are then attributed in the Word of God, it is owing to Ap pearance only, for fuch Things are but Appearances of Truth.

257. That feveral Things in the literal Senfe of the Word, are but Appearances of Truth, wherein genuine Truths lie concealed, and that no hurt is incured by thinking, and even fpeaking in Simplicity according to fuch Appearances, but that it is hurtful to confirm them, inafmuch as by Confirmation the Divine Truth concealed within is deftroyed, may be alfo illuftrated by an Example from Nature, to which we shall ap peal, becaufe what is Natural enlighteneth and inftructeth the Mind more clearly than what is Spiritual. It appears to the bodily Eye as if the Sun performed a daily and annual Revolution about the Earth; hence it is common to fay, that the Sun rifes and fets, that it caufeth Morning, Noon-Day, Evening and Night, and alfo the Seafons of the Year, as Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, and confequently Days and Years; when, neverthelefs, the Sun continueth immoveable, being an Ocean of Fire, round which the Earth performeth her daily and annual Revolutions. A Perfon now, who in Simplicity and Ignorance fuppofes that the Sun revolveth about the Earth, doth not destroy this natural Truth refpecting the Earth's Rotation round her own Axis, and her annual Revolution in the Ecliptic; but whofo confirmeth the Sun's apparent Motion by the Reafonings of the natural Man, particularly if he supporteth fuch an Opinion by the Authority of the Word, which fpeaks of the Sun'srifing and fetting, he invalidates the Truth, and destroys it; the Confequence of which is, that he cannot afterwards difcern it, though he fhould have occular Demonstration given him that the whole Firmament of Stars hath in like Manner an apparent daily and annual Motion, and yet one Star never changeth it's Situation in Refpect to another. That the Sun moveth, is then an apparent Truth, but that it doth not move, is a genuine Truth; nevertheless every one speaketh according to apparent Truth, faying that the Sun rifes and fets, which indeed is allowable, because it is impoffible, to ufe any other Mode of expreffion; but ftill in Conformity with fuch a Mode of Expreffion, to think that the Fact is really fo, and to confirm fuch a Thought, this dulls and darkens the rational Understanding.

258. The true Ground of the Reason why it is hurtful to

confirm the Appearances of Truth that occur in the Word, in Confequence whereof Fallacies are occafioned, and the Divine Truth, which lieth concealed under fuch Appearances, is deftroyed, is this, because all and every Part of the literal Senfe of the Word hath Communication with Heaven, by Virtue of the fpiritual Senfe contained therein, as was thown above, which fpiritual Senfe is opened in the Paffage from Man to Heaven; now all Things contained in the fpiritual Senfe are genuine Truths, wherefore when Man is under the Influence of Falfes, and applicth the literal Senfe of the Word thereto, in this Cafe Falfes have interior Poffeffion, and of Confequence Truths are diffipated; which Diffipation of Truths is effected in the Way from Man to Heaven; and this Circumftance may admit of a comparative Illuftration from that of a fhining Bladder filled with Gall, which, being thrown by one Perfon at another, burfteth in the Air, before it reacheth him at whom it was thrown, in Confequence whereof the Gall is difperfed, and infecteth the Air with it's horrid Stench, which when the Perfon at whom it is thrown, perceiveth, he turneth afide, and even shutteth his Mouth, left the infected Air fhould get Admiffion; it may also be compared with a Bottle girt about with Twigs of Cedar, and filled with Vinegar, wherein Worms have bred, which being thrown, in like Manner, by one Perfon at another, burfteth in the Way, and communicateth it's Stench to the Perfon at whom it was. thrown, who inftantly exerteth all his Endeavours to difperfe it, and prevent it's entering his Noftrills; it may further be compared with the outer Covering of an Almond, within which, instead of an Almond, is inclofed a Viper new-born, which on removing the outer Covering darts directly at the Eyes of a By-ftander, who inftantly turns afide to efcape the Invader. So it is with the Reading of the Word; when the Reader is under the Influence of Falfes, and applieth fome Particulars contained in the literal Sense to favour thofe Falfes his Reading, in this Cafe, is rejected before it reacheth Hea ven, left it's Influence fhould enter therein, and infeft the Angels; for the Falfe, when it cometh into Contact with Truth, is like the Point of a Needle when it toucheth a little nervous Fibril, or the Pupil of the Eye; and every one knows, that in fuch a Cafe the nervous Fibril inftantly revolts, and folds itfelf within itfelf, and in like Manner the

Eve, at the firft Senfation of the Needle's Touch, covereth itfelf with it's Eye-Lids. Hence it appears, that falfified Truth preventeth Communication with Heaven, and clofeth it up; and this is the Reafon why it is hurtful to confirm any falfe heretical Opinion.

259. The Word is like a Garden which may be called a celeftial Paradife, containing Delicacies and Delights of every Kind, Delicacies by Virtue of it's Fruits, and Delights by Virtue of it's Flowers, in the midft whereof are Trees of Life, and befide them Fountains of living Water; and round about the Garden are fhady Forefts. Whofoever now is under the Influence, and in the Poffeffion of Divine Truths, by Virtue of Doctrine, he is in the Midft of the Garden, amongst the Trees of Life, and in the actual Enjoyment of it's Delicacies and Delights; but where a Man is not under the Influence, and in the Poffeffion of Truths, by Virtue of Doctrine, he abideth only in the Woods and Forefts which encompafs the Garden, and feeth Nothing within; and laftly, where a Man is influenced by the Doctrine of falfe Religion, and hath confirmed it's Falfes in his Mind, he is not even in the Wood which furrounds the Garden, but in a fandy Defart, on the outfide, where no Grafs groweth. That thefe are the refpective States of fuch Perfons after Death, is fhewn in the Treatife CONCERNING HEAVEN AND HELL.

260. It is moreover to be obferved, that the literal Sense of the Word is a Defence for the genuine Truths concealed in it, left they should fuffer Violence; and the Defence confifteth in this Circumftance, that the literal Senfe can turn every Way in all Directions, and be explained according to the Reader's Apprehenfion, without it's Internal being hurt or violated; for no Hurt enfues from the literal Senfe being underftoood differently by different Perfons, but the Danger is, when a Man introduceth Falfes, which are contrary to Divine Truths, as is the Cafe with thofe, and thofe only, who have cofirmed themselves in Falfes; hereby the Word fuffereth Violence, to prevent which the literal Senfe is it's Defence, and it operateth as fuch a Defence with those who are under the Influence of religious Falfes, and yet do not confirm them in their Minds. The literal Senfe of the Word

acting as a Guard or Defence, is fignified by Cherubims in the Word, and is alfo defcribed by them. This Defence is fignified by the Cherubs, which, after the Expulfion of Adam and his Wife from the Garden of Eden, were placed at the Entrance thereof, and of which it is written, "When Fehovah God had driven out the Man, he placed at the East of the Garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming Sword, which turned every Way to keep the Way of the Tree of Life, "Gen. iii. 23, 24. No one can know what thefe Words fignify, unless he knoweth what is fignified by Cherubims, what by the Garden of Eden, and wh at by the Tree of Life therein, and laftly, what by the flaming Sword which turned every Way; all these Particulars are explained in the Work entitled ARCANA COELESTIA, published at London, wherein it is fhewn, that by Cherubims is fignified Defence; by the Way of the Tree of Life is fignified Admiffion to the Lord, which Men have by Means of the Truth contained in the fpiritual. Sense of the Word; by the flaming Sword, which turned every Way, is fignified Divine Truth in it's Ultimates, which, like the. Word in it's literal Senfe, is capable of being so turned. The fame is understood by the "CHERUBIMS MADE OF GOLD,. over the two Extremities of the Mercy-Seat, which was above the Ark, in The Tabrenacle," Exod. xxv. 18 to 21. By the Ark is fignified the Word, because the Decalogue contained therein was it's Primitive; by the Cherubs therein is fignified Defence, on which Account the Lord talked with Mofes from between them, Exod. xxv. 22. Numb. vii. 89; and he fpake in a natural Senfe, for he never fpeaketh with Man but in Fulnefs, and Divine Truth is, in the literal Senfe, in it's Fulnefs, as was fhewn above, No. 214 to 224. The fame is understood by THE CHERUBIMs over the Curtains of the Tabernacle, and over the Vail," Exod. xxvi. 31; for the Curtains and Vails of the Tabernacle fignified the Ultimates of Heaven and the Church, and confequently of the Word, No. 220; and alfo by the CHERUBIMS carved over the Walls and Door of the Temple at Jerufalem," 1 Kings vi. 29, 32, 35. See above, No. 221; and alfo by the "CHERUBIMS in the new Temple," Ezech. xli. 18, 19, 20. Since by Cherubims was fignified Defence, to fecure the Lord, Heaven, and Divine Truth, fuch as is contained in the Internal of the Word, from being approached immediately, and to fhew that they ought to be

approached by the Mediation of Ultimates, therefore it is faid of the King of Tyre, "Thou fealeft up the Sum full of Wisdom, and perfect in Beauty; thou haft been in Eden the Garden of God; every precious Stone was thy Covering; thou art the anointed CHERUB that covereth; I will deftroy thee, O COVERING CHERUB, from the Midft of the Stones of Fire," Ezek.xxviii. 12, 13, 14, 16; by Tyre is fignified the Church, in Res-, Pect to the Knowledge of Truth and Goodnefs, and confequently, by the King of Tyre is fignified the Word, where thofe Knowledges are, and from whence they are derived. That by the King of Tyre, is here fignified the Word in it's Ultimate, and by Cherub Defence, is plain from this Circumftance, that it is faid, "Thou fealeft up the Sum full of Wifdom, every precious Stone was thy Covering, thou art the anointed Cherub that covereth;" that by the precious Stones, which are alfo mentioned in the fame Chapter, are fignified the Things belonging to the literal Senfe of the Word, may be feen above, No. 217, 218. Inafmuch as by Cherubims is fignified the Word in it's Ultimates, and alfo Defence, there fore it is written in the Pfalms of David," Jehovah bowed the Heavens and came down, and he rode upon a Cherub," xviii. 10, "O Shepherd of Ifrael, thau that dwelleft between the Cherubims, fhine fortb," lxxx, I. Jehovah fitteth between the Cherubims," xcix. I. To ride on the Cherubims, and to fit upon them, meaneth on the ultimate Sense of the Word. Divine Truth in the Word, with it's Nature and Quality, is defcribed by the four Animals, which are alfo called Cherubims in Ezekiel, Chap. i. ix, and x; and likewife, by the four Animals in the Midft of the Throne, and near the Throne, Rev. iv. 6. See the APOCALYPSE REVEALED, published by me at Amfterdam, No. 239, 275, 314.

II.

66

XI.

That the Lord during his Abode, in the World fulfilled all Things contained in the Word, and thereby was made the Word, that is, Divine Truth, even in it's Ultimates.

261. That the Lord, during his Abode in the World, fulfilled all Things contained in the Word, and that he was