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Exodus 32

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1 καί-C ὁράω-VB--AAPNSM ὁ- A--NSM λαός-N2--NSM ὅτι-C χρονίζω-VX--XAI3S *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM καταβαίνω-VZ--AAN ἐκ-P ὁ- A--GSN ὄρος-N3E-GSN συνἵστημι-VHI-AAI3S ὁ- A--NSM λαός-N2--NSM ἐπί-P *ααρων-N---DSM καί-C λέγω-V1--PAI3P αὐτός- D--DSM ἀναἵστημι-VH--AAD2S καί-C ποιέω-VA--AAD2S ἐγώ- P--DP θεός-N2--APM ὅς- --NPM προπορεύομαι-VF--FMI3P ἐγώ- P--GP ὁ- A--NSM γάρ-X *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM οὗτος- D--NSM ὁ- A--NSM ἄνθρωπος-N2--NSM ὅς- --NSM ἐκἄγω-VBI-AAI3S ἐγώ- P--AP ἐκ-P *αἴγυπτος-N2--GSF οὐ-D οἶδα-VX--XAI1P τίς- I--NSN γίγνομαι-VX--XAI3S αὐτός- D--DSM

2 καί-C λέγω-V1--PAI3S αὐτός- D--DPM *ααρων-N---NSM περιαἱρέω-VB--AMD2P ὁ- A--APN ἐνώτιον-N2N-APN ὁ- A--APN χρυσοῦς-A1C-APN ὁ- A--APN ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPN οὖς-N3T-DPN ὁ- A--GPF γυνή-N3K-GPF σύ- P--GP καί-C θυγάτηρ-N3--GPF καί-C φέρω-VA--AAD2P πρός-P ἐγώ- P--AS

3 καί-C περιαἱρέω-VAI-AMI3P πᾶς-A3--NSM ὁ- A--NSM λαός-N2--NSM ὁ- A--APN ἐνώτιον-N2N-APN ὁ- A--APN χρυσοῦς-A1C-APN ὁ- A--APN ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPN οὖς-N3T-DPN αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C φέρω-VAI-AAI3P πρός-P *ααρων-N---ASM

4 καί-C δέχομαι-VAI-AMI3S ἐκ-P ὁ- A--GPF χείρ-N3--GPF αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C πλάσσω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--APN ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF γραφίς-N3D-DSF καί-C ποιέω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--APN μόσχος-N2--ASM χωνευτός-A1--ASM καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S οὗτος- D--NPM ὁ- A--NPM θεός-N2--NPM σύ- P--GS *ἰσραήλ-N---VSM ὅστις- X--NPM ἀναβιβάζω-VAI-AAI3P σύ- P--AS ἐκ-P γῆ-N1--GSF *αἴγυπτος-N2--GSF

5 καί-C ὁράω-VB--AAPNSM *ααρων-N---NSM οἰκοδομέω-VAI-AAI3S θυσιαστήριον-N2N-ASN κατέναντι-P αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C κηρύσσω-VAI-AAI3S *ααρων-N---NSM λέγω-V1--PAPNSM ἑορτή-N1--NSF ὁ- A--GSM κύριος-N2--GSM αὔριον-D

6 καί-C ὀρθρίζω-VA--AAPNSM ὁ- A--DSF ἐπαύριον-D ἀναβιβάζω-VAI-AAI3S ὁλοκαύτωμα-N3M-APN καί-C προςφέρω-VAI-AAI3S θυσία-N1A-ASF σωτήριον-N2N-GSN καί-C καταἵζω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--NSM λαός-N2--NSM ἐσθίω-VB--AAN καί-C πίνω-VB--AAN καί-C ἀναἵστημι-VHI-AAI3P παίζω-V1--PAN

7 καί-C λαλέω-VAI-AAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM πρός-P *μωυσῆς-N1M-ASM λέγω-V1--PAPNSM βαδίζω-V1--PAD2S ὁ- A--ASN τάχος-N3E-ASN ἐντεῦθεν-D καταβαίνω-VZ--AAD2S ἀνομέω-VAI-AAI3S γάρ-X ὁ- A--NSM λαός-N2--NSM σύ- P--GS ὅς- --APM ἐκἄγω-VBI-AAI2S ἐκ-P γῆ-N1--GSF *αἴγυπτος-N2--GSF

8 παραβαίνω-VZI-AAI3P ταχύς-A3U-ASN ἐκ-P ὁ- A--GSF ὁδός-N2--GSF ὅς- --GSF ἐντέλλομαι-VAI-AMI2S αὐτός- D--DPM ποιέω-VAI-AAI3P ἑαυτοῦ- D--DPM μόσχος-N2--ASM καί-C προςκυνέω-VX--XAI3P αὐτός- D--DSM καί-C θύω-VX--XAI3P αὐτός- D--DSM καί-C εἶπον-VAI-AAI3P οὗτος- D--NPM ὁ- A--NPM θεός-N2--NPM σύ- P--GS *ἰσραήλ-N---VSM ὅστις- X--NPM ἀναβιβάζω-VAI-AAI3P σύ- P--AS ἐκ-P γῆ-N1--GSF *αἴγυπτος-N2--GSF

10 καί-C νῦν-D ἐάω-VA--AAD2S ἐγώ- P--AS καί-C θυμόω-VC--APPNSM ὀργή-N1--DSF εἰς-P αὐτός- D--APM ἐκτρίβω-VF--FAI1S αὐτός- D--APM καί-C ποιέω-VF--FAI1S σύ- P--AS εἰς-P ἔθνος-N3E-ASN μέγας-A1P-ASN

11 καί-C δέω-VCI-API3S *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM ἔναντι-P κύριος-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSM θεός-N2--GSM καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S ἵνα-C τίς- I--NSN κύριος-N2--VSM θυμόω-V4--PMI2S ὀργή-N1--DSF εἰς-P ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM σύ- P--GS ὅς- --APM ἐκἄγω-VBI-AAI2S ἐκ-P γῆ-N1--GSF *αἴγυπτος-N2--GSF ἐν-P ἰσχύς-N3U-DSF μέγας-A1--DSF καί-C ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSM βραχίων-N3N-DSM σύ- P--GS ὁ- A--DSM ὑψηλός-A1--DSM

12 μήποτε-D εἶπον-VB--AAS3P ὁ- A--NPM *αἰγύπτιος-N2--NPM λέγω-V1--PAPNPM μετά-P πονηρία-N1A-GSF ἐκἄγω-VBI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--APM ἀποκτείνω-VA--AAN ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPN ὄρος-N3E-DPN καί-C ἐκ ἀναἁλίσκω-VA--AAN αὐτός- D--APM ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GSF γῆ-N1--GSF παύω-VA--AMD2S ὁ- A--GSF ὀργή-N1--GSF ὁ- A--GSM θυμός-N2--GSM σύ- P--GS καί-C ἵλεως-A1B-NSM γίγνομαι-VB--AMD2S ἐπί-P ὁ- A--DSF κακία-N1A-DSF ὁ- A--GSM λαός-N2--GSM σύ- P--GS

13 μιμνήσκω-VS--APPNSM *αβρααμ-N---GSM καί-C *ισαακ-N---GSM καί-C *ἰακώβ-N---GSM ὁ- A--GPM σός-A1--GPM οἰκέτης-N1M-GPM ὅς- --DPM ὄμνυμι-VAI-AAI2S κατά-P σεαυτοῦ- D--GSM καί-C λαλέω-VAI-AAI2S πρός-P αὐτός- D--APM λέγω-V1--PAPNSM πολυπληθύνω-VF2-FAI1S ὁ- A--ASN σπέρμα-N3M-ASN σύ- P--GP ὡσεί-D ὁ- A--APN ἄστρον-N2N-APN ὁ- A--GSM οὐρανός-N2--GSM ὁ- A--DSN πλῆθος-N3E-DSN καί-C πᾶς-A1S-ASF ὁ- A--ASF γῆ-N1--ASF οὗτος- D--ASF ὅς- --ASF εἶπον-VAI-AAI2S δίδωμι-VO--AAN ὁ- A--DSN σπέρμα-N3M-DSN αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C καταἔχω-VF--FAI3P αὐτός- D--ASF εἰς-P ὁ- A--ASM αἰών-N3W-ASM

14 καί-C ἱλάσκομαι-VCI-API3S κύριος-N2--NSM περί-P ὁ- A--GSF κακία-N1A-GSF ὅς- --GSF εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S ποιέω-VA--AAN ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM αὐτός- D--GSM

15 καί-C ἀποστρέφω-VA--AAPNSM *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM καταβαίνω-VZI-AAI3S ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GSN ὄρος-N3E-GSN καί-C ὁ- A--NPF δύο-M πλάξ-N3K-NPF ὁ- A--GSN μαρτύριον-N2N-GSN ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF χείρ-N3--DPF αὐτός- D--GSM πλάξ-N3K-NPF λίθινος-A1--NPF καταγράφω-VP--XPPNPF ἐκ-P ἀμφότεροι-A1A-GPN ὁ- A--GPN μέρος-N3E-GPN αὐτός- D--GPF ἔνθεν-D καί-C ἔνθεν-D εἰμί-V9--IAI3P γράφω-VP--XPPNPF

16 καί-C ὁ- A--NPF πλάξ-N3K-NPF ἔργον-N2N-NSN θεός-N2--GSM εἰμί-V9--IAI3P καί-C ὁ- A--NSF γραφή-N1--NSF γραφή-N1--NSF θεός-N2--GSM εἰμί-V9--PAI3S κολάπτω-VP--XPPNSF ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF πλάξ-N3K-DPF

17 καί-C ἀκούω-VA--AAPNSM *ἰησοῦς-N---NSM ὁ- A--ASF φωνή-N1--ASF ὁ- A--GSM λαός-N2--GSM κράζω-V1--PAPGPM λέγω-V1--PAI3S πρός-P *μωυσῆς-N1M-ASM φωνή-N1--NSF πόλεμος-N2--GSM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF παρεμβολή-N1--DSF

18 καί-C λέγω-V1--PAI3S οὐ-D εἰμί-V9--PAI3S φωνή-N1--NSF ἐκἄρχω-V1--PAPGPM κατά-P ἰσχύς-N3U-ASF οὐδέ-C φωνή-N1--NSF ἐκἄρχω-V1--PAPGPM τροπή-N1--GSF ἀλλά-C φωνή-N1--ASF ἐκἄρχω-V1--PAPGPM οἶνος-N2--GSM ἐγώ- P--NS ἀκούω-V1--PAI1S

19 καί-C ἡνίκα-D ἐγγίζω-V1I-IAI3S ὁ- A--DSF παρεμβολή-N1--DSF ὁράω-V3--PAI3S ὁ- A--ASM μόσχος-N2--ASM καί-C ὁ- A--APM χορός-N2--APM καί-C ὀργίζω-VS--APPNSM θυμός-N2--DSM *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM ῥίπτω-VAI-AAI3S ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GPF χείρ-N3--GPF αὐτός- D--GSM ὁ- A--APF δύο-M πλάξ-N3K-APF καί-C συντρίβω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--APF ὑπό-P ὁ- A--ASN ὄρος-N3E-ASN

20 καί-C λαμβάνω-VB--AAPNSM ὁ- A--ASM μόσχος-N2--ASM ὅς- --ASM ποιέω-VAI-AAI3P κατακαίω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--ASM ἐν-P πῦρ-N3--DSN καί-C καταἀλέω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--ASM λεπτός-A1--ASM καί-C σπείρω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--ASM ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASN ὕδωρ-N3--ASN καί-C ποτίζω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--ASN ὁ- A--APM υἱός-N2--APM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM

21 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM ὁ- A--DSM *ααρων-N---DSM τίς- I--ASN ποιέω-VAI-AAI3S σύ- P--DS ὁ- A--NSM λαός-N2--NSM οὗτος- D--NSM ὅτι-C ἐπιἄγω-VBI-AAI2S ἐπί-P αὐτός- D--APM ἁμαρτία-N1A-ASF μέγας-A1--ASF

22 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S *ααρων-N---NSM πρός-P *μωυσῆς-N1M-ASM μή-D ὀργίζω-V1--PMD2S κύριος-N2--VSM σύ- P--NS γάρ-X οἶδα-VX--XAI2S ὁ- A--ASN ὅρμημα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--GSM λαός-N2--GSM οὗτος- D--GSM

23 λέγω-V1--PAI3P γάρ-X ἐγώ- P--DS ποιέω-VA--AAD2S ἐγώ- P--DP θεός-N2--APM ὅς- --NPM προπορεύομαι-VF--FMI3P ἐγώ- P--GP ὁ- A--NSM γάρ-X *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM οὗτος- D--NSM ὁ- A--NSM ἄνθρωπος-N2--NSM ὅς- --NSM ἐκἄγω-VBI-AAI3S ἐγώ- P--AP ἐκ-P *αἴγυπτος-N2--GSF οὐ-D οἶδα-VX--XAI1P τίς- I--NSN γίγνομαι-VX--XAI3S αὐτός- D--DSM

24 καί-C εἶπον-VAI-AAI1S αὐτός- D--DPM εἰ-C τις- I--DSM ὑποἄρχω-V1--PAI3S χρυσίον-N2N-NPN περιαἱρέω-VB--AMD2P καί-C δίδωμι-VAI-AAI3P ἐγώ- P--DS καί-C ῥίπτω-VAI-AAI1S εἰς-P ὁ- A--ASN πῦρ-N3--ASN καί-C ἐκἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S ὁ- A--NSM μόσχος-N2--NSM οὗτος- D--NSM

25 καί-C ὁράω-VB--AAPNSM *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM ὅτι-C διασκεδάζω-VT--XPI3S διασκεδάζω-VAI-AAI3S γάρ-X αὐτός- D--APM *ααρων-N---NSM ἐπίχαρμα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--DPM ὑπεναντίος-A1A-DPM αὐτός- D--GPM

26 ἵστημι-VHI-AAI3S δέ-X *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM ἐπί-P ὁ- A--GSF πύλη-N1--GSF ὁ- A--GSF παρεμβολή-N1--GSF καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S τίς- I--NSM πρός-P κύριος-N2--ASM εἶμι-V9--PAD3S πρός-P ἐγώ- P--AS συνἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3P οὖν-X πρός-P αὐτός- D--ASM πᾶς-A3--NPM ὁ- A--NPM υἱός-N2--NPM *λευί-N---GSM

27 καί-C λέγω-V1--PAI3S αὐτός- D--DPM ὅδε- D--APN λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM ὁ- A--NSM θεός-N2--NSM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM τίθημι-VE--AMD2P ἕκαστος-A1--NSM ὁ- A--ASF ἑαυτοῦ- D--GSM ῥομφαία-N1A-ASF ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASM μηρός-N2--ASM καί-C διαἔρχομαι-VA--AAD2P καί-C ἀνακάμπτω-VA--AAD2P ἀπό-P πύλη-N1--GSF ἐπί-P πύλη-N1--ASF διά-P ὁ- A--GSF παρεμβολή-N1--GSF καί-C ἀποκτείνω-VA--AAD2P ἕκαστος-A1--NSM ὁ- A--ASM ἀδελφός-N2--ASM αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C ἕκαστος-A1--NSM ὁ- A--ASM πλησίον-D αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C ἕκαστος-A1--NSM ὁ- A--ASM ἐγγύς-D αὐτός- D--GSM

28 καί-C ποιέω-VAI-AAI3P ὁ- A--NPM υἱός-N2--NPM *λευί-N---GSM καθά-D λαλέω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DPM *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM καί-C πίπτω-VAI-AAI3P ἐκ-P ὁ- A--GSM λαός-N2--GSM ἐν-P ἐκεῖνος- D--DSF ὁ- A--DSF ἡμέρα-N1A-DSF εἰς-P τρισχίλιοι-A1A-APM ἀνήρ-N3--APM

29 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DPM *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM πληρόω-VAI-AAI2P ὁ- A--APF χείρ-N3--APF σύ- P--GP σήμερον-D κύριος-N2--DSM ἕκαστος-A1--NSM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSM υἱός-N2--DSM ἤ-C ὁ- A--DSM ἀδελφός-N2--DSM δίδωμι-VC--APN ἐπί-P σύ- P--AP εὐλογία-N1A-ASF

30 καί-C γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S μετά-P ὁ- A--ASF αὔριον-D εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM πρός-P ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM σύ- P--NP ἁμαρτάνω-VX--XAI2P ἁμαρτία-N1A-ASF μέγας-A1--ASF καί-C νῦν-D ἀναβαίνω-VF--FMI1S πρός-P ὁ- A--ASM θεός-N2--ASM ἵνα-C ἐκἱλάσκομαι-VA--AMS1S περί-P ὁ- A--GSF ἁμαρτία-N1A-GSF σύ- P--GP

31 ὑποστρέφω-VAI-AAI3S δέ-X *μωυσῆς-N1M-NSM πρός-P κύριος-N2--ASM καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέομαι-V1--PMI1S κύριος-N2--VSM ἁμαρτάνω-VX--XAI3S ὁ- A--NSM λαός-N2--NSM οὗτος- D--NSM ἁμαρτία-N1A-ASF μέγας-A1--ASF καί-C ποιέω-VAI-AAI3P ἑαυτοῦ- D--DPM θεός-N2--APM χρυσοῦς-A1C-APM

32 καί-C νῦν-D εἰ-C μέν-X ἀποἵημι-V1--PAI2S αὐτός- D--DPM ὁ- A--ASF ἁμαρτία-N1A-ASF ἀποἵημι-VB--AAD2S εἰ-C δέ-X μή-D ἐκἀλείφω-VA--AAD2S ἐγώ- P--AS ἐκ-P ὁ- A--GSF βίβλος-N2--GSF σύ- P--GS ὅς- --GSF γράφω-VAI-AAI2S

33 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM πρός-P *μωυσῆς-N1M-ASM εἰ-C τις- I--NSM ἁμαρτάνω-VX--XAI3S ἐνώπιον-P ἐγώ- P--GS ἐκἀλείφω-VF--FAI1S αὐτός- D--ASM ἐκ-P ὁ- A--GSF βίβλος-N2--GSF ἐγώ- P--GS

34 νυνί-D δέ-X βαδίζω-V1--PAD2S καταβαίνω-VZ--AAD2S καί-C ὁδηγέω-VA--AAD2S ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM οὗτος- D--ASM εἰς-P ὁ- A--ASM τόπος-N2--ASM ὅς- --ASM εἶπον-VAI-AAI1S σύ- P--DS ἰδού-I ὁ- A--NSM ἄγγελος-N2--NSM ἐγώ- P--GS προπορεύομαι-V1--PMI3S πρό-P πρόσωπον-N2N-GSN σύ- P--GS ὅς- --DSF δέ-X ἄν-X ἡμέρα-N1A-DSF ἐπισκέπτω-V1--PMS1S ἐπιἄγω-VF--FAI1S ἐπί-P αὐτός- D--APM ὁ- A--ASF ἁμαρτία-N1A-ASF αὐτός- D--GPM

35 καί-C πατάσσω-VAI-AAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM ὁ- A--ASM λαός-N2--ASM περί-P ὁ- A--GSF ποίησις-N3I-GSF ὁ- A--GSM μόσχος-N2--GSM ὅς- --GSM ποιέω-VAI-AAI3S *ααρων-N---NSM

   

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Apocalypse Explained # 1182

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1182. And one strong angel tools up a stone, as it were a great millstone, and cast it into the sea.- That this signifies the confirmations of their doctrines from the Word cast down into hell with them, is evident from the signification of a strong angel, as denoting Divine truth in its power, concerning which see n. 130, 200, 302, 593, 800; and from the signification of a millstone, as denoting the confirmation of truth from the Word, and also the confirmation of falsity from the same, of which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of casting into the sea, as denoting into hell with them. That the sea also signifies hell, may be seen above (n. 537, 538).

The reason why a millstone signifies confirmation from the Word in both senses, is because wheat signifies good, and fine flour its truth; therefore a millstone, by which wheat is ground into fine flour, or barley into meal, signifies the production of truth from good, or the production of falsity from evil, thus also the confirmation of truth or falsity from the Word. This is also evident from the following passages.

In Jeremiah:

"I will take from them the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of the millstones, and the light of the lamp" (25:10).

The joy of heaven and the Church is there also described. The voice of joy signifies exultation of heart from the good of love, and the voice of gladness signifies glorification of soul from the truths of faith; for joy, in the Word, is said of good, and gladness of truth. The voice of millstones signifies the same as the voice of joy, and the light of the lamp the same as gladness, namely, from the truth of faith. The reason why the voice of millstones signifies joy of heart from the good of love, is, that a millstone grinds wheat into fine flour; and wheat signifies the good of love, and fine flour truth from that good.

[2] Similar things are mentioned in this chapter of the Apocalypse, namely,

"The voice of the mill shall be heard in thee no more, and the light of a lamp shall shine in thee no more, and the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, shall be heard in thee no more" (verses 22, 23).

These words will be explained presently.

So in Isaiah:

"Take the millstone and grind meal, make bare the thigh, passing through the rivers" (47:2).

This is said of Babel and Chaldaea. To take the millstone and grind meal signifies to produce falsities from evil, and confirm them by the Word; while to uncover the thigh, passing through the rivers, signifies to adulterate goods by reasonings.

In Lamentations:

"The young men they have led away to grind, and the boys fall in wood" (5:13).

To take away the young men to grind, signifies to compel those who are capable of understanding truth to falsify truths. The boys fall in wood, signifies to compel those who are capable of being in the will of good, to adulterate goods. To grind denotes to falsify truths, or to confirm falsities by the Word, and wood denotes good.

In Moses:

"Thou shalt not take a mill (mola) or an upper millstone (molaris) to pledge, for he taketh the soul to pledge" (Deuteronomy 24:6).

This was among the laws of the Israelites, all of which corresponded to spiritual things. That they should not take a mill or the upper millstone to pledge signifies in the spiritual sense, that they should not take away from any one the power to understand truths from good, thus that they should not deprive any one of goods and truths. It is because of this signification that it was said, "For he taketh the soul to pledge," which signifies that thus he would spiritually perish.

Again:

"They shall die even to the first-born of the maidservant who is behind the mill" (Exodus 11:5).

The first-born of the maid-servant who is behind the mill, signifies the primary things of the faith of the natural man, which have been falsified.

In Matthew:

In the consummation of the age, "two women shall be grinding, one shall be taken, the other shall be left" (24:40, 41).

The consummation of the age is the last time of the church. The two women grinding mean those who confirm themselves in truths, and those who confirm themselves in falsities from the Word; those who confirm themselves in truths being meant by her "who shall be taken"; and those who confirm themselves in falsities by her "who shall be left."

[3] In the Evangelists: Jesus said,

"He who shall cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it is better for him that an ass-millstone be hanged about his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matthew 18:6; Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2).

To cause one of the little ones who believe in Jesus to stumble, signifies to pervert those who acknowledge the Lord. It being better that an ass-millstone be hanged about his neck, signifies that it is better to be ignorant of any good and truth, and to know only evil and falsity, which is here meant by an ass-millstone; while to be hanged about the neck denotes cutting one off from knowing good and truth. To be drowned in the depth of the sea, signifies to be cast down into hell. The reason why this is better is that to know goods and truths and pervert them is to be guilty of profanation. What is meant by Moses burning the calf and grinding it to dust, and sprinkling it upon the faces of the waters and causing the sons of Israel to drink thereof (Exodus 32:20; Deuteronomy 9:21), may be seen explained in the Arcana Coelestia 10462-10466).

[4] Continuation.- Something shall now be said on the subject of spirits speaking with man. Many persons believe that man can be taught by the Lord by means of spirits speaking with him. But those who believe this, and desire to do so, are not aware that it is associated with danger to their souls. Man as to his spirit, as long as he lives in the world, is in the midst of spirits, but still the spirits do not know that they are with him, nor is he aware that he is with spirits. The reason is, that they are conjoined immediately as to the affections of the will, and mediately as to the thoughts of the understanding. For man thinks naturally, but spirits think spiritually; and natural and spiritual thought make one only by correspondence; it is this that prevents men and spirits from knowing anything of each other. But as soon as spirits begin to speak with man, they come out of their own spiritual state into man's natural state, and being then aware that they are with man, they conjoin themselves with the thoughts of his affection, and from these thoughts they speak with him. They can enter only into his natural state, for similar affection with the thought derived from it effects conjunction in all cases, but dissimilar affection causes separation.

It is owing to this circumstance, that when a spirit speaks he is in the same principles as the man with whom he speaks, whether these are true or false; and further, that he calls them into activity, and by means of his own affection conjoined to that of the man's strongly confirms them. Hence it is evident that only similar spirits speak with man, or manifestly act upon him; for manifest action coincides with speech. For this reason none but enthusiastic spirits speak with enthusiasts; none but Quaker spirits act upon Quakers, or Moravian spirits upon Moravians.

[5] The case would be similar with Arians, Socinians, and with other heretics (heraeticis). All spirits that speak with man were once men in the world, and were then of the same character. It has been granted me to know by repeated experience that this is the case. And what is ridiculous is that when a man imagines that the Holy Spirit is speaking with him, or acting upon him, the spirit who speaks with him also believes that he is the Holy Spirit. This is common in the case of enthusiastic spirits.

It is evident from these facts to what danger a man is exposed who speaks with spirits, or manifestly feels their operation. Man is ignorant of the nature of his own affection, whether it is good or evil, and with what other [affections] it is conjoined; and if he is proud of his own intelligence, the spirit humours every thought which proceeds from his affection. The same is the case if one has for certain principles a partiality kindled by a kind of fire which exists among those who are not in truths from genuine affection. For when a spirit from a similar affection humours a man's thoughts or principles, then one leads the other, like the blind leading the blind, until they both fall into the ditch.

The Pythonists of former times were of this description; the Magi also in Egypt and Babel; and because of their conversing with spirits, and of the action of these upon them being clearly felt in themselves, they were called wise. But it was by this means that the worship of God was converted into the worship of demons, and that the church perished. The sons of Israel were therefore, under penalty of death, forbidden to hold such intercourse.

  
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Translation by Isaiah Tansley. Many thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.