306. (5:4) And I wept much, that no one was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look therein. That this signifies grief of heart on account of the disorder and ruin of all, if no one could know, have cognisance of, and explore all men, and all things pertaining to them, is evident from the signification of weeping, as denoting to grieve; hence to weep much, denotes to grieve from the heart, or grief of heart; that this is on account of the disorder and ruin of all [men], follows; and from the signification of no one being found worthy to open and read the book, neither to look therein, as denoting that no one is such as to know the states of life of all in general, and of each in particular (concerning which see above, n. 303, 304); or, what is the same, that no one is such as to be able to know, have cognisance of, and explore all men, and all things pertaining to them.

As to what concerns grief of heart, which is signified by, "I wept much," on account of the disorder and ruin of all, if no one is such as to be able to know, have cognisance of, and explore all men, and all things pertaining to them, I will briefly explain:- In order that the angelic heaven may exist and subsist, all things therein must be in order; for, unless it were in order, it would be dissipated; for the angelic heaven is divided into societies, and the societies are arranged according to the affections of truth and good, which are manifold and innumerable. This arrangement depends solely on the infinite Wisdom of the One who knows all things, has cognisance of all things, and explores all things, and hence disposes and arranges them. This One is the Lord alone; therefore it is said in the Word, that judgment is His, and that He has all power in the heavens and on earth, and here that He took the book and loosed the seals thereof. Moreover, unless heaven were in order, the world, that is, men on the earth, could not exist and subsist; for the world depends upon heaven and its influx into the spiritual and rational things of men; in a word, all things would perish. But these things may be better comprehended from what is set forth in the work concerning Heaven and Hell, and also in the small work concerning the Last Judgment, and indeed from everything there, if read with attention. The reason why it is said to know, to have cognisance of, and to explore, is, because these things are signified by opening the book, by reading and looking into it; for by the book are signified all things with men, spirits, and angels, or all the states of their life as to love and faith; therefore by opening the book, is signified to know those things; by reading the book, is signified to have cognisance of them: and by looking into the book, is signified to explore them.