7134. 'As when there was straw' means as they had served their truths so called. This is clear from the meaning of 'straw' as the general kind of factual knowledge, which is a vessel for truth, dealt with in 7112, 7131. The reason why the expression 'truths so called' is used is that these are spoken by the evil, who do not consider truths to be truths.

7131. 'To gather stubble for straw' means to find some true factual knowledge. This is clear from the meaning of 'stubble for straw' as true factual knowledge; for 'stubble' means the kind of truth that is suited to factual knowledge, meant by 'straw'. 'Stubble' means truth such as this because stubble is the stalk, the tip of which contains the seed; and truths and forms of good are meant in the Word by 'seeds'. Thus the stalk underneath the seeds means a general vessel containing truth, and so means true factual knowledge. For stems of factual knowledge about faith and charity are indeed truths; but they are general truths and so are vessels for receiving particular and specific truths, as anyone is also able to recognize. For example, the general truth that charity towards the neighbour is the essential element of the Church is a stem of true factual knowledge. Another stem is the general truth that faith cannot exist except where there is charity; and yet another is the general truth that truth and good can be joined together, but not truth and evil or good and falsity. And there are many more besides these which are examples of true factual knowledge. Such knowledge can be enriched endlessly with details of truth, as may be recognized from the consideration that volumes can be written about them, even though specific truths - the more internal truths of faith - are completely beyond description, since they can be seen only in the light of heaven and cannot find expression in earthly language. Those truths are like charity, which is a spiritual level of affection, in that for the most part words are incapable of expressing any but the most general aspects of it. That is to say, words can express only those aspects that take on a natural appearance and can be likened to things such as exist in the world. All this has been mentioned in order that people may know what is meant by general factual knowledge.