68. Internal Meaning of Jeremiah, Chapter 2

1-3 The church established among the ancients: (11, 2)

Its primitive state when it was defended from falsities and evils.

4-6 For no reason they departed from Him who had led and protected them, (2)

7-8 and had taught them all things of the church, which they nevertheless perverted, both its truths and its goods, by departing from the Lord. (2)

9 Still He will teach them with difficulty. (2)

10-11 No nation has changed its religion as they have done. (4)

12-13 It is horrible, their rejecting the Lord, and their hatching falsities of doctrine for themselves. (4)

14-15 Consequently the church and its doctrine have been devastated (3)

16 by falsities out of the natural man. (3)

17 This has taken place because they have rejected the Lord. (4, 3, 3)

18 by means of knowledges [scientifica] and reasonings. (4, 3)

19-20 They draw punishments upon themselves, because they have separated themselves from the Lord, and have worshipped things infernal, (4)

21 and even though genuine truths have been given to them, yet they have become such. (3)

22-23 Howsoever they may worship in like ways in externals, yet interiorly they are infernal. (3, 3)

24-25 They desire eagerly to be in falsities and evils, and shun truths and goods. (3)

26-27 Evils and falsities are their worship. (3)

28 This is true of all of them. (3)

29-30 They are not willing to return, even when chastised. (3)

31-32 Nevertheless they have not been forsaken by the Lord, but they have forsaken Him. (3)

33-35 They fight to confirm falsities and evils by falsifications of the Word. (3, 9)

36 And they have confirmed them by reasonings from the natural man. (3)

37 And yet confirmations are of no avail. (3)