1. 前言:新天國與新教會的信仰

首先, 將本書中所講述的真實的基督徒信仰, 也就是新天國和新教會的信仰, 分別以總體和具體的形式概要地說明。作為接下來全書的引言, 或作為進入聖殿的大門, 又或作為詳細內容的概要。此信仰被稱為新天國和新教會的信仰, 因為天人(angel)組成的天國和世人組成的教會, 如同一個人的靈魂與肉體, 內外一致,行動如一。因此, 若教會之人活在良善與真理之中, 對於思想內在而言, 他就是天國的一名天人。在肉身死後, 他便進入天國, 照著良善與真理在他裡面聯合的狀態在那裡安享極樂。當知道, 在主現在正建立的新天國中, 這樣的信仰是新天國的引言,入門和概要。

8937. 'Your flocks and your herds' means forms of good, internal and external. This is clear from the meaning of 'flocks' as internal forms of good, and from the meaning of 'herds' as external forms of good, both dealt with in 2566, 5913. The reason why 'flocks' means internal forms of good is that to flocks belong lambs, sheep, kids, she-goats, rams, and he-goats, and these mean such things as are forms of innocence and forms of celestial and spiritual love in the internal man. And the reason why 'herds' means external forms of good is that to herds belong oxen, young oxen, and calves, and these mean such things as are forms of good and truth in the external man. For what was meant by 'oxen', see 2180, 2566, 2781; 'young oxen' and 'calves', 1824, 2830; 'lambs', 3519, 3994, 7840; 'sheep', 4169; 'kids' and 'she-goats', 3519, 4005, 4006, 4871; 'rams', 2830, 4170; and he-goats', 4169 (end), 4769.