302. I have talked with angels about the conjunction of heaven with the human race, and I said that, while the man of the Church declares that all good is from God, and that angels are with man, yet few believe that angels are conjoined to man, still less that they are in his thought and affection. To this the angels replied that they know that there is such a belief and even such a mode of speaking in the world, and especially, to their surprise, within the Church, where yet there is the Word to teach men about heaven and its conjunction with man. Nevertheless, there is such a conjunction that man is unable to think the least thing apart from the spirits adjoined to him, and on this his spiritual life depends. They said that the cause of ignorance of this matter is man's belief that he lives from himself, without a connection with the First Being (Esse) of life; and that he does not know that this connection exists by means of the heavens; and yet if that connection were broken man would instantly fall down dead. If man believed, as is really true, that all good is from the Lord and all evil from hell, he would not make the good in him a matter of merit nor would evil be imputed to him; for he would then look to the Lord in all the good he thinks and does, and all the evil that inflows would be cast down to hell whence it comes. But because man does not believe that there is any influx into him either from heaven or from hell, and so supposes that all the things that he thinks and wills are in himself, and therefore from himself, he appropriates the evil to himself, and the inflowing good he defiles with merit.
The White Horse＃10
10. The internal sense of the Word is primarily for the angels, but it is also for men.
So that it may be known what the internal sense is, its nature and its origin, this will be stated in summary form. They think and speak differently in heaven from people on earth, in heaven spiritually and on earth naturally. Therefore when people read the word the angels who are with them perceive it spiritually, and the people naturally. So, angels are in the spiritual sense, people in the external sense; and yet they still make one unit because there is a correspondence between them. Angels not only think spiritually, they also speak spiritually; also, their presence with people, and their conjunction with people is achieved through the Word. This is seen in the work Heaven and Hell, where the wisdom of the angels of heaven is considered: 265-275; their speech: 234-245; their connection with people: 291-302; their connection through the Word: 303-310.
The Word is understood differently by the angels in heaven and by people on earth; and an internal or spiritual sense exists for the angels, while for men there is an external or natural sense: 1887, 2395. The angels perceive the Word in its internal sense, not its external, from the experience of those from heaven who talked with me when I read the Word: 1769-1772. Angelic ideas 1 and angelic speech are spiritual, while human ideas and speech are natural, and likewise the internal sense, which is spiritual, is for angels, as shown to me by my own experience: 2333. Nevertheless the literal sense of the Word 2 serves as a means of communicating the spiritual ideas of angels, in the same way that words of speech serve for the sense of a thing with people: 2143. Those things which belong to the internal sense of the Word fall into such things as are in the light of heaven, and so into the perception of angels: 2618-2619, 2629, 3086. Likewise those things which the angels perceive from the Word are very precious to them: 2540-2541, 2545, 2551. Angels understand not even one expression of the literal sense of the Word: 64-65, 1434, 1929. Nor do they know the names of persons and places mentioned in the Word: 1434, 1888, 4442, 4480. Names cannot enter heaven or be pronounced there: 1876, 1888. All names in the Word signify spiritual realities, and in heaven they are converted into the ideas of spiritual reality: 768, 1888, 4310, 4442, 5225, 5287, 10329. Also, angels abstract spiritual realities from people and their names: 4380, 8343, 8985, 9007. How elegant the internal sense of the Word is, even where no names occur, is seen in examples from the Word: 1224, 1888, 2395. Also, several names in succession express one thing in the internal sense: 5095. Also, all numbers in the Word signify things: 482, 487, 647-648, 755, 813, 1963, 1988, 2075, 2252, 3252, 4264, 6175, 9488, 9659, 10217, 10253. Spirits too perceive the Word in its internal sense, in so far as their internal parts are opened to heaven: 1771. The literal sense of the Word, which is natural, may be transmuted in a moment of time into spiritual form among the angels, because correspondence exists: 5648. And this is without their hearing or knowing what is in the literal or external sense: 10215. Thus, the literal or external sense exists only with man and progresses no further: 2015.
There is an internal sense of the Word, and also an innermost or supreme sense, about which see 9407, 10604, 10614, 10627. The spiritual angels, that is those who are in the Lord's spiritual kingdom, perceive the Word in its internal sense, and the celestial angels, who are in the Lord's celestial kingdom, perceive the Word in its innermost sense: 2157, 2275.
The Word is for people and also for angels, being appropriate for both: 7381, 8862, 10322. It is the Word which unifies heaven and earth: 2310, 2495, 9212, 9216, 9357. The linking of heaven with people exists through the Word: 9396, 9400-9401, 10452. The Word is called a covenant [contract]: 9396-since a covenant signifies a linking together: 665-666, 1023, 1038, 1864, 1996, 2003, 2021, 6804, 8767, 8778, 9396, 10632. There is an internal sense of the Word because the Word came down 3 from the Lord through the three heavens right as far as humans: 2310, 6597. It has become appropriate for the angels of the three heavens and also for humans: 7381, 8862. It is from this that the Word is divine: 4989, 9280, and holy: 10276, and spiritual: 4480, and inspired by the Divine: 9094. That is inspiration: 9094.
Furthermore, people who have been regenerated are actually in the internal sense of the Word even though they do not know this, since their internal being is opened, which has spiritual perception: 10400. But in their case the spiritual essence of the Word flows into natural ideas and is thus established in a natural sense, since while they live in the world they think as natural beings, as far as perception is concerned: 5614. The light of truth among those who are enlightened comes from their internal being, and thus through their internal being from the Lord: 10691, 10694. Also along that course flows what is holy, among those who hold the Word holy: 6789. Since regenerated people are actually in the internal sense of the Word, and in its holiness, although they do not know that, after death they arrive at that of themselves, and are no longer in the literal sense: 3226, 3342-3343. The ideas of an internal person are spiritual, but while people live in the world they are not aware of them since people are in their natural mode of thought, to which they impart their reasoning faculty: 10236, 10240, 10551. But after death people come into them as their own because they belong properly to their spirit, and at that time they not only think but also talk as from them: 2470, 2472, 2476, 10568, 10604. It is for this reason that it is said that regenerated people do not know that they are in the spiritual sense of the Word, and that from this enlightenment comes to them.
脚注:
1. The Latin of our text has ideae cogitationis at this point: 'ideas of thought.' Throughout his works Swedenborg often distinguishes between types of ideas but it is self evident in this instance that the ideas referred to are those 'of thought' in opposition to speech and hence cogitationis has been dropped.
2. I am grateful to the Rev'd John Elliott for the suggestion of translating litera as 'in its literal meaning.' I was in a fog as to Swedenborg's intention in using litera, which classically may mean either 'a letter' or 'writing.'
3. The Latin has descenderat, pluperfect tense, literally 'had descended; 'but the use of the pluperfect for a strong perfect is not uncommon in Swedenborg' (the Rev'd John Elliott), as is indeed the case sometimes in pre-classical and in poetical Latin. It has been translated as if perfect, therefore.
Arcana Coelestia＃9199
9199. 'Or orphan' means those who possess truth but not as yet good, and still have a desire for good. This is clear from the meaning of 'orphan' as those who possess truth and have a desire for good. Such people are meant by 'orphans' because sons bereft of father and mother, that is, those deprived of interior goodness and truth, are orphans. For 'father' in the Word means interior good, and 'mother' truth joined to that good, 5581; but 'sons' means truths derived from them. For the meaning of 'sons' as truths, see 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2813, 3373, 6583. The fact that sons and not daughters are meant here by 'orphans' is evident from verse 24 below, where it says, And your sons will be orphans. The reason why sons who are orphans are those who desire good is that the Lord then stands in place of their father, according to the following words in David,
A father of the orphans, and a judge of the widows, is God in the habitation of His holiness. Psalms 68:5.
[2] 'Orphans' are those who have received instruction in the Church's truths of faith which come from the Word, and who are then led by means of those truths to good. This is also evident from the Lord's words in John,
I will ask the Father to give you another Paraclete, to remain with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, because He remains with you and is among you. I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you. These things I have spoken to you, while I remain with you; but the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, He will teach you all things. John 14:16-18, 24-26.
[3] Every detail of these verses makes it clear that those are 'orphans' who possess truths and have a desire for good. 'The Paraclete' is used to mean Divine Truth, which the Lord was when He was in the world and which has emanated from Him ever since He glorified His Human and went away from the world. Therefore He says that He will send the Paraclete and that He Himself will come. 'Sending the Paraclete' means enlightening and instructing them in the truths of faith, and 'coming to them' means leading them on to good. This is why He says, I will not leave you orphans. As has been stated, 'the Paraclete' is used to mean Divine Truth, which the Lord was when He was in the world and which has emanated from Him ever since He glorified His Human and went away from the world. This was something the Lord taught plainly several times; yet those who identify persons in the Godhead and not essences united into one do not grasp it. For the explanation of the Word and the understanding of it by a person depend on the ideas he already has. The same applies to places where the Lord says that He is in the Father, and the Father is in Him; that the Father and He are One; also that all that is His is the Father's, and all that is the Father's is His, John 10:30; 14:1-11, 20; 16:15; 17:11.
[4] But let these truths stated above receive further explanation.
The Paraclete is used to mean Divine Truth
This is evident from the Lord's actual words; for the Paraclete is called 'the Spirit of truth' by Him, and also He says, 'the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, will teach you all things'.
The Lord was Divine Truth when He was in the world
This too is evident from the Lord's words there; for He says that He will send 'another Paraclete' (that is, another in place of Himself), who will be the Spirit of truth, and - referring to Himself - that they know Him 'because He remains with you and is among you'. He also says, I tell you the truth. If I do not go away the Paraclete will not come to you; but if I go away I will send Him to you, John 16:7. Another place, John 7:39, states, 'This He said concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet, because Jesus was not yet glorified'. And other places again state that He is the way and the truth, John 14:6; also that He is the Word, that God is the Word, and that the Word became flesh, John 1:1-3, 14, 'the Word' being Divine Truth. For more about the Lord's being Divine Truth when He was in the world, see 3195, 4687, 4727, 6716, 6864, 7499, 8127, 8724.
[5] Divine Truth has emanated from the Lord ever since He glorified His Human and went away from the world This too is evident from the Lord's words, 'When I go away I will send the Spirit of truth to you' ('sending' means going out and emanating from, 2397, 4710), and also 'When He comes He will guide you into all truth; 1 for He will not speak from Himself, but whatever He hears He will speak. He will glorify Me, for He will receive from what is Mine and declare it to you', John 16:7, 13-15.
When the Lord went away from the world His Human became Divine Good as well as Divine Truth, see 3704, 3712, 3737, 3969, 4577, 5704, 6864, 7014, 7499, 8241, 8724, 8760, 9167. And since then Divine Truth has emanated from Divine Good, which He Himself is, as the light of all creation emanates from the sun, 3636, 3643, 3969, 5704, 7083, 8127. The references listed above in 9194 may be added to these.
脚注:
1. The Latin means He will teach you in all truth but the Greek means He will guide you into all truth, which Swedenborg has in other places where he quotes this verse.
