Verse 18. Thus was a state induced in which all things in the mind were under the influence and government of Divine truth from the Word.[Note (verses 9-18).—If a man had simply to follow certain dictates given him from the Word, and found them ready applied to every difficulty arising in life, he would be as far as spiritual thought is concerned a mere machine. It is by having apparently to decide for himself and to work out difficulties by his own reasoning powers, with the Divine truths of the Word as an ultimate Court of Appeal, that he attains true understanding in spiritual things.]

809. Verse 10. If anyone shall lead into captivity he shall go into captivity; if anyone shall kill with the sword he must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

10. "If anyone shall lead into captivity he shall go into captivity," signifies that those who have shut out others from truths are shut out from the Divine truths in the Word (n.810, 811); "if anyone shall kill with the sword he must be killed with the sword," signifies that those who have imbued others with falsities are imbued with falsities from hell n. 812. "Here is the patience and the faith of the saints," signifies that through these comes temptation and afterwards the implantation of truth with those who are made spiritual by the Lord. n. 813).