called the spirit of the man, which when released from the body takes with it all that belongs to the outward man, except the bones and the flesh. Unless the correspondence of the internal man with the external has been effected in time, or in the life of the body, it is not effected afterwards. The conjunction of the two by the Lord by means of regeneration is here treated of in the internal sense.

[4] The general truths that man must receive and acknowledge before he can be regenerated have been treated of heretofore-being signified by the ten sons of Jacob and Leah and the handmaids-and, after the man has received and acknowledged these truths, the conjunction of the external man with the interior, or of the natural with the spiritual signified by “Joseph” is treated of. And now in accordance with the order the subject treated of is the fructification of good and the multiplication of truth, which come forth for the first time when this conjunction has been effected, and precisely so far as it is effected. This is what is signified by the “flock” that Jacob acquired by means of the flock of Laban. By “flock” here is signified good and truth, as elsewhere frequently in the Word; and by the “flock of Laban,” the good represented by Laban, the nature of which has been already stated. The “flock of Jacob” signifies the genuine good and truth procured by means of the good represented by Laban, and there is here described the manner in which these genuine goods and truths are acquired.

[5] But this cannot by any means be comprehended unless it is known what is signified in the internal sense by “speckled,” by “spotted,” by “black,” and by “white,” which therefore must now be explained in the first instance. That which is speckled and spotted is that which is composed of black and white; and in general “black” signifies evil, and specifically what is man’s own, because this is nothing but evil. But “dark” signifies falsity, and specifically the principles of falsity. “White” in the internal sense signifies truth, properly the Lord’s righteousness and merit, and derivatively the Lord’s righteousness and merit in man. This white is called “bright white,” because it shines from the light that is from the Lord. But in the opposite sense “white” signifies man’s own righteousness, or his own merit; for truth without good is attended with such self-merit, because when anyone does good, not from the good of truth, he always desires to be recompensed, because he does it for the sake of himself; whereas when anyone does truth from good, this good is then enlightened by the light that is from the Lord. This shows what is signified by “spotted,” namely, the truth with which falsity is mingled; and what by “speckled,” namely, the good with which evil is mingled.

[6] Actual colors are seen in the other life, so beautiful and resplendent that they cannot be described (see n. 1053, 1624); and they are from the variegation of light and shade in white and black. But although the light there appears as light before the eyes, it is not like the light in this world. The light in heaven has within it intelligence and wisdom; for Divine intelligence and wisdom from the Lord are there presented as light, and also illumine the universal heaven (n. 2776, 3138, 3167, 3190, 3195, 3222, 3223, 3225, 3339-3341, 3485, 3636, 3643, 3862). And in like manner although the shade in the other life appears as shade, it is yet not like the shade in this world; for the shade there is absence of the light, and accordingly is lack of intelligence and wisdom. As therefore the white and black there come forth from a light that has intelligence and wisdom within it, and from a shade that is lack of intelligence and wisdom, it is evident that by “white” and “black” are signified such things as have been stated above. Consequently as colors are modifications of light and shade in whites and blacks, as in planes, it is the variegations thus produced that are called colors (n. 1042, 1043, 1053).

[7] From all this we can now see that that which is “speckled,” that is, that which is marked and dotted all over with black and white points, signifies the good with which evil is mingled; and also that that which is “spotted” signifies the truth with which falsity is mingled. These are the things that were taken from the good of Laban in order to serve for introducing genuine goods and truths. But how these can serve this purpose is an arcanum which can indeed be presented clearly before those who are in the light of heaven, because as before said within this light there is intelligence; but it cannot be clearly presented before those who are in the light of the world, unless their light of the world has been enlightened by the light of heaven, as is the case with those who have been regenerated; for every regenerate person sees goods and truths in his natural light from the light of heaven, because the light of heaven produces his intellectual sight, and the light of the world his natural sight.

[8] A few words shall be added to further explain how the case herein is. In man there is no pure good, that is, good with which evil is not mingled; nor pure truth, with which falsity is not mingled. For man’s will is nothing but evil, from which there continually flows falsity into his understanding; because, as is well known, man receives by inheritance the evil successively accumulated by his progenitors, and from this he produces evil in an actual form, and makes it his own, and adds thereto more evil of himself. But the evils with man are of various kinds; there are evils with which goods cannot be mingled, and there are evils with which they can be mingled; and it is the same with the falsities. Unless this were so, no man could possibly be regenerated. The evils and falsities with which goods and truths cannot be mingled are such as are contrary to love to God and love toward the neighbor; namely, hatreds, revenges, cruelties, and a consequent contempt for others in comparison with one’s self; and also the consequent persuasions of falsity. But the evils and falsities with which goods and truths can be mingled are those which are not contrary to love to God and love toward the neighbor.

[9] For example: If anyone loves himself more than others, and from this love studies to excel others in moral and civic life, in memory-knowledges and doctrinal things, and to be exalted to dignities and wealth in pre-eminence to others, and yet acknowledges and adores God, performs kind offices to his neighbor from the heart, and does what is just and fair from conscience; the evil of this love of self is one with which good and truth can be mingled; for it is an evil that is man’s own, and that is born hereditarily; and to take it away from him suddenly would be to extinguish the fire of his first life. But the man who loves himself above others, and from this love despises others in comparison with himself, and hates those who do not honor and as it were adore him, and therefore feels a consequent delight of hatred in revenge and cruelty-the evil of such a love as this is one with which good and truth cannot be mingled, for they are contraries.

[10] To take another example: If anyone believes himself to be pure from sins, and thus washed clean, as one who is washed from filth by much water; when such a man has once performed repentance and has done the imposed penance, or after confession has heard such a declaration from his confessor, or after he has partaken of the Holy Supper-if he then lives a new life, in the affection of good and truth, this falsity is one with which good can be mingled. But if he lives a carnal and worldly life, as before, the falsity is then one with which good cannot be mingled.

[11] Again: The man who believes that a man is saved by believing well, and not by willing well; and yet wills well and in consequence does well-this falsity is one to which good and truth can be adjoined; but not so if he does not will well and therefore do well. In like manner if anyone is ignorant that man rises again after death, and consequently does not believe in the resurrection; or if he is aware of it, but still doubts, and almost denies it, and yet lives in truth and good-with this falsity also good and truth can be mingled; but if he lives in falsity and evil, truth and good cannot be mingled with this falsity, because they are contraries; and the falsity destroys the truth, and the evil destroys the good.

[12] Again: The simulation and cunning that have what is good as their end, whether it is that of the neighbor, or that of our country, or of the church, are prudence; and the evils that are mixed up with them can be mingled with good, from and for the sake of the end. But the simulation and cunning that have evil as their end, are not prudence, but are craft and deceit, with which good can by no means be conjoined; for deceit, which is an end of evil, induces what is infernal upon all things in man both in general and in particular, places evil in the middle, and rejects good to the circumference; which order is infernal order itself. And it is the same in numberless other cases.

[13] That there are evils and falsities to which goods and truths can be adjoined, may be seen from the mere fact that there are so many diverse dogmas and doctrines, many of which are altogether heretical, and yet in each there are those who are saved; and also that the Lord’s church exists even among the Gentiles who are out of the church; and although they are in falsities, nevertheless those are saved who live a life of charity (n. 2589-2604); which could by no means be the case unless there were evils with which goods, and falsities with which truths, can be mingled. For the evils with which goods and the falsities with which truths can be mingled, are wonderfully disposed into order by the Lord; for they are not conjoined together, still less united into a one; but are adjoined and applied to one another, and this in such manner that the goods together with the truths are in the middle and as it were in the center, and by degrees toward the circumferences or circuits are such evils and falsities.

Thus the latter are lighted up by the former, and are variegated like things white and black by light from the middle or center. This is heavenly order. These are the things that are signified in the internal sense by the “speckled” and the “spotted.”

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for the permission to use this translation.