246. 'Beast' and 'wild animal of the field' mean affections. This becomes clear from what has been stated already in 45, 46, about 'beast' and 'wild animal', to which let the following quotation from David be added,

You shake down a shower of blessings, O God; Your heritage which is labouring, You strengthen; Your wild animals will dwell in it. Psalms 68:9-10.

Here also 'wild animal' stands for the affection for good, since it is going 'to dwell in God's heritage'. The reason 'beast' and 'wild animal of the field' are mentioned here, as also in Genesis 2:19, 20, but 'beast' and 'wild animal of the earth' in Genesis 1:24-25, is that the subject is the Church, that is, man when regenerate, whereas in Chapter 1 the subject is the time when the Church does not exist, that is, when man has yet to be regenerated; for 'field' is a term applying to the Church, that is, to man when regenerate.

2936. 'Which is at the end of his field' means where little of the Church exists. This is clear from the meaning of 'the end' or the edge as that which is little, and from the meaning of 'the field' as the Church, and also the Church's doctrine, dealt with in 368. That 'the end' or the edge means that which is little becomes clear from the description of the land, the ground, and fields in the Word. The middle of them means that which is much, but the edge means that which is little. This edge is also called the circumference, the reason being that what is representative expires around the edge; and so here 'the end of the field' means where little of the Church exists.