9301. Thou shalt not boil a kid in its mother’s milk. That this signifies that the good of innocence of the after state must not be conjoined with the truth of innocence of the former state, is evident from the signification of “to boil,” as being to conjoin (see n. 8496); from the signification of “a kid,” as being the good of innocence (n. 3519, 4871); and from the signification of “milk,” as being the truth of innocence (n. 2184, 3183); thus the “mother’s milk” denotes the truth of the first innocence. From all this it is evident that by “thou shalt not boil a kid in its mother’s milk” is signified that the good of innocence of the after state must not be conjoined with the truth of innocence of the former state. This is the heavenly secret from which this law emanates; for all the laws and judgments and statutes that were given to the sons of Israel, contain secrets of heaven, to which they also correspond. But how this secret is to be understood, namely, that the good of innocence of the after state must not be conjoined with the truth of innocence of the former state, shall be briefly stated. The innocence of the former state is the innocence of infants and children; and the innocence of the after state is the innocence of adults and the aged who are in the good of love to the Lord. The innocence of infants and children is external, and dwells in dense ignorance; but the innocence of the aged is internal, and dwells in wisdom. (Concerning the difference between these two, see n. 2305, 2306, 3183, 3994, 4797)

[2] The innocence that dwells in wisdom consists in the man’s knowing, acknowledging, and believing that he can understand nothing and will nothing from himself, and consequently in his not wishing to understand and will anything from himself, but only from the Lord; and also that whatever he supposes that he understands from himself is falsity; and whatever he supposes that he wills from himself is evil. This state of life is the state of innocence of the after state, in which are all who are in the third heaven, which is called “the heaven of innocence.” Hence it is that such are in wisdom, because all they understand and will is from the Lord. But the innocence which dwells in ignorance, such as exists with infants and children, consists in believing that all they know and think, and also all they will is in themselves; and that all they speak and do from this thought and will is from themselves. That these are fallacies, they do not apprehend. The truths belonging to this innocence are for the most part founded upon the fallacies of the external senses; and these fallacies must be shaken off as the man advances toward wisdom. From these few words it can be seen that the good of innocence of the after state must not be conjoined with the truth of innocence of the former state.

7852. Roast with fire. That this signifies the good which is of love, is evident from the signification of “roast with fire,” as being the good of love, for “fire” signifies love (see n. 934, 4906, 5215, 6314, 6832, 6834, 6849, 7324), and “roasted” signifies that which is imbued with love, consequently good. In the Word a distinction is made between what is roasted and what is boiled; and by “roasted” is signified good, because it is done by means of fire, and by “boiled” is meant truth because it is done by means of water; and such is the case here, for it is said, “eat ye not of it raw, nor by boiling boiled in water, but roast with fire” (verse 9). The reason is that by the paschal lamb is signified the good of innocence, which good is the good of love to the Lord.

[2] From all this it is evident what is meant in the spiritual sense by the “roasted fish” in Luke 24:42-43; also what by the “fish laid upon the fire,” when the Lord also appeared to the disciples, concerning which it is thus written in John:

When the disciples got down on the land, they see a hearth laid, and a little fish lying thereon, and bread. Jesus cometh and taketh the bread, and giveth them, and the little fish likewise (John 21:9, 13);

by the “fish” is signified the truth of the natural (n. 991); and by the “hearth” good; thus by the “little fish lying thereon,” the truth of spiritual good in the natural. He who does not believe that there is an internal sense of the Word must needs believe that nothing of a secret nature is involved in the circumstance that when the Lord appeared to the disciples, there was a fish upon a hearth, and that it was given to them by the Lord to eat.

[3] As by “roast with fire” is signified the good which is of celestial and spiritual love, therefore in the opposite sense by “roast with fire” is signified the evil which is of the love of self and of the world, as in Isaiah:

He hath burned part thereof in the fire; upon part of it he hath eaten flesh; he hath roasted roast that he might be satisfied; yea, he hath been warmed, and said, Brother, I am warm, I have seen the fire; I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, I have also baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh and am eating it (Isaiah 44:16, 19);

describing the worshipers of a graven image. By a “graven image” is signified the falsity of evil, which is so described; “roasting roast” and “roasting flesh” denote to work evil from filthy love. (That “fire” in the opposite sense denotes the evil of the love of self and of the world, or of the cupidities which belong to these loves, see n. 1297, 1861, 2446, 5071, 5215, 6314, 6832, 7324, 7575)