10418. 'And Jehovah spoke to Moses' means perception and instruction regarding the Israelite nation, what it was like inwardly. This is clear from the meaning of 'speaking', when done by Jehovah, as perception and instruction, dealt with in the places referred to in 10280, 10290. The fact that it regards the Israelite nation, what it was like inwardly, is clear from what follows, for there that nation and what it was like so far as its worship was concerned is the subject.

1121. I have learned from members' of the Most Ancient Church about their state of perception - that they had a perception of everything that was a matter of faith, almost as the angels did with whom they were in communication. The reason they had it was that their interior man, which is the spirit, was joined - also by means of internal breathing - to heaven, and that love to the Lord and love towards the neighbour have heaven within them. Thus man is joined to the angels through their very life itself which consists in such love. They said that because they abided in love to the Lord and in love towards the neighbour they had the law inscribed within them. That being so whatever the laws dictated was in keeping with their perception and whatever the laws forbade was contrary to that perception. Nor did they doubt that all human laws, like Divine laws, are based on love to the Lord and charity towards the neighbour, and regard these as their foundation. Since they had this foundation in them from the Lord they could not help knowing all that arises from it. They also believe that all people living in the world today who love the Lord and the neighbour have this law inscribed within them as well, and are acceptable citizens everywhere on earth just as they are in the next life.