創世記 1
7
神就造出空氣,將空氣以下的水、空氣以上的水分開了。事就這樣成了。
11
神說:地要發生青草和結種子的菜蔬,並結果子的樹木,各從其類,果子都包著核。事就這樣成了。
12
於是地發生了青草和結種子的菜蔬,各從其類;並結果子的樹木,各從其類;果子都包著核。神看著是好的。
14
神說:天上要有光體,可以分晝夜,作記號,定節令、日子、年歲,
20
神說:水要多多滋生有生命的物;要有雀鳥飛在地面以上,天空之中。
21
神就造出大魚和水中所滋生各樣有生命的動物,各從其類;又造出各樣飛鳥,各從其類。神看著是好的。
22
神就賜福給這一切,說:滋生繁多,充滿海中的水;雀鳥也要多生在地上。
24
神說:地要生出活物來,各從其類;牲畜、昆蟲、地上的野獸,各從其類。事就這樣成了。
25
於是神造出野獸,各從其類;牲畜,各從其類;地上一切昆蟲,各從其類。神看著是好的。
26
神說:我們要照著我們的形像、按著我們的樣式造人,使他們管理海裡的魚、空中的鳥、地上的牲畜,和全地,並地上所爬的一切昆蟲。
28
神就賜福給他們,又對他們說:要生養眾多,遍滿地面,治理這地,也要管理海裡的魚、空中的鳥,和地上各樣行動的活物。
29
神說:看哪,我將遍地上一切結種子的菜蔬和一切樹上所結有核的果子全賜給你們作食物。
Arcana Coelestia #875
875. 'The dove found no rest for the sole of its foot' means that no good and truth of faith at all had as yet been able to take root. This is clear from the meaning of 'a dove' as the truth of faith, and also from the meaning of 'rest for the sole of the foot' as taking root. The reason why they cannot take root is stated further on, namely that falsities were still there to overflowing. But nobody can begin to understand what all this means unless he knows how the regeneration of the spiritual man is accomplished.
[2] With this man the cognitions of faith drawn from the Word of the Lord - that is, matters of doctrine drawn from that source, which the Ancient Church had from what had been revealed to the Most Ancient Church - had to be planted in his memory, and in this way the understanding part of his mind received instruction. But as long as falsities dwell there to overflowing, truths of faith cannot take root, even though they have been planted there. They remain solely on the surface, or in the memory. Nor, as stated already, does the ground become suitable until falsities have been so dispersed that they do not reappear.
[3] The ground itself with this person is made ready in the understanding part of his mind, and when it has been made ready good that stems from charity is planted in it by the Lord, and through charity conscience from which he then acts, that is, by means of which the Lord produces in him the good and truth of faith. Thus the Lord separates in this man things belonging to his understanding from those belonging to his will in such a manner that they are in no way united. For if they were united he would inevitably and eternally perish.
[4] With the member of the Most Ancient Church things of the will had been united to those of the understanding, as they are with celestial angels too. But with the member of this Church they were not united, nor are they united with the spiritual man. It still seems as though the good of charity which he does is the product of his will, but that is solely an appearance and illusion. All the good of charity which he does is the Lord's alone, coming not by way of the will but of conscience. If the Lord were to let up only slightly and allow a person to act from his own will, he would, from hatred, revenge, and cruelty, perform evil instead of good.
[5] The same applies to the truth which a spiritual man thinks and speaks. Unless he thought and spoke from conscience, and so from good that is the Lord's, he could no more think and speak what is true than the devil's crew when impersonating angels of light. This is perfectly obvious in the next life. From these considerations it is clear how regeneration is accomplished and what the regeneration of a spiritual man is. It is the separation of the understanding part of his mind from the will part by means of conscience, which is formed by the Lord in that understanding part. What is performed in this manner seemingly springs from his own will, but in fact it does so from the Lord.