創世記 1
7
神就造出空氣,將空氣以下的水、空氣以上的水分開了。事就這樣成了。
11
神說:地要發生青草和結種子的菜蔬,並結果子的樹木,各從其類,果子都包著核。事就這樣成了。
12
於是地發生了青草和結種子的菜蔬,各從其類;並結果子的樹木,各從其類;果子都包著核。神看著是好的。
14
神說:天上要有光體,可以分晝夜,作記號,定節令、日子、年歲,
20
神說:水要多多滋生有生命的物;要有雀鳥飛在地面以上,天空之中。
21
神就造出大魚和水中所滋生各樣有生命的動物,各從其類;又造出各樣飛鳥,各從其類。神看著是好的。
22
神就賜福給這一切,說:滋生繁多,充滿海中的水;雀鳥也要多生在地上。
24
神說:地要生出活物來,各從其類;牲畜、昆蟲、地上的野獸,各從其類。事就這樣成了。
25
於是神造出野獸,各從其類;牲畜,各從其類;地上一切昆蟲,各從其類。神看著是好的。
26
神說:我們要照著我們的形像、按著我們的樣式造人,使他們管理海裡的魚、空中的鳥、地上的牲畜,和全地,並地上所爬的一切昆蟲。
28
神就賜福給他們,又對他們說:要生養眾多,遍滿地面,治理這地,也要管理海裡的魚、空中的鳥,和地上各樣行動的活物。
29
神說:看哪,我將遍地上一切結種子的菜蔬和一切樹上所結有核的果子全賜給你們作食物。
Arcana Coelestia #59
59. The reason only edible and green plants are mentioned here as food for the natural man is this: While a person is being regenerated and becoming spiritual he is involved constantly in conflict, which is why the Lord's Church is called militant. For before regeneration started, evil desires were in control, since the whole person consisted entirely of evil desires and resulting falsities. During the process of regeneration his desires and falsities cannot be done away with instantly, since that would amount to destroying the whole person; indeed he has not acquired any other life for himself. So for a long time evil spirits are left with him to activate his desires, and so release them in countless ways. Indeed the spirits are left there to do this in order that those desires may be turned by the Lord towards something good, and in this way the person may be reformed. In the hour of conflict evil spirits are present who absolutely hate everything that is good and true, that is, every element of love and faith in the Lord - elements that alone are good and true because they contain eternal life. These evil spirits leave a person with no other food than that which is compared to edible and green plants. But the Lord gives him a food as well that is compared to the plant yielding seed and to the tree in which there is fruit. These are periods of peace and calm attended by their forms of delight and happiness. This cycle occurs repeatedly.
[2] If the Lord did not protect man moment by moment, and in every shortest instant, he would immediately perish, for there is such murderous hatred reigning in the world of spirits against all forms of love and faith in the Lord as to defy description. I can positively declare that this is so, because for several years now, although still in the [physical] body, I have also been in the next life in the company of spirits. I have been surrounded by evil spirits, even the worst of them, sometimes by thousands, who have been allowed to pour out their venom and molest me in every possible way, but who nevertheless could do no harm to the tiniest hair on my head, so well did the Lord protect me. From all these years of experience I have become thoroughly informed about the character of the world of spirits and also about the conflict which people who are being regenerated must inevitably undergo if they are to attain the happiness of eternal life. But because nobody from just a general description can be so well informed as to have a faith free from doubt, these matters in the Lord's Divine mercy will therefore be noted in greater detail later on.