7726. Thou shalt also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt-offerings. That this signifies that they shall leave all the things by which worship is to be performed, is evident from the signification of “giving into the hand,” as being to leave, for by the “hand” is signified power, and hence by “giving into their hand” is signified to deliver up to their power, thus to leave; and from the signification of “sacrifices and burnt-offerings,” as being worship in general, thus everything of worship (see n. 923, 6905). The reason why sacrifices and burnt-offerings signify everything of worship is that Divine worship was performed chiefly by means of sacrifices, as can be seen from the books of Moses (see what has been before shown about sacrifices, n. 922, 923, 1128, 1343, 1823, 2165, 2180, 2187, 2776, 2784, 2805, 2807, 2812, 2818, 2830, 3519, 6905).

1128. There appeared one veiled over as with a cloud, about whose face were many wandering stars, which signify falsities. I was told that such were the posterity of the Ancient Church when it began to perish, especially among those who instituted worship by sacrifices, and by images.