4507. 'And whatever was in the city, and whatever was in the field they took' means every truth and good of the Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'the city' as doctrine, and so the truth of the Church, dealt with in 402, 2268, 2449, 2712, 2943, 3216, 4492, 4493, and from the meaning of 'the field' as the Church in regard to good, and so as the good of the Church, dealt with in 2971, 3310, 3766, 4440, 4443. Consequently 'whatever was in the city, and whatever was in the field' means every truth and good of the Church.

2268. 'Will You for five destroy the whole city?' means, Will mankind perish for the small amount that is lacking? This is clear from the meaning of 'five' as small, referred to immediately above, and from the meaning of 'a city' as truth, also dealt with already. The human mind as regards truths is in the Word compared to and also called 'a city', and as regards the goods that are present within truths is there compared to and also called 'the inhabitants'. For a similarity indeed exists, in that if the truths in a person's two memories ¹ and in the thoughts of his mind are devoid of goods, they are like a city that has no residents and so is vacant and empty. Indeed it can also be said of angels that they dwell so to speak in a person's truths and implant affections for good from the Lord when that person leads a life abiding in love to the Lord and in charity towards the neighbour, for they are delighted so to dwell, that is, to live, with such persons. It is different in the case of those with whom some truths exist but no goods that flow from charity.

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