10296. And pure frankincense. That this signifies inmost truth, which is spiritual good, is evident from the signification of “frankincense,” as being that which has been clarified from the falsity of evil. That the inmost truth which is signified by “frankincense” is spiritual good, is because the good with those who are in the Lord’s spiritual kingdom is nothing else than truth, which is called good when the man wills and does it from conscience and affection. For with the spiritual all the will has been destroyed, but the understanding is preserved entire by the Lord, and in it there is implanted by the Lord a new will by means of regeneration. This will is the conscience with them, which is a conscience of truth. For whatever is implanted in the understanding and proceeds from the understanding, is truth, because man’s understanding has been allotted to the reception of the truths of faith; but the will to the reception of the goods of love. From this it is evident that in its essence spiritual good is truth. (That with the spiritual a new will is implanted in their intellectual part, and that consequently the good with them is in its essence truth, see the places cited in n. 9277, 9596, 9684.) It is said of inmost truth that it is good, for the reason that the more interior things are, the more perfect they are; and because the inmost of man is his will, and that which belongs to the will is called good. (That “frankincense” denotes inmost truth, thus spiritual good, can be seen from the passages above adduced from the Word, n. 10177.)

[2] As “frankincense” denotes spiritual good, and good is that which reigns in all truths, disposes them, conjoins them, and gives affection to them, therefore frankincense is mentioned in the last place, and on this account the vessels of incense were called “censers ¹ ;” for the name is from the essential, which is good; in like manner as the oil of anointing is named from the oil of olive, and not from the spices from which it was prepared; for a similar reason, namely, because “oil” signified good, and “spices” truths.

[3] It is called “pure frankincense” because “pure” signifies that which has been clarified from the falsities of evil; and in the original tongue by this word is signified what is interiorly pure, but by another word that which is exteriorly pure or clean. That what is interiorly pure is signified by this word is evident in Isaiah:

Wash you, make you pure, put away the wickedness of your works from before Mine eyes (Isaiah 1:16).

In vain have I rendered mine heart pure, and washed my hands in innocency (Psalms 73:13).

To “render the heart pure” denotes to be purified interiorly; and to “wash the hands in innocency” denotes the same exteriorly. And again:

Be thou pure when thou judgest (Psalms 51:4).

(That by the other word is signified what is exteriorly pure or clean, may be seen in Leviticus 11:32; 12:7-8; 13:6, 1 13:13, 17, 23, 28, 34, 37, 58; 14:7-8, 9, 20, 48, 53; 15:13, 28; 16:30; 22:7; Jeremiah 13:27; Ezekiel 24:13; 39:12)

Bilješke:

7828. This is the first to you in the months of the year. That this signifies the beginning from which will be all the following states to eternity, is evident from the signification of “to be the first,” when it is said of the months of the year, and in the internal sense of the states of life, as being the beginning; from the signification of “months,” as being states (of which just above, n. 7827); and from the signification of “year,” as being a period of life from beginning to end (n. 2906). In the present case, because it is said of those who are of the spiritual church in the other life, the period of whose life has a beginning but not an end, by “year” is signified a period of life from the beginning to eternity (that “year” has also this signification see n. 2906). This month was made the head of months and the first of all, because by it is signified the beginning of the liberation of those who are of the spiritual church, and who up to this time had been in a state of captivity, because detained in the lower earth, and there infested by the evil, who are represented by Pharaoh and the Egyptians. That their first state, when they were liberated, was the principal of all and the beginning from which would be all the following states to eternity, is because they who were there were liberated by the coming of the Lord into the world, and because without the coming of the Lord into the world they could not possibly have been saved, and because they were liberated at the time when the Lord rose again. From this it is evident that the state when they were liberated was to them the principal of all states. The case is the same also afterward with all those who are of the spiritual church, who could not possibly have been saved unless the Lord had come into the world, and glorified His Human, that is, made it Divine. That they who were of the spiritual church before the coming of the Lord were detained in the lower earth and were liberated and saved by the Lord, see n. 6854, 6914; and in general, that they who were of the spiritual church have been saved by the Lord’s coming, n. 2661, 2716, 6372, 7035, 7091; and therefore in the supreme sense by these words is signified that the glorification and resurrection of the Lord as to His Human is the source of all salvation.