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Και αφου επαυσαν αι καμηλοι πινουσαι, ελαβεν ο ανθρωπος ενωτια χρυσα βαρους ημισεος σικλου, και δυο βραχιολια δια τας χειρας αυτης, βαρους δεκα σικλων χρυσιου·
Γένεση 24:22
Arcana Coelestia #3122
3122. With regard to this truth, by which charity is meant, there is more to be said: The most ancient people, who were celestial, understood nothing else by mercy and truth from the Lord than the reception 1 of the influx of love to the Lord and from this of charity towards the neighbour; but the ancients, who were spiritual, took mercy and truth present with them from the Lord to mean charity and faith. The reason for this was that those who were celestial never thought about the things that are matters of faith or truth but about those that are matters of love or good, as becomes clear from what has been stated already about the celestial man in 202, 337, 2669, 2715. Furthermore it was by means of charity towards the neighbour that celestial people were led into love to the Lord when they were being reformed and regenerated. From this it is evident that 'mercy from the Lord' is used to mean nothing else than a perception of the influx of love to Him, and 'truth' to mean the influx of charity towards the neighbour from that inflowing love.
[2] With those who are spiritual however it is different. These do think about the things that are matters of faith, and when they are being reformed and regenerated it is by means of the things which are matters of faith that they are led into charity towards the neighbour. Consequently when spiritual people are the subject 'mercy from the Lord' is used to mean the influx of charity towards the neighbour, and 'truth' to mean the influx of faith. Nevertheless once the spiritual man has been regenerated this faith becomes charity, for now he acts from charity, so much so that anyone among them who does not act from charity is not regenerate, whereas anyone who does act from charity is regenerate. Also, he now has no interest at all in matters of faith or truth, for his life springs from the good of faith, and no longer from the truth of faith. Indeed truth has now so joined itself to good that it ceases to be seen except as the form which good takes, that is, faith is now nothing else so to speak than the form which charity takes.
[3] From this one may see what the most ancient people meant, and what the ancients meant, by mercy and truth which are mentioned so many times in the Word, as in David,
The king will dwell for ever before God. Prepare mercy and truth, let them watch over him. Psalms 61:7.
In the same author,
Mercy and truth will meet, righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Psalms 85:10.
In the same author,
The Lord God is great in mercy and truth. Psalms 86:15.
In the same author,
My truth and My mercy will be with Him. Psalms 89:24.
In the same author,
Jehovah has remembered His mercy and His truth to the house of Israel. Psalms 98:3.
In the same author,
O Jehovah, not to us, but to Your name give glory, for the sake of Your mercy and Your truth. Psalms 115:1.
In Micah,
Jehovah God will give truth to Jacob, mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old. Micah 7:20.
Here 'Jacob' stands for the Lord's external man, 'Abraham' for the internal as regards the human. In Hosea,
Jehovah's controversy with the inhabitants of the land because there is no truth, and no mercy, and no knowledge of God. Hosea 4:1.
'No truth' stands for no reception of the influx of charity, 'no mercy' for no reception of the influx of love, 'no knowledge of God' for no reception of the influx of the truth of faith.
Footnotes:
1. Or, reading what Swedenborg has in his rough draft the perception
Hosea 4
1
Hear the word of Yahweh, you children of Israel; for Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2
There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed.
3
Therefore the land will mourn, and everyone who dwells therein will waste away. all living things in her, even the animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea also die.
4
"Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse; For your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.
5
You will stumble in the day, and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother.
6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God's law, I will also forget your children.
7
As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me. I will change their glory into shame.
8
They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.
9
It will be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will repay them for their deeds.
10
They will eat, and not have enough. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned giving to Yahweh.
11
Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.
12
My people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their God.
13
They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery.
14
I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; because the men consort with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes; so the people without understanding will come to ruin.
15
"Though you, Israel, play the prostitute, yet don't let Judah offend; and don't come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth Aven, nor swear, 'As Yahweh lives.'
16
For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a meadow.
17
Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!
18
Their drink has become sour. They play the prostitute continually. Her rulers dearly love their shameful way.
19
The wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be disappointed because of their sacrifices.
