Arcana Coelestia # 29
29. Verses 11-12 And God said, Let the earth cause tender plants to spring up, seed-bearing plants, fruit trees bearing fruit, each according to its kind, in which is its seed, upon the earth; and it was so. And the earth brought forth tender herbs, seed-bearing plants, each according to its kind, and trees bearing fruit, in which is their seed, each according to its kind; and God saw that it was good.
Once the earth or the individual has been made ready in such a way that he can receive from the Lord heavenly seeds and produce some measure of good and truth, the Lord first of all causes something tender to spring up, which is: called 'a tender plant', then something more useful which reproduces itself and is called 'a seed-bearing plant', and finally something good which bears fruit and is called 'a tree bearing fruit' in which is its seed, 'each one according to its kind'. The person who is being regenerated is at first such as imagines that any good he does comes from himself, and that any truth he utters comes from himself; but the fact of the matter is that all good and all truth come from the Lord. Consequently anyone who imagines that these originate in himself does not as yet have the life that belongs to true faith, though he is able to receive it later on. Indeed he is not yet able to believe that they come from the Lord because his state is one of preparation for receiving the life inherent in faith. That state is represented in these verses by plant life, the subsequent state, when the life inherent in faith is present, by living creatures.
[2] The Lord Himself saw fit to tell us that He is 'the sower', that 'the seed' is His Word, and that 'the earth' is man, Matthew 13:19-24, 37-39; Mark 4:14-21; Luke 8:11-16. He describes the matter again in a similar way,
The kingdom of God is like a man casting seed into the ground, and sleeping and rising night and day, and the seed sprouts and springs up, he knows not how; for the earth bears fruit of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. Mark 4:26-28.
In the universal sense, 'the kingdom of God' is used to mean the whole of heaven, in the less universal sense the Lord's true Church, and in particular every individual who has true faith, that is, who has been regenerated by means of the life that inheres in faith. For that reason the individual is also called 'heaven', for heaven is within him, and 'the kingdom of God', since that too is within him. This the Lord Himself teaches through Luke,
Jesus was asked by the Pharisees, When is the kingdom of God coming? He answered them and said, The kingdom of God is not coming with observation, nor will people say, Behold, here it is! or, Behold, there! for behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:20-21.
This is the third stage of a person's regeneration, a state when he is repentant. It is like passing from shadow into the light, or from evening to morning, and this is why it is said in Verse 13, And there was evening, and there was morning, a third day.
Acts 4
1
And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
2
Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3
And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4
Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
5
And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6
And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7
And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
8
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9
If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
14
And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15
But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16
Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17
But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18
And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19
But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
21
So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
22
For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
23
And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
24
And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
25
Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26
The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27
For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28
For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
29
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30
By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
32
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33
And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34
Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35
And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
36
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37
Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
