417. Internal Meaning of Genesis, Chapter 16

1-16 Conjunction of the truth and good of the natural man, from which there would be only an external church, which is rational.

But concerning all this see Arcana Coelestia, where [it is explained that] these things pertaining to the church signify things pertaining to the Lord; for all things of the Word in the spiritual sense treat of the church and heaven, but in the celestial sense of the Lord. (2)