9390. “又打发以色列人中的少年人” 表那些属于纯真和仁爱的事物. 这从 “以色人中的少年人” 的含义清楚可知,

“以色人中的少年人” 是指教会成员当中属于纯真和仁爱的事物. 因为 “吃奶的”,

“小孩子”,

“少年人” 表示那些拥有纯真和仁爱的人, 或在从人抽象出来的意义上表示那些属于纯真和仁爱的事物 (参看430, 5236节);

“以色列人” 表示教会成员, 或在从人抽象出来的意义上表示教会本身 (9340节).

12. The Word has been written through correspondences, and thus through representative ideas

The Word as regards its literal sense has been written through correspondences alone, and thus through such things as represent and signify the spiritual aspects of heaven and the Church: 1404, 1408-1409, 1540, 1619, 1659, 1709, 1783, 2179, 2763, 2899. This was done because of the internal sense in each particular instance: 2899; thus too for the sake of heaven, since those who are in heaven do not understand the Word according to its literal or natural sense but according to its internal, or spiritual sense: 2899. The Lord spoke through correspondences, through representative and signifying ideas, because He spoke from His divine being: 9049, 9063, 9086, 10126, 10276. The Lord thus spoke directly to the world and at the same time to heaven: 2533, 4807, 9049, 9063, 9086. Whatever the Lord spoke filled the whole of heaven: ¹ 4637. The historical narratives of the Word are representative, and their actual words have significances: 1540, 1659, 1709, 1783, 2686. The Word could not have been written in any other style for there to be communication through it with heaven: 2899, 6943, 9401. Those who treat the Word with contempt because of its simple and seemingly uncultivated style, and think that they would accept it if it had been written in a different style, are greatly mistaken: 8783. Also, the manner and style of writing of the most ancient authors was through correspondences and representative ideas: 605, 1756, 9942. I found through my own experience that the wise men of ancient times were delighted by the Word, because they found there representative and significant ideas: 2592-2593. If someone of the most ancient Church had read the Word, he would have seen clearly those things which are in the internal sense and obscurely those things in the external sense: 4493. The sons of Jacob were brought down into the land of Canaan because all places in that land were from very ancient times made representative: 1585, 3686, 4447, 5136, 6516; and so that the Word might be written there, where places were to be named because of their internal meaning: 3686, 4447, 5136, 6516. But in fact the Word in its external sense was altered on account of that people, though not as regards its internal sense: 10453, 10461, 10603-10604. Many passages from the Word are quoted about that nation, which must however be understood according to their internal sense-that is, other than according to the literal sense: 7051. Since that nation represented the Church, and because the Word was written among and about that nation, therefore heavenly ideas were signified by their names, for example Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Ephraim, Joseph and the rest; and by Judah in the internal sense is signified the Lord as regards celestial love, and His heavenly kingdom: 3654, 3881, 5583, 5782, 6362-6381.

So that it may be known what are the correspondences and their nature, and what is the nature of the representations in the Word, something will also be said about those. All things which correspond also represent and then signify something, such that correspondences and representations go together as one: 2896, 2899, 2973, 2987, 2989-2990, 3002, 3225. What those correspondences and representations are, from my own experience and examples: 2763, 2987-3002, 3213-3226, 3337-3352, 3472-3485, 4218-4228, 9280. The knowledge of correspondences and representations was the most important field of knowledge among the ancients: 3021, 3419, 4280, 4749, 4844, 4964, 4966, 6004, 7729, 10252; especially among people in eastern parts: 5702, 6692, 7097, 7779, 9391, 10252, 10407; in Egypt more than other places: 5702, 6692, 7097, 7779, 9391, 10407; even among the Gentiles, for example in Greece and elsewhere: 2762, 7729. But today it is among the lost fields of knowledge, especially in Europe: 2894-2895, 2995, 3630, 3632, 3747-3749, 4581, 4966, 10252. But always that type of knowledge is more important than all others, since without it the Word is not understood; nor are the rites of the Jewish Church which are written about in the Word; nor is it known what the nature of heaven is, nor is it known what that which is spiritual is, nor how it happens that there is an inflowing of the spiritual into the natural, nor how there is an inflowing of the soul into the body, and many other things: 4280, and in passages cited above. All things which appear among spirits and angels are representative in accord with correspondences: 1971, 3213-3226, 3475, 3485, 9457, 9481, 9576-9577. Heaven is full of representations: 1521, 1532, 1619. Representations are more beautiful and perfect the more interior they are in heaven: 3475. Representations there are real appearances since they come from the light of heaven, which is the divine truth; and this itself is the essential part of all things that are in existence: 3485.

The reason why every single thing in the spiritual world is represented in the natural world is that what is internal clothes itself as appropriate in what is its external guise, through which it presents itself visibly, and becomes apparent: 6275, 6284, 6299. Thus, an end clothes itself in suitable guises in order to present itself as a cause in a lower sphere, and then as an effect in a still lower sphere; and when an end passes by way of a cause into an effect, it presents itself visibly, or becomes apparent right before the eyes: 5711.

This is illustrated by the inflowing of the soul into the body: namely, the soul is clothed with such things in the body through which everything it thinks and wishes can present itself and become apparent visibly; therefore when thought flows down into the body it is represented by such gestures and actions as correspond to it: 2988. Quite clearly the feelings of the mind are represented in the face by its various expressions, to such an extent that they are seen there: 4791-4805, 5695. From this it is plain that in every single thing within the natural order there lies hidden deep inside a cause and an end from the spiritual world: 3562, 5711 since things which are in the natural order are final effects, within which are prior causes: 4240, 4939, 5651, 6275, 6284, 6299, 9216. Whatever is internal is that which is represented, and what is external that which serves to represent it: 4292.

What correspondences and representations are may be further seen in the work Heaven and Hell, where the correspondence of all things of heaven with all human things is dealt with: 87-102; the correspondence of heaven with all things of earth: 103-115; and representations and appearances in heaven: 170-176.

Since all things in the natural order are representative of spiritual and celestial realities, in ancient times there were churches in which all the external observances or rituals were representative: 519, 521, 2896. The Church was set up among the children of Israel as a representative church: 1003, 2179, 10149. There all the rituals were external forms representing the internal things of heaven and the Church: 4288, 4874. The representative things of the Church and worship ceased when the Lord came into the world and manifested Himself, because the Lord revealed the internal things of the Church, and all things of that Church, in a supreme sense, had regard to Him: 4835.

Fotnoter:

8932. “你们不可作银神, 金神与我同在” 表他们要完全避开外在形式上看似真理和良善, 内在形式上却是虚假和邪恶的那类事物. 这从 “作神”, “银” 和 “金” 的含义清楚可知: “作神” 是指敬拜, 因为凡为自己造神明的人都是为了拜它们而造的; “银” 是指真理, 因而在反面意义上是指虚假; “金” 是指良善, 因而在反面意义上是指邪恶 (参看113, 1551, 1552, 2954, 5658, 6914, 6917, 7999节). 这些之所以是那些外在形式上看似真理和良善, 内在形式上却是虚假和邪恶的事物, 是因为经上说 “你们不可作它们与我同在”, 也就是与耶和华同在. 神性真理本身和神性良善本身处于内在, 同样处于外在; 但内在的神性真理体现在代表形像或类型中; 因为构成一种类型或形像的外在事物表示并代表内在事物. 外在事物当与内在事物分离时, 就是虚假和邪恶, 它们被视为神圣或被敬拜; 然而, 它们仍看似真理和良善, 因为它们代表真理和良善. “作银神, 金神与耶和华神同在” 就表示这些事.

这条诫命紧跟在十诫之后, 因为以色列和犹太人民是这种人: 他们视脱离内在事物的外在事物为神圣, 并把它们完全当作神性来拜 (3479, 3769, 4281, 4293, 4307, 4314, 4316, 4433, 4680, 4825, 4832, 4844, 4847, 4865, 4903, 6304, 6832, 8814, 8819节). 为进一步了解那些外在形式上看似真理和良善, 内在形式上却是虚假和邪恶的事物是什么, 具有何种性质, 我们以犹太教会的一切仪式为例; 如祭祀, 烧香, 洗濯, 以及其它许多仪式. 就外在形式而言, 它们都是真理和良善, 但不是凭它们本身, 而是因为它们是表示并代表内在真理和良善, 也就是对主的爱和信的各个方面的类型或形像. 当属于这类仪式的外在形式上的这类事物被视为神圣, 尤其被敬拜时, 如它们被成为偶像崇拜者, 利用它们来拜外邦神的犹太人和以色列人敬拜时的情形, 它们就不再与它们所表示并代表的真理和良善有任何关系, 它们在内在形式上是虚假和邪恶.

在这人民当中作为天上和神性事物的类型或代表形像的其它一切事物也是这种情形. 因为一旦代表内在事物的外在事物被用来拜别神, 它们变成了他们所拜的偶像, 或他们所作与耶和华神同在的 “银神和金神”. 事实上, 那时这些事物在外在形式上看似真理和良善, 但在内在形式上却是虚假和邪恶.

一般来说, “银神和金神” 是指敬拜的一切虚假和衍生的邪恶, 它们通过对圣言的错误利用和曲解, 同时通过出于自我聪明的推理而被造得看似真理和良善. 在以下经文中, “银神和金神” 就表示这类事物. 以赛亚书:

在以下经文中, “银神和金神” 就表示这类事物. 以赛亚书:

到那日, 人必将他们为自己所造去跪拜的银偶像, 金偶像抛给鼹鼠和蝙蝠; 好进入磐石缝中和岩石隙里. (以赛亚书 2:20, 21)

“鼹鼠和蝙蝠” 表示那些在黑暗中, 也就是沉浸于虚假和衍生的邪恶之人.

同一先知书:

到那日, 各人必将他银偶像, 金偶像, 就是你们亲手为自己所造的, 一个罪, 都抛弃了. (以赛亚书 31:7)

“手所造的” 表示那些出于自我聪明的事物. 又:

匠人铸造雕像, 金匠用金包裹它, 为它铸造银链. (以赛亚书 40:19)

“雕像” 是指那些出于人自己的东西 (8869节); “用金包裹” 表示使这些东西表面上看似良善; “铸造银链” 表示使它们连贯起来, 好像与真理连在一起. “金” 表示良善, “银” 表示真理, 这一点可见于前面所引用的章节.

在耶利米书也是如此:

列族的习俗都是虚空. 他从森林中砍下木头, 是工匠的手工. 他用银金妆饰它; 他们用钉子和锤子钉稳它, 使它不动摇. (耶利米书 10:3, 4)

何西阿书:

现今以法莲人犯罪越来越多, 用银子为自己作铸像, 就是照自己的聪明造偶像, 都是匠人的工作. (何西阿书 13:2)

“以法莲” 表示教会的理解力 (5354, 6222, 6234, 6238, 6267节); “银铸像” 表示看似真理的虚假, 这就是为何经上说 “照自己的聪明”; “都是匠人的工作” 表示这一切都是通过出于自我或自己的推理产生的.

哈巴谷书:

对木头说, 醒起! 对哑巴石头说, 这个必能教训人, 那人有祸了! 看哪! 这是包裹金银的, 它中间毫无气息. (哈巴谷书 2:19)

“木头” 表示邪恶; “石头” 表示虚假; “包裹金银” 表示通过应用所给予的良善和真理的表象. 但以理书:

伯沙撒说, 当他喝酒欢畅的时候, 他们要把他的父尼布甲尼撒从在耶路撒冷的殿中所掠的金银器皿拿来, 王与贵胄, 皇后, 妃嫔好用这器皿饮酒. 他们饮酒, 赞美金, 银, 铜, 铁, 木, 石所造的神. (但以理书 5:2-4, 23)

“来自耶路撒冷殿的金, 银的器皿” 代表主的教会和国度的良善和真理; “用它们饮酒” 表示通过邪恶和虚假, 也就是 “金, 银所造的神” 亵渎它们.

诗篇:

他们的偶像是银和金, 是人手所造的. 它们有口却不能言, 有眼却不能看. (诗篇 115:4, 5; 135:15-16)

“银和金, 也就是偶像” 表示虚假和邪恶; “人手所造的” 表示它们是自我聪明的产物. 摩西五经:

列族神明的雕像, 你们要用火焚烧; 其上的金银你不可贪图, 也不可取为己有, 这原是耶和华你神所憎恶的. 可憎的物, 你不可带进家去, 免得你成了受诅咒的, 与那物一样; 你要十分憎嫌它. (申命记 7:25-26)

“雕像上的银金” 表示被当作真理和良善来敬拜的虚假和邪恶, 因为它们被造得看似真理和良善.