6501. 'And kissed him' means an initial joining together. This is clear from the meaning of 'kissing' as a joining together resulting from affection, dealt with in 3573, 3574, 4215, 4357, 5929, 6260, here an initial joining together since in what follows a closer joining together is the subject.

5929. 'And he kissed all his brothers' means a linking together through grace. This is clear from the meaning of 'kissing' as a joining together through affection, dealt with in 3573, 3574, 4753, in this case a linking together through grace because the truths of the Church within the natural, represented by 'the sons of Jacob', are more remote from internal good, which is 'Joseph'. And although truths that are more remote are, it is true, joined through the intermediary to internal good, yet for a long time they retain features such as are not in agreement with internal good. This is why 'kissing his brothers' means a linking together through grace.

[2] The expression 'through grace' is used, and not 'through mercy', because truths that are more remote and not in full agreement are not equipped with the kind of humility that enables people to plead for mercy. Indeed they are unable in their hearts even to use the word mercy, only the word grace. The reason for this is that the discordant features that cling to those truths arise from self-love, and one who loves only himself cannot at heart possibly humble himself. Rather, he exalts himself, for in every single thing he regards only himself and has little concern for anything outside himself.