Arcana Coelestia #4
4. As long as the mind confines itself to the sense of the letter alone one cannot possibly see that its contents are such. Take for instance these first sections of Genesis: From the sense of the letter the only subject matter people recognize is the creation of the world, and the Garden of Eden which is called Paradise, and Adam as the first man to be created. Who thinks anything different? The fact that these things contain arcana however which have never been revealed up to now will be sufficiently clear from what follows - especially clear from the fact that the subject of Genesis 1 is, in the internal sense, the NEW CREATION of man, that is, in general his REGENERATION, and in particular the Most Ancient Church. And the subject is presented in such a way that not the smallest part of any expression fails to have a representation, carry a spiritual meaning, or embody something within itself.
Psalms 8
1
O LORD our LORD, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7
All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8
The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9
O LORD our LORD, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
