5340. 'And he gathered all the food of the seven years' means the preservation of truth linked to good, multiplied in the initial phases. This is clear from the meaning of 'gathering' here as preserving (for it says that he gathered it and laid it up in the cities, in the midst of them, which means that he stored it in the interior parts and thereby preserved it; for it was put to use in the years of famine); from the meaning of 'the food' as everything by which the internal man is nourished, namely good and truth, as may be recognized from the correspondence of earthly food which nourishes the external man with spiritual food which nourishes the internal man. Here therefore truth linked to good is meant, because this is what is preserved and stored away in a person's interior parts. 'Seven years' means the initial phases, when truths become multiplied, 5339. From all this it is evident that 'he gathered all the food of the seven years' means the preservation of truth linked to good, multiplied in the initial phases.

[2] The expression 'the preservation of truth linked to good' is used, but because few are aware of what truth linked to good is, let alone of how and when truth becomes linked to good, let something therefore be said about this. Truth comes to be joined to good when a person finds joy in doing good to his neighbour for truth and goodness' own sake, and not for any selfish or worldly reason. When that affection moves a person the truths he hears or reads or thinks about become joined to good; and this can usually be seen in an affection for truth which has that end in view.

134. The heat of heaven, like the light of heaven, is everywhere different. It is different in the celestial kingdom from what it is in the spiritual kingdom, and it is different in each particular society there. It differs not only in degree but also in quality. It is more intense and pure in the Lord's celestial kingdom, because the angels there receive more Divine Good, less intense and pure in the Lord's spiritual kingdom, because the angels there receive more Divine Truth. Also, in each society the heat differs in accordance with the reception. There is heat also in the hells but it is unclean. ¹ The heat in heaven is what is meant by "sacred and heavenly fire", and the heat of hell by "profane and infernal fire". Love is meant by both. By "heavenly fire" is meant love to the Lord and love towards the neighbour, with every affection of those loves. By "infernal fire" is meant love of self and of the world and every lust of those loves. That love is heat from a spiritual source is evident from one's growing warm with love; for in accordance with the strength and nature of his love, a man is inflamed and grows warm, the heat of his love becoming manifest when attacked. So it is usual to speak of being inflamed, of growing warm, burning, boiling, being on fire, both in regard to the affections of the love of good and the lusts of the love of evil.

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