7. The first state is the state which precedes, both the state existing from earliest childhood onwards and that existing immediately before regeneration; and it is called a void, emptiness, and thick darkness. And the first movement, which is the Lord's mercy, is 'the Spirit of God hovering over the face ¹ of the waters'.

სქოლიოები:

2858. 'And went together to Beersheba' means advancement in the doctrine of charity and faith, which doctrine is Divine and to which human rational ideas were allied. This is clear from the meaning of 'Beersheba' as the doctrine of charity and faith, which is Divine and to which human rational ideas were allied, dealt with in 2614, 2723. Human rational ideas are meant by 'the servants', 2782, 2792, 2856; and that the doctrine to which they were allied was Divine is meant by the statement about them going together with Abraham, see 2767.