Arcana Coelestia #46
46. That 'beasts' means affections residing with man - evil affections in evil men and good affections in good men - becomes clear from many examples in the Word, as in Ezekiel,
Behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, so that you will be tilled and sown; and I will multiply upon you man and beast, and they will be multiplied and be fruitful, and I will resettle you 1 to be as in your ancient times. Ezekiel 36:9-11.
This refers to regeneration. In Joel,
Fear not, you beasts of My field, for the dwelling-places of the wilderness have been made green. Joel 2:22.
In David,
I was stupid, a beast 2 was I with God. Psalms 73:12.
In Jeremiah,
Behold, the days are coming when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast, and I will watch over them to build and to plant. Jeremiah 31:27-28.
This refers to regeneration.
[2] 'Wild animals' (fera) has a similar meaning, as in Hosea,
I will make for them a covenant on that day, with the wild animals of the field, and with the birds of the air, 3 and with the creeping things of the earth. Hosea 2:18.
In Job,
You will not fear the wild animals of the earth, for your covenant will be with the stones of the field, and the wild beasts of the field will be at peace with you. Job 5:22-23.
In Ezekiel,
I will make with them 4 a covenant of peace, and I will banish the evil wild animal from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness. Ezekiel 34:25.
In Isaiah,
The wild animals of the field will honour me, for I have given water in the desert. Isaiah 43:20.
In Ezekiel,
In its branches all the birds of the air 3 made their nests and under its branches every wild animal of the field gave birth, and in its shadow dwelt all great nations. Ezekiel 31:6.
This refers to Assyria, which means the spiritual man and is compared to the Garden of Eden. In David,
Praise Jehovah, all his angels, praise Him from the earth, sea monsters, fruit trees, wild animals, and all beasts, creeping things, and flying birds! Psalms 148:2-4, 7, 9-10.
Here the list is precisely the same - sea monsters, fruit trees, wild animals, beasts, creeping things, and birds. Unless they all mean things that are alive in human beings, they cannot possibly be referred to as praising Jehovah.
[3] A careful distinction is made in the Prophets between beasts and wild animals of the earth, and between beasts and wild animals of the field. The practice of calling goods 'beasts' extends to calling people in heaven who are nearest to the Lord 'living creatures', both in Ezekiel and in John,
All the angels stood around the throne, and the elders, and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God. 5 Revelation 7:11; 19:4.
The expression 'creatures' is also used of people who are to have the gospel preached to them because they are to be created anew, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15.
Footnotes:
1. literally, I will cause you to inhabit
2. literally, beasts
3. literally, bird of the heavens (or the skies)
4. The Latin means with you; but the Hebrew means with them which Swedenborg has in other places where he quotes this verse.
5. The Latin means the Lamb; but the Greek means God which Swedenborg has in other places where he quotes this verse.
1 Corinthians 12
1
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5
And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14
For the body is not one member, but many.
15
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16
And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17
If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19
And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20
But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21
And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22
Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23
And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24
For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29
Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
