935. Having harps of God. That this signifies the glorification of the Lord from spiritual affection, is evident from the signification of harps, as denoting confessions and glorifications (concerning which see n. 323, 856). Hence the harps of God denote confessions and glorifications of the Lord from spiritual affection. The reason why these are signified by the harps of God is, that spiritual affections, which are affections of truth, were expressed by stringed instruments, but celestial affections, which are affections of good, by wind instruments, as may be seen above (n. 323, 326).
Continuation:-
[2] The subject treated of in the preceding article was the two things required in order that works may be good, that is, that the Divine of the Lord be acknowledged, and that the evils forbidden in the Decalogue be shunned as sins. The evils enumerated in the Decalogue contain in themselves all possible evils, therefore the Decalogue is called the ten precepts, because ten signifies all.
The first precept, Thou shalt not worship other gods, also requires a man not to love himself and the world; for he who loves himself and the world above all things worships other gods; for what any one loves above all things is his God.
The second precept, Thou shalt not profane the name of God, also requires that a man shall not hold in contempt and reject from the heart the Word, doctrine from the Word, and thereby the church; for these are the name of God.
The fifth precept, Thou shalt not steal, also requires a man to shun frauds and unlawful gains, for these also are thefts.
The sixth precept, Thou shalt not commit adultery, requires in particular that a man shall not take delight in adulteries and regard marriage as undelightful; nor defile such things as pertain to marriages by filthy thoughts concerning them; for these are also adulteries.
The seventh precept, Thou shalt not kill, also requires that a man shall not hate the neighbour, nor love revenge; for hatred and revenge breathe murder.
The eighth precept, Thou shalt not bear false witness, also requires that a man shall not lie and blaspheme; for lies and blasphemies are also false testimonies.
The ninth precept, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, also requires that a man shall not desire to possess and appropriate to himself the goods of others against their will.
The tenth precept, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, his servants, and so on, also requires that a man shall not desire to rule over others, and subject them to himself; for by those things there mentioned are meant the things proper to a man.
Every one may see that in these eight precepts are contained the evils that are to be shunned, and not the goods to be done.
