Arcana Coelestia # 4783
4783. 'To comfort him' means to provide explanations based on the sense of the letter of the Word. This is clear from the meaning of 'comforting' as calming a turbulence of mind with a hope concerning some thing, dealt with in 3610, in this case a turbulence or mourning over lost good and truth. And because this mourning cannot be subdued except by means of explanations based on the Word, and because reference is being made at this point to Jacob's sons and daughters, who mean those governed by falsities and evils, 4781, 4782, 'comforting' means explanations based on the sense of the letter. For the sense of the letter of the Word contains general ideas which, being like vessels, can be filled with truths or else with falsities and so can be given whatever explanation suits one's own point of view. And because they are general ones they are also obscure compared with other ideas, receiving light from nowhere else than the internal sense. For the internal sense exists in the light of heaven because it is the Word as angels know it, whereas the sense of the letter exists in the light of the world because it is the Word as men know it before they come to the light of heaven received from the Lord, by which light they are then enlightened. From this it is evident that the sense of the letter serves to introduce the simple to the internal sense.
[2] This use of explanations when one is expounding the Word - explanations which are based on the sense of the letter and which fit in with one's own point of view - is quite evident from the fact that all religious ideas, including heretical ones, are substantiated by such explanations. For example, the accepted teaching about faith separated from charity is substantiated by the following words spoken by the Lord,
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16.
From these words and other places people deduce that eternal life is acquired through faith alone without works. And once these people have become convinced of this they no longer pay any attention to what the Lord said so many times about love to Him, and about charity and works, 1017, 2373, 3934. Thus they pay no attention to the following in John,
As many as received Him, to them He gave power to be sons of God, to those believing in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13.
If they are told that no one can believe in the Lord except him who has charity, they instantly take refuge in explanations like these: The law has been abolished; people are born in sins and so cannot do good of themselves, and those who do do it cannot do other than claim merit for it. These explanations too they substantiate from the sense of the letter of the Word, for example from what is stated in the parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector, Luke 18:10-14, and from other things that are stated. But these statements have an altogether different meaning from the explanations they resort to.
[3] Also, the adherents to faith separated from charity can have no other belief than that everyone is able by grace to be admitted into heaven, no matter what kind of life he has been leading, so that it is not a person's life but his faith that awaits him after death. This too they substantiate from the sense of the letter of the Word. But from the spiritual sense of the Word it is clear that the Lord has mercy on everyone, so that if a person reached heaven by mercy or grace irrespective of whatever life he has led everyone would be saved. The reason the adherents to faith separated from charity believe the way they do is that they have no knowledge at all of what heaven is because they do not know what charity is. If they knew how much peace, joy, and happiness is present within charity they would know what heaven is; but this is entirely hidden from them.
[4] Nor can the adherents to faith separated from charity have any other belief than that they will rise again with the physical body, though not until judgement day. This too they substantiate from many places in the Word, explained according to the sense of the letter. They give no thought at all to what the Lord said - many times in addition to the following - about the rich man and Lazarus, Luke 16:22-31, or to what He told the robber,
Truly I say to you, Today you will be with Me in paradise. Luke 23:43.
The reason the adherents to faith separated from charity believe the way they do is that if they were told that the body is not going to rise again they would refuse to believe in any resurrection at all, for what the internal man is they neither know nor have any conception of. Indeed no one can know what the internal man is and the internal man's life after death is except him who has charity; for charity is an attribute of the internal man.
[5] The adherents to faith separated from charity can have no other belief than that the works of charity consist solely in giving to the poor and helping the distressed. This belief too they substantiate from the sense of the letter of the Word. But in fact the works of charity consist in each person doing what is right and fair in his employment, from a love of what is right and fair, and of what is good and true.
[6] The adherents to faith separated from charity do not see anything in the Word apart from what substantiates their own accepted teachings, for they have no real insight. Indeed people who are not moved by the affection belonging to charity have merely external sight, or an inferior insight. With this no one can possibly behold higher things, for higher things are seen by him as darkness. Consequently such people see falsities as truths, and truths as falsities, and so by explanations based on the sense of the letter they ruin the good pasture and pollute the pure waters of that sacred spring which is the Word, as accords with the following in Ezekiel,
Is it a small thing to you? You feed off the good pasture and tread down with your feet the rest of your pastures; you drink the water that has settled down 1 and stir up the rest with your feet. You butt with your horns all the weak [sheep] till you have scattered them abroad. Ezekiel 34:17-18, 21.
Poznámky pod čarou:
1. literally, the sediment of the waters
Ezekiel 11
1
και-C αναλαμβανω-VBI-AAI3S εγω-
P--AS πνευμα-N3M-NSN και-C αγω-VBI-AAI3S εγω-
P--AS επι-P ο-
A--ASF πυλη-N1--ASF ο-
A--GSM οικος-N2--GSM κυριος-N2--GSM ο-
A--ASF κατεναντι-D ο-
A--ASF βλεπω-V1--PAPASF κατα-P ανατολη-N1--APF και-C ιδου-I επι-P ο-
A--GPN προθυρον-N2N-GPN ο-
A--GSF πυλη-N1--GSF ως-C εικοσι-M και-C πεντε-M ανηρ-N3--NPM και-C οραω-VBI-AAI1S εν-P μεσος-A1--DSN αυτος-
D--GPM ο-
A--ASM *ιεζονιας-N1T-ASM ο-
A--ASM ο-
A--GSM *εζερ-N---GSM και-C *φαλτιας-N1T-ASM ο-
A--ASM ο-
A--GSM *βαναιου-N---GSM ο-
A--APM αποηγεομαι-V2--PMPAPM ο-
A--GSM λαος-N2--GSM
2
και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM προς-P εγω-
P--AS υιος-N2--VSM ανθρωπος-N2--GSM ουτος-
D--NPM ο-
A--NPM ανηρ-N3--NPM ο-
A--NPM λογιζομαι-V1--PMPNPM ματαιος-A1A-APN και-C βουλευω-V1--PMPNPM βουλη-N1--ASF πονηρος-A1A-ASF εν-P ο-
A--DSF πολις-N3I-DSF ουτος-
D--DSF
3
ο-
A--NPM λεγω-V1--PAPNPM ου-D προσφατως-D οικοδομεω-VM--XMI3P ο-
A--NPF οικια-N1A-NPF ουτος-
D--NSF ειμι-V9--PAI3S ο-
A--NSM λεβης-N3T-NSM εγω-
P--NP δε-X ο-
A--NPN κρεας-N3--NPN
4
δια-P ουτος-
D--ASN προφητευω-VA--AAD2S επι-P αυτος-
D--APM προφητευω-VA--AAD2S υιος-N2--VSM ανθρωπος-N2--GSM
5
και-C πιπτω-VAI-AAI3S επι-P εγω-
P--AS πνευμα-N3M-NSN κυριος-N2--GSM και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S προς-P εγω-
P--AS λεγω-V1--PAD2S οδε-
D--APN λεγω-V1--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ουτως-D ειπον-VAI-AAI2P οικος-N2--NSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM και-C ο-
A--APN διαβουλιον-N2N-APN ο-
A--GSN πνευμα-N3M-GSN συ-
P--GP εγω-
P--NS επιιστημι-V6--PMI1S
6
πληθυνω-VAI-AAI2P νεκρος-N2--APM συ-
P--GP εν-P ο-
A--DSF πολις-N3I-DSF ουτος-
D--DSF και-C ενπιμπλημι-VAI-AAI2P ο-
A--APF οδος-N2--APF αυτος-
D--GSF τραυματιας-N1T-GPM
7
δια-P ουτος-
D--ASN οδε-
D--APN λεγω-V1--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο-
A--APM νεκρος-N2--APM συ-
P--GP ος-
--APM πατασσω-VAI-AAI2P εν-P μεσος-A1--DSN αυτος-
D--GSF ουτος-
D--NPM ειμι-V9--PAI3P ο-
A--NPN κρεας-N3--NPN αυτος-
D--NSF δε-X ο-
A--NSM λεβης-N3T-NSM ειμι-V9--PAI3S και-C συ-
P--AP εκαγω-VF--FAI1S εκ-P μεσος-A1--GSN αυτος-
D--GSF
8
ρομφαια-N1A-ASF φοβεω-V2--PMI2P και-C ρομφαια-N1A-ASF επιαγω-VF--FAI1S επι-P συ-
P--AP λεγω-V1--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM
9
και-C εκαγω-VF--FAI1S συ-
P--AP εκ-P μεσος-A1--GSN αυτος-
D--GSF και-C παραδιδωμι-VF--FAI1S συ-
P--AP εις-P χειρ-N3--APF αλλοτριος-A1A-GPM και-C ποιεω-VF--FAI1S εν-P συ-
P--DP κριμα-N3M-APN
10
εν-P ρομφαια-N1A-DSF πιπτω-VF2-FMI2P επι-P ο-
A--GPN οριον-N2N-GPN ο-
A--GSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM κρινω-VF2-FAI1S συ-
P--AP και-C επιγιγνωσκω-VF--FMI2P οτι-C εγω-
P--NS κυριος-N2--NSM
11
αυτος-
D--NSF συ-
P--DP ου-D ειμι-VF--FMI3S εις-P λεβης-N3T-ASM και-C συ-
P--NP ου-D μη-D γιγνομαι-VB--AMS2P εν-P μεσος-A1--DSN αυτος-
D--GSF εις-P κρεας-N3--APN επι-P ο-
A--GPN οριον-N2N-GPN ο-
A--GSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM κρινω-VF2-FAI1S συ-
P--AP
12
και-C επιγιγνωσκω-VF--FMI2P διοτι-C εγω-
P--NS κυριος-N2--NSM
13
και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S εν-P ο-
A--DSN προφητευω-V1--PAN εγω-
P--AS και-C *φαλτιας-N1T-NSM ο-
A--NSM ο-
A--GSM *βαναιου-N---GSM αποθνησκω-VBI-AAI3S και-C πιπτω-V1--PAI1S επι-P προσωπον-N2N-ASN εγω-
P--GS και-C αναβοαω-VAI-AAI1S φωνη-N1--DSF μεγας-A1--DSF και-C ειπον-VAI-AAI1S οιμμοι-I οιμμοι-I κυριος-N2--VSM εις-P συντελεια-N1A-ASF συ-
P--NS ποιεω-V2--PAI2S ο-
A--APM καταλοιπος-A1B-APM ο-
A--GSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM
14
και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S λογος-N2--NSM κυριος-N2--GSM προς-P εγω-
P--AS λεγω-V1--PAPNSM
15
υιος-N2--VSM ανθρωπος-N2--GSM ο-
A--NPM αδελφος-N2--NPM συ-
P--GS και-C ο-
A--NPM ανηρ-N3--NPM ο-
A--GSF αιχμαλωσια-N1A-GSF συ-
P--GS και-C πας-A3--NSM ο-
A--NSM οικος-N2--NSM ο-
A--GSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM συντελεω-VM--XPI3S ος-
--DPM ειπον-VAI-AAI3P αυτος-
D--DPM ο-
A--NPM καταοικεω-V2--PAPNPM *ιερουσαλημ-N---ASF μακραν-D αποεχω-V1--PAI2P απο-P ο-
A--GSM κυριος-N2--GSM εγω-
P--DP διδωμι-VM--XMI3S ο-
A--NSF γη-N1--NSF εις-P κληρονομια-N1A-ASF
16
δια-P ουτος-
D--ASN ειπον-VB--AAD2S οδε-
D--APN λεγω-V1--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM οτι-C αποωθεω-VF--FMI1S αυτος-
D--APM εις-P ο-
A--APN εθνος-N3E-APN και-C διασκορπιζω-VF2-FAI1S αυτος-
D--APM εις-P πας-A1S-ASF ο-
A--ASF γη-N1--ASF και-C ειμι-VF--FMI1S αυτος-
D--DPM εις-P αγιασμα-N3M-ASN μικρος-A1A-ASN εν-P ο-
A--DPF χωρα-N1A-DPF ος-
--GSM αν-X ειςερχομαι-VB--AAS3P εκει-D
17
δια-P ουτος-
D--ASN ειπον-VB--AAD2S οδε-
D--APN λεγω-V1--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM και-C ειςδεχομαι-VF--FMI1S αυτος-
D--APM εκ-P ο-
A--GPN εθνος-N3E-GPN και-C συναγω-VF--FAI1S αυτος-
D--APM εκ-P ο-
A--GPF χωρα-N1A-GPF ος-
--GSM διασπειρω-VAI-AAI1S αυτος-
D--APM εν-P αυτος-
D--DPF και-C διδωμι-VF--FAI1S αυτος-
D--DPM ο-
A--ASF γη-N1--ASF ο-
A--GSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM
18
και-C ειςερχομαι-VF--FMI3P εκει-D και-C εκαιρω-VF2-FAI3P πας-A3--APN ο-
A--APN βδελυγμα-N3M-APN αυτος-
D--GSF και-C πας-A1S-APF ο-
A--APF ανομια-N1A-APF αυτος-
D--GSF εκ-P αυτος-
D--GSF
19
και-C διδωμι-VF--FAI1S αυτος-
D--DPM καρδια-N1A-ASF ετερος-A1A-ASF και-C πνευμα-N3M-ASN καινος-A1--ASN διδωμι-VF--FAI1S εν-P αυτος-
D--DPM και-C εκσπαω-VF--FAI1S ο-
A--ASF καρδια-N1A-ASF ο-
A--ASF λιθινος-A1--ASF εκ-P ο-
A--GSF σαρξ-N3K-GSF αυτος-
D--GPM και-C διδωμι-VF--FAI1S αυτος-
D--DPM καρδια-N1A-ASF σαρκινος-A1--ASF
20
οπως-C εν-P ο-
A--DPN προσταγμα-N3M-DPN εγω-
P--GS πορευομαι-V1--PMS3P και-C ο-
A--NPN δικαιωμα-N3M-NPN εγω-
P--GS φυλασσω-V1--PMS3P και-C ποιεω-V2--PAS3P αυτος-
D--APN και-C ειμι-VF--FMI3P εγω-
P--DS εις-P λαος-N2--ASM και-C εγω-
P--NS ειμι-VF--FMI1S αυτος-
D--DPM εις-P θεος-N2--ASM
21
και-C εις-P ο-
A--ASF καρδια-N1A-ASF ο-
A--GPN βδελυγμα-N3M-GPN αυτος-
D--GPM και-C ο-
A--GPF ανομια-N1A-GPF αυτος-
D--GPM ως-C ο-
A--NSF καρδια-N1A-NSF αυτος-
D--GPM πορευομαι-V1I-IMI3S ο-
A--APF οδος-N2--APF αυτος-
D--GPM εις-P κεφαλη-N1--APF αυτος-
D--GPM διδωμι-VX--XAI1S λεγω-V1--PAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM
22
και-C εκαιρω-VBI-AAI3P ο-
A--NPN χερουβειμ-N---NPN ο-
A--APF πτερυξ-N3G-APF αυτος-
D--GPN και-C ο-
A--NPM τροχος-N2--NPM εχω-V1--PMPNPM αυτος-
D--GPN και-C ο-
A--NSF δοξα-N1S-NSF θεος-N2--GSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM επι-P αυτος-
D--APN υπερανω-D αυτος-
D--GPN
23
και-C αναβαινω-VZI-AAI3S ο-
A--NSF δοξα-N1S-NSF κυριος-N2--GSM εκ-P μεσος-A1--GSF ο-
A--GSF πολις-N3I-GSF και-C ιστημι-VHI-AAI3S επι-P ο-
A--GSN ορος-N3E-GSN ος-
--NSN ειμι-V9--IAI3S απεναντι-D ο-
A--GSF πολις-N3I-GSF
24
και-C αναλαμβανω-VBI-AAI3S εγω-
P--AS πνευμα-N3M-NSN και-C αγω-VBI-AAI3S εγω-
P--AS εις-P γη-N1--ASF *χαλδαιος-N2--GPM εις-P ο-
A--ASF αιχμαλωσια-N1A-ASF εν-P ορασις-N3I-DSF εν-P πνευμα-N3M-DSN θεος-N2--GSM και-C αναβαινω-VZI-AAI1S απο-P ο-
A--GSF ορασις-N3I-GSF ος-
--GSF οραω-VBI-AAI1S
25
και-C λαλεω-VAI-AAI1S προς-P ο-
A--ASF αιχμαλωσια-N1A-ASF πας-A3--APM ο-
A--APM λογος-N2--APM ο-
A--GSM κυριος-N2--GSM ος-
--APM δεικνυω-VAI-AAI3S εγω-
P--DS
