2967. “商人通用” 表适合他们的状态. 这从 “商人”, 因而 “商人通用” 的含义清楚可知. 在圣言中, “商人” 表示那些拥有良善与真理的认知之人, 而他们的货物则表示那些认知本身. 因此, “商人通用的银子” 表示尽管可能被接受的真理, 或也可说, 适合各人状态和能力的真理. 谁都能看出, 所加上的这个词含有某种奥秘.

下面会说明 “商人” 和 “货物” 的具体含义, 不过, 整个词语总的含义乃是这样: 凡正被改造和重生的人都被主赋予仁与信, 但各人照自己的能力和状态来接受. 因为人从小所吸收的邪恶与虚假使得一个人接受被赋予之物的方式不同于其他人的. 在人能被重生之前, 这些邪恶与虚假必须先被消磨掉. 消磨后剩余的属天和属灵生命的量就决定了剩下的东西能被真理照亮, 并富含良善的程度. 这就是余留, 也就是主储存在人里面, 那时接受生命的良善与真理. 这些良善与真理是从婴幼儿甚至直到改造之时所获得的, 并且在这个人身上可能多一些, 在那个人身上可能少一些. 它们被保存在他的内在人里面, 无法被带出来, 除非他的外在人被带入与内在人相对应的状态, 这种对应状态主要通过试探, 以及多种多样的消磨实现. 事实上, 在违背良善与真理 (这就是构成我欲和物欲的渴望的性质) 的渴望沉寂之前, 属于对良善与真理情感的属天和属灵的渴望无法流入进来. 这就是为何各人照自己的状态和能力被改造的原因. 这也是主针对往国外去的人以比喻所教导的:

他就叫了仆人来, 把他的家业交给他们; 按着各人的才干, 一个给了五千, 一个给了二千, 一个给了一千. 那领五千的拿它们做买卖, 另外赚了五千; 那领二千的也照样另赚了二千. (马太福音 25:14-17等)

对于十个仆人, 也是这样教导的: 他交给他们十锭银子, 好叫他们拿去作生意 (路加福音 19:12-13等).

“商人” 表那些拥有良善与真理的认知之人, “货物” 表这些认知本身. 这从刚才所引用的马太福音和路加福音的经文, 以及下面这些经文明显看出来. 以西结书:

对推罗说, 推罗啊, 你居住海口, 是众民的商埠, 交易通到许多海岛, 他施人因你多有各类的财物, 就作你的客商, 拿银, 铁, 锡, 铅兑换你的货物. 雅完人, 土巴人, 米设人都与你交易; 他们用人口 (soul of man) 和铜器兑换你的货物. 底但人与你交易; 许多海岛作你手下的码头. 亚兰人因你的手工品很多, 就作你的客商. 犹大和以色列地都与你交易; 他们用米匿的麦子, 饼, 蜜, 油, 乳香兑换你的货物. 大马色人因你的手工品很多, 又因你多有各类的财物, 就拿黑本酒和白羊毛与你交易. 威但人和雅完人拿纺成的线兑换你的货物. 底但人用骑马的坐垫与你交易. 亚拉伯人和基达的一切首领都作你手下的客商, 用羊羔, 公绵羊, 公山羊与你交易. 示巴和拉玛的商人与你交易, 他们用各类上好的香料跟你交易. 亚述人, 基抹人与你交易. 这些商人以美好的货物与你交易. (以西结书 27:3, 12-13, 15-24).

这几节经文论及推罗, “推罗” 表示良善与真理的认知 (参看1201节), 这从所有细节明显看出来. 此处所提到的 “交易”, “货物” 和 “器物” 无非是指这些认知, 推罗因此被称为 “居住海口” 的 (“水” 表认知, “海” 表这些认知的汇集, 参看28节). 推罗还被称为 “众民的商埠, 交易通到许多海岛”, 也就是说, 甚至延伸到那些在敬拜上更遥远的人那里, “海岛” 表示更遥远的敬拜形式 (参看1158节). 至于 “他施” 表示什么, 这在前面已解释过 (1156节). 他施的 “银, 铁, 锡, 铅” 表甚至直到最后的感官真理都井然有序的真理. 从前文可以看出 “银子” 表示什么 (1551, 2048节), “铁” 表示什么 (425, 426节), 以及 “雅完人, 土巴人, 米设人” 又表示什么 (1151-1153, 1155节). “人口” (soul of man) 和那些地方的铜器表示与属世生命有关的事物, “灵魂” (soul) 表来自主的一切生命 (参看1000, 1040, 1436, 1742节); “铜器” 表示从那生命所接受的属灵良善 (425, 1551节). 前面解释了 “底但” (参看1172节) 和 “亚兰” (Syria, 参看1232, 1234节) 的含义. “犹大和以色列地用米匿的麦子, 饼, 蜜, 油, 乳香与你交易” 表示来自主的属天和属灵之物. 所提到的其它民族及其货物则表示真理与良善的各种属和种类, 因而表示 “推罗” 所指的那些人具有的认知.

智慧和聪明就出自这类认知, 这明显可见于以西结书, 在那里, 经上如此说:

人子啊, 你对推罗君王说你靠自己的智慧聪明得了资财, 得了金银财宝, 收入库中. 你靠自己的大智慧和贸易增添资财, 又因资财心里高傲. 所以, 看哪, 我必使外邦人, 就是列族中凶暴的人临到你这里. (以西结书 28:2, 4-7)

显然, 他们交易的货物表示良善与真理的认知, 因为智慧和聪明由此而来, 并非出自其它源头. 故经上说 “你靠自己的智慧聪明得了资财, 得了金银财宝, 收入库中”. 不过, 若出于自私的目的寻求这些认知, 如为了显赫, 为了赚取名声或财富, 那么它们就没有任何生命可言, 那些拥有它们的人也会完全丧失它们. 在世时, 他们通过信奉虚假而非真理, 信奉邪恶而非良善丧失这些认知, 在来世甚至会完全推动那些真实事物. 这就是为何经上说 “又因资财心里高傲, 所以, 看哪, 我必使外邦人 (即虚假), 就是列族中凶暴的人 (即邪恶) 临到你这里”.

在同一先知书的另一处:

推罗就像在海中沉寂的一座城; 你由海上运出货物, 就使许多国民充足; 你以许多资财, 货物, 使地上的君王丰富. 你在深水中被海浪打破的时候, 你的货物和你中间所有的同伴, 就都沉下去了; 各民中的客商都向你发嘶声. (以西结书 27:32-34, 36)

以赛亚书:

关于推罗的预言. 沿海的居民当静默无言; 西顿的商人横渡洋海的人充满了你; 在大水之上, 西曷的种, 尼罗河的庄稼是她的进项, 作列族的商埠. 谁策划这事来攻击推罗呢? 她是赐自己冠冕的, 她的商人是王子. (以赛亚书 23:2-3, 8)

这论述的是推罗的荒凉.

“交易” 和 “货物” 同样用来论及 “巴比伦”, 不过, 它们是被玷污的良善的认知和被歪曲的真理的认知. 如启示录:

巴比伦使列族喝她邪淫大怒的酒, 地上的君王与她行淫, 地上的客商因她极度奢华就发了财. 地上的客商也都为她哭泣悲哀, 因为没有人再买他们的货物了; 这货物就是金, 银, 宝石, 珍珠, 细麻布, 紫色料, 绸子, 朱红色料. 这些物件的商人藉着她发了财, 因怕她的折磨, 必远远地站着哭泣悲哀. (启示录 18:3, 11, 15)

“巴比伦” 表敬拜, 其外在看似神圣, 但内在却是污秽的 (参看1182, 1283, 1295, 1304, 1306, 1326节). 由此明显可知其 “交易” 和 “货物” 是什么.

“商人” 表示为自己获取真理与良善的认知, 并由此获得聪明和智慧的人. 这可从主在马太福音中的话明显看出来:

天国又好像商人寻找好珠子, 遇见一颗重价的珠子, 就去变卖他一切所有的, 买了它. (马太福音 13:45-46);

“好珠子” 就是仁爱, 或信之良善.

一切良善与真理的认知皆来自主, 这在以赛亚书中有所教导:

耶和华如此说, 埃及劳碌得来的和古实的货物必归你, 身量高大的西巴人必过来归你, 也要属你. 他们必随从你, 又向你下拜, 向你祈求你说, 神真在你们中间, 此外再没有别神! (以赛亚书 45:14)

这论述的是主的神性人.

综上所述, 可以看出 “交易”, 也就是买卖, 是什么意思; 也就是为自己获取良善与真理的认知, 并利用它们获得良善本身 . 这良善唯独从主那里获得, 这清楚可见于同一先知书:

你们一切干渴的都当就近水来, 没有银钱的, 你们也来买了吃; 你们要来, 买酒和奶, 不用银子, 也不用付钱. (以赛亚书 55:1-2)

此处 “买” 表为自己获取; “酒” 表属灵的真理 (1071, 1798节); “奶” 表属灵的良善 (2184节). 谁都能看出, “就近水来” 在此并不是指就近水, “买” 不是指购买, “银子” 不是指银子, “酒和奶” 也不是指酒和奶, 这些事物各自表示在内义上与其相对应的某种事物. 因为圣言是神性, 其中所用的一切表述尽管都来自尘世和人的感官印象, 但都具有与其相对应的神性属灵和属天之物. 圣言是以这种方式而非其它方式成为神性启示的.

5319. 'And clothed him in robes of fine linen' means an outward sign denoting the celestial of the spiritual, 'robes of fine linen' being truths going forth from the Divine. This is clear from the meaning of 'robes' as truths, dealt with in 1073, 2576, 4545, 4763, 5248. The reason 'robes of fine linen' means truths going forth from the Divine is that a robe made of fine linen was absolutely white and at the same time shining, and truth going forth from the Divine is represented by robes which have that kind of brightness and splendour. And the reason for this is that heaven derives its brightness and splendour from the light that flows from the Lord; and the light that flows from the Lord is Divine Truth itself, 1053, 1521-1533, 1619-1632, 1776, 3195, 3222, 3339, 3485, 3636, 3643, 3862, 4415, 4419, 4526, 5219. This explains why, when the Lord was transfigured before Peter, James, and John, His clothing appeared as the light, Matthew 17:2; glistening, intensely white like snow, as no fuller on earth could bleach them, Mark 9:3; and dazzling, Luke 9:29. It was Divine Truth itself going forth from the Lord's Divine Human that was represented in this manner. But they are exterior truths that are represented in heaven by the brightness of robes, whereas interior truths are represented by the brightness and splendour of the face. This is why 'being clothed in robes of fine linen' at this point means an outward sign denoting truth going forth from the celestial of the spiritual, for this was what the Lord's Divine consisted in at this time.

[2] There are other places too in the Word where truth going forth from the Divine is meant by 'fine linen' and 'robes of fine linen', as in Ezekiel,

I clothed you with embroidered cloth, and shed you with badger, and swathed you in fine linen, and covered you in silk. Thus were you adorned with gold and silver, and your robes were fine linen, and silk, and embroidered cloth. Ezekiel 16:10, 13.

This refers to Jerusalem, which is used in these verses to mean the Ancient Church. The truths of this Church are described by robes made of embroidered cloth, fine linen, and silk, and by being adorned with gold and silver. 'Embroidered cloth' means truths existing as facts, 'fine linen' natural truths, and 'silk' spiritual truths.

[3] In the same prophet,

Fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt was your sail, that it might be to you an ensign; violet and purple from the islands of Elishah was your covering. Ezekiel 27:7.

This refers to Tyre, which too is used to mean the Ancient Church, but so far as cognitions of good and truth are concerned. 'Fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt, which was its sail' means truth obtained from factual knowledge, which was the outward sign of that Church.

[4] In John,

The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over Babylon, since no one buys their wares any more, wares of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and every vessel of ivory, and every vessel made of most precious wood, and bronze, and iron, and marble. Revelation 18:11-12.

All the specific commodities mentioned here mean the kinds of things that have to do with the Church and so truth and goodness. Here however they are used in the contrary sense because they are spoken of in reference to Babylon. Anyone may see that such commodities would never have been listed in the Word which has come down from heaven unless each one held something heavenly within it. What other reason can there be for a list of worldly wares when Babylon, meaning an unholy Church, is the subject? Similarly in the same book,

Woe, woe, the great city, you that were clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, covered ¹ with gold, and precious stones, and pearls. Revelation 18:16.

[5] The fact that each commodity means something Divine and heavenly is quite evident in the same book where it states what fine linen is, namely the righteous acts of the saints,

The time of the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. At that time she was given fine linen, clean and shining, to wear; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Revelation 19:7-8.

'Fine linen' is 'the righteous acts of the saints' for the reason that all those with whom truth received from the Divine exists are clothed with the Lord's righteousness. For their robes which are bright and shining are products of the light which flows from the Lord. Therefore in heaven truth itself is represented by 'brightness', 3301, 3997, 4007; and people who are being raised to heaven from a state of vastation are seen to be clothed with brightness because they are at this point casting off the robe of their own righteousness and putting on that of the Lord's righteousness.

[6] So that truth from the Divine might be represented in the Jewish Church, they were commanded to use cotton or fine linen in Aaron's vestments, and also in the curtains around the Ark, referred to in Moses as follows,

You shall make in chequered pattern for Aaron a tunic of cotton, and you shall make a turban of cotton. Exodus 28:39.

They made tunics of cotton, the work of a weaver, for Aaron and his sons. Exodus 39:27.

You shall make the Dwelling-place, ten curtains - fine-twined cotton, violet and purple and twice-dyed scarlet. Exodus 26:1; 36:8.

You shall make the court of the Dwelling-place. The hangings for the court shall be of fine-twined cotton. Exodus 27:9, 18; 38:9.

The screen for the gate of the court, the work of an embroiderer, violet and purple, and twice-dyed scarlet, and fine-twined cotton. Exodus 38:18.

Cotton is fine linen, which they were commanded to use because each object in the Ark and around the Ark, also every detail of Aaron's vestments, were representative of spiritual and celestial realities. From this one may see that a person has only a meagre understanding of the Word if he does not know what such things represent, and scarcely any understanding at all if he thinks that the Word possesses no holiness other than that which presents itself in the letter.

[7] When angels with whom truth from the Divine is present are seen by anyone they are clothed so to speak in fine linen, that is, in shining brightness, as is evident in John where 'a white horse' is referred to,

The One seated on a white horse was clothed in a garment dyed with blood, and His name is called the Word. His armies in heaven were following Him on white horses; they were clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Revelation 19:11, 13-14.

These words show quite plainly that 'fine linen' is an outward sign denoting truth from the Divine, for 'the One seated on a white horse' is the Lord as to the Word; indeed those words state quite explicitly that He is the Word. The Word is truth itself received from the Divine, and 'a white horse' is the internal sense of the Word, see 2760-2762. Consequently truths received from the Divine are meant by 'white horses', for such truths constitute the whole of the internal sense of the Word. This was why His armies were seen 'on white horses' and why 'they were clothed in fine linen, white and clean'.

Bilješke: