8754. A brief statement will be made here about good in which truths are to be implanted, meant here by 'the wilderness of Sinai'. A person who is being regenerated is led by the Lord at first by means of truth, and later on by means of good, see 7923, 8643, 8648, 8658, 8685, 8690, 8701. The person who is being regenerated is led by means of truth to the end that he may come to good, that is, come to know it, then intend it, and finally do it. But when he is being led to good by means of truth he comes first to good which has not as yet had the truths of faith implanted within it; for truths cannot be implanted until he is governed by good. He already knows them, it is true, because they are present in his memory; yet they do not at this time reside within good but lie outside good. Later on when the person receives a new life, which he first receives when he is governed by good, the truths of faith are implanted, and within the internal man they enter into a marriage so to speak with good. This good in which the truths of faith have not as yet been implanted but which is nevertheless so arranged that it can receive them is meant here by 'the wilderness of Sinai'. No other kind of good than Christian good is meant, regarding which see 8635-8638.

7923. 'And you shall not go out, no one out of the door of his house' means that they must remain governed by good that is not to be viewed from truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'not going out' as remaining; and from the meaning of 'house' as good, dealt with in 2233, 2234, 2559, 3652, 3720, 7833-7835, 7848. From this it is evident that 'you shall not go out, no one out of the door of his house' means that they must remain governed by good. The reason why good that is not to be viewed from truth is meant is that remaining in the house is being governed by good, but 'going out of the door of the house' is forsaking good for truth; for good resides on the inside, but truth on the outside, 7910. What viewing truths from good is, see 5895 (end), 5897, 7857. Viewing good from truth is viewing the inside from the outside; but viewing truth from good is viewing the outside from the inside. For as has just been stated, good resides on the inside but truth on the outside. Viewing truth from good is in keeping with order, for the path all Divine influx takes is through interiors into exteriors. But viewing good from truth is not in keeping with order. While a person is being regenerated therefore, order is being turned the right way round, and good or charity is seen to occupy the first place and truth or faith the second.