155.And ministry and faith. That this signifies good and truth pertaining to them is evident from the signification of ministry, as denoting good, of which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of faith, as denoting truth. The reason why faith signifies truth is, that truth is of faith, and faith is of truth. The reason why ministry signifies good is, that, in the Word, it is used in reference to good; hence the office of Aaron, of his sons, and of the Levites, was called ministry, and in general the offices of priests. By ministering to Jehovah, or the Lord, is meant to worship Him from the good of love; hence it is evident that ministry has reference to works, and faith to charity, concerning which see above, where it is said, "I know thy works and charity"; for faith and charity make one, because where there is no charity there is no faith (as may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 108-122; and in the small work, The Last Judgment 33-40).
[2] That ministry, and to minister, in the Word, are said of the good of love, is evident from the following passages; as in David:
Jehovah "maketh his angels spirits, his ministers a flaming fire" (Psalms 104:4).
By Jehovah making His angels spirits is signified that they are recipients of His Divine truth (see above, n. 130). By making His ministers a flaming fire, is signified that they are recipients of His Divine good, for flaming fire signifies the good of love (as may be seen above, n. 68). Hence it is clear, that by ministers are meant those who are in the good of love.
[3] In the same:
"Bless Jehovah, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his that do his will" (Psalms 103:21).
Those are called the 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 they do His will. To do the will of the Lord is to act 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" (61:6).
Priests are called ministers because they represented the Lord as to the good of love, and hence, those who are in the good of love are, in the Word, called priests (see Arcana Coelestia 2015, 6148, 9809, 10017). It is also from this circumstance that they are called the ministers of God. This is why the office of Aaron and his sons is called the ministry, as likewise that of the Levites is called the priesthood, and why to enter into the tent of assembly and officiate in the ministry, as also to approach to the altar and there officiate in the ministry, is called ministering (as may be seen in Exodus 28:35, 30:20; Numbers 8:15, 19, 24-26). And in Jeremiah:
"My covenant shall be broken with the Levites the priests, my ministers" (33:21).
(That Aaron represented the Lord as to the good of love, may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 9806, 9946, 10017; that the priests in general signified the same, n. 2015, 6148; that hence by the priesthood in the Word is signified the Divine good of the Lord's Divine love, n. 9806, 9809.)
[5] The whole heaven is divided into two kingdoms: in one kingdom 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 charity. The celestial kingdom of the Lord is called His priesthood, and the spiritual kingdom His royalty (see the work, Heaven and Hell 24, 226). To minister is predicated of those who are in the Lord's celestial kingdom, but to serve of those who are in His spiritual kingdom. Hence it is clear what is meant in the following passages by to minister and minister, and to serve and servant. Jesus said, to the disciples:
"Whosoever will be great among you, must be your minister. And whosoever will be chief among you, must be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister" (Matthew 20:26-28; 23:11; 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; if any man hath ministered to me, him will my Father honour" (John 12:26).
Jesus said,
"Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching; I say unto you, that he will gird himself and make them to sit down, and rising up will minister to them" (Luke 12:37).
In Isaiah:
"The sons of the stranger, that join themselves to Jehovah to minister to him, and to love the name of Jehovah" (56:6).
Hence, because ministering is said of the good of love, the sons of the stranger are said to minister to Jehovah, and to love Him; and of the Lord Himself it is said, that He will minister. From these considerations it is evident that by ministry is signified all that is done from the good of love, thus the good of love.
