10232. To make expiation upon your souls. That this signifies because in this way evils are removed, is evident from the signification of “expiating upon their souls,” as being to remove evils by means of truths (see above, n. 10228); that here by “making expiation upon your souls” is signified because in this way evils are removed, and not, to remove evils, is because these things so follow from those which precede; for the internal sense does not regard the sense of the words according to the consistency in the letter, but according to the consistency in its own sense, which is that the preservation of the church and of all things of the church is from the Lord, because in this way evils are removed. That the church is then preserved with man is because evils do not hinder; for the Lord flows in constantly and continually with His mercy, and provides that the truths and goods that belong to the church are not only preserved with a man, but also that they are multiplied and grow; but so long as evils reign, the truths and goods of the church flowing in from the Lord are either rejected by the man, or are stifled, or perverted; whereas when evils are removed, they are accepted and acknowledged.