Verse 10. If any principle in the soul has become defiled with sin from the impure loves of self and of the world while in an obscure state; the soul is permitted by the Lord to lapse into a worldly and external state for a time, and feel the loss of happiness which comes from the removal of association with good spirits:

1145. That 'these are the generations of the sons of Noah' means derivative matters of doctrine and derivative forms of worship in the Ancient Church, which in general is Noah, is clear from the meaning of 'generations', dealt with already. In the external or literal sense, generations involve one being begotten from another, as is well known; but in the internal sense everything has regard to things that are celestial and spiritual, that is, to what are matters of charity and of faith. Thus 'generations' here means things of the Church, and therefore matters of doctrine, as will be better evident from what follows.