of a single thing represented; for they were altogether natural men, and therefore had neither inclination nor ability to gain any knowledge of spiritual and celestial subjects for the same reason they were necessarily ignorant of correspondences, these being representations of things spiritual and celestial in things natural. 23. The reason why the idolatries of the Gentiles of old took their rise from the science of correspondences, was, because all things that appear on the face of the earth have correspondence; consequently, not only trees and vegetables, but also beasts and birds of every kind; with fishes and all other things. The ancients, who were versed in the science of correspondences, made themselves images, which corresponded with heavenly things; and were greatly delighted with them by reason of their signification, and because they could discern in them what related to heaven and the church: they therefore placed those images not only in their temples, but also in their houses; not with any intention to worship them, but to serve as means of recollecting the heavenly things signified by them. Hence, in Egypt, and in other places, they made images of calves, oxen, and serpents, and also of children, old men, and virgins; because calves and oxen signified the affections and powers of the natural man; serpents the prudence of the sensual man; children, innocence and charity; old men, wisdom; and virgins, the affections of truth; and so in other instances. Succeeding ages, when the science of correspondences was obliterated, began to adore as holy, and at length to worship as deities, the images and resemblances set up by their forefathers, because they found them in and about their temples. The case was the same with other nations; as with the Philistines, in Ashdod, whose God, Dagon (concerning whom, see 1 Sam. v. 1 to the end) was, in its upper part, like a man, and in its lower part like a fish; the reason of which was, because a man signifies intelligence, and a fish, science, which make a one. For the same reason, the ancients performed their worship in gardens and in groves, according to the different kinds of trees growing in them, and also on mountains and hills; for gardens and groves signified wisdom and intelligence, and every particular tree something that had relation thereto; as the olive, the good of love; the vine, truth derived from that good; the cedar, good and truth rational; a mountain signified the highest heaven; a hill, the heaven beneath. That the science of correspondences remained amongst many eastern nations, even till the coming of the Lord, may appear also from the wise men of the east, who visited the Lord at his nativity; wherefore a star went before them, and they brought with them gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matt. ii. 1, 2, 9, 10, 11); for the star which went before them, signified knowledge from heaven; gold signified celestial good; frankincense, spiritual good; and myrrh, natural good; which are the three constituents of all worship. But still there was no knowledge whatever of the science of correspondences amongst the Israelitish and Jewish people, although all parts of their worship, and all the statutes and judgments given them by Moses, and all things contained in the Word, were mere correspondences; the reason was because they were idolaters at heart and consequently of such a nature and genius, that they were not even willing to know that any part of their worship had a celestial and spiritual signification, for they believed that all the parts of it were holy of themselves; wherefore had the celestial and spiritual significations been revealed to them, they would not only have rejected, but also have profaned them: for this reason heaven was so shut to them, that they scarcely knew whether there was such a thing as eternal life. That such was the case with them, appears evident from the circumstance, that they did not acknowledge the Lord, although the whole Scripture throughout prophesied concerning him and foretold his coming; and they rejected him solely on this account, because he instructed them about a heavenly kingdom, and not about an earthly one; for they wanted a Messiah who should exalt them above all the nations in the world, and not a Messiah who should provide only for their eternal salvation. They affirm, however, that in the Word are contained many arcana, which are called mystical; but they have no inclination to learn that those arcana relate to the Lord. Tell them that they relate to gold, and they immediately desire to know them. 24. The reason why the science of correspondences, which is the key to the spiritual sense of the Word, was not discovered to later ages, was, because the Christians of the primitive church were men of such great simplicity, that it was impossible to discover it to them; for had it been discovered, they would have found no use in it, nor would they have understood it. After those first ages of Christianity, there arose thick clouds of darkness, and overspread the whole Christian world, in consequence of the establishment of the papal dominion; and they who are subject thereto, and have confirmed themselves in its false doctrines, have neither capacity nor inclination to apprehend any thing of a spiritual nature, consequently, what is the nature of the correspondence of things natural with things spiritual in the Word: for by this they would be convinced, that by Peter is not meant Peter, but the Lord as a rock, signified by Peter: and they would also be convinced, that the Word, even to its inmost contents, is divine, and that the papal decrees respectively are of no account. But after the reformation, as men began to divide faith from charity, and to worship God under three persons, consequently three gods, whom they conceive to be one, therefore at that time, heavenly truths were concealed from them; for if they had been discovered, they would have been falsified, and would have been abused to the confirmation of faith alone without being at all applied to charity and love: thus also men would have closed heaven against themselves. 25. The reason why the spiritual sense of the Word is at this day made known by the Lord, is, because the doctrine of genuine truth is now revealed; and this doctrine, and no other, agrees with the spiritual sense of the Word. This sense is likewise signified by the Lord's appearing in the clouds with glory and power (Matt. xxiv. 30, 31): which chapter treats of the consummation of the age, by which is meant the last time of the church. The opening of the Word as to its spiritual sense was also promised in the Revelation, and that sense is there meant by the white horse, and by the great supper to which all are invited (chap. xix. 11-18). That the spiritual sense for a long time will not be acknowledged, and that this will be solely owing to the influence of those who are principled in falsities of doctrine, particularly concerning the Lord, and therefore do not admit truths, is meant in the Revelation by the beast, and by the kings of the earth, who would make war with him that sat on the white horse, chap. xix. 19; by the beast are meant the Roman Catholics, as chap. xvii. 3; and by the kings of the earth are meant the Reformed, who are principled in falsities of doctrine. 26. 5. That hereafter the spiritual sense of the Word will be made known unto none, but those who are principled in genuine truths from the Lord. The reason is, because no one can see the spiritual sense, except it be given him by the Lord alone, and except he be principled in divine truths from the Lord. For the spiritual sense of the Word treats solely of the Lord and of his kingdom, and that is the sense which his angels in heaven are in the perception of, for it is his divine truth there. This it is possible for man to violate, supposing him versed in the science of correspondences, and desirous thereby to explore the spiritual sense of the Word, under the influence of his own self-derived intelligence alone; for by some correspondences with which he is acquainted, he may pervert the spiritual sense, and force it even to confirm what is false; and this would be to offer violence to divine truth, and consequently to heaven also; wherefore, if any one wishes to open that sense by virtue of his own power, and not of the Lord's, heaven is closed against him; in which case, he either loses sight of all truth, or falls into spiritual insanity. To this may be added another reason, viz., that the Lord teaches every one by means of the Word, and grounds his teaching on the knowledges which man is in possession of, never infusing new ones immediately; wherefore unless a man be principled in divine truths, or if he be only in possession of a few truths, and in falsities at the same time, he may falsify truths by falsities; as is done by every heretic, as is well known, with regard to the literal sense of the Word. To prevent, therefore, any person from entering into the spiritual sense, and perverting the genuine truth which belongs to that sense, there are guards set by the Lord, which are signified in the Word by the cherubs. This was made known to me by the following representation: "It was given to me to see great purses which had the appearance of bags, in which was stored up money in great abundance and as they were open, it seemed as if any one might take out, yea, steal away the money therein deposited; but near those two purses sat two angels, as guards. The place where they were laid appeared like a manger in a stable. In a neighboring apartment were seen modest virgins with a chaste wife; and near that apartment stood two infants, and information was given, that they were to be treated in their sports, not in a childish way, but according to wisdom. Afterwards there appeared a harlot; and lastly, a horse lying dead. On seeing these things I was instructed, that thereby was represented the : literal sense of the Word, in which is contained the spiritual sense. Those large purses full of money signified the knowledges of truth in great abundance. Their being open, and yet guarded by angels, signified, that any one might take thence the knowledges of truth, but that there was need of caution lest he should falsify the spiritual sense, in which are naked truths. The manger in the stable, in which the purses lay, signified spiritual instruction for the understanding; this is the signification of a manger, because a horse that feeds there signifies understanding. The modest virgins who were seen in a neighboring apartment, signified the affections of truth and the chaste wife signified the conjunction of goodness and truth. The infants signified the innocence of wisdom therein they were angels from the third heaven, who all appear as infants. The harlot with the dead horse, signified the falsification of the Word by many at this day, whereby all understanding of the Word is destroyed: a harlot signifies falsification, and a dead horse signifies the non-understanding of truth." III. THAT THE LITERAL SENSE OF THE WORD IS THE OF 27. In every divine work there is a first, a middle, and a last, and the first passes through the middle to the last, and thereby exists and subsists; hence the last is the basis. The first also is in the middle, and by means of the middle in the last; and thus the last is the continent. And because the last is the continent and the basis, it is also the firmament. 28. The learned reader will be able to comprehend the propriety of calling those three, end, cause, and effect, and also esse, fieri, and existere; † and that the end answers to * The word continent is here used to signify that which contains any thing, being derived from the Latin word contineo, which signifies to contain; and the word firmament, is used to signify that which supports any thing, or renders it firm, from the Latin word firmo, which signifies to make firm or support. We cannot possibly enable the unlearned reader to comprehend the meaning of the three Latin words here used, otherwise than by referring him to what was said above, n. 18, concerning the esse, the essence, and the existence of God; and if he has a right notion of the |