1580. Is not the whole land before thee? That this signifies all good, is evident from the signification of “land” in a good sense, and here of the land of Canaan, which is the celestial, and therefore also good (concerning which see above, n. 566, 620, 636, 662). The internal man here addresses the external, but those things in the external man which disagree; as a man is wont to do when he perceives some evil in himself from which he desires to be separated, as is the case in temptations and combats. For it is known to those who have been in temptations and combats, that they perceive in themselves things which disagree; from which, so long as there is combat, they cannot be separated; but still they desire separation, and sometimes to such a degree that they are angry with the evil, and desire to expel it. These are the things that are here signified.

620. That by the “earth” is signified the race which has been treated of before, is evident from what has already been told respecting the signification of “earth” and of “ground.” The “earth” ¹ is a term very often used in the Word; and by it is signified the “land” where the true church of the Lord is, as the “land” of Canaan; also a “land” where there is not a church, as the “land” of Egypt, and of the Gentiles. Thus it denotes the race that dwells there; and as it denotes the race, it denotes likewise everyone of the race who is there. The church is called the “land” from celestial love, as the “land of Canaan;” and the “land of the Gentiles” from impure loves. But it is called “ground” from faith which is implanted; for, as has been said, the land or country is the containant of the ground, and the ground is the containant of the field, just as love is the containant of faith, and faith is the containant of the knowledges of faith which are implanted. Here the “earth” is taken for a race in which everything of celestial love and of the church had perished. What is predicated is known from the subject.

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