7424. And there was louse on man and on beast. That this signifies that interior and exterior evils of cupidities were thence derived, is evident from the signification of “lice,” as being evils (see n. 7419); and from the signification of “man,” as being good (n. 4287, 5302), thus in the opposite sense evil; and from the signification of “beast,” as being the affection of good, and in the opposite sense the affection of evil, or cupidity (n. 45, 46, 142, 143, 246, 714, 715, 719, 776, 2179, 2180, 3218, 3519, 5198); but when “man and beast” are mentioned together, then by “man” is signified interior good, and in the opposite sense interior evil; and by “beast” exterior good, and in the opposite sense exterior evil. The reason why by “man” is signified interior good, or evil, is that he is man from his internal man and its quality, but not from the external man; for the external man is not man without the internal; and in order that the external may also be man, it must be wholly subordinated to the internal, insomuch that it does not act from itself, but from the internal man. The reason why by “beast” is signified exterior good, and in the opposite sense exterior evil, is that beasts have no internal such as man has; the internal which they have has been immersed in the external, insomuch that it is one with it, and together with it looks downward or toward the earth, without any elevation toward what is interior. It is said “evils of cupidities” because all evils belong to cupidities, because cupidities belong to loves. Interior evils are distinguished from exterior by the fact that interior evils are those which are of the thought and will; and exterior evils are those which are of act. That there may be evils which are interior and not exterior, is evident from the fact that a man may be evil, and yet in the outward form may appear as an upright man, and even as a man of faith and conscience. Some also know how to counterfeit angels, when yet inwardly they are devils. So far can the inward form which is of the spirit differ from the outward form which is of the body.

430. A “little one” or “little child” in the Word, signifies innocence, and also charity, for true innocence cannot exist without charity, nor true charity without innocence. There are three degrees of innocence, distinguished in the Word by the terms “sucklings” “infants” and “little children;” and as there is no true innocence without true love and charity, therefore also by “sucklings” “infants” and “little children” are signified the three degrees of love: namely, tender love, like that of a suckling toward its mother or nurse; love like that of an infant toward its parents; and charity, similar to that of a little child toward its instructor. Thus it is said in Isaiah:

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them (Isaiah 11:6).

Here a “lamb” a “kid” and a “calf” signify the three degrees of innocence and love; a “wolf” a “leopard” and a “young lion” their opposites; and a “little child” charity.

In Jeremiah:

Ye commit this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and wife, infant and suckling, out of the midst of Judah, to leave you no remains (Jeremiah 44:7).

“Man and wife” denote things of the understanding and of the will, or of truth and of good; and “infant and suckling” the first degrees of love. That an “infant” and a “little child” denote innocence and charity, is very evident from the Lord’s words in Luke: They brought unto Him little children that He should touch them. And Jesus said, Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall in no wise enter therein (Luke 18:15, 17).

The Lord Himself is called a “little one” or “child” (Isaiah 9:6), because He is innocence itself and love itself, and in the same passage He is spoken of as “Wonderful, Counselor, God, Hero, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.”