8754. A few words shall here be said about the good in which truths are to be implanted, which good is here signified by “the wilderness of Sinai.” (That the man who is being regenerated is first led by the Lord by means of truth, and afterward by means of good, see n. 7923, 8643, 8648, 8658, 8685, 8690, 8701.) He who is being regenerated is led by means of truth to the intent that he may come to good, that is, may know it, and then will it, and finally do it. But when he is being led to good by means of truth, he first comes to the good in which the truths of faith have not yet been implanted; for truths cannot be implanted until he is in good. Before this they are indeed known, because they are in the memory, but at this time they are not in good, but are outside of good. Afterward when the man receives new life, which he first receives when he is in good, the truths of faith are implanted, and as it were enter upon a marriage with good in the internal man. This good, in which the truths of faith have not yet been implanted, but which is still so disposed that they can be received, is here meant by “the wilderness of Sinai.” No other good is meant than Christian good (on which see n. 8635-8638).

3123. I being in the way. That this signifies in a state of the conjunction of truth with good in the rational, is evident from the signification of a “way,” as being truth (see above, n. 627, 2333). That “in the way” here denotes the conjunction of truth with good in the rational, is because this is the subject treated of in this chapter (see n. 3012, 3013); for one is said to be “in the way” when he is making progress toward the place to which he intends to go.