Arcana Coelestia #8
8. The second state is when a distinction is made between the things that are the Lord's and those that are man's own. Those which are the Lord's are called in the Word 'remnants', and here they are chiefly the cognitions of faith which a person has learned since he was a small child. These are stored away and do not come out into the open until he reaches this state. Nowadays this state rarely occurs without temptation, misfortune, and sorrow, which lead to the inactivity and so to speak the death of bodily and worldly concerns - the things which are man's own. In this way what belongs to the external man is segregated from what belongs to the internal. Within the internal are the remnants, stored away by the Lord until this time and for this purpose.
Job 26
2
How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?
3
How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?
4
To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?
5
Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.
6
Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
7
He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
8
He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.
9
He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.
10
He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.
11
The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.
12
He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.
13
By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
14
Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
