154. Internal Meaning of Ezekiel, Chapter 31

1-2 Of the natural man who is in knowledges [scientifica]. (11, 4)

3-9 In the Ancient Church a rational flourished that was derived from knowledges [scientifica] of every kind, through their confirming, by means of these, the Divine things of the church; and from this source they had spiritual intelligence. (11, 7)

10-13 The pride of self-intelligence, from which comes a trust in learning, has wholly cast them down from intelligence, and has deprived them of all the truths of the church. (3, 3)

14 They are cast into hell, that they may no longer destroy. (3, 15)

15-18 There they are shut up, lest, while continuing in their falsifications, they should spread their falsities abroad. (3, 15, 15)