215. Que le Propre ne soit que mal et que faux, c'est aussi ce que j'ai pu constater, en ce que tout ce que les esprits disaient d'après eux-mêmes était tellement le mal et le faux, qu'il suffisait qu'il me fut donné de savoir qu'ils parlaient d'après eux-mêmes, pour que je connusse sur-le-champ que c'était le faux, quoiqu'ils fussent, lorsqu'ils parlaient, dans une si forte persuasion que c'était le vrai, qu'ils n'en doutaient nullement : semblable à eux est l'homme qui est dans le propre. Il m'a pareillement été donné de percevoir que tous ceux qui ont commencé à raisonner sur les choses qui concernent la vie spirituelle et la vie céleste, ou qui appartiennent à la foi, doutaient, et même niaient ; car, raisonner sur la foi, c'est douter et nier : et comme c'est d'après eux-mêmes ou d'après le propre, ce sont de pures faussetés dans lesquelles ils tombent ; par conséquent un abîme de ténèbres, c'est-à-dire, de faussetés : quand ils sont dans cet abîme, la plus légère objection prévaut sur mille vérités ; c'est comme un grain de poussière, qui, appliqué à la pupille de l'œil, intercepte la vue de l'univers et des choses qu'il contient. Le Seigneur parle ainsi de ces hommes, dans Ésaïe :

« Malheur à ceux qui sont sages à leurs yeux, et devant leurs faces intelligents. » - Ésaïe 5:21.

Dans le Même :

« Ta sagesse, et ta science, elle, t'a détournée ; et tu as dit dans ton cœur : Moi, et après moi point d'autre ; c'est pourquoi viendra sur toi un mal, dont tu ignores l'origine, et tombera sur toi une affliction que tu ne pourras détourner, et viendra sur toi tout à coup une vastation que tu ne connais point. » - Ésaïe 47:10-11.

Dans Jérémie :

« Tout homme est devenu stupide par la science, tout fondeur est devenu honteux par la statue ciselée ; car mensonge, son idole de fonte, et point d'esprit en elle. » - Jérémie 51:17.

La statue ciselée, c'est le faux qui appartient au propre, et l'idole de fonte le mal qui appartient au propre.

155. And ministry and faith, signifies good and truth therein. This is evident from the signification of "ministry," as being good (of which presently); and from the signification of "faith," as being truth. Faith signifies truth, because truth is of faith, and faith is of truth. "Ministry" signifies good, because in the Word "ministry" is predicated of good. For this reason the function of Aaron, of his sons, and of the Levites, and the priestly function in general, was called a "ministry." For the same reason, "ministering" to Jehovah, or to the Lord, means to worship Him from the good of love. From this it is clear that "ministry" has reference to works, and "faith" to charity, of which just above, where it is said, "I know thy works and charity," for faith and charity make one, since where there is no charity there is no faith (See The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 108-122; and the small work on The Last Judgment 33-40).

[2] That "ministry" and "ministering" in the Word are predicated of the good of love can be seen from the following passages. In David:

Jehovah maketh His angels spirits, His ministers a flaming fire (Psalms 104:4).

Jehovah's "making His angels spirits" means that they are recipients of Divine truth (See above, n. 130). "Making His ministers a flaming fire" means that they are recipients of Divine good for "flaming fire" signifies the good of love (See above, n. 68). From this it is clear that by "ministers" those who are in the good of love are meant.

[3] In the same:

Bless Jehovah, all ye His hosts; ye ministers of His that do His will (Psalms 103:21).

Those are called "hosts of Jehovah" who are in truths (See n. 3448, 7236, 7988, 8019), and "ministers" those who are in goods; therefore it is said, "that do His will." Doing the Lord's will is acting from the good of love; for all good has reference to the will, as all truth has to the understanding.

[4] In Isaiah:

Ye shall be called the priests of Jehovah, the ministers of our God (Isaiah 61:6).

Priests are called "ministers" because they represented the Lord in respect to the good of love; those, therefore, who are in the good of love are called "priests" in the Word (See Arcana Coelestia 2015, 6148, 9809, 10017); and for the same reason they are called "ministers of God." On this account the function of Aaron and of his sons is called "a ministry;" also the function of the Levite priests; and entering into the tent of meeting and officiating in the ministry there, also approaching the altar and officiating in the ministry there, is called "ministering" (See Exodus 28:35; 30:20; Numbers 8:15, 19, 24-26).

And in Jeremiah:

Then shall My covenant become void with the Levites the priests, My ministers (Jeremiah 33:21).

(That Aaron represented the Lord in respect to the good of love, see Arcana Coelestia 9806, 9946, 10017; likewise priests in general, n. 2015, 6148 consequently by "priesthood" in the Word the Divine good of the Lord's Divine love is signified, n. 9806, 9809)

[5] There are two kingdoms into which the whole heaven is divided, in one of which are the angels who are in the good of celestial love, in the other the angels who are in the good of spiritual love, or in charity. The Lord's celestial kingdom is called His "priesthood," the spiritual kingdom His "royalty" (See in the work on Heaven and Hell, n. 24, 226). "Ministry" is predicated of those in the celestial kingdom, and "service" of those in the spiritual kingdom. From this it is clear what is meant in the following passages by "ministering" and "minister," and by "serving" and "servant":

Jesus said to the disciples, Whosoever would be great let him be your minister; and whosoever would be first, let him be your servant; as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister (Matthew 20:26-28; 23:11-12; Mark 9:35; Luke 22:24-27).

Jesus said, If any man will minister to Me let him follow Me; then where I am, there shall also My minister be; yea, if any man will minister to Me, him will My Father honor (John 12:26).

Jesus said, Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching; I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to recline to eat, and He will come forth and minister to them (Luke 12:37).

In Isaiah:

The sons of the alien that conjoin themselves to Jehovah to minister to Him, and to love the name of Jehovah (Isaiah 56:6).

Because "ministering" is predicated of the good of love, "the sons of the alien" are said "to minister to Jehovah," and "to love Him;" and of the Lord Himself it is said that "He would minister." From all this it can now be seen that by "ministry" is signified everything that is done from the good of love, thus the good of love.