990. 'Even to everything which the ground causes to creep forth' means affections for good. This is clear both from what has gone before and also from the meaning of 'the ground' from which they are produced or creep forth. From what has gone before where the evils and falsities over which the regenerate person rules are the subject, it is clear that the affections for good which are given into his hands are therefore the subject here. And from the meaning of 'the ground' from which they are produced or creep forth - 'the ground' being in general the member of the Church and whatever constitutes the Church - it is clear that whatever is produced in the external by the Lord by way of the internal man is therefore meant here. The ground itself is situated in the external man - in his affections and in his memory. The reason why it is said, 'Everything that the ground causes to creep forth', is that it seems as though man himself produced goods. But that is the appearance. In reality all good derives from the Lord by way of the internal man, for as stated, nothing good or true exists unless it derives from the Lord.

28. Verse 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas; and God saw that it was good.

It is very common in the Word for 'waters' to mean cognitions and facts, and consequently for 'seas' to mean a gathering together of them, as in Isaiah,

The earth will be full of the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters covering the sea. Isaiah 11:9.

And in the same prophet, with reference to a lack of cognitions and facts,

The waters will dry up from the sea, the river will be parched and dry, and the streams will diminish. Isaiah 19:5-6.

In Haggai, with reference to a new Church,

I will shake the heavens and the earth, and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory. Haggai 2:6-7.

And with reference to someone who is to be regenerated, in Zechariah,

There will be one day - it is known to Jehovah - not day and not night, for at evening time there will be light; and on that day living waters will flow out from Jerusalem, part of them to the eastern sea, and part of them to the western sea. Zechariah 14:7-8.

In David where the person is described who, having been vastated, is to be regenerated, and to worship the Lord, Jehovah does not despise His bound ones. Heaven and earth will praise Him, the seas and everything that creeps in them! Psalms 69:33-34.

That 'the earth' means that which receives is seen in Zechariah,

Jehovah is He who stretches out the heavens, and founds the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him. Zechariah 12:1.