1941. And it shall not be numbered for multitude. That this signifies multiplication beyond measure, is evident without explication. By these words is signified the truth that, from good, will thus grow multitudinously. In the case of the Lord-who in the internal sense is here treated of-these things cannot be fully expressed in words, because in Him all things are Divine and Infinite, and therefore in order that we may form some idea of how the case is with the multiplication of truth from good, we must speak concerning man. With a man who is in good, that is, in love and charity, the seed that comes from the Lord is made fruitful and multiplied to such an extent that it cannot be numbered for multitude; not so much while he is living in the body, but in the other life to an incredible degree; for so long as a man is living in the body the seed is in corporeal ground, and is there in the midst of jungles and thickets, which are memory-knowledges and pleasures, and also cares and anxieties; but when these are put off, which is done when he passes into the other life, the seed is freed from them and grows, just as the seed of a tree uprising from the ground grows into a sapling, then into a great tree, which is afterwards multiplied into a garden of trees. For all memory-knowledge [scientia], intelligence, and wisdom, together with their delights and happiness, are thus made fruitful and multiplied, and thereby increase to eternity, and this from the smallest seed, as the Lord teaches respecting the grain of mustard seed (Matthew 13:31). This may be seen very clearly from the knowledge, intelligence, and wisdom of the angels, which while they were men had been to them unutterable.

983. That “be fruitful” signifies the good of charity, and “multiply” the truths of faith, which were now about to be increased, is evident from the signification of these two expressions in the Word, where “to be fruitful” or to produce fruit, is constantly predicated of charity, and “to multiply” of faith, as was shown above, n. 43, 55, and in further confirmation of which we may adduce the following passages from the Word:

Turn, O backsliding sons; I will give you shepherds according to Mine heart, and they shall feed you with knowledge and intelligence and it shall be that ye shall be multiplied and made fruitful in the earth (Jeremiah 3:14-16),

where “to be multiplied” manifestly denotes growth in knowledge and intelligence, that is, in faith, and “to be made fruitful” denotes the goods of charity; for it there treats of the implantation of the church, in which faith or “multiplication” comes first.

Again:

I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all lands whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds, and they shall be fruitful and multiplied (Jeremiah 23:3),

speaking of a church already planted, consequently to be “made fruitful” as to the goods of charity and to be “multiplied” as to the truths of faith.

So in Moses:

Moreover I will look to you, and make you to be fruitful, and I will make you to be multiplied, and establish My covenant with you (Leviticus 26:9), speaking in the internal sense of the celestial church, wherefore “to be fruitful” is predicated of the goods of love and charity, and “to be multiplied” of the goods and truths of faith.

In Zechariah:

I will redeem them, and they shall be multiplied as they have been multiplied (Zechariah 10:8); that “to be multiplied” is here predicated of the truths of faith, is evident from their being to “be redeemed.”

In Jeremiah:

The city shall be builded upon her own heap, and out of them shall proceed confession, and the voice of them that make merry, and I will cause them to be multiplied, and they shall not be diminished; their sons also shall be as aforetime (Jeremiah 30:18-20),speaking of the affections of truth, and of the truths of faith; the former being denoted by “confession, and the voice of them that make merry” and the latter by “being multiplied;” “sons” also here denote truths.