8751. 'From the going of the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt' means after those belonging to the spiritual Church were delivered from molestations. This is clear from the meaning of 'going out' as being delivered; from the representation of 'the children of Israel' as those who belong to the spiritual Church, dealt with in 6426, 6637, 6868, 7035, 7062, 7198, 7201, 7215, 7223; and from the meaning of 'the land of Egypt' as molestations, dealt with in 7278. What molestations are, see 7474; and the fact that those belonging to the spiritual Church were held back on the lower earth until the Lord's Coming into the world, and were delivered by the Lord, 6854, 6914, 7035, 7091, 7474, 7878, 7932, 8018, 8054, 8099

863. 'Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made means a further state when the truths of faith appeared to him. This becomes clear from the final words of the previous verse, which state that 'the tops of the mountains appeared'. It becomes clear from the meaning of those words, and also from the meaning of 'a window', dealt with already in 655, as that which constitutes the understanding part of the mind, or what consequently amounts to the same, the truth of faith. It becomes clear too from the fact that this is the first glimmer of light. The same observation made already about that which constitutes the understanding part, namely the truth of faith, being meant by 'a window must be made here. It is this: No truth of faith can possibly exist unless it originates in good stemming from love or charity, just as nothing that truly constitutes the understanding exists unless it comes from the will. Take away the will and no understanding exists, as shown several times already. Take away charity therefore and no faith exists. But because man's will is nothing else than evil desire the Lord has miraculously taken steps to prevent that which constitutes the understanding part, which is the truth of faith, being immersed in his evil desire, and has separated the understanding part of man's mind from the will part by means of a certain go-between, namely conscience, to which charity is added by the Lord. Without this miraculous provision nobody could ever have been saved.