AC GENESIS Chapter39

AC 4954. In the prefatory remarks to the preceding chapter, the Lord’s words in (Matthew 25:31-33), concerning the Judgment upon the good and the evil were unfolded (n. 4807-4810). There now come to be unfolded the words which there follow in order, namely:--

Then shall the king say to them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry, and ye gave Me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and ye gathered Me; naked, and ye clothed Me; I was sick, and ye visited Me; I was in prison, and ye came unto Me (Matthew 25:34-38).

AC 4955. What these words involve in the internal sense will appear from what follows. Be it known in the first place that the works here enumerated are the very works of charity in their order.  This no one can see who is not acquainted with the internal sense of the Word, that is, who does not know what is meant by giving the hungry to eat, giving the thirsty to drink, gathering the stranger, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, and coming unto those who are in prison.  He who thinks of these acts from the sense of the letter only, infers that they mean good works in the external form, and that there is nothing secret in them beyond this; and but there is something secret in each of them, which is Divine, because from the Lord.  But the secret is not at this day understood, because at this day there are no doctrinals of charity; for ever since men have separated charity from faith, these doctrinals have perished, and in place of them the doctrinals of faith have been invented and received, which do not at all teach what charity is and what the neighbor. The doctrinals existing among the ancients taught all the genera and all the species of charity, and also who the neighbor is toward whom charity is to be exercised, and how one is the neighbor in a different degree and in a different respect from another, and consequently how the exercise of charity varies in its application toward different persons. They also grouped the neighbor together into classes, and assigned them names, calling some the poor, needy, miserable, afflicted; some the blind, lame, halt, and also fatherless and widows; and others the hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, bound, and so on; thus knowing what duty they owed toward one and toward another. But as before said these doctrinals perished, and with them the understanding of the Word, insomuch that no one at this day knows otherwise than that by the ”poor,“ the ”widows,“ and the ”fatherless,“ in the Word, none other are meant than they who are so called; in like manner here by the ”hungry,“ the ”thirsty,“ the ”strangers,“ the ”naked,“ the ”sick,“ and those who are ”in prison;“ when yet by these charity is described such as it is in its essence, and the exercise of it such as it must be in its life.

AC 4956. The essence of charity toward the neighbor is the affection of good and truth, and the acknowledgment of self as being evil and false; yea, the neighbor is good and truth itself, and to be affected by these is to have charity. The opposite to the neighbor is evil and falsity, which are held in aversion by one who has charity. He therefore who has charity toward the neighbor is affected by good and truth, because they are from the Lord, and holds in aversion what is evil and what is false because these are from self; and when he does this, he is in humiliation from self-acknowledgment, and when he is in humiliation, he is in a state of reception of good and truth from the Lord. These are the characteristics of charity which in the internal sense are involved in these words of the Lord: ”I was hungry, and ye gave Me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and ye gathered Me; naked, and ye clothed Me; I was sick, and ye visited Me; I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.“ That these words involve such things, no one can know except from the internal sense. The ancients, who had the doctrinals of charity, knew these things; but at this day they appear so remote that everyone will wonder at its being said that these things are within. Moreover the angels who are with man perceive these words no otherwise, for by the ”hungry“ they perceive those who from affection desire good; by the ”thirsty,“ those who from affection desire truth; by a ”stranger,“ those who are willing to be instructed; by the ”naked,“ those who acknowledge that there is nothing of good and of truth in themselves; by the ”sick,“ those who acknowledge that in themselves there is nothing but evil; and by the ”bound,“ or those who are ”in prison,“ those who acknowledge that in themselves there is nothing but falsity. If these things are reduced into one meaning, they signify what has been stated just above.

AC 4957. From all this it is evident that there were Divine things within everything the Lord said, although to those who are in merely worldly things, and especially to those who are in bodily things, His words appear to be such as any man might say. Nay, they who are in bodily things will say of these and all other words of the Lord, that they have not so much grace, and therefore not so much weight, as the discourse and preaching of those of the present age who speak with eloquence and learning; when yet their discourse and preaching are like the husk and chaff in comparison with the kernel and grain.

AC 4958. That ”to hunger“ is from affection to desire good, is because bread” in the internal sense is the good of love and of charity, and “food” in general is good (n. 2165, 2177, 3478, 4211, 4217, 4735). “To thirst” is from affection to desire truth, because “wine” and also “water” denote the truth of faith. It is so with “wine,” (n. 1071, 1798); and with “water,” (n. 2702). A “stranger” is one who is willing to be instructed, (n. 1463, 4444). That the “naked” means one who acknowledges that there is nothing of good or truth in himself, the “sick” one who acknowledges that he is in evil, and the “bound,” or he that is “in prison,” one who acknowledges that he is in falsity, is plain from the many passages in the Word in which they are mentioned.

AC 4959. The reason why the Lord says these things of Himself is that He is in those who are such, and therefore He also says: “Verily I say unto you, In so far as ye have done it to one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it to Me” (Matthew 25:40, 45).

1. And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar bought him, Pharaoh‘s chamberlain, prince of the guards, an Egyptian man, of the hand of the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down thither. 2.  And Jehovah was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his lord the Egyptian.

3. And his lord saw that Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

4. And Joseph found grace in his eyes, and he ministered to him; and be set him over his house, and all that he had he gave into his hand.

5. And it came to pass from the time that he set him over in his house, and over all that he had, that Jehovah blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph‘s sake; and the blessing of Jehovah was in all that he had, in the house and in the field.

6. And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not aught that was with him, save the bread which he did eat.  And Joseph was beautiful in form, and beautiful in look.

7. And it came to pass after these words that his lord‘s wife lifted up her eyes to Joseph, and she said, Lie with me.

8. And he refused, and said unto his lord’s wife, Behold, my lord knoweth not what is with me in the house, and all that he hath he hath given into my hand.

9. He is not greater in this house than I; and he hath not withheld from me anything but thee, because thou art his wife; and how shall I do this great evil, and sin to God?

10. And it came to pass as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, to be with her.

11. And it came to pass on a certain day when he went into the house to do his work; and no man of the men of the house was there in the house.

12. And she caught hold of him in his garment, saying, Lie with me; and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

13. And it came to pass when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

14. That she cried unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought us a Hebrew man to mock us; he came to me to lie with me, and I cried with a great voice;

15. And it came to pass when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled, and got him out.

16. And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came to his house.

17. And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant whom thou hast brought unto us, came unto me to mock me;

18. And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled out.

19. And it came to pass when his lord heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, According to these words did thy servant to me; that his anger was kindled.

20. And Joseph‘s lord took him, and put him into the prison house, the place where the king’s bound ones were bound; and he was there in the prison house.

21. And Jehovah was with Joseph, and inclined mercy unto him, and gave him grace in the eyes of the prince of the prison house.

22. And the prince of the prison house gave into Joseph‘s hand all the bound ones that were in the prison house; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer.

23. The prince of the prison house saw naught of anything that was in his hand, because Jehovah was with him; and that which he did, Jehovah made it to prosper.

AC 4960. In the internal sense here the subject treated of is the Lord, how He made His internal man Divine. “Jacob” was the external man, as described in the preceding chapters; “Joseph” is the internal man, as described in this and the following chapters.

AC 4961. And because this was done according to Divine order, this order is here described; and also temptation, which is the means of conjunction.

AC 4962. Verse 1. And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar bought him, Pharaoh’s chamberlain, prince of the guards, an Egyptian man, of the hand of the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down thither. “And Joseph,” signifies the celestial of the spiritual from the rational; “was brought down to Egypt,” signifies to the memory-knowledges (scientifica)   of the church; “and Potiphar bought him, Pharaoh‘s chamberlain,” signifies that it was among the interior things of memory-knowledges; “prince of the guards,” signifies those which are primary for interpretation; “an Egyptian man,” signifies natural truth; “of the hand of the Ishmaelites,” signifies from simple good; “who had brought him down thither,” signifies the descent from that good to these memory-knowledges.

AC 4963. And Joseph. That this signifies the celestial of the spiritual from the rational, is evident from the representation of Joseph, as being the celestial spiritual man that is from the rational (n. 4286); here therefore, because it treats of the Lord, Joseph represents the Lord’s internal man. Everyone who is born a man is external and internal; his external is that which is seen with the eyes, and by which he is in company with men, and by which the things proper to the natural world are done; and the internal is that which is not seen with the eyes, and by which man is in company with spirits and angels, and by which the things proper to the spiritual world are done. The reason why every man has an internal and an external, or is an internal and an external man, is that through man there may be a conjunction of heaven with the world; for heaven flows in through the internal man into the external, and thereby perceives what is in the world; and the external man which is in the world thence perceives what is in heaven. It is to this end that man has been so created.

[2] In respect to His Human the Lord also had an external and an internal, because it pleased Him to be born like other men. The external (that is, His external man) was represented by Jacob, and afterward by Israel; but His internal man is represented by Joseph. This internal man is what is called the celestial spiritual from the rational; or what is the same thing, the Lord‘s internal, which was human, was the celestial of the spiritual from the rational. This, and the glorification of it, are treated of in the internal sense of this and the following chapters wherein Joseph is treated of. But what the celestial of the spiritual from the rational is has been explained above (n. 4286, 4585, 4592, 4594), namely, that it is above the celestial of the spiritual from the natural, which is represented by Israel.

[3] The Lord was indeed born as are other men, but it is known that he who is born a man derives what is his from both the father and the mother, and that he has his inmost from the father, but his exteriors (that is, the things which clothe this inmost) from the mother. Both that which he derives from the father, and that which he derives from the mother, are defiled with hereditary evil. But it was different with the Lord: that which He derived from the mother in like manner had in it an heredity such as is that of any other man; but that which He derived from the Father, who was Jehovah, was Divine. For this reason the Lord’s internal man was not like the internal of another man; for His inmost was Jehovah. This is therefore the intermediate which is called the celestial of the spiritual from the rational. But concerning this, of the Lord‘s Divine mercy more will be said in the following pages.

AC 4964. Was brought down to Egypt. That this signifies to the memory-knowledges (scientifica) of the church, is evident from the signification of “Egypt” as being memory-knowledge (that is, memory-knowledge in general), treated of in (n. 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462); but what the nature of that memory-knowledge was which is properly signified by “Egypt,” has not as yet been explained. In the Ancient Church there were doctrinal things and there were memory-knowledges. The doctrinal things treated of love to God and of charity toward the neighbor; but the memory-knowledges treated of the correspondences of the natural world with the spiritual world, and of the representatives of spiritual and celestial things in things natural and earthly.  Such were the memory-knowledges of those who were in the Ancient Church.

[2] Egypt was one of those countries and kingdoms where the Ancient Church was (n. 1238, 2385); but as in Egypt it was chiefly memory-knowledges that were handed down to posterity, therefore such knowledge in general is signified by “Egypt;” and it is for this reason also that Egypt is so often treated of in the prophetic Word, and by it such knowledge is specifically meant.  The very magic of the Egyptians also had its origin thence; for they were acquainted with the correspondences of the natural world with the spiritual, and afterward, when the church among them was at an end, these correspondences were abused by being turned to magical things. Now because they had such knowledges (that taught correspondences, and also representatives and significatives) and as these knowledges were of service to the doctrinal things of the church, especially to the understanding of those things which were said in their Word. The Ancient Church had a Word both prophetic and historic, similar to the present Word, but yet a different one, (n. 2686); therefore by “being brought down to Egypt” is signified to the memory-knowledges of the church.

[3] As the Lord is represented by Joseph, its being here said that Joseph was “brought down to Egypt,” signifies that when the Lord glorified His internal man, that is made it Divine, He was first imbued with the memory-knowledges of the church, and from and by them advanced to things more and more interior, and at last even to those which are Divine. For it pleased Him to glorify Himself, that is, to make Himself Divine, according to the same order as that in which He regenerates man, that is, makes him spiritual (n. 3138, 3212, 3296, 3490, 4402), namely, from external things, which are memory-knowledges and the truths of faith, successively to internal things, which are of charity toward the neighbor and of love to Him. From this it is plain what is signified by the following words in Hosea:--

When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called My son out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1);

that these words were spoken of the Lord can be seen in (Matthew 2:15).

AC 4965. And Potiphar bought him, Pharaoh’s chamberlain. That this signifies that it was among the interior things of memory-knowledges, is evident from the signification of “Pharaoh‘s chamberlain,” as being the interior things of memory-knowledges (n. 4789); his “buying” signifies that he ascribed these things to himself (n. 4397, 4487). The interior things of memory-knowledges are those which approach more nearly to spiritual things, and are applications of memory-knowledges to heavenly things; for these are what the internal man sees, when the external only sees the memory-knowledges in the outward form.

AC 4966. Prince of the guards. That this signifies those which are primary for interpretation, is evident from the signification of “prince of the guards,” as being things primary for interpretation (n. 4790): things primary for interpretation are those which primarily conduce to the interpretation of the Word, and thus to the understanding of the doctrinal things of love to God and of charity toward the neighbor, which are from the Word.  Be it known that the memory-knowledges of the ancients were altogether different from those of the present day. As before said the memory-knowledges of the ancients treated of the correspondence of things in the natural world with things in the spiritual world. The memory-knowledges which are now called philosophy, such as that of Aristotle and others like him, were unknown to them. This is evident also from the books of the ancient writers, most of which were written in language that signified, represented and corresponded to interior things, as is evident from the following instances, not to mention others.

[2] They located Helicon on a mountain, and by it they meant heaven; they gave to Parnassus a place below on a hill, by which they meant memory-knowledges, where they said that a flying horse, called Pegasus, broke open a fountain with his hoof; the sciences they called virgins, with other such traditions. For they knew from correspondences and representatives that a mountain denotes heaven; a hill, that heaven which is beneath, or which is with man; a horse, the understanding; the wings with which he flew, spiritual things; a hoof, the natural mind; a fountain, intelligence; the three virgins who were called the Graces, affections of good; and the virgins who were called the Muses, affections of truth. So also they assigned to the sun horses, the food of which they called ambrosia, and their drink, nectar; for they knew that the sun signified celestial love, horses the intellectual things therefrom; and that food signifies celestial things, and drink spiritual things.

[3] From the ancients also there still survives the custom for kings at their coronation to sit upon a silver throne, to be clothed with a crimson robe, to be anointed with oil, to wear a crown on the head, and to carry a scepter, sword, and keys in their hands, to ride in royal pomp upon a white horse whose hoofs are shod with silver, and to be waited on at table by the chiefs of the kingdom, with other ceremonies; for they knew that a king represented Divine truth which is from Divine good, and hence they knew what is signified by a silver throne, a crimson robe, anointing oil, a crown, a scepter, a sword, keys, a white horse, hoofs shod with silver, and being waited on by chief men. Who at this day knows these significations, and where are the knowledges that teach them? Men call such things emblems, not knowing anything whatever about correspondence and representation. From all this it is evident of what nature were the knowledges of the ancients, and that they brought them into a knowledge of spiritual and heavenly things which at this day are scarcely known to exist.

[4] The knowledges which succeeded those of the ancients, and are properly called philosophy, rather draw away the mind from the knowledge of such things, because they can also be applied to the confirmation of falsities; and moreover when truths are confirmed by means of them, they plunge the mind into darkness, because they are for the most part bare expressions, whereby confirmations are effected which are comprehended by few, and regarding which even these few are not agreed. From this it is evident how far mankind have receded from the erudition of the ancients, which led to wisdom. The Gentiles received those knowledges from the Ancient Church, the external worship of which consisted in representatives and significatives, and the internal in those things which were represented and signified. These were the knowledges which, in the genuine sense, are signified by “Egypt.”

AC 4967. An Egyptian man. That this signifies natural truth, is evident from the signification of a “man,” as being truth (n. 3134); and from the signification of “Egypt,” as being memory-knowledge in general, treated of just above (n. 4964, 4966); and because “Egypt” is memory-knowledge, it is also the natural; for all the memory-knowledge in man is natural, because it is in his natural man, even the memory-knowledge concerning spiritual and celestial things. The reason of this is that man sees these knowledges in the natural, and from it; and those which he does not see from the natural, he does not apprehend. But the regenerate man, who is called spiritual, and the unregenerate man, who is merely natural, see these knowledges in different ways; with the former the knowledges are enlightened by the light of heaven, but with the latter not so, but by the light which flows in through spirits who are in falsity and evil; which light is indeed from the light of heaven, but becomes in them opaque, like the light of evening or of night; for such spirits, and hence such men, see as owls-clearly at night, and obscurely in the daytime, that is, they see falsities clearly and truths obscurely; and hence see clearly the things of the world, and obscurely, if at all, the things of heaven. From these considerations it is evident that genuine memory-knowledge is natural truth; for all genuine memory-knowledge, such as is signified by “Eat” in a good sense, is natural truth.

AC 4968. Of the hand of the Ishmaelites. That this signifies from simple good, is evident from the representation of the Ishmaelites, as being those who are in simple good (n. 3263, 4747), here therefore the natural truth which is from simple good. In (Genesis 37:36), it is so said that the Midianites sold Joseph into Egypt unto Potiphar, Pharaoh’s chamberlain, prince of the guards; but here it is said that Potiphar, Pharaoh‘s chamberlain, prince of the guards, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down thither. This way of speaking is used for the sake of the internal sense; for in the first instance the alienation of Divine truth is treated of, which is not wrought by those who are in simple good, but by those who are in simple truth, who are represented by the Midianites (n. 4788); but here it treats of the acquisition or attainment of memory-knowledges, and of the natural truth which is from simple good; and therefore it is said “of the Ishmaelites,” for these represent those who are in simple good. From this it is plain that it is so said for the sake of the internal sense. Nor is there any contradiction in the historical narrative; for it is said of the Midianites that they drew Joseph out of the pit, and consequently that they delivered him to the Ishmaelites, by whom he was brought down into Egypt; thus that as the Midianites delivered him up to the Ishmaelites who were going to Egypt, they sold him into Egypt.

AC 4969. Who had brought him down thither. That this signifies the descent from that good to these memory-knowledges, is evident from the representation of the Ishmaelites, who brought him down, as being those who are in simple good (n. 4968); and from the signification of “Egypt,” which is meant by “thither,” as being memory-knowledge in general (n. 4964, 4966). It is said “go down,” because memory-knowledges are treated of, which are exterior; for in the Word to go from interior to exterior things is called “going down,” but from exterior to interior “going up” (n. 3084, 4539).

AC 4970. Verses 2-6. And Jehovah was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his lord the Egyptian.  And his lord saw that Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his eyes, and he ministered to him; and he set him over his house, and all that he had he gave into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he set him over in his house, and over all that he had, that Jehovah blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph‘s sake; and the blessing of Jehovah was in all that he had, in the house and in the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not aught that was with him, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was beautiful in form, and beautiful in look.  “And Jehovah was with Joseph,” signifies that the Divine was in the celestial of the spiritual; “and he was a prosperous man,” signifies that all things were provided; “and he was in the house of his lord the Egyptian,” signifies that it might be initiated into natural good; “and his lord saw that Jehovah was with him,” signifies that it was perceived in natural good that the Divine was therein; “and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand,” signifies that all things were of the Divine providence; “and Joseph found grace in his eyes,” signifies that it was accepted; “and he ministered to him,” signifies that the memory-knowledge was appropriated to its good; “and he set him over his house,” signifies that good applied itself thereto; “and all that he had he gave into his hand,” signifies that all that belonged to it was as it were in its power; “and it came to pass from the time that he set him over in his house, and over all that he had,” signifies a second state after good applied itself thereto, and all that belonged to it was as it were in its power; “that Jehovah blessed the Egyptian‘s house for Joseph’s sake,” signifies that from the Divine it then had the celestial natural; “and the blessing of Jehovah,” signifies increase; “was in all that he had, in the house and in the field,” signifies in life and in doctrine; “and he left all that he had in Joseph‘s hand,” signifies that it appeared as if all things were in its power; “and he knew not aught that was with him, save the bread which he did cat,” signifies that good was thence made its own; “and Joseph was beautiful in form,” signifies the good of life thence derived; “and beautiful in look,” signifies the truth of faith thence derived.

AC 4971. And Jehovah was with Joseph.  That this signifies that the Divine was in the celestial of the spiritual, is evident from the representation of Joseph, as being the celestial of the spiritual from the rational (n. 4963); and because the subject treated of is the Lord here as to the internal man in His Human - by “Jehovah was with him” is signified that the Divine was therein; for the Divine was in His Human, because He was conceived of Jehovah. In the case of the angels, the Divine is not in them, but is present with them, because they are only forms recipient of the Divine from the Lord.

AC 4972. And he was a prosperous man. That this signifies that all things were provided, is evident from the signification of “being prosperous,” when said of the Lord, as being that it was provided, namely, that He should be enriched with all good.

AC 4973. And he was in the house of his lord the Egyptian. That this signifies that it might be initiated into natural good, is evident from the signification of a “lord,” as being good, of which presently; and from the signification of an “Egyptian,” as being memory-knowledge in general, and hence the natural (n. 4967).  That to be “in a house” is to be initiated, is because a “house” is the mind in which good is (n. 3538), here the natural mind; and moreover “house” is predicated of good (n. 3652, 3720).  There is in man a natural mind and a rational mind; the natural mind is in his external man, the rational mind in his internal.  Memory-knowledges are the truths of the natural mind, which are said to be “in their house” when they are conjoined there with good; for good and truth constitute together one house, as husband and wife. But the goods and truths here treated of are interior; for they correspond to the celestial of the spiritual from the rational, which is represented by Joseph.  The interior corresponding truths in the natural mind are applications to uses, and the interior goods therein are uses.

[2] The name “Lord” is often used in the Word; and one who has no knowledge of the internal sense supposes that nothing more is meant by it than what is meant by the use of this term in common speech; but “Lord” is never used in the Word except where good is treated of, and the same is true of “Jehovah;” but when truth is treated of, “God” and “King” are used. For this reason by a “lord” is signified good, as is evident from the following passages. In Moses:--

Jehovah your God, He is God of gods, and Lord of lords (Deut 10:17).

In David:--

Confess ye to Jehovah. Confess ye to the God of gods. Confess ye to the Lord of lords (Ps. 136:1-3);

where Jehovah or the Lord is called “God of gods” from the Divine truth which proceeds from Him, and “Lord of lords” from the Divine good which is in Him.

[3] So in the Revelation:--

The Lamb shall overcome them; for He is Lord of lords, and Sing of kings (Rev. 17:14).

And again:--

He that sat upon the white horse hath upon His vesture and upon His thigh a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16);

that the Lord is here called “King of kings” from Divine truth, and “Lord of lords” from Divine good, is plain from the particulars; the “name written” is His quality (n. 144, 145, 1754, 1896, 2009, 2724, 3006); the “vesture” on which it was written is the truth of faith (n. 1073, 2576, 4545, 4763); the “thigh” on which also that quality was written, is the good of love (n. 3021, 4277, 4280, 4575). From this also it is plain that the Lord from Divine truth is called “King of kings” and from Divine good “Lord of lords.” The Lord is called “King” from Divine truth, (n. 2015, 2069, 3009, 3670, 4581),

[4] From this it is also clear what is meant by the “Lord’s Christ,” in Luke:--

Answer was made to Simeon by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, until he had seen the Lord‘s Christ (Luke 2:26);

the “Lord’s Christ” is the Divine truth of the Divine good; for “Christ” is the same as “Messiah,” and “Messiah” is the “Anointed” or “King” (n. 3008, 3009). “The Lord” here is Jehovah.  In the Word of the New Testament the name “Jehovah” is nowhere used; but instead of it “Lord” and “God” (n. 2921); as also in Luke:--

Jesus said, How say they that the Christ is David‘s Son? for David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand (Luke 20:41, 42).

The same passage reads thus in David:--

The saying of Jehovah unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand (Ps. 110:1).

It is plain that “Jehovah” in David is called “Lord” in the Evangelist.  “Lord” there denotes the Divine good of the Divine Human; omnipotence is signified by “sitting at the right hand” (n. 3387, 4592, 4933).

[5] When the Lord was in the world He was Divine truth; but when He was glorified, that is, when He had made the Human in Himself Divine, He became Divine good, from which thereafter Divine truth proceeds.  For this reason the disciples after the resurrection did not call Him “Master,” as before, but “Lord,” as is evident in (John 21:7, 12, 15-17, 20), and also in the rest of the Evangelists.  The Divine truth, which the Lord was when in the world, and which thereafter proceeds from Him, that is, from the Divine good, is called also “the angel of the covenant,” in Malachi:--

The Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to His temple, and the Angel of the covenant whom ye desire (Mal. 3:1).

[6] As Divine good is meant by “Lord,” and Divine truth by “King,” therefore where the Lord is spoken of as having dominion and a kingdom, “dominion” is predicated of Divine good, and a “kingdom” of Divine truth, and therefore also the Lord is called “Lord of nations,” and “King of peoples;” for by “nations” are signified those who are in good, and by “peoples” those who are in truth (n. 1259, 1260, 1849, 3581).

[7] Good is called a “lord” relatively to a servant, and it is called a “father” relatively to a son-as in Malachi:--

A son honoreth his father, and a servant his lord; if then I be a father, where is My honor; and if I be a lord, where is My fear? (Mal. 1:6).

And in David:--

Joseph was sold for a servant. The discourse of Jehovah proved him. The king sent and loosed him, the ruler of nations opened for him, he set him lord of his house, and ruler in all his possession (Ps. 105:17, 19-21);

that by “Joseph” here is meant the Lord, is evident from the several particulars; the “lord” here is the Divine good of the Divine Human.

AC 4974. And his lord saw that Jehovah was with him. That this signifies that it was perceived in natural good that the Divine was therein, is evident from the signification of “seeing,” as being understanding and perceiving (n. 2150, 3764, 4339, 4567, 4723); and from the signification of “lord,” as being good (n. 4973), here natural good, because it is an Egyptian who is here the “lord.” That the Divine was therein, is signified by Jehovah being with him (n. 4971).

AC 4975. And that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand. That this signifies that all things were of the Divine providence, is evident from the signification of “being made to prosper” as being to be provided (n. 4972). Hence “Jehovah’s making it to prosper in his hand” denotes the Divine providence.

AC 4975a. And Joseph found grace in his eyes. That this signifies that it was accepted, namely, by natural good, which is signified by his “lord,” is evident from the signification of “finding grace in one‘s sight,” as being to be accepted. It is said “in the eyes,” because grace is predicated of the understanding, and this is signified by the “eyes” (n. 2701, 3820, 4526).

AC 4976. And he ministered unto him. That this signifies that the memory-knowledge was appropriated to its good, is evident from the signification of “ministering,” as being to be of service by supplying that which another needs, here to be appropriated, because the subject treated of is natural good to which memory-knowledge was to be appropriated. Moreover, “to minister” is predicated of memory-knowledges; for in the Word by a “minister’ and by a ”servant“ is signified memory-knowledge or natural truth, because this is subordinate to good, as to its lord. Memory-knowledge relatively to the delight of the natural man, or what is the same thing, natural truth relatively to its good, is circumstanced exactly as is water to bread, or drink to food. Water or drink causes bread and food to be diluted, so that they may be conveyed into the blood, and thence into all parts of the body, to nourish them; for without water or drink, bread or food is not resolved into its minute particles, nor is it distributed for use.

[2] The same is true of memory-knowledge relatively to delight, or of truth relatively to good; and therefore good has an appetite for and desires truth, and this for the sake of its use in ministering to and being of service to itself. Moreover they correspond in a similar way, for in the other life man is nod nourished by any natural food and drink, but by spiritual food and drink. Spiritual food is good, and spiritual drink is truth; and therefore when ”bread“ or ”food“ is mentioned in the Word, the angels understand spiritual bread or food, that is, the good of love and of charity; and when ”water“ or ”drink“ is mentioned, they understand spiritual water or drink, that is, the truth of faith. From this we can see what the truth of faith is without the good of charity, and also in what way the former without the latter can nourish the internal man, that is to say in the same way as water or drink alone can nourish without bread and food, for it is known that the result of this is emaciation and death.

AC 4977. And he set him over his house. That this signifies that good applied itself thereto, is evident from the signification of the ”lord,“ who set him over, as being good (n. 4973); and from the signification of ”setting him over his house,“ as being to apply itself thereto, namely, to memory-knowledge or natural truth. That this is the meaning is plain from the words that follow, where it is said that ”all that he had he gave into his hand,“ by which is signified that all that belonged to it was as it were in its power. For good is lord, and truth is minister; and when it is said of a lord that he ”set a minister over,“ or of good that it ”set truth over,“ in the internal sense it is not signified that it ceded the dominion thereto, but that it applied itself. For in the internal sense a thing is perceived as it is in itself; but in the sense of the letter it is set forth according to the appearance; for good always has the dominion, but applies itself in order that truth may be conjoined with it. When man is in truth, as is the case before he has been regenerated, he knows scarcely anything about good; for truth flows in by an external or sensuous way, but good by an internal way. Man is sensible of that which flows in by an external way, but not, until he has been regenerated, of that which flows in by an internal way; so that unless in the prior state a sort of dominion were given to truth, or unless good so applied itself, truth would never be made good-‘s own. This is the same as what has already been often shown-that while man is being regenerated truth is apparently in the first place, or as it were the lord; but that good is manifestly in the first place and lord when he has been regenerated (n. 3539, 3548, 3556, 3563, 3570, 3576, 3603, 3701, 4925, 4926, 4928, 4930).

AC 4978. And all that he had he gave into his hand. That this signifies that all that belonged to it was as it were in its power, is evident from the signification of the ”hand,“ as being power (n. 878, 3091, 3387, 3563, 4931-4937) Thus ”to put into his hand“ is to put into its power; but as this is done only apparently, it is said as it were in its power. It is only apparently, or as it were, (n. 4977),

AC 4979. And it came to pass from the time that he set him over in his house, and over all that he had. That this signifies a second state, after good applied itself thereto, and all that belonged to it was as it were in its power, is evident from the signification of the expression ”it came to pass,“ or ”it was,“ so often found in the Word, as involving something new, and consequently another state, as likewise in the following (verses 7, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 19); and from the signification of ”from the time that he set him over in his house,“ as being after good had applied itself thereto (n. 4977); and from the signification of ”over all that he had,“ as being that all that belonged to it was as it were in its power (n. 4978).

AC 4980. That Jehovah blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph‘s sake. That this signifies that from the Divine it then had the celestial natural, is evident from the signification of ”being blessed,“ as being to be enriched with celestial and spiritual good, and that it was from the Divine is signified by its being said that ”Jehovah blessed;“ and from the signification of the ”Egyptian’s house,“ as being the good of the natural mind (n. 4973). Hence it follows that by ”Jehovah blessed the Egyptian‘s house“ is signified that from the Divine it then had the celestial natural. The celestial natural is the good in the natural which corresponds to the good of the rational, that is, which corresponds to the celestial of the spiritual from the rational, which is ”Joseph“ (n. 4963).

[2] The celestial as well as the spiritual is predicated of both the rational and the natural, that is, of the internal man, which is the rational man, and of the external, which is the natural man; for in its essence the spiritual is the Divine truth which proceeds from the Lord, and the celestial is the Divine good which is in this Divine truth. When Divine truth in which is Divine good is received by the rational or internal man, it is called the spiritual in the rational; and when received by the natural or external man, it is called the spiritual in the natural. In like manner when the Divine good which is in Divine truth is received by the rational or internal man, it is called the celestial in the rational; and when received by the natural or external man, it is called the celestial in the natural. Both flow in with man from the Lord immediately, as well as mediately through angels and spirits; but with the Lord when He was in the world, the inflow was from Himself, because the Divine was in Him.

AC 4981. And the blessing of Jehovah. That this signifies increasings, is evident from the signification of the ”blessing of Jehovah.“ The ”blessing of Jehovah“ in the genuine sense signifies love to the Lord and charity toward the neighbor; for they who are gifted with these are called the ”blessed of Jehovah,“ being then gifted with heaven and eternal salvation.  Hence the ”blessing of Jehovah,“ in the external sense or in the sense which relates to the state of man in the world, is to be content in God, and thence to be content with the state of honor and wealth in which one is, whether it be among the honored and rich, or among the less honored and poor; for he who is content in God regards honors and riches as means for uses; and when he thinks of them and at the same time of eternal life, he regards the honor and riches as of no importance, and eternal life as essential. Because the ”blessing of Jehovah,“ or of the Lord, in the genuine sense involves these things, ”blessing“ also contains numberless things within it, and hence signifies various things which follow therefrom; as to be enriched with spiritual and celestial good (n. 981, 1731); to be made fruitful from the affection of truth (n. 2846); to be disposed in heavenly order (n. 3017); to be gifted with the good of love, and so to be conjoined with the Lord (n. 3406, 3504, 3514, 3530, 3584); and joy (n. 4216). What therefore ”blessing“ signifies specifically may be seen from the series of the things that precede and that follow. That here the ”blessing of Jehovah“ signifies increasings in good and truth, or in life and doctrine, is plain from the words that follow, for it is said ”the blessing of Jehovah was in the house and in the field,“ and by a ”house“ is signified the good which is of the life, and by a ”field“ the truth which is of doctrine. From this it is plain that increasings in these things is here signified by the ”blessing of Jehovah.“

AC 4982. Was upon all that he had in the house and in the field. That this signifies in life and in doctrine, is evident from the signification of ”house,“ as being good (n. 2048, 2233, 2559, 3128, 3652, 3720), and because it signifies good, it signifies also life, for all good is of life; and from the signification of ”field,“ as being the truth of the church (n. 368, 3508, 3766, 4440, 4443), and because it signifies the truth of the church, it signifies also doctrine, for all truth is of doctrine. ”House“ and ”field“ are occasionally mentioned in other parts of the Word, and when the subject treated of is the celestial man, by ”house“ is signified celestial good, and by ”field“ spiritual good. Celestial good is the good of love to the Lord, and spiritual good is the good of charity toward the neighbor. But when the spiritual man is treated of, by ”house“ is signified the celestial that is in him, which is the good of charity toward the neighbor; and by ”field,“ the spiritual that is in him, which is the truth of faith. Both the one and the other are signified in Matthew: ”Let him that is upon the housetop not go down to take anything that is in his house, and let him that is in the field not return back to take his garment (Matt. 24:17, 18); (n. 3852).

AC 4983. And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. That this signifies that it appeared as if all things were in its power, is evident from the things above unfolded (n. 4978), where almost the same words occur, and also from what was said in (n. 4977).

AC 4984. And he knew not aught that was with him, save the bread which he did eat. That this signifies that good was thence made its own, is evident from the signification of “bread,” as being good (n. 276, 680, 3478, 3735, 4211, 4217, 4735); and from the signification of “eating,” as being to make one‘s own (n. 3165, 3513, 3596, 3832, 4745). His “not knowing aught that was with him save the bread” signifies that nothing was received but good. It may be believed that when good makes truth its own, it is such truth as is the truth of faith that it makes its own; but it is the good of truth. Truths which are not for use do indeed approach, but do not enter. All uses from truths are goods of truth. Truths which are not for use are separated; some being retained, and some rejected. Those which are retained are such as introduce to a good more or less remote, and are the very uses.  Those which are rejected are such as do not so introduce, nor apply, themselves. In their beginning all uses are truths of doctrine, but in their progression they become goods; they become goods when the man acts according to these truths. Thus the ear action gives quality to truths, for all action descends from the will, and the will itself makes that become good which before was truth. From this it is plain that truth in the will is no longer the truth of faith, but the good of faith; and that no one is made happy by the truth of faith, but by the good of faith; for this affects the very thing which is of man’s life, namely, his will, and gives it interior delight or bliss, and in the other life the happiness which is called heavenly joy.

AC 4985. And Joseph was beautiful in form, signifies the good of life thence derived, and beautiful in look, signifies the truth of faith thence derived, as is evident from the signification of “beautiful in form” and “beautiful in look;” for “form” is the essence of a thing, and “look” is the manifestation thence derived; and because good is the very essence, and truth the manifestation thence derived; thence, by “beautiful in form” is signified the good of life, and by “beautiful in look” the truth of faith. For the good of life is the very being of man, because it is of his will; and the truth of faith is the coming forth thence derived, because it is of his understanding; for whatever is of the understanding comes forth from the will. The being of man‘s life is in his willing, and the coming forth of his life is in his understanding. The understanding of man is nothing else than the will unfolded, and so put in form that its quality may appear in its look. From this it is plain whence is the beauty (that is, of the interior man), namely, from the good of the will through the truth of faith. The very truth of faith presents beauty in the external form, but the good of the will imparts and forms it. From this it is that the angels of heaven are of ineffable beauty, being as it were loves and charities in form; and therefore when they appear in their beauty, they affect the inmosts. With them, the good of love from the Lord shines forth through the truth of faith, and as it penetrates it affects. Hence it is evident what is signified in the internal sense by “beautiful in form and beautiful in look” (n. 3821).

AC 4986. Verses 7-9. And it came to pass after these words that his lord’s wife lifted up her eyes to Joseph, and she said, Lie with me. And he refused, and said unto his lord‘s wife, Behold, my lord knoweth not what is with me in the house, and all that he hath he hath given into my hand. He is not greater in this house than 1; and he hath not withheld from me anything but thee, because thou art his wife; and how shall I do this great evil, and sin to God? “And it came to pass after these words,” signifies a third state; “that his lord’s wife lifted up her eyes to Joseph,” signifies truth natural not spiritual adjoined to natural good, and its perception; “and she said, Lie with me,” signifies that it desired conjunction; “and he refused,” signifies aversion; “and said unto his lord‘s wife,” signifies perception concerning this truth; “Behold, my lord knoweth not what is with me in the house,” signifies that natural good did not desire even appropriation; “and all that he hath he hath given into my hand,” signifies that all was in its power; “he is not greater in this house than I,” signifies that that good was prior in time, not in state; “and he hath not withheld from me anything but thee,” signifies that to be conjoined with the truth of that good was forbidden; “because thou art his wife,” signifies because it was not to be conjoined with another good; “and how shall I do this great evil, and sin to God?” signifies that thus there would be disjunction, and no conjunction.

AC 4987. And it came to pass after these words. That this signifies a third state, is evident from the signification of “it came to pass,” or “it was,” as involving something new (n. 4979), here consequently a third state; and from the signification of “after these words,” as being after these things were transacted. In the original language one series is not distinguished from another by intervening marks, as in other languages; but the text appears to be as it were continuous from beginning to end. The things in the internal sense are also in like manner continuous and Bowing from one state of a thing into another; but when one state terminates, and another of importance succeeds, this is indicated by “it was” or “it came to pass;” and a change of state less important by “and.” This is the reason why these expressions so frequently occur. This state, which is the third, and which is now treated of, is more interior than the former.

AC 4988. That his lord’s wife lifted up her eyes to Joseph. That this signifies truth natural not spiritual adjoined to natural good, and its perception, is evident from the signification of a “wife,” as being truth adjoined to good (n. 1468, 2517, 3236, 4510, 4823), here truth natural not spiritual adjoined to natural good, because this truth and this good are treated of, that good to which this truth is conjoined being here the “lord” (n. 4973); and from the signification of “lifting up the eyes,” as being thought, intention, and also perception (n. 2789, 2829, 3198, 3202, 4339).

[2] By the “wife” is here signified truth natural, but not truth spiritual natural; and by the husband, who is here the “lord,” is signified good natural, but not good spiritual natural. It must therefore be explained what is meant by good and truth natural not spiritual, and good and truth spiritual natural. Good in man is from a twofold source- from what is hereditary and hence adventitious, and also from the doctrine of faith and of charity, or with the Gentiles from their religiosity. Good   from the former origin is good natural not spiritual, while good from the latter origin is good spiritual natural. From a like origin is truth, because all good has its own truth adjoined to it.

[3] Good natural from the former origin, that is, from what is hereditary and hence adventitious, has much that is akin to good natural from the second origin, that is, from the doctrine of faith and charity, or from some religiosity, but only in the external form, being entirely different in the internal form. Good natural from the former origin may be compared to the good that exists with gentle animals; but good natural from the second origin is proper to the man who acts from reason, and consequently knows how to dispense what is good in various ways in accordance with uses. This dispensing of what is good is taught by the doctrine of what is just and fair, and in a higher degree by the doctrine of faith and charity, and with those who are truly rational is also confirmed in many ways by reason.

[4] They who do good from the former origin are borne blindly along as it were by instinct into the exercise of charity; but they who perform what is good from the second origin are borne along by an internal obligation, and as it were with their eyes open. In a word, they who do what is good from the former origin, do it from no conscience of what is just and fair, still less from any conscience of spiritual truth and good; whereas they who do what is good from the second origin, do it from conscience. (n. 3040, 3470, 3471, 3518, 4992), But how the case is with these things can by no means be explained to the apprehension; for everyone who is not spiritual, or who has not been regenerated, sees good from its external form, and this for the reason that he does not know what charity is, or what the neighbor is; and the reason why he does not know these things is that he has no doctrinals of charity. In the light of heaven these things appear most distinctly, and hence they appear distinctly also with the spiritual or regenerate, because these are in the light of heaven.

AC 4989. And she said, Lie with me. That this signifies that it desired conjunction, is evident from the signification of “lying with me,” as being conjunction (that is, of good spiritual natural, which now is “Joseph,” with truth natural not spiritual, which is his “lord‘s wife”), but unlawful conjunction. The conjunctions of good with truth, and of truth with good, are described in the Word by marriages (n. 2727-2759, 3132, 3665, 4434, 4837); and hence unlawful conjunctions are described by harlotries. And so here the conjunction of truth natural not spiritual with good spiritual natural is described by his lord’s wife being desirous to lie with Joseph. Between these no conjunction is possible in internals, but only in externals, in which there is an apparent conjunction, but it is only an affinity. For this reason also she caught him by his garment, and he left the garment in her hand; for by “garment” in the internal sense is signified what is external, by which there is an apparent conjunction, or by which there is an affinity, as will be seen below at (verses 12, 13).

[2] That these things are signified cannot be seen so long as the mind or thought is kept in the historicals; for then nothing is thought of but Joseph, Potiphar‘s wife, and the Sight of Joseph when he had left his garment. But if the mind or thought were kept in those things which are signified by Joseph, by Potiphar’s wife, and by a garment, it would then be perceived that some unlawful spiritual conjunction is here described; and the mind or thought can be kept in the things which are signified, provided it is believed that the historic Word is Divine, not from the mere history, but from the fact that within the history there is what is spiritual and Divine; and if this were believed, it would be known that the spiritual and Divine therein are concerning the good and truth of the Lord‘s church and kingdom, and in the supreme sense concerning the Lord Himself. When a man comes into the other life, as he does immediately after death, if he is one of those who are taken up into heaven, he will then know that he retains nothing of the historicals of the Word, and indeed knows nothing about Joseph, nor about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; but only about the spiritual and Divine things which he had learnt from the Word and had applied to his life. Such things therefore are what are inwardly contained in the Word, and are called its internal sense.

AC 4990. And he refused. That this signifies aversion, is evident from the signification of refusing,“ as being to be averse, namely, to the conjunction in question; for he who refuses, even to fleeing away, is averse.

AC 4991. And said unto his lord’s wife. That this signifies perception concerning this truth, is evident from the signification of ”saying,“ in the historicals of the Word, as being to perceive; and from the signification of ”his lord‘s wife,“ as being truth natural not spiritual adjoined to natural good (n. 4988).

AC 4992. Behold, my lord knoweth not what is with me in the house. That this signifies that natural good did not desire even appropriation, is evident from the signification of his ”lord,“ as being natural good (n. 4973); and from the signification of ”not knowing what is with me in the house,“ as being not to desire appropriation. That this is the meaning cannot be seen except from the series of things in the internal sense; for a third state is now treated of, in which the celestial of the spiritual was in the natural: in this state the good and truth natural which is spiritual, is separate from the good and truth natural which is not spiritual; and consequently by ”not knowing what is in the house“ is signified that there is no desire for appropriation. But these things, being arcana, cannot be made clear except by examples. Let the following example therefore serve for illustration. To be conjoined with one’s wife from lust alone, this is natural not spiritual; but to be conjoined with one‘s wife from conjugial love, this is spiritual natural; and when the husband is afterward conjoined from lust alone, he believes that he transgresses, as one who does what is lascivious, and therefore he no longer desires that this should be appropriated to him. Let this also serve as an example. To benefit a friend, no matter what his quality, provided he is a friend, is natural not spiritual; but to benefit a friend for the sake of the good that is in him, and still more to hold good itself as the friend which is to be benefitted, this is spiritual natural; and when anyone is in this, he knows that he transgresses if he benefits a friend who is evil, for then through him he injures others. When he is in this state, he holds in aversion the appropriation of good natural not spiritual, in which good he was before. And so it is with everything else.

AC 4993. And all that he hath he hath given into my hand. That this signifies that all was in its power, is evident from what was said above (n. 4978), where similar words occur. But there is this difference, that the subject there treated of was the second state in which was the celestial of the spiritual in the natural; for then natural good applied itself, and appropriated to itself truth (n. 4976, 4977); in which state good had the dominion actually, but truth apparently; and therefore these words then signified that its all was as it were in its power. But here the subject treated of is the third state in which is the celestial of the spiritual, when it has become spiritual in the natural; and as in this state there is no appropriation, therefore by these words is signified that all was in its power.

AC 4994. He is not greater in this house than I. That this signifies that that good was prior in time, not in state, is evident from the signification of ”not being greater in this house than I“ as being that the dominions were on an equality, consequently that both of them are prior.  From the series in the internal sense it is plain that good natural not spiritual is prior in time, and that good spiritual natural is prior in state (n. 4992). To be prior in state is to be more eminent as to quality.

AC 4995. And he hath not withheld from me anything but thee. That this signifies that to be conjoined with the truth of that good was forbidden, is evident from the signification of ”withholding from him,“ as being to be forbidden; and from the signification of a ”wife,“ who is the one withheld, and is here meant by ”thee,“ as being truth natural not spiritual (n. 4988).

AC 4996. Because thou art his wife. That this signifies because it was not to be conjoined with another good, is evident from the signification of ”wife,“ as being truth adjoined to its good (n. 1468, 2517, 3236, 4510, 4823), here truth natural not spiritual to good natural not spiritual (n. 4988).

AC 4997. And how shall I do this great evil, and sin to God? That this signifies that thus there would be disjunction and no conjunction, is evident from the signification of ”evil,“ and also of ”sin,“ as being disjunction and no conjunction, namely, when good spiritual natural is conjoined with truth natural not spiritual; for they are unlike and unsuited, and tear themselves away from each other. It is said ”to do evil and sin to God,“ because regarded in itself, evil, and also sin, is nothing else than disjunction from good. Moreover evil itself consists in disunion. This is plain from good, for good is conjunction, because all good is of love to the Lord and of love toward the neighbor. The good of love to the Lord conjoins the man with the Lord, and consequently with all the good which proceeds from Him; and the good of love toward the neighbor conjoins him with heaven, and the societies there; and therefore by this love also the man is conjoined with the Lord; for heaven properly so called is the Lord, because He is the all in all there.

[2] But with evil the reverse is the case. Evil is of the love of self and of the love of the world. The evil of the love of self disjoins the man not only from the Lord, but also from heaven; for he loves no one but himself, others only so far as he regards them in himself, or so far as they make one with him. Hence he diverts to himself the attention of all, and entirely averts it from others, most especially from the Lord; and when many in a society do this, it follows that all are disjoined, and at heart each regards the others as enemies, and if anyone does aught against him, he holds him in hatred, and takes delight in his destruction. Nor is it different with the evil of the love of the world, for this covets the wealth and goods of others, and desires to possess all that belongs to them; whence also arise enmities and hatreds, but in a less degree. In order for anyone to know what evil is, and consequently what sin is, let him merely study to know what the love of self and of the world is; and in order to know what good is, let him merely study to know what love to God and love toward the neighbor is. In this way he will know what evil is, and consequently what falsity is; and from this he will know what good is, and consequently what truth is.

AC 4998. Verses 10-15. And it came to pass as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, to be with her. And it came to pass on a certain day that he went into the house to do his work; and no man of the men of the house was there in the house.  And she caught hold of him in his garment, saying, Lie with me; and he left his garment in her’ hand, and fled, and got him out. And it came to pass when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, that she cried unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought this a Hebrew man to mock us; he came to me to lie with me, and I cried with a great voice; and it came to pass when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled, and got him out.  ”And it came to pass,“ signifies a fourth state; ”as she spake to Joseph day by day,“ signifies thought concerning this matter; ”that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her,“ signifies that it was averse to being conjoined; ”to be with her,“ signifies lest in this way it should be united; ”and it came to pass on a certain day,“ signifies a fifth state; ”that he went into the house to do his work,“ signifies when it was in the work of conjunction with spiritual good in the natural; ”and no man of the men of the house was there in the house,“ signifies that it was without the aid of anyone; ”and she caught hold of him in his garment,“ signifies that truth not spiritual applied itself to the ultimate of spiritual truth; ”saying, Lie with me,“ signifies for the purpose of conjunction; ”and he left his garment in her hand,“ signifies that it took away this ultimate truth; ”and fled, and got him out,“ signifies that thus it had no truth by which to defend itself; ”and it came to pass when she saw,“ signifies perception concerning this matter; ”that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,“ signifies concerning the separation of ultimate truth; ”that she cried unto the men of her house,“ signifies falsities; ”and spake unto them, saying,“ signifies exhortation; ”See, he hath brought us a Hebrew man,“ signifies a servant; ”to mock us,“ signifies that it rose up; ”he came to me to lie with me,“ signifies that it desired to conjoin itself; ”and I cried with a great voice,“ signifies aversion; ”and it came to pass when he heard,“ signifies when it was perceived; ”that I lifted up my voice and cried,“ signifies that there was great aversion; ”that he left his garment by me,“ signifies a witness that it made an approach; ”and fled and got him out,“ signifies that nevertheless it separated itself.

AC 4999. And it came to pass.  That this signifies a fourth state, may be seen from what was said above (n. 4979, 4987).

AC 5000. As she spake to Joseph day by day.  That this signifies thought concerning this matter, is evident from the signification of ”speaking,“ as being to think (n. 2271, 2287, 2619), namely, concerning Joseph, and therefore concerning that matter which is here meant by ”Joseph.“ ”Day by day,“ or every day, means intensely.  ”To speak,“ in the internal sense, is to think, because thought is interior speech; and when man thinks, he is then speaking with himself. Interior things are expressed in the sense of the letter by the exterior things which correspond.

AC 5001. That he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her. That this signifies that it was averse to being conjoined, is evident from the signification of ”hearkening not“ as being not to listen or obey (n. 2542, 3869), here to be averse to, because he was so far from listening that he left his garment and fled; and from the signification of ”lying by her,“ as being to be conjoined unlawfully (n. 4989).

AC 5002. To be with her. That this signifies lest in this way it should be united, is evident from the signification of ”being with“ anyone, as being to be more closely conjoined, or to be united.  That ”to be“ means to be united, is because the very being of a thing is good, and all good is of love, which is spiritual conjunction or unition. Hence in the supreme sense the Lord is called being or Jehovah, because from Him is all the good which is of love or of spiritual conjunction. As heaven makes a one through love from Him and the reciprocal love to Him through reception, and through mutual love, it is therefore called a marriage, through which it is. It would be similar with the church, if love and charity were the being of it.  Therefore where there is no conjunction or union, there is no being; for unless there is something to bring to a one or to unite, there must be dissolution and extinction.

[2] Thus in a civil society, where everyone is for himself and no one for another except for the sake of himself, unless there were laws to unite, and fears of the loss of gain, honor, fame, and life, the society would be utterly dissipated; so that the being of such a society is also conjunction or unition, but only in externals, while in respect to internals there is no being in it. For this reason also such persons in the other life are kept in hell, and are in like manner held together there by external bonds, especially by fears; but whenever these bonds are relaxed, one rushes to compass the destruction of another, and desires nothing more than to put him out of existence. It is otherwise in heaven, where there is internal conjunction through love to the Lord and the derivative mutual love. When external bonds are relaxed there, they are more closely conjoined together; and because they are thus brought nearer to the Divine being which is from the Lord, they are more interiorly in affection and thence in freedom, consequently in blessedness, happiness, and joy.

AC 5003. And it came to pass on a certain day. That this signifies a fifth state, is evident from the signification of ”it came to pass,“ or ”it was,“ as involving what is new (n. 4979, 4987, 4999), thus a new state, here a fifth.

AC 5004. That he went into the house to do his work. That this signifies when it was in the work of conjunction with spiritual good in the natural, is evident from the fact that it is this conjunction which is treated of in this chapter under the representation of Joseph; and therefore when it is said, ”he went into the house to do his work,“ the work of this conjunction is signified.

AC 5005. And no man of the men of the house was there in the house. That this signifies that it was without the aid of anyone, is evident from the fact that hereby is signified that he was alone; and because in the internal sense by ”Joseph“ is signified the Lord, and how He glorified His internal Human, or made it Divine, by these words is signified that He did this without the aid of anyone. That the Lord made His Human Divine by His own power, thus without the aid of anyone, may be seen from the fact that because He was conceived of Jehovah, the Divine was in Him, and thus the Divine was His; and therefore when He was in the world, and made the Human in Himself Divine, He did this from His own Divine, or from Himself. This is described in Isaiah in the words:--

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is honorable in His apparel, marching in the multitude of His strength? I have trodden the wine-press alone; and of the peoples there was no man with Me. I looked but there was no one helping: and I was amazed, but there was no one upholding; therefore Mine own arm brought salvation to Me (Isa. 63:1, 3, 5).

And again in the same prophet:--

He saw that there was no man, and was as it were amazed that there was no one interceding; therefore His own arm brought salvation to Him; and His righteousness stirred Him up. Therefore He put on righteousness as a coat of mail, and a helmet of salvation upon His head (Isa. 59:16, 17).

The Lord by His own power made the Human in Himself Divine, (n. 1616, 1749, 1755, 1812, 1813, 1921, 1928, 1999, 2025, 2026, 2083, 2500, 2523, 2776, 3043, 3141, 3381, 3382, 3637, 4286).

AC 5006. And she caught hold of him in his garment. That this signifies that truth not spiritual applied itself to the ultimate of spiritual truth, is evident from the representation of Potiphar‘s wife, of whom these things are said, as being truth natural not spiritual (n. 4988); from the signification here of ”to catch hold of“ as being to apply itself; and from the signification of a ”garment,“ as being truth (n. 1073, 2576, 4545, 4763), here the ultimate of spiritual truth, which in this state is Joseph’s, for ”Joseph“ here is good spiritual natural (n. 4988, 4992). That it is the truth of this good with which truth natural not spiritual wished to be conjoined, is plain from the series of things in the internal sense.

[2] But what it means, and what it involves, to say that truth natural not spiritual wished to be conjoined with truth spiritual natural, is at this day a secret, chiefly because few are solicitous or wish to know what spiritual truth is; and what truth not spiritual; and they are so far from being solicitous about it as to be scarcely willing to hear the word spiritual, for at the bare mention of it gloom assails them, together with sadness, and loathing is excited, and so it is rejected. That this really happens has also been shown me. While my mind was dwelling on such things, there were spirits present from Christendom, who were then let into the state in which they had been in the world; and they were not only affected with sadness at the mere thought of spiritual good and truth, but were also seized with so great a loathing, from aversion, that they said they felt within them the like of that which in the world excites vomiting. But it was given me to tell them that this was in consequence of their affections having been fixed upon merely earthly, bodily, and worldly things, for when a man is immersed in these he loathes the things of heaven; and that they had frequented places of worship where the Word is preached, from no desire to know the things which are of heaven, but from some other desire contracted from the time of early childhood. From this it was plain what is the quality of Christendom at this day.

[3] The cause-to speak generally‘s that the Christian Church at this day preaches faith alone and not charity, and thus doctrine but not life; and when life is not preached, a man comes into no affection of good; and when he is in no affection of good, he is also in no affection of truth. It is for this reason that it is contrary to the delight of the life of most persons to hear anything more about the things of heaven than what they have known from infancy.

[4] And yet the fact is that man is in this world in order to be initiated by his activities there into the things which are of heaven, and that his life in this world is hardly a moment in comparison with his life after death, for this is eternal. But there are few who believe that they will live after death; and for this reason also, heavenly things are of no account to them. But this I can declare with certainty: that man immediately after death is in the other life, and that his life in this world is wholly continued there, and is of the same quality as it had been in this world. This I can assert, because I know it; for I have talked after their decease with almost all with whom I had been acquainted in the life of the body, and thus by living experience it has been given me to know what lot awaits everyone, namely, a lot according to his life; yet those who are of such a quality do not believe even these things. But what is meant and involved in truth natural not spiritual wishing to be conjoined with truth spiritual natural, which is signified by her ”catching hold of Joseph in his garment,“ will be shown in what presently follows.

AC 5007. Saying, Lie with me. That this signifies for the purpose of conjunction, is evident from the signification of ”lying with,“ as being conjunction (n. 4989, 5001); here for the purpose of conjunction, or to the intent that it might be conjoined.

AC 5008. And he left his garment in her hand. That this signifies that it took away this ultimate truth, is evident from the signification of ”leaving in her hand,“ as being in her power, for ”hand“ is ability or power (n. 878, 3091, 3387, 3563, 4931-4937); and because she caught hold of his garment, it is here meant to take away; and from the signification of a ”garment,“ as being ultimate truth (n. 5006). That truth natural not spiritual wished to conjoin itself with truth spiritual natural, and that this was averse to conjunction, and for this reason left ultimate truth, or suffered it to be taken away, cannot be comprehended by anyone unless it is made clear by examples. But first let it be seen what truth natural not spiritual is, and what truth spiritual natural (n. 4988, 4992), and that there is an affinity in their ultimates, yet not any conjunction.

[2] But as before said, let this be made clear by examples, and let this be the first. It is a truth natural not spiritual, within the church, that good ought to be done to the poor, to widows, and to the fatherless, and that to do good to them is the charity which is enjoined in the Word; but truth not spiritual - that is, they who are in truth not spiritual - understand by the poor, the widows, and the fatherless, only those who are so called; whereas truth spiritual natural that is they who are in this truth - do indeed confirm this, but put in the last place this meaning of the poor, the widows, and the fatherless; for they say in their hearts that not all are poor who call themselves poor, and that among the poor there are those who live most wickedly, and fear neither God nor men, and who would rush into every iniquity unless withheld by fear; and moreover that by the ”poor“ in the Word are meant those who are spiritually such, who know and confess at heart that they have nothing of truth and good from themselves, but that all things are bestowed on them by free gift. The same is true of the widows” and the “fatherless,” with a difference in respect to state. From this example it is plain that to do good to the poor, to the widows, and to the fatherless, under these named is an ultimate of truth to those who are in truth spiritual natural; and that this truth is like a garment, which clothes interior things. It is also plain that this ultimate of truth concurs with the truth possessed by those who are in truth natural not spiritual, but that still there is not conjunction but affinity.

[3] Let us take as an example that good ought to be done to the neighbor. They who are in truth spiritual natural regard everyone as the neighbor, but yet all in different respects and degrees; and they say at heart that those who are in good are in preference to others the neighbor to whom good is to be done; and that those who are in evil are also the neighbor, but that good is done to them when they are punished according to the laws, because by means of punishments they are amended; and in this way also care is taken lest evil be done to the good by them and by their example. Those within the church who are in truth natural not spiritual also say that everyone is the neighbor, but they do not admit of degrees and distinctions; and therefore if they are in natural good they do good without distinction to everyone who excites their pity, and oftener to the evil than to the good, because in their knavery the evil know how to excite pity. From this example also it is plain that they who are in truth natural not spiritual, and they who are in truth spiritual natural, are agreed in this ultimate truth; but that nevertheless there is not conjunction therein, but only affinity, because the one regards the neighbor and charity toward him with a different idea and in a different sense from that of the other.

[4] Let us take also this example. They who are in truth spiritual natural say, in general, that the poor and miserable shall inherit the heavenly kingdom. But this is to them an ultimate truth, for inwardly they hold that those are poor and miserable who are spiritually such, and that it is these who are meant in the Word as inheriting the kingdom of heaven. But those within the church who are in truth natural not spiritual say that none can inherit the heavenly kingdom except those who in the world have been reduced to poverty, who live in misery, and who are more afflicted than others; they also call riches, dignities, and worldly joys, so many distractions, or means of withdrawing man from heaven. From this example also it is plain what the ultimate truth is, and of what nature, in which they agree; yet that there is not conjunction, but affinity.

[5] Let us take also this example.  They who are in truth spiritual natural regard it as an ultimate truth, that those things which are called holy in the Word, were holy, as the ark with the mercy-seat, the lampstand, the incense, bread, altar, and so on, and also as the temple, and the garments of Aaron, which are called holy garments, especially the ephod with the breastplate containing the urim and thummim. And yet in regard to this ultimate truth they have the idea that these things were not holy in themselves, nor was any holiness infused into them, but that they were holy representatively, that is, they represented spiritual and celestial things of the Lord’s kingdom, and in the supreme sense the Lord Himself. But they who are in truth natural not spiritual in like manner call these things holy, but holy in themselves by infusion. From this it is plain that the two are agreed, but that they do not conjoin themselves; for this truth is of a different form-because of a different idea- with the spiritual man from what it is with the merely natural man.

[6] Let us take one other example. It is an ultimate truth to the spiritual man that all Divine truths can be confirmed from the literal sense of the Word, and also, with those who are enlightened, by rational or intellectual things.  This ultimate and general truth is acknowledged by the natural man also; but he believes in simplicity that everything is true which can be confirmed from the Word, and especially that which he himself has confirmed from it. In this therefore they concur- that all Divine truth can he confirmed; but this general truth is viewed differently by the one from what it is by the other. The merely natural man believes to be Divine truth whatever he has confirmed in himself, or has heard confirmed by others, no‘ knowing that falsity can be confirmed as well as truth, and that falsity when confirmed appears exactly like truth, and even more true than truth itself, because the fallacies of the senses chime in, and present it in the light of the world separate from the light of heaven.

[7] From this it is plain what is the quality of ultimate spiritual truth in the sight of the natural man - that it is like a garment; and when this garment is withdrawn, the natural and the spiritual man do not at all agree, and consequently the spiritual man has no longer anything by which to defend himself against the natural man. This is what is signified by Joseph’s fleeing and getting out when he had left his garment.  For the merely natural man does not acknowledge interior things; and therefore when exterior things are taken away or withdrawn, the two are at once dissociated. Furthermore, the natural man calls all things false by which the spiritual man confirms ultimate truth; for he cannot see whether that which be confirms is really so, it being impossible from natural light to see the things which are of spiritual light. This is contrary to order; but it is according to order that the things which are in natural light should be seen from spiritual light.

AC 5009. And fled, and got him out. That this signifies that thus truth spiritual natural had no truth by which to defend itself, is evident from the signification of “fleeing and getting out,” after he had left his garment, as being that separation was effected, or that there was no longer anything in common; and consequently as a “garment” is ultimate truth, that it had no truth by which to defend itself (n. 5008).

AC 5010. And it came to pass when she saw. That this signifies perception concerning this matter, is evident from the signification of “seeing,” as being perception (n. 2150, 3764, 4567, 4723). Concerning this matter, is concerning the separation effected by ultimate truth being no longer acknowledged, which is signified by his “leaving his garment in her hand, and fleeing out” (n. 5008, 5009).

AC 5011. That she cried unto the men of her house. That this signifies falsities, is evident from the signification of a “cry,” as being falsity (n. 2240); hence “to cry” is predicated of falsity. The “men of her house” in the genuine sense are the truths of good, but in the opposite sense they are the falsities of evil. That the things which Potiphar‘s wife now tells to the men of the house, and afterward to her husband, are falsities, is evident from her very words. That natural truth, which is here the wife of Potiphar, after ultimate spiritual truth (which in its outmost appearance seems as if conjoined with it) has been torn away, cannot but speak falsities, or things contrary to the truth, may be seen above (n. 5008).

AC 5012. And spake unto them, saying. That this signifies exhortation, is evident from the signification of “saying” here, as being exhortation; for “saying” in the internal sense is perception (n. 2862, 3395, 3509), and also communication (n. 3060, 4131); here therefore, because it is said that she “cried,” and afterward that she “spake, saying,” vehement communication is meant, that is, exhortation to hear.

AC 5013. See, he hath brought us a Hebrew man. That this signifies a servant, is evident from the signification of a “Hebrew man” as being predicated of service (n. 1703), and as is also clear from what is said later, where Joseph is called a “Hebrew servant,” and also simply a “servant:” “the Hebrew servant whom thou hast brought to us came to me” (verse 17); “according to these words did thy servant to me” (verse 19). That a “Hebrew man” here is a servant, is chiefly for the reason that those who are in truth and good natural not spiritual, who are here represented by Potiphar and his wife, regard spiritual truth and good, which is represented by Joseph, no otherwise than as a servant; for in both life and doctrine they are in inverted order, because with them the natural rules and the spiritual serves; when yet it is according to order that the spiritual should rule and the natural serve; for the spiritual is prior, interior and higher, and nearer the Divine; while the natural is posterior, exterior, and lower, and more remote from the Divine.  For this reason the spiritual in man and in the church is compared to heaven, and is also called heaven; and the natural is compared to earth, and is also called earth. Hence also it is that they who are spiritual, that is, in whom the spiritual has ruled, appear in the other life in the light of heaven with the head upward toward the Lord, and with the feet downward toward hell; whereas they who are natural, that is, they in whom the natural has ruled, appear in the light of heaven with the feet upward and the head downward, however differently they may appear in their own light, which is a fatuous light resulting from the evil affections and consequent phantasies in which they are (n. 1528, 3340, 4214, 4418, 4531, 4532). That natural men regard spiritual things as subservient, was also represented by the Egyptians regarding the Hebrews no otherwise than as servants; for by the Egyptians were represented those who are in natural knowledge and who therefore are natural, but by the Hebrews, those who are of the church and are therefore relatively spiritual. Moreover the Egyptians regarded the Hebrews as being so vile-as servants-that it was an abomination to them to eat with the Hebrews (Gen. 43:32); and the sacrifices offered by the Hebrews were also an abomination to them (Exod. 8:26).

AC 5014. To mock us. That this signifies that it rose up, is evident from the series itself in the internal sense, and also from the signification of “mocking,” when said with vehemence, as being to rise up.

AC 5015. He came to me to lie with me. That this signifies that it, namely, truth spiritual natural, desired to conjoin itself, is evident from the signification of “coming,” as here being to desire, for he who comes with a purpose, desires; and from the signification of “lying with,” as being to conjoin itself (n. 4989, 5001, 5007).

AC 5016. And I cried with a great voice. That this signifies that there was aversion, is evident from the signification of a “cry,” as being false speaking (n. 5011); and therefore “to cry.”  in the present instance, involves such false speaking, namely, in that she “cried unto the men of the house” for help, that it was repugnant to her; and in that it is said that she “cried with a great voice,” that she felt aversion for it.

AC 5017. And it came to pass when he heard. That this signifies when it was perceived, is evident from the signification of “hearing,” as being to obey, and also as being to perceive. That it means to obey may be seen above (n. 2542, 3869); that it means also to perceive is plain from the very function of the ear, and hence from the nature of the hearing. The function of the ear is to receive another’s speech and convey it to the common sensory, in order that the sensory may perceive what the other person is thinking, so that “to hear” is to perceive. Thus it is the nature of the hearing to transfer what anyone is speaking from his own thought into the thought of another, and from the thought into his will, and from the will into act; hence “to hear” is to obey.  These two offices are proper to the hearing.  In the languages these are distinguished by “hearing” anyone, which is to perceive, and by “listening,” or “hearkening” to anyone, which is to obey. That these two offices belong to hearing is because man cannot communicate the things of his thought, and also the things of his will, by any other way; nor can he otherwise persuade and by reasons induce others to do and to obey what he wills.  From all this it is evident by what a circle communications are effected--from will into thought, and so into speech; and from speech through the ear into another‘s thought and will.  Hence also it is that the spirits and angels who correspond to the ear or to the sense of hearing in the Grand Man, are not only perceptions, but also obediences. That they are obediences, may be seen above (n. 4652-4660); and because they are obediences, they are also perceptions, for the one involves the other.

AC 5018. That I lifted up my voice and cried.  That this signifies that there was great aversion, is evident from the signification of “crying with a great voice,” as being aversion (n. 5016); here therefore “lifting up the voice and crying” denotes great aversion.

AC 5019. That he left my garment by me.  That this signifies a witness that it made an approach, is evident from the signification of “leaving the garment,” as being to take away ultimate truth (n. 5008); but here a witness, because the garment in her hand and which she showed (that is, the ultimate truth by which it proved that it desired to conjoin itself, was a witness that it made an approach.  This meaning does indeed seem somewhat remote, but still it is that which is involved in what she said (n. 5028).

AC 5020. And fled, and got him out.  That this signifies that nevertheless it separated itself, is evident from the signification of “fleeing and getting out,” as being to separate itself (n. 5009).  These then are the falsities which Potiphar’s wife spake to the men of the house concerning Joseph-- in the internal sense, which truth natural not spiritual spake concerning truth spiritual natural, or which the natural man not spiritual spake concerning the spiritual natural man (n. 4988, 4992, 5008).

AC 5021. Verses 16-18.  And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came to his house.  And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant whom thou hast brought unto us came unto me to mock me; and it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled out.  “And she laid up his garment by her,” signifies that it retained ultimate truth; “until his lord came to his house,” signifies that it might communicate with natural good; “and she spake unto him according to these words,” signifies false speaking; “saying, The Hebrew servant whom thou hast brought unto us, came unto me,” signifies that servant; “to mock me,” signifies that it rose up; “and it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried,” signifies when great aversion was perceived; “that he left his garment by me,” signifies testification; “and fled out,” signifies that then it separated itself.

AC 5022. And she laid up his garment by her.  That this signifies that it retained ultimate truth, is evident from the signification of “laying up by her,” as being to retain; and from the signification of a “garment,” as being ultimate truth (n. 5006, 5008), which truth being taken away, the spiritual man has no longer anything with which to defend himself against those who are merely natural (n. 5008, 5009), and in this event injury is done to him; for whatever the spiritual man then speaks, merely natural men say that they do not perceive, and also that it is not so.  And if what is internal or spiritual is but mentioned, they either ridicule it or call it mystical; wherefore all conjunction between them is then broken, and when this is broken, the spiritual man suffers hard things among the merely natural, which is represented by Joseph‘s being cast into prison, after the wife had testified by the garment in the presence of her husband.

AC 5023. Until his lord came to his house.  That this signifies that it might communicate with natural good, is evident from the signification of the “lord,” as being good natural not spiritual (n. 4973, 4988).  A “house” in the internal sense is the natural mind, for the natural mind, as also the rational mind, is like a house: the husband therein is good, the wife is truth, the daughters and sons are affections of good and truth, and also goods and truth derived from the former as parents; the maidservants and menservants are the pleasures and memory-knowledges which minister and confirm.  Here therefore by “until his lord came to his house” is signified until natural good came to its dwelling place, where there is also truth conjoined with it; but here falsity persuading good that it is truth, for good natural not spiritual is easily persuaded that falsity is truth, and that truth is falsity.  It is said “his lord,” because the natural not spiritual considers the spiritual as a servant (n. 5013).

[2] That the natural and the rational mind of man are called a “house,” is evident from the following passages:--

When the unclean spirit is gone out from a man, he wandereth through dry places, seeking rest; and if he findeth it not, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And if on coming he findeth it swept and garnished, he then goeth away and taketh to him seven other spirits worse than himself; and they enter in and dwell there (Luke 11:24-26);

the “house” here denotes the natural mind, which is called a “house that is empty and swept” when there are within it no goods and truths, which are the husband and wife; no affections of good and truth, which are the daughters and sons; nor such things as confirm, which are the maidservants and menservants. The man himself is the “house,” because the rational and the natural mind make the man; and without these things, that is, without goods and truths and their affections and the ministry of these affections, he is not a man, but a brute.

[3] The mind of man is also meant by a “house” in the same evangelist:--

Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and house falleth upon house (Luke 11:17);

And in Mark:--

If a kingdom be divided against itself, this Kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, this house cannot stand. No one can pillage the vessels of a strong man after entering into his house, unless he first bind the strong man; and then he pillages his house (Mark 3:24, 25, 27);

by “kingdom” is signified truth (n. 1672, 2547, 4691), and by “house,” good (n. 2233, 2234, 3720, 4982); “house” signifies good in an eminent sense.

[4] In Luke:--

If the master of the house had known in what hour the thief would come, he would at least have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through (Luke 12:39).

Again:--

From henceforth there shall be five in one house (divided), three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother (Luke 12:52, 53);

where the subject treated of is the spiritual combats into which those who are of the church will come, after the internal or spiritual things of the Word have been opened. The “house” denotes man, or his mind; “father,” “mother,” “son,” and “daughter” are goods and truths with their affections, and in the opposite sense evils and falsities with their affections, from which and with which there is combat.

[5] The Lord’s command to His disciples:--

Into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house; and if a son of peace he there, your peace shall rest upon it; but if not, it shall return upon you; but remain in the same house; eat and drink what they have; pass not from house to house (Luke 10:5-7);

represented that they should abide in good itself, that is, in the good of love to the Lord and of charity toward the neighbor, and not pass into any other. Man or his mind is a “house”, (n. 3538, 4973).

AC 5024. And she spake unto him according to these words. That this signifies false speaking, is evident from what follows; for the things which she told her husband are falsities.

AC 5025. Saying, The Hebrew servant whom thou hast brought unto us, came unto me.  That this signifies that servant, is evident from what was said above (n. 5013); here by that servant is meant spiritual truth and good, which here is “Joseph,” and which appears to the natural not spiritual as a servant.  For example, spiritual truth and good desire that a man should not take pleasure in dignities or in any pre-eminence over others, but in services rendered to his country, and to societies in general and in particular, and thus should take pleasure in the use of dignities. The merely natural man is wholly ignorant what this pleasure is, and denies its existence; and although he too can hypocritically say the same thing, he nevertheless makes pleasure from dignities for the sake of self the lord, and pleasure from dignities for the sake of societies, in general and particular, the servant; for he regards himself in everything he does, and societies after himself, favoring them only in so far as they favor him.

[2] Let us take another example.  If it is said that the use and the end make a thing spiritual or not spiritual--use and end for the common good, the church, and the kingdom of God, making it to be spiritual, but use and end for the sake of self and one‘s own prevailing over the former use and end, making it to be not spiritual--this indeed the natural man can acknowledge with the mouth, but not with the heart; with the mouth from an instructed understanding, not with the heart from an understanding destroyed by evil affections.  From this latter he makes use and end for the sake of self a lord, and use and end for the sake of the common good, of the church, and of the kingdom of God, a servant; nay, he says in his heart, who can ever be otherwise?

[3] In a word, the natural man regards as utterly worthless and rejects whatever he regards as separate from himself, and he values and accepts whatever he regards as conjoined with himself--not knowing nor wishing to know that it is spiritual to regard everyone as conjoined with himself who is in good, whether he is unknown or known; and to regard everyone as separate from himself who is in evil, whether he is known or unknown; for he is then conjoined with those who are in heaven, and disjoined from those who are in hell.  But because the natural man feels no pleasure from this (for he receives no spiritual influx), he therefore regards it as utterly vile and servile, and thus as of no account in comparison with the pleasure he feels that flows in through the senses of the body and through the evil affections of the love of self and of the world; yet this pleasure is dead because it is from hell, whereas the pleasure from spiritual influx is living because it is from the Lord through heaven.

AC 5026. To mock me.  That this signifies that it rose up, is evident from the signification of “mocking,” as being to rise up (n. 5014).

AC 5027. And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried.  That this signifies when great aversion was perceived, is evident from the signification of “lifting up the voice and crying,” as being great aversion (n. 5018).

AC 5028. That he left his garment by me.  That this signifies testification, is evident from the signification of “leaving his garment by her,” that is to say, as a witness that it made an approach (n.  5019). A “garment” in the internal sense signifies truth, and “leaving the garment,” taking away ultimate truth (n. 5008). That it here signifies a witness or testification that it made an approach, is because ultimate truth, when it is left or taken away, is a witness to the natural man against the spiritual. That the natural man is as it were conjoined with the spiritual man by ultimate truth, but still is not conjoined, may be seen above (n. 5009); for when the spiritual man unfolds this truth, the dissimilarity becomes apparent.

[2] The examples adduced above (n. 5008), may serve for illustration. The spiritual man as well as the natural says that aid should be given to the poor, to widows, and to orphans; but the spiritual man thinks that aid should not be given to the poor, to widows, and to orphans who are evil, and who call themselves needy and yet are rich, for in this way they would deceive by mere names; and so he concludes that by the “poor,” the “widows,” and the “orphans” in the Word, are meant those who are spiritually so.  But the natural man thinks that aid should be given to the poor, widows, and orphans who are so called, and that these and no others are meant in the Word; neither does he care whether they are evil or good, not knowing nor wishing to know what it is to be so spiritually. It is plain from this that the ultimate truth, that aid should be given to the poor, widows, and orphans, appears similar to both; but when unfolded, it is dissimilar; and when it becomes dissimilar and causes disjunction, it serves the natural man as a witness or testification that the spiritual man had made an approach; hence he speaks what is false against the spiritual man, who no longer has anything by which to defend himself.  So it is clear whence and in what respect a “garment” signifies also a witness or testification.

[3] Let us take also this example. The spiritual man as well as the natural man says that aid should be given to the neighbor, and he also says that everyone is the neighbor; but he thinks that one person is the neighbor in a different respect and degree than another, and that to give aid to an evil person because he calls himself neighbor, is to do harm to the neighbor.  The natural man conjoins himself with the spiritual in the ultimate truth that aid should be given to the neighbor, and also in this, that every man is the neighbor; but he thinks that he who favors him is the neighbor, not caring whether he is good or evil. From this too it is plain that in this ultimate truth they are apparently conjoined, but that nevertheless there is no conjunction; and that as soon as the matter is explained, there is disjunction. And then this ultimate truth serves the natural man as a witness against the spiritual man for as it were mocking at him.  So in all other cases.

AC 5029. And fled out.  That this signifies that then it separated itself, is evident from the signification of “fleeing out,” as being to separate itself (n. 5020); and consequently that it had no truth whereby to defend itself (n. 5009).

AC 5030. Verses 19, 20.  And it came to pass when his lord heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, According to these words did thy servant to me; that his anger was kindled.  And Joseph’s lord took him, and put him into the prison house, the place where the king‘s bound ones were bound; and he was there in the prison house.  “And it came to pass,” signifies a new state; “when his lord heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him,” signifies communication of falsity which appeared as truth; “saying, According to these words did thy servant to me,” signifies confirmation; “that his anger was kindled,” signifies aversion to spiritual truth.  “And Joseph’s lord took him,” signifies temptation from the natural; “and put him into the prison house,” signifies as to false-speaking against good; “the place where the king‘s bound ones were bound,” signifies the state in which those are who are in falsities; “and he was there in the prison house,” signifies the duration of the temptation.

AC 5031. And it came to pass.  That this signifies a new state, is evident from the signification of “it came to pass,” or “it was,” as involving something new, or a new state (n. 4979, 4987, 4999), here the state of spiritual natural good, which state is represented by Joseph, after the ultimate of truth had been taken away from him, and thus after there was no longer any conjunction with truth and good natural not spiritual.

AC 5032. When his lord heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him.  That this signifies communication of falsity which appeared as truth, is evident from the signification of “hearing words,” as being communication, for “hearing” is perceiving (n. 5017), thus to be communicated; and from the signification of “wife,” as being truth natural not spiritual, of which above, but in the present instance falsity. The false speaking itself is signified by the words which she spoke to him (n. 5024).  The communication of falsity is with good natural not spiritual, which is here signified by his “lord” (n. 5023).  That the falsity appeared to him as truth, is evident from what follows.

[2] The subject treated of here is that good natural not spiritual is easily persuaded, insomuch that falsity appears to it altogether as truth. What good natural not spiritual is, and what its quality, or who and of what quality are those who are in this good, may be seen above (n. 4988, 4992, 5008, 5013, 5028), namely, that they are such as are gentle and well disposed from what is hereditary and hence adventitious, thus such as do what is good from nature, but not from religion. It is one thing to do good from nature, and quite another to do it from religion.  These two things cannot be distinguished by man in the world, for man is not acquainted with the interiors, but in the other life they are plainly discerned; for in that life the interiors lie open, the thoughts, intentions, and ends manifesting themselves and being open to view as in clear day.

[3] In consequence of this it has been given me to know the quality of those who are in good not spiritual, and that of those who are in spiritual good. They who are in good natural not spiritual suffer themselves to be persuaded by everyone, and easily by the evil; for evil spirits and genii are in their life, or the delight of their life, when they can enter into the evil affections of anyone; and when they have entered into them, they entice him to every kind of evil, for they then persuade him that falsity is truth.  This they do easily with those who are in good natural not spiritual, but cannot do so with those who are in spiritual good, for these know from within what is evil and false.  The reason is that when those in spiritual good lived in the world they received precepts from doctrine, and with these they imbued the internal man, the result being that heaven can operate into it; whereas when they who are in good natural not spiritual lived in the world, they did not receive any precepts from doctrine with which they imbued the internal man, and therefore with them there is no plane into which heaven can operate; but whatever flows in with them out of heaven, flows through, and when it comes into the natural man, it is not received, because the evil or diabolical crew instantly take it away, either by suffocating, by reflecting, or by perverting it.

[4] Therefore those who are in natural good only, in the other life suffer hard things, and sometimes complain much that they are among the infernals, when yet, as they believe, they had done what is good equally as well as others.  But they were told that they had done what is good no otherwise than as gentle animals devoid of reason, and had not been solicitous about any good or truth of the church; and that as for this reason they have not in the internal man any receptacle for good and truth, therefore they cannot he defended by the angels; and also that they had done many evils under an appearance of good.

AC 5033. Saying, According to these words did thy servant to me.  That this signifies confirmation, is evident from the belief in which he was that his wife had spoken the truth, and from its being thus confirmed to him; for the wife who persuaded him is truth natural not spiritual, but here falsity. That good natural not spiritual suffers itself to be easily persuaded by falsity, may be seen just above (n. 5032). It is well known that falsities can be confirmed so as to appear altogether as truths.  This is plain from every heresy, and all its particulars, which, though they are falsities, yet by confirmations appear as truths to those who are in the heresy.  It is plain too from those who have no religion, who confirm themselves so thoroughly against the things of the church, that they see as a truth the notion that the church is only for the sake of the common people, to keep them in some restraint; also that nature is all in all, and the Divine so remote as to be scarcely anything, and that man dies like a beast.  Regarding these and the like opinions, they who are good natural not spiritual suffer themselves to be more easily persuaded and confirmed than others, since they have as it were no mirror within, but only outside of them, before which falsities appear as realities.

AC 5034. That his anger was kindled.  That this signifies aversion to spiritual truth, is evident from the signification of “anger,” as being a receding from the good of charity (n. 357), thus aversion, and here aversion to spiritual truth, because this is the subject treated of.  That “anger” denotes aversion, is because so long as a man is in anger against anyone, he averts his mind from him; for anger exists or is excited when anyone or anything is contrary to one’s love, by which there is conjunction with anyone or anything.  When this conjunction is broken, the man becomes angry or wrathful, as if something were lost from the delight of his life, and consequently from his life.  This sadness is turned into grief, and the grief into anger.

AC 5035. And Joseph‘s lord took him.  That this signifies temptation from the natural, is evident from what now follows, where it is told of Joseph that he was put into the prison house, by which is described in the internal sense the temptation of spiritual good in the natural; and because the words, “Joseph’s lord took him” involve this, they also signify it.  Temptations are of two kinds--as to truths, and as to goods.  Temptations as to truths are effected by spirits, but temptations as to good are effected by genii.  Spirits and genii in the other life are distinguished by the fact that spirits act into the intellectual part of the mind, consequently into those things which are of faith; while genii act into the will part, consequently into those things which are of love. Spirits present themselves to view, and also manifest themselves by speech; but genii make themselves invisible, and do not manifest themselves except by an influx into the desires and cupidities.  In the other life the two are kept separate, evil or infernal spirits appearing in front and on both sides under the earth of the lower regions, while evil or infernal genii appear under the hinder part and behind the back deep down under the earth there.  As already said, temptations as to truths are effected by evil spirits, and temptations as to goods by evil genii. In the following pages those temptations are treated of which are effected by evil spirits, and thus which are effected as to false-speaking against good.  These temptations are milder than those which are effected by evil genii, and they also occur first.

AC 5036. And put him into the prison house.  That this signifies as to false-speaking against good, is evident from the signification of being “put into the prison house, and kept bound there,” as being to be let into temptations as to false-speaking against good, of which in what follows; but something must first be said in regard to temptations.  Scarcely anyone in the Christian world at this day knows whence temptations come.  He who undergoes them has no other belief than that they are torments arising from the evils which are within man, and which at first make him uneasy, then anxious, and finally torment him; but he is altogether ignorant that they are effected by the evil spirits who are with him.  The reason why he is ignorant of this, is that he does not believe that he is in company with spirits while he lives in the world, and scarcely believes that there is any spirit with him; when yet as to his interiors man is continually in the society of spirits and angels.

[2] As regards temptations, they take place when the man is in the act of regeneration; for no one can be regenerated unless he undergoes temptations, and they then arise from evil spirits who are about him. For the man is then let into the state of evil in which he is, that is, in which is that very (life) which is his own; and when he comes into this state, evil or infernal spirits encompass him, and when they perceive that he is inwardly protected by angels, the evil spirits excite the falsities which he has thought, and the evils which he has done, but the angels defend him from within. It is this combat which is perceived in the man as temptation, but so obscurely that he scarcely knows otherwise than that it is merely an anxiety; for man--especially if he believes nothing about influx--is in a state that is wholly obscure, and he perceives scarcely a thousandth part of the things about which the evil spirits and angels are contending.  And yet the battle is then being fought for the man and his eternal salvation, and it is fought from the man himself; for they fight from those things which are in man, and concerning them.  That this is the case has been given me to know with the utmost certainty. I have heard the combat, I have perceived the influx, I have seen the spirits and angels, and at the time and afterward have conversed with them on the subject.

[3] As before said, temptations take place chiefly at the time when the man is becoming spiritual; for he then apprehends spiritually the truths of doctrine. The man is often unaware of this, but still the angels with him see in his natural things the spiritual; for his interiors are then open toward heaven.  For this reason also the man who has been regenerated is among angels after his life in the world, and there both sees and perceives the spiritual things which before appeared to him as natural.  When therefore a man has come into such a state, then in temptation, when assaulted by evil spirits, he can be defended by angels, who then have a plane into which they can operate; for they flow into what is spiritual with him, and through this into what is natural.

[4] But when ultimate truth has been withdrawn, and therefore the man has nothing by which to defend himself against those who are natural (n. 5006, 5008, 5009, 5022, 5028), he then comes into temptations, and by evil spirits--who are all merely natural--he is accused especially of speaking falsely against good; as for example of having thought and said that the neighbor ought to be benefited, and having also approved this in act, and yet now meaning by the neighbor only those who are in good and truth, and not those who are in evil and falsity and cannot be amended; and consequently, because he is no longer willing to benefit the evil, or if he will benefit them, he desires them to be punished for the sake of their amendment, and for the purpose of averting evil from his neighbor, they charge him with thinking and speaking what is false, and with not thinking as he speaks.

[5] Take another example. Because when a man becomes spiritual, he no longer believes it holy and for pious use to give to monasteries, or even to churches which abound in wealth; and because before he became spiritual he had thought that such giving was holy and pious, they charge him with falsehood, and stir up all his thoughts which he had before cherished as to its being holy and pious, and also the works which he had done from such thought.  And so they do in numberless other cases, but let these few examples serve by way of illustration. These spirits enter principally into the affections which the man had before, and excite them, and also the false and evil things which he had thought and done; and thus they bring him into anxiety, and often into doubt even to despair.

[6] Such then is the source of spiritual anxieties, and of the torments which are called torments of conscience. By influx and communication these things appear to the man as if they were in himself.  One who knows and believes this may be compared to a man who sees himself in a mirror, and knows that it is not himself that appears in it, or on the other side of it, but only his image; whereas one who does not know and believe this, may be compared to a person who sees himself in a mirror, and supposes it is himself that appears there, and not his image.

AC 5037. That “to be put into the prison house, and to be kept bound there,” denotes to be let into temptations as to false-speaking against good, is because all that region next under the sole of the foot and around about, is called a “prison house,” where those are kept who are in vastation, that is, those who have been in principles of falsity and in a life of evil from falsity, and yet in good as to intentions. Such cannot be received into heaven until they have put off the principles of falsity, and also the delight of life thence derived.  They who are there are let into temptations; for principles of falsity and the derivative delights of life cannot be cast out except by means of temptations.  The place where they are, or rather the state in which they are, is signified in general by a “prison house,” and the places themselves by “pits.” In regard to vastations in the other life, see what has been said above (n. 698, 699, 1106-1113, 2699, 2701, 2704). They who are in vastations are called the “bound”--not that they are in any bond or chain, but that they are not in freedom as to their former thoughts and the derivative affections.

[2] That such are they who are meant in the Word by the “bound,” and by those who are “in prison,” is plain from other passages in the Word, as in Isaiah:--

I will give Thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles, to open the blind eyes, to bring out the bound from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the house of confinement (Isa. 42:6, 7);

speaking of the Lord, and of His coming.  Here “to open the blind eyes, and to bring out the bound from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the house of confinement,” denotes those who are in ignorance of good and truth, and yet are in the desire of knowing and being imbued with them; but in the original language “prison” is here expressed by a different word.

[3] Again:--

All the youths are hid in prison houses; they are made for a prey, and none rescueth, and none saith, Bring forth (Isa. 42:22);

“youths” in the internal sense are the truths of faith, which are said “to be hid in prison houses,” and “to be made for a prey,” when they are no longer acknowledged.  Again:--

It shall be in that day that Jehovah shall visit upon the army of the height in the height, and upon the kings of the ground upon the ground. And they shall be gathered, the bound over the pit, and they shall be shut over the place of confinement; after a multitude of days they shall be visited (Isa. 24:21, 22);

“the bound over the pit” denotes those who are in vastations or those who are in temptations.

[4] Again:--

What will ye do in the day of visitation, and of laying waste? it cometh from afar; to whom will ye flee for help?  he who hath not bowed down himself; they shall fall under the bound, and under the slain (Isa. 10:3, 4);

“under the bound” denotes the hell which is under the places of vastation; and “the slain” denotes those who have extinguished in themselves the truths of faith by principles of falsity, in a less degree than “the pierced,” of whom see above (n. 4503).

[5] In Zechariah:--

He shall speak peace to the nations; and His dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. As for Thee also, by the blood of Thy covenant I will send forth the bound ones out of the pit wherein is no water.  Return ye to the stronghold, ye bound ones of hope (Zech. 9:10-12);

“sending forth the bound out of the pit” denotes those who are in vastation and those who are in temptation.  That the places where they are who are in vastation are called “pits” may be seen above (n. 4728, 4744). In David:--

Jehovah heareth the needy, and despiseth not His bound ones (Ps. 69:33).

Again:--

Let the sighing of the bound one come before Thee (Ps. 79:11).

Again:--

From the heavens did Jehovah look back to the earth, to hear the sighing of the bound one, to open to the sons of death (Ps. 102:19, 20);

where “the bound ones” denote those who are in vastation, and those who are in temptations.  In Isaiah:--

In the time of what is well pleasing have I answered Thee, and in the day of salvation have I heard Thee; and I have also guarded Thee, and I gave Thee for a covenant of the people, to restore the land, to share the wasted heritages, to say to them that are bound, Go forth; and to them that are in darkness, Unveil yourselves. They shall feed upon the ways, and in all the heights there is good pasture; and they shall not hunger nor thirst (Isa. 49:8-10).

[6] Again:--

The spirit of the Lord Jehovih is upon me, Jehovah hath anointed me, He hath sent me to preach good tidings to the poor, and to bind up the broken-hearted; to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to the bound, to the holden in eyes, to proclaim the year of what is well pleasing to Jehovah (Isa. 61:1, 2).

In David:--

Jehovah, who executeth judgment for the oppressed; who giveth food to the hungry; Jehovah who looseth the prisoners; Jehovah who openeth the blind; Jehovah who raiseth up the bowed down; Jehovah who loveth the just; Jehovah who guardeth the strangers; He upholdeth the fatherless and the widow (Ps. 146:7-9);

“the bound” denote those who are in vastation and in temptations on account of falsities.  From these passages it is also plain who are meant in Matthew by the “bound,” or “those who are in prison,” and likewise by the “hungry,” the “thirsty,” and “strangers”:--

Then shall the King say to those who are on His right hand, I was hungry and ye gave Me to eat, I was thirsty and ye gave Me drink, I was a stranger and ye gathered Me, naked and ye clothed Me, I was sick and ye visited Me, I was in prison and ye came unto Me (Matthew 25:34-36);

regarding whom see the preface to this chapter (n. 4954-4958).

AC 5038. The place where the king‘s bound ones were bound. That this signifies the state in which those are who are in falsities, is evident from the signification of “place,” as being state (n. 2625, 2837, 3356, 3387, 4321, 4882); and from the signification of the “king’s bound Ones,” as being those who are in falsities, and because they are in falsities they are in vastation, and who are being regenerated in the world in temptation; for temptation is the vastation of what is false, and at the same time the confirmation of what is true.  They are called the “king‘s bound ones,” because a “king” in the internal sense is truth (n. 1672, 1728, 2015, 2069, 3009, 3670, 4575, 4581, 4789, 4966), and his “bound ones” are therefore those who are in falsity.  Moreover the places where the king’s bound ones were kept, were called “pits;” wherefore Joseph says, “I was taken away out of the land of the Hebrews; and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the pit” (Gen. 40:15).  That a “pit” denotes a place of vastation may be seen above (n. 4728, 4744).

AC 5039. And he was there in the prison house.  That this signifies the duration of the temptation, is evident from the signification of a “prison house,” as being vastation, and also temptation (n. 5036, 5037); and from the signification of “being in it,” as being to stay there, thus duration.

AC 5040. Verses 21-23.  And Jehovah was with Joseph, and inclined mercy unto him, and gave him grace in the eyes of the prince of the prison house.  And the prince of the prison house gave into Joseph‘s hand all the bound ones that were in the prison house; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer. The prince of the prison house saw naught of anything that was in his hand, because Jehovah was with him; and that which he did, Jehovah made it to prosper.  “And Jehovah was with Joseph,” signifies that the Divine was in Him; “and inclined mercy unto him,” signifies the Divine love in everything; “and gave him grace in the eyes of the prince of the prison house,” signifies relief in consequence; “and the prince of the prison house,” signifies truth governing in a state of temptations; “gave into Joseph’s hand all the bound ones that were in the prison house,” signifies from Himself over all falsities; “and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer,” signifies absolute power; “the prince of the prison house saw naught of anything that was in his hand,” signifies that He Himself governed truth; “because Jehovah was with him,” signifies from the Divine which was in Him; “and that which he did, Jehovah made it to prosper,” signifies that the Divine providence was from Himself.

AC 5041. And Jehovah was with Joseph.  That this signifies that the Divine was in Him, that is, in the Lord (who in the supreme sense is represented by Joseph), here the Divine in temptations, which are here treated of, is evident; for the Divine Itself is Jehovah; and that He was in the Lord, or within Him, is signified by “Jehovah was with Joseph.” As in the sense of the letter Joseph is treated of, it is said with him; but in the internal sense, where the Lord is treated of, it is in Him.  That the Divine was in Him, may be seen by everyone within the church from the fact that He was conceived of Jehovah, for which reason He so frequently calls Him His “Father.” The very being of a man, and hence the inmost of his life, is from the father; the clothings or exteriors are from the mother; therefore the Lord‘s being, and hence the inmost of His life, was Divine, because it was Jehovah Himself; and the clothings or exteriors made the human which He took from the mother by birth.  This human was such that it could he tempted, for it was polluted with hereditary evil from the mother; but because the inmost was Divine, He was able by His own power to cast out that evil heredity from the mother; which was done successively by means of temptations, and finally by the last, that of the cross, when He fully glorified His Human, that is, made it Divine.  From this it may be seen what is meant by the statement that the Divine was in Him.

AC 5042. And inclined mercy unto him.  That this signifies the Divine love in everything, is evident from the signification of “mercy,” as being in the supreme sense the Divine love (n. 1735, 3063, 3073, 3120, 3875). The Divine being itself, understood in the supreme sense, is love utterly incomprehensible to man; and from this love through truth all things come forth and subsist, both those which have life and those which have not.  This Divine love from the very being through the inmost of life in the Lord, flowed into everything He did from the human taken from the mother, and directed all to ends, and these ends to the ultimate end that mankind might be saved. And because the Lord, from the Divine Itself in Him, saw the nature of His human, that it was hereditarily in evil, therefore it is said that “Jehovah inclined mercy unto him;” and by this in the supreme sense is meant the Divine love in everything.  For the Divine mercy is nothing else than the Divine love toward those who are immersed in miseries (n. 1049, 3063, 3875), that is, toward those who are in temptations; for these are in miseries, and are chiefly meant in the Word by the “miserable.”

AC 5043. And gave him grace in the eyes of the prince of the prison house.  That this signifies relief in consequence, is evident from the signification of “giving grace,” as being relief, for “to give grace” in temptations is to comfort and relieve with hope; and from the signification of a “prince,” as being primary truth (n. 5044); and from the signification of a “prison house,” as being the vastation of falsity, and consequently temptation (n. 5038, 5039).

AC 5044. And the prince of the prison house.  That this signifies truth governing in a state of temptations, is evident from the signification of a “prince,” as being primary truth, thus the governing truth, of which presently; and from the signification of a “prison house” as being the vastation of falsity, and consequently temptation (n. 5038, 5039, 5043). What is meant by truth governing in a state of temptations must first be told. With all who are in temptations there flows in truth from the Lord, which rules and governs the thoughts and raises up the sufferers whenever they fall into doubts and even into despair.  This governing truth is that truth and such truth as they have learned from the Word or from doctrine, and have confirmed in themselves. Other truths are indeed at such times also called to mind, but they do not govern the interiors.  Sometimes the truth which governs is not presented visibly before the understanding, but lies hid in obscurity, yet it still governs; for the Divine of the Lord flows into it, and thus keeps the interiors of the mind in it, and therefore when it comes into light, the person who is in temptation receives consolation and is relieved.

[2] It is not this truth itself, but the affection of it, by which the Lord governs those who are in temptations; for the Divine flows only into those things which are of the affection.  The truth which is implanted and rooted in a man’s interiors is implanted and rooted by affection, and not at all without affection; and the truth which has been implanted and rooted by affection, clings there, and is recalled by affection; and when this truth is so recalled, it presents the affection that is conjoined with it, which is the man‘s reciprocal affection. As such is the case with the man who is in temptations, therefore no one is admitted into any spiritual temptation until he reaches adult age, and has thus become imbued with some truth by which he can be governed; otherwise he sinks under the temptation, and then his latter state is worse than the first.  From these things it may be seen what is meant by truth governing in a state of temptations, which is signified by the “prince of the prison house.”

[3] That a “prince” denotes primary truth, is because a “king” in the internal sense signifies truth itself (n. 1672, 1728, 2015, 2069, 3009, 3670, 4575, 4581, 4789, 4966); hence “princes,” because they are the sons of a king, signify the primary things of that truth.  That “princes” have this signification may be seen above in (n. 1482, 2089), but as this was not there proved from many other passages in the Word, some may be cited here. In Isaiah:--

Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the principality shall be upon His shoulder--the Prince of peace. Of the multiplying of His principality and peace there shall be no end (Isa. 9:6, 7);

which is said of the Lord.  The “principality upon the shoulder” is all Divine truth in the heavens from Him; for the heavens are distinguished into principalities according to truths from good, whence also the angels are called “principalities.” Peace is a state of blessedness in the heavens, affecting with good and truth from the inmosts (n. 3780); hence the Lord is called the “Prince of peace,” and it is said that “of the multiplying of His principality and peace there shall be no end.”

[4] Again in the same prophet:--

The princes of Zoan are foolish, the wise, the counselors of Pharaoh.  How say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of the kings of antiquity?  The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; and they have seduced Egypt, the corner stone of the tribes (Isa. 19:11, 13);

treating of Egypt, by which is signified the memory-knowledge of the church (n. 4749), thus natural truth, which is the ultimate of order; wherefore also Egypt is here called the “corner stone of the tribes,” for the “tribes” are all things of truth in one complex (n. 3858, 3862, 3926, 3939, 4060).  But in this passage “Egypt” is the memory-knowledge which perverts the truths of the church, thus truths in the ultimate of order falsified, which are the “princes of Zoan” and the “princes of Noph.” He calls himself the “son of the kings of antiquity,” because the memory-knowledges in Egypt were from the truths of the Ancient Church.  The truths themselves are signified by “kings,” as was shown above, and the truths of the Ancient Church are signified by the “kings of antiquity.”

[5] Again:--

Asshur thinketh not right, and his heart doth not meditate right; for his heart is to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few. For he saith Are not my princes kings? (Isa. 10:7, 8);

“Asshur” denotes reasoning about Divine truths, from which come falsities, thus perverse reasoning (n. 1186).  The truths thus falsified, or falsities, which are produced by reasoning and which appear as the veriest truths, are signified by his saying, “Are not my princes kings?” That “Asshur” is reasoning, and that his “princes who are kings” are primary falsities which are believed to be the veriest truths, cannot be seen and thence believed so long as the mind is kept in the historic sense of the letter, and still less if it is in the negative as to there being anything more holy and more universal in the Divine Word than what appears in the letter; and yet in the internal sense by “Asshur” nothing else than reason and reasoning is understood in the Word, and by “kings” truths themselves, and by “princes” the primary things of truth. Nothing is known in heaven of Asshur, and the angels also reject from themselves the idea of a king and a prince; and when they perceive it in man, they transfer it to the Lord, and perceive that which proceeds from the Lord and is the Lord’s in heaven, namely, the Divine truth from His Divine good.

[6] Again:--

Asshur shall fall with the sword, not of a man; and the sword, not of a man, shall devour him; his rock shall also pass away by reason of dread, but his princes shall be dismayed by the ensign (Isa. 31:8, 9);

also said of Egypt, which is the memory-knowledge of the church perverted. Reasoning from memory-knowledges about Divine truths, from which come perversion and falsification, is “Asshur,” these truths perverted and falsified are the “princes,” the “sword with which Asshur shall fall” is falsity battling with and vastating truth (n. 2799, 4499). Again:--

The strength of Pharaoh shall become to you for a shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt for a reproach, when his princes shall be in Zoan (Isa. 30:3, 4);

the “princes in Zoan” denote truths falsified, thus falsities, as above.

[7] Again:--

The pelican and the bittern shall possess it; and the owl and the raven shall dwell therein; he shall stretch over it the line of emptiness, and the plummet of a waste. The nobles thereof are not there, they shall call a kingdom, and all her princes shall be nothing (Isa. 34:11, 12);

the “pelican,” the “ bittern,” the “owl,” and the “raven,” denote the different kinds of falsity which come into existence when the Divine truths that are in the Word become of no account.  The desolation and vastation of truth are signified by the “line of emptiness, and the plummet of a waste;” and the falsities, which to them are primary truths, are signified by “princes.” Again:--

I will render profane the princes of holiness, and I will give Jacob for a curse, and Israel for reproaches (Isa. 43:28);

“to profane the princes of holiness” denotes to profane holy truths; the extirpation of the truth of the external and the internal church is signified by “giving Jacob for a curse, and Israel for reproaches;” that “Jacob” is the external church, and “Israel” the internal, may be seen above (n. 4286).

[8] In Jeremiah:

There shall enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariot and on horses, they and their princes (Jeremiah 17:25);

one who here understands the Word in the historic sense, cannot be aware that the words store within them anything more deep and holy than that kings and princes would enter in by the gates of the city in chariots and on horses, and he gathers from it that the duration of the kingdom is referred to; but he who knows what a “city,” “kings,” “princes,” the “throne of David,” and “riding in chariot and on horses” signify in the internal sense, sees there things more deep and holy; for the “city” or Jerusalem signifies the spiritual kingdom of the Lord (n. 2117, 3654); “kings” signify Divine truths; “princes,” the primary things of truth; the “throne of David,” the heaven of the Lord (n. 1888); “riding in chariot and on horses,” the spiritual understanding of the church (n. 2760, 2761, 3217).

[9] Again:--

O sword against the Chaldeans, and against the inhabitants of Babylon, and against her princes and against her wise men. O sword against the liars. O sword against her horses and against her chariots (Jer. 50:35-37);

a “sword” denotes truth fighting against falsity, and falsity fighting against truth and vastating it (n. 2799, 4499); the “Chaldeans” denote those who profane truths; and the “inhabitants of Babylon,” those who profane good (n. 1182, 1283, 1295, 1304, 1307, 1308, 1321, 1322, 1326, 1327); “princes” denote the falsities which to such are primary truths; “horses,” the intellectual of the church, and “chariots,” its doctrine, the vastation of which is signified by a “sword against the horses and against the chariots.”

[10] Again:--

How doth the Lord in His anger cloud over the daughter of Zion The Lord hath swallowed up, He hath not spared, all the habitations of Jacob; He hath destroyed in His wrath the stronghold of the daughter of Judah; He hath cast them forth to the earth; He hath profaned the kingdom and the princes thereof; the gates have sunk into the earth, and He hath broken the bars in pieces; the king and the princes are among the nations (Lam. 2:1, 2, 9);

the “daughter of Zion and of Judah” denotes the celestial church, here this church destroyed; the “kingdom,” the truths of doctrine therein (n. 2547, 4691); the “king,” the truth itself, and the “princes,” its primaries.

[11] Again:--

Our skins have been blackened like an oven, because of the storms of famine. They ravished the women in Zion, the virgins in the cities of Judah, the princes were hanged up by their hand (Lam. 5:10-12);

“the princes being hanged up by their hand” denotes that truths are profaned, for hanging represented the damnation of profanation; and because of this representation, it was also commanded when the people committed whoredom after Baal-peor and worshiped their gods, that the princes should be hanged up before the sun (Num. 25:1-4); for to commit whoredom after Baal-peor, and to worship their gods, was to profane worship.  In Ezekiel:--

The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with astonishment, and the hands of the people of the land shall be terrified; I will deal with them after their way (Ezek. 7:27);

where the “king” in like manner denotes truth in general, and the “prince,” its primaries.

[12] Again:--

The prince that is in the midst of them shall be borne upon the shoulder in the dark, and shall go forth; they shall dig through the wall to bring out through it; he will veil over his faces that he see not the earth at his eye (Ezek. 12:12);

that a “prince” here does not mean a prince, but the truth of the church, is very manifest; and when it is said of this that it shall be “borne on the shoulder in the dark,” it means that with all their might it should be conveyed down among falsities, for “darkness” is falsities; “to veil over the faces” denotes that truth should not be seen at all; his “not seeing the earth at his eye,” means that nothing of the church would be seen. The “earth” is the church, (n. 662, 1066, 1068, 1262, 1413, 1607, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 2928, 3355, 4447, 4535). In Hosea:--

The sons of Israel shall sit many days, there is no king, and no prince, and no sacrifice, and no pillar, and no ephod, and no teraphim (Hosea 3:4).

[13] And in David:--

The king‘s daughter is all glorious within; and of inweavings of gold is her garment, in needlework shall she be brought to the king; instead of thy fathers shall be thy sons, thou shalt set them for princes in the whole earth (Ps. 45:13-16);

the “king’s daughter” is the Lord‘s spiritual kingdom, which is called His spiritual kingdom from the Lord’s Divine truth, here described by her garment of inweavings of gold and of needlework; “sons” are the truths of that kingdom which are from the Lord‘s Divine, which must be “princes,” that is, primary truths.  The “prince” who together with his possessions in the New Jerusalem and in the new earth is described in (Ezekiel 44:3; 45:7, 8, 17; 46:8, 10, 12, 16, 18; 48:21), signifies in general the truth which is from the Lord’s Divine; for by the “New Jerusalem,” the “new temple,” and the “new earth” there, is meant the Lord‘s kingdom in heaven and on earth, which is there described by representatives such as are found in other parts of the Word.

AC 5045. Gave into Joseph’s hand all the bound ones that were in the prison house.  That this signifies from Himself over all falsities, namely, truth governing in a state of temptations, is evident from the signification of “giving into Joseph‘s hand,” as being into his power, the “hand” being power (n. 5008); thus meaning that it was from Himself, for what is effected from His power is effected from Himself--by “Joseph” being meant in the internal sense the Lord, as often shown above; and from the signification of the “bound ones in the prison house,” as being falsities (n. 5037, 5038). Thus by “the prince of the prison gave into Joseph’s hand all the bound ones that were in the prison house,” is signified truth governing in a state of temptations from Himself over all falsities; that is, that the truth by which He governed falsities in a state of temptations was from Himself. Here, and in what follows to the end of this chapter, in the internal sense the subject treated of is the Lord, how He from His own power governed in a state of temptations, that is, overcame the hells, which were in evils and falsities and were continually pouring them into mankind.  That the Lord by His own power overcame and subdued the hells, and thus glorified or made Divine the Human in Himself, may be seen above (n. 1616, 1749, 1755, 1813, 1904, 1914, 1921, 1935, 2025, 2026, 2083, 2159, 2574, 2786, 2795, 3036, 3381, 3382, 4075, 4286, 5005).  This is evident from many passages in the Word, as from this in John:--

I lay down My soul, that I may take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again (John 10:17, 18).

That the passion of the cross was the last of the temptations, and that by it the Lord fully glorified the Human in Himself, that is, made it Divine, is also plain from many passages in the Word, as in (John 13:31, 32; 17:1, 5; Luke 24:26).

AC 5046. And whatsoever they did there, he was the doer. That this signifies absolute power, may be seen without explication, for the words involve that all things were from Himself, thus that He had the absolute power of doing and of leaving undone.

AC 5047. The prince of the prison house saw naught of anything that was in his hand.  That this signifies that He Himself governed truth, is evident from the signification of the “prince of the prison house,” as being truth governing in a state of temptations (n. 5044); and from the signification of “not seeing anything that was in his hand,” as being that it is from Himself, thus from absolute power (n. 5045, 5046).

AC 5048. Because Jehovah was with him.  That this signifies from the Divine which was in Him, is evident from what was said above (n. 5041).

AC 5049. And that which he did, Jehovah made it to prosper. That this signifies that the Divine providence was from Himself, is evident from the signification of “making to prosper,” as being providence (n. 4972, 4975); that it is Divine is meant by “Jehovah,” and that it was from Himself, by “that which he did.”  That “making to prosper,” in the supreme sense, is providence, is because everything prosperous which appears in the ultimates of nature is in its origin from the Divine providence of the Lord.  That this is so, and also that everything which is said to be of fortune is therefrom, will of the Lord‘s Divine mercy be shown elsewhere from experiences in the spiritual world.

AC 5050. At the end of the preceding chapter (n. 4931-4953), it was shown from experience who in the Grand Man or heaven belong to the province of the hands, of the arms, and of the feet; and it will now be shown what are the societies in heaven or the Grand Man to which the loins correspond, and also the members adhering to the loins, which are called the members of generation. In general, be it known that the loins and the members adhering to them correspond to genuine conjugial love, and consequently to the societies in which are those who are in this love. They who are in these societies are more celestial than others, and more than others live in the delight of peace.

AC 5051. In a quiet dream I saw some trees planted in a wooden receptacle, one of which was tall, another lower, and two were small. The lower tree delighted me very greatly, and all the while a very pleasant rest, such as I cannot express, affected my mind. On awaking from sleep I conversed with those who induced the dream. They were angelic spirits (n. 1977, 1979), and they told me what was signified by what I had seen--that it was conjugial love, the tall tree signifying the husband, the lower tree the wife, and the two small ones the children. They told me further that the very pleasant rest which affected my mind indicated what pleasantness of peace those have in the other life who have lived in genuine conjugial love. They added that such are those who belong to the province of the thighs next above the knees, and that those who are in a still more pleasant state belong to the province of the loins.  It was also shown that this province communicates through the feet with the soles and the heels. That this is so, is plain from that great nerve in the thigh which sends forth its branches not only through the loins to the members of generation (which are the organs of conjugial love), but also through the feet to the soles and the heels.  It was also then discovered what is meant in the Word by the hollow and the nerve of the thigh which was put out of joint in Jacob, when he wrestled with the angel (Gen. 32:25, 31, 32); (n. 4280, 4281, 4314-4317).

[2] I afterward saw a great dog, such as that called Cerberus by ancient writers, with a frightful open mouth; and I was told that such a dog signifies a guard to prevent man’s passing over from heavenly conjugial love to the love of adultery, which is infernal; for heavenly conjugial love exists when a man together with his wife, whom he loves most tenderly, and with his children, lives content in the Lord.  From this he has in this world an inward pleasantness, and in the other life heavenly joy; but when he passes from this love into the opposite, and finds in this a delight that seems to him heavenly, although it is infernal, then such a dog is presented as a guard lest there should be a communication between these opposite delights.

AC 5052. The Lord insinuates conjugial love through the inmost heaven, the angels of which are in peace beyond all others. Peace in the heavens is comparatively like springtime n the world, which renders all things joyous, for in its origin peace is the celestial itself.  The angels who are in the inmost heaven are the wisest of all, and from their innocence they appear to others as infants, for they love infants much more than do their fathers and mothers.  They are present with infants in the womb, and through them the Lord cares for the feeding and full development of the infants therein; thus they have charge over those who are with child.

AC 5053. There are heavenly societies to which correspond all and each of the members and organs allotted to generation in both sexes.  These societies are distinct from others, just as this province in man is quite distinct and separate from the rest.  The reason why these societies are celestial, is that conjugial love is the fundamental love of all loves (n. 686, 2733, 2737, 2738). It also excels the rest in use, and consequently in delight; for marriages are the nurseries of the whole human race, and are also the nurseries of the Lord‘s heavenly kingdom; for heaven is from the human race.

AC 5054. They who have loved infants most tenderly, as for instance such mothers, are in the province of the womb and the organs round about, namely, in the province of the neck of the womb and of the ovaries; and they who are there are in a life most sweet and soft, and are in heavenly joy beyond others.

AC 5055. But what and of what quality those heavenly societies are which belong to the several organs of generation, it has not been given me to know; for they are too interior to be comprehended by anyone who is in a lower sphere.  They bear relation to the uses of these organs, which uses are hidden, and are far from ken, for the reason (which also is of Providence) that such things, in themselves most heavenly, may not suffer injury by filthy thoughts of lasciviousness, of whoredom, and of adultery, which are excited in very many persons at the bare mention of these organs.  For this reason I may relate some of the more remote things that I have seen.

AC 5056. A certain spirit from another earth was with me (of which spirits from other earths of the Lord’s Divine mercy I shall speak elsewhere), and he anxiously begged me to intercede for him, that he might come into heaven. He said that he was not aware of having done what is evil, except that he had rebuked the inhabitants of that earth (for there are spirits who chide and chastise those who do not live rightly, who also will be described when I speak of the inhabitants of other earths). He added that after chiding he instructed them. He then talked with as it were a broken voice, and he could move one to pity.  But I could only reply that I could give him no help, and that admission into heaven is of the Lord alone, but that if worthy he might hope.  He was then sent back among upright spirits from his own earth; but these said that he could not be in their company, because he was not such as they were.  Yet because with intense longing he importuned to be let into heaven, he was sent into a society of upright spirits of this earth; but these also said that he could not remain with them.  In the light of heaven he was of a black color; but he himself said that he was not of a black, but of a murrhine color.

[2] I was told that they are such in the beginning who are afterward received among those who constitute the province of the seminal vesicles; for in these vesicles is collected the semen with its proper serum with which it is combined and thereby rendered fit, after it has been emitted, to be resolved in the neck of the womb, and thus to be serviceable for conception; and there is in such a substance an endeavor and as it were a longing to perform a use, thus to put off the serum with which it is clothed. Something similar showed itself in this spirit.  He came again to me, but in vile clothing, and said that he was burning to come into heaven, and that he now perceived that he was fit for it.  I was given to tell him that perhaps this was an indication that he would soon be received. He was then told by angels to cast off his garment; and in his longing he cast it off so quickly that scarcely anything could be quicker.  By this was represented the nature of the ardent desires of those who are in the province to which the seminal vesicles correspond.

AC 5057. A large mortar was seen, and standing by it a man with an iron instrument, who from phantasy seemed to himself to pound men in that vessel, torturing them in direful ways.  This he did with great delight, which was communicated to me, that I might know the quality and intensity of it in those who are of this nature.  It was an infernal delight. I was told by angels that such was the ruling delight with the posterity of Jacob; and that they perceived nothing more delightful than to treat the nations with cruelty, to expose them when slain to be devoured by wild beasts and birds, to cut them alive with saws and axes, to make them pass through the brick-kiln (2 Sam. 12:31), and to dash their little children together and throw them away.  Such things were never commanded, nor were they ever permitted except to those the nerve of whose thigh was out of joint (n. 5051).  Such spirits dwell under the right heel, where are adulterers who are also cruel.

[2] It is therefore surprising that anyone should ever have believed that that nation was chosen more than others; and from this also many confirm themselves in the idea that the life effects nothing, but that election, and hence reception into heaven, is of mere mercy, whatever the life may have been; when yet everyone from sound reason may see that to think in this way is contrary to the Divine, for the Divine is mercy itself, and therefore if heaven were of mere mercy without regard to the life, everybody would be received.  To thrust down anyone into hell to be tormented there, when it would be possible to receive him into heaven, would be unmercifulness and not mercy; and to elect one in preference to another would be injustice, and not justice.

[3] Wherefore they who have believed and have confirmed themselves in the idea that some are elected, and the rest not, and that admission into heaven is of mere mercy, without regard to the life, are told (as I have several times heard and seen) that heaven is never denied by the Lord to anyone, and that if they desire they may know this from experience.  For this purpose they are taken up into some society of heaven where are those who have lived in the affection of good, or in charity; but being evil, as soon as they come there they begin to be tormented and to be inwardly tortured, because their life is contrary; and when the heavenly light appears, they appear in it like devils, almost devoid of human form, some with the face sunk in, some like grates of teeth, and some monstrous in other ways. Thus they abhor themselves, and cast themselves down headlong into hell, and for them the deeper the better.

AC 5058. There was also a certain person who in the world had been a man of position, and who was then known to me, although not as to his inner quality; but in the other life, after some revolvings of the state of his life, it became evident that he was deceitful. When he had been for some time among the deceitful in the other life, and had suffered hard things there, he desired to be separated from them.  I heard him then saying that he desired to come into heaven; and he too had believed that reception is of mere mercy.  But he was told that if he got there he could not stay there, and that he would be tormented like those who in the world are in the death agony.  Nevertheless he insisted, and was therefore admitted into a society consisting of the simple good who are in front above the head; but as soon as he arrived he began to act craftily and deceitfully, according to his life.  The result was that within an hour the good in that society, who were simple, began to lament, saying that he took away from them their perception of good and of truth, and consequently their delight, thus destroying their state.  Then some light from the interior heaven was admitted, in which he appeared as a devil, with the upper part of his nose loathsomely furrowed with a foul wound.  He also began to be inwardly tortured; and when he felt this, he cast himself down into hell.  From this it is plain that it is not election and reception from mercy, but the life, that makes heaven; nevertheless all things of the life of good and of the faith of truth are from mercy given to those who receive mercy in the world; and with these there is reception from mercy, and they are those who are called the “elect” (n. 3755, 3900).

AC 5059. When those have approached me who have lived in what is contrary to conjugial love--that is, in adulteries--they always injected pain in the loins, more or less severe according to the life of adulteries which they had lived; from which influx also it has been evident that the loins correspond to conjugial love.  The hell of these is under the hinder part of the loins, beneath the buttocks, where they dwell in filth and excrements; and these things are delightful to them because in the spiritual world they are in correspondence with these pleasures.  But more will be said about these spirits, when of the Lord‘s Divine mercy I come to speak of the hells in general and in particular.

AC 5060. Who they are that correspond to the testicles, was in like manner evident to me from those who are in what is contrary to conjugial love, and who inflict pain on the testicles; for when societies operate they act upon those parts and those members of the body to which they correspond--heavenly societies by a gentle, sweet, delightful influx; and infernal ones, who are in what is contrary, by a severe and painful influx. But their influx is perceived by those only whose interiors have been opened, and who thereby have received perceptible communication with the spiritual world.  They who are in what is contrary to conjugial love and who inflict pain on the testicles, are those who ensnare by love, friendship, and kind offices.  When such spirits approached me they desired to speak with me in private, being exceedingly fearful lest anyone should be present, for this had been their character in the life of the body; and being such then, they are such in the other life also, because everyones life remains with him.

[2] There arose from the region about Gehenna somewhat aerial and inconspicuous.  It was a company of such spirits, but though there were many in it, it afterward appeared to me as only one spirit hampered with bandages, which however he seemed to himself to remove, whereby was signified that they desired to remove obstacles; for in such a manner do the thoughts and efforts of the mind appear representatively in the world of spirits, and when they appear, it is instantly perceived what they signify. Afterward it seemed as if there came forth from his body a little snow-white spirit, who drew near to me, by which was represented their thought and intention--that they desired to assume a state of innocence, so that no one might suspect their real character.  When he came to me, he let himself down toward the loins, and seemed to wind himself as it were about both of them, whereby was represented that they desired to exhibit themselves in chaste conjugial love; afterward he seemed to wind himself about the feet in spiral coils, whereby was represented that they desired to insinuate themselves by such things as are delightful in nature. At last that little spirit became almost invisible, by which was represented that they desire to lie wholly concealed.

[3] I was told by angels that such insinuation belongs to those who seek to ensnare in conjugial love, that is to say, those who in the world have insinuated themselves with the end to commit adultery with wives, by speaking chastely and sanely about conjugial love, by caressing the children, by praising the husband in every possible way, so as to be believed to be friendly, chaste, and innocent, when yet they are deceitful adulterers.  Their quality was also shown me, for after these things had been done, that little snow-white spirit became visible, and appeared dusky and very black, and also very deformed; and he was cast out into his hell, which was deep under the middle part of the loins. There they dwell in the foulest excrements; and they are also among the robbers there who bear relation to the general involuntary sense (n. 4327).  I afterward conversed with such spirits, and they were surprised that anyone should make adultery a matter of conscience, that is, that from conscience he would not lie with another’s wife when allowed; and when I talked with them about conscience, they denied that anyone has conscience.  I was told that such spirits are for the most part from Christendom, and seldom from other parts of the world.

AC 5061. By way of corollary I may add this memorable circumstance.  There were some spirits who had long lain concealed, shut up in a peculiar hell, from which they could not break out. I sometimes wondered who they were. One evening they were let out, and then was heard from them a very tumultuous noise of murmurs, which continued a long time; and when opportunity was given, I heard from them scoffings against me, and perceived that they desired and were endeavoring to come up and destroy me.  I asked the angels the reason of this; and they said that during their lifetime these persons had hated me, although I had never harmed them; and I was instructed that when such spirits merely perceive the sphere of the person whom they have hated, they breathe his destruction; but they were sent back into their own hell. From this it is evident that those who have hated each other in the world meet in the other life, and attempt many evils against each other, as has often been granted me to know by other examples.  For hatred is opposite to love and charity, and is an aversion, and as it were a spiritual antipathy; and therefore the moment that such spirits perceive in the other life the sphere of the person against whom they have borne hatred, they come as it were into a fury.  It is plain from this what is involved in the Lord‘s words in (Matthew 5:22-26).

AC 5062. A continuation concerning correspondence with the Grand Man will be found at the end of the following chapter.

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