Arcana Coelestia # 348
348. 'The fruit of the ground' is used to mean the works of faith devoid of charity. This also is evident from what follows. In effect the works of faith devoid of charity are the works of no faith at all. In themselves they are dead since they belong purely to the external man. Such works are referred to in Jeremiah as follows,
Why does the way of the wicked prosper? You have planted them, they have also taken root, they have gone on, they are also producing fruit. You are near in their mouth but far from their heart. 1 How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? Jeremiah 12:1-2, 4.
'Near in their mouth but far from their heart' 1 means adherents to faith separated from charity, of whom it is said that 'the land mourns'. They are also called in the same prophet 'the fruit of works',
The heart is deceitful above all, and is something hopeless. Who knows it? I Jehovah who searches the heart and tries the reins, to give to everyone according to his ways, according to the fruit of his works. Jeremiah 17:9-10.
In Micah,
The earth will be a desolation because of its inhabitants, for the fruit of their works. Micah 7:13.
But the fact that this kind of fruit is no fruit at all, that is, a work that is dead, and that both this fruit and root perish, is stated in Amos,
I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and whose strength was like the oaks. Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath. Amos 2:9.
And in David,
You will destroy their fruit from the earth and their seed from the sons of man. Psalms 21:10.
But works that stem from charity are alive, and are referred to as 'taking root below' and 'yielding fruit above', as in Isaiah,
And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah will take root downwards and bear fruit upwards. Isaiah 37:31.
'Producing fruit upwards' is doing so from charity. In the same prophet such fruit is called 'a fruit that is excellent',
On that day the branch of Jehovah will be beauty and glory, and the fruit of the land will be excellence and an adornment for the survivors of Israel. Isaiah 4:2.
It is also 'the fruit of salvation', as it is called in the same prophet,
Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain with righteousness; let the earth open, and let them bear the fruit of salvation, and let righteousness spring up together. I Jehovah will create it. Isaiah 45:8.
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1. literally, reins or kidneys
Jeremiah 13
1
Thus says Yahweh to me, Go, and buy yourself a linen belt, and put it on your waist, and don't put it in water.
2
So I bought a belt according to the word of Yahweh, and put it on my waist.
3
The word of Yahweh came to me the second time, saying,
4
Take the belt that you have bought, which is on your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock.
5
So I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as Yahweh commanded me.
6
It happened after many days, that Yahweh said to me, Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take the belt from there, which I commanded you to hide there.
7
Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and took the belt from the place where I had hidden it; and behold, the belt was marred, it was profitable for nothing.
8
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
9
Thus says Yahweh, In this way I will mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.
10
This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their heart, and are gone after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this belt, which is profitable for nothing.
11
For as the belt clings to the waist of a man, so have I caused to cling to me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, says Yahweh; that they may be to me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.
12
Therefore you shall speak to them this word: Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall tell you, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?
13
Then you shall tell them, Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings who sit on David's throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.
14
I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, says Yahweh: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have compassion, that I should not destroy them.
15
Hear, and give ear; don't be proud; for Yahweh has spoken.
16
Give glory to Yahweh your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it gross darkness.
17
But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret for [your] pride; and my eye shall weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because Yahweh's flock is taken captive.
18
Say to the king and to the queen mother, Humble yourselves, sit down; for your headdresses have come down, even the crown of your glory.
19
The cities of the South are shut up, and there is none to open them: Judah is carried away captive, all of it; it is wholly carried away captive.
20
Lift up your eyes, and see those who come from the north: where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?
21
What will you say, when he shall set over you as head those whom you have yourself taught to be friends to you? shall not sorrows take hold of you, as of a woman in travail?
22
If you say in your heart, Why are these things come on me? for the greatness of your iniquity are your skirts uncovered, and your heels suffer violence.
23
Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may you also do good, who are accustomed to do evil.
24
Therefore will I scatter them, as the stubble that passes away, by the wind of the wilderness.
25
This is your lot, the portion measured to you from me, says Yahweh; because you have forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.
26
Therefore will I also uncover your skirts on your face, and your shame shall appear.
27
I have seen your abominations, even your adulteries, and your neighing, the lewdness of your prostitution, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You will not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?
