4030. That Jacob put the rods before the eyes of the flock in the gutters, that it might grow warm at the rods. That this signifies things called forth and conjoined by His own power, is evident from the signification of “rods,” as being power; and when predicated of the Lord, His own power (n. 4013, 4015); and from the signification of “putting them before the eyes of the flock in the gutters that it might grow warm,” as being to call forth that they might be conjoined-as is evident from what has been said above concerning the signification of these words (n. 4018, and elsewhere).

593. Whom I have created, from upon the faces of the ground. That this signifies the man from the posterity of the Most Ancient Church, is evident not only from its being said, the man whom He had “created” that is, whom He had regenerated; and afterwards whom He had “made” that is, had perfected, or regenerated until he became celestial; but also from its being said “from upon the faces of the ground.” The “ground” is where the church is, as has been shown before. The same is evident from the fact that those are treated of who immersed the doctrinal things of faith in their cupidities; and those who had not doctrinal things of faith could not do so. They who are outside the church are in ignorance of truth and good, and those who are in ignorance may be in a kind of innocence while speaking and acting somewhat contrary to the truths and goods of faith; for they may act from a certain zeal for the worship with which they have been imbued from infancy, and which they therefore believe to be true and good. But the case is entirely different with those who have the doctrine of faith among them. These can mingle truths with falsities, and holy things with profane. Hence their lot in the other life is much worse than the lot of those who are called Gentiles, concerning whom, of the Lord’s Divine mercy hereafter.