Verses 1-5. The character of the celestial man is described, namely, that he is unwilling to investigate spiritual or celestial truths during his-regeneration, because he is distinguished from the man of the Spiritual Church, and cannot appropriate truths for the sake of being led into good; and in him ultimate truths are not separated from good, he is in good and truth conjoined, and he acts from good by truth, through the immediate perception of truth.

Verses 6-12. Concerning the regeneration of the celestial man, his purification from evil, his devotion to the Lord, the reconciliation of his external man with his internal, and the state of innocence he acquires.

Verses 13-21. Concerning the state of the celestial man made perfect by regeneration.

Verses 22-27. And, lastly, concerning the conjunction of the celestial with the spiritual heavens.

876. 'It returned to him to the ark' means good and truth appearing to be the good and truth of faith [with him]. This is clear from what has been stated already and also from what follows. 'Returning to the ark' does not in the internal sense mean being set free. 'Being sent out of the ark and not returning' is what has that meaning, as is clear from what follows, where it is said that he sent out the dove and it came back to him no more, verse 12; that he was commanded to leave the ark, verses 15-16; and that he went out, verse 18. While he was inside the ark, which means his state prior to regeneration, he was in captivity or prison, hemmed in on every side by evils and falsities, which are 'the flood-waters'. Consequently 'it returned to him to the ark' means that good and truth meant by the dove came back to him again. Any good at all which a person supposes that he does from himself comes back to him, for it has self in view. He does it either to be seen by the eyes of the world, or by those of the angels, or he does it to merit heaven, or to be the greatest in heaven. Such considerations occupy his proprium and every one of his ideas, though to outward appearance they look like the good and truth of faith. The good and truth of faith are inwardly good and true from what is inmost, that is, all good and truth of faith flow in from the Lord by way of what is inmost in man. But when they flow from the proprium or from merit-seeking the interiors are filthy while the exteriors appear clean. They are like a diseased prostitute with a beautiful face; or like a black-skinned person, or more appropriately an Egyptian mummy, dressed in white.