6075. Both we and our fathers. That this signifies that this is so from the ancients, is evident from the signification of “fathers,” as being those who were of the ancient churches (see n. 6050). In many passages of the Word where the Jews and the Israelites are treated of, their fathers are mentioned with praise. They who abide in the sense of the letter understand by “fathers” in these passages no others than Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and also the sons of Jacob. But in the internal sense by “fathers” there, when spoken of in a good sense, are not meant these patriarchs, but they who were of the Most Ancient Church which was before the flood, and they who were of the Ancient Church which was after the flood. The men of both these churches were called “fathers” because from them the church had descended, and the things of the church had been derived.

[2] By “fathers” are meant those who were of the Ancient Churches, in Moses:

t only a glorying in their faculty of memory. In this way they can excuse their faults.