1^ ' ^f^^.. 9 ^> .^'VJ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 |50 *"^ ^ m ^ i:s IIIIIM 2.5 1.4 III 1.6 V] <^ >^?. J /a "% s> v ^ c?;^ /A Hiotographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ile du Canada Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetd de l'exemplaire filmd, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimde sont film6s en commengant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression oj d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. 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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmd d partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 4 5 6 " His visage was so marred more than any man."-/5. Hi.- IJ^. " And His Face did shine as the sun"— Mutt, xvii : 2. niE FACE OF JESUS; OR, TIIOLIGIITS FOR THE MATURE COXCERNINO THE NATUEE or THE WORD OF GOD. / BT A BELIEVER IX THE INTERNAL EVIDENCE OF DIVINE REVELATION. "And it was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin."-.7«A„ :rix : 20. '• This is my body which is given for you."-Lukc ,m : 10. " This is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many." — -iliuk xic: 2ff. London: F. PITMAN, 20 PATERNOSTER ROW., E. C. 5^0 von to, (!)nt. ; HUNTER. ROSE .t CO., 25 WELL[N.:iTON ST. ENTKRFD AT STATHNERs' HALL.] ^^^^' [all rights RKSRRVro. " Seek the Lord and His strength ; seek His Pace evermore."— Ps. cv. 4. Entertxl accnnlinjr t« the Act of the Parliament of Canad i, in the year one thousand . eipht hundred and .■iL-lity three, by HuMEB, KosK & Ca, in the office of the Minister of Agncultuie. THE ORDER OF CONTENTS. Introduction Tho Face of Jesus .'. The Preptvration for Regenoratioa The Retrospect The Religious Teacher The Miraculous Conception Serious Questions The Literal Sense of the Word* Flesh and Blood The Son of Man The Crucifixion The Son of God The Human Form The Trinity in One Abstract Spiritual Principles ' The Internal Sense Degrees of Order Triune Principles of the Word The Love of Self the Origin of Evil '" IheLoveof the World The Form of the Literal Sens^ 'of the Word The Brazen Age, or Natural Dec^ree The Silver Age, or Spiritual Degree The Golden Age, or Celestial Degree The Style of the Literal Sense The First Chapter of Genesis " ' •States The First Day of CreatiJn The Proprium of Man The Second Day of Creation The Rational Faculty The Opening of the Rational Faculty " " ' The Formation of the Rational Faculty " * The Material Degree of th« M,«.i ^ Materni Th Praye ^ity of the Virgin Mary The Lord'- Prayer The Third Dav of Creation PAR. * * • • .. 1 1 • ..14 • * • • . . 28 • " • • ..53 ■ • • • . . 08 • ' • . .. 80 ' • . . 85 • • , ^ . . 93 * " • • . . 99 " • • • .. 117 ' • ..125 ^ " • • ..139 • • ..142 • • • • . . 155 * • • . .. 1G3 ■ • ..174 • • • . .. 178 ■ ■ .. 185 • • • . , .. 190 • • .. 190 • ■ .. 207 ■ • .. 214 * • • • .. 210 ' ' .. 219 ' ■ ■ • , .. 221 ■ • .. 22.1 ■ • .. 227 • • , ^ .. 2;jo • . , , .. 255 * • • • , ^ .. 278 , , .. 280 • • • . . , .. 288 • ' • • , ^ .. 292 • • . . .. 29«J * • V • .. 311 • • .. 327 • • - • • • .. 333 • • V. . ..351 iv THE ORDER OF CONTENTS. The Two Affectiona Correspoiidenccs X TGQo m • •• ** *• ** Numbers The Birth of the Holy Child Miracles Divine Worship litlolfttry Music nnd the Sound of the Voico . . The Inlhiences of Angela and Spirits The C)rili;r of Spiritual Descout The Corporeal Principle of the Mind ITio Miiteriiil Body of the Lord A Miracle of the Third Day . . The Fourth Day of Creation Interior Motives Spiritual Quarters The Consecration of the Holy Child Baptism and Circumcision The Book of Life Offering Sacrifice The Fifth Day of Creation The Infancy of Jesus Interpretation of Scripture . . The Light of Nature The True Source of Intellectual Culture Dreams and Visions The Parts of Galilee The Sixth Day of Creation Pleasures The Form of Heaven Marriage Adultery The Holy Supper The Transfiguration The Last Temptation The Sabbath The Life of llcgoneration The Pulpit and the Press Conclusion Summary 3(51 30!) 373 3!)0 31>5 442 4o7 484 48!) 502 518 538 651 5G3 G13 G23 053 058 GOO GOO 077 089 700 712 722 728 734 750 707 770 702 808 824 833 845 858 808 873 e70 880 U05 INTRODUCTION. 7i)2 8t»8 824 S'So 84.-) 858 8G8 873 P79 1880 §1. Tlie thoughts expressed in these pages are not self-intelligent opinions derived from fanciful or spec- ulative metaphor, but they are founded upon the coherent internal understanding of that Word of Eter- nal Life which the Lord has given to men. 2. A thoughtful comparison of the different portions of the Word of God, with the mind divested of pre- conceived or traditional ideas, may reveal to the rational intelligence glimpses of the Divine Truth which nmy be found within, and illustrated by the Word from its own pages. o. In order to perceive Divine Truth, the first requi- site on the part of the reader is a life in the constant effort to shun all evil, both in will and thought, because it is wrong, and thus is in oj^position to the Divine Laws which have been given for the elevation of man's spiritual nature; with an inward acknowledgment, that all life and spiritual thought are from tlie Lord ; that man in himself alone is helpless, and that ail the power to overcome evil is from Him alune. 4. Those only who possess this first requisite will perceive truth in the thoughts here written concerning the nature of the Divine Word ; for in order that in- terior truth may enter the mind, tlicre must be an in- nocent state of life, in which one feels that he knows nothing, and that he is simply a receptacle of life and thought. "Blessed are tlie 'pure in heart : for tJiey shall see God." J»hii 3 21 Ps. 127 : 1 2 Cot. 3 :0 J'liiii i; 03 Jollll II Ci J..hn r, S9 Mark 7 » Matt -J J :i7 I'a. II'J is I's. Ill) aa Ji'lili li :23 Jiihn 14 :l(i John 1;> :5 r.i. 37 ; 27 I'i. 119 112 IS. no ; 130 Juhii 14 ;6 John 15 .4 rg. 84:11 Luke 24 : 45 Ps. 51 : Mutt. 16 1,'2 Julll) 14 19 Fd 40 : 17 ftUtt. s: t THE FACE OF JESUS : I Requisites for comprehension. Prove by comparison. Hefurciiueii. 1 'IhUHIi. b'.'il Dent 13 : 3 Msrtf 12 :20 Murk 12 : 30 Matt. i:37 Ucut. C : 5 Hark 12 : 31 Lev. Ill ; 18 Uoiii. i:i : U JaiiiuH '^ : ti Jolin & : 43 Mntl. ir> : 8 Mti't. li ; 30 1 'I'iiii 4 : 111 Murk I.' -.la Malt, -si : 40 Matt IG : 12 John V ; 16 Matt. 24 : 11 Matt 24 : 23 Juliii j : 31 ';Juiini :0 John 5 : 32 Jcr. 33 : 3 Matt. 12 : 37 2 Thn. 3 : IB Is. ii : Matt. 6 : 20 Malt. 11 : 28 Acts 13:28 Is. S : 20 Mutt. 6 : 33 Hos. 6 : S Ps. 19 : 7 Rev. 2 : 17 5. The second requisite is, that these thoughts shall Le tested by their harmony with the simple truth of the Word, which is, " The Lord our God is one Lord : A nd thou, shall love the Ljord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and With all thy strength. This is the first coiinnand- ment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou sh(dt love thy neiyhbour as thyself. 'There is none other commandment greater than these," and not by their agreement with some cherished doctrine ; for tl ere arc popular religious theories and systems ivi existence even at the present time, which tend to obscure this fundamental law of spiritual life, on which rests " all the lavj and the inophets." G. If the tendency of these thoughts is to lead us more into the love of self and the world, and thus away from the Lord, or the Word, then are they false and should meet with condemnation, for they would be dangerous to spiritual life. But if they lead the mind to perceive in the Divine Revelation a satisfac- tory internal evidence that it is inspired Truth, thus placing it upon a higher plane of thought, so that we shall not only delight in searching for its hidden trea- sures, but obey the written Precepts, and thus be led to the Living Word, the Lord Himself, then, when the book is finished, the judgment of the candid reader will readily determine whether these principles arc good and true, or are the invention of man, and are thus evil and false. 7. To those only who possess a thoi-ough knowledge of the literal contents of the Sacred Scriptures, and whose minds are capable of mature reflection from Till': NATUIiE OF THE WORD OF GOD. Order of study. Salvation from sin. The Advent cf the Lord. Tnnny years of livini^ cxpfrlcnce, will the suniinary of these tlioughts fiiid a .synipHtlictic response. Not only should the marginal references l)o examined, but as far as possible each statement should lie verified by means of a (Concordance, and the followinjT pani^n-aphs and pa^'cs should bo read and studied cunsecutivt'ly. 8. In this progressive order tlie mind may perceive from internal spiiitual evidences, tliat the principles of Divine Love and Wisdom contained within the Word, a])plied to the life by obedience to them, will save a man from his sins, or from the love of self, which is tlic origin of aM sin ; — that this Divine Love and Wisdom !.> embodied in the Word in the name and by the representation of the life of the Lord Jesus Chiist as the Son of G(jd and 8(m of Man ; — that tlie Lord Jesus Christ and the Word arc identical, and that the Word is the body of the Lord, or His "jUtsh and blood " within the life of a regenerate man. 9. This Word, or the Divine Love and Wisdom, was "in the hcfjinninfj," and " ivas Gud," and is the "Life tvhick is the Ihjld of men, the true Liyht v-hlch I'K/hfcth every man ivhich cometh Into the ivoiid." This Word is the " bread which cometh donjn from heaven." The man Avho feeds upon its Divine tiutlis by learning and obeying them, will be nouiished and grow up into spiritual life, or in the image and likeness of (Jud, which is salvation from sin. 10. The Lord comes into the woi-ld, or what is the same thing, the Word is given both to the material and spiritual mind, for this purpose, for it treats only concerning spiritual princi[)les, and has no connection with physical-material science or things in the natural Ki(ereiK;fl> :I3 : r> Pa. no : 133 Dcut. 8 : 3 r.ukeW ; 3.'J Matt. 4 : 4 Dcut. s : r, .ler. 7 : 23 Kx. 15 : 20 Kx. 10 : 5 1h. Juliii 1 : 1 J»)ii) 1 : » John k'asant to ^iizo upon tlic face I p,.80:48 of the (lead, for there is neitlier life nor expres- i-h. 3i):u sion within the pale countcnancHi ])y whitli N.siu? thou^^ht may be communicated to others ; and ; often, when the coverinj^ is tenderly and hesita- ' tinj;ly turned down, we are filled with ^^lief and .i,r ji : lo sorrow, and wish that we had not looke(l ujton luh.-i-.n those rijjfid features which were onee Hushed isr. s with animation ; for the person whom we loved ^nke2i:,'i is not there, and the cold form must be carried i t-»r. is : 4-' away out of si;;ht. i 1.'). There is one Face which lovin<.>' hearts w^t-.h and eyes do not shrink from beholdin<^-, and the more it is <;'a/ed ujjon, tlie more its beauty and i-h. i ■5:4 j^^lory will aj)pear, for it communicates life and Mat. 17.2 li«;ht to those who reverently uncover, and de- Mait. 10 ij^; voutly look. ' u.-66:vi Hi. During the centuries of the past, many hands of artistic <^'enius have endeavored with I skilful crayon and brush to portray the coun- , i.ioiin4:i2 tenancc of the "■ King of lnu(js, and Lord of\ kx(hj. aa : 2u lords." They could not reproduce what they had not seen, and the results of their talented efforts have simply been representations of the visage of a suffering man, whose })itiful expres- sion touches our hearts with emotion. J'llin 1 : IS Is. £3:3 10 THE FACE OF JESUS: Pictures cf Jesus The Face indicates character. John 4 : 2, F.x ai : 4 Is. 40 : IS ts.;;3: t Ps. 45 : 15 Is. 40 : 2.) I«. 42 : 8 's. 4G : .^ Is. 45 : 16 I Sam. 1". : 7 17. We turn from these pictures of Jesns with a dissatisfied and pained feehng, and wish that those faces had been called by some other name, for they are but likenesses of the mental conceptions of the painters, fitted to some earthly model whom they have seen or ima- gined. Such delineations of the Son of Man, in themselves, are dead, for apart from the can- vas, they are only representations of grief, tender lo^e, and the yearning for that sympathy which we would gladly give to those patient expressive faces, were we able to extend it by our personal presence. IS. These faces of Jesus are produced from the minds of the artists, by the c()ntem[>lation of the story of the Evangelists as related in the Gosi)els, but no earthly painter will ever live who can design either the featiu'es or form of the Lord Jesns Christ as a physical man in time or sjHice, for no man has ever thus seen Ilim, nor will He ever thus ap[)ear, and every attempt to personify Ilim in this form, will des- troy all perception of His Omnipresence, with- out which He would not be Divine. 10. AVlien we look into a living human face, there is imparted to us an intuition of the (pial- itv of the life of the man whom we behold, although Ave may at first be somewhat hasty in our judgment ; but if men were constantly THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 11 Beautiful Faces. Inward quality. living according to the laws of spiritual order, the interior qualities of their minds would be manifested by the shape and expression of their countenances. 20. Those who would then possess aflf'ection for, and intelHgenee in the spiritual truths of the Word, would have l)eautiful faces in which there would be no trace of pride or vanity. The eves woukl beam with love and wisdom, and with the lientleness of the dove. The brow would have no frowning wrinkles ; the cheeks would not be "sn-eathed in hypocritical smiles, and the mouth would not indicate sen- suality and selfishness. 21. But since mankind from the early ages have disobeyed the laws of Divine Order, the face does not truly represent the real man within, and we must be charitable in our opin- ion of others, especially until we can know something of the (piality of the interior motives of their lives. 22. We are charmed with a beautiful face, but often learn that it is l)ut a covering for a hyi^ocritical and false life, whereas in tlie plain and homely countenance we learn to a])i)i-eciate the life of the man within, and we are led to love him for his inward (qualities instead of the exterior face. Our love for others nuist be deeper than the external face, for when the John 7 : 24 I.t. 20 : 3 Kzck. 23 : 15 Zcdi. 9 : 17 Ps. 149 : 4 Ph. 19 : 17 IN. 4r> : 11 Cant. 5 : \i Cant. ^ ; i:{ C'luit. .1 : IG P.s. 37 : 30 Gen. : !> Mutt. 7 : 15 Matt. 7 : 20 EziU. 28 : 17 I's. 147 : a Is. 33 : 17 Eccl. 12: 1-7 12 THE FACE OF JESUS The marred visage. Where the Divine Face may be seer. Is. 40 : i rs.7l:» Ps. 51 : 6 Ps. r.1 : 6 I's. 37 : 23 Matt. 13 : 43 Is. 32 : e Mai. 3 : 18 John 14 :» Juhn 1 : 18 Is. C4 : 4 John 1 : 41 John 1 45 Matt. 1 10 Ps. 104: 24 Kev. 22 :14 IS.CO: 1 Pa. 19: 8.0 years of infirmity amve, the brightness of the eye will bo dimmed, and decay will mark it« inevitable progress with pallor and furrows. 23. Although the visage may be marred by the evil lives of ancestors, or by sickness or injuries, yet the love which animates the good man warms his countenance with affection, and his eyes are filled with the lustre of intelligence, so that his whole face shines with light to those who know and love him, because they have similar qualities of life. The evil man does not recognize this warmth and l)rightness, but attrilmtes all the intentions and actions of the good mail to the same motives ])y which his own life is governed, until he is convinced to the contrary. 2^. The Face of the Lord is seen only in tlie Word which He has given and preserved among mankind. To those who here see Him, and whose lives are warmed and guided l^y the truth here painted, " His Face doth shine as the Sttn," for they perceive within this Face, those interior qualities of Love and Wisdom from which the names Jesus and Christ are derived, which prove from this interior or spiritual source, that through all the ages of the past spiritual history of man, " f/te Word was God," and the only evidence which reveals to the per- I plexed mind tliat it is from a supernatural THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 13 The painted face. The Living Face. origin is to be found from that interior light which causes *' His Face to shine." 25. To those whose lives are not principled in the simple commandments of life wliicli may be read upon this very Face of the Lord, there is no true light shining from within, and His Face appears to them painted like the counten- ance of a conunon man like themselves, an out- growth of their own imagination. 26. In order to behold the Face of Jesus, let us thoughtfully follow the progress of a serious and earnest man who has come to Him by night, and who cannot yet see His Face, keep- ing our minds fixed upon this one person, who will in the succeeding pages, be called a regen- erating man, and as far as possible bring him close to our own hearts, so that we may observe his various states of mind and internal experi- ences, as he is led by tiie Lord by means of instruction from the Word, to be prepared for the first and succeeding states of regeneration, until the Face of Jesus becomes dluminated and shines as the sun. 27. Many devout readers may perceive that this serious man is representative of their own inward life and desires, and through his spiritual journey of trials and blessings, be also led to see the Living Face of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matt. 11 : 2» Luke : 29 John 1 : 11 John 1 : 5 Pa. 50: 21 Ps. 107 : -IS Pg. 95 : 6 Ps. 112 : 4 Ps. 37 : 37 Pb. 37 : SO' Pb. 37 : 31 Ps. 37 : 3 la. 45 Ps. 87 : 9 -'--■■•■■■- THE PREPARATION FOR REGENERATION. John IS : 88 Ps. 00 : 12 Ps. 39 : 13 Ps. 80 : U Ps. 39 : 4 Exod. 33 : 20 Ps. 18 : 2 John U: 68 9 Hcb. 11 : 1 P . 31 : 1 2 Tim. 1 : 12 Amos 5 : 14 Pb. 63 : 3 Amos 5 : 15 Rom. : 23 Eom. T : 15 Deut. 30 : 15 Rom. 12 : 21 Ps. 18 : 21 Ps. 34 : 22 Nalixm 1 : 7 28. After many years uf mental conflict, as the appearances of truth which were implanted in the mind during the period of early educa- tion begin to be dissijiated, and the thoughtful moods of maturity cast their serious rays over the futiu'c, there often flows into the mind an intense yearning to know what is really true, in which the spiritual nature shall rest as upon a • solid liock, in the utmost security of a rational faith, both in relation to this world and the im- mortal Hfe beyond. 29. While in this state of mind, there is no doubt in regard to the existence of an Infinite God, nor in His Divine Providence, neither is there any doubt but that a good life tends to elevate man to happiness, and that an evil life will kill the development of his spiritual natui'c, and fill his life with misery. The mind thus recognizes that good and evil, truth and falsity, are botli received by the nature of man, and that the one condition is to be sought, and the other is to be avoided. 80. In fact, a mar may have had the belief that he has trusted in God many years, and constantly have sought illumination from above, THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 15 Religious motives. Realization of ideals. ^ no br IS \ to life thus 1 and the lelief and iove, and cndeavorrd to love his neighbor as himself, in all his earthly affairs, acknowledging God in all his ways, and in humility utterly disclaiming self-merit ; or, with religious motives, lie may have been of such a sensitive disposition that prevailing doctrines have been to him a source of irritation and irrationality, and he has become retired and isolated from the popular opinions of his fellow-men in regard to serious thought. 31. When the years of maturity dawn, the past has been characterized by affliction and suffering in various forms. With some, lo\ ^d ones have been summoned above, leaving the sad heart to mourn in grief ; business ventures have not succeeded ; property has vanished, and apparent friends have proved false. With others, a devastation fully as hard to bear, has been the crushing of cherished ideals when the motives seemed to be pure ; but rest assured, O wounded spirit, that not a single ideal has been entertained, but which, if the inward motives have been unselfish, will yet bloom in beautiful fruition, in that world oi elevated thought, where all things or principles are sub- stantial and real to clearer perceptions than we can possess in our material degree of thought. 32. In the spiritual world, men are real men in the human form, tangible angels and spirits Matt. 7 : 7 ProT. 3 : 5, Matt. 23 : 12 Ps. 34 : IS Matt. 15 : 8,9 Mark 7 : 7 Deut. 8 : 2 Is. 02 : 10, 17 Ps. 80 : 43 P.I. 38 : G 2Sam. 12: .'3 Matt. 8 : 10 Prov. 23 : 5 Ps. 35 : Ih Ph. 25: 10,17 Ps. 42 : 5 James 1 : 3 Is. 54 : 11 la. 54 : 14 Is. 3 : 10 Is. 55 : 12 Is. 55 : 13 is. .35 : 5, e I Cor. 4 : 18 Rev. 22 : 8, Luko 20 : 38 16 THE FACE OF JESUS Spiritual surroundings. Sphere of desolation. %. Luke 20 : 30 Jer. 17 ; 10 Rev. 2-2 : 14 Juhn 4 : 36 Ex. 24 : 7 Rom. 6 : 10 Gen. 27 : 8 Deut. 11 : 27 Ps. G5 : 4 l8. C5 : 17 Is. «& : 10 Is. tlS : 25 Ezek. 34 : 31 Ps. 81 : 3 Is. 35 : 9 Jer. 31 : 13 Ub\. 19 : 7 Acts 20 : 35 Rev. 21 : 23 Is. 58 : 11 Jer. 31 : 12 Ps. 37 : 11 Ph. 119 : 1C5 Deut. 8 : 20 Jer. 7 : 24 Jer. 18 : 1^ Juhii 5 : 40 without wings, with all their superior faculties in acute exercise, livin*,' in the use of, and sur- rounded by the very ideals which their inmost ruling affections have created by their daily course of life. 83. If the effort of the life, in the inward motives, has sought the Divine Guidance in love and oltedience during this life, the sur- roundings there will t}7)ify th(} actual state of one's life. With those whose lives have been principled in the truths ot the Word, the affections will be represented ])y such objects as innocent lambs ; the thoughts will be repre- sented by beautiful birds, which principles are also represented in the Word where beasts and birds are mentioned in a good connection. Loving friends will commingle their joys, and aid each other in imparting the knowledges ve constitutes that state of life which is describi d in the Word as hell, for from this evil love all sin originates as from a corrupt fountain. A man in this state regards nothing but what is in the interest jf himself, with which he is so absorbed that the Is. 30: 1 Rev. S :20 Is. ho 11 Is. U 16 Is. 30 18.65 4 Is. 34 14 Pa. 38 :6 Deut. 29:23 Hal). 2 : l.-i K/.tk. S ; 10 Hal). 2:» 1 Cor. 0: 10 Is. 55 : S Is. 1 : Is. 1 : % 2 Pttcr 1 ; 4 Rom.l : 10 Jcr, 49 : 10 Matt. 23 : 33 Jer. 2 : 13 I«. 47:10,11 1 18 Tniu FACE OF JKSCS: Practical denial of the Word. Hereditary nature of man. lJuhn2 : 11 1 John 2 : 22 1 Juhn 2 : 7 1 John 3 : U Jamo8 1 : 22 X Juliii 2 : 4 1 Juhn 2 : 9 I John 2 : rt 1 Juhn 2 : 10 1 John 5 : 2 1 Jolin 3 : 14 1 Juhn 3 : 23 Judo : 10 1 John 3 : S Prov. 21 : 10 Ps. 100 : 5 Ps. 115 : 9 1 John 3 : 15 Prov. 24: 17 Ps. 34 ;2] Prov. 10: IG Ps. 69 ;2 Jer : :20 Prov. U : 19 Is. 10 :13 Is. 13 : 14 I'ii ' Yv^xt from hoavoii cannot pciu^trato, for ho belioves only in hinisulf, and inwardly denies the truths of tho Word, Avhich from the be^in- ninf^ to the end have reference to the prin- ciples of love to the Lord and the nei«;hl)or, although outwardly he may profess reverence for sacred things, and even class himself annnig the chosen people of (Jod. The presence of the Lord with man first exists when he inwardly loves his neighbor, for the Lord is within this love, which is oi)posed to the love of self. 30. jMan, in his hereditary nature is filled with the love of self, in which he does not regard the Lord, nor his neighbor, and if this evd principle were not restrained l)y that mercy of the Lord which constantly surrounds every person, all men would be precipitated by this ruling love into that life of sin and misery which the word hell fitly expresses, for lie who hates his brother-man, would, if not restrained by the fear of discovery and the loss of reputa- tion, take his life, or rejoice at his death. 37. The nature of every man is such that if he should be left to himself and his own gov- ernment, unless he were i)revented by extei-nal restraints, he would plunge into all kinds of wickedness, and not rest until he had subdued all persons in the universe, and not only obtained possession of their wealth, but m-'de J THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. W 3 of man. for ho ' (kMiics ic ])iin- •ij^lllK)!', VL'ltMlCO ' ain(m_!4' of tlio iwanlly tin this I s filled DCS not 1 if tliis nioroy s every hv this misery le who mined eputii- that if II gov- lte)-nal lids of bdued Lower than the beasts. Appearances of Truth. J E nly o miMio them slaves to his will. If he were i)erniitted, he wonld rush headlonj; into the pei[)etration of every evil to the utmost of his power, thus bringing his nature lower than the wild beasts, for they kill and devour other animals to a - pease the cravings of hunger, but the evil man .seeks to destroy the souls of the innocent, to gratify the desires of his infernal lusts. 'J'hus man, being utterly evil, can never have domin- ion over himself "without Divine help, for evil cannot govern evil and bring it into order, but the Lord, by His Onmipotent mercy, restrains man from evil by every possible influence, "with- out violating his freedom. 38. In this depraved condition of the nature of man, the Lord pities those who suffer on account of sin, and is never angry with anyone. He never leads into temptation, nor punishes any person, neither does He curse any sinner, l)ut to the man who sins, it seems as if God is angry, and that He punishes and destroys, l)ecause in his perveited state of life, the man himself is angry with the Divine Laws which he has violated. For this reas(jn, the Word in many places is written as (lod appears to the thoughts of evil men, so that l)y the appearance of truth it may reach sinners in their lowest condition. Thus through their own fears they may be led to believe that there is a God who Jor. 22 : 13 l8. 57 : 20 Is. 24 : 5 l8. 14 :0 J IT. 22 : 19 Jtr. 22 : 17 Ps. 10 : 8 Is. 20 : 13 Jur, 10 : 23 Ps. 13S : 8 Lev. 1 ; 3 Is. 63 : Ps. UI3 : 13 Vs. 103 : 3 Kev. 3 : 10 Ps. 7 : 11 H»s. 4 : §28 Jiihii 7 : 23 Lev. 2(J : 24 Kzok. 13 : 17 Kztk. 13 : 3 Ezek. 13:2 Ps. 90 : 11 Ueut. 28 ; fc7 20 Tilt: FACE OF JESUS Dread of punishment. Forgiveness cf God. li'i ■ Ph. 03 : 1 Mai. 3 : 2 Ph. 107 : 28 Eiok. 18 : 20 1h. 51) : 12 John 8 : 34 K(im. 5 : V> Ezek. IS : 4 Hfv. '>•> : 12 Ezck. 17 : IS Ezek. 17 : 1!) Ezok. 11 : 21 Ps. 4:4 Ikb. VI : 1 Ezok. IS : 21 Ez.k. 11:11), :;0 Pa. 80 : 5 Johu C : 37 Matt. 24 : 3.') Ezek. 18 : 22 Ezck. 13 : 14 Ezek. 13 : 15 Ezek. 13 : 16 Jer. 60 : SO b. 34 : 13 Luke 13 : 24 "governs all thinj^'s in tho univcrso, and in tlicir scUish (head of jmnishnuMit, liopin;^- in some way to api)c>ase tlio Avratli of tliiMr ani^rv (Jod, they aro led to acknowledge their need ot Divine assistance. J30. Every man ninst l)eai' the imnishnient of his own sins as long as he peisi.sts in a siid'nl conrse of life. By sin, a man closes the door of Eternal Life, without which a man is spiritu- ally dead, for '' the ifoiil that Hinnetli,il flmll die.'* It is not the retribution of sin which man i.s to fear and be saved from, for there is no escajie fnmi the i)enalty of any violated liw, either physical or spiritual, l)ut the A'ery root of sin itself, the love of self, is to lie dug out, and a Divine principle from the Word of (Jod is to be implanted in its place by a regenerate life, which is salvation from sin. 40. The Lord alwavs forgives, an 1 ?iever casts anyone away from Ilini. ile i::is conu^ into the world by means of ^he AVurd, and plaiidy declares, '' Let the wicked forsake his ivay, and the unrightzous man his thnw/hls : and let him return unto the Lord, and He will hare mercy upon him, and to our God, for He will alnuidantly pardon." The man who is ruled by the love of self is like a desert filled with stag- nant pools, poisonous brambles, and deadly vines. As rapidly as the man digs those out ill! THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 21 :f God. I tlicii* solium • (i.xl, ■ed of loiit of sinful » door i])ii'itu- 7/ diu.'' II is to escape' CMtlll'l- of sill and a I is to ,to life, ?l('V('l' CO mo |l, and f/i(i /r/s \s : and \6 will [led by stag- deadly Le out Heavenly implanting. Need cf Divine Revelation. I 1 by striviiiiif a<^ainst his evils, and fills the staj^- nant pools with living Mater from the Word with the strength given him from above, in the same j)roi)orti(Hi the Lord im[)lants the fruitful vines and fragrant flowers, '' and the desert ^liall rejoice and hlossoni as the rose. It shall blossom, almnditutlj, and rejoice eren with joj/ and sini/int/." 41. As the King(hmi of Heaven is witliin the good man, so the dominion of hell is within the evil man, '\/br out of the heart proceed ecil ihoutjhts, nuirders, adulteries, fornications, thej'ts^ false witness, hhtsphemies," ami when this in- ward evil iH'inciple is comia'ehended, a satisfac- tory explanation will be perceived concerning the great conflicts so frecpiently mentioned in the l*salms and Prophecies between man's f(jes and enemies, as well as in the historical rela- tions, for this warfare consists of the spiritual c()ml)ats and temi)tations which arise from his own evils during the progress of regeneration, and are not the external enemies which appear to be described in the literal sense of the Word, for, *' a mails foes shall be they of his oivn house- hold." 4*2. Hence the need of a coherent Divine Kevelation which shall meet the spiritual wants of man's nature to the utmost, from the man who can only be led through fear and external P^, 16 : 2 In. 41 : lil Ilal). 3 : 10 Jer. 17 : 7, a U. X- : l,i Ilu8. U : t) I.iikc 17 : n .Miitt. 15 : H, Ut Mark 7 ; Jl, 22 Ts 01 : 1 Je • : 25 Vn. 27 : 2 I'y. 50 ; 2 Vs. 5 : 8 Pb. 2," : 2 Matt. 10 : 38 John 17 : n 1 Kings 8 M la. 45 : 23 Ezek. 12 • IS ss THE FACI'J OF Jh'SUS: Writing and printing. Historical Narration. '1 i I 'I 'I I in PM. 130:6 Jchn r,: 4(1, 47 Deut. 27 : 3 Rov, 21 : 8 Juhn 17 : 17 1 I'd. 1 : 2r> E|>>i. 2:21 J..Iin 8 :47 John l(i : '25 Ps. 00 : 11 Dout. 18 : 21 22 Pa. 78 : C Mark 4 : 34 Dout. 13 : 20 Ps. 07 : 18. 55 : 3 Ifl. 34 : 14 Is. f.5 : 2 John 16 :20 Jer. 30 : Rev. 11 : 8 19. 7 : 18 Juhn 16 : 30 n^prosciitiitions of tlio jippcaraiicos of tnitli, to him Aviioso cultivatiMl jK'ircptiou.s arc 1(m1 l)y lovo and interior tliou^lit. J''or tlii.s reason, tln^ art of writin])earances, by a wonderful analogy or correspondence between earthly things and s])iritual princi|)les, which will bo briefly illustrated in succeeding pages. 43. In studying the Word, the mind at first is incapable of being instantaneously removed from the historical narration to the Internal Sense, until by searching its pages diligently^ with the knowledge that all the statements con- tain within them eternal spiritual realities, and that the names of all persons, places and thing.s are representative of principles within the mind of the regenerate man, the reader may be led to perceive the spiritual correspondence. The historical relation always adheres to and fills the mind at first, and it was given to man in H Till': XATriil'J (tF THE WORD dF COD. 23 Parables. Value of the literal sense. this form in order that it may he read (h'h^iit l)_v chilchcn, and tliosc Avho arc sinipU' and innocent state of life wliieli cli rejn'esent, and wlio receixo n.. trnction in Truth It) means of parahh's. 44. Tile wliole AVord of God treats o s[)iritual i)rin('i])les, and lias nothini;' to d physical science oi- earthly things excepti correspondence, and in no (»ther form oi in the univei'se is the T.ord reveale(l in sp truths ; for all hooks which contain illusti of the true docti'ine of life, which is to lo Lord and the nei.nhhor, are derived fro knowledge of the truth within the Wonl, out which no one would know of (lod, that there is an immortal life after the de the ])hysical body, or corporeal frame, nor we know of His character which is n; re])resentod in the personification of the Jesus Christ. 4."). Without this literal sense of the there would be no form, or body, to ho .spiritual contents, as the spiritual body o could not exist in this world witlumt a cori frame of flesh and bones. If the literi of the Word should be taken awav from rnd all knowledge of its simple truths bo obliterated, there could bo no rode from sin. I with Hnl>. 2 : t in the Ph. ;u : 11 lildren Murk 10 : 15 Divine Kzek, «0 : 40 MMt. 13 : 3 nly of U. 43 : 9, 10 o with '"J4" hy ,I..liiilS:30 • place i« )iritual Ih. 31: m •at ions Dciit. 17 : la ID )ve the m the Jcr. 30 : J , with- Mai. 3 : 10 leithcr Jcr. 3(1 : 4 'ath of Hev. 1 : S • could turally Luke 24 : 41 ; Lord Vtov. 8 ; 34 Word, Im. : 3 )ld the Kz'-k. 33 : 30 )f man Ph. M7 : 1!) •[joreal 1 Thess. 2;13 I sense Jer. 2:! : 7 1 men, I'r.iv. 22 : 2a should Kpb. 5 : 28 tni)tion Ei.h. 5 : 17 24 THE FACE OF JESUS Descent of the Lord. Reality of spiritual pictures. I 1 Jubn 1 : 1 Eph. 4 : 9 Eph. 4 : 10 Jer. 30 : 1", 18 Pa. 40 : 5 Hcb. 4 : 12 §39 1 John 3 ; 19 Jer. 21 : 8 John 20 : 31 John G : 54 Luke 22 : 19 Ps. lOi : 15 J uhn : 50 Horn. 8 : 29 Vs. 106 : 10 Phil. 3 ; 21 Is. 40 :: Itum. 1 : 17 42 Kom. 8: 10 ICor. 15 : 53 ICor. 15 :4C ICor 15 :47 40. This Word wliicli is called the Holy Bil)le, is the Lord liiniself, ulio lias descended into thisworhl into the h)west forms of created substances, the dead material matter of })aper and ink, used to inscribe the words and thou<>hts wliicli contain Divine Truths. These Divine Ti'uths taken by the understanding^- frtmi this paper and incorporated into the life of man, will save him from his sins, and raise him into Eternal life and happiness. 47. This Word is the "Jle.^h and blood'' of the Lord, which we are to eat and drink ; this is His Body which is i>iven for us ; the " h?^ead and wine " upon which our spiritual bodies are to be nourished, that we may grow into the images of His Form, and likenesses of His Face, redeemed by Him from the love of self, through the Living Human Prhiciples of the Word. 48. When the internal principles which exist within this Word are revealed to the man who is livinu' in obedience to its truths, the literal sense in itself alone bec(mies dead to him, es- pecially the appearance of earthly history, just as the corporeal frame dies when the spiritual body is withdrawn, — Ijecause he sees the reality of the picture which has been represented in a dead ibrni which has life only from the spirit which is within it. % TUE XATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 25 A startling statement. The Divine Humanity. 49. This statement may at iirst seem start- lino- to those who have always imagined an historical man called Jesus, outside of the AVord, and have thus far thought of ]lim as a terrestial being, in corporeal Hesh and blood, walking upon the earth in the land of l^ilestine, and surrounded by a few apostles and disciples, when the Internal evidence reveals that only in the Word, or in the lives of those who have obeved its truths, has the Lord ever been seen by finite eyes, either by angels or men. oO. But when it is perceived that the Lord Jehovah from Eternitv is the same Lord Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega of whom the Word in its spiritual sense treats from Genesis to Ifevelation, and that He is the One onlv Infinite l*ei'sonal God, then the devout mind can rest in Him without distraction. oL When it is fui't her discovered that He is the unchangeable, loving Father, who, in the narrative of the Sacred Scriptures, came into the world in Divine Truth in the representation of the Son of CJod and the Son of man, and that the Humanity which He assumes is the living jn-inciple of the Word v.ithin the lives of men who are being regenerated, then the rational believer, in reading the literal sense by its correspondence with spiritual principles, mav discover its true Divinity and exclaim in John 7 : 17 Acts 13 12 Juhn 8 : 58 U. 44 : e $43 U:r. J I 9 1 TimO : 1(! T-. 28 : S Juhn 8 : 32 Is. 41 : 4 Is. »8 : 1 2 Ueb. 13 8 Uev. 1 ; 8 Itev. 22 : 13 Ho8. 13 4 l8. 00 : 20 Is. 9 : 7 Juhn IG -.7 Jchn 17 Juhn 17 14 John 17 22 John 17 : 25 John 17; 2(i Julin 23 : 27 I, ' '■ 26 THE FACE OF JESUS .» Elevation of the mind. Where suffering occurs. John 20 : 28 John 20 : 30 P». 24 : 7 Oil. 2 : 8 John 12 : 32 Kev. 19 : 16 r;in. 2 : 47 1 Tim. G : 15 Jnhn 10: 12 John 16 : 13 Dan. 2 : 23 John 17 : 7 Dan. 2 : 22 Deut. 4 : 32 1 John 2 : 8 P.s. 103 : 1-5 Ps. 101 : 4 Is. 40 ; 8 John 17 °. 3 l3. 25 : 4 Eph. 4 : 23 its own literal langiia'^p " Mj/ Lord aiul mji God!" for tlio Lord is not denic^d, but is then seen in <;linij)ses of His true j^lory. By nutans of the spiritual meaning' of the Word, separated from the '' traditions of men," the mind is led to Him alone, and He is then elevated above all earthly science, and is perceived to be tho " King of kuKja, and Lord of lords'^ over the heavens and the earths, over anuels and men. 52. Only those earnest and sincere mind.s who love to obev the truths of the Woid are capable of ])earing the interior light which shines from tlie Word, and, if they desire, may see a faint outline of its intellectual glory illus- trated in the succeeding pages. THE RKTROSl'ECT. 53. As we stand at the threshold of the Eternal World and look back ui)on our })ast lives, M'c can with gratitude see that all our griefs and trials have proved to be blessings in the guidance of the Hivine Providence. The object of their permission has been to innu'css upon our minds the unstal)ility of all external material things, and to lead us to reflect upon subjects pertaining to our eternal welfare. 54. All our mental conflicts and sufferinus occur in the natural mind, and not in the si)iri- tual mind, for the mind has an external and U ::'. ;'!lf;t THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 27 The material mind. The real resurrection. the past our nit's »ii'i- luul internal nature. The natural, or material mind, has its faculties occupied throuL^li the senses ■which act in this physical world by means of the corporeal frame. Within this frame of flesh and l)ones, the real or spiritual body exists which o'ives life and form to these earthly substances. ;");'). This corporeal frame, or external cover- ini^', is composed of the animal, vegetable and j mineral substances of the earth upon which we ' live, and with Avhicli it nuist l)e daily supplied in the form of food which contains these same substances. When this corporeal frame dies, and the spiritual body cannot live Avithin it, the man then will exist in the Spiritual World, which is not far away distant in some other material planet, or realm of space and time. Then the dead corporeal frame nuist be buried out of sij;ht and its substances be decompcjsed into their earthly elements. 50. No other bodily resurrection will take place, than the entrance of the sjdritual Itody into the sinritual world. The death of the physical frame and the resurrection of the spiritual body will occur alike to all persons, both the good and the evil, without any freedom of choice ; but the real resurrection is the advent of the Lord bvthe Word into the nature of man, kindling his natural mind with regen- §8 Rmn. 8 : 7 533 Heb. 10 : 5 Job 10 : 11 1 Cor. 15 ; 44 Gen. S : 19 Gen. 1 : 29 2 Kings ?:1T 1 Tim. C :8 James 2 ■.V, §45 r.i. 118 :17 Matt. 3 2 Lukfc 21 : n §39 Job U : 15 Kid. 12 -.7 ICor. l.-- :50 Ho.«. : 2 John 5 : 28 Jilm 5 20 Joliii 5 24 Joliii 5 : '.J5 Col. 3 : 1 i>8 THE FACE OF JESUS: Source of spiritual life. First instruction. .John C : 40 ■Jdhii 6 : 44 JuhnC: 45 Jcilin 11 : £3 Acts 24 : 15 ^ 48 Acts 17 : 22 Matt. 22 ; 32 Matt. 2i : 23 Col. 1 : 5, 6 I John 5 : 13 IJohn 5: 11 1 John 5 : 12 I John 2 : 2S IS, 4'J : 20 1 Cor. 15 ; 40 § 38 Eph. 4 : 4 Ps. 30 : Amos 4 : 13 Gen. 2 : 7 I Cor. 13; 11 U. 32 : 3 crate life, by his own desire and through his own efforts in conjunction with the strenfith which the Lord gives, for all spiritual life is from tlie Lord alone. 57. The literal sense of the Word appears to teach tliat the earthly body will nsc again at a general resurrection of the dead, and men have been permitted to believe in this appearance of truth, for the reason that if this opinion had not been prevalent, mankind would have denied that there is an immortal life beyond the grave, and it is better to believe such a doctrine, if it implies that the man within the corporeal frame is to live to eternity, for if men should deny that life is eternal, and actually be persuaded that they would utterly perish with the death of the corporeal frame, there would be no in- centive to live a liolj life, and only natural and animal life would then exist on the earth. 58. The natural mind exists within the spiritual body, and the corporeal frame is only a means given by which we may first have our being and existence. Although all life and thought exist from the spiritual world, yet when we are children, we receive our first in- struction through the senses which operate externally by means of the organism of the cor- poreal frame, from things in the material uni- verse which surround us. AV"e therefore see, THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 29 Perception. Death of natural ideas. lionr, fool, taste and smell, or have jxM'coption of tli(M|iialitios of objects outside of the cor- poreal frame, by means of the senses v.hich are within. '){). These sc.ses beloni^ to the natural or extei'ual mind of the spiritual body, and by means of in.struction in the wisdom of this Avorld in all branches of science known to the natural mind, a man maybe so highly educated in earthly knowledge, as to .stand upon the pinnacle of fame, on account of his attainments in learninL;', and yet his .spiritual and internal mind may not be opened in the least degree. (10. Thus a man is in a natural state or con- dition of thought, and he does not turn his mind toward spiritual principles until he has been l»rought down so low in his own estima- tion, that he feels utterly (levastat(Ml of every- thing which he called and belieyed to be his own," until he cries out in the anguish of his spii'it for the 1 )ivim' Light to illumine his path, I It is not unusual for the pre[)aration for a re- generate life to be extended oyer a period of many years, ev(Mi after a man has i)ublicly pro- fessed his b(>lii>f in the preyailing religious doctrines of the people amony whom his lot has been cast. 61. When natural ideas and appearances of truth begin to perish, then arise conflicts and Acts 17 : 21 Ps. ;!4 : 3 1 Cnr. VI: 17 ICiir. 12 :18 Prov. 1 :7 I'niv. -JS : I.'J Is .5 ; 21 1 Cor. 3 ; IS Jer. 9 : 23 Matt. 11 : 25 Is. 29 : 14 Hul). 12 : U r.s. Ill) : 07 Is. 2 : 11 Is, 2 : 17 P.s. n.T : 4 IN. IS : a P.s. ;i4 : (! Ps. 34 : 5 Ps. 10 ; 17 Ps. r,l : 7 Anil IS 4 . 12 1 Tim. : 12 Ps H6: a .Matt. 8 : 24 Matt, a : 25 30 THE FACK OF JESUS The Divine guidance. Helplessness of nnan. Man. 8 : 20 2 Pet. 2 : 9 i'rov. 3 : 7 Prov. 10 : 9 I'rov. 1 : 31 1*8. 1 : 6 Is. 42 : 10 Va. lil : 2 1 Cor. 10 : 13 Pruv. 14 : 12 1 Cor. 8 : 2 Job 23 : 10 rs. S5 : 4 P.s. (iO : 10 1 Pet. 4 : 19 Rom. 8 : 18 2 Cor. 4 : 17 Ezek. 33 : 13 1 Tim. : 7 John 1 : 3 Deut. 2s : 00 Ps. 110 : 3 Ps. 115 : 17 Deut. 4 ; 22 tL'nii)tatioiis, and the conscMjueiit iiicMital suttor- ing. In our natural sclt'-hood or inclividuality, we desire all events in our lives to suceeed as wo have i)lanned, and we also desire thai other peoi)le shall do our l)id(lin!4'; but there is an Onniiscient Lovini"' ]\[an who i>entlv seeks to lead our thoughts higher than natural things, as rai)idly as we are able to bear the discipline, althou I's. 107 : 311 Lam. 3 : 47 Luke 21 : 20 IN. 107 : 19 I's. 55 : 22 1'3. 73 : 24 2 Tim. 3 ; 15 I.s. 30 : 2 Is. 30 : 3 Jer. 47 : 2 1 C §30 Ilel). 4 : 2 r«. 88: n I'H. 88 • 3 Is. 2S : 10 J(ihn n :'. - ■'» Ih. 21 : 1 Is. 24 : 2 Jer. 14 : 18 Lam. 2 ; -JO Jcr. 8 : 1 1 Tim. 4 : 10 Titus 1 : 11 Eph. 4 : 14 James 1:12 Col. 4 : 17 Matt. 23 : b 00. Wliat world is this dcsolato man altoiit to cnk^r ? It is not tlio natnral Avorld in wliicli lio has been 3.'J : 27 Job 13 : -a 77. It was thus written on account of tlio iiaturo and condition of man's life, wliicli tlirouj^li continuous aj^es has lu'conio so ini- nuM'scd in tho corporeal and sensual ideas he- lonyin^' to a life, or succession of lives, filled with the love of self, that he can only bo led upward to spiritual life by such means as his mind can j^rasp, which nuist meet him in what- ever condition of life and thought he may be existing. 78. By nature, ''wen love darkness rather than liijht" anproach the illuminating influence of the Internal Sense of the Word, and all will l)e led to the Light, who in their state of darkest obscurity, in huml)le obedience live in love to others from a child-like trust in Him who is the Sun of Heaven. 79. The Lord will not leave the man who is willing and obedient, to grope in darkness, if Juhn 3 : 19 Julin ti : 12 Job 33 : iM Job 33 : 30 Is. 60 : 10 Is. 20 : IS I'H. DO ; (i Is. 42 : Is Pa. 102 : 1() Ezck. 10 : 4 John 14 : 21 Mul. i : 2 John 14 : 18 Pa. IG ; 10 38 THE FACE OF JESUS. The experienced phycician. Danger of fatalisnn. 1:1. P8. 110 : 18 Rev. 22 : 7 Ps. 139 : 14 Ps. 145 : 9 Ps. 19 : 1 Jut) 32 : 8 Jut. 30 : 17 Matt. 8 : 7 Ex. 23 : 25 3 John U 1 Pet. 3 : 15 1 Cor. 10 : 12 §61 Luke 1 : 1 l8. 44 : 1 Ps. n : 1 Ps. 113 :8a Is. 37 : 10 Z;ch. 12:1 Dan. 2 : 28 Ezek. 43 : 2 Ezek. 12:25 Ea,;k. 12 : 13 II '' he desires to open his eyes to the Li^lit that shines from the obscure forms within the Word. THE MIRACULOUS CONCEPTION. 80. The physician who studies the intricate anatomy of the corporeal frame, observes how orderly every part does its own si)here of work, independent of the volition of the man who lives within it. He spends his life and thonoht in his arduous profession in the endeavor to bring into order those disarrangements of the physical system wlr'ch originate from evil in- fluences for which he cannot account. 81. He hears religious doctrines proclaimed which he is told that he must believe without questioning. They seem to be confirmed from the Word, but io his clear perception they do not appear to be in harmony with the laws of order, which he recognizes nuist prevail in everything that is natural and divine, without which order, even the heavens and the material universe would not cohere ; but he is uncon- scious that the Word treats of higher principles than disorderly natural births, and ignominious earthly history, and he is tempted to confirm himself in fatalistic principles, and think na farther. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 30 The laws of order. The mother Mary. 82. It is right for him to affirm that God never violates the laws of order, although man in his fallen nature constantly disobeys them. In the tcmi)tation to discard the Word of God, the physician is not yet aware that the Internal Sense teaches that all births which are there recorded have only reference to spiritual births, and that the statement embodied in the pre- vailing doctrine of the IVIihaculous Conception does not refer to the order of the birth of a l)hysical or material child, excepting for spiri- tual illustration, for no natural birth ever occurred upon this earth excepting through the orderly means of a natural father and mother. This account of apparent earthly history is true spiritually, but it refers entirely to the spiritual birth of the Lord within the interior mind of the man who is to be regenerated. 83. Farther along in these pages it will be illustrated from the Word that the state of life Mhich precedes the advent of the Lord is ty])i- fied by the mother ]\Iary, wlic represents that virgin state of innocence at which the man has arri\ed in his rcftn-mation from evil and falsity, in which he is actuated by affection or desire for truth from the Word, for a man nuist be reformed or walk in the way which leads to holiness, before the work of regeneration can proceed. The knowledges of the simple living Col. 4 : 6 Is. 44 : 8 Matt. 22 : 10 Roin. 8 : 5 1 Pet. 4 : 12 Luke 20 : 21 Host. 2 : 7 1 Tim. 1 : 4 Luke 1 : .'il 1 John 5 : 1 2 Pet. 3 ; 2 Luke 17 : 25 Matt. 23 : 38 John 5 ; If John 3 : 5 1 John 4 : 7 1 John 4 : 10 I John 2 : 29 James 1 : 5 Prov, 8 : 17 Mai. 3 : 1 Luke 1 : 43 John 14 : 2,1 Matt. 4:17 Oal. 5 : ti Prov. 10 : 24 Rom. 7 : fl IThcM. 3:13 40 THE FACE OF JESUS: Simple truths. The appearance and the reality. W I Ueb. 1 : 10 Gen. 1 : 2 Rum. 8 : 11 Luke 1 : 35 Eph. 2 : 1 Matt. 1 : 23 Amos 5 : -1 Job 22 : 28 Ps. 15 : 1 John 20 : 25 Luke 2 : 34 §50 I-. 43 : 15 Hob. : 13 Is. 43 : IS Luke 21 : 27 S■ § 82 Matt. 10 : 27 § 42 Is. 7 : U Matt. 10 : 3 1 Cor. 14 : 10 1 Sam. 24: 13 Mark 10 : 20 Luke 21 : 2.t Acts 7 : 36 § 43 Juaic. 14 : U Is. 28 : 10 Col. 3 : 2 93. Earthly things in themselves are dead, The food which we eat is dead. The meat con- tains flesh and blood which are dead, and the ! u 40:c bread contains dead vegetable and mineral k 4o : 7 mattc/r ; but the life within the corporeal frame | Lev. n : 21 feeds upon these dead physical substances and is sustained, while without the life within, even the corporeal frame itself is dead, 94. The Literal Sense of the Word in itself is dead, for it is made from the dead material Deut. 14 : 21 ■ John 3 : 31 1 Jer. 31 ; 40 1 44 THE FACE OF JESUS Bread and water. Corporeal frame of man. I II ■!!' V, i % m 1 Cor. 15 : 37 Oal. S : 24 John 4 : 13 Juhu 2 : -^1 .Matt. 5 : Micah 7 : 14 Job ".» : 12 Ps. 14G : 7 1 John 2: 23 Uev. 22 : 19 Juhn 3 : 36 John 1 : 32 Ps. 78 ; 20 §89 Matt. 16 : 11 Juhn 6 : 31 Ps. 78 : 72 John 6 : 35 Mark 12 ; 13 Ps. 8 : 4 Job 33 : 12 §54 Job 14 : 10 18.38 : 11 Acts 23 : 8 Oal. 2 : 20 John 14 : 19 representatives of earthly things, which in them- selves are dead. But when they are taken into the mind, or spiritual body, to appease the " hunger /or righteousness" they sustain it with nourishment, for they form that flesh and l)lood, or that l)read and water which is to be vivifted with Life from the Lord. 95, The Literal Sense of the Word must not be denied, rejected, or crucified, for it is the Lord Himself in the world, who has thus descended from Heaven into substances which are to serve for spiritual food. This food is dead in itself, because it is an appearance of truth, containing no living principle for man until it is brought forth into life. If this spiri- tual food of the literal sense should be taken away, man would spiritually die, and the Advent of the Lord in man could not take place, neither could the Infant Jesus be sus- tained in the beginning of man's spiritual life. 96. Man, in his corporeal frame, appears to be a living creature in himself, and this is all that we see of him with our external eyes. When the spiritual body is withdrawn, we see him here no more, and there has not been a created man or angel in existence without first living within a corporeal frame, which is not the man himself, but is simply the covering or in: .X THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 45 A disfigured form. Divinity within this fornf>. garment in which he first appears upon the stage of life. 97. This corporeal frame may appear dis- figured and without symmetry, on account of j„hu:u the hereditary tendency to evil which has ijohni:io descended from depraved ancestors. It may Ps. loe : e 1)e " despised and rejected of men; a man of ia.63:3 sorrows and acquainted with grief : and we hid as it were our faces from him : he was despised, and we esteemed him not," and yet within this visage and form so marred, there may be a beautiful, tender and loving man, who has struggled against his inevitable natural sur- roundings, into whose inner life the Lord has entered to create him an angel of Heaven. 98. The Word has been given to men as meat and drink to nourish the flesh and l)lood of the spiritual l)ody. In its external appear- ance without any interior sense it is dead, ])ut when it is applied to the life, and man imbilies and oljeys its literal utterances, recognizing an internal divine principle clothed by disfigured words which often do not seem to cohere in unity, there is revealed to the spiritual percep- tion that within these dead forms of exi)ression there is Eternal Truth in which alone is to l)e found its Inspiration and Divinity. " For that ivliich had not been told them shall they see; and Is. 42 : 7 Luke 4 : 13 Ps. 24 : 10 Is. 62 : 15 Is. 52 : 14 I.,. 29: 19 ^j Rom. 7 : 22 ■ Wm Jer. 31 : 33 WK^- Job 30 : 31 Ps. Ill : 5 2 Cor. 10 : 7 ^H Ezck. 40 : 20 j^^ v^HIl la. C2 : 9 ■1 4G THE FACE OF JESUS, Spiritual flesh. Eating flesh. Rom. 15 : 21 ll', I i la. 40 : 20 Johnl: 14 Rom. 1 : 3 Hcb. 2 : 10 Kom. 7 ; 25 Rom. 3 : 20 Juhn 3 : 6 Ps. 10 : 9 Eph. C : 12 £ph. 6 : 17 Matt, la : 17 Ezek. -a :2C Gal. : 8 2 Cor. 3 :3 John 53 .lohn 6 41 Juhn 6 52 John C 57 John 05 that ivhich they had not heard shall they consider.'' FLESH AND BLOOD. ^9. When it is undcrstoorl what the si)iritual meaning of flesh conveys to the mind, then it may be perceived how the '* Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." It may tlieretbre be iisefnl to consider briefly the general mean- ing of this word as it is found in the Literal Sense of the Word, bearing in mind that every expression which there descril)es anything which is in the natural world, rei)resents some spiritual principle of the mind, which is a cor- resi)onding receptacle of the principles of the Word. All spiritual principles l)egin with the Lord, or the Word, .and descend througii dif- ferent degrees until they form and govern the mind of the man who obeys them. 100. The w^ords ''flesh and blood," are often used in the Word, and every thoughtful person knows without argument that they do not mean to convey the literal expression. AVlien the Word represents the Lord Jesus as saying that we must " eat His flesh, and drink llis blood," even the most external and material mind mii>ht reasonal)ly ask, " llow can this man yive us his flesh to eat '^ " lOL In its highest meaning, " tle.sh " signifies the Divine Love of the Lord which proceeds , IL. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 47 Living ?lesh. The Word made flesh. lie es Lis from Him through the Heavens to the world of the mind of man. Tliis Divine Proeeedinj^' is the " Spirit that quic.kentth',' which is with- in " the words that I speak unto you" for " they are spirit and they are life." All persons who a})i)ly the trutlis of the Word to their interior motives, find within them an inward i)rinci})le of life which is ahove the natnre of the earthly life. The Divine Love is thus proclaimed by the Word, " For Clod so loved the world, that He (jam His only begotten Son, that luhosoever helieveth in Him should not perish, hut have everlasting life." This Son of God is the Divine Life of the Word within the man who believes and obeys its precepts. "/ am the living bread which cometh down from heaven : if any man eat this bread, he shall live for ever. The bread ivhich I ivill give is my fleshy ivhich I will give for the life of the world'^ 102. In order to sustain spiritual life, the Word must be partaken of as food, and this fo(Hl is fhe flesh which is inl:7 I Julin 1 :0 IM> U : 20 Uev. .'. : riiil. 2 : 13 I'M. 2:l : 5 JuliM 7 : 37 1 Cor. 10 : t Jdliii 7 : 'M 2 Tim. 2 : 10 Iteiit. 30 ; 19 KzLk. 38 : 7 Luke 13 : 1 Lain. 4 ; 14 Zt'i.h. 1 : 17 K.X. 7 : 17 Jcr. 46 : 10 .Mic'iili 7 : 2 Is. 34 : 3, 7 Huv. 10 : 6 llch. 13 : 20 I's. 72 : 14 Ex. 10 : 4 Jud.'. 19: 19 ?/t(fn?/" wliicli rcdccin.s and clciinscs from sin, tor it is tho licavcnly piln(i|)i(' from tlic J)iviiio J.ovc and Wisdom, wor!;in<4' Avitliin tlic l)lood of till! spiritual Ixxly of tiu^ regenerating;' man, wlio diinks it from that vn\) Avliieli itmnetli over with Divine Trntli. Jle wlio driidvs this l)loo(l by learning' and oheyin.L,^ tlie simple truths of the Word, will l)(>ar ^ood-will to all people from an mwurd desire fur their si)iri- tual ]iai)[)iness. lOS. All thini's in the Word relate to ^ood or evil and truth or falsitv, because man during- his earthly life is in an intermediate state between ocxkI and evil inHuences. Tims "blood," before rej^enerate life bej^ins, signifies the intellectual principle of the natural mind which i)erverts and falsifies the JJivine Truth in the Word, and turns it so that it agrees with the love of self, or with doctrines Avhich favor seltish principles. These are they of Avhom it is said, " The mountdiris shall be melted laith their blood : and their land shall be soaked with blood.'' But concerning those whose si)iritual l)lood is (juickened by obedience to the truths of the AVord, it is said, " He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence : and precious shall their blood be in His ^hjht." 100= Thus it may l)e understood that " flesh and blood," or " bread and wine," represent the i THE N ATI' RE OF THE WORD OF GOD. Washing in blood. The death on the cross. man 'diatc Thus nities mind ruth Avith avor )ni it ivith with itual ruths their sJudl flosh It the spiritual meat and (hink wliich is to l)o eaten and drunken tVom tlie Word. 110. In tlie Spiritual Sense of tlie AVord, *' Itiood " (h)e.s not refer to the ])hvsit'al slieddin;,^ uf blood, nor the saeritiein;^- of the life of a eor- poreal l*erson to i>ropitiate tlie wrath of another Person, for the mind .should rest in One J*er.son only, in whom are the Three I*rin- liples reju'esented in the Word, in man, and in nature. A true ch'ele ean have but one center. 111. There arc many i)ersons of tender and trusting" natures, who through the fear that hey shall " erueify the Son of CJod afresh, and put him to an ojjen .shame," feel constrained to abide in doctrines derived from a litei'al inter- pretation of many ])assaj;es of the Word. If their lives are inwardly pure, the Lord will reveal how lie washes us '^from our sins in Jfis Own Blood.'" 112. The death of the S(m of ]Man upon the cress signifies the violence done to the simple living truths of the Word, on which hang " ail the laiv and the prophets^' when traditional teachings from the literal sense are confirmed in such a manner as to ob.scui'e those plain truths of life, on which rest the civil, moral and spiri- tual laws of the universe, and which in some form have been known among all nations. 1 Cor. 10:3 Jiicl -i : 2»l Dmt. 1!) I 20 Luke -ll : 20 IJi.lin b: 3 lieiit. 8: t IJi.liiiS: 7 1 .lolili .'5 8 1 .IijIim 4 ' IS Ilfl). C : 1 .J..lin -l 21 la. 29 : 23 I.s. 2y : 24 Ufcv. 1 ;5 Matt. 2f> : 2 Is. S3 : i) 2 Tim. 4 ; 4 .Mutt. 7 : 12 1 Tim. 1 : S 1 Tim. 1 : 1 Tim. 1 : 7 1 Tim. 1 : 8 Htm. 2 : 11 1^ II i li Vit' t'i!.. 1 lU I' i''c 52 T//i: FACE OF JESUS Why flesh and blood are used. Anti-christ Matt 22 : 1 Mark 3 : 23 Mark 4 : 2 Mark 4 : 13 Mark 4 : 33 Ezek. 17 : 2 Acts 10 : 11 Acts lo : 12 Jer. 32 : 14 Pa. 148 : 13 Ps. 18 : 9 Deut. 32 : 1 Deut. 32 : 2 Deut. 32 : 3 Deut. 32 : 4 John 1 : 51 1 Sam. 28: 13 Gen. 28 : 12 Matt. 25 : 31 John 17 : 5 Ps. 98 : 2 1 Tim. 3 : 10 Is. 1 : 18 1 John 4 : S 2John •. 7 Ron. 10 : 9 liUke 21 : 8 113. The reason wliy it was written "Hcsh and liJood," instead of saying the Divine Love and Wisdom of the Lord, or the spiritual prin- ciples of good and truth derived from Him, is because the Literal Sense of the Word was named from things on earth which correspond to spiritual principles in heaven, so that tliere may be a conjunction of the angel principles which constitutethe Spiritual Sense, with men who read the Word in its Literal Sense. Those on earth who apply its truth to their lives, gather true spiritual food from the interior or angelic sense, for they are those blessed ones of whom it is said, " Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascendhuj and descending vpon the Son. of man." Tlie " Son of Man" is the Living Truth of the Literal Sense of the Word. 114. The Spiritual Sense of the Word reveals that the true doctrine which asserts that "God was manifest in the tlesli " may be rationally received by the enlightened mind, and that " ei:er^ spirit that confessetli not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of anti christ, ivhereofye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Jwr many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. o3 Salvation by the Commandments. The Will of God. veals 1 God 1 iially m that % Jesus t and 1 hate 1 -eady ^ 1 are j Jesus 1 )eiver | and an antichrist. JJe that hiddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" 11'). In its effect upon the life of the man who is in the effort to obey the precepts of the >Vord, and who perceives an interior Divine l*rinciple within the external expression, it in not essential that he should l)elieve in a cor- poreal Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, outside 'f the regenerate man in whom lie lives, lie saves a man from his sins by his life according to his obedience to the Com- mandments of the Word, and not by means of an irrational faith in mysteries which when literally interpreted are not according to the laws of Divine Order. 110. We should think spiritually concerning the "Hesh and blood" of the Lord, or the Word, which is the Body he assumes in the world, and not reason materially upon this theme. In order to love the Lord even as we would love a fellow-lieing, we are not to adore a ])liysical image of Ilis Person, l)ut we shoiild strive to do those things which lie reveals in the Word, which is the only visible expression of His Face and Form. The Internal Sense of ti e Word cannot be discovered by the natural mind, and is only revealed by the Lord to those who love to do His Will as it is revealed in the Word. All who desire a knowledge of the in- 2Johii : 11 1 Tim. 5:22 Dcut. 4 : l-;') John 1 ; 12 John 4 : 23 1 John 2 : 5 Is. 43 : 10 1 John 2 : 3 John : 37 Ezek. ISi.'ll Ezek. 18:27 Ezuk. IS : 2S 1 John 2 : 19 Mark 4 : 11 Rom. 11 : 25 Eph. 5 : 30 Eph. 5 : 32 John 20 : 11 Julm 20 : 12 1 Cor. 10 : 16 John 15 : 10 John 15 : 12 Mark 12 : 32 Jolin 15 : 14 John 15 : 26 Ezek. 1 : 28 Ezek. 2 : 19 Ezek. 3 : 1 Ezek. 3 : 10 Ezek. 3 : 12 1 Cor. 8 : 8 i n 1 j r 'i ii':;' il! ! ' H i' !;«; ii;i^ 54 THE FACE OF JESUS. The Lord Jehovah. The suffering Son of Man. Ezek. 3 : 17 Ezek.'S : 22 Ezek. 3 : 23 Joh.i 14 ; 7 Johu 14 : 29 John 14 : 26 John 14 : 20 Malt. 16 : 13 Jolin 3 : 28 John S : 29 John 8 : 46 John 13 : 21 Lillv Luke 9 ; 22 Mark 9 : 31 Mark 10 : 33 Mark 10 : 34 Luke 24 : 7 Matt. 17 : 22 Matt. 17 : 23 Luke 18 ; 32 Matt. 20 : 18 Matt. 20 : 19 Luke 22 : 22 Mark 14 : 21 ternal proof of Divine Inspiration, may find it within the Eevelation God has given. THE SON OF MAX. 117. In the revealing of the Internal Sense of the Word, the Divine j\Ian of the Gospels is not taken away and denied, for it is shown unto the true believer that He is the Lord Jehovah. The 'SSon of Man " of the Literal Sense is lifted up from the historical record of an humble Jewish peasant, and it is perceived that He is the Living Divine Truth which shines from the Literal Sense. LTpon carefully searching the Four Gospels it will be found that the expression ^^ Son of Man" represents one. spiritual principle, while the ''Son of GocV* is used to express another. lis. It is the "Son of Man" who is "de- livered to the chief priests " ; who is " con- demned," " mocked," " scouracd," and " cruci- fied." It is the " Son of Man " who is " tempted ; " who is delivered into the hands of sinful men ; " who wears the " crown of thorns;" who is " spit( i ily entreated and spitted on ; " who is " killed, and is raised aor" on the third day," and not the " Son of G • ' 119. It is the Divine Truth of tlie Literal Sense of the Word which has thus suffered and % ■jit-: if! W 111;" THE XATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 55 Dead external worship. Humbly walking with God. been olxscurcd l)y dead rites and ceremonies of external worship without internal spiritual life ; with traditional teachings filled witlr condemn- atory dogmas ; with preachings which abrogate the simi)le Commandments, and supplant them with doctrines which prevent men from seeing the plain truth of loving the Lord and the neighbor, and which hold incjuiring minds under the yoke of the fear of wrath, or the condemnation of the elders. " JVell hath Esaias prophesied of you as it is written. This people honoreth me with their lips, hut their heart is far from me. llowheit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men I for, laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men." "A7id he Slid unto them. Full well ye reject the command- ment of God, that ye may keep your own tra- dition P 120. The contrast between the burdensome commandments of men and the simple truth of the Word, is thus })lain]y illustrated, ** lie hath showed thee, O man, wliat is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, hut to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humhly with thy God ? " From the face of the plain truths of the Word, such as the Commandments of Life, there shines an Interior ]Jghr for the mind who obeys them. The Divine Law of Love to Matt. 20 : U Matt. 20 : 07 Luke 11 : 39 2 Tim. 3 : 5 Titus 1 : 15 P.s. 119 : 1.313 Ps. 02 : i Ts. 119 : 131 Gal. 5 : 1 Mark 7 : C, 7 Is. 29 : 13 Col. 2 : 22 Titus 1 : 16 Kzek. 33 : 31 Mark 7 : 9 Ezuk. 33 : 32 Ezek. 33 :33 Micnh C :8 Mk'iili 7 :18 Mieuli 7 : 19 I's. 110 : i:!.-, Iliili. ;! : 4 I'rov. fi 23 Is 9 : 2 66 THE FACE OF JESUS Hi The fundamental precept. The personification of Divine Truth. Alatt. i : 16 Is. 52 : 10 Lev. 19 : 18 Matt. 6 : 43 Ps 1,-) : 3 I's. 1& ; 4 Jer. 44 : 22 Matt. 24: 15 Oan. 9 : 20 Dan. 9 : 27 Ezek. 22 : 26 Ezek. 20 : 30 Luke 6 : 20 John 15 : 7 John 10 ; 15 Deut. : 25 Ps. Ill : 10 Jolin 14 : 22 Titus 1 : 3 Jer. 8: 9 Ps. 143 : 6 Ps. 27 : 13 Luke 12 : 8 Phil. 2 : 11 John 14 : 17 Prov. 19 : 23 Prov. 8 : 1 1 Cor. 1 : 24 Col. 2 : 3 Is. 18 : 3 Vs. 2i : 9 the Noigh])or is clearly revealed in the Word of the Old Testament, " 'jy/ou shalt not avenje, nor hear any grudge against the children of thij people ; but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy- self: I am the Lord.'^ 121. In the spiritual history of mankind, these plain Living Truths had become so (ob- scured by the quality of external worship rei)re- sented by the Jewish rites and ceremonials, and which illustrate the same principles exist- ing in the nature of man at the jn'esent day, that when the spiritual principles of the Com- mandments are more clearly revealed by be- coming personified to the external mind in the life of, and utterances from the appearance of the Lord as a man, — in the Literal Sense of the Evangelists, — they are rejected and set aside for more elaborate and irrational doc- trines. But when the mind is al)stracted from physical appearances, and the Lord is acknow- ledged within these truths, it will be perceived that the Lord, or the Divine Triith dwells within regenerating men, as reci])ients of His Life from the Word. The personification of Divine Wisdom is very clearly i)resented to the external mind in the eighth chapter of the Book of Proverbs. 122. The " 8on of Man " is to bo " lifted up from the earth " as the mind recedes inwardly, >i THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 57 The Son of Man lifted up. The Sacred Story. :e(l Us Ills of lie the or is elevated from the earthly appearance of the Literal Sense of the Word, and He will thus ''draw all unto him" who look for Him within the Word. " How say est thou, The Son of man must he lifted up ^ Who is this Son of man P Then Jesus said unto ihem, Yet a little tvhiJe is the light with you" " I am come a light into the world, that ivhosoever helieveth on Que should not abide in darkness'' Farther along in these pages it will be illustrated that light is a correspondent of si)iritual truth, and that the Divine Truth, or the Woi'«l, is the Light proceeding from the Sun of Heaven. 1:^3. The " Son of Man shall come in His glory " to the mind of man Avlien the Word shall shine with hght from its Spiritual Sense. This light will illuminate the mind of every Lcl lever when he perceives the Eternal prin- ciples of Divine Love and Wisdom within the earthly clothing of the Literal Sense. In entering this Portal of Glory the external mind must experience sufferings akin to the death of the corporeal frame, for all earthly thoughts of spiritual principles must perish before the Light from Heaven can be borne. 124. So shall the Sacred Story of the Gospels be made the Life of Jesus within the man who receives the Word into his life, and in the trials and temptations which he will spiritually Col. 3 : 4 1 Thess. 1 : 5 John 12 : 32 John 12 : 34 Ps. 24 : 8 John 12 : 46 Rom. 10 : 4 Uom. 10 ;.ll Pa. 27 : 1 I's. 74 . 10 Ho9. C : 5 Eph. 5 : 14 Acts 1 : IX 2 Thess, 1 : 7 Mark 13 : 20 Is. CO : 3 Is. C2 : 2 Ps. 104 : 1 llfcv. 10 : 1 Gen. 28 : 17 Ps. 118 !1S l'.s. i 18 : 19 Ps. 118 : 20 Matt. 7 : 13 Matt. 7 : 14 Joel 1 : 3 Joel 2 : 27 Ps. 26 : 7 John 13 : 37 i • ill s J, fcilii', 68 THE FACE OF JESUS: The spiritual crucificixion. Familiar comparisons. Jainos 4 :1 Rom. 6 . 5 Rom. ; 6 Matt. L'S :6 Mark 8 : 31 Mark 10 :C Mark l(i : 19 Matt. 27 ; 54 Luke 1 : Luke 1 40 47 Luke 2 : 29 1 Peter 5 : 10 imcloro'o, will he perceive within liimself the crucifixion, as the appearances of truth in the literal sense are dissipated, and at the end of the third day, or full state of preparation, the Lord will raise him from dead earthly repre- sentatives, to perceive that the Living Principle of the Internal Sense is the S()N of God. Then will he realize the true meaning of that Divine liistorv, which in its Literal Sense has been the guide and comfort of millions, and for which thousands have suttered martyrdom. TIIK citrciFixiox. 125. In meditating upon the forms of expres- sion contained in the Word which contain the Divine Truth, the imagination should not revert to the centuries of past earthly history outside of one's own spiritual world or experience. It is true that in the apparent history of the men of old, in the narrative of the journeyings of the Children of Israel, and other incidents, there may be comparisons made with our own struggles through the journey of life. Such comparisons are only external, and are familiar to all religious people, and the Internal Sense does not consist of such similitudes, but is founded upon the unchangcal)le law of the cor- respondence between natural ideas or t-hings, Dent. 4 :39 Jur . 17 : 15 Ez jk. 13 : 14 2 Cor. C :2 Is. 49: 7 1:1. 40 ; 3 Is. 49: 9 I.S 49: 10 Is. 49: U U. 49 12 rs 7S :3 p.. . 7S : 1 I', . 73 : 4 li :C rs.7s;7 and spiritual principles. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 5a The death on the cross. Infinite Love of the Lord. 120. The pasKion of tlie " 8011 of Man," end- ing with tlK) death upon the cross, represents the violence which is (hnieto tlie Divine Trutli, or THE Woiin, wlien it is externally honored, but is not received into the inner life. It sig- nifies the death of the si)iritiial faculties of man, which results from perverting the vital truth of the Word, the law of love, by covering it over with the traditions of men. This effect is not to be seen outside of man's si)iritual nature, l)ut its tendency is to close the gate of true perception of the character of the Word. 127. When this gate is closed, it is promul- gated from the Literal Sense that the Lord is a (Jod of wrath and retaliation, like a perverse man who is filled with jealousy and revenge, wliose Avounded honor and sense of justice, ac- cording to the teachings of men, can only be satisfied l)y certain conditions, which an unsel- fish man would shrink from proclaiming to his fellow-men. To those who thus think of the Lord, while in this state, it cannot be revealed that He is the Word which in the life of a re- generating man is the Humanity being made Divine. l'J8. The Internal Sense reveals that the Lord Jehovali is I'ure, Infinite and Unchaui'inu' Love, flowing without respect to persons to all His creatures whether they are governed by Is. 63: 12 Is. 50 : d Matt. 23 : '.'7 John 6 : 44 Matt. 23 : 29 Malt. 23 : 33 Matt. 23 : 27 Matt. 23 : 90 Kph. 4 : 17 Eiih. 4 : 30 Is. 3 : 28 Lam. 1 ; •s IN 2 : 6 Ilos. 5 : 10 Ex.32 : 10 Dcut. 32 :42 Luke 6 : 37 Is. 50 : 9 Matt. 13 : 13 lii. 42 : 20 la. 41 : -16 Is. 12 : 9 Zech. 2 : 10 U. 32 ; 1 Arts 10 : 3i '/i €0 THE FACE OF JESUS Laws of Divine Order. False doctrines. ; 'fill' ■i 3am. 22 : 33 Acts 26 : 18 Jub 36 : 22 Is. 65 : 9 Rom. 11 : 33 IChroii. 10 : 30 Is. CO : 21 Job 37: 23 Rav. 22 : 17 Ps. 25 : 10 Prov. 11:5 Ps>. S5 ; 5 Ezck. 3 : 21 Dan. 4 : 27 Matt. 14 : 36 Ps. 23 : 3 Jur. 10 : 13 Ps. 130 : 10 Matt. 20 : 55 Is. 47 : 14 Is. 40 : 24 lev. 19 : 14 Is. 57 : U good or evil principles, doing all in His Omni- potence to elevate men into spiritual life with- out violating His Divine Laws of Order, or the freedom of the will of man. It is impossible for Him to violate His laws of order. He can- not turn the world backward from its course in the firmament, for it would cause destruction to the wdiole physical universe, and the Heavens which depend upon it. He cannot cause a good man to become an evil si)irit, neither can He drive a man through the Heavenly Portal who will not freely walk in the paths which lead to Heaven. The re-action of a man's own evils upon himself often bring liim into such a state of anguish and despair, that they force him to seek those avenues which are liglited with heavenly truths from the Word. 129. The only tangible way in which the Lord guides us, is by means of these heavenly truths. We hoar no other audible voice, we touch no other guiding hand, nor do we see Him in any other Form. When His plain teachings of simple spiritural and moral duty are covered over with the stubble of the com- mandments of men, so that the mind, from these traditions, is filled with false ideas of the nature of the Lord or the Word, wdiich causes the simple truth of spiritual life to be cast aside for doctrines wdiicli tend to foster the love of THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. Gl Death of spiritual perception. Imprisoned thought Holf ill the most insidious form, such (loctriucs kill the spiritual perceptions of the man who reads the Word. 1130. Thus the Son of :Maii " is rejected and despised of men," and it should he constantly l)()rne in mind that the Word is addressed only to the persons who possess and read it. Those principles in the nature of man which contirm and proclaim doctrines from the Literal Sense of the Word which are irrational and are in- consistent with the Divine Loving Nature, tend to despise the simple commands of ol)edience Avhich the Word utters, and these false prin- ciples are the Jews who crucify the " Son of Man." 131. These Jews are externally religious, and attend jealously to all the rerpiiremcnts of pub- lic worshii), and loudly vindicate the honor of Clod, but inwardly they condemn all wdio do not favor their traditions. They are tempted to execrate those persons who are in the simple interior life of keeping the Commandments, whose Living Faith teaches that the oljedient are devoid of self-righteousness, and whose strength is wholly in the Lord. 132. The " traditions of men " thus ol)struct the avenues to the perception of the Internal Sense of the Word, with the man who is bound in thought by their influence. But he who by Hal. 2 : 3 Is. 8 : 15 John 12 : 4S Ilog. 4 : 6 Jer. U : 6 Horn. IG ; 1* Jer. 44 : 29 Ps. 30 : 3 Eztk. 2 : Amos 2 : 4 Jer. 38: 10 John 5 : m Matt. 15 • 2: John 5 : 18 Luke : 7 John 10 : lil John 7 : IS Matt. 5 5 Is. 49 : 5 Ps. 6S : 31 Matt. 15 :S Numb.J0:3;i Dan. 12 ;9 I If ! PT ' 1 ! i. I: 4 ' I 1! I, '■* i lir 1 -Ml 1 -f 02 r//^ FA07^' OF JJ'JSUS: Living Principles. Substitution. Jut. 42 : 6 Oon. 22 : 18 Ucn. 2(i : 24 ]8, 24 : 19 Col. 1 : IS Rom. 8 : 2 I'hil. 1 : 20 r.s. 19 : 11 Luke 12 : 5 Ilel). 12 : 25 lit from Heaven. " Fear not them which kill the hodn, hut are not able to kill the soul : hut rather fear him which is able to destroy hoth soid and body in hell." 134. From a remote period in the history of man, there has been in his perverted nature, a fallacy of .substituting' for the simple truth in religious duties, such principles which most agree with and ftivor tlie Love of Self. This en- ticing principle is represented under the form of a *' serpent," because as serpents live and move with their bodies close to the earth, so sensual principles are closely connected with the external body. Sensual principles are THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 03 The earthly serpent. The heavenly serpent. those by which tlu' iniiul is att'octcMl by moans ot'tlio si'iisos, from sucli oxtcnial tilings as aiv ivprcscMited in tlu; Literal Sense of tiie Word from tilings in the natnral world. ]>y the ex- ternal l)ody is not meant the corporeal frame, but the external princi[)les of the mind or s])ir- itual bodv, which come in contact with external thini's bv nitMins of the senses. ^Vll sensation in the corporeal frame is actuated by an inflow- ing of perception from the senses of the spiri- tual body which is within. 13.'). When a man is becomino- regenerated from the Avilderness of the love of self, the sen- sual or corporeal principles of his mind are gov- erned by internal princii)les, and are liftecl up above earthly motives in projxn-tion as Internal l*rinciples are perceived within the Literal Sense of the AVord. The Internal l*iincii)le is signified l)y " Moses," Avho represents the Lord, or the Word, and who reveals to the mind its interior truths, which, when obeved with a living faith will revive a man from a state of s[)iritual death, and (piicken him with Eternal Life. '^And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man he lifted up ; that whosoet'er belie vet h in him shall not perish, hut have eternal life.'^ 13(). The Literal Sense of the Word is written by spiritual correspondences with ter- Ocn. 2 : I'M. 45 : 8 Kzck. 33 : 10 Kzek. ;n : 11 KzLk. :: : \i llnm. H :» lCiir.fi : 17 1 Cor. : -JO CI. 1 : 9 Kpli. 2 : 22 Is. 11 : 8 Ih. 51 : 3 Is. 11 : Kph. 3 : 20 Ezt'k. 10 : 3 ICx. 24 : lij Kx. 14 : 31 Kx. 34 : 35 la. (J3 : 12 Hub. U : 19 .luhn 3:14 Matt. 10 : 10 Num. 21 : 9 y^i \i 11 IS Hi (fi!J l.|i 1 Cor. 10 : 11 r^ I ^l! ii 'i't. I :4^ hit ill! 1, 'ilil i ■ ll 64 THE FACE OF JESUS: Exterior representatives. Fear of punishment. Col. 1 : 10 Murk fi : 31 Lam. 1 : 2 2 Peter 1:U Lain. 4 : 1 IJeiit. 2S : 29 John 12 : 35 I«.2S:ll) J or. 10 : 8 Ph 78 ; 18 Mark 4 : 19 2 Tim. 4 : 3 1 Sam. 15 : 22 James 3 : in Ezuk. 14 : 10 Jor. .37 : 1 John 3 : 7 2 Thoss. 2 : 3 Jcr. 5 : 25 1 Cor. 10 : 14 Col. 3 : 5 Ezek. 33 : 25 Eztik. G : 13 Eztk. 23 : 49 1 Cor. S ; 4 Eztik. 36 : 25 ro.strial, pliysical and natural objoct.s .and i(l(»as, thui* from .sensual and visiblo things. When the mind rests only in these outward represen- tatives, .and doe.s not pereeive the spiritual pi'inciple within, a .spiritual l)lindness is occas- ioned, in which the lii^lit of simple truth is turned into darkness, so thattlie mind can only see that wliich is physical and natural. 107. Wlien this is the case with a man who reads the Word, lie cheri.shes such doctrines from tlie TJteral Sense which most agree with liis ruling' love or feiir, and he naturallv delights in those princii)les which favor the evasion of the re.sponsibility (>f that obedience l>v -wiiich the love of self must be overcome, without which, heavenly truth cannot gain .ad nUsion. 13H. The fear of the punishment for sin actu- ates such a man to seek in some vvay to pi 0]>i- tiate what he supposes to be the wiatli of an avenging Deitv, not being .aware that everv sin will l)ring its own jmnishment, .and that who- ever is in a life of sin is immersed in its punish- ment. The idolater, or the m.an who is gov- erned l)y the love of self, thus brings offerings to iiis deformed god, which is a reiiectiou of his own life, .and pacifies his mind with the thought tli.at he has purclia.''cd favor, and tluis 1 las aver ted pun Witl lai to escape the shment. punishment of his eater anxiety sins than to ill ill.. i_ THE NATURK OF THE WORD OF GOD. G5 Atonement. Peace on earth. combat his hereditary evils, and overeonio tliem, ho hails with joy the oiler of a substitute, for the penalty which ho fears, aii is oi)i)osed to candid obedience, and ho seeks to " climb up some other way." Jesus, the Son of God, is the Interior Truth of the \\^)rd which the regenerating man delights in obeying, lie is *' the Way, the Truth, and the Lifer The Word is " the door," by obedi- ence to which, from affection for its truths, " if any man enter in, he sh(dl be saved." The Good Shepherd leads by the truths of the Word to a liie of '-peace on earth and yood-ivill to men;" *' peace on earth " signifying a state of blessed- ness resulting from the cessation of conflict between the spiritual and natural principles within, as the love of self is overcome through Kzvk. 30 : 26 Jaiiioa 4 : 7 Rom. 10 : 27 Deut. 28 : SS Aut• Pa. oO : 1 Jer. 20 ; 9 m m 'I ■<■:■■.!■' ij !'■ 1 .' ^ ' m 70 THE FACE OF JESUS The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The natural man. Matt. 28 : If 1 John 6 : 7 1 John 6 : 8 John 20 : 22 Job 33 : 4 Job 12 : 10 Ps. 31 : 24 Luke 24 : 46 Jer. 5 : 24 Jcr. 13 : 10 Is. 4V : 8 Ohail. 3 P.s. 10 ; 3 Ps. 10 : 4 Gal. a : 10 Gal. 6 : 3 Gal. a : 7 Luke 6 : 31 Luke 19 : 14 Lord, as One Person there is Divine Love, Divine Wisdom, and the Divine Proceeding, called in the Word, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 149. From this Infinite Trinity in One Per- son, a triune principle exists in all finite things in heaven, man, and earth, each created thing being receptive of Love, Wisdom, and Power, according to its natm'e and capacity. 150. Man has no life in himself, and even in his spirit is only a dead receptacle of Life from the Lord. Man's spiritual nature consists of two fiiculties : the will, which is the receptacle of Love from the Lord, and the understanding, which is the receptacle of Wisdom from the Lord. In his natural state, he does not recog- nize this principle of life, Ijut attril)utes all that he thinks, says, and does, to what he supposes to be his own knowledge, which is only so in appearance. His will, instead of regarding the Love of the Lord, from which its life is derived, ])urns only to gratify the love of self, and does not inwardly seek the welfare of others, but puts himself first in thought, if he does not outwardly do so. He does not make the rule of his life, " As ye would that others should do to you, so do ye also unto them" and does not inwardly desire the Lord, or the Word, to bo his guide. f 7 THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 71 A dead man. A living man. l.")l. In this state of life he is dead, for he has no si)iiitual life, and is actuated by no higher motives than the animals which perform earthly uses, althouu'li his natural understand- ing may be filled with sagacity and learning. He differs from the l)easts in this respect : his understanding is enlightened with truths which he does not (jbey, although he has the faculty for obedience, while a beast has no under- standing of truth, l)ut an instinct which Hows into his brain, which he obejs according to the laws of the order of his nature. The animal attains the full end of his being in this physical world, while man possesses faculties by which he may attain angelic life. 1;")2. The faculties which constitute man are, the perception of goodness, which is made acute by the desire for spiritual life, and the faculty of understanding truth Avlien it is j)resented to the mind. In order that spiritual life may enter the will of man, he nnist obey the truth which he knows. He nuist l)ring it f(jrtii into life. Tliis ti'uth is found only in the Word, or in books derived from the Word. 153. This truth brought forth into the life of the man who reads it from the Word, will change his will from being ruled Ijy the love of self, to an acknowledgment of the Lord, for he then gives up his own life of hereditary evil, Ps. 49 : 12 Prov. 20 : 12 ICor. 3: 1!> 1 Cor. 3 : iO Is. 43 : 20 Dan. 12 : 10 Ilns. 14 : !• Ps. 107 :0 l8. 4!) : 18 lioni. 13 : 10 Dent. 30 :.20 Rimi. 13 ; 10 Pc. 40 ; 6 Luke 4 : 20 Ps. 119 : 110 Jer. .36 : 15 Ilcb. 10 : 7 Jcr, 36 : S 1 PeUT4:2 I Ill *^ iiiii till i|U>'« » i. ' II 72 a^/Z^- FylC^ OF JESUS. The Body of the Lord. The Trinity in Unity. and the Lord, or the Word, enters, and he l)e<,nns to grow into the form of a true man. Tlie truths therein which he feeds upon, con- stitute the Body of tlie Lord, which is given to him in the natural or literal form of the Word. The nourishment derived from this B(3dy will regenerate his life, and bring tlie two faculties of the will and understanding into harmonious operation, so that they will become receptive of the Divine Love and Wisdom, and he will be converted into a true rational man according to the laws of heavenly order. 154. The Word in its oi)eration within the regenerating man is in the Human Form, for it contains within its literal form a Divine Prin- ciple, which, when applied to the life, will change his thoughts from natural to si)iritual concep- tions, from animal to human life, and this Power from the Word in man is the Divine Proceeding, or the Holy Spirit, and thus the Word is the Divine Humanity which the Lord assumes in the will and understanding of the spiritual man, and hence is the explanation of what is meant by the Human Principle of the Word. THE THIN IT Y IN ONE TEUSON. 15;"). As the Divine Love and Wisdom oper- ate in the spiritual nature of man by means of Rom. C : 10 Rom. 14 : 8 Ps. 130 : 25 Matt. 2C : 20 Prov. 30 : 6 1 Cor. 11 : 20 Lam. 3 : 58 Is. 20 : 12 Matt. 13 : 23 John 14 : 3 Col. 3 : 24 Col. 3 : 15 1 Tim. 3 : 15 Is. 1 : 17 la. to : 1 I'.s. 118 : 23 Ps. 02 : 11 Luke 11 : 13 I.s. (i : 3 Is. 52 : 7 I.s. 52 : 13 Is. 52 : P.s. Ill: 9 THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 73 The Divine Trinity reflected. Clouds and smoke. the Word, and thus its Triune Principle may be seen, so the effect of the will and the under- standing, going forth into his words and actions, reflects this Divine Trinity in a regenerating man. Here the distracted mind may rest in the One Living God who is Incarnated in the Word, the Word made flesh and dwelling in the will and understanding of the man who is to live forever as an angel in heaven. Here is the Lord Jesus Christ, Jehovah God, the Divine Love and Wisdom of the Word, Incarnated and made manifest in the "flesh," or regenerated will of the man to whom he speaks by the Word, " 1/ ?/e lore me, keep my commandments ^ 15(5. The perplexed mind may behold in the Word, this One Personal God from Eternity, and think of Him as always the same und un- changeable in His Divine Love and Wisdom, and in the Eternal Past, Present and Future, abide in Him alone. Thus may we think of Him as within the Sun of the Spiritual Heaven, THE WOKD, with His Heat and Light steadily shining without diminution, although its rays are often obscured by the evils and falsities of the men who misinteri)ret His Love, and make Him appear as a God after their own hearts, just as the earth is surrounded by clouds and smoke, and inclines its poles aAvay from the illuminating centre of its orljit, so that the in- Mark U : 5 1 John 1 : 3 JaH. 2 : 24 1 Cor. 8 : John 14 : 10 Ps. 91 : 1 Pa. 91 • 16 Iloni. : 83 John 1 : 10 Jolin 1 : 30 John 14 : 15 Is. 44 : 24 lleb. 13 : S Rev. 4 :S 2 I'et t;r 1 :1'J Ueut 4 : 3(i l9. 4 : vt Is. 5 30 Roin 1 : •_'". Kztk. l^ :-J» Hog. 13 - I Ins. 13 . i \i. 14 :3i ill 74 THE FACE OF JESUS, Exhalations from the earth. The Father and the Son, :'i I-I K;5h. 3 : 19 .Matt. 28: 10 John 6 ; 20 Hub. 12 : 9 Eph. 4 : G Rom. 1 : 10 1 Cor. 8 ; 5 Horn. 1 : 20 Rora. 1 : 21 Micah 4 : 12 Rom. 1 : 23 Jcr. 5 : 21 Jcr. 10 : 20 Is. 33 : 6 I.s 46 : 9 Is. 43 : 10 2 Pet. 1 : 20 Gal. 4 : 8 Jcr. 10 : 11 Luke 22 : 42 John 8 ; 16 Ts 22 : 1 fluenccs of the perpetual sun appear to vary according to the declinations and exhalations from the earth's surface, and its rays do not enter in their fulness of powci*. 157. The Triune Principles of the Word are personified in the names of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, so that thoughts concerning God should take the Human Form in the mind. All men are sons from fathers, and yet there is but One Father of all to whom the mind reverts as the Creator. Without such a mode of pre- sentation, men would have had no idea of One Personal Being, for the mind must behold sentient forma in order to abstract spiritual principles therefrom, otherwise the mental eyes could not have seen any higher attributes in the Deity than they would perceive in the clouds and murky atmospheres which surround the e-arth, and thus behold no Infinite Being in the Human Form. 158. Enlightened reason has been given man to recognize that God could ccmsist of but One Person, although there have been doctrines prevalent which taught that there is more than One Person, derived from material thoughts concerning the Literal Sense of the Word. The apparent separation of the Father and the Son is based upon the physical appearance of the Incarnation as an event outside of the ex- THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 75 No Divinity without the Internal Sense. Unchangeable unity. porionce of the man who roads or lioars the Word. If the Word contained no Internal Sense within the external forms of expression which ch)the it, it could not be Divine, although it treats of sacred things in the Literal Sense, because without the soul within the literal expression, mnny utterances based upon the api)earances of truth could not be reconciled with that rationality which is enlightened from above. ir)0. This is why the Lord has permitted it to be revealed that the Word contains an In- ternal Sense, which comnuuiicates to the mind of a man who is seeking spiritual life, that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Divine Love and Wisdom within the life of him who receives it in his will and understanding, and thus to him the Word is God. 100. It would not be truly rational to say Avith the mouth that the Lord is One Person, and inwardly think of a Father in Heaven and a human Son upon the earth, for then the mind inwardly would be in contiiction on account of the separation of the two principles represented by the Father and the Son, which in the Lord nmst be united and unchangeable, without states, or seasons of being greater or less in power, according to the appearance of more or less love in the changeable nature of man. If Jiiliii s U JiiliiiT 10 John 7 •a John 7 , 20 John 7 33 John 7 34 Johns 15 John 7 3e Is. 30 : IS John 9 ; -ii. John 10 : a; John 10 : 3.s John 9 : r. Iloij. 2 : i) Is. 33 : 10 Ps. 2 : 10 John 10 : 30 Horn. 15 ; 6 2 Tim. 1 ; 7 Is. 05 : 16 John 17 ; 23 James 1 : 17 Numb. £3:16 Ph. 10-2 : 27 vi PI m l{\ m \ 11 ■I ■i'".'i ! 1 i I 1,1 !i i| i 1 i. ■ '! r 1 \ J 1l 'i •■! :' 'i 1 1 ■ ■' : 1 - h 76 THE FACE OF JESUS: The Son not a physical man. The Rational faculty closed. by the Son it should l)c uiKkTstood in the least that it conveys to the mind that it is a physical €Ovi)()real frame of the Lord upon this terrestrial globe, then the idea of the Father and the Son becomes that of Two Persons, and the tliou<;ht is then distracted from the true Spiritual Sense of the Word. Thus the Lord Jesus (Jhrist is not to be thought of as a physical man or Person on the earth, but His Commandments in the Word are to be obeyed and loved, which is the only way in which He can be loved, for the Word is His Person, and these Command- ments loved and brought forth in the life jf a regenerated man, constitute the ultimate degree or External Form of the Divine Humanity. 1()L When the mind, in its abstraction from earthly things and their appearances in the Word, meditates upon the Divine I'rinciples of this One Person, or the Commandments of the Word, spiritual perception flows in from Lleaven, for Heaven is from the Lord, and there the angels know of but One Person. Where the idea of more than One Person exists in the mind, the door of the rational facultv, throuuh which spiritual light enters, will be closed by the fallacies which result from the thoughts of more than One, because the effect in the mind is to create as many Gods as there are Persons, for the man then desires to worship each Per- 8 18 g 24 144 i 40 § 49 « f.o 8 61 Matt. 2S : 6 Matt 2S : 7,8 Numb. 1.0:10 Juliii 14 : 21 John 1 : 1 48: 18 Matt. 2> : !) Matt. 2S : 10 Matt. iS : 17 1 Cor. 12 : 1 J 48 John 12 : 26 I.s. G : 1 John 12 : 23 Ufcv. 4 : 1 Rev. 4 : 2 § 74 § 60 § 64 S70 Jcr. 18 : 11 Jer. 10 : 1-2 Jer. 10 : 13 THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 77 One Human Form. Causes of anxiety. son, and is not fixed npon the vital Contcr of Life, and spiritual life can recogni "» hut One I*erson in One J^eini; or Human Torni in which is the Infinite Human Princii)le. 1(32. The external fcn^m of the face and body does not constitute the human princi[)le of man, l)ut the Understandin*;' of Trutli and the Love of Cirood, which actuate his life, and tli(> opci-ation of these two principles by which he manifests them to others, form the Triune J I nman I'rinciple Avhich exists in man because it is derived from the Infinite Human Principle which is within the Word of God. SlIRITUAL rHrNCIPI.KS Ar.STRACTED FKUM LITERAL EXPRESSIONS. 1G3, Spiritual principles cannot be appre- hended, unless a person, l»y intelligent rational discipline has ()])tained power to abstract the mind from all things of time and space which belong to this physical world. Time and spai e belong only to the things of this world, and we shall soon exist beyond their infiucnce, whei'e spiritual principles are real and palpable to the senses. This reality exists even now while we are imprisoned in the corporeal frame, but we are so absorbed with the things of sense, Irom which arise all our cares and anxieties, that it is difficult to realize that we are spiritual beings, 2 King«17:2» Uoiit. a :10 Ex. 34 : 14 Zeuh. U :10 1 ID { 23 AcH 17 23 Arts 17 '.'4 Acts 17 2& Acts 17 2» ActHl7 2S Acts 17 i9 § 101 Jer. 35 : IS 1 Cor. I!: li •> Put. 3 : U Ps. 75 : 3 2 Cur. 5: 1 2 Cor 5 ; 2 2 Cor 5 : 3 2 < or ft : 4 2 Cor 5 ; 5 2 Cor 5 ; 2 Cor. 5 7 2Cor. 4: S Eph. 3 : » I I ' ; \ ' i! ' 78 TllK FACE OF JESUS: The Spiritual World a reality. Thoughts within words. E|)h. 3 : 10 Ci'l 1 : 10 Hull. (1 : 18 Hob. u : lu a Cor. 7 :1 2 Cor. fi 10 8 Cor. 6 :8 2 Cor. 6 : 2 Cur. S : 17 Koiii. 8 : 35 Ual 5 : 2'J Koin. 6 5 U(.m. 10 : 10 Jii.le. 19 Is. 44 : 13 John ;! ; 12 Jcr. ,M : 15 Jur. rd : 10 Ezck.3 : 27 ICor. 4. 19 Titii.s -2 : 8 Ecdcs.lO :l-' 1 Cor. 14 :25 ICor. 14 : 10 § 68 f 00 and tliat wo arc surrounded witli a spiritual universe more real tliau tlie ohjeets wliieh we see in the pliysieal world al)out us. If we were solicitous about those principles which will exist after the death of the cori)oreal frame, and which constitute Eternal Life in IFeaven, our i)erception of si)iritual things would be (juickened, for when we love these truths we drink them in with delight and per- ceive their reality, because that Avhidi a man loves constitutes his life, and if he does not love a life founded upon true .spiritual lU'in- cii)les, he cannot com])rehen(l them when they are presented to his mind. 1()4. All s})iritual ideas nuist first be pre- sented to the mind in natural lani;ua^e, or l)y natural forms. If a person is conumuiicating thought to our minds by means of speech, we hear the sound of his voice, and the words which he utters. The sound of the words is not what the mind retains, but the idea is extracted which the Avords convey. The result is the same when we read a l)ook. We see the letters which form the words, and the words convey ideas which exist in the mind of the author, and these ideas are associated with things of this world, either in relation to science or history, or are connected with the natm'al imagination as found in works of fiction. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 79 Power of abstraction. Measurement of progression. i 10.'). It is i)ossiblo to apprchond s]>iritual IM'inc'iples alKslractod tVoin tinu' and spaco while in tliis lifo, and to pcrcuivo tliat tlicy constitutu the reahty from wliicli all thini^s are derived. If we think interiorly, we shall })(Meeive that the Lord Jehovah in J lis Infinite Love and Wisdom, exists al)ovc or within all eoneei)tions of time and. space, and also that all affection and thonght in man exist independent of time and space. Onr thonj^hts can even now reach forward to hi,L;her development in spiritual intelHi^ence, and om* affections become warm with joy when we contem])late the attainment of i-reater love for the Lord and the nei<^hl)or, while the weak corporeal frame may be pros- trated with infirmitv, and be confined within the fixed limits of the walls of a room. When onr minds are absorl)ed with su])jc^cts v1;lth we love, wc do not re«^ard the j)assin<^' houi-., Imt when we are in seasons of tern] station ain! grief, the time passes slowly an(' the rlays a > i nights seem long. 16G. The order of a man's regenerate life is measured by successive -states or degrees of advancement from evil to good, and thus pro- gression in Divine princii)les is made. These progressions are not measured l)y days, months, or years, but by obedience to the truths of the Word. Eegeneration is only attained through 1 Cor. 2 ! 5 1 Cor. 2 : 1 K'.ir. 2 :7 1 Cor. 2 ; a 1 Cor. 2 : 9 Kzi'k 10 : I'J John 8 : 2A Kph. 4 : U Col. 3 : 2 James 4 : 1 1 Hub. 11 : 10 IJolin 1 : 4 1 Pot. 1 : a 1 f'ct. 3 : 9 Ph. 41 : 3 Ph. "7 : 10 Ps. 7i) : 11 1 Pet. 3 ; 10 Luke 12 : -.ii I'H. 27 : 5 Matt 24 : 2i John 3 : 12 Pb. 92 : 12 Mark 4 : 26 2 Pot. 3 : IS l3. 58 : 2 Eph. 4 : 13 P8. 3 : 1 It"' i, i , v: » i ,.i t 80 THE FACE OF JESUS. Struggle between good and evil. Wars and conribats. Ps, 7 : 1 Kom. 9 : 7 Ps. 98 : X Kzck. 46 : 1 Lev. 11 :44 2 Peter 3:8 Pi., no : 4 IIos. 14 : 2 llcb. 13 : ir Malt. 13 : 35 2 IVt. 3 : 13 Kciin. n : 4 Kpli. 1 : 9 C;iil. 6 : 15 i:i ii. 1 : 3 § 48 Epli. 1 : 10 K|)h. 1 : 20 Kpli. 1 : 21 Jdlin 19 : 35 John 12 : 41 Ps. 40 : 9 JIatt. 24 : Joel 3 : 9 successive strn<^urles in which the conflict be- tween ijood and evil within the man resuUs in the victory of the Lord over every evil and false principle, and then dawns the 8al)bath of peace which is sanctified by the Lord. Thus the regeneration of a man's spiritual life may be thouu'lit of, abstracted from earthlv time and space, and therefore all the principles of ,^oo(t and evil may be thought of independent of material things in themselves. 1(57. All ])ooks of earthly sciences, history, and fiction, have relation to natural things and ideas, but tlie Word of God treats oidy of princii)lcs concerning the regeneration of man, or of his si)iritual life, and the mind nnist bo abstracted from the natural form of things nari'ated therein, and the spiritual principles re])resented by them will be perceived in the place of the literal appearance. 1G8. The apparent history of events in the Word thus becomes true history of tlu^ spiritual states of man in the order of his regeneration, which occur historically as they are related. All the narratives Ijecome historical facts, for in their order they ai'e representative of the progress of the regenerating man toward the Life of Heaven. All llie wars and coml)ats, with their apparent historical surroundings and circumstances, are representative of principles I THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 81 Typical characterisliv.b. A spiritual panorama. Avliidi tlio cbai'actcM'istics of tlio nioii ty))ify, (Mtlior i;(t()(l or evil, true or false. These his- torical narratives IxMiii;' represeiiritive of true spiritual history which luust occur in the or(l(>r of the re<;eneratioii of man, the rational mind will cleai'ly perceive that it is not essential for salvation from sin, to l)elieve that they were occni'rences of actual physical history in suc- cessive earthly events. 1()U, A ])ortrait hanj^in^- upon tlic wall, or found in an alhum, is representative of a person. The picture is not tlie person, Init serves to brini;- the original form before the mind, and as the co})y of the face a])pears before the si,i;ht, so the (pialities of the man as we have known him, or have read of him, appear before our thoughts. 170. So the ^Vord of God is a panorama of true spiritual events in the history of each i'eL;enerato man, for si)iritual principles alone are true and eternal. In the Letter of the AVord nothing- is apparent but mere history which in many instances seems remote from Divine ])rinciples. Within the lorm of the Literal Sense arc concealed heavenly truths which cannot be seen as hnv^ as Uic mind and eyes are confined to the historical nai'ratives, and they cannot l)e revealed to the mind until the thoughts arc abstracted from the Literal F Joel 3: 10 Joi'l ;i : U llov, lo : 3 Jiilm IG : 3.! Matt. U ; 17 Matt. 5 : IS Matt. -H : 3-1 Mark 1 : 1.^ Uiiiii. 1.! : S § IS Ji.lin 1 : I .I'lliM 17 : il Jcilin 17 : 8 r.-. Iiv2 : IS I'H. lOJ : l'» Hi nil, ir, : 4 I's, loj : 2,^ Ps. 102 : 26 Is. 00 : 2 1 Jnliii .'•, : 21 1 Cor. 4 : 5 Luke 10 : 21 1 Cor. 4 : 20 Is. 2 ; 2 r" l-J iW ; U '1 : ■An r 82 THE FACE OF JESUS: i i ' : The Literal exists from the Internal Sense. Eternal Truths. Is. 2:3 Is. 2 : 4 Luke 10 : 22 Is. 2 : 5 Is. 2 : 8 Luke lu : 10 Acts 13 34 Kzi'k 37 : 12 l"/ul; :;: : 13 Kzi'k ;;: : 14 ,li>)iii 1 : 8 Acts 13 2."> !tiiiii. b 10 Acts 13 30 l)i.n. 8: 15 lltv. 21 ; I liev. 21 : 2 Hcv. 21: 3 Uev. 21 ; 4 Ktv. 21: U.40:8 I.iik - 21 : 3 2 I'e t. 3 : r> Luk ; 10 ; 2:1 Liiku 10 : 24 Sense, M'liicli is derived from tlie Iiiteriiid Sense. It is eontmry to the laws of order to tliink of the Internal Sense heinL!: derived f-om the Literal Sense, just as it would be to aeeept the hnsk iu i)laee of the ear of corn within. 171. In the abstraction or removal of the mind from the earthly things mentioned in the Literal Sense, when the coherent spii-itual sense api tears, and during its percei)tion, the Literal Sense in itself alone then dies to the illuminated mind, lor it has no life in itself independent from the Internal Sense, as the coi'poreal frame does not live from itself when the man enters the spiritual world. 17'2. The Literal Sense of tlie Word is tlio coi'poreal frame which holds its S})iritual l)()dy, and while the mind is occu})ied w ith the external appearances, the internal contents cannot appear, for they are the truths which exist ill the Spiritual World from which all the truths in this Avorld are derived, and wliich govern the lives of angels and s})irits, for man increases in knowledge after he enters the other worhl, ])y means of instruction fnmi the Word. The Sense of the Letter, being cor])oreal, does not enter the other world, but the spiritual jtrinciples which ar histoi'ically I'clated, ai'e Internal Truths, a proof of whicii can oidy be demonstrated to the man who lives according 111 \ fd THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 8J1 Self-intelligent wisdom. A " hard saying." Lev. 20 : 12 Jcr. S : fi Jor. f,0 : 31 J IT. CO : 32 Is. 55 : -2 .M:itt -is : 12 Miitt. JS : 13 Matt. i!S : 15 Mark 1 : to tlio Light Avliidi sliiiuvs from the Face of the Woi-d. 170. A man who is fiUed witli self-intelhgencc, and deems liimsclf wiser than others, cannot perceive tlie hght from the Internal iSense, and spends liis efforts in seelving confirmations of literal ph^'sical events to prove his ])()siti()n, utterly rejecting the ailirmation that the Word of (lod treats of spiritual principles alone, tcacliing heavenly truths by means of natural forms and ideas. The time is rajniUy ap])roach- ing in the history of intelligent men, Mhen self- I uov. 22 : 10 intelligent science and human erudition, in zcd,. lou darknoss will make war upon the outer court is. 51:17 of the Temple of (xod. Then will its gate of j..im2:io l)earl open, and the Light from tb.e Altar will Kzek.43:3 shine through and disperse the enemies of i^-ok. 43:4 Divine Truth. Ezck. 12: 1,-, THE INTEltXAL SENSE. 174. The reason that the Internal Sense of the AVord has not been known auKMig religious \ kx. g:3 men in the past, and why it has not been under- ! Ephes. 3:: stood clearly that the Lord has only " dwelt I j^i,n8:2.i among us" by the Woi'd, is, because the state of the affections and thoughts of men have not hitherto been able to bear it, and at first it will be a "hard saving" to many, for it will seem to them that these interior principles have : Joim20;i2 la. 40 : 21 Jcihn 1 :3'.) 1 Cor 3 : 2 J(ihii C; (;o !'!: i "I nl'i 1 *-;! m l^\. \ t I '.hi ' ■ 1 1' S4 lllE FACE OF JESUS. : II The Living Word. Orderly laws of science. John 20 ; 13 K/j k. 43 : 5 Luke 4:32 .luliii 28 : 14 .Iiihn 20 : 20 .I..liii 20 : 29 I.uko 24 : 32 Luke 24 ; 30 Dent. 20 : 2'J i I 2 Tliess. 2 : 1 ! 2 Thess. 2:2, Phil. 3 : 14 riiil. 3 : Ij Ls. 53 : 1 riiil. 3. : 20 1 t or2 : 11 riiil. 4 :7 Amos 3 : 7 Luke 23 ; 38 Ps. lis : 20 1 Corl: 7 ' Is. 02 ; 11 ! Matt. 24 ; 3 Is. 19 : 12 Luke 21 : 9 Luke 21 : U Matt. 24 : 4 Luke 21 : 30 Luke 21 : 2S "taken away tlieir Lord," l)nt tlio li^lit from the Internal Sen.se reveals Ilim as the Living- Word, and all who desire may there see Jesu.s. "standing," in the Unman Form, and know that lie is T)oth the Lord and the Word, when they pereeivo Ilim <;'nidin!4' their footsteps by the Word into those paths whieh lead to perfeet peace. 17."). jVFany years ago, the Lord revealed the nndistorted, coherent, and rational interpre- tation of the Liternal Sense of the Word, in which lie plainly declares Himself to l)e the Word, and that all the physical appearances which are there narrated are pnrely correspon- dences of spiritnal principles from the Lord which exist in the mind of man by means of tlu^ Word. This Ilevelation of the Internal Sense is from the Lord alone. It was written in Latin, and was placed n])on the shelves of the libraries of the principal Universities of Enrope, to await the time when men shonld l)e prepared to receive it as I )ivinc Trnth : when earthly knowledge shonld begin to nndermine the physical api)earances in the Letter of the Word and prove them inconsistent with the orderly laws of natnral science, so that thinking men who read the Word Avonld be compelled to acknowledge an inward spiritnal principle higher than metaphor, which is consistent and fi f I'f THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 85 Higher intuitions. Three degrees of order. coherent, and thus be led t(3 hii;lier intuitions of their own being and of the realities of the .spiritual Avorld. | 176. The Word of God will neither be re- jected nor despised l)y those who there perceive the Lord, for the knowledge of the Internal Sense will protect it from all the assaults of false principles, perverted reason, and atheism. 177. The spiritual descendants of the his- torical Jews do not yet j)erceive that the Messiah has come, for lie has not come in the external earthlv glorv for which tliev have been looking. The Son of j\Ian has come " in the clouds of heaten with jwwer and great (jlori/,'' by the Internal Sense of the Word, which re- veals that Jesus is the Divine Love, and that Christ is the Divine Wisdom embodied in the Word, from the recei)tion and union of which in the regenerated will and understanding of man, spiritual life in unity is produced, and is externally manifested in Love to the Neighbor. DEGREES OF OKDEIl. 178. There are Three Distinct Degrees of Order in all things of the spiritual and material universe, each depending on the other, and these three degrees are contained within each ^Subdivision or particle derived fr(»m any object. As ihu full illustration of this subject would Luke -21 : 32 Luke 'U : 33 Luke 21 : 'ii J 111) 11 5: lU Jolin 5 : 20 l'.t. yi : 4 Matt 23 : 31 Matt. 25 : 13 Juliti 4 ; 25 Matt. 23 : 39 John 18 : 20 Matt. 2S : 3C John 4 : 2(1 1 Cor, 1 : .30 1 Cor. 2 : 16 1 Cor. 2 ; Ih 1 Cur. 3 : 9 Kph. 4 ; 13 Eph. 5 : 1 Gen. 18 2 Lev. 24 : 8 Pa. 10 J 27 :»,:■■ ' m % > <, III-. li 'i Ml 8G THE FACE OF JESUS: Three earthly degrees. Three mental degrees. J 55 Ps. 02 : S rs. .'iO ; 10 Gen. 2: 5 Ila-. 2 8 Kpli. 3 : IS ; Hev. 21 :10 Prov. 8 :27 Is. 40 : 22 Is. 43 : 3 I 1 Prov. 2 :4 Prov. 2 : 5 Rev. 1 : 13 Dan. 2 :32 Ex. 31 :4 Matt. 10:9 occu})}' the entire paye.s of a book, a biief out- line sinii)]y can l)e given. 170. Tlie eartli contains an Animal, Yeii'C- table, and JMineral kingdom. The Animal Kingdom is the highest in respect to the in- Howing of life, the Vegetable Kingdom is next in order, and the ]\lineral Kingdom is tho lowest. All ol)jects contain Length, l^readth, and Thickness, and they have Substance, Form and Use. A Circle contains a Centre, l>iameter, and a Circumference, and it is formed from the (*entre. It is a common rule in universal nature that Avhatever is purest and most noljle, i.s Innermost, and occupies the Centre. 180. If a circular pillar should have tliree e(iual divisions, the lowest of brass, the inter- mediate division of silver, and the highest of gold, and be melted upon a heated plane sur- face, tho brass would first subside and spread itself out so as t(j form the circumference, the silver would form a concentric circle within, while the gold, which was the highest, would form the inmost or centre of the substances of this circle. In Degrees of Comparison, the tSuperlative is the highest or inmost, the Com- parative is the intermediate, and the I'ositive is the lowest or outermost. The ^Nlind of ^lan contains the Will, or inmost princii)le, the Understanding, or intermediate, and the Life, THE XATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. S7 Three Heavenly degrees. Three Heavens- 1 Cor. 1.-.: 10 1 Cnr.l.^i : 44 ICur. 1 J : 41) ICrl.'. : 4S Hos. 2 : 22 K\. ;! ; It Matt. S : II or union tluMico proceeding, wliich is the ex- 2Cor4;ii ternal manifestation. isl. There arc three (leiiTecs of heavenly hfe, the Celestial, or inmost, the Spiritual, or inter- mediate, and the Natural, or external. The word iKttr }•((/, "vvhen applied to the mind or l>rinciples of the Word, signifies the lowest or ultimate prinei})le, hut it has nothing" in connnon icr. i.-:.{ with terrestrial or physical things, excepting 1)V correspondence. The Natural l*rinciple constitutes the external mind. Jn the Internal Sense of the Word, the names Abraham, Isaac, and Jacoh, reiu'csent these three princi[)les of the AVord, and all other names are re[)resenta- live of sub-divisions of these principles, or their opjxtsites, accoi'ding to the sul)ject which is heing treated of. The Avords Canaan, As.-^/ria, and EiJiipt, as well as Jndea, Sainina, and (ialdee, are also significative of the same prin- ciples, also Zlou, Jerusalem, and Nazareth, and the names of the rivers ilnpJiralcs, Jorda)!, and the Mlc. 182. There are Three TTeavens, which, like the pillar of gohl, silvei-, and brass, are perfectly distinct from each other, viz., the Inmost or Third Heaven, the ^Middle, or Seccmd Heaven, and the Ultimate, or First Heaven, and the ])rinciples of these Three Heavens lie within §1,0 the plane surface of th'5 Litei-al Sense of the > uov, ma .lo.sli. S : 12 Is. v.) : 2.5 .luliii 4 : .{ John 4 4 IN. 147 Luku 1 12) 2(1 r Ituv. !> : IN. 114 Gen 10 : 14 , 1^) S ISO 2 Cor 12 : 2 IHS ' ■ '1 ;* : ' 1 ! \'., 88 IHE FACE OF JESUS: I i Three interior receptacles. Four senses within the Vv'ord. ' < HI ] !' I'i Jiiliii S : 31 Luke 13 : n Matt. 18 :;i3 Acts 10 : 30 Luke i) : 33 Luke 9 : 01 Acts 10 ; 37 LuUc : 3j Luke -21 ; 1^ Luke 21 : 8 Luke 24 :9 U. 42 : 5 Rev. 21 : 17 Matt. C ; 20 C>.1. 1 : IG Col. 1 : 20 Col. 1 : 27 Col. 1 : 28 Zech. 1 :18 John 1!) : 23 Eph. 2 :20 Word. The interiors of tlie miiid of a rc^^viie- ratod man ])ecome rccoptades of those Three Heavenly Prin('ipl(\s, wliieh .j^ive tlieni form. In each J'reeept of the AVord there are Three Intei'ior Senses witliin, or in achlition to the j Literal Sense, descending- in sneeessive onk'r 1 from the Lord, throni^h the Tlneo Heavens ! until tliey rest ui)on the Literal Sense, which, when taken into the natural thounhts of a re,i;enerating man, becomes the plane surface upon which thev are spread in continuous oi'der so that the understanding as it is enlightened may i)erceive the Inmost, ]\Iiddlc, and Ultimate meaning which the natural words enclose. ls:3. Wherefore the Word is in each Heaven, and all the knowledge of the Lord is tliei'c obtained from the Word in its respective Internal Sense, for all angels are regenerated men. Thus the Word was given that men may l)e ja'cpared for Heaven, and there continue to derive their celestial and si)iritual life from its truths. Descending through the Three Heavens, it is acconunodated in its Internal Sense to the ([uality of the lives of the angels of each Heaven, and tinally rests in its Literal Sense for the minds ( »f men in this world. Thus the Word has a fourth sense on account of the Lit(M'al Sense l)eing a foundation for the natural mind, as the earth must exist in order that a THE KATURE OF THE WORD OF GOJJ. 83 Fulness of the Literal Sense. Concentration of Mind. man mav have his IxMiiui: common clmI, and a place in Avhicli to l)egin the Hfe of regeneration, -Nvliich begins from the trnths of tlie Hteral .sense, in Avhich the ^vhole Word rests in its fnhiess. 184. In the endeavor to concentrate the mind upon the One Divine Man, the avoim), from Avhom all rege lerated men are created, it may be of assistance to present an illustration of some of the Divhic Attributes, with their de- rivatives in man, representing the Triune Principles of the Word in abstract form. Aiuns !>: Is. r>l : 10 Is. 3t: 1 Cul. 2 ; Cul, '2 : '2 Col. 2 : a Vol 2 : 10 C(\. 1 : 22 Col. 1 • 2;i Cul. 1 : 12 Oil. 1 : 13 Cul. 1 : 16 1 U' !»kt ft m .1 Make Thy Face to Shine upon thy servant ; and teach me the way of Thy statutes. I's. 119 : i;i5. ire 4Un ,■-• -: 1 90 THE FACE OF JESUS: !t Abstract Principles. Living Principles. TIMUXK nUNCIPLES OF THE AVOKI), OR TITE I)l\ INE nU]\rANITY OF TTIE LORD JESUS CIIIUST. ,s I! END, 8UBSTANCE, CELESTIAL, INFINITE, OIMNIPOTENCE. LOVE, CREATOR, JEHOVAH, FATHER, DIVINE, GOODNESS, CAUSE, FORM, SPIRITUAL, ETERNAL, OMNISCIENCE, WISDOM, REDEEMER, GOD, SON, HUMANITY, TRUTH, EFFECT. USE. NATURAL. SELF-EXISTENT. OMNIPRESENCE, POWER. REGENERATOR. ALMIGHTY. HOLY SPIRIT. REVELATION. HOLINESS. !> f THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 91 Personifiration of Divine Truth. Eternal Life. ANOINTED. I'H -l : 3 COrN.SELLOll. !•<. : 6 EMMANUEL. Mult. 1 : iH GOOD SIIErilERD. John 10: 11 GOVEUNOIl. I's. 22 : 23 INTERCESSOII. Is. ,10 ; 1(1 JUDGE. Miwih ! ; 3 KING OF GLORY. Ps. 21 : 10 KING OF KINGS. Re\-. 1:1 : ir, LAMB OF GOD. John 1 : is* LIGHT OF THE WORLD. Jt.hn 8 : \i LORD OF LORDS. tlov. 17 : U MEDIATOR. I Tim. 2 : -, JESUS^ CHRIST. ETERNAL LSFE l.Ii.linS -.in MESSIAH. Jiil\n 1 : 41 MIGHTY GOD. ls.n:0 PRINCE OF PEACE. Is. !) : n SAVIOUR. Julin t : 12 SON OF DAVID. Matt 21 : !) SON OF GOD. .Mark 1 : 1 SON OF MAN. Luke 19 : 10 . TEACHER. John 3 : 2 TRUTH. .iMlin 14 : WAY. John 14 :0 WONDERFUL. Is. 9 : WORD. *" L J John 1 : I I' I ■ ,. 1 1 i I !'' rll? -11 ii!'-' ^ - ' ■ til M ' 1 ! 'V I, u. , U1 , 'J ■■ ■; i't ' ^Mt ' 1 ■, '1. 11 1 :! ' ^ '1 i '■ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^^ /. // /. <. .^ ^ Hiok^raphic Sciences Corporation d .V :1>^ :\ \ % s 23 WE&T MA!N STREET WEBSTEi;,N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^i^^^^m^ 92 2 HE FACE OF JESUS: Regenerating principles. Derivates from the Will. TRIUNE riUNClPLES IN THE KEGENERATE MAX FROM THE WORD. WILL, UNDERSTANDING, EXERCISE. AFFECTION, THOUGHT, ACTION. LOVE TO THE LORD, LOVE TO THE NEIGHBOR, SPIRITUAL LIFE CHARITY, FAITH, GOOD WORKS. ^ / - I 'I 185. From tlie Divine Love in the Will of the Re- generate Man there emanates Adoration. Desire. Good- will. Long-suffering. Reconciliation. Affection. Devotion. Gratitude. Meekness. Apprciation. Emotion. Holiness. Mercy. Benevolence. Enthusiasm. Humility. Modesty. Charity. Forbearance. Innocence. Patience. Chastity. Forgiveness. Joy. Peace, Compassion. Gentleness. Justice. Pity. Consolation. Coodness. Kindness. Purity. Sacrifice. Temperance. Tenderness. Virtue. Worship. Yearning. Zeal, etc., eta THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 9$ Qualities from the Understanding. Evil principles. ISO. From tlio Divine Wisdom in tlio Undcrstaudin' J )ual and Triiuie classification of spiritual princi})les, it will bo seen that no evil exists until Divine Principles roach the nature of man, and are perverted and violated by the freedom with which ho is endowed. It may also be clearly seen that there is no Jndlen CJod, who in the Literal Sense of the Word is called the Devil and Satan, and who in a])[)ear- aiicc seems to possivss a power in his evil intiuence co-existent with the Infinite CJod. 102. The perversion of the Divine Love by man, in his own freedom turning it into evil, con- stitutes the Devilish rrinciple which actuates all evil si)irits, who in their diabolical influences I.nm. 3 ; 40 I.aiii. :> : 41 Joel 2 ; 3 IN. Ill) : .V.t I.uku i : 3.'i lleb. '2 : I Hel). 2 : i 1 Cur. 1 1 : lit 2 Tliesa. 2 ; ■> 2 Thess. 2 : 9 Hcb. 1 : 1 Ilcb. 1 : 2 2 Cor 13 : r> Luke C: 45 Jtr. U : 8 Uuv. 1 2:9 1 IVl. :,: 8 1 I'd. 5:0 Is. 11 : 12 Ps. 7 : 1.5 IN, 7 Kl Acta U; 10 :i,.'i A : /■ i;fi % »H I ' 96 HIE FACE OF JESUS: Origin of the Devil. The Selfhood of man. I.iikc 7 : '21 Doiit. 32 : 17 Mutt. 1.T : ;«» I)tiit.32 : 18 Jnlin 8: 44 1 Jiihn .■? : 10 K.ph. 4 : 27 Jiihii 8: 4.'i Zoph. 1 : 15 I'rDV. 4 : 8 Amos!) : 20 Joel 2 : 2 \ 2Cor.3:14 ) Matt. 10 : 24 Num. 15 :31 Mutt. 10 : 33 Mai. 1 : 10 Matt 13: 15 2 '. or 4 : 4 Luke 3: 3 Num. IC : 32 Is. 53 : 6 ICor. 2 :U Trov. 4 : 27 Ls. 45 : 8 Jtr. 17 : 13 Ezvk. d 1 9 ii|)()ii tlic Spirit of man, are Devils, and collec- tively an^ called tlie Devil in the Word. The Love of Self is the oi)])osite to the I.ove of the Lord, and from this evil love every sjjecies of wickedness orij^inates, and he who loves him- self only, immerses all thin,L;s of his will and imderstandiiii;" in his Self-hood, so that his thoughts cannot he elevated from his seilish love to the Heavenly Principles of the Word. lie can see nothinL;- from the Dii^ht of the Iieavens which shines therein for the good man, bnt his light is from the natural world alone, which is darkness in respect to spiritual light. li>t]. The more a man loves himself, the moie he inwardly despises si)iritual things, and de- nies them, and the door to the internal rational ininciple which is exercised l>y the light of spiritual truth, heccmies closed so that he can- not 1)0 regenerated as long as ho remains in the Love of Self as his ruling motive. Thus he becomes merely Natural, and loves evils of every kind : for the evil tendencies into which every m.iu is hereditarily born, reside in the Natural Mind, and are only removed from him m proportion as his interior mind which re- ceives the Light of Heaven, is opened. The Self-hood of man resides in the Natural, or External mind, and is nothing but evil. The ! THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 97 The Great Adversary. Divine influences never cease. Love of Self desires to rule over and destroy others, and thus becomes the Devil. This is the Kuling Spirit of the Dominion of Hell, the " Great Adversary" and Tempter which is to be conquered in man. 194. Since the evils of men are devils, all devils revealed within the Spiritual World of the Word, refer to the unregenerated principles of the hereditary nature which are inwardly filled with hatred, revenge, and adultery, not- withstanding they may be concealed by a de- vout exterior. Consequently all the devils revealed by the Word exist in the perverted nature of man, in opposition to the principles of Heavenly Order, and to a devout rational mind there is a satisfactory conclusion that the Devil, or personification in name of all evil principles collectively, is not co-existent with the Infinite God, and is not Pv Personal Evil One, and therefore God is not the Author of evil, nor the Creator of the Devil. 195. Although God creates the being of the evil man, and sustains his existence, He creates the faculty of attaining spiritual life with every individual, and sheds the heat and light of the Spiritual Sun as steadily upon evil men as upon those who open the door for i^ s entrance, and lie never will, even through Eternity, take away from man the power to open the door, PR. 100 : 41 Jw. 1 : 14 Nahuml:ll ICor. 16:tt Eph. e : 11 Jas. 2 : 19 Rev. 10 : 14 Luke 4 : 33 Mark 7 : 21 Mark 7 : 23 Luke 4 : 35 Luke 4 : 41 Mark : 2& JudeO 2 Pet. 2 : 4 Ps. 25 : 10 Matt. 13 : 1» Matt. 13 : 3S Ib. 45 : 5 la. 45 : 6 Ps, 33 : 15 Luke : 35 Heb. 4 : 13 Is. 45 : 24 Matt. 6 : 45 Pb. 121 : 6 Rev. 3 : 8 John 10 ; 9 Jer, 42 : 12 i;ii bifi';' o \m I li 98 T//A' FACE OF JESUS The love of the world. Love of friends P». 103 : 17 P». 89 : 2 Jer. 18 : 3 Jer. 18 : 1 John 2 : IS 1 John 2 : 10 Jas. 4: 4 1 John 2 : 17 1 John 3 : 1 Prov. 1 : 19 Prov. 15 : 27 1 John 3: 17 Ezek. 22 : 12 Ezek. 22 : 13 Matt. 16 : 20 Rom. 1 : 29 Luke 12 : 15 Matt. 6 : 45 Luke 6: 32 Luke 6 : 33 1 John 2: 10 Luke G . 34 1 Tim 6 : 17 1 Tim. : 18 ITlm. 6: 19 Luke 6 : 31 1 Cor. 13 : 4 2 Tim, 2:22 2 Cor. 4 : 2 3 John : and yet will never enter in opposition to his desire. Otherwise man would bo a mere ma- chine in the hands of an arbitrary and fatalistic Deity. ^ THE LOVE OF THE WOULD. 196. The Love of the World is opposite to the Love of the Neiy;hbor, and is derived from the Love of Self. This folse principle exists in those whose thoughts are entirely occupied with the affairs of this world in the effort to gain possession of its wealth and power, with- out being concerned whether others are injured by the means employed, using art and ingenuity in order to secure to themselves the projierty of others, which if they cannot succeed in accomplishing, they are filled with envy and covetousness. 197. It is not Love for the Neighbor for a person to love his wife, children, relatives and friends, because his own self-love and pride are wrapped up in these persons, but the Love of the Neighbor is represented by that principle in the Word, in which the light shines witli briglitness in this precept, " Bo unto others as ye would have them Jo unto you,'' which is the- Divine Law of charity in feeling, judgment, speech and deed. To love the neighbor is to desire the regeneration of every man, even strangers, and those who have tried to injure R I THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOP. on Living examples. Personification of Satan. US, V, \d it implies that our lives shall be in harmony with this Law of Love which will make us serve as living examples to others. 198. We are not to lo\o a person as to his phyisical frame, but those principles which con- stitute his spiritual nature. We are to be use- ful to all, and faithful in the performance of the minutest duties which are presented for us to do, because the ne<^lect of any duty, or the dis- honest execution of work of any kind, causes others to suffer, so that this law enters into everything that we do, and thus it forms the Corner Stone or Fundamental Truth of the W(H-d. 199. The neglect of this Divine Law of Love to the Neighbor, causes all the disorder and suttering in the universe, and this meek and humble Face which everywhere looks yearn- ingly to man from the Word to arrest his attention as he reads, is that " visage so marred more than any man.'' •200. The Love of the World nourishes every false doctrine which darkens the Light from the Word. These men or spirits who are principled in this love are called Satan in the Word, which is the personification for all satans or false principles collectively. As satans are principled in falsity, instead of being wise they are insane in regard to spiritual truths, because Rom. 13 : U Phil. 4 : 8 Col. 3 : 14 1 Tim. 4 : 12 2 John 5 2 John 6 1 John 4 : 13 Rom. 14 : 7 Luke le : 10 I Gor. 7 : 31 Luke 16 : 12 Rom. 12 : 11 Rom. 12 : 10 1 Pet, 4 : 8 Mark 12 : ;<:! Ps. 81 : Vi Jer. 12 : 1! Rom. 3 : 22 Heb. 12 : 2 Ps. 69 : 20 Is. 53 ; 2 Is. 52 : 14 Matt. 13 : 22 Mark 4 : l.'> Job 1 : Zech. 3 : 2 Matt. 4 : 10 Matt. 16 : 3.1 Jer. 6 : 4 Matt. 17 : IS v.i'r- 100 TUE FACE OF JESUS : Spiritual insanity. God is no respecter of persons. i 1 Juhn 1 : 6 Mfttt. 10:8 Jor. : 5 Jcr. : 6 1 Jotin 1 : 5 Ps. 32 : 2 Pg. 32 : 7 Pb. 37 : 28 1 John 5 : 20 1 John 3 : 2 1 John 5 : 10 1 John 4 : to John 3 : SO 1 John 4 : A 1 John 3 : 13 Pa. 1 : 5 2 Pet. 2 : 12 2 Pet. 2 : 13 2 Pet. 2 : 14 Rom. 10: 12 Rom. 10 : 13 Joel 2: 82 John : 10 Matt. 10: 14 Gen. 0: 5 Deut. 27 : 10 Deut. 2 : 2 Rom. 2 : 15 Rom. 2 : 11 Rom. 2 : 1-.! not having them in their Hvcs they cannot reason intelligently about them, although they possess the fiiculty of perceiving that Truth exists, they reject and despise it, loving " dark- ness rather than light." 201. The regenerating man is principled in Love and Wisdom from the Word through the development of his Kational Faculty, and has Eternal Life and the True God, the Lord Jesus Christ, within him to make him a son of God, or a Divine man, while ho who does not live according to the simple truths of the Word is principled in the Love of KSelf and the World, and his faculties are turned into hatred and insanity in regard to spiritual things, from which the result is Spiritual Death, and the destruction of every princii)le which can con- constitute him a man. 202. The Lord created every man with the faculty of attaining that true manhood whieli constitutes Eternal Life in Heaven, but IIo cannot force upon any man a gift whicli he will not freely receive and make use of. While all men are born with a natural tendency to evil, there is also implanted within them the faculty for obedience to those laws which will save them from sin. Those who obey the Light or Truth which is given them, will be led to the clearer Light of the Word as it is in the Internal THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 101 Clear Light of the Word. Application of the Word. Sense, and be saved from tlicir sins by means of its Divine Truth woriiin<^ within tliem ; but tlioso who will not open the door by resisting' their evils, so that Tntinite Love may enter and rnise them from that condition of misery and ni.l4: 14 2 Put. 3 : Es«k. 18 : 2 1 1 Pet.l : 24 Rom. U: 11 •iCora: 2 Luke 11 : 28 Pi. 110: 11 la. 61 : 7 Lev. 25 : 18 Ju 4: 12 Ps. 119 : 100 Col. 2 : 7 Matt. 13 : 40 Matt. 13 : 60 Jer. 7: 16 Is. 20 : 2 Is. 66 : 7 Ps. 08 : 18 John 6: 64 Jobu 17 : 3 that wo mi},'ht have Paternal joy in the truo exercise of our yet undeveloped faculties, — there is dan<;er that we may not desire to overcome the Love of Self and the World. With His lielp, who is the Livin^j Word, we may attain that Eternal Life which is salvation from sin, but the only time given to man to " repent and believe " is the ever present Now. 200. All ihe spiritual principles contained within the form of the Literal Sense of the Word are subjective, and are to bo personally received by the regenerating man ; they are not to be objectively applied, either to other persons or to apparent physical events. All the goods and truths which are held in the Literal Sense, are to have their culmination in his regenera- tion, and all the evils and falses there portrayed, are representative of his own sinfulness, and are to be rejected and cast out, so that the regenerating principles of the Word may enter and supplant them. As his evils are resisted, overcome, and removed, he ascends from hell toward Heaven, for the state of heaven or hell exists in the Spiritual World of the mind of man, and neither state is a material place to whicli mankind are destined. The appropriation of the Divine principles of the Word into the thoughts and affections, thus governing the entire life, constitutes a state of Eternal Life or THE NATURE OF HIE WORD OF GOD. 103 Everlasting punishment. Objective illustrations. Heaven within tlio ro^'encratin<^' man, wliilo all the evil and false piintiijles which are beinj,' icnioved, antl have heen overcome in the order of his regeneration, which can never be sejmr- atcd from his individnality, aio in a state of s})iritual death, which is also eternal, for liell cannot exist with Heaven, and this constitutes the Everlasting Punishment of the wicked. By the " wicked " are meant suhjoctivcly all the evil and false piinciples which exist in the perverted hereditary nature of the regenerating man, which are opposed to ihc licavenly principles of the Word. As all evil is death, and punishes itself, this is the Etei'nal Death of which the Word treats, and which can never enter Eternal Life. When a regenerating man sees the man' testation of wickedness in the lives of others, he at once I'ccognizes an objective illustration of his own evil nature, and in humility he inwardly acknowledges his transgressions, and does not exalt himself above others, n.^r judge them, but in those wicked lives he beholds a representative state of his own evils, which is the hell from which he is being saved. 1 John I,: 12 Mark 9 : 43 Mark : 4S Mark 0. 47 Mark : 49 2 ThcM. 1 : Pk. : 17 Ph. 55: IS If. 14: 15 P». 37 : ?« Matt. 25 : 41 Rev. 20: 14 r». 02 : 7 John 8 : SO P«. J7 : 85 Pi. 37 : 1 Prov. 24 : 17 Ps. 37 : P«. 61 : 3 Rom. 14: 10 Matt IS: 51 Pa. 49 : 15 'y i WW m I ) I. \ I 104 THE FACE OF JESUS. Degrees of altitude and latitude. Successivb states. THE FORM AND STYLE OF THE LITERAL SENSE OF THE WORD. 207. The order in which the spiritual principles of the Word descend into the plane of the Literal Sense is represented in historical fo-m. Principles which precede, or which are prior, are first treated of in the order of discrete dcfjrees. or de,Trees of altitude, for in the Internal Sense, all things which precede, signify higher, or interior principles, and those which succeed, signify lower, or more exterior principles. Thus the Adamic epoch, sometimes called the Golden Age, is not to be thought of as a period of the remote past, but it signifies a state vivified by the Celestial principles of the Word, as the order of spiritual descent is from the Celestial to the Spiritual degree, and from the Spiritual to the Natural degree, which three degrees are con- tained within the Literal Sense of the Word. These three de- grees, consisting of interior principles, are sometimes termed the Three Heavens into which the mind of a regenerating man is elevated, who, in the order of his spiritual growth, begins with the most exterior principles which lie within the plane surface of the Literal Sense of the Word, as degrees of latitude. 208. In historical appearance, the Noatic or Silver Age seems to have been a successive epoch after the Golden Age, succeeded by the Israelitish or Brazen Age, but the regenerating man whose mind is ojien to perceive the Internal Sense of the Word, gives no thought to the appearance of physical events, but abstracts the coherent spiritual meaning from the historical connection of the words which contain these spiritual truths. The Golden Age is a present state of spiritual growth attained by a regenerating man whose will is actuated by a principle of love, as gold in the Word corresponds to Celestial jirinciples ; so the Silver Age is a present state of a regenerating man whose understandin;.,' THE NATURE OF HIE WORD OF GOD. 105 Column of degrees. External evidence. is enlightened by Spiritual Truth from the Word, and the Brazen Age is the state of a regenerating man who is living in the Truths of the Literal or Natural Sense of the Word, before his Rational Faculty has been opened to receive its Spiritual and Celestial principles. These spiritual principles descend from the Highest, or Inmost degree, through the Intermediate or Interior degree, to the Lowest or Exterior degree where they meet the mind of man in the Natural degree of thought as recorded in the Literal Sense. From obedience to the truths of this sense the order of his re- generation is upward from the Brazen, tiirough t)ie Silver, to the Golden Age, as illustrated by the column of degrees of gold, silver, and brass (§180), and the Golden Age Is the Third Heaven to which the mind of the regenerating man is elevated, for the Three Heavens exist in the mind of one man who is vivified by the Celestial principles of the Word. 209. The Word, in some form, has existed in all past time. When the Old Testament Record was given to man, and through what persons, there is no external history to give authentic proof outside of the Word itself. Added to this is the Word of the New- Testament in the Books called Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, endiiig with the prophecy of the Revelation. It is not known who wrote the Gospels, and the subject of the authorship of all the Books of the Word will alwa^'s be a matter of conjecture. The custom of using the date Anno Domini was not established until six centuries after the supposed AdvcKt of the Gospel History, which may be ascertained by investigating the subject of Chronology in any reliable encyclopiudia, without further comment. Unsatisfactory as will be tht result of this investigation, the external evidence of the superiority of the Word compared with other books, is in its having been so reverently guarded through successive generations, and by the general impression of its sacred character, resulting from a Divine inflowing into the External mind that it is a Book of Supernatural Origin. The strongest i '■:' I Mi, ■M. •-. ;ll |.;<» I f ' 106 THE FACE OF JESUS. Essence and Life of the Word. Jehovah Gel external proof that it is from a Spiritual Source, is to be found in the witness of the lives of those who lovf and obey its Truths. 210. The Divine Truth is the Word which was " in the befjin- ning," and which " was God " ; not regarded as to the words and letters of the languages in which it was written, but as s jen in its Essence and Life which is from within, in the meanings of its words and letters. From this Life within, the Word vivifies the Affections of the Will of the man who reads it devoutly ; and from the Light of its Interior Meaning, it enlightens the Thoughts of his Understanding. This constitutes the Word, because it is from the Lord, and speaks concerning the Lord, and is the Lord alone, as the rays of heat and light from the physical sun are called the sun, in common speech. No one, however, feels and perceives the Divine Life of the Word, the Lord Jesus, but the man who is in the spiritual affection for truth when he reads it, for he is then in conjunction with the Lord through the Word ; there being something inti- mately affecting the heart and spirit, or the affection and thought, which flows with light into the Understanding, and bears witness of the Divine Truth. 211. In the Word of the Old Testament, the words Jehovah God frequently occur together, and also separately, as Jehovah^ and sometimes God. Jehovah, or Jesus, signifies the Lord as to Divine Love or Goodness, and God, or Christ, signifies the Lord as to Divine Wisdom or Truth. Both terms, Jehovah God, or Jesus Christ, are used for the sake of the Heavenly Marriage, or harmonious conjunction of the Will and Understanding, which is to be effected by the regenerating principles of the Word which in all its particulars has reference to the marriage of Love and Wisdom in the mind and life of man. The words Jehovah God are not used in the Literal Sense of the New Testament, but He is called the Lord Jesus Christ, through which name he is seen as the Divine Man from whom the two principles of Love and Wisdom exist, which form the Word. ■■ THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 107 Descent of Divine Truth. The First Advent. 212. The Lord has descended as Divine Truth in the Word, and thus reaches the mind of man, by being adapted to his natural thoughts in its Literal Sense. No other principle than the Divine Truth, or the Word, is meant by the " Messiah," or " Christ," or the " Son of Man," or the " Son of God." The Divine Humanity of the Lord, is the Word within the life of a regenerating man. The Humanity is the Literal Sense of the Word which is made Divine when a man is created spiritual by its Truths, for the Lord first introduces man into the truths of the Literal Sense of the Word, which is His Human Principle, and as these truths are united to good, or made alive by obedience, the Internal Sense of the Word is revealed, and becomes the Divine Humanity in the life of the regenerating man. By the union of the Literal and Internal Sense, or of the External mind with the Internal, by love and obedience to the Word, the mind is led from Natural to Spiritual and Celestial principles, and this is the Glori- fication of the Divine Humanity, the Word made Divine in the life of the man who obeys and loves its Precepts. 213. Thus by means of the Literal Sense of the Word in which He assumes the Human Principle, the Lord is born on the earth, or within the External mind of regenerating men, in order that they may be saved from their sins, by teaching them the principles of Heavenly Life, how they should live and believe, and thus attain Eternal Happiness. As the First Advent of the Lord into the spiritual history of mankind during successive epochs, is the giving of the Literal Sense of the Word to the world, so the Second Coming, j)rophesied in the Literal Sense, is the unfolding of the Internal Sense to the minds of all who perceive its Interior Truths by living according to its Precepts. THE NATURAL DEGREE. 214. The first thoughts of man concerning the Word rest in the Appearance of Truth according to which it is written, and the prevailing opinions of the religious world are based upon natural ' ^ ' ' ' " ■ ;'^i ■^ 108 THE FACE OF JESUS Era of darkness. Communication between Heaven and "earth." thought, concerning the Word as it is in the Literal Sense. When no internal principle is acknowledged within the Word, dogmas are formed and confirmed from the Literal Sense, derived from the Love of Dominion over the minds of men, which obscure the simple Doctrines of Life, and enshroud the Rational Faculty with darkness. This cloud prevents the mind from perceiving that the Word contains an Internal Sense which alone constitutes its Divinity ; for in the place of the simple Commandments of Life which are to be obeyed, doctrines have been earnestly promulgated that a man is to be saved by a mental act of faith without the eiFort to keep the Commandments, and thus the Living Precepts have been set nside and " darkness " has covered the " earth." This era of darkness undergoes its consummation, or Last Judgment, when the Lord again comes into the world by opening the mind to perceive the Internal Sense of the Word from which the Literal Sense receives its origin and life, and the knowledge of the Eternal existence of this Divine Principle will gradually spread over and enter within the " earth " or External mind of those who are prepared to see the morning rays dawn from the mountains of the East. 215. The Word, which has been reverently preserved for our use for many thousands of years, is entirely written by represen- tatives and significatives, so that it may hold the Internal Sense which is understood in Heaven, or the Internal mind of a regene- rating man, when abstracted from the Literal Sense, and thus a comminiication may be effected with the natural mind, and the Lord's Kingdom in the Heavens may be united with the Lord's Kingdom on the earth ; and unless these representatives or ex- pressions by which the Word is written, contained principles con- cerning the Incarnation of the Lord in the regenerating man, the Literal Sense of the Word would not be from a Divine origin. In order to contain this coherent spiritual principle within the Literal Sense, the Word could have been written in no other style, for it would noc have been possible for the ideas and expressions L THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 109 Doctrinal instruction. Study of the Word, of its external form to correspond with Celestial and Spiritual principles, and without this Internal Living Principle, the Word would be a dead letter, but it is vivified in the reader by the Lord, according to the nature and capacity of each individual, and thus the Lord lives in the regenerating man according to the state of his Love and Faith derived from the Word. THE SILVER AGE, Oil THE SPIRITUAL DEGREE. 216. The minds of those who are in the Spiritual Degree of regeneration are formed by doctrinal instruction in the Understand- ing, and not by immediate perception. The nature of this intol- lectual principle is, that Truths must be learned from the Word and retained in the memory by believing them to be true, and it is of such a quality, that should the doctrines be simply truths in appearance and not spiritually *vue, the mind is first impressed as though they were the truth, and . he discrimination between Truth and its Appearance must be discerned by means of the Rational Faculty in order to discover what is True. Thus Conscience is given to those who are living in this degree, which will be succeeded by the Perception which is possessed by those who have attained the Celestial Degree. In the Celestial man, the Perception of Good in the Will is the niling principle, which includes the co-operation of the Under- standing, but in the Spiritual man, the Understanding of Truth is the governing principle, and the Rational mind examines the na- ture of doctrinal instruction from the Word to see if it be True, and then from obedience is led to love the Truth, and from this to love the Lord and the Neighbour. 217. The importance of studying the Word of God must con- tinually be more apparent to the mature mind who has begun to walk in the paths of the regenerate life. The Internal Sense of the Word will not flow into the Understanding without effort on the part of man, and the Truths which are concealed within the Literal Sense, must be sought out from the " earth " of the Word, ■lw\ lih !»'* ' i; •k'" 1 I'-i 1;« 110 THE FACE OF JESUS Hidden treasures. 'I:' : Love for righteousness. just as the hidden treasure of gold and silver must be dug from the soil and rocks of the i>hysical earth. These Truths are the riches which do not take to themselves wings and fly away, but they make the possessor rich with a wealth which he will carry with him and use in his spiritual growth. This wealth does not come to any man by the laws of earthly inheritance without his own effort, neither can he part with it by bestowing it upon others who are not prepared to receive it, but its nature is such that the more ho .seeks to communicate the secret of its produc- tion, by manifesting its quality in his external life so that others may see and be led to find the source of his riches, the more the Lord will fill him with the true and enduring wealth. 218. These spiritual riches do not come to any man who prays from morning until night for a Revelation from Heaven, and who hangs down his hands and his understanding, awaiting a blessing to be abundantly poured out more than he can think or ask, but he must go to work and search diligently with the meaua placed in his hands, which will always be provided for those who are Avilling and industrious, for "the ivilllvy and obedient shall in- herit the land." They shall possess the Good and Truth of the Word, which in their lives will be Love to the Lord and Neigh- bor. The Lord gives to every intelligent man the faculty of perceiv- ing the nature of the Word, and yet no person does perceive it unless he desires, as from himself, to see its Internal quality. It cannot be forced upon any man by sectarian or dogmatic assertion. All the Good that a man docs, and all the Ti-uth that he acquires, seem to originate from his own exertions, just the same as he feeds his physical body, when the substances which he eats, and the sustaining of life by the nourishment derived from the food, are from the Lord alone. THE GOLDEN AGE, OR THE CELESTIAL DEGREE. 219. The Celestial principles of the Word will be revealed to all who from affection for righteousness obey the Truth which en- THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. Ill Heavenly men. Open communication with Heaven. lightens their minds. The internal quality of their lives is such that they then have a clear perception of the princii)les of the Divine Love and Wisdom, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has al- ways been the same from eternity, and who is now perceived in the Human Form, or Human Principle of the Word which is in- scribed on their hearts, or within their minds. They are Celes- tial or Heavenly men, and have immediate revelation from thf Lord by conjunction with the angels and spirits of the Word, Ijy whom they are taught these Heavenly Principles. They possess an internal perception of the princii)les of the Word, abstracted from the personifications there recorded, and the Celestial and Spiritual principles of the Word are the Angels and Spirits by means of which they have conjunction with the Lord. Thus thoy have open communication with Heaven and with Angels and Spirits by means of the Literal Sense of the Word, for this open communication is the I'evelation to the natural mind of the Heavenly principles within the Word to those whose lives are being regenerated and vivified by its Truths. Con- junction with these Divine principles of the Wcrd constitutes Heaven, for Heaven is in the Internal Sense of the Word, and the natural thought of man is in the Literal Sense, wherefore the conjunction of Heaven with the natural world of thought is by means of the Literal Sense of the Word and its Interior principles. 220. As their whole lives are governed by principles of internal worship, they do not require the re[>resentativc rites and cere- monies which prevail with those who are in natural thought con- cerning the Word, because they enjoy open communication with, or perception of its Celestial and Spiritual principles. Although they are vividly sensible of the external objects relating to their physical bodies and the world of nature, they are not absorbed with them, because by means of the science of correspondence, they perceive the spiritual principles represented by all these things. 1 ' i II i m 11" - •■:,■«' jBfj;;,' if,- ■'! Ill III" ■mi III ;;::.'i4'l'l I. 1 . > 'i 1 i 'i 112 THE FACE OF JESUS: Perception of spiritual principles. External stvie of the Word. Thus when looking upon a high mountain, the thought of its being a mountain does not impress them, but they perceive the high or interior heavenly principle represented, and thus their minds are led to Heaven and the Lord. From this circumstance it is written in the Word that the Lord "dwells on high," * and that He is called the " HiGHEST,"f and " Exalted." J When they awake in the morning, their minds do not rest in the appearance of the rising sun, but as the dawn of more wisdom from the Lord. Hence the Lord is called the " Morning," § the " East,"|| and the " Day Spring from on high/'IT Also when they behold trees, with the fruit and leaves, they do not think of them as physical objects, but perceive the living principle of the mind represented thereby, the "fruit" denoting love and charity, and the "leaves" representing faith. Thus trees are in many places in the Word spoken of as representative of regenerating men, and do not mean trees in the physical world. "For ye shall go out ivithjoy, and he led forth vnth 'peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands'* THE STYLE OF THE LITERAL SENSE. 221. The Litei-al Sense of the Word is written in several different styles. The First Style is illustrative of Celestial and Spiritual principles by representative language, as related in the account of the Creation, the Garden of Eden, the Fall, the Deluge, etc. The Second Style is that of Spiritual History illustrating the successive steps of regeneration, or making the human nature Divine by means of the Word. This style begins with Abram and continues through the Pentateuch, and afterwards in the Books called Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, and the four Gospels • Pa. cxiii. 6. JEzck. vii. 7. t Luke vi. 35. II Ezek. xliii. 2. t Ih. xii. 14. 1 Luke i. 78. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 113 The Prophetical s^yle. Correspondential writing. of the Evangelists, in which the facts of spirittial history acttially take place within the regenerating tnan in the order in wliich they are relateil in the Literal Sense, and when the Internal Sense i» revealed, the spiritual facts are altogether different from tho earthly appearances in which t)^'> mind first rests. 222. A Third Style is the Proplietical, which is not connected in the Literal Sense, and is not historical in appearance excepting in the Book called Daniel, but is broken and interrupted, being scarcely ever intelligible excepting in the Internal Sense, in which the heavenly principles succeed each other in a beautiful and orderly connection, and relate to the Internal anil External mind in the various states of regeneration, treating of the Interior princi|)les of Heavenly Life, and in their Inmost Principles they ivlate to the Lord. This Internal Sense of the Word is perceived by angelic men who derive their spiritual food from this Fountain, abstracted from the idea of the worldly things which the Literal Sense conveys to the natural mind, and they do not have an idea of persons, objects or places, but of the spiritual principles which these words convey. In this Style all the proi)hetical books of the Old Testament, and the Revelation in the New Testament, are written. Another Style is that of the Psalms, which is intermediate between the Prophetical Style and that of common speech, where the Lord is treated of in the regenerating man in the represen- tation of David as a King. The Book of Job consists of writings handed down from ancient times, containing apparent history, full of correspondences, ac- cijrding to the mode of writing at that time, and is a book of groat excellence and usefulness in the illustration of spiritual cor- respondence with natural objects. The Book of Proverbs and Ecelesiastes are replete with illustrations of the law of Love to tlie Neighbor and the opposite principle, while the Canticles, or H ( 'I I ' ' '? if. Villi I'. I :i'l m 1, !■ ii '' -; r !• i!* 114 THE FACE OF JESUS: The Epistles. Doctrinal writings. Song of Solonicn, consists of correspondential lnngtiage significa- tive of spiritual principles concerning the marriage, or conjunction of Good and Truth in man. 221}. The Epistles are filled with quotations from the Word, and everywhere teach the truths of Love to the Neighbor as set forth in the Gospels, and they are " [rrojitdlt/c for doetrina, for le- 2) roof, for correctioii, for instruction in vhjhtcousneHH: that flir man of God may he lie r fed, tliroiujldy fnrn'islied vnto all (jouil v.'orlis "* They consist of doctrinal writings which arc given to tJie I'eligious woi'ld in order that the Literal Sense may he more clearly and intimately understood and applied to the life, in pre- paration for the oi)ening of the Internal Sense of the Word wlun it is revealed. The Doctrine of Life, of Chaiity and Brotherly Love, is clearly revealed in the i^pistles in more minute particu- lars than elsewhere in the Literal Sense, and they are all cor- respondential in their interpretation, especially in all the quota- tions from the preceding Word which constitutes their foundation. The Style of the Word consists altogether of correspondences, whereby it is efiective of Immediate communication with Heaven ; but doctrinal writings are teachings explanatory of the Word in a different style, which also have communication with Heaven, liut Mediately, because adapted to a more exterior plane of thought, from which the mind is loci to perceive the Interior Principles of the Word when the Internal Sense is revealed. 224. The thoughtful resuler having been gradually led to per- ceive the nature of the Literal Sense of the Word, its Sacred Pages will now be opened at the Book of Genesis for a glimpse of some of its Internal Princii)les as applied to the mind of a \\- generating man, and to prove its Spiritual Coherence. After the principles of the First Day of Creation have been illu.stratiil, parallel descnptions of the same principles will also be brictly • 2 Tim. iii. 10. 17. THH XATURE OF THE WOIiJ) OF GOD. 115 The Literal Word exists from its Internal principle. ','ivi n from the Gospel History of tho Advent, to demonstrate the Divinity of the Word as it is npi)lied to the elevation of the naturiMif man to higher planes of thought than can be foinul in th'; perishing things of tliis world, liearing continually in mind that the Literal Sense exists from tho Internal Sense whicli gives it life. The many different verses of Scripture wliii^h may be found from the marKir.al refer- ♦•noes on the preceding' I>''>(,'e>'i are illuHtrative of the Si>iritual Principles w^iich are re- ferred to witt>in th>;ir adjoinini,' i)arayrai)hs, and tiie same jjriiu'iples will be illustrated fecini the references in the succeedinj,' pa^'es, by the laws of correspondence, and if thereailor sincerely desires, from love and obedience to the truths of tho Word, hi.4 niinil will be illuminated to clearly perceive that the Word treats of more important thinys than transitory earthly affairs, and that the same words througlumt the Scrip- tures c(mvey the same correspoudini,' Si>iritual Principles, whether occurring in tho Old or New Testament, i ii ' l I I ?ih m rm 'tri: lif i\\\ : ,i lie THE FACE OF JFHUS: Scientific facts. Spiritual Principles. TUE FIRST C'RAPTKR OF GENESIS. If ill f:x. 18 : 16 la. 48 : 3 Jub 34 : 4 2Saiu.14:20 Job 38 : 19 Job 38 : 7 Ph. 104 : 14 Jub 37 : 15 2 Sam. 23 : 4 J or. 10: 21 Zech. 10 : 1 Job 37 : 21 Job 33 : 24 J.)b33: 33 Job 88 : 30 Prov. : 10 John 8 : 25 Ps. 17 : 2 Ezek. 40 : 32 Pa. 19: 14 £x. 20 : 11 2-15. Tho Scientist, on rcadinfr the First Cliivptcr of (lenesis, observes tlhat it does not aj^'ee with determined scientific discovery, and from a natural or literal point of view, unliesi- tatingly declares that it is not true ; for Ik? reads that li<,dit is created, and that the earth was productive of jjfrass, herbs, and trees yield- ing fruit, before the sun was created, when science proves that ail natural life in the vege- table kingdom exists by means of the fructify- ing influence of the natural sun. He knows that this Literal statement cannot be reconciled with physical science, for all the truths of natural science and life, are the revelation of natural principles which exist from spiiitnal causes, but he is not yet aware that the W'cjid of God reveals spiritual principles only, and that the first verse of the Word refers to tlie "Beginning" of spiritual life in the man wlio is to be regenerated. In order to illustrate tlie coherence of the Internal Sense of the Word of God, a simple outline will be given of the meaning of the Six Days of Creation as applied THE NATUltt: OF THE WORD OF GOD. 117 Heaven and Earth. Sensual perception. to tljo order of rc<^cneratioii witli num in ;^tMioral, ' Luku i3: u ohscrvinjj; tliu injiny spiriLuiil principles wliicli ' E«k. 4n:i die \V.'''d will reveal. k*'^^'' ** ■ '•> In the beginning God created the Heaven and Qen- 1 = i the Earth. •Jl'<>. Abstrac'tin*^' the mind from the pliysical IVame when thinking of man, by " Heaven " in tliis verse is signified the Internal mind, and by " Karth " is meant the External mind, or the internal and external principles of the mind of the man who is in a state of ref(jrma- tion from evil, frccpiently termed repentance. Principles which are Al)ove natural things are called Internal, while those which are natural and sensual, arc lielow, toward the earth. Tims, a man's head represents higli, interior or celestial principles, because therein is located the brain, the organ of att'ection and tliought ; Mhilc the feet which rest upon the surface of the earth represent the Natural or Sensual principle, which is the most external of the iiiiud, it being in the circumference of the spiritual circle of Affection and Thought. By the Sensual principle is not meant the lust ef the bodily appetites, but that perception of the External mind which exists through the external senses, wdiich is lowest in the mind. ♦Spiritual life originates with the Lord by means I's. l;t5 : 6 Micah 7 : 7 r». Oa ; 34 Jcr. 23 : 24 Num. 14 : 21 1 Chron, 2'J: U 1 Kin(;3S: ^7 Is. S : 22 Ex. 2i : 22 Ph. ,^7 : 5 8 8) Is. 51 : Ps. 23 : 5 Ps. 3 ; 3 7. ch 14 : 4 Luke 1 : 79 Ps. 122 : 2 Ezek. 47 : 2 S ISI John 20: 2j John 20: 27 Juhu 6 : 3$ 'I I '.I W I, , -11 m J ,;.!; llll ,i i: iM ■ 11 11 I I i I! I M iii r 118 THE FACE OF JESUS: Progressive qualities of mind. Insanity of Self-intelligence. of the Truths from Ilim n the Wortl ^vhich johnc: 63 j was ill the " Bo;>iiiiiiiio' " witli God. The word " J^arth " also signifies the Literal Sense of the Word which is received by the External mind. Juhn 1 : 2 Gal. 4 : 10 Kzek. 12 : 22 Ezik. 12 : 23 Ezck, 3S : 8 P8. 39 : 5 Ps. 12 ; 45 2 Cor 13 : 11 John 15 : 11 2 Kiiijfs 20 : 19 Is. 49: 3 Jjhn 2: IS Mark 8:12 Ju)in 4 : 40 John 11 : C Gen. 19 : 1 Gon. 19 : G Luke 5 : 22 Kom. 2: IS Rom. 2 : 19 Dent. 28: 34 Kom. 1 : 22 Ezek. 30 : 4 Ezik. 30 : 12 Hos. 9 : 7 Jcr. 50 : 38 Ps. 49 : 3 Micah (i : 9 Ps. 101: 2 Ps. 101 : 3 STATES. 227. All hours, days, weeks, months and years, in the Word, have riifei'ence to the quahty or nature of the Affections and Thoughts in their progressive oi successive degrees of regeneration, and the word stati-: is used in the Internal Sense to express this mental condition. State is predicated of love, of life, of wis- dom, of the affections and the joys thence derived ; in general of Good and Truth. Degrees of time and distance of space are used in the Word to represent State, hut the mind in perceiving the spiritual mean- ing must be abstracted from the Literal Sense. 228. There are Two States of a man's life, the External and the Internal. When he is in the E.\- ternal state, he speaks and acts rationally and wisel\-, like any intelligent man in the world, and he can teach others many things concerning moral and ci\ 11 life. When a man's Internal state is awakened to reflection, if he is in the Love of Self, instead of be- coming Rationed, he becomes Sensual, and instead nf becoming wise, he becomes insane in regard to spiritual things : for he thinks then from the evil of his will and its delight, and therefove from self-derived intell' gence. But with those who permit themselves to '"• regenerated, when they are let into an internal state from an external, they increase in the knowledge uf spiritual principles and love them. THE NATURE OF HIE WORD OF GOD. 119 The First State. Reformation. 220. No man can enter the kingdom of God except he is " born again," for unless he is made a spiritual man in opposition to the natural evils into which he was born, and becomes tilled with holy piineiples, the Kingdom of Heaven cannot reign within him, for to be " born again " is to be regenerated, or made spiritual. 230, There arc Three States pertaining to regener- ation. The First State is the absence of spiritual life, — the Natural state, — which is the Death from wliich Resurrection is to take place. In this state lie is born with the Love of Self and the World pre- dominant. The delights of these loves lead him and prevent him from knowing that he is in evils and falses, because every man is delighted with whatever he loves, whether it is <'ood or evil. 2.31. The Skcond Statk of the man is that of Reformation, and begins to exist when he thinks of Immortal life and Heaven, from the joy which he hopes to experience, and thus he is led to think of God, from whom the joy of Heaven is derived. At fust he thinks of the delight of the Love of Self which is commingled with his thoughts of Heaven, and while the deliiiht of this love rein'ns, toi/ether with the evils ilowiiig from it, he cannot understand otlieiwise but tliat the Way to Heaven is to make many prayers listen to sei-mons, partake of the Holy Supper, giving money to the poor, helping the neetly, and giving of his possessions for the building of religious or chari- talile edifices, all of which acts, although highly com- mendable, are in themselves external, and may be pi'ompted by no inward spiritual motive. ■2.']2. In this State of Reformation, which is gener- ally called Rei)entance, it is permitted that a man shall 1 Cor. 6 ; 9 Juhii 3 : 4 Juhii 3 : 3 Is. 43; 19 Ezck. IS ; 30 Jiihn 3 : 13 .Matt. 18: 3 Matt. 13: 11 Eph. 2 : 2 Eph. 2 : 3 Eph. 2 : 4-0 Eph. 2:12 Rom. 3: 12 Eph. 4 : IS Rom. 12 : 2 R'.iu. 1 : 32 ; R.iin. C: 12 i Mutt. 10 : 10 Rdiii. 2 : (i Rom. 2: 7 ' Mark 10 : 30 i Rom. 14: 17 I ! M.irU 10 ; 37 Matt. 10 : 27 1 Thcss. .1 : 17 1 Ai'ts. 2 : 42 .\rts 10 : 4 I Matt. 19: 21 Matt. 10 : 2S Matt. 10: 20 John 4 : 7 Matt. 3 : 8 JiT. 11 : 23 i ;yy i i I, ;» M ■.,! -I lh\^. '1 .K ^ 120 THE FACE OF JESUS. The " schoolmaster." Deeds of the Law. '!.' i' ; ! I 1 Je.. 11:3 J«r. 11 ; 4 ■ler. 11 : 5 Is. 40: 11 Is. 40 : 27 Is. 41 : 10 Is. 41 : 13 Is. 4:i : 1 Is. 43 : 2 Id. 43:3 Is. 43 : 4 Is. 43 : 5 Is. 43 : 26 Is. 43 : .26 Is. 41 : 20 Ps. CO: 11 I's-O: 2 Gal, 4 : 23 Gal. 4 : 2J Gal. 2 : 10 riiil. 3: 9 Kom. 3 : 28 Rom. 7 : IS Uoiii. 7 : 23 Uuiii. 7 : 24 Jas.4: lU Him. 7: 7 Itom. 7 : 8 Horn. 7 : 10 Hum. 7: 11 Uom, 7: 12 Kom. 7 : 13 .l.imcs 4 : 7 Luke 13: 21 Uev. 3 : 14 think that ho, is able to resist evil in his own strength, so that he will not be forced into a religious life against his own will, although the Lord is gently moving upon his internal nature. At first he does not inwardly be- lieve that the Lord is reforming him, neither does he believe that every Good and True thought is infused into his mind, and the Lord permits this Appearance of Truth to exist in his mind so that he will use etibrt with the strength given him, to overcome evil, and not passively await some special outpouring of Divine Power. By exerting what seems to be his own strength, he will in duo season be led to recognize his utter helplessness, and call upon the Lord for aid, and the law which he is endeavouring to fulfil in his own strength is the " schoolmaster " which will lead him to the Word. 23.S. In the Epistles, this state of self-righteousness is indicated by the " works " or " deeds of the law by which no flesh shall be ju.stified." The seventh chapter of Romans treats of this state cf reformation, and illustrates the mental conflict and despair which results in the exclamation, " uwdched man that I am ! whu shall deliver vie from the body of this death!" In due time he is led to think and perceive that there ' is such a thinjj as sin, which has its oriiiiu in his own I CD ' O I nature, and this state becomes progressive when he examines his motives to see if their tendency in all his acts is toward evil, and when he recognizes this incli- nation, exerts his WILL against the evil so that it shall not be carried into act. 234-. The Thihd State which is the Beginning of Regeneration, progresses from the previous state, and THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 121 Redemption. The spiritual marriage. begins when, with the acknovvloclgemcnt of the need of Divine help, a man desists from and strives against ihe evils which he sees within himself, and which will be overcome if he persists in the combat. In this ordei', regeneration proceeds until from a Natural state of mind he is made a Sj)i ritual man by means of the Word, and thus he is redeemed from sin. I>y con- tinually struggling against the evil he naturally loves, it becomes repulsive to him, and when he hates it, it will be overcome, and this will be a continual work during his earthly life, if he attains the limit of the years of mankind. Tliis work must be consummated on the earth, before he can enter the abode, or state of Heaven. 235. With the consciousness that all the power is derived from the Lord, he grows less self-righteous in his i)rogression as he perceives that he has no inherent good principle within, himself. A man is made spiritual only in proportion as he knows Truths from the W^ord and obeys them in his Will, because every man who attains spiritual life is thus regenerated. By means of the Truths from the Word, lu; knows the life he ought to lead, and by living according to them, he performs them, or causes them to govern his external life by in- ternally determining to do them. He thus conjoins (ioodne-ss in the will, to Truth in the understanding, and this is the Spiritual Marriagt; which constitutes tlie Kingdom of Heaven within the regenerating man. Thus, to Know and Will the Truths of tlie Word, is Loving the Loud, and making them manifest in the external life, is Loving the Neighbor. Is. 83 : X3 Is. 1 ; 10 Jer. 3 : 13 Rom. 12 : 21 Rom. 6 ; 13 E|ih. .5: 19 Kph. 5 : 20 Gal. (> : 4 Oal, 3 : 13 Cial. 5 : 2t Oal. : 9 Pruv. 8: 13 Luke 1 : 71 Fpli. : 13 Kph. 0:14 Eph. (5: 15 I'.s. 91 : 14 Luke 2.'i : 42 Ps. 102 : 24 1 Tim 1 ; 17 Deut. 8: IS Ps. 66 : 7 Ps. 53 : 1 IN. b9 : 16 Deut. 4 : 40 Ps. 89 : 2f!. P.S.89: 28 Jihn 13 : 17 I'.s. 62 : 12 .Jc.liii 13 : ir. I's. 34 : 14 CJcn. 17 : 2 Ufii. 17 : 7 Matt. 2.') : 10 Jer. 3 ; 14 IJolinS : 3 John 13 : 54 John 13 : 33 ! ! % %i: If ii, if, I w m t H 1;!! '1 i.f '1 . ' I ; ! 't h :■, ,,: ■■ 1 ' ^^'1 ' il i m ; :!l.l ,i , , . -i!, , !• 1 ^il:l!v' i : ' { "i". ■ ;, , L i " > 1 "^'h ■' ' ':; ' ;i' ■ '• I * . , 1 : , I ■ ■ 1 , * ' 1 i ■ V \\- i ^ l^., ,| ■i L\ :^ ; ] ■I ' i ^ l;^ 122 THE FACE OF JESUS. The earth without form. Infancy in regeneration. THE FIRST DAY OF CREATIOX; OB, THE FIRST STATE OF RECxENERATIOX. Z'ch. 14:9 LiiUc 1 : 33 Gen. 1 : 2 Dan 10: 12 Dan 10 14 P:*. 102: 25 l'ro\ 8: 23 1 Kings 3 :7 Dan 10: 18 IKii 11, '(r»3: 9, 12,13,14 Gen. 47: 23 Prov. 1 ; 8 Prov. 4 : 1 l'ri)V. 4 : 4 J.r. 4: 23 '* And the Lniui sIkiU he Kin;/ orer nil the earth; in that dai/ shall there he one Lord, and Hia Name ulinll he Oitc.'' " And He slmll reii/n onr the house of Jacoh for ever ; and of His Kingdom there thull he no end. And the earth was without form, and void , and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 230. The First State of rci'dieration inchulcfi tlic state which lias just been described and which is inchuled in the ' 15euinnini; " when " Clod created the heaven and the earth." It inchidcs the state of infancy in spiritual things, (luring- -which the mind is instructed in the simple Truths of the Word, and the dutie.< which must be performed in obeying these Truths. Ik'fore these seeds of Truth from the Word are sown or implanted in the "earth,"' or the External mind, by means of instruction from parents or teachers, or from pei'sonal reading, — or before a man makes these Trutli.^ the rule of his life, — his conception of spiritual principles arc ** without form," for it has been ! THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 123 No spiritual ground. Emptiness and darkness. illustrated that the form of the Iluniau Prin- ciple in man is the conjunction of (lood and Truth in the will and understanding a?Kl thence in the life. 237. As there is no conjunction of these two Living Principles in the "earth" of the unre- ocnerated man, no spiritual seed has found \ root, and consequently this "earth " is " void." , This State is meant by the words " The Son of \ Man hatk not where to lay his head,'' by which is sii»:nified that the Divine Truth of the Literal Sense is not implanted in the External mind. The " head " signifying what is superior or interior, by which inferior things are governed, , as the whole body is ruled by the head, inferior | things being external, and thus the " earth' or External mind when " void " has no resting i place for the Internal Principles of Heavenly ' Life. 238. From this state of emi)tincss there exists " darkness," or a dulness of perception and ignorance concerning all tliinos which have relation to faith in the Lord, such as the Doc- trine of Life from the Commandments, and the true spiritual nature of the Word. This "darkness" is "upon the face of the deep." Throughout the Word, things which arc superior or high, signify Interior principles, and things which are low and inferior, signify Ex.erior § ir.4 Jer. 82 : 3!> .ler. 32 : 40 Jer. 32 : 41 Is. 24 : 4 Is. 24 : 3 Is. 24 : 1 Matt. 8 : 20 Is. C(l : I Jer. : 10 § ISO Col. 2; 1!) .Micah 7 :n Ps. 22 : 6 Gen. 47 ; 10 ,Ier. 51 : 43 Gen. 15 : 1-2 Jer. 4 : 22 Joel 2 • 10 Joel 2 31 Joel 2 11 § 181 Vii. \ \ II !l:Ji liiii' 1 J fil 'lit M , '•! ill m: '1. ■■ ;1 y i-^' ,ti ! i i; '"i t •(■ I W 1 \ ;1 124 THE FACE OF JESUS The face of the deep. The pit. Vs. 69 : 14 Ph. 69 : 2 Kx. 15 : 6 1'3. 69: 15 i'H. : 5 Jer. 5 : 3 Ezek 1 : 10 Ecclos. 8 : 1 Job 38 : 30 Rev. 7 : 9 Is. 24 : 17 Is. 51 : 10 Is. 42 3 Is. 42 : 4 Jcr, 40 : 7 Is. 42 : 1 liuke 1 : 50 *>8. 23 : 6 principles ; thus, upward or Height, and down- ward or Depth, signify tlieir respective prin- ciples in relation to the mind of man. 239. Since Heaven is the antipode of Hell, and the princijjle of Love to the Lord is opp(j- . site to the Love of Self, so the *' deep " here mentioned, refers to the evil and false principles which govern the unregenerated mind which the " darkness " covers, for there is no spiritual light or Living Truth in this " deep." The " face" denotes the state of the Affections and Thoughts, because the face of man is a repre- sentative external likeness of the qualities of the mind which animate its expression ; there- fore the " face of the deep " signifies the lusts or evil desires of the unregenerated man, and the false principles thence originating, in which his life and thoughts are entirely immersed, because these evils and falsities obscure all the rays of spiritual light. In many places in the Word such persons or principles are called ''depths," the "great deep," or the "pit." 240. When the unregenerate man becomes conscious of his spiritual condition, and has the faintest desire to turn from evil principles, then the Spirit of God " moves upon the ftice of the waters." This is the Divine Mercy of the Lord which has constantly sought entrance to the mind, and as soon as man in his freedom makes a:. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 125 The waters in motion. The fac3 of the waters. the least effort to open the door, He " moves " or sheds His rays of warmtli and light into the coldness and darkness of the natnral mind to make known the Love and Wisdom which created him for Heaven. This " movini; " is also compared to brooding, as a hen broods over her eggs and causes them to hatch into life. 241. Water, throughout the Word, signifies Truth. All earthly objects which are used to signify spiritual principles, possess certain qualities which serve for spiritual illustration. Water nourishes the physical life as Truth from the Word sustains the spiritual life. Water cleanses from impurity as Truth, or a life according to the Truth, cleanses from sin. In order to cleanse, water must be put in motion, and so Truths or knowledges from the Word must be moved upon by effort on the part of man who is actuated by the Spirit of God. 242. The '' face of the waters " signifies the ([uality of the Affections and Thoughts in re- gard to the knowledges of Good and Truth from the Word, which during the past years from childhood have been stored up in the memory by the Lord in readiness to be brought forth into the understanding and life, when the Spirit of God moves upon these Truths or knowledges signified by the " waters." Ps. 81 : 10 Titus S : 6 Matt. 24 : 12: la. 42 : 6 Luke 13 : 3i Gen. 20 : 3 ! Num. 21 : 16- bci;t. 8 : 7, S- 9, 10 I KinRs 17 : 10 Is. U : 3 Eph. 5: '.0. Ps. 72 : 6 Is. 1 ; 10 John : 7 § 19 1 Tim. 2 : S 1 Tim. 2 : 4 Id, 1 : 9 Rom, 8: 11 Rom. 8 : 1* i!";f f^l: \V If ii''' ; ,.•!■ I il ,! f , s! i f II n ■ i s I 126 THE FACE OF JESUS. The education of children. A Vi rgin. Luke 1 : 70 Luko 1 : 77 Dent. : 5 Ikiit. U: 7 Oeut. e : Dent. : 8 l)Lut. G : 9 Dcut. « : 10 Dent. 6 ; 17 Dent. (>: 18 Kpli. 3 : 3 Ei.h 3 : 4 Luke 7 : 27 Mark 1 : 2 Mark 1 : 3 Luke 1 30 Is. 7 : H Jer. 31 4 Luke 1 : 28 Rev. 12 : 1 ZichS: 1 243. Tliis fact illustrates the importance of attending to the thorough study of the Literal Sense of the Word in early years, especially in the religious education of children. In teach- ing and learning the Word, those most general truths with which the Literal Sense abounds should first be considered. Children may be taught the stories of the Literal Sense, and told that they are representative of spiritual principles which they will understand in later years if they obey the simple commandments which are given. 244. This simple Truth from the Literal Sense of the Word when obeyed is the " IMessenger " I which prepares the way for the perception of the Internal Sense, of whom it is said, ''Behold I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The toice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths sti aightT This State is also represented by the Virgin JMary to whom the angel said, " Fear not, Mary ; for thou hast found favor with God." " Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name ImmanueV 245. In the Word, a Virgin signifies one who loves truths because they elevate the thoughts. A "Woman" also signifies the Aff'ection for Truth, irrespective of sex. This correspondence THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 127 The nature of woman. Oal. 4 : 4 Vs. 14& : 11) Luke 1 : 3.'> Prov. 4 : 7 Luke 22 : m may be perceived from tlic very nature of wtmian, which is affection, and she is so mentally constituted that the will or affection prevails over the understandini,^ and in the regeneration of man, "Woman," in the Word, [ John 4: so signifies the spiritual principleof Att'er-tion, and , LukciM^^ does not mean a person. In this First State Jer. 44:2» of rei^eneration, when man begins to desire to know the Truths of the Word, it is said of the Virgin Mary, " The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the powei' of the WufheU shall overshadcw thee; therefore also that holy thing ivhich shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.'' And God said, Let there be Light : and there was Light. 246. "And God said." Man communicates thought to another person l)y means of speech, writing, or signs. " Saying," or si)eech, implies liearing, and hearing imi)lies perception of the thoughts contained within the si)eech. The communicaticm of Divine Truth to the mind throughout the Word is represented l)y the Lord " speaking," or l)y the " Voice of the Lord." The spiritual inflowing of Divine Truth into the mind of man is not perceived by any of the organs of the physical frame, such as the ear, which hears sounds only which emanate Gen. 1 : 3 Hab. 3 : 2 Jer. 1 : 17 Ex. 4 : 12 Deut, 5 :-27 Prov. 20 : 12 Dent. 1 U John 7 : 40 Josh. 23 : 14 Deut. 5 24 Dcut. h : 2!» 2 Sam. 7 ■.u Mark 8 : 17 Mark. 8 . IS 'H liiif^i ■'I. •: r t? ' h . I /.if- J,s .1 '■I • 1 B \: ; III u f 1 1 1 il 128 THE FACE OF JESUS. The Voice of God. The Mouth of God. Mark 11 : 15 2KiiigNO:20 Mutt. 20 : :» M^lt. 2U : :U Is. 30 : 30 Dan. 10 ; Pa 103 : 20 Ih. (>6 : 5 Luko2j :71 Juhii 18 : 37 Acts 11 : I Is, 37 : 20 Ph. lOi : 25 f.\ 44 : 1 Is. 2.^ : 6 1 I'et. 1 : 1 I'rov 2 : Acts 17 : 25 Luke 8 : 10 Jcr. 14 : 22 Is. 5) : 10 Is 55 : 11 Matt. 5 : 2 U. it, : 23 Matt, n : 27 beut 30: 11 Deut. 30 : 12 Duut. 30 : 13 from earthly objects, or the eye whieli sees only the forms of physical material things, and there has not been heard by any earthly ear an audil)le, physical Voice of (iod, for the Lord, in all past history, has only spoken with man by means of the Word in some tan<;ible form, by which Divine Truth has been communicated to the natural mind. 247. By the Word of God is not only meant the Sacred Scriptures in their present form, but also all Divine Revelation which is derived from the Interior principles of the Word, and written by the Science of CV)rrespondences. All jmactical truths of life fimnd in other books are derived frcmi that Word which exists from the Internal Sense in its spiritual meanini;'. By the Truths of the Word are not meant the natural lavv's of (iod as they are found revealed in the objects of the earthly universe, althouuli what are termed the Laws of Nature exist from a spiritual origin. •248. The Word of God is the Mouth by which the Lord Jesus Christ speaks with man, " And he opened his mouth and taught them.'' He thus speaks with those who are in a state of life to perceive that He is the Life of the Word ; that the Word is from Him, and is the Bodv in which He manifests Himself and dwells among us ; not as a dead material book of paper and Tilt: NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 129 Light from the Word. The entrance of light. ink containing' wonls wliidi in tlionisclves arc (lead, l)ut in tlio Life witliin n.s from tlu' LivinjL'' Trntlis contained witliin tliosc dead woid.s. Tlins " (loi) sAin, " Let there he Ihjhtr 240. When a man lias entered tlii.s Fir.st State of Ke^eneration, lie l)ej;in.s to reco^.'nize tliat the principles of (loodne.ss and Trnth from tlie Word arc of a superior nature. Men Avho are immersed in external natural thouj^ht, do not know what is meant by CJoodness and Truth, for they imagine all things to l)c Clood which relate to the J^ove of Self, without heini^' aware that what they call (Jood, is evil, and that what they call Truth is falsity. ])Ut when the spiritual life of the regenerating man be- L^ins, he then first perceives that what he felt to he his own jj^'ood, is evil, especially when he Itocomcs enlightened to see that all Life and Light, or Good and Truth, is from the Word, or the Lord ahmo. •2.")0. Lentil a man recognizes this Truth, no Light can enter from al)Ove, or from the In- ternal into the External mind. This Light is the perception and acknowledgement that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord Jehovah, who ''In the beginning ivas the Wordy and the Word was with God, and the Word ivas God. All things were made hy Ilim ; and ivithoiit Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him ltfiit.;iO: 14 1 Kind's 8 ;ft!i Jur. : 4 Mioah 2 : 7 Ps. 71: l» Mark 12; 24 Prov. 21 : 2 Mai. 2 : 17 Is. 6 : 2i> Ilcb. 5 : 13 Hcb. f.: 14 Pa. 18 : 28 Eph. 1 : 1!) P-s. 80 : 10 John S : 24 Is. 1.3 : 10 1 Kings 22 ; 25 2 Kings C: 17 Ps. 14 : 2 Is. 33 : 17 Jolm 1 : 1 Juhr. 1: 3 ! ■11 lit ^1 I I ' .■'*' It !■ :f:f ' M* i U Hi Hi ■ ;- 5 ' ■■ H'A I, 130 THE FACIC OF JESUH: .1:1 i',: Bifit ! I The source of Light. The Li^ht g'crified. Juhii 1 : & Juhii 1 : U JulinS: 13 Jcr. i : 25 Heb. 7 : 3 Mutt. 1 : 20 Luke 1 : 42 lJuhn4 : 15 1 Cor. 12 i 3 LukcS: 11 Mark 4 : 14 Juhn 3 : 35 Oul. 4 : ii Judc 21 X ret. 1:9 I Luke 8 : 13 Luke k : b Va. 107 : 35 Rom. 5 : 21 Kom. : 22 J.iliu3 : 17 Mutt. 5 ; 14 Hair. 1 : 8 John 13: 32 was Life, and the Li/it iras the L'ltjht of men. And the Lvjlit shinelh in darkne.^s ; and the darkness r.oniprchended it not. Ihat iras the true Lvjht which lijhteth ei'evy man that comelh into the world.'' L'.")l. Tlii.s I.i^lit (loos not sliiiu' from tlic pliy.sical fiaiiie of any man wlio wa.s )>orn iii timo and space, bnt from tlio ScimI wliicli is conceived in tlie womb of the tine A'iri'in Marv, the Jntei'ior u\tfection of the man avIio now iiist receives and acknowk'dijes the Lord Jesns as the Wt)rd. •' The seed is the Word. All coli- cei)ti(m of trne (h)ctrine from the Word is from tlie Father, or tlie ])ivine ]^ove ; and all birth or I'e-iie neration is from the Divine Wisdom us a ]\lother. ^l')'l. Only the man who is in the Affection for Truth, or in the desire to know and (iltey the Truth, can receive this Seed, which nuist be sov.'u in yood " earth " in order to spring up and become fruitful. This siood " earth " is the will and understanding' of the h^xternal mind Avhich desii'es to be tilled with Love and AN'is- dom, the Seed of the Word from which Eternal Life is born. l!.')3. This is the " earth " or world into whicli the " true Li^ht " is to be born and glorified, and in the order of regeneration it becomes a fact of true spiritual history that the Son of THE XA TriilC OF THE WORD OF GOD. vn True spiritual facts. (l()(l is 1)01*11 of tlie Vir;;in ^Inrv, nnd that lie lias IK) earthly lather, but in the ro^i'iieration of nuMi 11(3 is coiiL'oived aiul born from the Lord fb'hovah aecordinu" to the laws of Divine Order. Gal. 4 : 4 Luku 3: '23 Jiiliii 5: 20 L^')4. The will and iinderstandini;' of man are the voluntary and intelleetual |)riiKij)les of his life; the will, or volition, aetini;' throu^^h the cerebellum of the physieal brain, and the under- standing;', or intellect, aetinj;' through the eere- hiiun, both principles acting" as ()m; in the iieives Avhieli proceed and radiate from the biain. 'J'his Voluntary and Intelh'ctual prin- ciple constitutes the Individuality or ►Self-hood it'v. 2:in (if man. In the following' i)ages, the Latin word I'roprium, by which is meant those i)riiiciples which are i)i'oper to a man's individuality, will lie used to indicate this characteristic. Till-: I'UOl'Itll'M or MAX. Matt. 12 : 35 Lev, It) ; 5 I'rov. 2 : 1 Pruv. 2 : •> 1 C'(ir.l4 : '.>() ITov. 15 :21 } 155 § U3 Dan. 11 1(5 I'niv. 2: 10 I'r.iv. ■> a Prov, 2 13 'I'y'). Tlie Proprium of inaii is Ids liereditavy nature ivsi(liii<^f in the External mind, which in itself consi.sts only of evil and false principles successively accruinif tlnongh pa.st generations and condensed in each indi- vidual. Evil is the tendency to actual sin. Man is not responsible for his hereditary e\il nature, for he ^vas horn into this pliysical world without his own volition, and the evils derived from his ancestors are accumulated in his Proprium, The Lord ever pities tlu^3 poor, weak, erring nature, and surrounds all men Ei'dos. 1 : 4 Ezfk. 22 : 30 § 35 Ex. 20 : 5 Ex. 3» : 7 Prov. 4 : 23 Dfut. 4 : 2 i Num. 14 : 18 Jer. 3: 25 Ps. 103 : 13 I '.['■ \m "iy ':;.i? IH |i li' W I I !'. 1, I H' ■i- :^ 132 THE FACE OF JESUS: Human re5,ponsibility. The evil Proprium. Ps. 91: 11 Pd.oi: 15 Ez k. 18 : 20 Dout. 24 : 10 Prov. 4 : 2 Ruv. 21 : 23 Rev. 21 ; 25 Rev. 21 : 27 Rom. 8 : 7 Rom. 8 : S Eph. 4 : 24 Prov. 15: 24 Gal. 4 : 3 I'.s. 52 : 3 I'a. 52 : 4 Ps. 50 : 10 Matt. 24 : 2 Matt. 22 : 29 Jas. 2 : 20 P.S. 62 : 5 Deut. Z 3 Ezik. 34 : 15 Mark 5 : 14 Luke 8 : 29 Luke 8 : HO Luke 8 : 31- 34 Luke S : 85- 30 Cal. 5 : 19 Gal. 5 : 20 Gal. 6 : 21 Ron. 1 : 28 Prov. 10 : 25 Prov. 10 : 2 Prov. l:i : 16 with evely possible protectiny means of the Word. The I'loprium of man is natural love separate*! from spiritual love, and since it is of such an evil nature, the Lord in His Divine Mercy has provided means by which it may be removed. The means are furnished by the Word, and when man thinks and speaks, or wills and acts according- to the precepts of this Divine Word, he is then kept by the Lord in Divine Principles, ami is thus withheld from his Proprium. As he per- severes in this course of life, a new voluntary and intellectual Proprium is formed within him by the Lord, which is altogether separated from his own Pro- piiuni. Thus man is created anew, and this is what is called his reformation and i-eg(Mieration by truths ivoin the Word, and by a life according to them. 2i)d. Nothing evil and false can ])ossibly exist which is net from the Proprium of man ; so true is this, that if a man should be permitted to see his own Proprium, lie would l)e struck with horror, and desire to llee from liiinself iis though he were a devil. 200. The Proprium of man in itself is dead, or desti- tute of spiritual life, for no person has any life from liiiiiseif, and he does not even think from himself, for all ideas of thought flow into his mind, and he uses these ideas according to the nature of his Proprium as though they were his own. Whoever therefore sup- poses that ho lives and thinks from himself, is in error, lur he then appropriates to himself every evil and Is. 40: 31 2 Cor. 4 : 10 2 Cor. 4 : li 2 Cor. C : 17 2 Cor. : IS It'll. 13: 1 Vs. 17 : 4 I'n. 25 ; 4 Vs. 2:> : 21 Kzt-k. 34 : II Eztk 34 : I'J KzL'k. 34 : l:i Kzek. 34 : IG E/.ck.;U: 2!- 24 Kzek. 34 : 2.0 Ezek. 34 ; 2(i Ez-k.34 : 27- 2S Ezek. 34 : 30 Ps. 55 : 11 .Jtr. 2: 19 Lam. 5 : lU Vs. 40 : 2 Ezfk. 20 : 21 Vs. 3t> ■ 7 Is. 20 : 14 2 Cor 13 : 3 2 Cor. 13 : 4 I iij l.l' I.;? ■ ' ff 1 ! '■^r Ps. 10 : 4 Dcut. 32 : 5 n i. 134 THE FACE OF JESUS. .I'^i i t ' i 4\ ti I i li Preservation of individuality. Seeing the light. I'H. 17 : a Pa. 40 : 12 Ps. 35 : 7 Is, 13 : 13 Ps. 87 : 7 Rom. 14 : 7 Rom, 15: 1 Rom. 7 : 17 Is. : 2 Gen. 1 : 4 Ps. 53 : 2 Prov. 1 : 2 Prov. 1 : 3 Prov. 1 : 5 Prov 1 : Ps. 8 : 3 Ps- S ; 1 Ps. 18 : 22 Ps. 9 : 1 Ezck. 10 : 4 Luke n : SO Matt. : 22 false idea which flo\v.s into hi.s mind from such evil spirits who are of a like nature with himself, Itecau.se they are his own evils and falses which are personitied as enemies and evil spirits in the Word. 2G1. In the gradual removal of the Proprium, t' o individuality of the regenerating man is not taken away, but his talents and faculties will ho developed and brought into higher exercise, with the motive of being u.seful to others, rather than seeking the grati- fication of the Love of Self, and he is thus led by the Word from dai'kness toward that Light -which ever after will brighten his whole existence. And God saw the light, that it was good ; and God divided the Ught from the darkness. 2G2. When "seeing" in the Word is spoken of man, it signifies to perceive, or to under- stand, according to Avhat is said, and that the External mind is illuminated l)y a more interiiM perception of the Truth enclosed witliin iritual world which is opened to him by means of the Word, that when he sees the sun, his nn'nd instantly reverts to the Lord as the Sun of Heaven. When he beholds the first dawn of the morning light, he medi- tates on the rise of all true principles from the AVord and their progress in the order of re- generation to the full day of wisdom. Also, when he loohs on gardens, orchards, and beds of flowers, his eye is not confined to any par- ticular tree, plant, or l)loss(mi and fruit, but he is led to a contemi)lation of the heavenly things represented by them. 2<)"). When he sees the beautiful color and formation of the flowers, he is led to regard the sjtiritual principles which they represent in the other life, for there is not a single ol)ject exist- ing in the sky or earth which is lovely and agreeable, but which is in some way represen- Pa, 25: 15 Zcch. 9 : I Pa. 73 : 24 19.43:7 Job 14 : 1 Is. 44 : 7 Zech. 13-1 Ucv. 10: n la. 30: 20 Mai. 4 : 2 2 Pet. 1 : 10 Matt, 28 : 1 Matt. 28 : 2 Matt. 2S : 3 Jer. 29 : r> F.ccles. 2 : 5 Cant. 2 ; 12 Iloa, 14 : 5 Ps. 143 : r> Pa. 143 : G Eccles.3 : 11 Is. 52 : 1 Col. 1 : 10 Pa. 133 : 6 Pa. 30 : 6 i 'I : I. 1 h • I !i1 m * m\ m n I ^ ■ i. i •m; m '^ m I H I ■ 1 1? I > ■ ■1 ,■ 13G THE FACE OF JESUS. Interior objects, Seeing God. Is. 64 : 12 Ilob. : 23 Rev. 11 : 19 Acts 1 : John 11 : 27 Rev. 5 : 6 Joliii 12 : 60 John 12 : U John 12 : 45 Jer. 43 : 10 Zuch. 9 ; 10 1 Cor. 10 : 13 Mark 11 : 22 Rom. 10 : 12 Jer. 10 : 1 13.69: 21 Pfov. 8 : 8 Prov. 8 : 9 2 Cor. 5 ; 7 1 Thess. 6 : 8 Ps. 37 : 13 2Tim.2: 19 Prov. 19 : 8 F». 85:12 tativc of the Lord's Kingdom. Those persons who perceive tlie Spiritual Sense of the Word, do not confine their sight to mere external objects, but continually from them behold Interior Principles which are essentially things relating to spiritual life, which is the life ot regeneration. They do not regard the Word of God from the Literal Sense ah)nc, but con- sider those things described in the Letter of the Word as representative and significative of heavenly principles, and thus the Literal Sense is only an instru)nental means of leading the thoughts upward or to more Interior Truths. 200. In the verse under consideration it is said that ''Cod saw the light." AVhen "see- ing " is predicated of God, in the Internal Sense it denotes faith in the regenerating man whicli is received from Ilim by the Truths of the Word. As the Word is God, all its Truths which are implanted in the mind of man are from Ilim, and enable man to see spiritual principles. To have faith in God is to see Ilim in the Wo7"l and obey its precepts from Affection for these Truths. Since the liOrd is Infinite Omniscience in Himself, this expression has relation to the Light in the regenerating man which he perceives is from God ; thcre- foiu this Light is "good." THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 137 Intellectual Siglit, Separation between light and darkness. 2G7. As the slf>ht of the physical eye coitc- sDOiids to the Understamliniir, therefore "seeiim" is attributed to this faculty, and in the Word signifies Intellectual Sight. It is quite common to say that ideas or thoughts are " seen" when they are understood. Light is also predicated of the Understanding as well as darkness and obscurity, and these analogies are of ordinary occurrence in speech or illustration, because they correspond to each other. And God divided the light from the darkness. 2G8. " Darkness " signifies all those evil and false principles which before the beginning of regeneration appear like light, because in that State evil seemed like good, and falsity had the appearance of truth, when in reality all was darkness resulting from the Proprium which is to be removed through the progressive states of regeneration. 2(39. The Divine Truth of the Word now enlightens the regenerating man in regard to the nature of his Proprium, and shows him the separation there is between the True Light which shines from obedience to the Word and the Appearance of Light which has hitherto illuminated his mind, but which, emanating from his own false principles, was " darkness rather than liuht." Ii>. 11: 3 Matt. 11 : 5 Ex. 24 : 1 7 John 3 : 11 P3.98:S Ts 97 : 11 Ps. 107 : 10 .lol) 15 ; 17 Job 15 : IS Ccn. 1 : 4 I's. 107 : U Eph. 5 : 11 Matt. G : 23 Is. 5:20 1 KiPfjs 13 t IS I'rov. 28 : 5 Job 10 ; 22 Jer. 10: 10 r.s. 07 : 4 rhil. S : 8 Rom. 8 : 5 John 3 : 21 Ezck. 32 : G Ezck. L2 : 7 ■1.^ 1 !: I 1 I 11 ■ i'fr'! nivi' !f:A'!b U h- .■■ r.i. F ; f( I 1 ■it III I ! ■| I 133 THE FACE OF JESUS: The assertion of Divine Truth. Night. Con. 1 : t Pd. 147 : 4 John 10: 3 la. 45 : 4 Hob. 4 : 12 Vs. 33 : 2 Sam. 23 :3 Prov. 22 1 Zech. 10 12 Eocles. 7 : 1 Micah 4 : 5 Kzek 48 35 Fzek. 24 2 l>out.33 25 John 11 : 10 .TohnlS: 30 Jobh. 1 : 8 Z.cli2: 11 J,:.. CO: 11 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. 270. " Calling," or giving a name to any principle in man, signifies a perception of it.s (luality, whether it is good or evil, or true or false. As ({od is Omniscient, Ho knows all the qualities in the nature of man, and this form of ex[)ression is used in the Literal Sense to indicate that it is Divine Truth, therefore in this form of words it is stated tliat "God said," or "God ; poke all these words," or " God called." 271. When wo speak the name of a person, not only do his featui cs and bodily form pre- sent themselves before our minds, but tlic qualities of his life as we have known him also appear before us. Thus the quality of the true Liii'ht which now illumines the rcoeneratin^- man is recognized and called " Day," because it is from the Lord, and is compared to the light of day ; but whatever belongs to man's unregenerated Proprium is in darkness, and is called "Night." The comparisons of "day'' and " night " are frequently used in the Word to illustrate these principles, and represent the States of man in his entrance to regenerate life. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. Evening And the evening and the morning were the first day. 272. The " Evening" denotes all the pvecod- uv^ states which were preparatory to the " Ijoginning " of spiritual life, which were in obscurity and falsity and therefore were in the shade signified by tlie word " evening," when man exists in the life of his Propriuni, which is " darkness." In the order of regeneration, " Evening" must always precede the " ]\Iorn- ing," because before the light dawns there is always darkness, and in the subsequent states of regeneration, each preceding state is com- pared to evening in relation to the one which follows, just in the same manner as in the natural world of thought, what is light to us to-day will be as evening compared with our attainments in spiritual knowledge in the future, Avhich will then be IMorning, or the dawn of superior intelligence. *273. " Morning " signifies clearer revelation from the Lord by means of the Word, and the consequent increase of spiritual perception as the Propriuni is vivified by its Living Truths. Each Advent of the Lord into the world of the mind of the regenerating man by means of clearer perceprion of the Living Principles of the Word is " Morning." This state is not 130 Morning. Oon. 1 : 5 John 0: 10 Ezfk 33 : 22 Job 10: 22 l8. 17 : 11 Jcr. 5 : 6 Dan. 8 : 2G 1>8. 5r. : 17 Jer. C; 4 Pa. 112 : 4 Ih. 21 : 12 Is. : 2 Zccli. U : 7 Is. SO : 4 Luke 21 ; 3 S Ps. 69 : 13 Ex. 16 : 7 Ex. 16 : i; Ex. 16 : 13 Is. 58 : 8 lies. 6 : 3 2 Sam. 23 : 4 Pa. 5 : 3 :if' m ':...jf W-U If. 'If ! -)i *r '1 ! ( Ml"' ! I K if I ii' In j HU ! i 140 T//A' FACE OF JESUS: Spiritual glory. Entering the First Day. ■2 I'ct. 1 : 19 .iob 7 : 4 Dan. 7 : 27 •2 Sinn. 22 : 2'J Zcch. 2 : 5 riiil.3: 10 Cliil. 3: 11 .Matt. 2S : 1 Is. 22 : 16 Matt. 2S : 2 i Mark 15 : 43 ;.uke 24 : 1 \ Mark 10 : 2 ' Lev. 8 : 33 Kzik. 43 : 26 2 Cliron. 29 : 31 Micah 4 : 13 Eph. 3 : 11 Mul. 4 : 2 El)h. 5 ; 14 Lam. 3 : 23 Phil. 1 : 6 2 Cor. 3 ; 7 l8. 43 : 11 Is. 55 : 11 Ps. IS : 7 Ezek. 37: 12 simply compared to the morning, but is called the " Day-dawn" or the dawnin^^ of the Day," because "vvhen the Lord appears, and His Kingdom in the Word begins to rule over the Proprinm of man, there shines an effulgence of spiritual glory resembling the morning twilight or dawn of day. 274. The Ecsurrection of the Lord from the grave of man's natural thought, b} the opening of the sepulchre of the earth of the Literal Hense of the Word, — the Divine Truth descend- ing from Heaven and rolling back the stone of Sensual or IMaterial truth, — takes place in the " early morning," and upon the " First Day of the week." A "Week," or Seven Days, signifies the whole period of r, man's life, not the life of the physical frame in this world, but the whole regenerate life through all its states to eternity, and in the minds of all who are being regenerated He not only arises daily at the dawn of the morning, but through every moment of life. 275. Thus the regenerating man has entered upon the First Day of Creation, and the Lord, by means of the Literal Truths from the Word, has given "form" to them in his External mind, so that where they were "void," "empty," and "darkness," they are now "moved upon" by the Giver of Life, so that he freely opens i i. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 141 The Conception. The espousal. the thick shutters of his Proprium to admit tlie warmth and light of the morning sun to jmrify the vitiated air wliich he has been Itreathing to his own destruction, and the ]iesurrection ]\Iorn is coming to him v.hose death is taking place. 270. It is during this First day of Regener- ation that the Conception of the Son of God takes place within the mind of the regenerating man whose Will is warmed with affection for tlie Literal Truths of the Word, when the Virgin Mary conceives by the Power of the Holy Ghost. 277. The espousal of Joseph and ]\Iary signi- fies the State of Keformation which precedes tlie ''Beginning" of regenerate life, before the National Faculty is enlightened to clearly per- ceive the Internal Sense of the Word, except- ing by the obscure perceptions which are indicated by the Angel appearing unto Joseph in a dream, in which a premonition is com- municated that the Internal Sense of the Word will appear in coherent order in succeeding states. The formation and birth of the Holy Child will be more fully illustrated under the subjects of the Second and Third Days of Creation. Murk lU :3 Ezck. H; 16- Prov. 10 : ft Kzek. 37 ; * Bz^k. 37 ■■» Kzek. 37 : U Null). 28 : g lii. 43 : 10 Col. 1 : 21 Col. 1 : 27 Col. I : 28 Luke 1 : 3> Luke 1 : 3.% Malt. 1 : 1^ Matt. 3 ; 8 Koni. 2 : 4 Matt, 1 10- Zeuh. 14 :8 Matt. 1 : 20 Mark 1 : 21 Acts 4 : 30 J !l :«'^5i, '11:1 !• ii'i liii . I .(. ^'I, '?l.J i.v ■■ ■ M' 1 I I 1 p kl I' i • I '} "' 5 1 t ■ 142 THE FACE OF JESUS: The Firmament. The midst. THE SECOND DAY OF CKEATION ; OR, THE SECOND STATE OF IlEGENEliATION. liiii. 1 : P.S. 19 : 1 Ps. 150 : 1 § ISO Kzek. 3-J : 14 P.s. 130: 23 I>. 12 : Is. 8 : 7 Is, s : S Ezek. 1 : 22 tz.k. 1 : 25 P.-. bV : 5 l\. e4 : 10 Dan. 12 : 3 IN. 1 '.» : 102 V-. 25 : 10 Vn.v. 2: 15 And God said, Let there be a Firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 278. The natural idea of the " Firmament " is of the si)ace or expanse which is above or encircling the earth, and it has been illustrated that things which are above are representative of Interior principles, and things which arc below denote Exterior principles. " In the midst " denotes Within, and " waters " signify Knowledges of Truths from the Literal Sense of the Word upon which the Spirit of God has been moving and warming into life. 279. The " Firmament" .'^ignihes an Interior Principle which is created in the midst of these knowledges, which the Mercy of the Lord, or Power of the Highest has brought forth into ''Day," in which a perception is communicated to the regenerating man that the Word is the only True Spiritual Light, and that the Lord within its expressions is Goodness and Truth alone, while the Proprium of man is evil and false. li THE NATURE OF THE WOIW OF GOD. 143 An interior mental principle. A division. THE ILVTIONAL FACULTY. 2S(). Thi.s "Firmament" or Interior Priricii)le, is the Rational Faculty, which now benin.s to discern and .separate Actual Truth.s fnun tlie A})pearances of Ti-uth as they exist in the Literal Sense of the Word, and discriminates between True Doctrines derived tlierefrom, and those wliich favor the Love of Self, foi- any false doctrnie may be eontirmed from the letter of the Word when the iiiiiid does not recognize that the expressions contain an Liternal Sense. 28L The Rational Faculty is taught to distinguish or " divide '» the Internal mind, or " heaven" from the External mind, or "earth." 15efore regeneration begins, a man is not aware that an Internal mind exi.sts, and therefore he has no knowledge of its nature and ([uality, because he is so occupied with corporeal and worldly things that he cannot conceive that there is any diH'erence between the Internal and External nature of his mind, and tlius he forms confused and indistinct ideas which emanate from two perfectly distinct principles. 282. All the Wisdom, Intelligence, Reason, and Science which fill the understanding, are from the Lord alone, although these jtrinciples appear to emanate from man. The true order of Life flowing into the understanding, is, first, sVisdom from the Lord, from wisdom. Intelligence, from intelligence, Reason, and by reason, the Scientitics of the memory are vivified. 283. When the regenerating man enters the Second State of Regeneration, a division takes place by means of the Rational Faculty })erceiving such principles which How in from the Lord, and those which arise from the Proprium. Those principles which are from the Lord, are all the knowledges and Truths of the Word I '' .1 ^ ii'i. :! H. ir 1 !i I' i' |i i' I !'■* ^^'i;: H\ i m . 1'; ■' , 'f h i> \ ',1 ■.'■ '' A- •L-M 'i'l I' ii 1 1 |(i: •J .n^ .\.i 144. THE FACE OF JESUS. The Remnant, or External memory. Scientific principles '. i ■} m t mi- Am which liavo hithorto been stored up in tlie Extorniil inomory, whicli afo spoken of in tlio Wovd as a " Remnant," and they are not made manifest until this Second State is entered upon. 2S4. The Internal ndiid forms the Irnnost Principle of man. which distinf,niishes him from animals which do not jjossess such a principle, and this is the entrance to man for the Lord hy the Truths of the Word. Beneath this Inmost Principle of the mind, the Rational Faculty exists, and it appears to a man as thouj,di it were derived from himself, because he thinks from tlii-s faculty, and before regeneration begins, it belongs to his Propriuni; but afterwards, when he is led to believe in the Word as the Lord, it becomes "good ground" into which the Seed of the Word as it falls, " springs up and bears much fruit." 285. The Rational Faculty, or " Firmament," \ is to the External mind, and it acts as a Medium or Intermediate Principle between the Internal and External mind. The External mind consists of Three Principles, the Rational, or inmost principle, the Scientific, or intermediate principle, and the Sensual, or exterior principle. The Rational Principle conjoins the Internal jnind with the External, and this conjunction is according to the nature and quality of the Rational Principle. If Divine Love Hows into the Rational Faculty by obedience to the Truths of the Word, from AH'ection for every good principle which constitutes Love to the Lord, it then becomes of a spiritual nature, which is perverted to the ojiposite quality when the Love of Self flows into it. 28G. By Scientific principles are meant all the means employeil by external aids to increase in knowledge, which is stored up in the External memory. In a general sense all earthly education is meant by the word Scientific, and in a specific sense when applied to the regenerating man, is meant all knowledges and doctrines pertaining to the Literal Sense of the Word, which are the means by which a person may become wise in spiritual things. •I Tilt: NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. U5 The Sensual principle. Appearances. Tlio Rational Facnilty oxatnine.s all sciftitififs and doctrinos to observe if they are according,' to the laws of Divine Order heforo they are believed and couHrnied in the life 2S7. By the Sensual, or Corporeal pi'iiiciple, is meant the senses of sight, heariii;,', touch, .smelling and taste, which act from the External mind through the organs of the jdiysical frame, and it must be constantly kept in view that the.se princii)les are being considered without any reference to the physical frame, which in itself is simply an instrument or machine which is operated by the mind which tills its form. THE Ol'KNING OF TIIK IIATIONAL FACULTY. 288. Every regenerating man has a natural and a .spiritual inind, or a natural and a spiritual will and understanding. The natural mind wills and thinks concerning the things of the phy- sical world and concerning things of natural thought, and the tilings of the Literal Sen.se of the Word, while the spiritual mind wills and thinks according to the Interior Truths of the Word, or as an angel of Heaven. If a man acts and speaks from himself alone, and thinks from self concerning the Word, he has only natural thought, but if he acknowledges the Lord ■within the Word, and perceives that it treats of Internal principles concern- ing heavenly life, he will be led from natural to spiritual thought if he obeys its precepts. When a man has been led to spiritual thought, it appears as if he had attained this degree of elevated thought by him.self alone, yet this is only an Appearance, in order that he may be led in freedom, for the Lord is leading him by the Word. . 289. As the natural mind is opened and formed by tlie things of this world, and by the Appearances which exist in the Literal Sense of the Word, and the spiritual mind is opened and formed by heavenly principles, it is essential that tlie Rational Faculty if 1 ] I ■! I '(I ^ li ■.". t ; hi' I 'Vi:^ m w^ riiXlU i 'iifS' H'. \ ;) !i» 1 ; I jL ' V .V ■ •: f '! i>\ p t ^ ! f hv :■ I- il ii;l s V 'f "I 1 u n :i 1. 1 kL 14.1 T//7i' /^^Ci;; OF JESUS: Obedience to the Word. Abstaining from evil. should be opened and formed by the Internal principle-^ of the Word, becau.se they arc divine and constitute Heaven. The Word contains Truths whieli are to be known and thought, and Goods which are to be willed and performed, by both of which the Rational Faculty is to be enliglitened and perfected. If the Pre- cei)ts of the Word are not obeyed, but an act of mental faith alone is .substituted for them, there will be no discernment of the Interior principles of the Word, and the natui-al mind will possess only a natural or historical faith, which is merely a scientific or natural light from which the natural mind thinks. 290. In order that the Rational Faculty may be opened and formed, it is essential that it should have a storehouse from whicli it may be supplied with its requisite food. This storehouse of supply consists of the natural or external memory, in which every good thing that it is possible to know shall be stored up for use, and thence called forth as occasion may require. This storehouse must be filled with Truths from the Word, which are to be be- lieved, and Goods which are to be done, and these must be learned from the earliest dawn of religious thought. These simple Goods and Truths must be taught by parents to their children, by pre- cept and example, so that the door of this storehouse may be readily opened to transmit these knowledges. But all these things from the Word stored in the memory, even to the greatest abundance, are only natural, or .scientific, until the Rational Faculty is opened to perceive a more Interior meaning. 29i. The Rational Faculty has its first dawn by abstaining from doing evils, because they are contrary to the Divine Pri'- cepts of the Word. If a man abstains from evil from any other motive, for any selfish end, the Rational Faculty vill not ha opened. A man nuist fiist remove the evils he sees in himself, with the .strength given him, acknowledging the Lord, for all evils which are in the External mind keep Heaven closed, and as H THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 147 The entrance of the Word. Elevated Truths. the Lord is the Word, they who abstain from doing evils, because they are contrary to the Divine Precepts in the Word, abstain from them with power from the Lord. In proportion as evil is removed, in the same proportion Goodness enters from the Lord, which constitutes Heaven. If unchaste thoughts are removed the mind becomes pure ; if intemperance is removed, temperance enters ; if deceitfulness is removed, sincerity enters ; if hatred and revenge are removed, love and friendship enter, and thus it is with all other evils which are to be overcome in the order of regeneration. THE FORMATION OF THE RATIONAL FACULTY. 292. The Rational Faculty is formed from those things which are stored in the memory from the Word. When a man loves to oljoy the Truth because he sees that it is true, and that it will elevate his being with higher principles of obedience, an affection for the Truth flows into the mind from the Lord as evils are re- moved. This affection is given from the Lord alone, for the Lord in Heaven is Divine Truth, and thus this affection is given by the Word. The things of the Literal Sense of the Word which are stored in the memory, are then elevated and purified by the Internal Sense being revealed by the Lord, and Genuine Truths are discriminated and separated from the Appearances of Truth, tor the Rational Faculty Cfvi only be formed from Genuine Truths, as Heaven, or the Internal Sense, can exist, in no other form. '293. The Genuine Truths of the Word are elevated by the Lord, and tlic mind perceives them while in a higher degree of tliought, which is effected by the inflowing of heavenly principles accord- ing to Divine Order. These elevated Truths are not in a natural form, but are in a spiritual form, abstracted from time, space, and olijeetive persons. Truths in a natural form are such as those \\ hieh are in the Literal Sense of the Word, and when the Rational ; I WPI '' ' f ■a ■:h: II I Hi I "*ii ilffi (I ; ,1 ■ ■ ■ \. ' 1 In 1- . i ; 1 1' >' •'■ ly^ii 1 .1 '; ■ ■ ,,'■«(, 1 ;l't]: i! V 1 ,, '1 m I I- in m il I" 1 ;i;' li 148 TiT^ i^^C^ Oi^ JESUS: " After death." Natural life. I Faculty is opened, which takes place "after death," or when natural thought has ceased to exist without being actuated by spiritual thought, the regenerating man thinks and speaks spirit- ually according to the Genuine Truths of the Internal Sense. While he lives in the state of natural thought alone, he is not aware that even natural thought exists from a correspondence with spiritual principles, but when the Rational Faculty is opened, this natural state of thought is changed, and he thinks accordinrj to the spiritual principles of the Word. 294. When the Rational Faculty is opened and formed, theni the Lord re-forms the natural mind, because there is then ai^ orderly inflowing of principles from the Internal mind, which i^; in Heaven, and the natural mind, being in the world, cannot be re-created with heavenly principles excepting by receiving thu elevating principles of the Internal Sense of the Word, whereby the principles of the natural mind are brought into orderly sub- jection, so as to correspond with the principles of the spiritual mind, or with the principles of the Internal Sense, which fill tl it- spiritual mind. The Truths which are in the natural mind from the s[)iritual, are called rational, moral, natural, and in general. Scientific Truths, and the Goods which are in the natural mind from the spiritual are called affections and desires for those Ti-uth.s. and from them are derived thoughts, speech, and actions, which are called uses. All those principles which exist in the natural mind from the Spiritual Sense of the Word received into tlio Rational Fiiculty, enter the intuition and perception of the re- generating m , and thence actuate the natural principles, so that this " eai'th is t le Lord's and the fulness thereof." 295. As the Rational Facult^ . .>nned, the regenerating man is perfected in intelligence ana • om, and becomes a man, for no man is a man from his natural mind, which in itself aloiic is simple natural animal life, but he becomes a man by principles of tual tlic troiii iieral. uiiml ■uths. •hieh tural the e I't'- that man II, for |nc i>: los of THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 140 An Angel of Heaven. The Material Degree. intelligence and wisdom from the Loi'd, or the Word, and in pro- portion as he receives these heavenly principles he is a beautiful man, and is already an angel of Heaven ; but when these Divine jirinciples of the Word are rejected and perverted, the natui'al mind takes the form of a monster and not of a man, because all the principles which form a divine life are suffocated and dis- torted. Man is not a man from his parents by hereditary descent, but becomes a man from the Lord who creates him anew by the Word, and thus the process of regeneration forms a man. This (irocess must take place within every man, without which there can be no spiritual life, or Heaven, and all men throughout the coming ages of time must be led from evil to good. THE MATERIAL DEGREE OF THE MIND. 296. The Material Principle of the External mind is the first receptacle of the Literal Sense of the Word, which constitutes the Material Human Principle which the Son of Man first assumes in the order of the regeneration of man. This Material Principle does not consist of physical substances, neither does the Literal Sense of the Word culminate in fixed physical events, but it rests in the ultimate or Material Principle of the External mind, or lowest plane of Natural Thought. 207. This is an important distinction which should be clearly comprehended at this point, in order to avoid confusion of mind in following the order of thought in the succeeding pages, and especially in studying the Interior Truths concerning the assump- tion and glorification of the Material Human Principle in man by the Lord, or the Word. 298. The Literal Sense of the Word is adapted to the Natural Thought of the Material Principle of the External mind, and M,; II? i: •' I .1 ii •I'' I ■ 4 M 1 li •li U i "i i I !( I i ^ ■■'■ ' 1 I V' ['■'■ M : IJ'IJ il 150 THE FACE OF JESUS: The division. The waters above and below. since it originates from the Internal Sense by correspondence be- tween natural and spiritual principles, it does not lead to physical occurrences as the mind recognizes an Internal Principle. From the degree of Natural Thought, the understanding may be elevati'd to perceive the Interna,! Sense within, but if the mind is led away from spiritual truths to ideas of earthly physical history, there will result conliiction and a tendency toward material rather than spiritual thoughts concerning the Word. Gen. 1 : 7 iM' I .1 ['I '"I % if * Ps. 133 : 7 Ps. 77 : 10 Ex. 14 : 21 Ex. 14 : 22 .Joel 2 : 27 Deut. 10 : 14 Heb. 11 ; 10 lltb. l'.l : 22 Heb. 12: 23 Deut. 4 : 39 Ps. S3 : 11 Ph. 145 : 5 Ps 140 : Is. fil ; 15 And God made the Firmament, and divided the waters which were under the Firmament from the waters which were above the Fir- mament ; and it was so. 299. It will be noticed that in the previous verse of the Word, the " Firmament" was first created " in the midst of the waters," but iu this verse, " the waters which were under the firmament " are divided " from the waters which were above." In the progress of his regeneration, the man begins to know that there is an Internal mind within him, and tliat the principles which fill this Internal mind are Heavenly, and are from the Lord alone. Tliii.-: the national Faculty begins to be vivified with a perception that its life is from the Lord, ami that He " made the Firmament," and that " the waters" below and above are divided by the Lord by means of the Rational Faculty. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 151 External motives. Mental affliction. 300. At this stage of the progress of regen- eration, the External mind is of such a nature that the man supposes the good which he does to emanate from his own power, and the truths which he speaks to be spoken of himself. By these Appearances he is led by the Lord, as by things of his own individuality, or Pro- prium, to do good and speak truth, and these external principles are " the waters which were under the firmament." 801. In attaining this era in one's spiritual history, this state of regeneration is generally accompanied by suffering, temptation, loss of prr erty, misfortune, sorrow, or mental afflic- tion, and the combat begins between the unregenerated External nu'nd and thu Internal Internal mind, because all things which api)er- tain to the External mind which have refer- ence to the affairs of this world, in which the I'roprium resides, are to be Ijrought into a state of quiescence or subjection, the experience of which is akin to di^ath, and which becomes tlie ''valley of the shadow of deatli" through which the regenerating man nuist walk, for the things belonging to the External mind must Ije O separated from the Internal mind l)y means of the vivified Ilational Eaculty or " Eirmament" which the Lord has made. Ps. 71 : 20 Prov. 8 : 2G Ps. 46 : 10 Is. 2n : 4 Is. 48 : 17 Deut . 32 : 12 Oen. 50 : 20 Kzek. 47 : 1 1 Cor 3 : 13 1 Cor. 3 : 15 ICor. 10: 13 1 Pet. 4 : 12 Jonah 2 : 2 1 Pet. 4 : 17 1 Pet. 1 : 3 1 Pet. 1 : 4 1 Pot. 1 : 5 1 Pet. 1 : 6 1 Pet. 1 : 7 2 Cor. 7 : U) Ps. 23 : 4 1 Pet. 1 13 1 Pet. 1 : 14 I Pet. 1 : 15 1 Pet. 1 : 18 1 Pet. 1 : 23 ■'•». '•'^m ' >v i ' !i|' ('t' ,in vVli • tl 152 THE FACE OF JESUS. Trouble and anguish. Substitution. V. i Jer. 6 : 24 Mlcah 4 : 9 Micah 4 : 10 Jcr. 30 : 6 r.s. 48 : a Ps. 18 ; 5 Ps. 119 : 143 Eph. 6 : 12 Ps. 18 : 4 2 Pet. 2 : 18 Rom. 8 : 3S Rom. 8 : 39 Deut. 3i : 4 2 Sam. 22 : 2 2 Sam. 22 : 3 Matt. 16: 18 l8. 48 : 21 Joel 3 : 13 Is. 51 : 8 Mical) 4 : 1 Is. 63 : 1 Is. 63: 2 Is. 63 : 3 Is. 63 : 4 Is. 63 : 5 Is. 63 : 6 Is. 63: 7 802. Now the pains of labor and travail be- gin, which attend the birth of the Lord upon the " earth," or the External mind of the re- generating man. " Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child.'' ''Fear took hold uj)on them there, and pain, as of a woinan in travail." " Trouble and amjuish have taken hold on me." 803. Now the evil powers of the Proprium exert their utmost influence to obscure the Light from the Word, to destroy his spiritual life, but the Lord has "made" the Kational FacuLy into which the Divine Truth is enter- ing with power, and this Truth is a solid Kock upon which the anxious and perplexed mind can surely rest, " and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," for Heavenly Principles are flowing in from the Lord, which are filled with Life, while the " flesh and blood," or evil and falsity of the Proprium, nuist die in the regen- eration of man, and the resurrection into Life Eternal will soon take place. 804. The regeneration of the External mind l)ecomes the true Substitution of the Life of the Lord in man in »place of the natural I*ro- prium. It is the power of the Lord alone which gives strength to man in fighting against the influences of hell in the External mind, and subdues them, and this is His Merit and THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 153 Evil spirits. The Conqueror. Ixiglitcousness, without any self-merit on the part of man. The Lord alone regenerates man, and this regeneration cannot be accomplished without severe combats and temptations, from which comes salvation from sin. 305. The temptations arise from the evils which infest the Proprium. They are personi- tied as evil spirits, and are like men who live in the physical frame in this world, who in free- dom shut out the Light of Heaven from them- selves, and whose delight is to ruin man, an these evil spirits endeavor to kill his perception of spiritual life, by filling his mind with such temptations which will be most likely to allure liim toward natural or material thought, l)y exciting the Love of Self. L^nless these evil spirits, or evil and false principles, are overcome and driven away by the aggression of the Heavenly Principles of the Word, men could not be saved from sin. By the Word alone can the Lord conquer and save, and thus the Word becomes Merit and Kighteousness in the regenerating man, instead of self-righteousness. 306. During this Sccone learned from the Literal Sense of the Word, and received into the natural or material prin- ciple of the External mind by means of the l8. C3 : 3 la. 63 : 9 Is. 2 : 12 Mark. 13: 7 Mark 13: 8 2 Thcss. 2 : 7 2 Thess. 2 : S Mark 3 : 11 P.S. 5 : 9 2 Thcss. 2 : 10 I'a. 02 : 4 Pa. 27 : 2 I Ezck S : 17 2 Cor.ll : 13 I 2 Cor.ll : 14 ' .Tames 1 : 14 1 Juhn 2 : l\i Ex. 6 : 1 ' Ex. C : 2 ' Acts 4 : 12 John 4: 42 Vs. 48 : 10 Is. 54 : 17 Ps. 71 : C Is. 25 : 1 Ps. 77 : G Ex. C : u iKf u 1 ■ I 154 THE FACE OF JESUS: The pulpit and the press. Water above. Ps. 77 : 5 Kom. 15 : 4 Kccles. 12 ; 9 EcrloH. 12 : 10 Ex. 20 : 24 Kjih, 3 : 4 Jo'>42: 6 Nuh. 8 : 2 Job 19 : 23 Dcut. 17 : 19 Juhii 6 : 56 Eccles. 7 : 25 Luke 24: 15 1 Cor. 2 ; 13 1 Cor. 3 : 15 1 Cor. 3 : 16 1 Cor. 3: 17 Z ich. 8 : 12 Hag. 2 : 19 JudgcsO: 12 Juel 2 : 22 Micah 4 : 4 Ps. 119 : 50 Ps. 119 : 93 Eph. 1 : IS Ps. 66. 13 Mark 15 : 39 Acts 3 : 26 sense of sight or hearing. In former cen- turies, when the education of mankind was in obscurity, the simple Truths of the Word were prochiimed by the mouth of rehgious teachers from pulpits and in places of pul)lic worshi}). to people who could not read and reflect, and these Truths were received by the sense of hearing ; but in the present era, the Lord has provided the printing-press as a Voice or Teacher by which the acute sense of sight may absorb the Divine Truth and the Appearances of Truth in the Word, so that the llational Faculty may be enabled to perceive, compare, and discriminate, for the Word treats both of the Lord, and the false principles of the Pro- prium which lead men away from the Living Principles of the Word. 807. The " Seed " of the Word having been sown in the External memory, the Eational Faculty perceives the Truth which is contained therein, and as the Affection rw this Truth flows from the Internal mind into this Rational Faculty, it becomes quickened with life and is made Divine, and in due time there will be illumination given to perceive that this Interior Divine Truth is the Son of God, which has l)eeii conceived by the Holy Spirit, or the Di\ine Proceeding of the Word. These Divine Truths are the "waters which are above the firmament." THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. lo5 Heaven. Combat and conjunction. And God called the firmament Heaven. i Oen. 1 : S Ezek 8 : .i Acts 9 : a 808. The Rational Faculty is now called " Heaven," because the regenerating man now perceives that it is vivified from Heavenly Principles, as the Proprium gradually dies ! R""' s: i and is removed, for the External mind then begins to be ruled by the Kingdom of Heaven which is within the Internal mind. And the Evening and the Morning were the Second Day. Ps. 47 : 2 Pa. 103 : 10 Luke 17 : 21 Gen. 1 : 3 2 Pet. 3 ; 12 Ps. 19 : 2 Uom. 13 : 12 309. Thus each and every moment of regen- eration proceeds from the obscurity of the Truths of the Literal Sense of the Word as re- ceived by the External mind, to the clearer light of their spiritual meaning as they are perceived by tlie Rational Faculty which is vivified by the Living Principles from the Lord in the Internal mind. 210. The Second Day therefore is the state in which the conjunction of the External mind with the Internal begins to take {Aaao through | is. 59: m the illumination of the Rational Faculty, and it also signifies the state of labor and combat v\hich exists in subduing the Proprium so that \ p^-^-^ this conjunction may evenlually occur. 1 Thess. 5 : ^ Acts 26 ; 13 Ezek. 33 : 19 Ezek. 74 ; ft Heb. 8 : 15- Is. 60 : 20 IB. 33 : 2 Ps. 9 ; It ' i - i^n ^ m '• ''! ■' 'i'ii! .; ;,l ;'/'V ill ' '; ' I 1 ( !',1M I : i>:i V'i ! I H] ■i w 1, .' li M , :;::.-'l: :■-'■■:! il"; vi Ji^llife^ \\ til Ol i : 1 \ Y\ \ ! % \ A 1 ■ ^ ; 11 il 15G THE FACE OF JESUS. Joseph, Galilee. PARALLEL ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE GOSrEL HISTORY, OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE SECOND DAV. THE MATERNITY OF THE VIRGIN MARY. Luke Ph. 81 ; 5 Luke 1 : 27 Ps. SO : 1 Cien. 49 : 22 C.en. 45 : 20 Oeii. 39 : 2 Dcut.33 : 13 Dout. 33 ; 16 Is. 9 : 1 Matt. 4 : 25 Mark 3 : 7 Jlatt. 27 : 55 Mark 1 : 39 John 7 : 62 Juhn 7 : 41 Xuke 24 : 6 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David). 311. The names of all persons, places and things in the "Word are representative of Spiritual Principles. The word "Joseph," whether in the Old or New Testament, repre- sents the Rational Faculty, and in this verse it signifies the state of this Interior Principle which has hitherto not been aware of the exist- ence of the Internal mind, and is the same as the " Firmament " which was ** in the midst of the waters," 31*2. " Galilee" represents the External mind of the regenerating man who is in the external good or natural affection for the Truths of the Literal Sense of the Word, in the life of Love to the Neighbor, without the knowledge that there is an Internal Sense of the Word, bv the revelation of which, it is made known that there is an Internal mind. m \ \ 1 1 '. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 157 A city. The city of David, 313. A "City" si<>nifios Tnitli, or the Doc- trine of Truth from the Word. ''Nazareth" is a City of "Calilee," and here signifies external (h)etrine or the Truth of tlie Literal Sense of tlie Word, or the seientiHe principle of the External mind. 314. In the Book of Judges it will Ix^ found that Samson was a Nazarite, and that his strength was in his hair. As the hair is the most exterior of all things helonging to the physical frame, it corresponds to the merely exterior principles of the External mind, there- fore by the strength of the hair of Samson, is represented the power of external truths which nuist first be attended to in the order of re- generation, and thus in the personification of Samson is manifested the power Avhicli is con- tained in the Literal Sense of the Word when its Truths are applied to the life, for they lead tlie llaticmal Faculty to "divide the waters which are beneath," or the exterior Appear- ances of Trutli, from the "waters which are above the tirmanKMit," or the Interior Divine Truths of the Word. 315. In the order of regeneration, "Joseph," or the Rational Faculty, enters from this state " into Judea, unto the City of David, which is called Bethlehem." Since the country of "Galilee" represents the External mind, the Prov. 8 : 3 Ph. is : 1 Luke 1 : 2«> Liike 4 ; IC Matt. 21: 11 John 1 : 4U Jixigos 13 : 5' Judi^es 13 : T Jutlfren 16 ; 17 Cieii. 27 : 11 Num. C : 2 Num. n : 5 Nu'ii. : IS- Num. : 21 Is. 7 : 20 Matt. 10 : 3i> Luke 12 : 7 ihi(l(fen IG : 2!) Ezek. 8 • .'i Pa. 74 : 12 Vs. 74: i:{ Eztk. 5 : 1 § :m i 323 Acts 10 : 37 i I ; ■I I ilit ) m w m v..'i- td' *■:! 11 1 ' ■11 » il- ' un ;! !■ ' ,; i 'i ■ ; s loS Judea. Amoi 7 : 12 Ph. 105 : 17 fs. 148: 4 Id. 66 : 8 is. 9 : 7 Matt. 22 : 42 2 Sam. B : 9 1 Kings 8 : 1 Jdhn 7 : !2 1i Sniu. 33 : 16 1 Sam. 20 : G I'a. 1.0: 7 Gen. 29 : 31 Ps. U ■ : 8 Pa. 110: 17 Ps. US'; 28 Ps. lie : 1 Ps. 110 : 2 Is. 29 : 10 Job 14 : 4 Prt. l;i8; Luke 2 : 4 Gen. 13 ; 15 Ps. 119 : 2 Ps. 119 : 27 Ps. 119 : 03 Aaios 7 : 10 THE FACE OF JESUS^ House. country of *' Jiuloa " (lenote.s the Internal mind, to wliit'h "Josepli" or the Rational Faculty, is led, bearing the same relaticm to the Rational Faculty as the "waters which are above" do to the *' Firmament." 310. " David " signifies the Lord as to the Divine Truth of the Word, and therefore the Internal Sense of the Word, and the "City of David " denotes true doctrine derived from the Internal Sense. 317. " Bethlehem " is the city or doctrine in which the Internal Sense of the Word is born, and into which the Rational Faculty rests, for "Joseph" now perceives that the Interior Truth of the Word originates fiom the Lord, and the regenerating man is now warmed Avitli affection f'M the W jrd, from the Lord who fills the Internal mind, whereas, when he was in the state represented by "Nazareth" in "Galilee," he thought that his good desires originated in himself, and now perceives that such ascription was suggested by the l*roprium of the External mind. 318. "Because he was of '.iie bouse and lineage of David," signifies that he has a per- ception that all the Goods and Truths which now enter tlio Rational Facult} are from the Lord, or the Word. "House" denotes the origin of a family, and the family relationship THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 151) Lineage. Internal worship. represents the conjunction of (Jooil and Truth I Jor. si:i which is from the Lord. ** Lineage " denotes eph. sris descent, and here signifies the descent of "ot. 7 : 3 "iJavid," or the Divine Truth from above phissis into the Internal mind, and thenco into the uov. 21 : lu Kational Faculty. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 319. By "Joseph" going to "Bethlehem" "■ to be taxed with Mary " is signified that worship is to bo rendered from the Affection of Good and Truth which is conjoined in the National Faculty. To pay a " tax," signifies to render worship, and " Mary," the espoused wife, signifies the Affection of Good and Truth in the External mind, in which the state of Reformation has been fulfilled. This worship is from internal motives, and consists in pro- found adoration and humiliation of heart before the Lord, and True Love for the Neighbor, in the constant duties of daily life, independent uf specific religious rites and cei'emonies. A flaily life according to true doctrine from the Word constitutes Internal worship. 820. " Being great with child," also signifies tills state of Internal worship which is formed l\v the Affection for Truths of the Word by obedience to them as they are given in the t.uko 2 : 5 I.uko 2 : 1 Luko 2 : 3 Ph. 29 : 1 P8. 29 : 2 Pa. 70 : U Jcr. 2 : 2 IIos. 2 : 10 IIos. 2 : 20 Is. 27 : 1:5 Rev. 7 ; 12 Ps. 145: U Zccli. 8 : 1(5 Z.;ch. 8: 17 Hob. 9 : 1 Ileb. 9 ; U Ileb. 9 : 12 Luke 1 : 15 Deut. 7 : !) Ps. 09 : 30 ? ! ■ f 1 1 ! ! : * 'I < \\ ;. ^ Ml > .' i * I J, ; I i' ' I t '■ I I j0\ I M, '■ Pi J' ■ ' 1 n 'I !■ ■■ ''\i\ IGO THE FACE OF JESUS. Greatness. Phil. 2 : 10 Luke 1 : 32 Ptut. 7 : 18 Judges 5 : 31 Lev. 20 : 3,4 Luke 2: Progression. ': Is. 11: 24 § 273 Jcr. 18 : 2 Acts 22 ; 10 Kzek. 12 ; 23 Ezek. 12 : 28 Job 30: 10 Heb. 10 : 32 Heb, 10 : 35 llcb. 10 : 36 Heb. 10 • 37 I'.cclc.i, 11:5 I's. 40 : 8 D-Ut. 1-2:7 Joel 2 : 21 Is. 11: 1 Zeob. : 12 Zech. : 13 Literal Sense. "Great " is predicated of Good, and " being great with child," signifies the formation of principles of Good in the will, l)v means of Truth in the understanding, derived from the Literal Sense of the Word. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 82L "And so it w\as," is equivalent to tJR- expression " And God said," with its Internal meaning. " That while they were there," signi- fies that in this state of regeneration concerning the liational Faculty, " the days were accom- plished that she should be delivered," in which the time of trtivail and labor will arrive, when from this state of combat between the Internal and External principles of the mind, the hour of delivery shall come, for the Rational Faculty is being formed within the " Mother," or the Affection for the spiritual truths which have been received by the External mind from the Literal Sense of the Word. 322. It will bo observed that in this place where the birth and development of the National Faculty are being treated of in the Internal Sense of the Word, that the different wor(l> have relation to this same principle. Tims " Joseph," and " Bethlehem," as well as the the ave the THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 161 The descent of spiritual principles Conception, (*hild which is being formed within the mother j\rary, each have reference to spii itiial principles concerning ilv, Eational Faculty. " Joseph " is not the father of the yet unborn child, and therefore no life emanates from him, and the National Faculty has no life in itself, because in the order of regeneration, spiritual life descends from above, or through Inmost Principles. o*23. During this Second Day, the Know- ledges from the Literal Sense of the Word acipiired in the External memory, are taking the form of man in the womb of the Virgin Mary, for the conception, gestation and birth of the Lord in the spiritual principles of the mind, by the law of spiritual correspondence, arc in the order of the conception, gestation, and birth of the physical frame into this physical M(»rl(l. !)24. The Rational Faculty is vivified by the Father, but the " iMother " is the Aflcction for the scientifics and knowledges of the Litei'al Sense of the Word, which have been accpiired by means of the external or material senses of tlio spiritual body. n*J.'). Conception is the first life of the National Faculty, and it receives this first life from the Lord flowing through the Internal mind into the Affection of knowledges and sciences belonging to the External mind. The Matt. 1 : 13 James 1 : 17 Uev. 3 : 12 Ps. 22 : 27 Ps. 103 : 18 Jer, ill : 11 Jer. 1 : 5 Is. 10 : I Is. 44 : 2 la. 44 ; 21 Is. 44 : '.':$ Ho.s. 9: 11 Jivs, 1 : !.■■ Jolui 15 : 2H Ph 139 : 13 Is. 11 : 9 Is. 7 ; 10 Is. 8 : 4 Mark 9 : 1 Hal). 3: :i Rom. 1 : 4 Dan. 1 : i li hi M i ' ':.' I , '1 Ml ■. i m ; ■h ' ; ;) fii I .ill"'!.' ■( ; , 'fl '■: ; I L> ^ 1 L ! 1 I4 m s i i 1; M J,^ ! 1G2 r//i5; ZACii; oi^ JESUS. The body of the unborn infant. Prayer. Uev. 7 : 17 John 10 : 11 1 Cor ,15 : 38 Is. CI : 10 Is. 01 : 11 Job 29 ; 14 Ezek. 19 : 10 Ezuk. 19 : 11 1 John 4 : 10 Matt. 12 : -19 Shut. 12 : 50 Luke 8 : 21 Luke 2 : Luke IS : 1 I's. 5 : 2 i'8. 4 1 1 Thess. 5 17 : Luku 48 18: 35, Ezek. 43 2 Prov. 28: 9 Life from the Lord within this Affection for knoAvlcdge and science from the Word, gives to the national Faculty a body which is being formed within this Affection, or " Mother," and tliis body wiiich is being formed, elothes tlie Liternal principle of the mind which is within, as the body of the unborn infant ch)thes its spiritual body, wdiich, although cpiiescent, is already conceived within the mother. 320. The •' Mother " is not the sciences and knowledges themselves which are stored in the External memory, but is the Affection for them. No one can become truly rational unless he is actuated by a pi-inciple of Affection, and this Affection is the true essential Maternal Life, for " Mother " in the Internal Sense signifies Affection for the Truth, and it is in this Second State of regeneration that "the days were accom- IjUshed that she should he delivered.'' PRAYER. 327. Dui'ing tlio Second Day of Creation, the re,i,'on erating man continually calls upon the Lord for help to overcouie the evil of his Proprium. Prayer is dis- coursing with the Lord by means of the Truths of tlio Word, in which there is an internal intuition which flows into the perceptions in such a manner that the Internal mind is opened toward the Lord, if the snp[ili- cation contains no desire to favor the Love of Self. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 1G3 Answer to prayer. A mountain. 328. When the Rational Faculty is illuminated by the pei'ception of the Interior Truth.s of the Word, the n generating man i.s taught not to pray for anything which would be contrary to the laws of Divine Order, and in regard to the affairs of this world, he learns to trust so implicitly in the Divine Providence, that in all his pei'sonal relations to others, he endeavors to fiilfd the law of Love to the Neighbor, and in the breathing of his spiritual lungs he constantly whispers, " Teach me to do thy will ; for thoiM art my God. Thy Spirit is good ; lead me into the land of rq^rightness," and he has no anxiety for the morrow, and utters no complaint again' t the Mercy of the Lord. 329. In his struggles against his evils he acknow- ledges his need of Divine Help, for he has learned that he is helpless in himself alone, and in the progress of his regeneration it is revealed to him that " all things are possible with God," and that " Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be cast into ilti' sea ; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those *hings which he saiih shall come to p (ss ; he shall have tvharsover he saith." 330. A " mountain," m a good sen.se, signifies Love to the Lord, or the Celestial Principle, and in an evil sense it signifies the Love of Self Tlie "sea" in which " waters" terminate and are collected, signifies the most exterior terminations of the Divine Truth of the Literal Sense of the Word in the Material Principle of the External mind, and in the evil sense it signifies hell, and thus the " mountain " of Self Love which rears its lieud above all the " earth " is to be cast down even to hell, and thus removed, if the prayer is sincere, and if Vs. 139 : ] Ps. 139 : 2 Ps, 139 : 3 Vb. 139 : 4 Matt. 6 ; 31 Matt. 6 : 32 Rom. 13>- 14 2 Cor. 8: 21 James 2 : 8 Lam. 3 : 56 Ps. 143 : 10 Matt. 7 : U Matt. G : 34 Phil. 2: 14 Ps. 35 : 1 I's. hU : 1 Ps. 12 : 1 Ps. 142 Ps. 22: 11 .Mark 9 : 23 Mark 10 : 27 Mark U: '23 Matt. 21 : 21 Matt. 21 : 22 John 10 : 23 John 10 : 24 Ps. 30 : 7 ] Is. 2: 2 I Ezck 11 : 23 1 I Luke 8 : 32 I Ps. 72 : « Is. 42: 10 Zech. 9 : 10 Rev. 14: 7 Malt. 8 : 32 Amos 6 : 1 Is. 54 : 10 Pa. 40 : 2 ,l'| ';♦ ! W' «' 1 1 'fM:ti:liiij.| i^il ;} ..i.i !d'infi;i 164 THE FACE OF JESUS. Vain repetitions. The Lord's Prayer. I i I '■ I- I }:' 1 Cor. 13 ; 2 1 Theas. 5 : X5 Matt. 7 : 8 Matt. 6 : 5 Matt. 0: Matt. 6 : 7 Matt. 6 : 8 1 John 5 : 14 Lev. 1 : 2 Lev. 1 : 3 Lev. 19 : 5 Ps, 34 : 18 I's. 102 : 17 Ps. 18 : 3 Luke 17: 5 Ih, 40 : 29 Matt. .5 : 44 Luke 6 : 27 Luke (i : 28 1 John 5 : 15 1 Pet. 5 : G i Pet. 5 : 7 i 1; faith is made alive by living according to the Trutlis of the Word, for true Faith iniplics obedience to tlie command.s of tlie Decalogue. Thus the prayer will by answered, for " every oL^e that asketh, receiveth." 331. Such prayer is not made "standing in tlie synagogues and in the coi-ners of the streets," but within the mind, independent of the observation of other men. Neither are " vain repetitions " made, f(jr the Rational Faculty perceives that " your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye a.sk Him." 332. A truly rational man would not pray that the will of another person might be changed, because he knows that the Lord cannot violate the freedom of the will of man through Eternity, for no man can bo regenerated without his own desire and co-operation with Divine Principles. The most that a regenerating'; man can pray for, is Divine Light to illumine his path and the increase of his Affection for the Truth, whicli is the strength of his spiritual life, and the Lord jjcr- mits that the man shall be the instrument by wliicii his prayers are answertid, through a life of obedienci- to the Truths of the Word. Prayer denotes hnniilitv of heart in acknowhulging all Power and Life tu emanate from the Lord, which must be a constant recognition on the part of man through Eternity. THE lord's prayer. 333. The Lord's Prayb:r which appears so brief in the Literal Sense of the Word, contains within it all the principles of Heaven- ly Life which man is to attain, and the quality of the lives : 1 : .1 1 ^iitidi m\' U ii ; ■ 1 I ( ,1 !■ ill u (' 'I ri. i y«lm.i 16G THE FACE OF JESUS : Mental and physical pain. Daily bread. may be subdued, and this cannot take place without the External mind experiencing anguish, for all mental pain exists only in the External mind, or spiritual body, just as all physical pain exists only in the physical body. Through Eternity the Lord seeks to enter the life of every immortal creature, but the culmination of this desire can only be answered by the manifestation of the Kingdom of God in our own lives, so that others may be led to- ward the Light by our silent and unobtrusive example, rather than influenced toward evil. Thus the Heavenly Kingdom will come to all who receive the Divine Love and Wisdom which flows from the Lord by the Word. 337. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. The Will of the Lord is Infinite Love and Mercy toward all His creatures. The Word is the expression of His Will to man, and we are to Do, or obey the commandments of the Word. " Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever 1 command you." " If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." 338. The Internal mind, or " Heaven," is not opened to the per- ception of any man until he begins to live the life of regeneration. His External mind, or " earth," is then to be regenerated by tlic Living Truths of the Literal Sense of the Word, so that his exter- nal conduct in all his acts, from the Heavenly Principles witliln his motives, shall fulfil the law of Love to the Neighbor, and tlius to him the Literal Sense, or " earth " of the Word, will be seen to contain Living Heavenly Principles. 339. Give us this day our daily bread. The Lord gives freely to every man who receives the Heavenly Principles of the Word in obedience, from which results Affection for its Trutlis- To receive the Word into the life is to receive thb Lord, and "this day " refers to the quality of the life in this State of regeneration, .and " daily bread " refers to the perpetual supply of heavenly manna, or spiritual food from the Word. THE XATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 107 Heavenly bread. The forgiveness of sins. In " this day," the regenerating man will recognize that life and thought are given every moment by the Lord, and this perception will so fill the mind with happiness, that he will have neither care nor anxiety about the future, and especially concerning tl\e afiairs ofthis world, exccptingtodo his part faithfully, in whatever humblo or dignified position in which he may be placed. 34)0. The " broad which comoth down from Heaven " is the Divine Human Principle of the Word, which is Celestial food, or Love to the Lord and to the Neighbor. Spiritual '• bread " or meat is Goodness, or Affection for the Word, or a Living Faith. "Blessed are they ivkkkdo hmvjer and thirst after rUjIdeousness : for they shall he /died." 341. And forgivk us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. The Lord never withholds His Forgiveness nor Mercy from any })erson, but the perverse and unregenerated man averts himself from the Lord. By the strong force of the Infinite Love of the Lord, He draws men to Himself by the Word, and enlightens their minds to perceive) the gracious invitations, which in the In- ternal Sense, teach that the Divine Mercy is never removed from any man, but the evils of men are like dense clouds which con- ceal the Lord, or the Internal Sense of the Word, from their view, because their Internal minds and spiritual perceptions are closed. 342. The Forgiveness of sins or trespasses, implies the giving up of the Love of Self, and thus the giving up of sin. Evils and falses are not washed away by a sovereign decree of the Word, but they are to be fought against and successively removed, and there is no other forgi /encss or remission of sins by the Lord. The regenerating man is continually falling of himself, but is con- stantly raised up by the Lord, in order that ho may progress in the attainment of spiritual life, and the Divine Truth, or Blood of the Word is incessantly shed, by the strength of which victory is ob- tained, for " vjithout shedding of blood there is no remission" ■;l M •; I rUI J 4\ ;,iH ,1 i ! f -i %l I: Mi m ■i r I it'. I 1 II , .1 1G8 THE FACE OF JESUS: Temptation, Evil spirits. Therefore lie who desires the Divine Love and Wisdom to enter his will and understanding, must give up his trespasses, shun all evil, look to the Lord, and do unto others as he would have them do to him. 34-3. And lead us not into temptation, but drli^'er us from EVIL. The Lord never leads any man into te.nptation, hut in all our struggles and combats against our evils He is closely present with us to strengthen and deliver, although it appears as though we arc left entirely to ourselves, and thus this expression "lead us not into temptation " is written according to Appearance, in order that the natural mind may acknowledge a Guiding Hand. 34)4. Instead of the Lord tempting man. He is continually de- li veril^g him from evil, as fjir as it is possible without violating his freedom. The perception of the presence of Divine Truth in the regenerating man, causes the evil principles in the External luind to give pain until they are removed, just as the living nerve within a decayed tooth causes suffering when it is exposed, and the tooth must either be extracted, or the decayed substance removed, and the cavity cleansed and filled with a material which will resist corruption. 345. When a man is undergoing temptation, prayers alone will not deliver him nor save him from yielding, notwithstanding that they may be ardently poured forth, for in the combats of tenii)ta- tion, all the evils which manifest themselves are to be resisted, fought against, and overcome. The united prayers of the whole world would not save a single man from his sins, without his own volition and action. 34G. All temptations in the External mind are infused by evil spirits from hell, or from his own evils and falses, and in all his spiritual battles he should fight as from himself with the power given him because at the time of conflict he is not conscious of Divine Help, but in order to keep the door open for Divine THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 1G9 Overcoming evil. Revelation. .Strength to flow in and aid him, he mu.st inwardly acknowledge mid believe that the Lord is hi.s Helper, otherwise ho will bo tilled with pride and self-righteousness, and the powers of evil will gain the victory. 'M7. As evil is to be overcome, so that the temptation will ci'ase, if a man should give himself up to pi'iiyer, and not to the active life of resistance by the determination of his Will, from in- terior motives, he co«i!d not be aided in eradicating his evils, and thus be saved from them, whieh is the end for whicli the Word lias been given to man. He who thus conquers in temptations knows that it is the Lord within who overcomes. 348. If in the state of temptation, a man should fall u))on his knees and spend the night in prayer, awaiting a .special inspira- tion of strength, instead of at once resisting the evil insinuations, — if the temptation should not cease thereby, ho would be likely to entertain doubt concerning the Divine assistance, because ho does not seem to be heard. Sometimes on such occasions, if he slackens his resistance, he partly yields to the temptation, where- as he should resist evil with the wea^wn the Lord has placed in his hands, the Power to Resist, if he will use it, for the Lord answers prayer by the means which He cleai-ly indicates. The Answer to Prayer is the revelation to the mind, of the means to be used in overcoming evil, which is only made known by Truths from tlie Word brought forth into life, and thus Ho delivers us from evil. 349. Revelation concerning the Divine Truth of the Word is an internal perception of its .spiritual nature. By " Revelation " is iiioant the illumination of the Rational Faculty when the Word is read, by which its Living Truths are perceived. No in- spiration of the Word exists until its Truths are appropriated by tlie life of the man v/ho reads it and stores it in his memory, for tliey who are actuated by spiritual affection, and desire to know the i':.: I ll.i- r.': !''!> iV E 11 i I -I 170 THE FACE OF JESUS. Earthly trials, The Third Day Trutli, arc clearly taught from tho Word; but they who have not broken away from tho Love of Self, cannot be taught the Divine Principlesof the Word, and can only be confirmed inthe Appearance of Truth of tile Literal Sense, in whicli they have been instructed from infancy. 3.10. The Trials and Temptations of the Second Day are prin- cipally concerning the things' of this world, and are not the spiritual temptations which must bo met with in the future pro- gress of the Life of Regeneration. THE TIIIKlJ DAY OF CREATION ; OR, THE THIRD STATE OF REdENERATIOX. Hos. C : 2 Una. : 3 Gon. 1 : 9 Ps. 57 : 1 Ps. 57 : 2 Pa. 57 : 3 Ps. 57 ; 10 Ps. 57 : 11 Is. 37 ; 30 Is. 37 31 Is. 44 : 19 " After two dat/s ififf He revive na ; in the Third Day He will rain us iij), and ur shall lice in His sight. " Then shall we know, if ice follow on to know the Lord." And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered unto one place, and let the dry- land appear; and it was so. 351. Tho regenerating man now begins to perceive that there is both an Internal and External principle of the mind, widch are re- ceptive of their corresponding princiides in the Word of God ; and that Love and Wisdom descend from the Lord through the Internal principles into the External, although this order is contrary to appearance, because Truth.s THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 171 The source of the Literal Sense. Perception arc first loarned from tlic Literal Sense of the Word uiiich is external, but tln^ affection for these Truths, from the Internal prineiplo, brings them into the life, so that the Internal Sense of the A\^3rd is perceived as the source from "vvhich the external liiteral Sense exists. nr)2. All principles from the Word which are learned and received bv the mind of the rei?cn- crating' man are calhul '* Scientifics." These are the ** waters under tlie heaven," and the place where they are j^athered together, is the External memory, and these knowledges will be called forth thence by the Lord when they arc needful in his spiritual progress. The "dry land" is the External principle of the mind which has been separated from the Internal principle by the liational Faculty, which is the " Firmament" which divides the "waters" during the Second Day. "And it was so," signifies that the regenerating man perceives that these "waters" are stored in the External memory, and that they have ben gathered there by the External mind. And God called the dry land earth : and the gathering together of the waters called he seas : and God saw that it was good. 8.")8. "God called" signifies perception in the mind of the regenerating man, that the " dry Ih. 44 : 20 l!i. 44: 21 Is. 44 : -2i; I.H. 44 ; 2* Is. 45: 1 Ih. 4f. : 2 U. 4.'i : 3 Hikii. 2:11 Xmu. Jt : 7 Ex. 15 3 Jur 23 : 3 Jer 23 4 Jer 23 : 5 Jer 23 : a Ex. 14 16 I's. 96: r> Oei . 1 c U M : 15 Ps, 33: 7 Dei t . 28 ; 8 fJcii. 1 : 10. Ps. 50 : t i ■ I I :itr I !;■ / ,l:'H ! . i 1 ■•I':: h'^ IH! M i m4'h m 'P\ 172 THE FACE OF JESUS: Seas, A well of water. ■ a ^'i IN. U'.): (14 paring to receive Heavenly Seeds from the Word, so that (Jood and True principles may Ix; produced, and now the Lord causes the t(Mi(ler "grass" to spring foi'th from this "eartli." "(Jrass," in the W(n-d, denotes Scientific Truth by which tho Spiritual Trutli of the Word is confirmed, and as grass serves for food to animals so the Scientific Truth of th(^ Word serves foi -he si)iritual nourishment of the mind, or .i[*;iit (al body. The Scientific Principlv>s ^\' the W )rd are not physical or material ociciicc o'yl. " He caiiseth the r/rass to grotv for the cattle" " Cattle," signifies the Natural Affec- tions of thn External mind, to wliich "Grass" or Scientific food serves for nourishment. The Literal Sense of the Word is tho spiritual l)asture for the "cattle" of the External mind to feed in. " Green j^astures " signify Living Truth, for grass, when it ceases to be green. Vb. 106 : 1 Ph. 78 : 1 Luke 18 : 1» Qcn. 1 : 11 Ex. 15 ; 20 Ex. 23 : :() Pa. 80 : 9 Pb. 126 : (J I'H. . 107 : 37 Ph. 32 : 'JO Vs. 85 : 11 U. U : i u. 01 : 11 Ps. 06 ; 10 Deut. 11 : 15. 1 Kin^s 18 : 6 Ilcv. 9 : 4 Zecli. 10 : I I's. no : !U Pb. 110 : 14 1 Ps. 104 ; 14 Gen.O: !>, \0 Pa. 148 : 10 Ps. 147 ; 9 P8. 100 : S John 10 : 9 P8. 23 : 2 i, I (■ I, 'I ' ;«( !■ I ,1 I ■ 1 ' I 174 THE FACE OF JESUS: :|1 i i- S- The herb. Seed, U. 15 : 6 Prov. 27: 25 Mark : 30 John 6: 10 llult. 14 : 19 Gcii. 1 : II hmt 11: 10 Is 20 : I'j Ileb. C: 7 Job 3S : 27 I's. 92: 13 I.^. IS : 4 U 01 : 3 Ps. 67 : C Vs. 107 : 38 'P.S. 104 : 14 Ps. 78 : 25 2 Cor. 9 : 10 Deut. 28 : 4 Dent. 28 11 Wiuk 4 : 26 !s. 55 : 10 withers up and is dried. But this *' grass " is not *' green," l)ecause it is for the natural affec- tions of the External mind, and as yet has not nnicli life in it. In the illustratiini of the Five Loaves and Two Fishes, it is said, '^ Noiv there was much grass in the /V«c^," where the scien- tifics or knowledges of the Literal Sense of the Word are signified. 858. Next in or; 3 Ps. 6S : 10 Is. 41 : 17 Ps. (13 : 1 Ps. G5 : 9 la. 44 : 3 Rom. 13 : 10 Zech. 10 : 12 fore (irood, for Good i.s from tlio Divine Love, and Truth is from the Divine Wisdom. THE TWO AFFECTIONS. 301. There are Two Affection.s existing in the regen- erating man. The Affection of (or derived from Good, and the Affection of Truth, the former being as the husband, and the latter as the wife, and these Twi > Principles, or Afiections, are to be conjoined in tlie wiil and understanding, as Imsband and wife, thus consti- tuting the Heavenly Marriage, from which proci'od> S[)iritual Life. 302. The Affection of Truth first exists in tlu order of regeneration, in wliich nian is actuated by a principle of obedience to the Literal Sense of tlu^ Word, and he attends to the external acts of charity, such as doing good to every one whom he imagines to be a neighbor, especially to the poor, becau.se they call themselves poor, in conseipience of being destitute of worldly wealth, not being aware that by " poor" in tlif Word are meant those who are spiritually poor ; — they who know and confess in heart that they have nothing of Good and Truth from themselves, but that all things are freely given them. " BIckslJ are the poor In spirit . for theirH is the kingdom of heaven." I 303. Thus the " poor ' are those who desire instruc- I tion from the; Word, because they know that they havf 1 no intelligence in themselves, and the mind is gradually I led to perceive the .spiritual principle within the natu- I ral expression, and thus the idea of Love to the Neigh- ' bor, or the Affection of Truth, progresses from tlu. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 177 The Affection of Good. Charity. external thought of a person, or from the Literal Sense of the Word to the Internal Spiritual Principle, which is the Neighbor to be loved, and the Affection for this principle of the Word, is meant by the Affection of Truth, or Truth warmed into obedience. 804. The Affection of Truth consists in doing good from the Love of the Truth of the Word, first from the Apparent Truth, or Literal Sense, and afterward from tlif Truth of the Internal or True Sense of the Word, and this Affection properly belongs to the Under.stand- ing of the regenerating man. 805. The Affection of Good consists in doing good from the Love of Good, and properly belongs to the Will, and is grounded in the jii'inciple of Celestial love, or Love to the Lord, and in the order of regeneration it succeeds the Affection of Truth. A person who is in the Affection of Good, has an immediate perception of what is Good and True without reasoning if it is so or not, similar to the principle of percej)tion which filled "Adam," in the "generations of old." In all his acts he delights in obedience froiii his Affection for the W^ord, uv what is the same thing, from his Love to the Lord. o(lG. Those, however, who are in the Affection of Tmth for the sake of Truth and S[)iritual Life, when they hear or read I'eligious doctrines, search the Word to prove whether they are true or false, and do not ieniain in false teachings, liecause they are led to the True Light from the Word. They become so filled ^\"ith thoughts of charity toward others, that they do not condemn those who differ from them in religious I'clicf, and recognize what is true in the opinions of otliers. Zech. 3 : 10 Zecli. S : 22 Zocli. 8 : 23 I's. llii : \ Ps 111! : 9 I's. 110: IS Ps. IS : 1 John .'•) ; 30 Dcut. 32 ; 4 Is. 5 : V; Is, 5 : 17 Kev. IG : 7 Dent. ,'■) : 1 Uom. 7 : 2i: Lev. IS : 4 Lev. 18: 5 Deut.7:n Deut. 30 : m Jer. 31 : 34 Ileb. S : li> Ileb. 8 : U I.><. 51 : i> Mai, 3 : 4 Is. r>i : 8 Is. 58 : 9 Is. 58 : 10 2. John 2 Jcr. 2'.): 12 Jer. 20 : 13 Acts 17:11 .Jer. 20 : 14 1 Thn. : 2(J Is. 2 : 5 ICor. 13: Si Eph. 4 : :t2 Col. 3 : li Cul. 8 ; l» ), ,! : J Mm ....:|: *'■ •nil- ill (ii 1 ■in •J II i i i . 'i i in I'l . ;.i I In n '!! I 178 THE FACE OF JESUS: Inanimate works. Correspondences. aen. 1 : 11 Ocn. 9 : 3 Job 27: 4 I's. 145 : H Jas. 2 : 22 I's. S8 : 4 Cor. 3 : 2 The herb yielding seed. 307. In contiiiuini;' the sul)jeet of the ''lierb yielding seed" in the man whose regenerating life has ])een progressing from the Seeond IState, he now begins to talk devoutly and reverently concerning religious things, and to do good actions, which are the external works of charity, but which as yet are inanimate, because they have no inward principle, and therefore he supposes them to originate in himself 308. These good actions are called the "grass," and the " herl) yielding seed," becan.sc the scientific principles of the External mind must first l)e formed from the Literal Sense of the Word, in order that the "seed" mav tala? root. When the "earth," or External niind. is thus prepared to receive C^elestial seed fVoiii the Word, so that Internal Good and Titic principles may l)e produced, the Lord cause.s the " tender grass" to spring forth : then more productive principles succeed which bear seed in themselves, the " herb yielding seed ;" and next follow principles of Affection which In- come fruitful. "j\nd the fruit tree yielding' fruit after his kind." COlUtESPONDKNCKS. 3G0. Every object in Universal N-^^^mvo ipfircscnts in smuo Biauuer the (Spiritual Principles of the Luru ;^ Ki.ugdoin In Hea\xu 2 Kings 19 : 2(i 2 Kings 19: 27 2 Kings 19 ; 29 2 Kings 19 : 80 Is. 30 : 23 Matt. 13 ; 8 la. 55 : 12 Hcb. 0: 14 1 1 Gon. ''2 17 Kzok 30 : 30 Kzuli 30 : 35 !T ' THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 179 Names of physical objects. microcosm. or in the mind of man, l>ecause tlie Natural KingJoni derives its origin and existence from the Spiritual Kingdom, just as the ph}sical body derives its form and '.'xistonce from tlie spiiitual liody which it clothes, or as the Literal Sense of the Word exists from its Internal Sense. 370. Thus the Spiritual Principles of the Word throughout, are represented by the names of objects in the physical world. All principles of the Spiritual World terminate in the Natural World of thought as the ultimate effect, and yet nothing in this physical world is spiritual in itself, but everything is representative of Spiiitual Principles. 871. The Literal Sense of the Word is written entirely by the names and qualities of the representative things of the physical WDrld ; and by means of the Science of Correspondence, the spiritual things which at first so obscurely appear in tlie Liteial Sense, are in due order brought plainly before the perception of the regenerating man. The Science of Correspondence is a firmly estal/lished Piinciple which is of universal application, based upon the interior signification of all objective things. It is inhei-ent in tlie etymology of words, in the qualities of all objects, and in tlic names of persons when mentioned in the W(_)rd, and also in the names of places in wliich these characteristic persons reside. From these names in the Word, which first exist there, earthly localities are named. Thus the city of Jerusalem is so called, bc- Ccause such a city exists in the Word, and scriptural names are given to men because they first e\ist in the Word. .■)?-. Tiiroughout the Word, the man within mIioiii spiritual litV' has begun, is conqjared to the objects in the Vegetiibh; Kin^-- 'I'Mii, and especially to Trees, because the whole Vegetable, as well as the Animal and Mineral Kingdom, represent such principles as apjiertain to the spiritual nature of man, for a regenerated man is a " Heaven," or Spiritual World in the smallest form : hence the inind of man is called a " Microcosm," or little w^orld. il'-i! if ' 11 i II •i f 1 1 ' ^ 1 1 li f' 1 I 1 180 THE FACE OF JEtiUS: Leaves, flowers and fruit. The heart and lungs. Ezek. 31 : 3 Ezek. 31 ; 4 Ezek. 31 : 5 Ezek. 31 : Ezek. 31 : 7 Ezek. 31 : 8 Ezek. 31 : 9 Ex. 24 : 10 John : 33 John 14 : 19 1 Cor 1-2 : 27 Rev. 22 : 9 Eph. 4:1,-) Eph. 4: 10 Eph. 2 : 21 Miitt. 12 : 3,"i Ezek. 37 ; 5 Lev. 17 : 11 Lev. 17 ; 14 Ezek. 47 : 12 Ezek. 34 : 27 Paut 20 : 19 'niKKS. 373. Ill the Word, tlio regenerating man is either compared to, or is called, a "Tree," and the successive growths of intelligence, of ■wis- dom, and of life, are compared to the produc- tion of leaves, flowers, and fruit. His mind is implanted with Divine Good and Truth, tlic Seed of the Word from which the Tree Ijcgins. 874. All things in the physical world haw s(mie relation to the Human Form, which is the Form of the universal Heaven, because its Life consists of the Hivine Human l'rincii>l(' nt' the Lord in the lives of angels, or regeneratril men. 375. All the minute organs of the i)hysi('al frame correspcmd with the sjuritual princij)it's of the mind. Nearly every person knows that ! the Heart corresponds to Love, or Affectimi. hut it is not generally known that the Lnnus ' correspond to Wisdom, or the Understanding. The union of the operation of the heart ami lungs causes the l)lood to circulate and per- petuate the life of the physical frame. 870. A Trc'^ has its heart. Its leaves coric- spond to the lungs in the physical hody, ami they first appear in spring-time, then the l»los- soms expand from the Imds, and finally tin' fruit is formed from the inmost principle of the ' 'wm THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 181 The root of a tree. The branches. lilossoni, and the ()l)joct of tlio whole life of the lice is to yield fruit, or in some form be of use t(i man. ))77. The Leaves aet as the lungs or res])ir- atorv oigans, and aid in the cireulation of the lit'e-hlood of the tree ; and a tree spoiled of its leaves will bear no fruit. The Koot signifies tlie extension of intelligence from the spiritual ])rini'iple of the Internal mind into the External, (ir "earth," and every Spiritual Tree, or regen- erating man must be rooted and grounded in the " earth" or Literal Sense of the Word. o7S. The P>ranches of the Tree signify sen- siial ai;(l natural Truths in the External mind Avliich are derived from the Literal Sense of the Word. They signify sensual Truths, be- cause the branches of a tree are its most exterior limits, as the material principle of the External mind of man is his ultimate spiritual limit, his corjioreal frame being simply a physical machine thiough which he acts. :j71). Jiy the Leaves of a tree are signified National Truths, or the Truths derived from the Word wliicli are received liy the National laeulty of the Mind after the .Appearances of Tintli have been separated from the Genuine Truth wliicli is within the Literal Sense. Sj^O. The l^lossoms, or Elowers, signify the lirst Spiritual Truths from the Word which I'niv 11 : ;iO Matt. 24 : 32 Uev. 2-1 : •> I's. 101 : l(i Is. 1 : 3u Jer. 12 : 2 Job 20 : 1!) Rom. 11: 1« Jer. 17 : 8 Eph. 3 ; 17 Is. 17 : G Hos. 14 : John 15: 2 Jer. 33 : l.^i ! Is. 4 : 2 i John 15 : 5 1 Cor. 9 ; 27 Mark 13 : 28 Zech. s : 3 Joliii s: 32 John 10: 7 j P.I. 103: l."; Ps. 103 : 1ft I .5 Ml Ml' ■l I 11 >: I :h 3 sl ' 182 THE FACE OF JESUS: The quality of the tree. Three classes of trees. Vn. 27 : Lev. '2(J : I Matt. 7 : Ifi iliitt. 7 : 17 Mutt. 7 . 18 Mutt. 7 : 19 Vliil. 1 n Cant. 'Z : 3 Is. CO : 13 I'H. 52 a Is. 41 : 19 Zetli. 11 : 2 Ps. 1 ; 3 1 Oen. 2 9 Gen. 2 10 Gen. 3 22 F.cclcs. 2 : 5 Is. C5: 21 In. J4 : 14 Neh. 5 17 15- Is. 44 : 15 Is. 44 : 16 Jer. 17 • 9 Ps. 132 : 7 Lev. •.>( i : 11 bloom in the Ivatioiuil Facultv, and tli(» Fiiiit of the tree si.i'nities these Si)ii'itual Tniths made Livin,^', hy Ijein;^' lu'onglit forth into act, and tlie frnit viehkMl is accoixlinj'' to tlie "kind" oi' cpiality of tlie tree. Sneh is the representative siniilitnde Ijetween the fniit-bearing tree, and the man who is l)eini>' rewnerated, Avhich ni;iv he discovered from any passage in the Literal Sense of the Word where n tree is being de- scribed, either as representative of good oi- evil principles in man. "Aifd he shall he like a tnnf planted b// the rivers of water, his lea/ shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prospir." 3.S1. Trees, in general, signify percejitioiLs and knowledges of Good and Trntli from tlic Word in the regenerating man, according te the qnality of his life, and in the Word tlicy are divided into Three (lasses : Trees of tlir Garden, or Frnit Trees, Forest Trees, and Groves. Trees of the Garden, Vineyai'd. and Orchards, provide frnit for the sni)porl i>t physical life, and afford delight to the sen.^e <>f taste. Forest trees provide for the l)nilding of habitations and fnrniture for the comfort et' man, and they also serve for fnel to give warmth in the cold seasons, and they fnrni>li heat for the preparation of food. Groves atldid shelter, and are the places Avhere external Avorship is held, before tlu; building of tcni|)!t'> rnd tabernacles. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 183 Three principles of the Understanding Comparisons. IlSli. Tliosc Tliioc Divisions of Trocs corro- spoiul to till' Tliive I*niR'ipl('s of the riidcr- staiuliii.L;' : tlic Inmost l?i'incipl(\ or }R'i'L'oi)tioii of Intellectual thinn's, siL^nitied hy " Hardens" ; the Interior I'rineiple, or I*erce})tion of liational things, signiHed by ** forest-trees," such as the cedars of Lebanon ; and the Kxterior Principle, or perception of Scientific things, or the know- ledges of the Literal Sense of the Word, apper- taining to the External mind, signified by "groves," and especially by "oak-groves." 383. All the Comparisons in the Word which have been given for illustration, are also repre- sentative of Spiritual Principles by the laws of correspondence. The regenerating man is compared to a (irarden in the Word. "And tluiLord shall guide thee continuallij, and satis/)/ thy soul in drought, and make fct thg hones ; and thou shalt Ije like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not." 384. The budding and fructificatiou of a tree represent the re-birth of man : the growing green from the development of the leaves re[)resents the First State of Keformation ; the blossom- ing represents the Second State, or the next l)efore regeneration ; and the fructification, or " fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind," repre- sents the Third, which is the State itself of the regenerating man. who is now l)caring fruit. Jer. 32: 16 Num. 22 : 24 Jer. 29 : 28 I.H. 11:8 Ezck. 27 : 5 Job 40 : 22 Josh. 24 : 2(; Judges 0: 11 Ezek. 6 : 13 Ho8. 4 : 13 Ps. 89 : 8 1 Cor, 2 : i;'. la. 53: 11 Is. L.8 : ,5 Liikc 1 : 14 Jer. 17 : 8 Ilos. 12 : 3 Kzok 30 ;9 Kztk. W : 10 Ezek. 30 :il Ezek 30 ; 12 m ! * ^ : 'i ( 1 II, ■H 184 THE FACE OF JESUS: Seed in itself. Self inspection, Is. 45 : 25 1 John 4 : (i Dan. a : 'Z6 U 60 : 12 LukoB: 11 Joliu 6 : 20 Jolin 5 : 21 John 5: 22 John 5 : 23 Julm 5 : 27 2 I'liron. C : 18 Ps. 112 : 2 Matt. 23 : 9 Ileb. : 2S Mark 4 : 20 Mark 4 : 27 Mark 4 : 23 SSi"). •* Wlioso socd is in itself," sif^nifics the Word of (l()(l. All the perceptions of the principles of the understandiuLf represente'l by the " fruit tree," are from the Word, \vhich is the Human Form the Lord has assumed in tlie natural world of the mind, and these percep- tions How into the liational Faculty of the rei^eneratin*;' man from the Lord thioui-h the Internal mind. " The Seed is the W^onl of God,'' which, with its Interior ]Jivine Truth is the Son of God. ^' For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath Jle (jiven to the Son to have life in Himself' Thus the Seed, which is tlic Word, contains within "Itself" the vital prin- ciples of Eternal Life "upon the earth," or Literal Sense, in the External mind of the re- generating man in its outward principle, signi- fied by "upon," which every enlightened person may perceive by thoughtful comparison with the order of growth in the physical world, and looking within his own mental experiences, may comprehend why it is written, " And it was so." 386. "So is the Kingdom of God^ as if a man should cast seed into the (/round; and should sleep, and rise night and daij, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth hringeth forth fruit of herself; first the Hade, then the ear, after that, the full corn \'. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 18i So/vir)g the seed. The full corn in the ear. in the ear^ lie "who sow.s the Sei'd is the J)iviiie ISlan ut' tlie Word, tlie JiOrd lliin.sclf; l)ut ill this state of regeneration it appears as if the Affections of (Jootl and Trutli arose from some innate jnineiple in liiniself, and thns spi'inns and urows up, " lie knoweth not liow," for thus tiie Lord permits a man to l)e k'd, rising gradually from obscure perception to clearer light, signified by "night and day." 387. To the regenerating man it ai)pears as though the Lord was sleeping, because he does not yet pei'ceive that all his iittuitions are iii- Howings from the JJivine Wisdom, and therefore it is said according to this State of Appearance, that "the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself," and the order of regeneration is according to natural growth by correspondence with spiritual principles. In due order, the .Appearance of Truth in the Literal Sense, which exists in the mind according to the State of the regenerating man, will be substituted ])V the Truth of the Internal Sense, as soon as the ]tational Faculty is developed so that it shall be infiuenced from the Internal rather than from the External l)rinciples of the Word. 888. This clearer perception of the Internal Sense, or ''full corn in the ear," which teaches that the "earth" produces nothing "of her- •self"; that the Literal Sense of the Word Mark 4: 13 Matt. 13 ; 37 Murk 4: 14 Pout. 8 : 13 iHiit 11 : le Utut. b : 14 K.\. 15 : 13 I'rov. 8 : '10 Miuk 4 : 3h I'd. 44 ; 23 I'rov. 2 : 7 la. 37 ; 30 .l.ihn 15 : 4 Ilos. 14 : 7 John 20 : 3 Joliii20: 4 Num. 12 : S Joliii 20 : 5 John 20 : 6 John 20 : 7 John 2i) : S 2 Kini^s 4 : 42 2 Kings 4 : 43 2 Kintfs 4 : 44 II :; 111'-'" ! 1 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) .V y. 1.0 I.I l;^ 1^ 1 2.5 f 1^ Ilia t \i^ 112.0 1.8 i.25 1.4 III 1.6 ^ 6" ► v] ^ °% ;> /^ ^^W'^ ^w Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MSBO (716) 872-4503 1 1 H <■■ 1 18G THE FACE OF JESVS: Bringing forth fruit. Progress in resisting evi'. .luhn n : 19 (,' "evening" to "morning" during the Third Day. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 187 :0 The nuirber one. The number two. NlMISKItS. JJOO. All Nnmbors in tlie Word denote the quality of the State of tlie rej,'cneratinj,' or evil principles in man, accor 1 John 3: 22 Is. 62 : 4 U. C2 : 5 Ps. 80 : 10 .Matt, lit : (i Jir. ,10; ."■) 1 Cor. G: 17 l.uku 13 : .32 1 Ci.r. 1."; : 4 Itev. 16 : 1!) 1 Join .'. : 3 f (■■ I- ] \i\ i.'r' ! ,► I! :> '!)1^ : r f 188 THE FACE OF JESUS The Coming of the Lord. The orderly preparation Murk 8 : 31 Mutt. 15 : 32 1-uke 2 : 40 Luke 18 : 32 Jer. :!! : G Luke ; : 14 Luke 15 : IS Mark 9 : U Mark 9; 10 .luhii 11 : 24 1 J(ilin2 :24 Joliii 15: 7 393. Tlie 'J'liird Day is u.scJ to denote the Coming of the Lord into tlie .sjti ritual worhl of man by the V/ ord, and it also indicates every revelation of His Word to the spiritual perceptions. The Coming of the Lord to the mind of the regenerating man, and the Resurrection, are identical, for His Resurrection takes place on the Third Day, when the regenerating man is in a full state of preparation to enter into Spiritual Life, or what is the same thing, for Spiritual Life to enter his mind. As the studious reader, by moans of a Concordance, may refer to any siil) ject in the Word which is being treated of in tlie succeeding pages, and froi.' the principk's exphiiiied in the preceding pages may perceive that all the words thus referred to have an interior meaning, the marginal references will now be discontinued. Thus, as under the subject of "Trees," " Seed," " Clothing," or " Garments," " Horses," " Sheep," " Shepherds," '' Flocks/' "Cattle," "Beasts," "Fishes," "People," "City," "Flesh," "Blood." " Bread," " Water," " Wine," "Light," etc., the illustrations may easily be found, and the correspondences will be firmly stored in the memory by such a conii)arative study of the Literal Sense of the Word. 804. The Three successive decrees of the Tliird State of Uc^generation, in which tlie Kational Faculty is im- bued with Life from the Lord throufjh tlie Interiiul mind, are represented in the preparation for tlie birth of the Lord, by First, the ** Cirass," which signifies the Scientific Truth of the Literal Sense of the Word which is confirmed by the Scientific rrincii)les of the External mind. Secondly, by the " Herb yielding seed," which signifies a life according to the Literal Truths of the Word, from which results, Thirdly, perceptions and knowledges of Good and Truth, si<;;'iified by the " Fruit tree yielding fruit." From this orderly preparation of the life of a regenerating man, the Lord Jesus Christ is born from the Internal mind into the Rational Faculty, where lie is first seen as the WOED. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. isn The reception of Divii.e Truth. The Advent. ^ i te th le .'h al ;1) 1£ (I it IS THE BIKTII OF THE HOLY CTLILD. And she brought forth her first born Son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a mangier ; because there was no room for them in the inn. LuUo 2: 7. nOi5. It was illustrated under the subject of the Second Day of Creation that the Mother of the Infant Jesus in tlic re<'cneratini^ man, is the Att'ection for the Scientitics, or Truths of the Literal Sense of the Word, as thev are received by the External mind, and the Kational l-'aculty is first acted upon by means of these exterior Truth.s. The jMiraculous Conception is the reception of these Truths into the External memory from Affection for them. 300. All Conceptions and ]]irths which are narrated in the Word, are to be understood spiritually and not physically, they having relation to the order of the New J)irtli or rcn'cneration of man, and the minds of enliulit- cned men arc created with the faculty of perceiving; liiuher and more elevatint; thouijhts concerninL!- the Advent of the Lord, according to the laws of Divine Order, if they desire to look above earthly things. 307. When the Rational Faculty, which is intermediate between the Internal and External mind, first perceives the enlightenment that the Word is the Lord, which is caused by the inflowing of the Divine Love from the Internal mind, then the Lord is born within the regen- 1 ! fi.T! i i ,.^:i' UQ THE FACE OF JESUS. I I i The First Born Son. Essential Divine Truth. n i , 1 ; cratin*,' man, and lie ceases to think tliat citlier Good ov Trutli oiij,dnates in himself, and tliis l*crcepti(m is the " First liorn 8on," for it is in tliis principle of child-like innocence and in this infantile state that he acknowledj^cs the Internal Sense of the Word and perceives that it is the Lord. ol)8. I'revions to this Perception, his reflections weio upon the Literal Truths which were stored within his Kxternal memory, and in Appearance it seemed as if he orij^inated his thoughts, which were consequently filled with self-intelligence, but as soon as the liational Faculty is enlightened from al)ove, or Within, so that the re- jifenerating man sees that the Word is the One Lord, in Heaven and on Earth, then the Affection for the Trutli learned from th'; Word is "brought forth" into the Rational Faculty where it become?, through the illum- inated l^erception, the "First Born Son." 300. The Internal Sense of the Word consists of the Essential Divine Truth, but in the Literal Sense there are Truths which are accommodated to the compre- hension of those who are principled hi external worsliij). It is essential to their ideas of doctrine and faitli, to believe that the Loi'd Jesus Christ was miraculously con- ceived and externally born as an infant into this physical world as another and separate finite man, although this idea is contrary to the Laws of J)ivine Order, and what- I'ver is contrary to these Laws is not the Truth, and a Rational Faitli can only accept such principles as the enlightened understanding perceives as true. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 191 Enlightenment concerning the Word. The Sons of God. 400. But witli all who are led to obey the Precepts of the Word, the Two (ireat Coniinandments of Spiritual Life, even by the v\ppearance of Truth, as it exists in the lateral Sense, their minds will be so elevated al)ove evil and falsity, that they will be nouiished by the Essential Divine Truth, and in their sjuritual proj^ress, their pereejjtions will be enlightened concerning the true Nature of the Word. 401. The Internal Sense of the Word is accommodated to the state of life of those whose Internal mind has been opened, whose lives are principled in the Precepts of the Word, and whose Kational Faculty is so far enlightened, tliat the illumination is compared to the brightness of the sun and stars. These are they of whom it is said, ''And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Jinuamenty " Then shall the riM <;i";i Mm i;:'t l< • 'If " ' it '!■' * Ex. 23 : 20. t Matt. *2& : 31. 106 TUK FACIC OF Jh'SUS: The glory of the Lord. The guidance of the Lord !■ V tho "oiirtli" of (lie KxtcniJil iiiind, an inoxprcssililc "(ilory," or elevation, tills his wliolo ])ein^', for Ilcavcii seems opened to his spiiitnal siL;ht, and tlie things til time and spaee for the; moment seem to vanish, as In- sees the l)ivine Revelation to })e from tlie Lord, and many mental eonHictions concei'nin^ the Worrl, and the l)ivine Providence, are snrmounte(l, and tlu; paths aiv made straight for the Kational Faculty to progress la clearer perceptions. 41 '). He can now look hack upon the history of tlif nations and people of this physical world, until his niiiid can penetrate no farther into the retrospect, and throuuii the past Eternal ages he perceives One Lord Jesus ('In!-! alone, who has been unchangeable in I lis Infinite Love and Wisdom, who has been impartial toward all Hi- creatures, although to the obscure judgment of man His apparent dealings with men have seemed unjust, as if one class of men were favored more than others, lie has provided His Divine Truth in some form for all, ami has led those who have permitted this Truth to eiiici their lives in the slightest degree, for not all who aio surrounded with the most enlightening influences, make the best use of their privileges, and the Lord can oul} lead those who are guided by the Truths which they know. 410. When this "Glory" within the Divine Truth of the Word is first revealed to the regenerating man, he is " sore afraid." This " fear" is not the fear which evil or unregcnerated men have toward their idea of (-!<"l THE NATVltK OF THE WORD OF GOD, 10- The fear of the Lord. Good tidings or whic'li tliosc possess who arc in tlio olworvnncc of I'xtL'rnal worsliip without tlio Interniil J.ivini,' ))riiKiplo (li .s[)iritiial lit'c, hut it is a lioly stato of luiud fillc'd witli iiili»ratiou aiul revci'dicc for ][iin who is tiie Word, ailjoiued to luuiiiHatiou of lieart, and this state is tlie " hi'ur of the LonV,' which " h the heijinniwj ofwUdom" And the Angel said unto them, Fear not ; for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2: 10. 417. r>y "the An.uel said unto them, Kcar not," is meant an intei'nal perception from tlie Lord that this ()})enin«j;' of the Ivational Faculty to receive tlieTrutlis of tlie internal Sense of the AN'ord, is by means of a re- creation of spiritual life, by wliich the l*ropriuni is devas- tated and put off. At first there is a sense of ' "ear," arising- from the I'roprium, which is antaj,'onistic to the "dlory" which has been shining fnmi Aviti.Mi, for all wlio come suddenly from their own proper life, or l*ro- l)rium, into the "beginning" of spiritual life, are affected with a sense of " fear," which the Lord dissipates as soon as the regenerating man clearly perceives that this ilhnnination is from Him alone, and that it is not a dreamy hallucination of the imagination. 41 S. "For, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy," signifies perception that the Word is the Lord, and tliat the whole Inspired Word is the Gospel, or " Good Tielings," because the whole Word of the Old as well as i I. , I A, • \'M Mr] t t i, 198 THE FACE OF JESUS: Many Advents. Joy and gladness the Now Testament treats of His Coming into the minds of regenerating men, as has been illustrated thus fur concerning the Days of Creation. 410. As all things of the Word in its Internal Sense treat of the Lord alone in His relation to reyeneratiii!-- men, it may clearly be perceived that the Advent of tin- Lord into the world of time, is not only in the giviiiL; of the Literal Sense of the (lospels of the Evangelists, but as often as the Prophecies, l*salms, and the Ancient Spiritual Histories were dictated and recorded, even to the most remote ages, and the Lord Jesus Christ is now as fully present on the earth as at any time in the hi '.torical past. The Advent of the Lord into the phy- sical world of time and space is continual, and m general a representative Advent is made in the lowest degree ol" physical matter as often as each copy of the Word is reproduced from the press, but the True ^Vdvent is made onlv in the Hfe and External mind or "earth" of the regenerating man who with "joy" and gladness receives the Truths of the Word into his will and understanding. 420. "Joy" is predicated of the Affection of (loud, and " Cladness" of the Affection of Truth. " Jov" has relation to the heart or Interior representative of tiie mind, while "Gladness" has relation to the face or Exterior repi'esentative of the mind. As there is a marriage of Good and Truth in every part of the A\ <>i'd received into the mind, so the words "joy and gladness ' are frequently mentioned together in the s!ime verse df the Scriptures. THE XATCRE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 190 Heavenly joy. Eterrval happiness. 4*21. Tho " (Jood Tidings" of the Word, when received into the Hfe of the regenerating man, will, in the "other world" of elevated rational thoright, fill hi.s mind with "great joy. ' Thi.s Heavenly joy is from the Lord alone, and in the ettbrt to I.ove the Neighbor, the con.stant in^pnlse within his heart is to love others better than liiuLself. This " urcat iov"does not consist in the grati- fication of anv selti.sh desire, and his delight arises from the increase of spiritnal wisdom, so that throngh this knowledge from the Word, others may also be led throngh his intelligence and example, and experience the same holy joy arising from a life and thoughts which are according to Divine Order, by which he is being pre- pared for that Eternal joy in which his whole future life will be oiven £or the benelit of his fellow men, to which all his energies will be consecrated. 4'2'2. Eternal happiness is imparted to those who live in love and faith in the Eord from the Word. The regenerating man enters upon the realization of this joy after the death of natural thought, for then he is within the Kingdom of Heaven which has been forming within him. In the Heavenlv State there is a communion of all l)lessings, in which the peace, intelligence, wisdom and happiness of all are communicated to each other with all the varietv of their manifold gifts and talents, and hence it may be conceived how great is the exten- sion of that joy, when the External mind is governed by the Internal, or Heaven. 'i ii i 200 THE FACE OF JESUS. t !■ Unselfish joy. People and nations. 4*23. They in wliom tlio Lovo of Self and the World reign, do not know what Heavenly joy is, and it seeni.s incredil)le to them that there can be any other delight than selfi.sh enjoyment, when yet the joy of Heaven only so far enters the mind as those evil loves are removed. The unselfi.sh hai)piness which succeeds their removal is so great that it exceeds the comprehension of every man while in merely natural thought. 4*24. " Which shall be to all people" signifies all whose lives are principled in the Truths of ihe Word, and specifically l)y " people " is meant these Truths, or tlio Aft'ection of Truth in the regenerating man. The reason why Truths are signified by "people," is, because in the Word, those who are governed by a "king" arc called "people," and by a "king" is signified Truth. 'Jluis the "King of Kings" signifies the Divine Truth of the Word which governs the lives of regenerating men. 4*2.'). "People" and "Nations" are fre({u*;nt]-,^ men- tioned together in the Word. "Nations," in a general sense, signify all who are receptive of the Celestial prin- ciples of Love to the Lord, and specifically is meant tlii.s Love, or Afiection of Ciood in the regenerating man, which results from obedience to the Word. 426. In the historical narrative of the Old Testament, the generations of men arc distinguished into houses, families, and nations, and throughout the Word these expressions signify the good principles of Love, and of Truth grounded in Love. Thus an accurate distinction is everywhere made between "nations" and "people," THlu NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 201 Priesthood. The Father and the Son. the former .signifying" oood or evil principles, and the hitter true or false principles according to the nature of the subject. 427. As (iood is from the ])ivinc Love, the Priest- hood of the Old Testament represents the Fatherhood of the Lord, because nations there consist of families and houses, .and in the Iiistorical narrative, the head of each household is tlie father who rules in love to his children, and in the i^atriaichal era, external worship is conducted by the father as a priest of the Loi-d. 42'S. The "good tidings of gi'eat joy which shall be to all peoi)le," fills the man whose Kational Faculty per- ceives the Interior Truth of the Word ; when it is re- vealed to him that it is not only from the Lord, ])ut con- stitutes the Lord himself descending thi'ough the Internal mind as the Divine Truth, the Son of the Father, or the Divine Love within the Divine Truth of the Word. 420. Thus tlie Son is not separated from the Father, for the Father is in Him, and He is in the Father, and l)uth these principles of Love and AVisdom are entering the will and understanding of the regenerating man, and yet there is but One I'ersonal Loid who is enteiing the " earth " of this one man l)y means of the Word. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11. 430. " This day" signifies this state of regeneration. A "Citv" signifies True Doctrine from the Word accord- I ; >' .J li, I 1 !:'■ M I i mr ii, Tl • (..tJi : .f.J; i i 'i 202 THE FACE OF JESUS: True Doctrine. " David," the King. ing to the Truths of the Internal Sense, and its opposite mcanini,^ is False Doctrine confirmed from the Appear- ance of Truth. True Doctrine also implies its reception into the life, for Si)iritual Truth has no existence hi man until he is nourished by its living within him. 431. " David " in the Word, signifies the Lord as to the Divine Truth, from whom is faith, intelligence, and Av^isdom, and the name does not mean a i)hysical frames of a man upon this earth in its past history of human events, for throughout the whole Word, names signify Spiritual Principles, and in no case do they mean tlie apparent persons who re])resent these principles in tlio spiritual history of the regeneration of man. Where evil princii)les are adjoined to the names of representa- tive persons, they signify the evils of the unregenerateiritual Glory which is within every expression of the Word. And this shall be a sign unto you : ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Luke 2 : 12. 44L By a "Sign" or Token, in the W^jrd, is signified a confirmation of Truth in the experience of the regen- erating man, united with the studv of the Word as a \)Yoo{ that it is so, and therefore it denotes illustration of the Truth from the Word, by which he may examine himself, to perceive if he is in that innocent and child- like state of self-abnegation in which he may " find the babe wrapped in sw\addling clothes, lying in a manger." iiip 'f^ I ti ■i;l: I I I ; ! I'M ''ii : m r. 1.1 , I 'i.ii., ' i 1 I 1. I 208 THE FACE OF JESUS: Signs and Miracles, A literal miracle. MIuACLKS. 442. The External mind of the regenerating man at first con- stantly looks into the naturul world for " Signs" and I\Iiracles. It looks into the history of nations outside of the Word in the effort to prove the physical occurrences of the facts narratfd in the spiritual history of the Word, and in the description of signs find miracles, he first accepts them all as physically true, from a traditional or historical faith which has inculated a reverence for the Word, and from an erroneous opinion concerning the Divine Omnipotence, from which he imagines that "with God all things are possible," until his Rational Faculty is enlightened to see that the Lord never violates His Laws of Divine Order, and that the miracles which are recoi-ded did not have a physical manifestation, but are illustrative of spiritual princi^des by the laws of correspondence. 443. As soon as the Rational Faculty perceives that the whole Word is a spiritual history of the ditlerent States of the Regener- ation of men, with infinite variety, adapted to all men on the Eternal Principles of Divine Order, then the whole subject of disorderly physical miracles is at once dissipated, and reverence is implanted for the higher principles which tha Word contains. 444. A "Miracle" is a deviation from established natural laws. The External mind of the man who is iu natural thought only, is governed l)y the established laws of his hereditary nature Avhieli till his proprium. The implanting of spiritual life from the Lmd throun of Man hi lii'dveii." " TTeaveii" siifnitics the Rational yaeulty enli^fhtened from the Internal mind, which was so called at the close of the Second Day of Creation, which now iec(j<,fnizes that the Divine Truth represented hy the Son of Man has appealed in the open- in;,' of this Rational Faculty to discern the Living' Sense of the Word in which the Lord is Personally present to all who love and obey its Truths, since all the spiritual principles of the Word are from the Lord, and relate to llim alone. 447. Miracles arc often recorded in the si>iritual history of the Old Testament, concerning the llcbi'cws, because, in the VWjid, that nation is representative of the External mind of those who possess the Literal Sense of the Woi'd, and are not aware that it contains an Internal Sense which is Divine Truth, and they represent the principle of external worship which is so exterior, that no true principles of internal worship are discerned, a con- dition which has always existed in the spiiitual history of man, not only in remote ages, but at the present time. 448. When the Literal Sense of the Word only is received, the niiiacles there recorded are believed in as physical facts, notwith- standing that the la^vs of the physical world are thereby sot aside, and that such interpretation of the Word is not in hai'mony with the laws of Divine Order from which all natural and physical laws exist. A man in such a state of thought believes in what- ever is declared in the Literal Sense of the Word without inves- tigation as to the true meaning, because he has been taught that it is the Word of God. 449. He does not perceive that the Lord in His relation to men has always been the same, and that if it was once possible for miracles to take place in the physical world, such occurrences N i^ 1 I '1 ii ■ I'. ■, -l: i.' ■J I i 1 210 TIIL' FACE OF JESCi^; Spurious faith, True faith II limy take ])laco as frotsly in the proHont epoch. Ho marvels at the . which are reasonings eoncernin;.,^ what is true, and the jfround in which these ideas are received and grow, is tlie enlightened national Faculty, which is illuminated by the Lord alone. 452. If a man to wliom the Internal Sense of the Word lias been revealed should !ittom|)t to believe in tlie physical realit\' \>\>ii- sition and collision between the Internal and External miinl, tliai if the Internal mind should become closed, profanation of thu Word would result from the effort to conjoin Truth with falsity: but with the regenerating man whose Rational Faculty is opein-l to sec that all things of the Wonl have i-elation to spiritual iiriii- ciples only, this llevelation of the Internal Sense as the Di\ ine Truth l)econies to him "none other than the House of God, ainl this is the Gate of Heaven." * Beyond this Heavenly Portal ' Gen. 28 : 17 Tiih: XATnth: ay the woud of god. 211 Belief in physical miracles. Suddenly clos of ;coivt'> tlu'iii ) tlh' ISC III idcfis, ml in teiii"! there is no material Itarrier for his Rntional Fjictilty to resist, and lie can eiitcM- and receive all tlic Li^flit which he is ahle t<> hi-ar, hccause lie 'ooks int the ^Spiritual Worlil which is within the Word, instead (jf obscurely ga/in;,' into the natural world without. 453. But it is not injuriotis for those men who have no percep- tion (jf the Internal Sense, to believe in the literal miiaclcs of the Word, for their worship is external, without (he internal principle, and no collision or piofanation can take place in the nnnd, be- cause their Rational Faculty is not opened. 4.>4. The belief in the physical miracles of the Wonl do(!S not contribute anything' to an upbuilding of True Faith in the Lord, or the Word, and if such persons should see before their physical siLjht a multitude of similar miracles, even to bringing the dead physical frame into life, they would not acknowledge them to be done by the Lord, and therefore they W(nild liave no cH'ect upon tliem, for they would not recognize any Divine Internal Principle, iuiy more than they perceive an Internal Sense within the Word. " If they hear not Moxei^ and the l^rophet.^, neither will the]) be [ir I' mailed thowjh one rose from the dead." And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God. Luke 2:13. 4'>5. In the Tntcrunl Sense of the Wonl, all ideas or rxjjressions which refer to time, sipiify State, and thenee the (quality of the .state of the re,i;eneratin,i>' man, ^r its opposite in the unregenerated principles. " Suddenly," .signifies a present state of Affection and Thought which i.s certain and full on account of the perception that the Word is the Son of God, and that this Word is " Christ the Lord." ',''* . I 1' ' ( ) •> ■• i^'>« i I '' I 212 THE FACE OF JESUS. The Angel. Divine worship. 450. By tlio " Angel," is signified the Lord, who is the Divine Truth of the Word, for, in the siiirituivl sense, Angels reju'eseni the Divine Proceeding of the Lord, whieli is the Word. "^[ultitudc" is predicated of Truth, and ''Greatness" or IMagnitude is predicated of Good. By the " Ileavenlv Host" is sinnified the know- ledges of Good and Truth which are from the Word, and "the multitude of the heavenly host" signifies that all thcso Ileavenlv Knowledges which have been received into the life of the regenerating man, cause him to oonfess and worship the Lord, which is denoted hy " Praising God-" DIVINK WORSHIP. 457. The Trne Worship of God consists in the adoration of ITi>- Divine Humanity in liuniiliation, and in the acknowleduiiieiit that in ourselves there is nothing Good nor alive ; that in oui- st'lves we are dead, and that we ai'o o'dy receptacles of life ami thought from the Lord. The more we possess such inwaiil acknowledgment, the more true will be our humiliation and wor- ship, because our thoughts, words, and actions will be filled w itli Love to the Lord and the Neighbor, which contain tlie spiritua! principles of Eternal Life. "0 come let us uvrt^Jiijj and !"n': down, Id lis kneel he/ore the Lord our maker." 458. This inward humiliation and adoration is represented by "kneeling." In the physical frame of man, the joints of the knees are intermediate between the feet or natural external rei)resin- tative of the External mind, and the thighs, which represent the Atiection of Good in the Internal mind. The " knees " correspoml to the con; inction of the Internal and External mind, or of Good and Truth in the regenerating man, which takes place by means of the Rational Faculty, from which arises adoration, thanks- giving, and humiliation. I THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 213 Before the Lord. The study of the Word. 459. " Before " sii^mifies what Is Internal, from which all lifo proceeds to its ultimate effect. " Before the Lord," signifies '• Within the AVord," for in it alone are revealed those Interitn* Truths which teach cf the Divine Love and Wisdom, and whicii cannot be imparted from any otlier source. We therefore " kneel licfore the Lord " when we receive these revealed Truths into our thoughts and lives. 4G0. True worship is Internal, for it is grounded in the Interior principle of Love and Faith, and External worship, without this Interior principle, is not true worship. This holy ,and living principle is the Esswntial thing of Divine Worship, which should be a constant state of daily lite, and true External worship is the manifestation of this Internal principle in the outward life of worldly busmess and domestic duties, in obedience to the religious, moral and civil laws contained in the Commandments of the Word. 401. All External worship is a formality of Internal worship, for Internal worshij) is the Essential principle of spii'itual life, and to make worship consist of that which is forniiil, without that which is essential, is but a dead form. They who are ruled liy principles of Internal worship, will endeavor to constantly de- livf spiritual food from the Word, both in the Literal and the In- ternal Sense. They will do this from Affection for the Truth, and will not try to excuse themselves in their critical .self-examination, hy affirming that the peri.shing things of this physical world so engross their thoughts that they have no time or place in which tliL'v can open the Word and feed upon the " flesh and blood " within its expressions of love to man. 4i!2. x\. regenerating man whose Rational Faculty has been <»[iened by the Lord to see Him as the Word, cannot keep its pauL's closed ; for without increasing his wisdom with regular supplies of Heavenly intelligence he cannot live, and his Affec- tions for Good and Truth cannot otherwise be strengthened. A man who attempts to excuse himself from the stnidy of the Wi.ml, whereby the Lord is acknowledged, may well doubt i i, r, V' '■ii h il.iLii ! (I , ! :i!l. ,.'-». I- mm' .;! ill' } .jit :|l 214 THE FACE OF JESUS Spiritual worship, Humility. whether the first pnnci]>les of a rej,'enerating life have entcrc I his mind, because the Divine Truth ot the Word enters no farther than a man seeks it in love and freedom, and all spiritual know- ledge must be sought from Atfection for the Truths of the Wuid. He who loves the Truth, cannot be kept away from the object of his affection. 4G3. A regenerating man who worships the Lord from Internal motives is not alone in the world, however isolated he may seem. and he does not murmur nor complain if his fellow-men are not in sympathy with him, although he desires that all may be led to the Light which shines from the Word. He lives consciously in the spiritual world of thought, as well as in the natural world, because everything which he sees, feels or hears, is representative of some Eternal spiritual principle, which becomes more real than the dead objects which surround his external life. 4G4. In the anticipation of increased spiritual growth, he cheer- fully performs every duty which appears at hand, even the nio.st minute, knowing that "he that is faithful in that which l-i koA^ will also he faithful in much," in all his earthly affairs, and as his work in the Spiritual World is ready for him to take up, the Lord opens his spiritual eyes to perceive his real world. 465. The regenerating man experiences no terror in the thouglits concerning the dissolution of j)hysical life, which so many people dread, for all reference to death in the W^ord signifies the spiritual death in which the Proprium of man entombs the Rational Fa- culty. The death of the physical frame of the man who is prin- cipled in Internal worship, corresponds to tlie perisiiing of merrly natural thought, and is thus representative of the entrance into the Spiritual World of thought. 4GG. He does not assert a superior wisdom to others, nor "occupy the chief seat at the table," for in his humiliation of heart, lie knows nothing of himself, and he does not combat to the injury of others, what they hold as true religious doctrine from the Woiil, but in gentleness and love is ever ready to help all who desire, to that Source of Wisdom to which he has been led by the Lord- THE NATfJliE OF THE WORD OF GOD. £13 Internal worship. Sacrifices and burnt-offerings They who are in a true state of Internal worship from tlie celestial principles of the Word, have true wisdom inscribed on their lives, an 't i-Lf ■:: i-MV in I'M' i 'm i II •) 21G THE FACE OF JESUS: Thinking and willing. Rites and ceremonies, i l.i. 4G9. The implantation of Good and Truth from the Lord by the Word, consists in thinking and willing what is Good and Truth, and in speaking and doing them ; and the conjunction of both, consists in living from these Precepts ; for when Good and Truth are united in tlie regenerating man, he then has anew will and a new understanding, and consei^uontly a new life, which is the Lord within him. 470. V^hen a man is thus principled in the life of regeneration in every em2)loyment in which he is engaged, there is Divine Worship, for he then has regard to the Divine Principles of the Word in everything which he does. He venerates and loves its Precepts, and consequently he worships the Lord who is thus revealed to him. 471. Notwithstanding the amount of external public worship a man may engage in, no other principle consists of true worship than living according to the'Precepts of the Word, for this is ti'Ui; Love and Faith. The man who loves another, and who believes in him, wishes for nothing more than to will and do wluH the other wills and thinks, for he only desires to know his will and thought, and thus M'hat will be pleasing to him. Thus it is with love to the Lord. " He that hath mjj commandments and keepdh them, he it is that loveth vie." " If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide In my love." " This is my commandment, that ye loce one anothci', as I have loved yoa." Thus the life of Love to the Neighbor is the external princijile of internal worship, without which principle, all public external worship is meaningless to those who eny-aiie in it. 472. Yet it is helpful for those who are in exterior natural thought, to engage in the rites and ceremonies of extei-nal wor- ship, even if no interior principle is acknowledged, because all things in this outward worship, are representative of the holy things of the Word, which must be known and obeyed before the Internal Sense can be revealed. Thus the forms of worship of all the various religious oi-ganizations are helpful to those who engage THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 217 Danger of formality. Absence of self-intelligence. in thein, becau.se they become the mean.s of leading their thou derived from the Literal Sense of the Word. 473. Where the Internal principle govcrn.s the life of the rogenerav.ag man, ho may find the External Form of public wor ship helpful, if he can commingle with tho.se whose mind.s have been enlightened concerning the Internal Sense of the Word, and in whom the Love of Rule, which is derived from the Love of Self, has been overcome. There is always danger that External public worship will become inoculated with the " traditions of men," by which its Internal princii)le will become obscured, for External worship is only representative of its Internal principle by corre.^^pondence. 474'. If each member of a religious society would daily study the Word, and live according to its Precepts, subduing the Love of Self and the Lust of Dominion, looking to the Lord alone, desirinrj to esteem others better than ourselves, and thus be willinj^ to serve rather than being ministered unto, a heavenly sphere would be formed which would dispel the tendency to become formal and dead. Man has the faculty of knowing more than he lives according to, and when he is permitted to see the glinnner- iuu dawn of the Internal Sense of the Word, there is alvvavs danger that the pride of self-intelligence will imbue him with a Pharisaical spirit, rather than with that true humility which acknowledges the Lord alone. 475. In order to attain a true state of Internal wor.ship, a man nuist entirely relinrpiish the assertion of himself, and take no credit for any good thought or work. His words must be without guile, and inviolable and accurate in the most minute statements concerning every matter, and in all his dealing.s with men he must be as a living epistle of the Tiuth of the Word, " known and read of all men." The Truth which seems so clear to him, he uuist not force upon others who are not yet able to bear it, b"*^^ he uuist exei'cise charity of judgement and adaptation to all for it. , ■ 1 m ■^1 ( ! ^['^ 1 \\ I ( ; l^ I « 1 '1 \ .1 ! ,1 r .1 ' i.-'ii. 1'' i «, 'It i r- ■ I ) •218 THE FACE OF JESUS: A living epistle. The presence of the Lord. the .sake of tlie Truth, and be positive in all righteousness, lie must not indulge in combative and useless arguments to gratify his love for superiority over the attainments of others, " knowing that they do gender strife. And the servant of the Lord umst not strive; but bo gentle unto all men, apt to teach, j)atient, in meekness instructing those " who desire the Truths which they see manifested in all his words and actions, and which form tlie corner stone and testimony of his consistent life. * 47C. The Proprium of one man in a religious society, often causes such irritation and antagonism, that the sphere of love and unity is destroyed; therefore the Membership of a Society sliouU be fcrmed by a careful and discriminate ivception of such persons who in freedom declare that their sincere endeavor is to live ac- cording to the principles upon which it is based, and any devia- tion of members fi-om those principles should be at once remon- strated with in the spirit of love, and if the antagonism is persisted in, such members should be permitted in freedom to withdraw, with the expressions of good will from those who remain. 477. Men who are being regenerated, have their Proprium to contend with, imtil it is entirely put off, and the opinion of every man must be held in freedom ; but before becoming a member of a religious society, he should consider well its .statement of i)rin- ciples, and decide for himself whether he wishes to be governed by them, for there must be an orderly government of a religious .society. 478. In all religious worship where the Word of God is known' it forms the Source of Divine Instruction, and although from the Literal Sense alone, any doctrine may bo contirined to favor the Proprium of man, yet the Truths of the simple Precepts of Life as contained within the Commandments, are everywhere taught, and these cause the Lord by means of the Word to be present in all forms of worship. 479. With this princiide implanted in the life of the worship- pers, all peculiar rites and ceremonies belonging to each religioiH * 2 T\in. 2 : 24, 25. llMf'i THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 'IVJ Representative worship. The Center of divine worshi 1^ denomination, arc representative of tlie Spiritual Principles or the Word, and they arc adapted to the states of those who hold mem- bership in the various societies, for the Lord leads all by the quality and quantity of spiritual li<,dit which they are the most able to bear, and the regenerating,' man whose llational Faculty has been opened to discern the Interior Truth of the Word, recognizes the Guiding Hand of the Lord, and is only filled with thoughts of charity towards others, even if they condemn him for not affiliat- ing with them in their statcrl occasions of religious worship. 480. The Truths of the Word are taught by means of parents, religious teachers, religious books, and by reading directly from its pages. All of these means are provided by the Lord, and by them, the Truth simply enters the understanding, but not into the will or heart ; but when the regenerating man obeys these Truths, obedience is turned into love, and thus he is filled with Affection for them, and this Good and Truth united internally and externally in the mind oi* life, constitutes the Lord or the Word immediately in him, and forms the tnie principle of Internal and External worship. 481. "For ivhere huo or three arc fjathcred together In iny nam^, there am I in the midst of them" Where "Two or Three" are mentioned in the Word, " Two " is predicated of Good, and "Three" of Truth, and in a general sense, these numbers signify all who are princi[)led in the Goods and I'j'uths of the Word. 482. To be principled in Truths, is to knowthem and obey them, and to be principled in Goods, is to do them from pure love for them because they are from the Lord, and this is the meaning of being " gathered together in my name," because " Name " signifies the quality of life which results from the conjunction of these Divine Principles from the Word in the " midst," or the Rational Faculty of regenerating men. Thus the Word is the Lord received into the lives of those who love its Truth, and is the Center of all Divine Worship, because it is " in the midst of them." 483. Concerning the nations of this earth, who have not tho written Word of God, they are in ignorance concerning the prin- , t. .1 f ;■ m m ■I 'I . i '' V:^r ■ I i 'I mm i? I : I i y n 220 THE FACE OF JESUS: Gentile worship. Perverted worship. ciples of Good and Truth which arc frcm the Internal Sense, but those who obey the Truth according to the light which is infused into their minds, which is natural Love to the Neighbor, are in the Affection of Natural Good without the Internal principle, and they are gifted with a Conscience which is illuminated according to whatever true principles of life exist within their religious doctrines ; and although their doctrines are not formed from the prevailing Literal Word, they are formed from traditions derived from this ancient Word. 484. The Mercy of the Lord is universal and everlasting, and is extended to every individual man. The great majority of men who are born in this physical world possess no knowledge of, or instruction from the Word, and it is not their fault that they are ignorant of the Lord who has thus revealed Himself, and not having had the V/ord in this world, they have not profaned its Divine Truth, All persons are saved from evil, who live in the essential principle of a good natural life from spiritual motives, because this is the " ground" in which the Seed of Truth from the Word will spring up and bear fruit when they are instructed con- cerning its interior principle. A man is responsible for what lio has the privilege of knowing, from which it may be concluded to what a degree of condemnation those persons bring upon them- selves in shutting out spiritual light from their minds, who have the Word in their possession, and do not regard its Divine Contents. IDOLATRY. 485. Idolatry is perverted worship, and contains no inward spiritual principle, but its external form is derived from the Science of Correspondences, which is the science of representation •of things in the natural or physical world to illustrate spiritual principles. By this Science, it may be known what si:)irituiil principles are signified by animals of all kinds, and what by mountains, hills, rivers and fountains ; what also by the sun, moon and stars ; and thus it may be understood why worshippers THE NA TURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 221 The origin of idolatry. The Koran. have turned tlieir faces toward the East in tlioir Adoration of God, and why they are inclined to make themselves carved im- ages of horses, oxen, calves, lambs, birds, fishes, and serpents, and ]tlace them in their hou.sos and other places, in a certain order, according to the spiritual principles of the mind of the regenerat- ing man to which they correspond, or which they represent. They have placed similar things in their temples, and have worshipped the images themselves as sacred, not knowing tliat they are only rejiresentative of sacred principles, and to worship the representative of a Heavenly Prii oiple is idolatry. 48G. From this perversion of worship have oi'iginated the idol- atries which have filled the whole earth, (is well Asia, as Africa, Europe and America. Hence originated the idolatry and mytho- logy of ar 'lent Greece, where the Divine Principles were turned by that people into the mythological gods, over whom they made one supreme, whom they called Jove. I'he Sacred Writings of the Asiatic nations .speak of the Drluge, and refer to other partic- ulars which are treated of by the law of correspondence in the Word, and the nunnmies of the ancient Egyptian representatives are yet extant, and may be seen in museums. 487. The writinj.cs of the Al Koran are received bv a larjje number of the Oriental nations, and they acknowledge the Christ of the Gospels to be the Son of God, the wi.sest of men, and the greatest of prophets, who came into the world to teach men. These religions doctrines were permitted by the Lord to arise, that they might be instrumental in extirpating the idolatry of Asia, by their accommodation to the geniu,s of the Eastern nations ; fur they contain principles of Truth to be found in both the Old and New Testaments, and all Truth is derived from the Word. In the order of spiritual education, the apparent Truth that the Lord came into this world in a physical form, first exists in the mind so that there may be a conception that He is in the Human Form, and thus there is one Being from whom all men derive their life. The believers in the Al Koran do not acknow- ledge the Son of God as a man to be the God of Heaven and Earth, r • ! I I ''0 \ m^: i .^.a.:^!! !i I.! ■1 -JO-) THE FACE OF JESUS: The Word is " all in all. Spiritual music, because tlic Oriental nations believe in one God as the Creator of the universe, but do not comprehend how He Himself could come into the world and take upon Himself the form of man. 488. There are many also among the more enlightened nations of the world who eaimot comprehend how the Lord assumeil the Human Principle, neither can they discern how He comes and enters the woi-ld, until they resist the evil of Self-love, and look to Him in the Word, do His will, and perceive Him enter their own mental world by the Word assuming conti'ol over their lives, in place of the hei'editary evil principles which reign before the work of regeneration begins. Then will the Rational Faculty be enlightened to see that the Son of (Jodborn into the world, is the Word given to man, and that the Lord Christ is the Divine Trutli of the Word from whon. all wisdom and intelligence is derive/ name." f * Col. 3 : 10, 11. t Ps. 56 : 4. TIII'J NATURE OF Till': WORD OF GOD. 223 The voice in singing. Origin of nnusic. 491. Sinifiiig (loiiotes Glorification of tlie I^ord, and to j^. The unition of voices in choirs or cliorusses siLinihes at be- tween aU'ection and thoui^iit, action and speech, or the conjunc- tion of spiiitual principles in the legeiieratiui;' man. Sound corresi)onds to the Atlections, and the words nttered in speech correspond to Thou^fhts, wherefore Affection utters sound, and Thought speaks, and tlie voice sings the words of praise, 402. Musical instruments correspond to the delight of the Celestial and Spiritual Afl'ection.s. Wiml instruments, of sus- tained vibrntions, such as the organ, flutes and horns, are expres- sive of the Affection of Good, while stringed instruments of percussion, such as the harp, or pianoforte', are expressive of the Affection of Truth, on account of the corres[)ondence of sonoi'ous vibrations with the Affections, and all tlio different (pialities of nuisieal tones have a spiritual correspondence. The sound of the trumpet signifies the revelation of Divine Truth from the Woid. In the ((uality of the tone of the human voice in speech, there is an inward indication of the spii'itual ([uality of the person who is speaking, .so that the sound of a pers(jn's voice reveals his interior nature to those whose .spiritual perceptions are acute, similar to the manifestation of character in the expression of the eye, or in the features of the countenance. 493. While the exquisite sense of hearing conveys sounds con- taining thoughts to the mind, these sounds are actuated by spiritual influences, although in Appearance they .seem to originate in the physical world ; l)ut as no thought originates in the phy- sical world of nature, and as melody and harmony ai'c instru- mental in exciting both the Emotional and Intellectual Afi'ections, it may be clearly evident that Music does not originate in the natural world, but is a euphonious blessing descending fi-oni Heaven to assist in leading the material thoughts of men to tho.se 1 ; I, . i ;■' m Ay 'Hi ' '■:/ii:!;i( • m I* i '1 if 224 Till': FACE OF JFSUS: The ear. Glorification. Celestial and Spiritual principles from which it is derived, and to Avhieh it eoiicsponds. When a man speaks, althou^di the soimd of his voice is heard in the natural world, vet the thou'dits which lay within the sound, originate in that spiritual world in which his mind lives. 4!)k The ear receives the sound of the voice, and discerns the thouj^dits which are thus conveyed. Words uttered by the voice which do not contain thou;4hts are dead sounds. Thou<,dits con- cerning j)rincipl('s ur doctrines which do not contain Livijig Truth'^ are also dead. Hearing signifies perception of the Truth, and obedience to its commands, for the ear receives the sounds whiuh contain words ; and woi'ds contain thoughts ; and thoughts tians- mit Truths from the Word, which are presented before the (.'oii- science to be incorporated into the life, so that the Lord may br glorified in the regenerated life of man. Thus it is said in the Word, " If any man have ears to Jhcnv, Let him hear." 495. Sacred Song, expressed in holy anthems and hymns ol' praise, when devoutly used in the rites and forms of External Public Worship, becimies truly representative of the Celestial and Spii'itual principles of Internal worship, and is like a Triumjihal Car which conveys the King of Kings, the Divine Truth of tlie Word, to the receptive mind through the gateway of the sense cf hearing. The acceptance of this Truth, by living in obedience to its teachings, will lead to that Si;,te of the delight of the Spiritual Affections which the Melody, Harmony and Quality of nuisical sounds express. 49G. The glorification of the Lord takes place in the elevation of man's spiritual nature to the perception of Heavenly principle^ within the Word, and the regenerating man gives praise and "glory" to the Lord, when in his heart he acknowledges that there is nothing Good in and of himself, and that he can do nothing from himself, because he perceives that all Good is from the Lord, and that He is Omnipotent. TIIK XATriil'J OF THE W(Uil) OF GOD. Constant humiliation. Glory. 497. When a man is in this state, the Lord grailually roniovos Ills Proj^rium in which his Self-love resides, ami his Internal mind is opened so that the Divine Love and Wisdom can enter with power; hence it is necc.'ssary that every man shouM he in a constant state of humiliation concerning,' himsidf, in order that a tiue acknowledgment of the Lord as the Word, shall enter the mind. 408. In the Order of Regeneration hy the Internal Sense of the Word, the Divine Truth enters the Rational Faculty and tlienco into the External mind, redeeming from evil and falsity, whicli are thereby removed, so that tlie Heaveidy Principles of the Word are exalted, and " the multitude of the heavenly host," the know- ledges of Good and Truth within the regenerating man, caupo liim to praise the Lord from internal perception, and thus by his life proclaim the ascription, " Gloria in excchls Deo!" Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men- Luke 2 : 1 1 400. This ascription of i)raiso signifies that the en- liglitcned llational faculty of the regenerating man perceives the Word in its Interior Divine Light, which .sliines as " Glory " from the Lord by means of the lleve- lation to the mind of the Liternal Sense, becanso tlie Lord is the Word, and the Internal Sense is in the Liglit of Heaven which proceeds from the Lord as a Sun, which Light is the Divine Truth descending through the highest or inmost principle of the Internal mind. r)00. The " earth " refers to the External mind which is filled with tranquillity and delight arising from this interior perception of the Word, when this mind does not rest in the Appearance of Truth, and is not in con- 'ki :.|i ill'i' 1 My i ^ •'III ' 1 1 * 22G THE FACE OF JESUS: States of peace. Angels and spirits. tliction with the Kational Faculty. While the regener- ating man is engaged in temptations and combats with his spiritual enemies, there are intervening states of peace, when the Lord opens his interior perceptions. '501. " Good will toward men," signifies that the will is now made receptive of the Divine Love, which is also perceived by the Rational Faculty, and that it is Infinite toward all " men," or the spiritual principles which con- stitute men, for the opening of the Internal Sense of the Word to the regenerating man, reveals that the laws of the spiritual world within the Word are Laws of Divine Order, and thus the "pearl of great price" has been found. Thus the " multitude of the heavenly host," the angels and spirits of the Word, or its Goods and Truths actuating the spiritual life of the regenerating man, glorify the Lord and bring peace to the conflictions in the External nind when his thoughts are ruled by love, and all his words and acts are expressions of "good- will." THE INFLUENCE OF ANGELS AND SPIRITS. 502. Every regenerating man is taught and governed by the Lord by means ot Angels and Spirits, although this fact is not ap]»arent while he is in the material degree of thought concerniiii; the Word, but when the Internal Sense is revealed to him ho is in constant and sensible communication with angels, because the sight of his spirit is open to perceive the things or princiiiles of the Spiritual World, for he is a spirit, and his mind is then in the spiritual world of thought. Man, of himself alone, cannot .act otherwise than wickedly, and avert himself from the Lord, being incited by the evil spirits of his own nature ; for all evil spirits I by the THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 227 The ministry of angels. The spiritual eye. thus act from the evil itself which they have done and have incorporated into their lives. Notwithstanding these influences, every man is responsible for the evil he does, and in his own free- dom turns himself away from the Lord who never changes in His Love, for He alone gives life to men that He may bless them : and yet man of himself alone, in his own strength, cannot possibly live righteously and turn toward the Lord, excepting by the ministry of Angels. Angelic men cannot live or think excepting from the Lord alone, for they are celestial and spiritual men whose hereditary Proprium has been overcome and supplanted by a Heavenly Proprium. While a man is living merely in the natural world of thought, he does not perceive the influence of Angels and Spirits, because he is in a state of freedom between good and evil, so that he may turn to the Lord as though he had all the power in himself, and if he then felt that he was in any Vvay influenced to will and think, it would tend to destroy thcct freedom which the Lord sacredly preserves with every man to eternity. 503. It will not be difficult to comprehend the fact of angelic influences, when it is considered that all our knowledge of earthly things has been infused into our minds by other men who have lived, or are yet living in this vorld, by means of written thoughts in books, or by immediate teaching, for these men have been, or aru, spirits within the phj'sical frame. The Lord has permitted regenerating men on earth to see Angels and Spirits, or the Celestial principles of Good and the Spiritual principles of Truth, which they ro[)resent as the}- exist in the Word, by means of the opening of the spiritual sight, or the Rational Faculty, when it is needful for the Interior principles of Divine Revelation to be dis- closed, in order that man in his regeneration may perceive the Laws of Divine Order, and his faith in the Word be more fully estal>lished. 504. The Eye of the Understanding which looks into the Spiritual World of the Woi'd,and there sees the Angels and Spirits, is the Rational Faculty in intelligent order of thought. The ,4' ii .1/ 11 ■ 1 228 THE FACE OF JESUS. Spirits looking through the eyes of others. The " dead. " spirits of the departed " are sometimes permitted to see the things of the natural world through the spiritual eyes of other men, or through their Rational Faculty, which first feeds upon things of material thought from the Literal Sense of the Word. The " spirits of the departed," here signify the Understanding of those regenerating men who have been elevated above material thought concerning the Word. When a man whose Rational Faculty has been enlightened, writes intelligently, or discourses rationally concerning the material things of the Literal Sense of the Word, the spij'itual eyes of other regenerating men who have " risen from the dtiad," may, through these materially expresiiuil ideas, look into the natural world of thought as represente; intercourse with the " dead," for angels desire to lead m^n to tlio Lord, while evil spirits seek to avert them from heavenly life an'l lead them into evil, and such is their influence over a man wlii> permits himself to be led by them, that they assume angflie wisdom and appear as angels of light, so that he who looks to the " dead," is deceived, and becomes mor*^ and more creduluiiN until he believes in principles which are utterly opposed to tht- Laws of Order, and is even led to believe in what is termed the ! Lord of the lous tu ad, for or, and Word, witli :rutli- SL'(dv> THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. S**!) Materialism. The two angels. de-materialization of di.semboclied spirits, or in their assuming at will the physical substances of the corporeal frame and then dis- sipating them. 507. Thus instead of being led to the Word and to its Interior Principles, he becomes a materialist in thought. Departed spirits do not again assume the conditions or substances of natural existence, because they have entered a spiritual degree of life with which there is no connection with the things of this world excepting by the laws of correspondence. 508. If a man should look to the "dead," or to those who assume that the} are in communication with them, for information concerning the future events of his earthly life, he would be in great danger of losing his spiritual freedom, by means of which only he can be regenerated, and he would then become the vict-m of hallucinations which originate from the evil spirits of the Pro- prium who desire to communicate with the affections of those who seek them instead of the Lord. They take upon them such form and fraudulent rei)resentation, that their emanations often appear to be from good spirits who have entered the succeeding life, but who never seek to communicate with the unregencrated Proprium of man, for they have passed from this natural state of existence, .md have no more identity with the events or persons who are in i'!s physical world, than we are aware of their surroundings and 'ivcmnstances in the world to which they have been removed. 509. The preceding thoughts concerning the influences of angels and .spirits have reference to the natural or literal meaning of the words " angels " and " spirits," which in their essence are the prin- cijiles of Good and Truth from the Word, which re-create the will and understanding of regenerated men. These are the Two Angels who are ever attendant upon the regenerating man to lead him to the Lord. olO. As the recipient vessel signifies the same as -hat which it contains, so regenerating men who are receptacles of Good and Trutli from the Word are also to be understood as Angels or Spirits, according to the quality of their affection of Good or i¥l!f m \, m k -\ I'l m |.-.r ■' i' :: ■'0 I " i' i 'Sl'i ■ ' Vh < 230 THE FACE OF JESUS : Evil Spirits. Angels. U Truth ; but Evil Spirits are the evil and false principles of the Proprium, which exist from the Love of Self and the World, and which influence the Affections and Thoughts of unregenerated men, therefore men who are governed by their own hereditary natures, are also to be understood by evil and false spirits. The "Dead," signifies those evil and false principles of the Proprium which are destructive to spiritual life, which have been overcome and removed, while " Departed Spirits " signify those who have departed from, or have rejected their evils and falses, and have become recipients of the Truths of the Word, of whom it is said, " The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graven shall hear his voice, and shall come forth." "And the graj.'ei were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept, arose, and came out of the graves after tJie resurrection, and went into the holy city and appeared unto many." " The hour is coraing, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live." 511. In the highest sense, by an "Angel" is understood the Lord, who is the Inmost Life within the Word, from whom all Love and Wisdom proceeds, and by "angels" and " spirits' is understood the Good and Truth which is from Him with anuvlic men, in whose lives Love and Wisdom from the Word have been implanted. Good and Truth are in the knowledges which are derived from the Word, whereby regeneration enters the External mind, and when these knowledges are obeyed from a living spiri- tual principle within the regenerating man, they become Truths, but if they are not vivified by a spiritur! principle of obedience by which they are made alive, they become merely Scientifics, or external knowledges of the Literal Sense of the Word. .512. Thus when "Angels" are mentioned in the Word, the mind is to be abstracted from the natural thought of aiiyelic persons, and the spiritual principle which the name represents, is to hr, understood, and this same method of interpretation is to lie usC'l concerning the Internal Sense in all parts of the Word, in order that the mind may perceive the spiritual truths which are there first personified to the state of natural thought. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. £31 Progression. Confirmation. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Jjet us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. Luke 2 : 15. liicli an- 513. " And it came to pass," signifies progression in the life of rej^eneration. As the anucls were jxone away from them into heaven," signifies more interior perception of the Good and Truth of the Word in the Rational Faculty, which is illuminated from the Internal mind, or " Heaven." The " shepherds said one to another," signifies that in the comparison of the Truths of the Word which lead the regenerating man to the life of obedience, the perception of their Divine origin by means of the Internal Sense becomes more evident. 514. "Let us go," signifies the desire for further illumination in the progress of regeneration. " Even unto Bethlehem," signifies tlie confirmation of these Interior principles within the illuminated Eational Faculty. "And see this thing which lias come to pass," signifies that the confirmation of these Interior principles is to be established by a careful study of the Word, in which only " this thing," or these principles may be seen within the Literal Sense which holds the spiritual con- tents. "Which the Lord hath madv3 known unto us," signifies that the True Divinity of the Word is from the Internal Sense, which can be revealed bv the Lord alone to the man whose life is filled with Aftection for its Living Precepts ; for self-intelligence cannot discover the Life which is within the Internal Sense. ^1 I I lynl' m I i II; 1 !■; m i ■i.'i I I ■ I I I }0 Hi ! J a- il' 232 THE FACE OF JESUS: Coming with haste, The espoused Mary. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. Luke 2:16. 515. "And they came with haste," signifies that the confirmation of the Interior principles of the Word is certain, and that they will be fully established in the mind of the regeneratincj maii, for in the Internal Sense "to come with haste" does not denote "quickly," but " surely." Hastening involves time, and in the spiritual world there is no Time, but instead of time there is State. Thus the coming "with haste" relates to a cor- respondent quality of state of the " Shepherds," or the Truths of the Word in the regenerating man, which lead to Good, or to a perception of the Internal Sense, which is a result from the Affection of Truth, and these "Shep- herds" find "Mary and Joseph." 516. " Mary" here signifies the Affection for the Truths of the Literal Sense of the Word in the External mind, within which the conception occurs. "Joseph" here signifies the perception of the Rational Faculty whicli perceives the Divine Truth of the Internal Sense The ]3ivine Truth of the Internal Sense is the Lord's Divine Humanity, or the Divinity of the Word made Living within the regenerating man. 517. As "Mary "is the espoused wife of "Joseph" at this time, or state, the mentioning of the two words, or principles together, signifies the conjunction of the Literal Sense of the Word, by the Affection for its Trutlis in the External mind of the regenerating man, with the THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 233 Joseph is not the father. Succession of life. perception of the Spiritual Sense within, in the Rational Faculty, which, like Joseph, protects and provides for "the Babe lying in the manger." Although "Joseph" is not the father of the child, the regenerating man recog- nizes that the Divine Love flowing through the Internal mind into the Rational Faculty, is the Father, and that this Internal Principle which is conceived from the Father and born from the Affection for the Truths of the Word, is the Holy Child which is now " lying in the manger." THE ORDER OF SPIRITUAL DESCENT. 518. In the succes.sion of human Hfe, man receives through his father, his very soul or life in the order of hereditary descent, and from his mother he derives not only the external covering which constitutes the physical frame, but also the corporeal or material principle of the External mind. The soul itself is implanted through descent from the father, which begins to be clothed v/ith a physical form from within the mother, from whom it thereafter entirely derives its nourishment and growth, until after its birth in the world, and in due time according to the order of natural life, the child lives independently of the mother's nourishment. 519. In the same order of re-ci-eation, according to the laws of spiritual correspondence, the Internal mind of regenerating men is from the Divine Love of the Father by the Internal Sense of the Word. The enlightened Rational Faculty which receives the Divine Truth of the Word is the Son of God ; for the receptacle of the Word becomes of the same quality and nature as the Truth which it holds. The child is formed and nourished by the Affec- tion for the Truths of the Literal Sense of the Word which have been received into the External mind, wliich aie the material substances from which the spiritual body of the Divine Infant is developed in the regenerating man. By the exi)ression "material w II ! ii.ai-r ■Mi' m i i: UA ! I t: ' 234 THE FACE OF JESUS: Material substances. Righteousness. substances" is not meant physical substances, but the exterior or material principles of the mind which receive the Exterior Truths or Literal Sense of the Word, and which is commonly understood under the expression of " Material Thought." The expressions of the Word when thought of only as physical occurrences, occupy the plane of material thought. 520. At the time or state of the birth of the Divine Truth in the Rational Faculty, the External mind still contains the hered- itary principle of the Proprium, which is to be supplanted by the growth of the child Jesus within the regenerating man. The work of regeneration is to be accomplished by putting off the hereditary Proprium, so that the External mind may be united to the Internal by means of the intermediate Rational Faculty, and the progress of this conjunction is signified by the developing life of the Lord Jesus in the world of the regenerating man's spiritual experience, as it is given in the representative history contained in the Literal Sense of the Word. 521. The Internal Principle of this re-created life is the Father, and the Babe is now "lying in the manger," to receive instruction from the principles of the Internal Sense of the Word which are to nourish and strengthen the child Jesus, in entering and over- coming the hereditary Propriun^ of the External mind, through combats and temptations, by which the evil tendencies are to he subdued. Thus the Righteousness of God will be fulfilled, and the External mind redeemed from iniquity. As this is the work of the Lord in the regenerating man, there can be neither self- righteousness nor self-intelligence implanted where He reigns, for the Lord by acts of redemption in overcoming evil in man makes Himself the Righteousness of man. "And this is His name whereby He shall be called: The Lord our Righteousness." 522. Righteousness is acijuired by exercising the works ot" righteousnes, which are, to shun all evil, look to the Lord In' the study of, and obedience, to the Precepts of the Word, and in all things fulfilling the law of Love to the Neighbor. Thus a niim will show his faith by his works, for " every tree is known by its wm THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 235 Assuming humanity. Primary truths. fruits," and " except your righteousness shall exceed the righteous- ness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." 523. By these acts of righteousness or redemption in the regen- erating man, the hereditary evil in the Proprium of the External mind is to be overcome, so that the Lord can descend from tho Internal mind into the External, and there assume the place occu- pied by the Proprium as it is resisted and removed. In this order the Literal Sense of the Word is made Living or Spiritual, and the External mind is gradually united to the Internal, as the Divine Truth of the Internal Sense is revealed and developed in tho life. Thus the Lord assumes the Humanity and makes it Divine in every regenerating man. 524. The conjunction of the Lord with the External mind must be mutual and reciprocal on the part of man, and is effected by his acceding to the Lord, and the Lord to him; for it is a fixed and immutable law, that as far as man accedes to the Lonl, or voluntarily resists and removes his evils, so far the Lord accedes to him, for He seeks to enter all men with spiritual heat and light, which is Goodness and Truth from the Word. Thus God becomes Man, and nian becomes filled with God in one person, and as the Interior life is not his own, he becomes a Divine man, or an angel in Heaven ; thus an angelic man is formed by the- Word. 525. When the Literal Truths of the Word are filled with life by obedience to them, the regenerating man is actuated by the Affec- tion of Truth from which the Son of Man is born, and when tho Internal Sense is revealed in the Word to the Rational Faculty, the Son of God is disclosed, for He is the Internal Divine Truth of the Word manifested in the "flesh" or will of the regenerating man. 526. The perception of the Lord in the Rational Faculty is first born from the primary Truths of the Literal Sense which are written according to the Appearances of Truth, as they seem to the hereditary nature of man. As evil is overcome, the Lord M I. I 'I 'I i, .;!!; ,! I I., t, 111 '^li' 4-- v. ill ^;1 236 THE FACE OF JESUS: Dissipation of appearances. Order of regeneration. enters from the Internal mind throu^. which salvation he acknowledges to be 1)V means of the Word which is from the Lord alone. Thus he ascril)i.'s all glory and praise unto the Lord for all the priiKi})K's M'hich have been revealed in the Word, and which ha\L' been obeyed and nian>. ;ted in the life, for when the Internal mind is filled with Aifection for '' ^ Good and Truth of the Word, tJie External mine •{ r ■;[ manifest it through the spiritual body, and thence through the physical frame, toward his fellow-men in his si)eech and actions. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 2-tlJ rsliip ;(hmI •vil •iDl'ri liaV' Telling. Natural thought. 550. " As it was told unto them," signifies the per- ception of these Interior principles of the Word, for Perception is an internal " telling," wherefore to " per- ceive," in the historical narrative of the Word is expressed by "telling," and also by "saying," as may frequently be found in both the Old and New Testaments. THE MATERIAL BODY OF THE LORD. .')51. Tlio nature of the External mind of man i.s such, that ho i.s incapable of forming an idea of thought concerning abstract ]irinci])les unless he associates them with natural ideas winch enter from the tangible things of the physical world, by means of sensual objects, or such tilings which are perceived by the external senses. Therefore, lest all conception of the Divine Nature of the Lord should perish with men whose thoughts are entirely im- mersed in corporeal and worldly ideas, thr Lord Jesus Christ, or Jehovah, has manifested Himself by the Word. First, according U) the thoughts of the natural mitid in the Literal Sense of the Word, which is written according to natural ideas of oljects in this worhl, whereby the External mind may gather the primary lirinciples of spiritual life as declared in the Ten Commandments. If nothing more had been fdven to man than the Literal Ten Commandments, he could bo saved fri)m his sins by means (jf their entrance into his life, but he would have no spiritual history to studv, within which there is an Internal Sense which reveals the principles and order of diiferent states of regeneration. 55*2. All the historical narrations and pi'ophetic utterances of the Word in the Litei-al Sense, are the earthly or material clothing of the Internal Sense, ia which the Lord more fully reveals Him- self as He appears in Heaven, as the Word, or Divine Man, for as it has been previou.sly illustrated, the Word in the Internal Sense is in the Divine Human Form, because it is the Lord Himself. 1 1 I ; 1 ;, t i i';t:!^ i\i ',1 ,\ mi ■Ml "I i! I is il 11 ;i 244. THE FACE OF JESUS. Assuming humanity. Hereditary thought. When He enters tlie natural mind by the Literal Sense, obedience to the Literal Truths prepares the Rational P^aculty to perceive its Interior meaning, which reveals that the Lord is the Word, who takes upon Himself the hereditary nature of man, by assum- ing the corporeal principle of the Literal Sense which is received by the natural External mind. 553. By the correspondence of spiritual principles with natural facts in the order of regeneration, the Lord is box ' as another mnn in every respect within the Interior life of the regenerating man, who advances from obscurity to clearer perceptions of the Divine Truth. Jehovah is the Father of this Interior Divine Life, wliich is the Son of GoJ, or the Intei'ior Truth of the Word, whicii is made Living by affectionate obedience. The Virgin Mothei from whom the Lord is born in man, is the Affection for the Truth uf the Literal Sense of the Word. The Literal Sense is the sensual or corporeal princi[)le of spiritual truth which fills its corresi)ond- ing I'eceptacle in the sensual or corporeal principle of the Ext(!innl mind of the regenerating man, who is elevated from this sensual or material principle of thought, when he perceives that tlie In- ternal Sense is from the Lord, and that it is the Lord uniting man to Himself by the Word; and thus the Infinite Nature of the Lord or the Word, differs from finite men, because He is Divine in Himself, and men are only receptacles of this Life. 554. In the first state of regeneration, the External mind thinks from the sensual or corporeal principle concerning the Word, ami rests in the Appearances of Truth there recorded. This cori)oreal principle of thought exists from the hereditary evil derived from the mother, or natural parentage, vdiich closes .spiritual perception and which is ordy opened through the orderly progress of regen- eration. In this coi'poreal state of thought, the mind only reecg- nizes the corresponding^ corporeal princii)le of the Word, whicli is given to man in this form, so that the Lord may reach every con- dition of thcught whereby the regenerating man may be led I'mm sensual ideas to spiritual thought, and be .saved from his sin-. Thus the corporeal Appearances of Truth which attribute perverse THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 24.-) Assuming perverse attributes. Man only is evil, qualities to the Nature ot God on account of the perverse nature of man, by correspondence with the corporeal principles in the unregenerated Pioi)riuni, constitutes the hereditary evil which adlieres to the personification of the Son of Man in the Word, which is tempted, suffers, and is crucified, for only evil principles can be temi)ted, or suffer, or be killed. 555. AVhen the Internal Sense of the Word is revealed to the regenerating man who is undergoing the preparatory trials and '.einptations, the perverse qualities represented in the Appearances of Truth are shown to be falsities, which exist in the Literal Sense on account of the evil nature of man, and those Appearances are dissipated when he understands thj nature of and overcomes his Proinium. Thus the Lord, in the Word, assumes the heredi- tary evil nature of man, and bears the ini(|uities and evils of mankind, in the Appearances of Truth, so that He might reach men in their lowef • ideas of thought aad redeem them from sin. 55G. When the regenerating man is enlightened as to the True Nature of the Word, aud his own fallacies are removed, he per- ceives the spiritual significance of the Resurrection of the Lord, and discerns in what manner the Corporeal Body of the Lord is .dissipated, in which were the Appearances of Truth, but the Actual Truths of the Literal Sense as embodied in the Precepts of Love to the Lord and the Neighbor, constitute the Material Substance of the W^ord, and form the Material Body which is made Divine ill the regenerating man, and which at-cends with its Material " Hesh and bones " into Heaven. 557. The Divine Nature of the Lord, which is the Internal Life of the Word, is not susceptible of evil, but in order to enable man to overcome evil with the strength which He can impart from the Word, which finite man cannot possess in himself, because he is only evil, the Lord is born in the " earth " as another man, in His Own Word, and thence in the regenerating man by the spiritual correspondence of the conception and birth in the order of physical life ; by the Appearance of Truth in the Word, for the sake of man, he has taken upon Himself the sins and infirmities )\Au n ■, 1^^ fjI'Hri'l: / ; 1 24G THE FACE OF JESUS: Taking our infirmities. The Divine Man. of men, and boars them, "That it mi(jht he fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our ivfirmi- ties and bare our sicknesses." 558. Thus the Son of God is conceived, is carried in the Avoml), and is born in the perception of the Rational Faculty of regene- rating men as other men are born into this physical life, by the correspondence of the spiritual principles of the Word received into the life; and by the same laws of correspondence in tliis spiritual personification of the entrance of the Lord into the re- generating man as the " Holy Child," He is instructed as another man in the growth of the spiritual perception, and continually advances in Heavenly knowledge, to the end that men may attain the highest degree of life for which they were created. Thus, in assuming the Human Principal of the Word, the Lord becomes a Man like a man in the world of natural thought, with this excep- tion, that in entering man and progressing from infancy to man- hood in the order of regeneration, He is Infinite and Uncreated, while the man whom He enters is a finite created receptacle of this Divine Life from the Word. 559. The Lord assumes the Humanity of the Word in tlie External mind of the regenerating man as rapidly as he desists from evil and relinquishes his Proprium, which is accomplished by shunning evil and resisting temptation, and acknowleilginL,^ the Lord alone to be the Giver of spiritual life and strength by means of the Word. The Lord is not to be thought of as in a corporeal frame like a physical body in the natural world, but the mind when thinking of Him is to be abstracted from time and space, and He will take the Form of the Divine Man when He is discerned as the Inmost Life of the Spiritual Principles of the Word. His Human Body cannot be thought of as either great i»r small, or of any defined stature or features, because this wuuM limit the idea of Him to a fixed position or wandering through the space and time of the physical flnivcrse, neithei" could a con- ception of His Omnipresence enter the mind, and instead ot thinking of the spiritual principles from Him which constitute THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 247 1 i The Life within the Word. Bearing our sins. finite men, the thouglits would be dis.sipatcd and wander away from the Word, and what i.s called " Nature" would be substituted for the Living God who forms the Inmost Life of the Word. This Living God is TllE ALVN in the Human Form, by and from whom all men are created, and sustained in existence. (!§ 14G.) 5G0. The Literal Sense of the Word received by the natural mind of the regenerating man is the Material Human Body of the Lord. When these Literal Truths are obeyed from Affection, the Rational Faculty is opened to perceive the Interior Truths of the Word, which, when loved and obeyed, are made Divine, and thus the Humanity of the Lord is gloriKed ; and when the Rational Faculty perceives the Divine Life of the Word to be from it'' Internal Sen.se, the Lord rises with His Whole Body, and '.le Literal Sense of the Word is revered and esteemed Holy, because it is the external manifestation of the Lord's Material Body to the material principle of the External mind, or Natural Thought, and this Body has never api)cared to any man excepting in the Literal Sense of the Word. The word " material " here refers to material or natural ideas of thought, and not to physical sub- stances, for the Ultimate Human Principle does not consist of ])hysical flesh and bone.s, but is the most exterior plane of thought concerning the Literal Sense of the Word, and this is the Human Substance which exists frou\ the Inmost Principles of the Word, and which in the order of regeneration is made Divine Substantial Truth in the man ^vho is being regenerated. 5GL Nothing which is Good and True in itself, or which is of » the Lord, can ever die. The Body of the Lord which is slain upon the cross, is the Appearance of Truth in the Literal Sense of the Word, which " bore our sins in His oioi Bodij on the tree, that ■we being dead to sins, should live unto rhjhteousness." " This Is my Body wh'ieh is broken for miny." The Crucifixion represents the violence done to the Actual Truth of the Literal Si'use by those false doctrines which disparage the effort to obey the simple Precepts of the Word. These fallacious teachings are confirmeil from the Appearances of Truth, which tend to favor the Love of I i I i ' III m ii ■r * I !,• ^ <:\ V-J'l i,^.. ('^1 i.'V H- 'I I 248 TUE FACE OF JESUS: The Material Body. The Spiritual Body. Self, and which lead to the crucifixion of the Life of the Word in their adherents, thus oLscuring all spiritual perceptions, culmin- ating in the death of every receptacle of regenerating principles from the Word, so that to such persons, External worship becomes a dead form, with no Living Jesus within. .'1O2. The Material Body of the Lord is the Actual Truth of the Literal Sense of the Word wliich holds the Internal Sense, and which is "sown a Natural Body," and "is raised a Spiritual Body." "Blithe spdke of the temple of His Body. When there- fore He 'Was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them ; and they believed the Scripture." " Unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time ^vitho^lt sin unto salvation." The Spiritual Body of the Lord consists of all regenerating men who have received Him by means of the Living Truths of the Word, and have been, and are being re-created in His Form. " ^^oiu ye are the Body of Christ and members in jtarticidar." Thus the Lord glorifies, or makes the Human Principle of the Word Divine in the regeneration of the man to whom the Internal Sense of the Word is revealed. " / will praise Thee, Lord my God, ivith all my heart, and I will glorify Thy Name forever more," THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 2t9 Cities and villages. Cana of Galilee. A MIRACLE OF THE THIRD DAV. And the Third Day there was a marriage in Cana of Gahlee; and the mother of Jesus was there. Julm 2:1. 503. This Spiritual Marriage occurs in the External mind of tl\u regenerating man after a full state of pre- paration signitied l)y the *' Third Day." In illustrating the State represented by the Second Day, it was shown that " Galilee" signifies the man who has externally lived in Love to the Neighbor, without being aware that there is an Internal Principle either within the Word or the mind Avhich is receptive of the Internal Sense. It w^as also illustrated that a " City" signifies the doctrine of Truth from the Word. "Cana" is a village of Galilee. 504. Where "Cities" and "Villages" are mentioned together in the Word, " Cities" signify the Internal prin- ciples of the mind, and " Villages," which are outside of cities, denote the External principles. " Cities " and " Villages " denote these principles, because on the physical earth, men who have minds containing Internal and External principles, live in, and constitute cities and villages. 505. "Cana of Galilee" here signifies the exterior principles of the Natural mind ; for Iho Love of the Neighbor must literally exist in the Natural Affections and be manifested in the external life, before either the Internal princii^les of the mind, or the AVord, can be i| V :! ■' tt' vw If. 1.1 1 ■i^ SoO THE FACE OF JESUS: The Gentile nations. The blessedness of marri age. rovciiled; and this stiito of lifo has always hoeii found anion^' tho (Jontilo nations of tho Avorld who have not had our written Word, and es[)C'cially witli thoso wlio have obeyed the Truth which has been given thcni in any form. 500. It has also ])een shown that the Propriuni, or the hereditary evil self-hood of man, exists only in the External mind, and that this evil is to be overcome in temptation by resistance on the part of the regenerating man, without his freedom being violated, and it has been illustrated that the Work of Regeneration consists in putting off the evil of the hereditary l*roprinm, so that the Heavenly i)rinciples of the Internal mind shall govein the External. This union of tho Internal and External mind, by the reception of the Internal and External Truths of the Word, is called a "Marriage," and all Marriages which are alluded to in the Word, signify the union of Good and Truth, or of the Love and Wisdom of the Word in the Will and Understanding of regener- ating men. r)G7. In this Heavenlv INIarriage which takes iilacc in *.' Cana of Galilee," the Bride is the vivihed Propriuni of the External mind of the regenerating man, and the Bridegroom is tho Lord, who inseminates principles of innocence, peace, and love, from the Word, as rapidly as evils and falses are resisted and overcome. Hence results that blessedness which is typified by earthly marriages, and Avhich derive their happiness from these ►Spiritual Principles of the Word, although mankind are not aware of this fact. Till: NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 251 The mother of Jesus, The disciples. 5()H. "And the mother of Jcsiis was tlioro." It lias been shown tluit the "Motlier" is tlie Atf'ection for the Truths (»f the Literal Sens^c of the Word, which has y "Called" to the INIarriago, is signified the desire of the regenerating man for the conjunction of the Divine Good, or Jesus, witii the " Pi.sciples," in order that he may increase in spiritual wisdom, and tlicnce fulfil the object of his ci cation, whic ■; Is spiritual useful- ness to his feliow-mcn. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesua saith unto him, They have no wine. Jolm 2 : 3. 573. By " Wine," is signified the Interior Divine Truth of the Word which is now desired, or "wanted," by the regenerating man, and which is also expressed by " call- ing " Jesus and the Disciples to the Marriage. This is the " Wino" which is represented by the Holy Supper, Avliich when received through the Rational Faculty, stimulates the Interior Aftec' ions, and opens the under- stan llri.xto nerceive Infinite intelligence within the Word. 574. At the State of regeneration which is represented by these expressions, the "Mother of Jesus" or the m Tlf/'J XATVRI-: OF Till': WORD OF GOD. 2'yfi They have no wine, Desires for clearer revelation. Affection for tho Literal Triitli wliich Iuih heoii lived thus fur, "siiitli unto hin»," or perceives tliat tliere nuist l)c an Interior meaning- witliin tlio Literal expressions of the Word, and desires a clearer understandin<^' of its Truths, on account of the many contlictions which arise in the National Vacuity concerning the Literal Sense, which, in itself alone, if no deeper meaning is perceived, has no si)iritual life, which is signified by " They have no wine." Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 'Jolm 2: 1. i")7i3. "Jesus saith" signifies instruction from the Word, and "unto her" denotes that this instructi(jn is imi)lanted in the External mind from tlie Afi'ection for the Trutli.'* of the Literal Sense, and that at the projjcr time, or state, the Divine l*rovidence will reveal clearer percep- tions of the Word, ■)70. As Clood and Truth ai'c from the Word alone, and as the principles of the External mind represented hy"W\mian," originate from the Lord, lest it should appear to the regenerating man that the Affection for the Truth of the Literal Sense originates in himself, be- cause these desires for clearer revelation are manifesting themselves, — and there is danger that the hereditary Proprium will appropriate these desires to itself, — there- fore it is written, " Woman, what have I to do with thee I " 1 1 I ^^^\^ m''. i.? £54 THE FACE OF JESUS: Admonition. Divine revelation. 577. A careful study of the Literal Sense of the Word will reveal tliat in the spiritual narrative of the Gospels, the Son of God in no place acknowledges " ]\Iary" to be His mother, because in the regeneration of imwi, the Lord Jehovah is both the Father and jNlothcr of spiritual life. As in the physical l)irth of man there must be an instru- mental mother, who does not originate the life of the child, so in the spiritual birth of man th.ere must be an instrumental " Mother," which is the .Vffection for the Literal Sense of the Word. This Affection is also from the Lord, for nothing but evil originates with man. " What have I to do with thee ? ' is therefore an admon- ition for careful self-examination in regard to the true Source of spiritual desires or Affections. i,7S. "]\Iine hour is not yet come" signifies that until t^iis Source of spiritual life is clearly perceived, tlic regenerating man has not arrived at the state in which he will be al)le to bear the revelation of the Internal Sense of the AVord, for until his mind is fully prei)are(l by a life m which the Lord alone is recognized in tlie Word, the Internal Sense would be profaned if it should bo prematurely revealed. ;')79. Words, or natural expressions in themselves, do not constitute tlie Word of God until the Truths within theso expressions are obeyed, for Divine llevclation is the opening of the National Faculty to perceive Divine Truth, or the Son of God within the Word, and it be- comes a Kevelation only to him who from Affection obeys the Divine Truth. THE NATURE OF THE h'OIW OF GOD. 2-)-, The perception of ideas. Servants. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. John 2 : 5. 580. " Saith," in tho Word, exi)rcssos the communi- cation of thouiilit, which in this world is manifested by speech, writing, or gestures. The communication of thought signifies the perception of i(h?as. liy means of the Affection for the Literal Truths of the Word in the External mind, or the " mother," a perception is com- municated to the " servants." 581. A '' Servant " denotes what is inferior or l)eneath considered with respect to what is superior. It has been frequently illustrated that things which are l)eneath, signify external principles, and that superior things represent internal i)rinciples. "Servants" therefore denote the exterior natural principles of the External mind, by which the life of the regenerating man is mani- fested in this physical world of natural thought. oS'2. When a man is being regenerated, inferior or external in'inciples are made sul)ordinate to sn[)eri()r, or internal princi[)les. The exterior princi[)les become "servants," and the interior principles Ijecome "lords" or "rulei's," and thus the Eord reigns in ihe "heaven" and upon the " earth,'" and all regenerating men become "servants" of the Lord. The Lord .speaks to man only by tho Word, and to the " servants" or natural principles of the External mind, which receive the Literal Sense of the Word, it is clearly revealed to the perception of the regenerating man as a Divine command, " miatso- erer he saith unto iiou, du it." •mm ■ i :ln^! 1:!^' li-. % u ■J ' ' hi-., \ wm \ 1 1 1 '■ ; ■' ¥1. I 2oG THE FACE OF JESUS, Receptive vessels. Stone. And there were set there six water-pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. John 2 : 6. 583. "And there were set there," signifies in tliis state of the progress of regeneration. Concerning "Water- pots," it has been .shown that "water" signifies Truth from the Word. All vessels in the Word signify recep- tacles of spiritual principles. " Water " signifies Natural Truth, or the Literal Sense of the Word, and "water- pots " signify the scientific principles of the External mind which receive this Truth. 584. These Scientific principles are the ideas formed from impressions received from terrestrial and physical tilings by means of the sensea, so that when Spiritual Truths are treated of in the W^ord, they first take a natural form in the mind, from which the Ivational Faculty gathers the spiritual meaning when the Laws of Correspondence are understood. Without the natural ideas first appearing as they are given in the Literal Sense of the Word, the External mind could have no tangible objects l)y which the Truth could be refiected into the Ivational Faculty, 585. The "Water-pots" are of "Stone," and a "Stone" also signifies Truth. In the highest sense it signifies th(i Lord, who is called a " Rock " when the Divine Truth of the Word is represented. It also denotes the lowest form of Truth, which is called Natural Truth, or the fundamental Literal Sense of the Word, and thus the THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 20/ Natural ideas. Cleansing from evil Ten Commandments are represented as being written iipon ** Tables ni Stone," which signify the external plane of the Word, upon which the Literal Sense is inscribed. The "water-pots" being of "stone," signifies the quality of the scientific principles of the External mind, that they are formed from Natural Truths, or the Appearances of Truth in the Literal Sense with which the External mind is first instructed. 586. There are " Six water-pots " set there. "Six" denotes the states of labor and combat which the External mind undergoes in the preparation for the reception of the Internal Sense of the Word, by which the Appear- ances of Truth are to be dissipated, for all progression in the regenerate life is attained through struggling \rith the Appearances of Truth until the hereditary l*roprium is subdued and overcome, therefore " Six " denotes the full state which precedes the conjunction of the External Truths with the Internal. As the Word of God is in the Human Form, all the spiritual principles which are contained therein have their corresponding receptacles within the minds of regenerating men. 587. "After the manner of the purifying of the Jews," signifies that the cleansing of evil must l)egin in the regenerating man by means of such Truths as he can apprehend sensually, or by means of the mental senses, and that it is according to the laws of spiritual order that purification, or resisting evil, must be done in the natural mind and in the natural world, because the Internal or spiritual mind thinks and wills in and Q ii ,.V I;. :■ ■/I A. \v m I \mv I Si I 11^. ■ 258 THE FACE OF JESUS. The Jews of the Word. Firkins. through the natural principle of the External mind, while man lives in the corporeal frame in this physical world. ySS. The word "eTew" is derived from the word *' Judah," and in the highest or Inmost Sense denotes the Lord in His Divine Love, and in the Internal Sense it denotes the Word, therefore the Lord is born as a " Jew," in the National Faculty of the regenerating man, when the Internal Sense is revealed. In the narratives of spiritual history, the *' Jews " are representative of tlu' l)rinciples of the External mind, or Literal Sense of the Word, as indicated l)y the rites and ceremonies of external worship. oSl). When these External principles, or " Jews," have no life from Internal principles, the Love of Self is not sulxlued, although the external forms of religious wor- ship maybe rigidly adhered to, and continually observtMJ. Therefore the Internal Sense cannot appear to such men, for their ideas of the Word are merely natural. The "purifying of the Jews" therefore represents the carj'ving into the natural principles of the mind, the Truths indicated l)y the Works of the Law in the Internal Sense of the Word, the way foi' which is i)rei)ared Ijy the effort to oljey the Commandments of the Word. ;■){)(). '' CVyntaining two or three tirkins apiece," refers to the capacity or measure of the " water-pots," aiul therefore signifies the degree of spiritual conjunction, or Truth nuide Good by obedience, which these receptacles ot the mind contain. In the spiritual interpretation "f THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 259 Two or Three. Filling the water-pots. the "Word, the containing receptacle signifies the same principle as the contents which it holds. For example, the world contains men who possess minds containing spiritual principles, wherefore " world " signifies the mind of man, and this is the "world" where the Literal .Sense of the Word has its culminating history. 591. ** Firkins" are also receptacles, and represent minor Truths as compared witli "water-pots," which form the complex. Where "Two or Three" are men- tioned together in the Word, "Two" is predicated of Good, and "Three" is predicated of Truth, and the two words signify the conjunction of both principles. In this verse they denote that all the Truths of the Literal ►Sense of the Word must be received into the External mind and be made Good by the active life of obedience, so that the literal law of Love to the Neighbor shall be fulfilled in the details of daily life before its spiritual meaning can be perceived. Jesus saith unto them. Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. John 2 : 7. "){)"J. "Jesus," or the Divine Love which is within the Word, now communicates to tlie " Servants " the im- portance of filling tlie "water-pots with water." Tlic •water-pots" are the scientific or intellectual principles of the External mind, which are to increase in wisdom from the "water," or Literal Sense of the Word, which contains Truth adapted to the natural degree of the mind. The L"^nderstanding of the regenerating man is ■i.;;v li ' u W\ \\ ■Ml Uiii •A ^■'. t IJ ;■; I f '1 w 2G0 THE FACE OF JESUS, Educational privileges. The active life of obedience. to be filled or gifted with every knowledge and variety of scientific instruction which can be comprehended and received into the memory, which, when applied to the true meaning of the Word as the Internal Sense is re vealed, will aid in opening the inexhaustible mine of spiritual wealth which there lays concealed beneath tlie surface of the Literal Sense. 593. The more advantage which the regenerating man can secure in every privilege to receive instruction in all brancliLs of science and ai't, the greater capacity will he possess for useful- ness in aiding others to understand the Word, for all knowledLie of physical science is from the Lord, although it appears as if it originated with men of rare mental ability. 594. The Internal Sense of the Word is not revealed to the mind of the regenerating man without earnest effort on his part. The External mind must first be filled with the contents and co- herence of the Literal historical narratives of the Word throu/ of the Literal Sense of the Word which bears them fortli into life, it discriminates between the Appearances of Truth and the essential Truth of the Word. The " Feast " signifies eating and drinking from the Word. To "Eat" signifies to live according to the Truths of the Word, and to "Drink" signifies to imbibe instruc- tion or doctrine from the Word which teaches how to live. 600. " And they bare it," signifies that the external principles of the mind, or " Servants," are subservient to the " Governor" as the Literal Truth is presented for its disposal, for it is now disclosed from the study of the Word that it has an Interior meaning. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 2G3 The Ruler. Obscure perception. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the servants which drew the water knew,) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom. John 2 : 9. GOt. The "Ruler of the feast" is the Internal prin- ciple of the Kational Faculty which is formed by the Affection of Good from a life of obedience to the Truths of the Word, and this princii)le now controls the nourish- ment which is derived from the Word. " Had tasted the water," signifies the I^erception of Truth within the Literal Sense. As physical meat and drink corres^Ktud to spiritual food and nourishment from the Word, so " Taste" corresponds to the Perception and the Affection for spiritual food and drink. " That was made wine," signifies that this Literal Truth of the Word has a Living Principle within it, for "Wine" signifies the Divine Truth of the Word, and that the Natural expressions have a spiritual meaning, and to " taste" signifies the Perception of the "Ruler" that the "water was made wine." 602. " And knew not whence it was," signifies that although the Perception has been developed that there is a spiritual meaning to the Word, its origin is not yet clearly perceived, whether it is merely illustrative of tlie Spiritual Truth of the Word, or is Divine Revelation from the Lord alone. 603. " But the servants which drew the water knew," signifies further progression in the development of this ;; ■( It t «! P iM 'Ml i 1^ t } 2G4 T[IE FACE OF JESUS. Drawing water. The Bridegroom. Perception by "drawing" tlie ** wjiter" ])y the study of the Word, without which no Spiritual Trutli can enter tlic mind, from whicli instruction a clearer knowledge of the Literal Sense of the Word serves as the foundation for a more Interior perception of its Internal Sense, for all knowledge of the Word in the spiritual discernment of its Divine Truth can only be imparted by a diligent study of its Literal contents. 004. "The governor of the feast called the bride- groom." The " Bridegroom" is the Lord, or the Inmost Life of the Word, who now entc the External prin- ciple of the Kational Faculty through its Internal principle, which from the Affection of Good enlightens the Perception of the Affection of Truth. The " Lride" is the Affection of Truth in the External mind wliich has received instruction from the Literal Sense of the Word, and the Affection of Good is to be united to tlie Affection of Truth, as husband and wife. This union constitutes the Heavenly Marriage from which is bom the Perception of the Rational Faculty which discerns the Internal Sense of the Word to be from the Lord alone, and that the words wliich disclose these Interior Truths to the mind which is prepared to receive it, are not the invention of the self-intelligence of a man, but are from Divine Origin, revealing what always has been within, is now, and ever will be in that Word whicli is "IMMANUEL, God with us." 77/ A' SAT CUE OF Till:: WORD OF GO II 205 Communication of tliought. Good wine. And saith unto him, F /ery man at the beginning doth set forth good wine ; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse : but thou hast kept the good wine until now. John 2 : lo. 605. unto him," denotes a continuance of Per ception, because by "sayinj^" is meant Conininnieation of Thought, and Tlioni^lit is an InHux of l^ereeption. " iLvery man at the beginning," signifies the state of man in the preparation tcr a regenerate life, indicated by the "beginning," which is the State of Keformation, when the '* earth was without form and void, ' when all the knowledges in the External memory appear to originate from himself. In tliis state, the regenerating man is filled with self-intelligence concerning his knowledges and own opinions in the interpretation of the Literal Sense of the Word, and if he possesses and has read the words revealing the principles of the Internal Sense, he feels exalted above others on account of his imaginary spiritual intelligence, which is l)ut an Appearance of " good wine," which emanates fn-m his Proprium, for when the Lord is perceived within the Internal Sense of the Word, the regenerating man humbly acknowledges that he is but a receptacle of life, and that in himself alone he is dead, therefore he neither exalts himself, nor condemns others who as yet do not see Spiritual Truths in the light of his experience. 606. When men from natural principles of thought imbibe the Interior Truths of the Word, without these Internal principles governing their lives, although they \\\ I < % '\y i ri-i r:' . m 20G THE FACE OF JESUS: Orderly thought. Spiritual intemperance. may dolij^ht in searching into Interior doctrines, and learn even the science of correspondences of natural things with spiritual principles, their minds become tilled with, reasonings to contirm theories which agree with their natural ideas, and thus their thoughts ])econio material and are inverted from the principles of Divine Order, for all true spiritual development proceeds from Interior motives of love and obedience. 007. "And when men have well drunk, then that which is worse," signifies the spiritual drunkenness which results from the self-intelligence of the I'roprium. " Jittt they also have erred tliroiujh ivine ; and throwjh slroiuj drink are out of the iray , the priest and the people have erred through strony drink, thvy are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way throuyh strony drink; they err in vision, they stumble injudyment."* 008. When men investigate spiritual principles with- out their lives being guided by obedience to the Truths of the Word, they fall into errors of judgment, because they are led by sensual and philosophical knowledge only. When the thoughts are formed from reasonings concerning terrestrial and earthly objects, if the mind rests in these alone, erroneous opinions will obscure the perceptions, and although such persons **have well drunk " from the fountain of the Word, both in its Literal Sense and Interior interpretations, and think themselves more awake in mental attainments than others, they arc in a profound spiritual sleep, for sclf- • 18. 28 : 7. THE NATCHt: OF THE WORD OF GOD. 207 Keeping the good wine. The consummation of the marriage feast intelligence is only inu\f^inary wakefulnoHs. " Woe unto them that are wise in thci*' oivn eyes, and prudent in tkeir Qivji siyht ! Woe unto them that are wiijhtii to drink wine, and 'nen a/ strenr/th to minyle strong drink. 000. " ]Uit thou has kept the ^'ood wine until now, )f Kewi # It 1 this Third State of Kej,a^ncration that the JJatic Faculty perceives the Internal Sense of the Word, from the regeneratinf? man having drunk of the " water" from the well of the Literal Sense, until the Lord has revealed the Living Water, or ** good wine," when from the Affec- tion of Good the "liridegroom" enters the Affection of Truth. 610. This is the consummation of the INIarriage Feast of the Third Day, and the Rational Faculty is now awakened into life, and the Light from the Internal Sense of the Word illuminate? the Internal principle of ihe Rational Faculty to peic«'we that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Inmost Li.? of the Word, and that He has come in "power r >d >! "C'lt glor " to the percci)tions of the regenerating r :-> ^n vivn lie says, ^^ From hence- forth ye know Ilim, and have seen Jlim." This beginnmg of miracles did Jesus in Oana of Galilee and manifested forth His Glory ; and His disciples be- lieved on Him. John 2:11. Gil. The limits of this work preclude the further illustration of the Third State of Regeneration, and the thoughtful reader will observe the coherence of one part of the Word with another when interpreted by the Spiritual Principles which have always IM •■'( I}, :•/' }', ■I ■ m lilfii mi .r I i.. if*! H':'' 1 1 1 i * P». 5 : 21. 268 THE FACE OF JESUS: Orderly spiritual facts. Spiritual miracles. existed within the Literal Sense, and from which the order of true Spiritual History may be seen. Thus the true meaning of the narration of Miracles may be perceived as orderly spiritual facts in the regeneration of men, but disorderly when accepted literally as physical signs, for no physical water was ever miracu- lously or supernaturally converted into physical wine. 612, All the incidents and miracles which are narrated in the eorrespondential language of the Literal Sense of the Word, are representative of different states of regenarating men, or of the evil and folse principles of the unrcgenerated Propr'um. It will be simply noted that the Resurrection described in the Gospels, takes place on the Third Day according to prophecy, and this Resurrection is the awakening of the Rational Faculty in its Internal principle to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as the Word, who is the " Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is TO COME." THE XATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 2Gf> Liahts in the firmament. Tlie essence of faith. "^""TTf-^ir' THE FOURTH DAY OF CREATION; OR, THE FOURTH STATE OF REGENERATION. t ;■ And God said, Let there be Lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years. Gen. 1 : 14. 613. Before the " Beginning " of Regeneration, man is in a state of spiritual death, and his life is re-created by the Lord by means of the Good and True principles of the Word. The first dawn of Spiritual Light begins by living according to the Truths of the Literal Sense which liave been planted in the External memory, and this is Scientific Faith, or Truth ; next by Faith in the Understanding, which is Intellectual Faith ; and lastly, by Faith in the Will or heart, which is the Faith of Love, or Saving Faith. r)y Faith, in the Word, is meant Love to the Lord and the Neighbor, or a life according to those Two Principles ^vhich make One in the regenerat- ing man, and is the perception or thought of the Rational Faculty concerning the quality of love, or charity, from an Internal Aft'ecti )n for Good and Truth. 614. The very essence of Faith is the Divine Proceed- ing of the Lord which constitutes the Word, and is a belief in the Son of God who is tlie Word " made flesh," or the Interior Spiritual Principle of tlic Word brought ;i'.,:,4 I; 270 THE FACE OF JESUS. The internal and external Rational Faculty. Love and Faith. h ^ I \ forth into the Life of the regenerating man. Good and Truth, or Love and Faith from the Lord, are the "T'.vo Great Lights" wliich rule by "day' and "night." These *' Lights" are placed in the "firmament of the heaven," or the Kational I'aculty. The Internal principle of the Kational Faculty is a receptacle of Good, and the Ex- ternal principle is a receptacle of Truth from the Word. 615. The perception of the Divine Human Principle of the Word occurs in the Internal principle of the Kational Faculty which is actuated by the Affection of Good, and which is kindled or infused by the Celestial principles of the Word in the Internal mind, for it will be remembered that the Kational Faculty is intermediate between the Internal and External mind, and in the First Day of Creation is called the " Firmament." 010. The External principle of the Rational Faculty is actuated by the Affection of Truth, and manifests it- self in the External mind, and thence in the speech and actions. Y>y " Lii>hts in the firmament of the heaven" is signified that the Kational Faculty is now^ to be actuated by percei)tion from the Internal mind, wliich is called " Heaven " in the " beginning." 017. I'revious to this State, the Kational Faculty has not been clearly separated into the Internal and External principles alluded to in the " Mari-iage in Cana of Galilee" (51)0) and which are now represented by "Day" and " Night," which wV ' ^ 'ii nil |-;l| m. n > t[ 272 THE FACE OF JESUS. Summer and winter. Confirmation of progress. by "Signs" and '•Seasons,'' are necnlfnl, in ordei' that be may bo more and nioro perfected, and brought into eon- junction Avith the Lord. G21. These clianges are to be compared to those in the temperate zone.>, for witliout Clianges of State which correspond to Summer and Winter, as to tlie Will, and of "Day" and "Night" as to the Understanding, he could not increase in love and wisdom, and thus be per- fected. " Days and years " signify all the progressive states of regeneration in general, the (pialities of which will 1)0 perceived l)v the i^itional Faculty in their order, and by " years" in the Word is not meant periods of earthly time, but full periods of States, and by the Xumber of years, the (piality is indicated by the sj)] ri- tual correspondence of numl)ers. And let them be for Lights in the Firmament of the heaven to give hght upon the earth : and it was so. Gen. 1: 15. {]'2'2. By " Lights in the firmament of heaven," is signi- fied the illumination of the Internal principle of the Rational Faculty, from the Lord within the Internal mind, " to give light upt.n the earth," or the External mind. "And it was so," signifies confirmation withii\ the mind that this progress is according to Divine Ordei'. It has been illustrated that the "Firmament" is the llational Faculty which is intermediate between the Internal and External mind, through which conjunction is efi'ected, so that the External mind, or " earth " i ' caused to act fn^m spiritual principles instead of tt'om selfish and worldly motives. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GJD. 273 The Intermediate state. One point of offence. INTERIOR iVEOTIVES. G23. By corrospondenco, the " Firmament " signifies the Tnter- mcdiato State into which every person enters at the death of material thought. The order of regeneration takes place similar to the order of physical life in conception, birth, infancy, child- hood and manhood, to which its progressive states correspond. Those who attain tlie years of maturity, form their own ruling loves by their course of life, good or evil, as in freedom they have obeyed whatever form of Truth whicli has been presented to them, and which they have recognized as Truth according to the capacity of their minds, whether in possession of the written Word or not. When a man's ruling love has been formed, liis motives are governed by it, and he inwardly desires to do what- ever gives him the greatest deli'dit. G24. Those in whose lives the work of refjeneration has begun, love to obey the Precepts of the Word, and love the sfjiritual welfare of their fellow-beings as they progress in the victory over the Love of Self. Those who are actuated by the Love of Self have no regard for the Interior principles of the Commandments, and though they may externally '" keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point," they are "guilty of all." This " one point " is the Love of Self, which being worshipped instead of the Lord, 0(jnstitutes Idolatry, and in this "one point" all the Comiuand- inents are Literiorly broken. G25. By the Commandment, Thou shall have no othir Gods hefove me, in the Natural Sknsk is meant that no created thing, man or image, is to be worshipped. The Spiritual Sense is that no other God than the Lord Jesus Christ is to be worshipped, because He is the only Redeemer from sin. The Cele.stial Sense is that the Lord Jesus Christ is the One Onl}- Onmipotent, Omni- scient, and Omnipresent Jehovab, who Was, Is, and Is to Conn\ n '1 '{ 274- THE FACE OF JESUS: Profanity. Holiness of the Sabbath. if ' '' I ' the Almighty, the Inmost Life of the Word, and they who are iu the Love of Self do not keep this Commandment because they worship another God. G2G. By the Commandment, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain^ in the Natural Sense is meav\t that the Name cf the Lord shall not be profanely used in speech or triflingly employed in oaths or perjury. The SPIRITUAL SCNSE teaches that the Word is His Name, and that all True Doctrine derived from it shall be reverenced and obeyed, and that the Name of this Word is the Lord Jesus Christ ; by the name of Jesus is meant all those principles of salvation from the Word by which man is redeemed from his sins, and by the name of Christ is meant all principles of the doctrine of Divine Truth from the Word. In the Celestial Sense is meant that there shall be no blasphemy against the Holiness of the Word, winch in its Internal iL^ense is the Divine Humanity of the Lord, which is His Name in the highest sen.se, and this is the Name which is to be glorified in the regenerating man, and thus by His Name is signified all the Divine Attributes of the Lord which are revealed in the Internal Sense of the Word. They who are in the Love of Self, if they read the Word, and do not obey its Precepts "take His Name in vain." G27. By the Commandment, Remember the Sabbath Day to hccp it holy, in the NATURAL Sknse is indicated Rest at the end of six days of worldly labor, and that the Sabbath is to be a day of religious instruction and meditation, as also a day in which Love to the Neighbor shall be specially manifested. In the Spiritual Sense it signifies tlie Reformation and Regeneration of man by the Lord ; by the Six Days of Labor is signified the combats against the evils and falses of the Proprium, and by the Seventh Day is signified his conjunction with the Lord, and thus his Regeneration. In the Celestial Sense it signifies that state of Heavenly Peace which results from conjunction with the Lord, which evil and falsity can never again invade. They who are in the Love of Self do not keep the Sabbath holy, for this holiness is only attained by a life of Regeneration. ..r T , 1 , THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. Tl'o Honoring father and mother, Murder and adultery. G28. By the Commandmont, Honor thy father and thy mother, in the Natural Sense is indicated that the natural father and mother are to be obeyed, loved and honored, and also all who are in authority for the government of the world. The Spiritual Sense signifies the Internal Sense of the Word and the Doctrine of Truth therefrom by which man is regenerated, the Internal Sense being the Father and the Spiritual Instruction thcnco de- rived being the Mother, for as an earthly mother feeds her children witli natural food, so spiritual instruction froni the Word provides spiritual food. In the Celestial Sense it signifies the Lord Jesus Christ as the Father and the Affection of Truth in all regenerating and angelic men, or the Communion of Saints, as the Mother. They who are actuated by the Love of Self do not honor the father and mother, for the Internal Sense of the Word cannot be revealed to them until the work of regeneration has begun. 620. By the Commandment, Thoa ohalt not kill, in the Natural Sense is meant literally to inflict no injury u[)on snoiher person either in his body or reputation, from enmity, hatred, or revenge, either in act or intention. In th^ Spiritual Sense is signified any means by which the Divine Truth of the Word is obstructed from regenerating the lives of other men, by ]terverse example, blasphemous words, or false teaching. In the Celestial Sense is signified hatred toward the Interior principles of the Word, and thus toward the Lord, and all the Divine Truths proceeding from Him. They who are in the Love of Self care only for them- selves, and would not regret even the ^. ^ \7^ '' V ^ 1.25 1.4 III [.6 E -< 6" ► le^V^C^ % ?? 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 if> ^.. V 280 tup: face of jfsl's .- Opening the door above. The two great lights. humility, a man mi^^lit be led even to think himself to be God, and would thereby close the door above the Rational Faculty, so that the Li<^ht could not enter from its Source, the Inmost Essen- tia! Lift from whom the Literal Sense of the Word exists, and which is made Living when its Truths are received and obeved by its created receptacle, the regenerating man. C42. When tlio door above is opened, the Heavenly Lights shine through the firmament of the Rational Faculty,and thence through the lower door, and illuminate the "earth" of the Externa) mind, which is beneath, and with the co-operation of the regenerating man, drive out the evils and falsities of the hereditary Proprium. And God made Two Great Lights ; the greater Light to rule the Day, and the lesser Light to rule the Night : He made the Stars also. Gen. l : 10. G43. The " Two Great Lights" of the spiritual woild of the Kational Faculty are the Sun, or Love, which rules the Will, and the JNToon, or Truth, which govenis the Understanding ; while the " Stars" are the Know- ledges of Good and Truth. The rays of the sun warm the receptacle of earth which is planted with seed, tor it is according to the order of creation and of regener- ation, that seed shall first he planted, and the Spiritual Seed is ^he Truth of the Word. 644. As Love is the very Essence of Life, and Truth mado Living is derived from Love, so the Will, which is the receptacle of Love, is the Life of the Understanding, which is the receptacle of Truth, and the Understanding of the regenerating man be- comes the form or clothing of the Will, and is ruled by it. Both of the.se recoptsicles of heat and light, or of Love and Wisdom, constitute One mind or man, for what a man then wills and does, he also thinks and intends. But when the Understanding is at THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 281 Stars. God setting the lights. variance with tlie Will, as with those who profess that they have faith, and yet live in contradiction to the simple Truths of the Word, the one mind of such persons is divided into two principles, one of which desires to exalt itself into Heaven, while the other tends toward Hell, or the Proprium ; and since the Will rules in every act, the whole mind and life -vould plun<,'e into evil, unless prevented by tlie Love and Mercy of the Lord by means of ex- ternal restraints. 14-.'). As "Stars" signify Knowledges of Good and Truth from the Word, so the " Star in the Kast," which went before the " wise men," in the historical narrative of the Gospels, " till it came and stood over where the young child was," signifies that these know- ledges from the Word, which is tlio Sun in the East, have led the regenerating man whose mind has been filled with wisdom from obedience, to perceive the Internal Sense of the Word, which re- veals the "place" where the "young child" is born, which is in the enlightened Rational Faculty of tho man before whom the " Star " appears. And God set them in the Firmament of the Heaven to give Light upon the Earth. Gen. 1:17. 646. "And God set them," signifies that the percep- tion is imparted to the regenerating man, that all Love, and consequently all Life, which is from Love alone, is derived solely from the Lord. " In the firmament of the heaven," signifies the Internal principle of tho Rational Faculty, which being illuminated from the Internal mind, or "Heaven," gives "light upon the earth," and the External mind is governed by the Internal Truths of the Word. 647. Thus during this Fourth IXay, the regenerating man becomes more clearly influenced by the Divine ■i i f f 111 4 >'■' m 1 '•• '■ 'i It '' ■^ 282 THE FACE OF JESUS: Light from the Word. Day and Night- Love, and is illuminated by the Divine Truth of the Word. In the previous States, his conversation and meditation has been upon religious principles, and ho has produced the fruit of good works ; but he was then actuated by his unyielding firmness and obedience to the Commandments when laboring under temptation, but not from an Internal principle of Love and Faitli, wherefore these principles are now enkindled within his "Firmament," and "give light upon the earth." 048. This Light is from the Internal Sense of the Word which shines through the Rational Faculty and illumines both the Literal Sense and its corresponding receptacles of the External Liind, and shows that the origin of the Word is Divine. '* Arise, shine : for thy Light is come, and the glorp of the Lord is risen -ipon thee. Thy suti shall no more go dotvn ; neither shall thy moon withdratv itself; for the Lord shall he thine ever' lasting Light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended .'^ And to rule over the Day and over the Night, and to divide the Light from the Darkness : and Qod saw that it was good. Gen. l : 18. 649. In this verse, by " Day," is meant Good, and by " Night " is signified Evil ; wherefore good actions are called Works of the Day, and evil deeds are Works of the Night. By tho ' Light " is meant Truth, and by " Darkness " is meant Falsity. " For every one that doetk evil hateth the Light." " lie that doeth Truth cotneth to I i THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 283 Light ar.H darkness. Walking in the day. the Lvjht, that his deeds may be made manifest^ that they are vjrought in God." But in the fourteenth verse, "Day" si^mifics the Will, and "Night" denotes the Understandin*,', which are receptacles of the Love and Wisdom represented l)y the Sun and Moon, yet in this verse, " Light " and " Darkness " are niei ticmed which here qualifies the " Day " and " Night." 050. By the reception of the Love and Wisdom of the Word in obeying its Truths, the " Light in the llational Faculty discriminates between Truth and Falsity. The "Darkness" is the falsity which envelopes the External mind which is to be filled with Light as evil and falsitv are overcome. When the regenerating man is suffering in temptat'on, the evils and falses which then appear in the Proprium, seem to obscure the Spirilual Heat and Light, but if he resists the evil and looks to the Lord within the Word, the clouds will be dispersed, and he will perceive the Divine Light shining steadily above the clouds. 651. " If any man lualk in the day, he stumhleth not ; hut if any man walk in the nvjht, he stumhleth because there is no Uyht in him." To ''walk in the clay," signifies to live according to the Truths of the Word, hut to " walk in the night," is to be led by the evils and falses of the Proprium, which bring upon the Rational Faculty that state of night and darkness of which it is said, " Shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her lifjht, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken." This prophetic utterance of the Word does not refer to physical events, but to the spiritual state of men whose minds have been become obscured by their own evils and falses, from which false doctrines have been confinned from the I S ,il i: ! tir f. Ill i t I. n I I I : I Mil; :) 28-t TILE FACE OF JESUS. Progression. Spiritual Quarters, Appearances of Truth in the Literal Sense, and have obscured the Li^dit which steadily shines from the simple Precepts of the Word. These plain commandments are the " Highway" which lead to the Internal Sense. "And an llirjkivay shall ht there, and a Way, and it shall he called The Way of Holiness ; the unclean shall not 2>rtss over it ; but it shall he for those: the ivayfaring men, thouijh fools, shall vot err therein," " I atii the Way, the Truth, and the Life." "This is the Way, ivalk ye in it." *'Come ye^ and let ws walk in the Ihjht of the Lord." And the Evening and the Morning were the Fourth Day. Gen. 1:19. 652. rrogression into clearer perception of the Divine Truth of the Word, hy continued obedience from Affec- tion, effects conjunction between Good and Truth, which union is represented by the number Four, which is the double or multiple of Two, and signifies the fulness of the Fourth State of Regeneration, and it derives its signification from the Four Quarters of the Spiritual World, which are represented by the fixed geographical quarters of the earth in relation to the physical sun, the East, West, North, and South. SPIRITUAL QUARTERS. 653. These Four Quarters denote states of Good and Truth, and the extension of Good and Truth is described by them in the Word. The "East" denotes the Lord, because He is within the Sun of Heaven, whence comes the Heat and Light of Love and Wisdom, and in particular it denotes Divine Love in a clear per- ception, by means of the Word, which is the Lord in the East. The West denotes an obscure state of Love, therefore the " Star " is seen " in the East." The South denotes Divine Truth in Light, and the North signifies Truth in obscurity. All principles of spiritual life are derived from the " East," or the Word of God. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 285 The Right Hand of God. Africans. G54. These States are continually varying with the "earth" of the regenerating man in relation to the Spiritual Sun, as it revolvoH on it^ axis and encircles this Sun during each year of regeneration. As the physical sun is the centre of the orbit in which the earth revolves, and is always in the East in respect to the earth as it appears in the order of the revolutions, so the Lord, or the Word, is always in the East in relation to the regenerating man. When a man faces the East, his right hand is towards the South, and the" right hand" of a man signilios Divine Truth received into the lifi- anvith m |!fl .1 ■I \ \ 280 THE FACE OF JESUS. Asia and Europe. The West. the evils and falsos of their Pioprium, are being made " white in the blood of the Lamb." As the center of Africa is under the influence of the heated climate of the torrid zone, so the spiritual "Africans" have more interior perception and superior judgment concerning the spiritual principles of the Word, and perceive clearly how the Lord descends and presents Himself to the interior sight of men Ijy the Word, which is the Spiritual Sun which sheds greater heat and light at the equator, or within the mind which is constantly open to receive the Divine Love an 1 Wisdom by means of the clear revelation of the interior prin- ciples of the Word. G57. Asia signifies the clear light of intelligence concerning the Word, the same as the " South," or " Luke," and by the inliaui- tants of A.sia in the spiritual world of regeneration, are signified all they who are living in and are illuminated by this clear spiritual light, or in Truths derived from Good. Thus Asia signi- fies all those principles in the mind of the regenerating man which are enlightened by the Internal Sense of the Word by obedience to its Truths. Europe signifies a state of Truth in obscurity concerning the Internal Sense of the Word, the same as the " North," and the .spiritual Europeans denote those in the state of regeneration to whom the Internal Sense of the Word is about to be revealed, and in the evil sense they denote those false principles which obscure the mind in regaid to the Word, when the doctrine of faith alone predominates over the commandments of Love. Ameri''A. signifies the Aft'ection of Truth, the same as the " West," or an obscure state of Love, being opposite to the "East" aui.l derived therefroni, and the inhabitants, or principles of this spiritual quarter v;ill be led from the Aflfection of Truth to tlie Affection of Good, or to the state signifxcd by Africa, as the rc- generftting man progresses toward Celestial principles. THE NATURE OF THE WCRD OF GOD. 287 Eight days. Circumcision, THE CONSECRATION OF THE HOLY CHILD. And when eight days were accomplished for the circum- cising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Luke 2 : 21. W G58. " Eight days/' signifies a state of full conjunction of Good and Truth, the same as by "Two" and by " Four," for it is the multiplied product of those num- bers. "Eight" also signifies the beginning of a new state of purification from evils wliicli is represented by ** Circumcision," which signifies purification from filthy and corporeal evils by means of the Truths of the Word implanted in the life. "Circumcision" is the sign for this purification, which can only exist from an Internal love for that purity and innocence which is represented by the " Child," the quality of which exists from the Divine Love, signified by " his name was called Jesus," which quality was predicated of regcnerati'^n, in the Word, concerning the preceding states of Reformation and Repentance which are treated of in the First Day of Creation, " which was so naried of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.' 659 The "Womb" is the Rational Faculty, and " Conception" is the first life of this Interior receptacle of the mind, which receives its life from the life of the Lord in the Internal mind which flows into the life of *■! ; y 1 T I i ■!; '•K J 288 77//; FAf'I'J OF JICSUS: Baptism. Purification. the AfU'ction of the knowlcdLjcs and sciences belonging to tlio I^xtt'iiial mind. The life of tliis Att'eetion of knowledges and scienees of the Literal Sense of tlie Word, ,i;ives the IJational Kaeulty a eovering or body, whieli is tlie "in(jtlu'r" witliin wliieh the liational Faenltv exists as a reeei)taele of Seed from the Internal Sense of the Word. BAPTIS.M AND CIK 'TTMCISION. CGO. Baptism, in tlie Literal Sense, is a si^'n of entrance int( > rogenerutinLf life. The Waters of Baptism denote the Truths of the Word a[)plietl to the life, and these Truths are sij^nitied l»y the waters "ahove" and " below" the " firmament," or the biterior and Literal Truths of the Word. The external application o( water to the physical body in any form does not constitute the Baptism of tho Word, although it is used as a memorial that men .should he purified from their evils ; for adulterers and adulteresses may daily wash their bodies with water to the utmost cleanliness, nnd yet their whole minds be tilled with the impurity which results from the Love of Self, although they may have been devoutly l)apti/.ed in the j)rescribed external form in which they have burn educated. But the Baptism which is described in the Literal Sense of the Word is representative of the entrance upon the work of regeneration, which leads to the internal purification from evil and falsity, and this True Baptism must be daily and constantly performed by obedience to the Truths of the Literal Commandments in the daily external duties of life. GGl. Kegeneration differs from purification in this respect, whicl) is, that Regeneration precedes, and Purification follows : for no one can be inwardly purified from evils and falses, unless he ha entered upon the work of Regeneration. A man who has not entered upon t^iis work may externally withdraw himself from evils, but he is Mot purified from them, for his will is not changed TIIK NAT r UK OF Till-: WORD OF GOD. Fulfilment of Baptism. 28! I A week. ami he reninins uupuro, but tlio ip^'cnoratiut; man is licinuf purifioil everyday. Tims tlv (liirt'ivncc lietweeii the si;,'Miti('atiuii of Hap- ti.sm ami ("iiciiincisioii nsay hr jicrceived ; J)Mj»tism siijnityin;^ tlu; entrance upon tlie work of n'<,'t'ncration, ami Cireumci.siun signit'y- iiij^' purillcatiun from evil and falsity. Cu)2. The exti-rnai rite of Baptixm in itself alone, has no mort- ctlect upon the Internal life, than the external rite of Circumcision avails in the Inti^Mial purilieation of evil. The siy,iiitieance of all tlie external rites and ceremonies recorded in the Literal Sense, lefer to spiritual principles which must he fulfilled in the Internal life, of which the external forms narrated in the lictter of the \Vorthivf/, iind ancircmncision is nuthini/, Ijut the kecplnrf of theCommand- mnits of God." f " And the Loud thy God vnll circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thy sold, that thoit mayest live." I OOo. A "Week," wliicli is a period of .si'veii clays, siiiiiific's an eiitiru i)urio(l of every state of lleformation. Temptation, and Kegeneration, and the "Eiglith Day" is the beginning of a succeeding state. As "Circuni- LJsion" in the representative description of the Word, takes place on the "Eighth Day," this purification from evil must l)e constantly progressing, and thus be always proceeding as from a new beginning in the removal of Self-love and the Love of the World from the I'roprium, for those lusts, while they rule the External mind and the Rational Eaculty, so take possession of the thougiits, that they not only reject and suffocate the influx of the Divine Love, but pervert and defile it. Tliis inflowing • Kom. 2 : 20. t Cor. 7 : Irt, { Deut. 30 : 6. it! 1:1 .:1'^ I. it ' I I- !' 11 i 290 77/ A' FACJ'J OF JESi'S: Days of purification. The Law of Moses of Heavenly Love from the Lord is eonstaut witli every man, bnt its reeeption is opposed and turned to its o])l)osite i)rineiple l)y the evil and falsity of the i*roprlunj of the External mind. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord. Luke 2 -. 2-2, 0<)4. Tliepurifieation of evils and falses takes i)Iaec in the External mind, whieli contains the hereditary human principle derived from the mother, and unless this puri- fication is accomplished, the work of regeneration cannot proceed, for otherwise the Divine Love of the Lord taii- uot enter and assume the place occupied by the heredi- tary Proprium. The " Law of ]M()ses " denotes the Word of Clod, and here signifies the Truth of the Literal Com- mandments of the Word represented by the " Law," by which this purification is accomplished in the External mind. The signiHeation of the word "Afoses," is "Taken out of the water," and "water" signifies the Truth of tlie Literal Sense of the Word, which when obeyed, takes the mind out of natui'al thought concerning the Word, and lifts it into a spiritual perception of its Literior Truth. Thus instead of a physical man in ancient earthly history, the name "]\Ioses" represents the Lord as to the Commandments of the Word in the various states of the mind of regenerating men. 665. The Purification from the Love of Self and the World is effected bv the Two Great Commandments of 77/ A' XArURl!: OF Till': WiHil) OF COD. 2!)1 i The Spiritual City. The New Jerusalem. the AVonl, wliicli luo signified l»y tlio " Law of Moses," and wliich l)iing the regenerating,' man to "Jerusalem." By "Jerusalem," in the Word, is not meant an earthly city, but the Spiritual (Mty, or doctrines formed from the Divine Truth of the Word, which are revealed to the perceptions of the Kational Faculty, and the mind must be abstracted from the appearance of an earthly place in this narration, and the spiritual i)rinciple thought of, otherwise the Kational Faculty will be led into the natural world of material thought instead of the Spiritual world which is revealed by the Internal Sense of the Word. 000. " Zion," represents the Celestial I'rinciples of the Word within the regenerating man which are obeyed from the Good of Love, bv wliich is meant life and thought which is actuated by Att'uction. "Jerusalem," lepresents the Spiritual Principles t, ' the Word withm the regenerating man which exist from the Truth of the (iood of Love, by which is meant the thought or under- standing which has been opened to perceive the Interior Truths of the W^ord from olxHlience to the I'Lxternal Truths of the Commandments, which leads to an Interior principle of Affection, which is higher and warmer than external and cold principles of duty, or obedience. l>y the "New Jerusalem" is meant the Living Doctrines d(3rivcd from the Interior Divine Truth of the Word and received into the life of the regenerating man. which are universal in their application. 1 I \ .1 ' ! 1 1 1 1 I 1 \ 1 1 i 1 i 1 I ' 292 THE FACE OF JESUS. 11 Presenting to the Lord. Writing and printing. GG7. " To present him to the Loi'd," signifies that by a life according to the simple Literal Truths, the regen- erating man has been led to perceive the Divine Trutli within the Word, and he is thus "presented," or offered to the Lord, Avliich signifies a life of constant worship from True Doctrines from the Word, because the Internal principle of the Rational Faculty is opened to receive the Divine Love and Wisdom. As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. Luke 2 : 23. 60H. "As it is written" signifies the inscription within, and the impression on the life of the regenerating man. The " Law of the Lord" is the Divine Truth of the Word. Truths are impressed on the life when they are received into the Will, and thence govern the actions and speech. If they are received and remain merely in the ]\Iemory. they are only thought of intellectually, but as soon a>; they are received in the Will, they then become Living, because the very Essence of the Life of man is to AVill, and thence to act ; and Truths have no power in man until they are made Living. The reason why "it is written" signifies to impress on the life, is because the Art of Writing, or Printing, has been given to mankind, so that Truths and Thoughts may thus be preserved and remembered, and thus be handed down to succcii- sive generations. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 2i);3 Interior memory. Opening of the Book. THE BOOK OF LIFE. 0G9. The mind of man possesses Two Books, within which care written all his thoughts and actions. These Two Books are his Interior and Exterior memories. Those things which are wr'tten on the pages of his Interior Memory, remain to all Eternity, and they will never be blotted out, for they have been from his Will, or ruling love, and hei-e is written the True History of his life as it has progressed in form from Internal motives. Wh;' tever things or principles a man hears and sees, and appropriates into his life, whether they are good or evil, or true or fal.^e, arc insinuated into his Interior Memory without his being aware of it, just as he may take medicine or poison without being aware how it afiects the internal organs of the physical frame. G70. In tliis Internal Memory not a single impression or inscrip- tion which the man has himself written, will ever be lost. 'I'he Interior Memory is of such a quality that the inward motives of the most particular things which man has at any time thought, spoken and done, with the most minute circumstances, from his earliest years to extreme old age, are there deeply inscribed. When a man enters the regenerate life he carries with him the memory of all these things, and he is successively brought into recollection of all of them. This is the Book of his Life, which is opened in the clearest light whenever the lord permits, in order that he may not glory in his etlf-intelligence, but may see and feel that liis own Proprium brings nothing but Spiritual Death. G71. In view of this searching fact concerning the opening of the Book of Life, every man who reads the Word should strive to attain Holiness of Life by shunnin-^ his evils and looking to the Lord. To look to the Lord is to obey the Precepts of the Word, and thus acknowledge Him. "And I saw the dead, small and great, staiid before God ; and the Books were opened ; and another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life : and the dead were judjed out of those things which were written in the books, accord- inij to their iwrks." \ ; •!!- I'' I \: i i .1 t 'I m ii ; '» 29-t THE FACE OF JESUS. Woman. The first-born. 072. "Every male that opeiieth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord." In regard to the spiritual principles which constitute the human mind, the Word of God is no respecter of persons in the distinction of physical sex, for an earthly wo-man is a Womb-mtan who is so created, that in this world there may be a mother to succeeding generations for the perpetuity of life, in order that angels may be created by regeneration. Therefore the Regenerating Man is either male or female in regard to earthly sex, and the Love of Self in its de- grading influence, has no degrees of difference between the sexes, and the necessity for regenerr.tion is impera- tive with both. " There is neither male nor female : for ye are all one in Christ Jesus'' In the Male or Mascu- line principle of the mind. Love is the inmost degree, and its feminine covering is Wisdom ; whereas in the Female principle of the mind the Wisdom of the male is inmost, and its covering is the Affection thence derived ; so that " Male" signifies the Truth from Good, and "Female" is the Affection of that Truth. These two principles represented by "Male" and " Female " exist in the mind of the one regenerating man, the conjunc- tion of which constitutes the Heavenly Marriage, not between two individuals, but between the two principles of the mind, the Will and the Understanding, for two persons cannot become One Person. 073. The "Womb" is the Rational Faculty, and to " Open" is to give power in order that the perception of Truth may be born. The " First-born " is Good, which THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 29; Holiness. Irreverence, is formed by means of Truths from the Word made Good, or lived according to, and this Good is the power wliich opens the Kational Faculty, for the "]S[ale" which is first born is Trutli from Good, for Good is first con- ceived from the Lord, and is formed by Truths, and "shall be called holy to the Lord." By "Holy," or " Holiness," is signified Divine Truth and all the prin- ciples which proceed therefrom, and the regenerating man is Sanctified or made Holy when his life is governed by Divine Truth, or the Word, for the True Holiness of the Lord in its ultimate degree, exists in the life of the man who obeys its Precepts. 674. The Literal Sense of the Word is Holy, because it contains within its expressions Interior Divine Truth, and it is therefore the Temple of the Lord. It should for this reason always be treated with reverence, both in places of public gatherings and in the home, because therein is the Lord Himself, buried in the sepulchre of the Literal Sense, waiting to arise and re-create the life of the man who opens and reads its sacred pages. " I'/ie Lord is in His /loh/ Temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him. " HotineKs becometk Thine JIfouse, O Lord, for ever.'' 67'). TMie Literal Sense of the Word should not be used in the language of common conversation, or ever be mack) the sulyoct of jesting or punning ))y ludicrous application, and thus abuse made of the receptacles of Interior Divine Truth, because such treatment is trifiing with the Source of Spiritual Life, and leads the mind fi J 1 : ! ' ■' i ' r 1 < : 1 !. '1 'l I il 296 THE FACE OF JESUS t H Expiation. Birds. iiway from i)orceivinf; its true Holiness. Using the Word with irreverence leads to profonity and blasphemy, for it is the Name of the Lord, which " T/iou shall not take in vain" By " called holy to the I.oi-d," is signified a per- ception that these Divine Truths, which in their Interior meaning have entered the enlightened Kational Faculty, Jire from the Lord alone, and that He is the Source of their Inspiration, and that they do not originate from the finite instruments which He has employed to record the Literal and its revealed Internal Sense. And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeono. Luke 2 : 24. ()7G. To "offer a sacrifice" signifies expiation from sin, or the removal of evils and falses. By Expiation, or Propriation, is meant the deliverance from Spiritual Death, by the purification from evils and falses, which is accomplished by resisting and overcoming them. Tlio *' Law of the Lord," signifies the Word. A " Turtle dove" is representative of Exterior principles, and a "Young pigeon" signifies Interior principles. By "a "pair" and "two" is signified the conjunction of these two principles, which exist in the Understanding and the Will, which when united by obedience to the Pre- cepts of the Word constitute the Heavenly Marriage. All birds mentioned in the Word signify spiritual prin- ciples in the regenerating man which relate to Truth or Faith, and conseciuently to Intellectual and Kational principles. The gentle, beautiful and clean birds repre- sent principles of Truth, and those which are ravenous and unclean represent false principles. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 297 OFFERING SACRIFICE. "li^ Sacrifice. Removint/ evils. G77. An " Offering'' signifies Worship, or a life according to the Precepts of the Word, and to " offer " the two spiritual principles of Love and Faith, signified by " young pigeons " and " turtle- doves," implies the siicrifice of the Love of Self, which will suffer until it is removed, and which will occupy the Six Days of Re- generation. Although it appears to the regenerating man as if he removed his own sins by resisting them, this is oidy an Appear- ance, which is permitted so that man shall in freedom strive against evil and falsity, for the power to do this is from the Lord alone. Every man must bear the fruit of his own ini(juity, for his deeds are recorded by himself in his own Book of Life, and there they will remain, for his works follow him, and the* scar of every sin will not be effaced thi'ough Eternity. G78. The Lord bears iniquities way and removes them in pro- portion as men desist from them, and no farther, for He saves a man only through what appears to be his own efforts, for there must be a reciprocal conjunction between the Giver of Life and its receptacle. Yet man of himself alone cannot remjve the least evil from his Proprium, although the power is given him to desist from sin if he chooses, and then the Lord removes the evil and enters the Proprium and re-o-eates it with .spiritual principles, bearing the iniquity " without the camp " to the circumference, and saves man from his own evil Proprium, by redeeming or liberating him from the influence of this evil spirit from Hell, or Self Love. 079. The evil that a man has done in the past, cannot be separ- ated from his responsibility, but \y\\\ remain as his own thi'ough Eternity, for the sin which he has committed cannot be imputed to any other person, and therefore it cannot be absolutely detached from his individuality ; but so far as the Lord enters by means of love and obedience to the Precepts of the Word, so far the evils and falses of the Proprium are removed to the outer boundary of the individuality of the regenerating man. 1 ■' 298 THE FACE OF JESUS: Heaven and Hel The natural degree of life. G80. Heaven does not extinguish He'l, but in the regenerating man, removes those evil and false pi-inciples which are from Hell, for the Life of Good and Truth from the Lord by means of the Word, constitutes Heaven, and these are the principles which re- move evil and falsity, when man desists from and resists evil. Thus man, who in and of himself alone is a Hell in miniature, by regeneration becomes a Heaven, and as far as Heavenlv Life enters his nature. Hell is removed, but the evil he has done in the past will never be separated from his individuality, although the regenerating man will be washed and purified from it in liis actual life in the future by means of the Truths of the Word. He can never glory in self ighteousuess, but can look back and to the outside, to his past wicked thoughts and actions, which will always be presented before his mental vision, when he is tempted to exalt himself, or look away from the Lord ; for whenever he turns away from the Center of his spiritual universe, he looks to the circumference where all his evils and falses are dormant, and he sees his own righteousness as " filthy rags." And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. Luke 2 : 39. 681. When the Precepts of the Word are obeyed from interior motives of Love conjoined with Truth, which takes place during the Fourth Day of Creation, they enter the Exterior or Natural principles of the External mind and invigorate them with spiritual life, and thus they bring the natural life nearer the Lord and farther away from the hereditary evil of the Proprium, for "Galilee" signifies the Natural principles of the External mind which receive the Natural or Literal Truths of the Word. Ill * [ ll THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 299 Instruction from the Word. Development of thought. G82. By the '* City of Xazaroth," is signified the Doc- trine or Instruction received from the Literal Sense of the Word, within which tiie Interior principles of spiri- tual life reside and are revealed to the mind. As the evil and false principles are removed in the regenerating man, the Appearances of Truth Avhicli are upon the su*'- face of the Literal Sense of the Word, are proportion- ately dispersed, and thus material ideas of the nature of the Word are gradually dissipated, and a true con- ception of its Divinity is formed within the Kational Faculty, which is born into life, and increases in deve- lopment. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom ; and the grace of God was upon him. Luke 2 : 40. 683. By '"the child grew," is signified tlie further per- fection of the Rational Faculty from the entrance of the Lord as a child from the Internal mind, for "growing" signifies advancing in interior knowledges of the Word. "And waxed strong in spirit," signifies increasing per- ception of the Word, for " strength " is predicated of Truth. 084. The Spihit is the whole man himself which is within the physical body, and is the complex of all the faculties of the spiritual body. The Soil is the Interior life of the spiritual body, or the very Spiritual Essence of man, while the Spir' t is the Spiritual Substances of man. The Spirit of man is not a shapeless etherial vapor, but is the real man himself, with all his faculties j t IVrV 300 THE FACE OF JESUS: Salvation from death. The Grace of God. as a tan^^iblo oljjcct of tliought. It is not the death of the physical frame which man slionhl fear, but that Death of the Spiritual I'erceptions ^vhicll is caused by dis- obedience to the Precepts of Life, Avhich turns the Divine Love and Wisdom of the Lord into the Love of Self and the World, and thus into Inxtred and falsity, so that the (iood and Truth of the Word cannot be seen. To save man from this ])eath, the Lord has entered the world by means of the Word, and made known the Principles of Si)iritual Life, by obedience to which, every faculty of the spirit will be kindled into existence, and "wax strong," and be " filled with wisdom." 08.'). " Filled with wisdom,' denotes that the Divine Truth HMgns within the whole man, even though all the evils and falses of the Proprium are not yet removed. True Wisdom is derived from Love, and is an Internal l)erception of the Divine Truth of the Word. Wliere the Divine Truth reigns, the Proprium of man cannot rule over the Affections, for if a man loves the Truths of the Word by obeying them, they give him such in- w^ard delight that Self-love appears to him in a diabolical form, so that he is led to shun those evil and false prin- ciples which destroy spiritual life. 086. " And the grace of God was upon him," signifies that humiliation Avhich is derived from the Affection of Truth, denoted by "Grace." This humiliation is the inward acknowledgment that in man alone, there is nothing but evil, and that in his own strength he has not power to look to the Lord, or receive spiritual in- THE Nature of the word of god. noi Mercy. True humiliation. struction from the Word. " Mercy" si<:;nifios liuniiliiitioii or adoration which is derived from the Attcctioii of (Jood, and when both words arc nsed together in tlie Word, jNIercy denotes adoration from I.ove, and Cirace ivpre- sents humiliation. Thci is no humiliation, or Orace, where the Love of Self reigns, for if a person who is thus ruled, assumes the external appearance of humility, he is filled with Self-righteousness on account of his apparem meekness. C87. Thus the " Grace of God " is upon the External mind of the regenerating man, into which the Lord Jesus is entering as the Holy Child, growing, waxing strong, and being filled with wisdom. This is the "earth" which the Lord is entcM'ing by means of the Word, and is the Human Principle He is assuming, which is to be made Divine. The whole work of regeneration is from the Lord alone. The Internal mind is the sinless re- ceptacle of the Lord alone, who has there entered and reigns supremely as Jehovah God. G88. This " Grace of God," or humiliation, exists on account of the hereditary human principle derived from the " motlier,"or the natural principle of the External mind, wliich is to l)e madt^ Divine by being governed by spiritual principles which fill the Internal mind from tlie Internal Sense of the Word. When the regenerating man is in a true state of humiliation, he divests himself of all ability to think and do anything from himself, and submits himself altogether to the Lord, and thus accedes to tlif Divine Principles of the Word, or the Lord who fills the Internal mind. This is the conjunction of the Internal mind with the External mind of the reirenei-ating man, and thus of the Internal Sense with the Literal Sense of the Word within him in the order of regeneration, signitied by the Fourth Day of Greation. I \ \ ! J 1 ,'■] )i .! V ; J' «■«, 1 1 302 THE FACE OF JESUS: The waters bringing forth. Physical science. THE FIFTH DAY OF CREATION ; OB, THE FIFTH STATE OF REGENERATION. And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. Gen. 1 : 20. (J80. It has been illustrated that "Waters" denote the knowledges and scientific principles which are stored ill the External memory concerning the Literal Sense of the Word. To "bring forth" denotes acknowledgment in faith and act, of the Literal Truths of the Word, and " abundantly," Avliich is prt^licated of Truths from Good, ignifies the prolification of the knowledges of these Truths, arising from a life {Recording to them. By "moving," or motion, is denoted a change of state in active progression, and by " creatures that have life," is denoted Scientific Truths in which there is Good, or Avhich have been made alive by obedience. 090. Those Scicntitic Triitlis arc principles connected with the "Word of Goil.and do not refer to the laws and axioms of physical science. All the self-evitlent truths of physical science exist from the Laws of Divine Order, but they belong to the degree of purely natural thought, and have no relation to the spiritual regeneration of men, excepting by the orderly laws of correspondence, for all natural things correspond to spiritual principles, but are in entirely distinct degrees of life. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. W,\ True life. Moving creatures and fowls. G91, After the " Great Lif^hts " aro kindled and placed in the Internal princij)lo of the Rational Faculty, from which the Ex- ternal principle receives light, the regenerating man then begins to trul}' live. In the preceding states he was not filled with true spiritual life, beoau.se the Good which he ilid, he supposed originated from hinr'^lf. and the Truths which he uttered, ho imagined he spoke from his own knowleilge. Since man in him- self alone is si)lritunlly dead, and he originates nothing but what 13 evil and false, therefore what he produces from himself is not alive, in consequence of his inability to do good from a principle ■which has no life in itself, for Good can only be derived from the real Fountain of Good, the Inmost Life of the Word. G92. In the development of spiritual life in which the regene- rating man is led from the Appearance of Truth to the reality of spiritual principles, the Lord permits hiui at first to suppo.se that he does Good and speaks Trutli from himself, because in the first states of regeneration he is incapable of conceiving otherwise, nor can he in any other manner bo led to perceive and believe that all Goodness and all Truth is from the Lord alone. 093. AVliilc in the previous states, the Good iind Truths which are in him are compared to the "grass," and also to the " herb yielding seed," and to the " tree yielding- fruit," all of which are inanimate ; but when he has arrived at the Fifth State, he is vivilied by Love and Faith, and believes that the Lord operates all the CJood which he does, and all the Truth which he speaks, and in this State he is compared to the '• moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may tly above the earth." ** Fowls," or "flying creatures," signify Truths, and in the opposite sense they represent Falsity, and here they signify Spiritual Truths because they Hy above the "earth" or External mind. Natural Truths are such as pertain to the Literal Sense of the Word, and which ! ; ] : 1 ' ( 1 i Hi i I. if'- ii i : 'I I S04 THE FACE OF JESUS I Exterior forms of expression. Fishes. take tlicir lonn of expression from the eorrespondenee of tliiii,i;s and ideas wliieli exist in tlie plivsieal world of snl)stance and natural tlionj^lit, wliicli are exterior to the Interior Prineiple of the Word, and tluis (h) not originate from any Apparent events or eireumstanees in this physical world, but wliieh exist from their eorre- spondenee with the Spiritual L'rineiples of the Word. (51)4. Tlie ''()[)en firmament of heaven," is the illum- inated Jvational Faculty which is open above to receive influx and comnnuiication from the Heaven of the Internal mind, which is the Temple of the Lord in the regenerating man, and this " opening" is only by means of the Truths of the Word which are loved and theri'- foro ol)eyed, and it can only take place by the removal of the Love of Self and the World. ()05. The " waters bring forth abundantly the moving creatures," which are called " Fishes" throughout the Word, and they signify the Scientific princii)les of the External mind, animated by a Living Faith, whether mentioned in the Old or New Testament. A "Fisher" is a spiritual principle which instructs the Natural i)rin- cii)le of the mind in the Truths of the Literal Sense of the Word. These "fishes" are the Natural Truths with which the " multitudes " are fed in the Gospel narratives, and which fill the "nets" of the "fishers." By "multi- tudes" are not signified men, women, and children, but principles of the External mind which are to be fed with the Natural or Literal Truths of the Word. By a " net" is signified the external sensual principle of the mind w^hicli is the receptacle of the "moving creatures," or *'fishes." Till': NATl'HK OF TIIIC WORD OF GOD. 30" Birds, beasts and fishes. The Inmost Life of the Word. 090. The Literal Sense of the Woid ahouiuls in the mention of " birds," " beasts," and " fishes," and any thonj^htful person may readily perceive in reading the Word, thu^ Si)iritnal PrinLii)les are indicated l)y these names, instead of tlie objects \vhicli are mentioned, for •\vithont this Interior mcanin;^- in tlie Jioolv called Tni: Word ok (Jod, the mentioning' of sndi insignificant objects and thin^^s "would Ije triflinj^ witli the Eternal l*rinciples "Nvhich save men from sin. 007. All Truths froiu the Word which are received into the life by obedience, arc from the Lord, and contain within them Celestial and Spiritual Principles, which, could they be 8een in the world, wouM appear as a Living' Human Trinclple, becau.se it contains the Life which cojistitutes man an anj^^el in Heaven wiien he is regenerated by it. This Livin<,' Human Principle is seen in the Gospels of the Evangelists, where it is personitied in the Human Form of the Lord Jesus Clirist, first in the woild of material thought, and to those who love to do His Conmiand- ments, He is revealed as the Inmost Life of the Word thus per- sonified to the ultimate degree of natural thought. Every single expression, idea, and least principle of thought received and used by an angelic man lias life, because the hereditary Proprium is subdued and removed, and therefore every Thought contains an AfTection which proceeds from the Lord who is Life alone, and there is no obstruction from the Love of Self. And God created great whales, and every living crea- ture that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. Gen. l : 2L 098. Every minute principle in the universe of mind and nature is in subordination to some general principle as a means of its existence and subsistence. "Great T w 1 ' ! 1 It t ' i i ■ ^|: 5' 30G THE FACE OF JESUS. Whales. Jonah. Whales " signify the general principles of the Scientifics of the External mind Avhich are animated by a Living Faith which God creates. By a Living Faith is meant a belief in the Precepts of the Word which govern the life. The " Great Fish " which swallowed the prophet "Jonah," signifies the general knowledges of the Literal Sense of the Word which are applied to confirm false doctrines. A " Prophet " signifies the Divine Truth of the Word which teaches. 699. When the Literal Sense i.s u.sed to confirm evil jvnd false principles which originate from the Love of Self and the World, the Essential Living Truth of the Word is " swallowed," or obscurc'-l b}^ the Appearances of Truth, and the simple Precepts ot Love to the Lord and the Neighbor are hidden by the " traditions of men," which tend to place more stress upon matters concerning belief, than a life aceordivc/ to these Two precepts. As Wisdom exists from Love within ; as the External proceeds from tlie Internal ; as Truth is from Good, and as the cii'cumference of a circle is projected from its center, so a True Faith results from a life in obedience to the Word from Interior motives, or Affectiuii. 700. The prophet " Jonah " signifies the Lord, or the Internal Sense of the Word, which at the end of " three days and tlucL' nights," or a full state of preparation of the regenerating man, is cast out " upon the dr}" land." The "sea "in which this "great fish'' exists, signifies the false principles which are derived frum the Love of Self, on which the shij) of fal.se doctrine floats, atiu in which the sensual principles signified by "fishes," confirm al' the fallacies of evil and false principles. " Jonah " being cast into the "sea," signifies the temptation which the regenerating man experiences before the "dry land" or Extei'nal mind perceives the simple Truth of the Word as indicated by the Literal Sense separated from fidse doctrines ; by obedience to which Truth lli' "ground" is pi-epared to receive the Life ol' the Internal Sense. THE XATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. sm Every living creature. The blessing of the Lord. 701. "Every living creature that moveth," signifies that all the Scientifics or Natural Truths in the External mind are vivified with a Living Principle derived from Love, which are now brought forth " abundantly" from a principle of Affection, according to their quality, or the requirements of the individuality of the regenerating man, in his preparation for usefulness. 702. "Fowls" signify Thoughts. "Wings" denote Spiritual Truths from the Word, because the Kational Faculty is derived and exists from them, and which sees from the Light of Heaven, which is Spiritual Truth. The wings of fowls, or birds, are like the arms arid hands pertaining to man, which signify the power of Divine Truth. "Winged fowls" therefore signify thoughts containing Spiritual Truths which are derived from the Word of God, and the perception is implanted in the regenerating man that these Truths are from the Lord, and that the Word is Divine Truth, which perception is signified as before by the expression "And God saw that it was good." m And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply on the earth. Gen. l : ■22. 703. " God blessed them," signifies the presence of the Lord within the spiritual princi})les which are entering the External mind of the regenerating man, enriching them with Celestial and Spiritual Good. The Lord is present or remote with every man in proportion as he 308 THE FACE OF JESUS: The presence of the Lord. The number five. loves the Neighbor from Internal motives. Every prin- ciple or receptacle which contains the Living Presence of the Lord, becomes "fruitful" and ''multiplies" itself to a great degree, which does not appear while a man lives in the state of natural thought, but to an incompre- hensible degree as the Kational Faculty is illuminated. ** Fructification" is predicated of states of Love, and " jNIultiplication," of states of Truth, or Faith, which now enter and fill the natural scientific receptacles of the External mind, from the Literal Sense of the Word, within which the Spiritual Truths are developed and mcreased, which is signified by ''and fill the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth." And the Evening and the Morning were the Fifth Day. Gen. 1 : 23. 704. Thus the consummation of this State of Rescn- eration progresses from the obscurity of " evening" toward the light of "morning." The number "Five'" signifies "much" and is predicated of Truths, and in this State denotes these Truths which are vivified by animated spiritual principles. 705. During the progress of regeneration, the experience and conflicts which occur in the External mind in the removal of the evils and falsities of the Proprium are represented in the historical narrative of the wise men worshipping the Infant Jesus, and liy Herod seeking His life and the consequent flight into Egypt, as given in the second chapter of the Book of Matthew, which will be interpreted by the Spiritual principles illustrated in the pre- ceding pages. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 309 Perception of the Internal Sense. Herod. THE INFANCY OF JESUS. Now when Jesus was bom in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the King, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem. Matt. 2:1. 706. It has been illustrated that "Jesus, born in Bethlehem" is the Rational Faculty which is enlight- ened to perceive the Internal Sense of the Word, and that this is the Son of God who is born within the mind of the regenerating man, and who is to enter the External mind in proportion as the hereditary evil of the Pro- prium is removed. The state of the false principles derived from the Love of Self, which govern the unre- generated Proprium is represented by the " Days of Herod the king," but as the Incarnation of the Lord has begun in the External mind, the power of the Pro- prium must yield, and the influence of its evil and false spirits be gradually overcome and dispersed, for the perception is now implanted that the Word is Divine Truth, which is the Lord Himself. 707. The Truths which teach this knowledge are the " Wise men," who are from the " East," or the Lord, and who come to this " Jerusalem," which here signifies False Doctrine over which " Herod " is the king, because false doctrine is derived from the Appearances of Truth in the Literal Sense of the Word, when a man who is ruled by the Love of Self engages in External worship. f-ii| . I. ■ T ij 310 THE FACE OF JESUS. The King of the Jews. Historical facts. Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews ? for we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him. Matt. 2 : 2. 708. " Saying " signifies communication to the mind, or perception that there should be received further instruction from the Word. The " Jews " here signify the Interior principles of the Word, and the "King" is the Divine Truth, or Internal Sense of the Word, which governs the Truths of the Literal Sense. " For we have seen his Star in the East," signifies that the Truths which have led to this perception were the Heavenly know- ledges represented by the " Star in the East," which are from the Divine Wisdom, and are the constant guiding principles of Truth and of Life, which is signified by " and are come to worship him," for to worship the Lord, denotes the faithful performance of every duty in life, by which the Lord is acknowledged and confessed, and the spiritual and temporal welfare is thus regarded. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Matt. 2 : 3. 709. When the false principles of the Proprium per- ceive the entrance of the Divine Truth of the Word illuminating the Rational Faculty, a disturbance occurs in the External mind, for the false doctrines which have been confirmed from the Literal Sense, are brought into confliction with the Light from Heaven. All these facts of Spiritual History occur within the life of the regener- ating man, and are not physical events ot a past worldly THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 311 Spiritual events. Chief priests and scribes. history. Concerning these Spiritual events, unless the reader knows something of the operation of his own mind in the word of regeneration, and is attentive to the principles which are operating within his own experience, he cannot know what is meant by the Illumination of the national Faculty, and that in this state there is dis- turbance and trouble at the beginning, and that peace and tranquility do not begin until victory triumphs over each temptation and conflict. The more a man has been absorbed in material and sensual ideas concerning the Word, the more severe will be the conflict between Truth and Falsity. The field of combat is the External mind, which alone is troubled during temptation. ■iir And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. Matt. 2 : i. 1 I 710. The Love of Self which rules the Proprium is represented by " Herod the King," and as he governs the " Jerusalem" which is here treated of, so also the "chief priests and scril^es of the people" who are governed by him, represent evil and false principles. In a good sense, the " chief priests " represent the Lord as to his Divine Love, and are the principles of (lood in in the Word which lead the regenerating man to obey its Truths. A " Scribe" denotes the Word from wliich Doctrine, or Spiriiaal Instruction, is derived, because a scribe records thoughts, and the Word is a record of Divine Thoughts. By " People," is signir.ed Truths. f::i I I I '\ Mi-il !|i 312 THE FACE OF JESUS : Evils priests and false scribes. Freedom of belief. 711. In the opposite sense, "the chief priests and scribes of the people," signify the adulteration of the Goods and the falsification of the Truths of the Literal Sense of the Word. The Internal Sense cannot be falsi- fied, because it is revealed only to the regenerating man whose life is principled in the Good and Truth of the Word, as far as he has comprehended it. By "De- manded " is signified Searching, and the Literal Sense as interpreted by false doctrines, is examined concern- ing the Humanity of the Lord, which is signified by " where Christ should be born." These are temptations which arise in the External mind of the regenerating man from the yet unregenerated Proprium which is to be overcome. INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE. 712. The Literal Sense of the Word is for all mankind, however their religious doctrines may differ, and as it reads the same in every language in regard to natural ideas, whether the reader is in the life of true or false doctrines, it is permitted every person to believe freely what seems true to his comprehension, accord- ing to his own state of life. If this freedom were not given to each man, there would be no reception of the Word, because there would be no acknowledgement that it is authoritative as a Religious Teacher, and thus even the unregenerated Proprium looks to the Literal Sense, and although it may falsely interpret its meaning to confirm its own state, the words of Spiritual His. tory and Prophetic Utterance remain the same and contain the Interior Principles of Divine Truth. 713. The unregenerated Proprium of the man whose Rational Faculty has been illuminated, is filled with the knowledge of the Literal Sense of the Word, and in the struggle for supremacy, in the Infancy of the Child Jesus, seeks to confirm its own love by THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 3in Evil and false confirmations. Time and place. doctrines which have been previously implanted in the External memory, and which agree with the evil and false principles of the Propvium. An evil priest anil a false scribe may teach the Literal Sense of the Word, for its Truth is the same whether uttered by the voice of a good or evil man, or if written by a true or hypocritical writer. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it is written by the prophets. Matt. 2 : 5. 714. ** And they said unto him," signifies the com- munication of this knowledge to the understanding of the Proprium, for the unregeneratcd Proprium is meant by " Herod the King," and as it is ruled by the Love of Self, no Internal principle of the Word can enter the domain of this evil " king " while he reigns, and all per- ception of its meaning is closed by the natural ideas which occupy the External mind in which the uin'egen- erated I'roprium is not yet removed, and which are only thought of when the Word is read ; for thoughts of time and place obscure the Spiritual Principles which are held within the Literal form of words. This temptation and obscurity occurs in the experience of every regenerating man until the Appearances of Truth are dissipated by the Love of Self and the World being removed, and the Proprium of the External mind is regenerated and filled with spiritual life. 715. Then it will be discerned that "In Bethlehem of Judea" signifies the Perception of the Pational Faculty illuminated from the Internal mind which is ruled by the Divine Love, and that "thus it is written by tho \^t '( ) iV;i,Jli. 314* THE FACE OF JESUS: Signification of writing. The spiritual Governor. prophets," signifies that the Divine Truths of the AVord are implanted in tlie life of those who perceive and re- ceive the Internal Sense, for to "write" si{^nifies to implant in the life, and " Prophets " signify the Divine Truths of the Word. And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda ; for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Matt. 2 : 6. 710. The "Land of Juda," signifies the regenerating man who is actuated by the Celestial principle of Love, and " Bethlehem " is the Perception of the Rational Faculty which exists from this principle. " Art not the least among the princes of Juda," signifies that tliis Perception is the Superior or Interior principle within the Primary Truths of Love to the Lord and the Neigh- bor, for a " Prince " signilies a primary or leading Truth. 717. Out of this Interior principle of the Rational Faculty the " Governor" Avill proceed, in the perception of the Divine Truth of the Word in the External prin- ciple of the Rational Faculty, which presides over the Literal Truths of the Word which have been obeved, and illustrates their spiritual meaning. By " Israel " is meant Spiritual Good which has been made alive in the Natural princii)le of the External mind, by obedience to the Truth which shines through the Literal Sense of the Word to all who love the Lord and the Neighbor. The *• Governor" is the Spiritual Sense of the Word received into the External principle of the Rational Faculty. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 315 Insidious self-love. Hypocrisy. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the Star ap- peared. Matt. 2 : 7. 718. Self-Love is so insidious in its nature that it seeks in every form to separate tlic External from the Internal mind, and to this end it assumes the Appearance of •Truth as far as it can move the inmost principles of the Natural mind, and communicates with the True Doc- trines of Life from the Word, in order to observe the state of the progress of true knowledges from the Word, which will be destructive to the Love of Self. At this state of progress, the regenerating man is not aware of the insinuating nature of Self-Love, and does not per- ceive its operation, therefore it '* privily" calls the " wise men." And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child ; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and wor- ship him also. Matt. 2 : 7. 719. The audacity of the Proprium in the time of temptation, when the Light from Heaven seems obscured in the combats of regeneration, is illustrated in tliis verse. ** He sent tliem to Bethlehem," signifies the directing of the Affections formed ])y the doctrines from the Word, to the Perception of the Interior princi[)lo of the national Faculty, to prove if there is a separation between the Rational Faculty antl the External mind. The desire of the Proprium to rule over this Affection, is signified by " And when ye have found him, bring me ill •4lill 2 ,- i! (■ ■ u p.- 'H 316 THE FACE OF JESUS: Perverted worship, The light of nature. II I word .ai^ain." " That I may come and worship him also," signifies the desire of the Proprium to turn the Percep- tion of the Internal Sense of the Word into sclf-intelli- gcnoc, so that profanation will pervert its meaning and thus destroy Internal worship, or Spiritual Life. 720. As the unregencrated Proprium is nothing but evil, nil Kxternal worship wliioh is performed from it is Idolatry, for there is no inward life in it; but worship which is derived from the Precepts of the Word is alive, because within all the principles of the Word, there is a Sjiiritual Sense which treat^* of all things which are from the Lord, and within the Spiritual Sense is the Celestial Sense which treats of the Lord alone. This Inmost Sense is above the comprehension of any man while living in the natural world of thought, but the Sanctity and Life of the Word is from this Source alone, within which is the Divine Being Him- self from whom all things exist. 721. The Word is as a Divine Man. The Literal Sense is the Body, and the Internal Sense is the Soul which alone gives life to the Literal Sense, which thus has its Holiness from the Internal Sense within. It appears as if the Literal Sense vanishes or dies when the Internal Sense is revealed, when on the contrary, it does not vanish, but is vivified in the regenerating man by the Internal Sense. THE LIGHT OF NATURE. 722. It is a common belief among educated men that without the Revealed Word, what is called the " Light of Nature," teaches that there is a God to be worshipped, and that there is an inunortal life beyond the death of the physical frame, besides many other facts taught by the natural sciences. Scientific facts iire natural truths wiiich exist from Spiritual principles to which they correspond ; but man of himself, or in his own self derived intelligence, knows nothing concerning the Divine Principles of Kegeneration without the Revelation of the Word of God. THE XATURE OF THE WORD OF GoD. sr Natural self-intelligence. Worship of self. 723. Since man is born into tlio hereditary evils of the Love of Self, which are such as to prechide the Divine inthionces enterinir his mind from tlie Lord, they open the door for the inthix of evil, wliich causes him to be blind to Spiritual Principles. The " Li<^ht of Nature" is the self-intelli<^fence of the Natural mind, which cannot elevate the thou^dits above the Proprium into Spiritual Perception, without the Word of God. 724. All the knowledge of Spiritual principles which men have possessed, has not been derived from their self-intelligence, al- though they may have seemed wise in their own estimation, and have supposed that they were originators of religious teach- ings, but their wisdom has been derived from doctrines which have in various forms descended throuy departed " signifies that they recede from or slum these evil influences. " And, lo, the ►Star, which they saw in ' •!«■■ il iij; h 318 THE FACE OF JESUS. I Development of perception, Great joy. tho Kast, went l)i'f()ro thom," .signifies cloaror perception l)y means of the knowledge of the (Jood and Truth of tlie Word, wliieli leads to more Internal prineiples. " Till it eame and stood over where the young child was," signifies the progression of this perception until tho liational Faculty discerns that this " young child " is the Son of Clod, and that He is the Word who is being made Divine in the External mind of the regenerating man. When they saw the Star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Matt. 2 : 10. 7'27. The knowledges which lead to the understand- ing of the Internal Sense of the Word are obtained by means of the Science of the Correspimdence of natural things with Si)iritu.d Principles, and this Science will be made known to all regenerating men who desire to know the true Source of the Divinity of the Word. This knowledge is a cause of "exceeding great joy," because the things of the physical world on every hand become represenrative of the Spiritual Truths of the AVord, not only the tangible objects of sense, but the orderly principles of science and art, and there i.-i not a thing in this world which does not correspond to either Good or Truth, or its opposite evil and falsity. THE TRUE SOURCE OF INTELLECTUAL CULTURE. 728. The Science of Correspondence is derived from the Internal Sense of the Word, and it is not an earthly science invented by the ingenuity of a finite mind. The Divine Truth Hi THE NATURl': OF THE WORD OF (10 P. 310 Intellectual culture. Adoration of the Word, wliich is inadn manifest within the Word hy tho Si)iritiml Scnso, attests its Divinity, nnd in all time to come, lovinjLj hearts will find within tlie Spiritual Sense of tho Wonl, the most elevatinf,' intellectual science which the mind is cupnMe of <^Mas|>in(jf. Witli these interior Truths every earthly scienci^ and knowledi,'e will co-operate and help illustrate, and re<,feneratinj,' men will ivjoico at every discovery in tho world of physical science, and refined Art will join hands with tho True Source of all enli^hti-nnjent, for by tho Internal Sense of the Word, " Mercy antl Truth (ire met t(>ij('llier; ritjhteousnens and jKuce have Icif^Hed each other. Truth shall spri)Kj out of the earth; and ri(/litcousncss shidl look down from heaven." Tho adoration of the Word whicli is expressed in sucli terms of allection in the One Hundred and Nineteenth Psalm will then bo understood by the man who obeys, for in keepiu",' tliese Divine Precepts " there is great reward," for these are tho treasuries whicli contain tho spiritual riches of Heaven. And whan they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him ; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts ; gold and frankincense and myrrh. Mutt. 'J : 11. 7*29. "IIouso" si^iiiii(\s the Kiitioiuil Faculty wliuro Good and Truth are coiiioiiKMl in the re^ciicratini' man, because the ISIarriage of these Two Principles from the Word constitutes one enliiiliteiied mind which dwells within, and '*to come into the house" sij^nifies tlie en- trance of these Affections for True J)()ctrine from the Word, or *' Avise men," which perceive its Internal Sense, which have led to this Affection by obedieiici*, which is signified by "they saw the young child with JNfary his mother." The Son of God is the Internal Sense of the n ' ft M ■ ; i'l '. '..I 320 THE FACE OF JESUS: Opening '.he treasures. Formation of the affections. Word which has entered tlie Affectio!is of the regener- utiiig man who has h^ved and obeyed its simple Precepts as they are given in tlie Literal Sense. 730. These Affections which are formed from True Doctrine " fall doAvn," or prostrate themselves in humility and acknowledgment, and worship the Lord from In- ternal principles. By ''when they had opened their treasures," is signified the communication and conjunc- tion of the Divine Truths of the Word within the life of the regenerating man, and the acknowledgment that the Affections and Thoughts which are filled with Good and Truth from the Word, are "gifts" from the Lord alone, is signifieu by " they presented unto him gifts." These Affections of Good and Truth are " Gold," or Celestial Good ; *' Frankincense," or Spiritual Good; and "]\Iyrrli,'' or Natural Good. 781. Cck^stial Good is Love to the Lord. Spiritual Good is Love t"; the iSei<,dibour. Natural Good pertains to the natural affections, wliicli give dehght to the natural principle of the External mind, from external things in speech and actions witli which the natural life communicates. The delight of Natural Good is in the life of usefulness to others. Before Regeneration begins, the Natural Good in man's external life is only an Appearance of Good, because it is not vivitied with Spiritual Life from the Living Pi incii)les of the "Word. 732. All good affections which are within the regenerating man, contain the conjunctive principles of Truth, because in the order of regeneration, in being re-created from natural hereditary evil and falsity to Spiritual Good and Truth, the Affections of Good are formed by means of Truths from the Word, and Good is the Internal principle of Truth, which latter becomes its form oi boundary. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 321 Warning. The other Life And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. Matt. 2:12. •733. To be " warned of God in a dream," signifies thot foresight is implanted within the perception that the Love of Self is fostered by the Appearances of Truth which are in the Literal Sense of the Word, when there is no Liternal Sense acknowledged. "They departed into their own country another way," signifies that True Doctrine from the Word recedes from the Appearances of Truth into the Internal Sense from which it is derived, and which is the opposite of false doctrines which favor the Love of Self and thus lead to " Herod," the king of the Proprium. DREAMS AND VISIONS. 734. During sleep, the exterior thought is quiescent, and in Dreams there is only the appearance of time, because the exterior natural principle of the mind is not operating through the external senses. If men understood the Science of Correspondence with which the Word is written, they could interi)ret their own spiri- tual states in every dream which could be retained and brough', forth from the external memory. The y leading a regenerate life according to the Truths of the Word. When the Interior Sight of the Rational Faculty is opened, spiritual things are seen in a Light fiir clearer than the noon-day light of the natural world of self intelligen'^o, and not only the representatives which suiround .spirits are seen, but the spirits themselves, by a perception of the quality of the life which flows from them. These " Spirits " are the Truths of the Word wiiich form the lives of regenerating men. 737. Such visions are permitted only to the regenerating man when clearer revelation is to be made to the Rational Faculty THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 128 The spiritual world within the Word, The spirits near man. concerning the Internal Sense of the Word. All things which appear in the Literal Sense of the Word are for the spiritual knowledge of men who are in the physical world, otherwise they would not have been written in this form of expression, whiih corresponds in natural thought to their prior existence in the Spiritual World, and the Spiritual Sense may be known to all who desire higher knowledge of Divine things, by means of a life according to the Precepts of the Word. Then will the spiritual state of regenerating men advance upon and within the " earth," in fulfilment of the prophecy in the Book of Joel : " And it shall come to 2JCISS afterward that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions ; and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit." To " dream dreams " signifies to receive revelation, and to "see visions" signifies to perceive revelation. 738. The Lord reveals the things of the Spiritual World to the " Prophets " not only by Visions, but by Dreams, which are equally representative and significative. There are three kinds of Dreams. The First come immediately through Heaven, or the Internal mind, from the Lord, such as the prophetical dreams recorded in the Word, which are in obscurity until they are coherently interpreted by the laws of correspondence which are derived from the Internal sense of the Word. The second kind occur bv means of "angelic spirits," or the Goods and Truths of the Word which teach the spiritual significance of the Literal Sense of the Word to the man who is yet dreaming, and the Third kind result from the influence of spirits who are near man when he is asleep, and which are significative of Divine principles; These " spirits " are the Literal Truths of the Word which are nearest the state of the I'egenerating man when he is in the sleep of natural thought concerning the Word, before his Rati >nal Faculty is awakened to the perception of the Internal Sense, and that this is the Son of God, m I' li i I i: I i^ W^ M ■ 1 , , 1 32i THE FACE OF JESUS: The desire of evil spirits. Death, sleep, dreaming, awaking. 739. Evil spirit.s have the greatest and most burning desire to infest and assault man during the sleep of natural thought ; but he is then especially in the care of the Lord, who does not permit the Freedom of the Will to be violated, for Love never sleeps. These " evil spirits " are the lusts of the Proprium which so fiercely assault and infest the regenerating man wlien he is entering the preparation for spiritual life; but while he is in the state of spiritual sleep concerning the Internal Sense of the Word, the Proprium has no power to overcome him and lead him away from the Lord, or the Word, while he lives in obedience to the Literal Truths of the Word, although he is yet asleer) in regard to their Interior meaning. 740. Spiritual Death results from a life of disobedience to the Word, but Spiritual Sleep is a preparatory state of obedience prior to the awakening of the dawn of the Spiritual Sense, to which a Dream is an intermediate state of obscurity; but a Vision is the clea** opening or awakening of the Rational Faculty to perceive the things of the Spiritual World of the mind as re- vealed by the Internal Sense of the Word. Phantastical dreams arise from the Love of Self, and are especially caused by intem- perance in drinking and eating, or imbibing and appropriating false doctrines from the Word, which causes incoherence and ob- scurity concerning the Actual Truths of the Literal Sense. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying. Arise. and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thoa there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. Matt. 2:13. 741. When the perceptions of the True Doctrine from the Word have receded from the Appearances of Truth, the Divine Truth of the Word is revealed to the Rational Faculty, signified by "Joseph." "Arise," signifies the THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 325 Arising. Order of Instruction, elevation of the Rational Faculty from the temptation resulting from the conjunction of the Proprium with the Appearance of Truth, to the Internal Sense of the Word, by the Affection for the Truth Avhich has been fostered by the Literal Sense as a " mother," from which the per- ception of the Internal Sense is born. 742. The principles of the Internal Sense are now to be confirmed by the Literal Sense, which is signified by 'and flee into Egypt," for " Egypt" signifies the scientifics or knowledges of the Literal Sense of the Word in the natural principles of the External mind. Thus the en- lightened Rational Faculty, or the " young child," must receive instruction as earthly children gain knowledge, by means of the external objects and thoughts which are communicated by the Literal Sense of the Word. The Interior principle or Internal mind is from the Father, or Inmost Life of the Word, while the External mind which is to be regenerated by the Interior Divine Principles of the Word, is first formed within the Affec- tion for the Truth of the Literal Sense as a "mother," and this External Human Principle of the Word is to be made Divine by the entrance of the Interior Truths into the External mind. 743. The External mind cannot be reduced to corre- spondence and conjunction with the Internal, excepting by knowledges derived from the Literal Sense of the Word. The External mind is corporeal and sensual, and is not receptive of Celestial and Spiritual principles until these knowledges are previously implanted as !i:| ff !l ' ,.iS m i I M 32G THE FACE OF JESUS: The Life of the Word. Egypt and magic. I [ ** seeds " in the " ground " ; for within these knowledges Celestical principles find their recipient vessels, as "water- pots containing two or three firkins apiece." The Word contains the Life of the Lord in every part, although this fact does not appear in the External form by the Literal Sense alone. In the Internal Sense there is nothing said which has not relation to Him, or does not proceed from Him, for the Literal Sense, or earthly covering of the Word which He assumes for the sake of earthly men, is only an addition to the Internal Sense, or His Divine Essence which exists in the Heavens, and which has existed from Eternity. " Egypt " is the science of knowledges in respect to the Literal Sense of the Word, but when men seek to enter the Divine Principles of the Word from their self-derived intelligence which proceeds from the Love of Self, this science becomes perverted into magic and falsity, for "magic" signifies the perversion of order and the abuse of the Science of Correspondence. The good or evil meaning of " Egypt" in the Word, may be proved throughout the historical and prophetical expressions of the Old Testament. Thus the enlightened Rational Faculty flees into the Literal Sense of the Word with all its knowledges, in order that the Foundation may be laid for true Spiritual Science to be built upon, for the Foundation of all Heavenly Knowledge rests upon the Divinity of the Literal Sense of the Word, just as the spiritual body of man while in this physical world rests within the cor- poreal frame. WE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. S^l Further knowledge of the Literal Sense. Night. 744. " And be thou there until I brin^ thee word," signifies the state of instruction of the "young child" in the regenerating man, in which the enlightened Rational Faculty must remain until its full state, which will then be made known by the Lord, by clearer revelation con- cerning the Word, for until the knowledges of the Literal Sense have been fully received into the External memory, there is danger that the Proprium will assert itself in the effort to destroy the spiritual life which has begun to enter the External mind, which is signified by " for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.'* When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt. Matt. 2 -. 14. 745. When the Rational Faculty is elevated above the temptations of the Proprium by the enlightenment which is born from the Affection of Truth to discern the ob- scurity which results from the influence of Self Love, signified by "by night," it resists this temptation and enters the State of Instruction from the Word here signified by " Egypt." And was there until the death of Herod ; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying. Out of Egypt have I called my son. Matt. 2 : 15. 740. This Instruction of the External mind of tho regenerating man in the scicntifics and knowledges of the Literal Sense of the Word continues until the evils and falses of the Proprium, signified by " Herod," are removed. " That it might be fulfilled which was spoken Ml i'l' tf I* ' \m I 328 THE FACE OF JESUS Fulfilment of prophecy, The coasts. of the Lord by the prophet," signifies that the Instruc- tion is according to the Laws of Divine Order in the progress of regeneration according to the Internal Sense, for thus the Prophetic Word reveals to the perception that the Divine Truth, or Son, will be received by those whose lives are governed by the knowledges of the Literal Sense which have been stored in the memory by the study of the Word as it has been given to the natural world of thought, and from which the Science of Corre- spondence is studied and verified, signified by " Egypt." Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Matt. 2: 16. 747. During this State of Instruction, the evil and false influences of the Proprium are frustrated by the entrance of True Doctrine from the Word which causes separation between Truth and falsity, and this " Herod " is filled with hatred, for the Love of Self turns itself in aversion to the Light which is now entering the External mind of the regenerating man, and this hatred destroys in itself the entrance to that innocent state in which Truth is conjoined to Good in the natural mind, and obscures the perception of the Rational Faculty, so that even the Actual Truths of the Literal Sense, signified by " the " coasts thereof," are not received by the most exterior principles of the External mind, but are hidden by false doctrines. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 329 The re-action of evil. Jeremy the prophet. 748. This is the desire and effort of the Proprium, but in the Spiritual World, evil cannot injure or destroy Good, n(n' can falsity destroy Ti-uth, and all hatred and deceit re-acts upon the evil principle itself and destroys its capacity for receivin«]f Good and Truth from the Word, and thus the unregeiierated Proprium destroys itself in the regeneratinfjf man, because when it is resisted, the Divine Truth enters with power to overcome its influence. By " two years old and under," is sif]jnified during tiio entire period or state of combat which began when the Proprium endeavored to influence the interior and ex- terior principles of the External mind by means of the "wise men," by attempting to pervert the Affections concerning True Doctrine from the Word. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying. Matt. 2:17. ;::;|.l,!ljl, 7-49, Thus it is according to Divine Order that the evils of Self Love should re-act upon themselves according to the prophecy in Jeremiah which treats of the vastation or destruction of the evil Proprium of regenerating men. Where the name of a "Prophet" is mentioned, it does not mean a person, but the Divine Truth of the Prophetic Word which is fulfilled in the regenerating man. The word "Jeremiah" signifies Exaltation, and "exaltation" signifies the power of Divine Truth which exists from the Interior Principle of the Word which devastates and drives out the evils and falses of the Proprium during regeneration, and thus "Jeremy the prophet" 330 THE FACE OF JESUS: Lamentation. Weeping and mourning- signifies the power of the Divine Truth of the Word which teaches the Kational Faculty in the combat against the Proprium. In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weep- ing, and great mourning. Rachel weeping for her chil- dren, and would not be comforted, because they are not. Matt. 2 : U. 750. " In llama," signifies those principles in the re- generating man which are receptive of Spiritual Truth from a Celestial origin, or from the Divine Love. The *' Voice" which is hoard, is the Divine Truth of the Word which is perceived and obeyed. " Lamentation," signi- fies the desolation which reigns in the External mind when the Litcrnal Sense is obscured in the state of temptation. "Weeping," signifies the grief of the Understanding, and " Mourning" the grief of the Will. "Weeping" is manifested by tears, which are composed of water mingled with salt. The water of tears signifies grief on account of fals^iity, and " salt" signifies the spiritual devastation produced by false doctrines, and " tears" therefore signify grief on account of there being- no understanding of Truth, while "Mourning" is an in- ward affection of- grief which manifests itself in " Weep- ing." " Rachel," denotes Affection for the Interior Truth of the Word, and " weeping for her children," signifies the grief of spirit when the understanding of the Interior Goods and Truths of the Word is in darkness, when there is no apparent inflowing of knowledge concerning them, and when there is no perception of their coherent meaning. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 331 Joseph in Egypt. Elevation above temptation. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. Matt 2 : 7. 751. At the end of this state of temi)tation, the Divine Truth of the Word shines with Interior Liglit into the i^ational Faculty through the External scientifics of the Word, or the knowledges of the Literal Sense, by means of the science of Spiritual Correspondence, signified by "Joseph in Egypt," in which the Kational Faculty is being instructed. Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel : for they are dead which sought the young child's hfe. Matt. 2 : l'O. 752. The Rational Faculty is now elevated from this state of instruction and temptation, through which the laws of Spiritual Correspondence are perceived, denoted by " Egypt," to the Interior Truth of the Word, for the " Land of Israel " signifies the regenerating man who obeys the Truths of the Word from a principle of Love. " For they are dead which sought the young child's life," signifies the removal of the evil and false principles of the Proprium,over which the Divine Truth from the Lord within the regenerating man has obtained the victory. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. Matt. 2 : 21. 758. This verse signifies the elevation of the Kational Faculty to clearer perception of the Internal Sense, by which this event of sj^iritual history is confirmed in the experience of the regenerating man, similar to the ex- pression " And God saiv that it was good : and it was so." iHJi. ' i) It H : I -I I I i) 1.^ ;i 1 n'^^r IS'I ;-■■ 'i! 332 THE FACE OF JESUS. The reign of Archelaus. Feai and warning. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither ; notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee. Matt. 2:22. 754. " Wlien he heard," signifies further perception of tlie national Faculty. "Archelaus" is the son of " Herod, and in the original language, signifies " a prince of the people." In a good sense the word ** prince" signifies a leading Truth, and in the opposite sense it signifies a primary ftilsity of the Proprium. The word "people," in a good sense, has relation to Tr •, and in the opposite sense, to falsity. A " Son," in a ^ ..a sense, signifies a general Truth, and its opposite meaning de- notes ftilsity. As " Father," in a good sense signifies the Divine Good, in the opposite sense it signifies the evil of the Proprium, " Herod." " Judea," in a good sense, signifies the Celestial principles of the Internal mind, and in the opposite sense it denotes the voluntary principle of the Proprium over which "Archelaus" reigns. 755. The Perception is imparted that the evil and false principles which reign in the will of the unregener- ated Proprium are not yet subdued. No evil exists in the Internal mind, and the enlightened Rational Faculty now holds the Proprium in aversion, which is signified by "He was afraid to go thither." "Being warned of The abode of the Lord. The Universal Heaver>. Principles there personified, Spiritual Perception flows in througli the Internal mind, which is Heaven, and is the abode of the Lord in the regenerating man. The Universal Heaven which consists of regeneratea men, is in the Human Form thus created by the Divine Human Principle of the Word, in which the Lord mani- fests Himself, and within its Inmost Principle is the Divine Life, from which Heaven is formed and existf*. The Universal Heaven is in the Human Form as One Heavenly Body in whom are all regenerated men w^ho have been redeemed from sin by the Word, which is there perceived as the Divine Man. It is this Body of Heavenly Instruction which the Lord takes upon Himself, and makes Divine by entering the life of each regenerating man indi- vidually, and unites to Himself by the conjoining Precepts of the Word. 794. During all the ages of Eternity there has been no change in the Oneness or Unity of the Lord, for if His Love and Wisdom were fluctuating and changeable, there could be no Salvation from Sin. In order to accomplish this Salvation, he assumes the Human Principle of the Literal sense of the Word, which Ho unites to the Divine Human Principle, or Internal Sense, in the- lives of those who by obedience and love are brought into con- junction with its Celestial and Spiritual Principles, which are in the Divine Human Form. 795. The Universal Heaven which is in the Human Form is the Spiritual Body of the Lord Jesus Christ, for it is formed by the qualities of the lives of those who have been rcdecmetl from their sins by the Human Principles of tlie Word, — of Love to the Lord and the Neighbor. This Heavenly Body has been nourished by the Material Body of the Lord as it has been given in tlio Literal Sense of the Word. "And as v:e hive borne the Ivuujc of the earthy, we shall also hear the haaije of the henj-enhj" They who are governed by the Love of Self and the World do not re- ceive the Body of the Lord when it is broken for them, and do not permit themselves to be re-created into the " Image " and " Likeness " of God. m 1 ' ! ^!^i '*! S50 THE FACE OF JESUS', Natural and Spiritual food. Male and female. 796. The physical frame of man is sustained by those earthly substances which give it nourishment, and so the spiritual body, the External mind, receives its nourishment from the spiritual substances or doctrines upon wh'ch it feeds. If it feeds upon cor- poreal or natural thoughts alone concerning the Word, as given in the Literal Sense, the External mind becomes Corporeal and Natural in its thought of spiritual principles ; but if the Internal Sense of the Word is perceived as the true source of its Divinity, and the whole life is governed by its Two Precepts, the spiritual body of the regenerating man will be a miniature representative of that Heavenly Body which forms the Spiritual Body of the Lord. " For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many are one body ; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are ive all baptized into one Body." "Kow ye are the Body of Christ" With the individual regener- ating man, the Internal mind is the Spiritual Body of the Lord derived from the InteiTial Truths of the Word, for the Internal mind is " Heaven," and the Universal Heaven is formed by the lives of regenerated men. So God created man in His image, in the image of God created He him ; male and female created He them. Oen. 1 : 27. 797. " Male and female," signifies the two conjoining Principles from the Word in the mind of one regener- ating man, either male or female, for the words do not refer to the distinction of physical sex, excepting by the correspondence of spiritual principles with the laws of the physical world. The marriages which are narrated in tlie Word refer to the reception of its Celestial and Spiritual principles in the Will and Understanding, which constitute the Heavenly IMarriage, which is com- pared to the happiness of the earthly marriage. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD, 351 Medium of communication. Man and wife. 75)8. As the Internal mind of the regenerating man is opened by obedience to the Heavenly Laws of Life, he receives his chief lielight from the Internal principles of the Word, viewing the ex- ternal things of the Literal Sense as a medium to convey to the interior principles of the mind, the Heavenly Principles which they represent. Thus the things of the Literal Sense, as well as the objective things of the physical world, serve as means to lead him to reflect on what is Internal, or Spiritual, and from these to what is Celestial, and thus to the Lord Himself as the Inmost Life of these Principles, in whom his affections and thoughts are centered. 799. In this manner he in led to meditate on the Celestial Marriage of the Will and the Understanding, by the union of the Divine Lovo and Wisdom within himself as a receptacle, and perceives why marriages are treated of in the Literal Sense of the Word, in order that they may be illustrative of heavenly felicity when the Internal Sense is perceived. For this reason the Word is so written, and the Understanding of the regenerating man is called "Male," and the Will is called "Female," which, when acting in unity, by obeying the Truth that is known, these two principles of the mind are spoken of as " married." A regener- ating man who is ruled by the Celestial principles of the Word is called " Daug^ ^er," and" Virgin,*' as the " Daughter of Jerusalem," and also " Wife, ' from these names representing the Affection of Good. 800. " Male and Female," do not represent the marriage union in the regenerating man which is treated of in the Second chap- ter of Genesis under the name of "Man and Wife." "Male and Female," denote Truth and Good pertaining to the Intellectual Principle, or the Understanding, while " Man and Wife" denote Truth and Good pertaining to the Voluntary Principle, or Will. Truth cannot spontaneously of itself enter into a maniage with Good, although Good may do so with Truth, because truth is only made Living which is produced from, and thus united with Good ; for Truth abstracted from Good, or not incorporated into the life, is but an empty sound, and has no power. " Thoue seen the murderous crime of destroying the life of the unborn infant, whose .soul is already forming within the unnatural mother, who, in order to gratify jr sensual lust and Love of Self, de- liberately kills a li :e which God has created for immortal exist- ence. The crime of foeticide, or abortion, is secret murder. 820. Earthly marriages between two persons, in themselves arc only representative of the Two Spiritual Principles of the Word which re-create the two spiritual receptacles of the one rci^ener- ating man, and the ditl'erences of physical sex, provided f< Word, which are unitt'd in the male or female regen- eratin^i- man. The Goods ami Truths of the Word form the "angc,^ of God in Heavta." " Fnv in the resurredioti theytif-.tfhfr onarry, nor are gicen in mtwrhuje, hut are as the awjels of God in heaven" " There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female : for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." The name Jksus Christ signifies the Divine Marriage of the Love and Wisdom of the Woi-d in the Will and Understant he fall." THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 3G1 Filthy conversation. Purification from lust. 820. Those who in(lnl''o in ohscono thoti<'hts ami lascivious jostiii",', cultivate and inwardly continn every lust which leads to Adultery. Thi.; carnal lust is first to he resisted by ol)edienco to tho Literal C'onnuaiid, " Tliou nhatt not onain'it oditltcr)/," and when it is more clearly revealeil to the mind that the thou;,'ht of Adultery, or unchastity, is sin, as the reLjeneratin<,' man call!- upon !e is a shield unto thevi that put their trust in Hiri ' "In ii, U day there shall he a fountain opened to the house ^f David, as. d to the inladjitants of Jerusalem, for sin and fjr iKiiclen i> >>• ss." " And I ivill 2^at ony spirit luithin. you, avrct cutii^e ijo blotched and decomposing in the heat of the sun. If persons abstain from the sin of adultery from any other motive than because it is commanded in the Word, " I'lioii s^ladt not commit adultery," they are interiorly unchaste, and are adulterers, although they may live chastely in their external lives. If they abstain from this sin from fear of detecti(jn and consequent loss of reputation siid honor, from fear of contracting loathsome diseases, or from simple physical and moral reasons, as ■li SG4 THE FACE OF JESUS: Internal purity. Spiritual food. not re.spectablo and bocoining, or from pride or selfishnes.s, their motives are not pure, for there can be no interior chastity wliich i.s not derived from loving ob'^dience to the commandments of the Word, vvliich teach that all sin is contrary to the elevation of the spiritual nature to princi[)les of Heavenly Life, which are Love to the Lciid and the Neighbor. 8S0. Tliose who take delight in adulteries cannot receive the Good and Truth of the Word, and they deny the Divinity of these Si)iritual principles, because the love of Adultery originates from the compact of the evils and falses of the Propiium which ' Lst there on account ot the loss of spiritual perception, and which are fostered by the false doctrines favoring the Love of ►Self which are confirmed by the Appcaranses of Truth in the Literal Sense of the Word, when the state of a man's life is evil and false. When these false doctrines are dissipated, and the Commandments of the Word are not obscured, but are the guide of the spiritual life, the minds of the obedient will be purified, and earthly marriage will be reverenced as a Holy Ordinance and as the Seminary of Heaven. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bear- ing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed ; to you it shall be for meat. Gen. 1 : 29. 881. The Celestial principles of the regenerating man are treated of in the Second Chapter of Genesis. Tbe.se principles are delighted with Celestial things alone, which being agreeable to his life, are called Celestial Food. The Spiritual principles are delighted with the Spiritual Food which is signified by the " herb bearing seed," which is every Truth which regards usefulness. "Which is upon the face," signifies the Intenor principle of the External mind, which is the Kational Faculty. " Every tree, in the which is the fruit yielding seed," signifies all THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 8G.> The Marriage Supper. The Holy Communion. the knowledges which the Lord gives from tlie Word to the regenerating man. " His dell(jht is in the Law of the Lord: in Ills Law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall he like a tree planted by the 7ivers of waters, that hringeth forth his fruit in his season ; his leaf shall not wither, and ivhatsoecer he doeth shall pro'^per.''' THE HOLY SUITER. 832. " BJef^sed are they ivJilch are adled nnio the Marricff/e iSupper of tJiG Lamb." A Supper is representative of recijtrocal communion of thought and kindred desire, therefore all fea.sts which men provide for the delights of their fellow-men, are signi- ficative of the joy of mutual fellow.ship. in a higher or lower de- gree, as these feasts pertain to the realm of thought or to the bodily appetiti's. The Marriage Supper is expressive of the joy and peace arising fi'om the conjunction of Good and Truth fi'om the Word within the regenerated Proprium. The food signifies the Divine Love made Good or alive from Affection, and the drink signifies the Divine Wisdom received and made Truth, or Faith, from the Word. The " bread " which is eaten, and the " wine" which is drunken, signify the whole Word of God, which is to be olje3'ed from principles of love, and its Internal Truths arc to be imbibed by i-ational study, with all the powers of the mind. 838. This is the true Communion Service, of which all external forms arc but typical. A man wd.o is being regenerated, paitakus daily of the Lord's Supper. Every Truth from the Word which he imbibes and obeys, is wine ami bread for tln3 support of his spiritual body. Every meal of which he partakes, is representa- tive of sp)iritual nouri.shment from the Word of God. This repre- sentative emblem of the Marriage Supper is the Word, which is within the access of every man wdio desires spiritual life, and it is of Eternal importance to partake of this Spiritual Food, wljich contains the Bread and Wine of Heaven, and which is the actual presence of the Lord Jesus Christ with men. " Lo ! I am "-''.th you aliLWj." I I 3GG THE FACE OF JESUS: The pleasures of the External mind. Warfare. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is hfe, I have given every green herb for meat ; and it was so. Gen. 1 : 30. 834. The Natural Affections are signified by the "beast of the earth." The Natural Truths received from the Literal Sense of the Word, are signified by tlio "fowl of tlie air/' raid all the delights and pleasures of the senses which are governed by spiritual principles, are signified by "everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life." These principles of the External mind are nourished by "every green herb." By " Herb," is signified the Truths of the Literal Sense of the Word, and by " Green," is signified that which is sensitive and living, and thus all the Natural Truths of the Word are made alive, and feed all the hunger and thirst of the External mind, when the Internal Sense is revealed and understood, and thus the Word supplies the Spiritual and Natural Eood which supportis Eternal Life. " The Lord is wij Shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures'' 885. The Exteinal mind, in its matural principles, is supported by food consisting- of the " green herb," because this is the order in which man is regenerated. While he is being made spiritual, there is continual wart'ai'e between the illuminated Ixational Faculty and the unregenerated Projirium, on which account lie is in a Militant State, for before regeneration begins, the lusts of the Pro[)rium have dominion, with the falsities thence originating. Durino- resoneration, these evils and falses cannot bo instan- taneously removed, for that would destroy tl"> treedom of man and take away his individuality, Therefore ll.o km\ spiiivs, or THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 3G7 The evil spirits of the Proprium. The Atoning Sacrifice. the evils and falsities of Lis Proprium are permitted to excite his cupidities or selfish attections, which by innumerable modes may be so much weakened by the Truths of the Word, as to be in- clined to Goodness, and thus the man be reformed ; for in order that evil may be removed, it must be seen as evil, and then be resisted and shunned as something hateful. 83G. In the time of combat, the evil spirits of the Proprium exercise the utmost hatred toward the Good and Truth of the Word, or the Divine Love and Wisdom therein, and at such times the Internal Sense is so obscured that the regeneratini,' man has nothing left but Natural Food, which is compared to tlie " green herb," or the Living Litei-al Sense. At intervals the Lord gives him glinipses of a more Interior meaning, which becomes the Spiritual Food of the " tree yielding fruit," and the " herb bear- ing seed," which is the Footl of trantjuility and peace, with their joys and delights. 837. Unless the Lord defondc(.1 man every moment, even the smallest part of every moment, he would instantly perish in s})jritual death, or relapse into the power of Self Love, in conse- quence of the indescribably intense and deadly hatred with which the evils and falses of his Proprium are filled toward the Goods and Truths of the Word, and thus the Lord. In order to redeem mankind from this spiritual death, the Lord has entered the Natural world of the External mind, by assuming the Literal Sense of the Word as a covering, or Mediator, whereby the natural mind mny ai)proach the Internal Sense, which is " God manifest in the flesh," or the indwelling of the Divine Love and Wisdom in the respective receptacles of the regenerating man, and thus the Literal Sense of the Word becomes the Intercessor between God and man. 838. By resisting the evils and falses of the Proprium accord- ing to the simple Truths of the Literal Sense, which plainly declare the duty on the part of man, the Atoning Sacrifice is accomplished by the Lord in the regenei'ating man, through the sacrifice of his natural hereditary delights of evil and falsity, and 3G8 THE FACE OF JESUS: Very good. The Sons of God. as the Good and Truth of the Word enters, Atonement, or con- junction ol' the Lord with man is effected, and he is redeemed from sin. " Scd' good, and not evil, that ye may live; a.nd so th.e Lord, the God of llonts, f^h.all he vnth you. llate ike evil, and love the good, and establish juAlgment in the gate." And God saw everything that He had made, and, be- hold, it was very good. And the Evening and the Morning were the Sixth Day. Gen. 1 : 3L 839. The cuhnination of this State of the reffeneratinir man is called " very good," because principles of Truth or Faith make one with Love, and the Heavenly Mar- riage is consummated betvvecn Spiritual and Celestial principles. All things which rcdate to the Understand- ing of the regenerating man, such as Knowledges of Truth, or Faith, Intellectual principles, and Thoughts, are called Spiritual, and all things which relate to the Will, such as Love to the Lord and the Neighbor, Goodness, and the AlFections, are called Celestial. 840. Tlie times and states of the regeneration of man in general and in particular, are divided into Six, and in the Word are called the Days of Creation, for by degrees he is elevated fi-cm a state of spiritual death, in which he possesses none of the qualities which properly constitute a Man, until by successive states he attains to the Sixth Day, when he becomes an " Image" and a " Son of God." "And it shall come to 2>t(ss, that in the place where it was said un^.o them. Ye are not my people, there it shall he said unto them. Ye are the Sons of the Living God." "But as many as received Him, gave He iwwer to hccome the Sons of God." 841. During these states of warfare against his evils, the Lord continually strengthens him and confirms him in the Divine Good and Truth of the Word, which is the power Ho gives in the time THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. sen The work of God. Redemption. of combat. The time or state of warfare is the Day of the Lord'.s operation, and therefore the regenerating man i.s called the " Work of God," and he advances in spiritual progress until Love becomes his ruling principle, and then the combat will cease. The number Six signifies combat, and also the conjunction indicated by being double the number Three. 842. When the work of regeneration is so far perfected tnat Faith is conjoined to Love, it is then called " very good," because the regenerating man has become made in the " Likeness of God." At the close of the Sixth Day, the "evil spirits" of the Proprium depart, and the Goods of the Word succeed in their place, when he is introduced into the Celestial principle of Heavenly Life. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. Gen. 2:1. 843, The regenerating man i.s now rendered so far Spiritual as to have arrived at the entrance of the Seventh Day. The principles of the Internal and Ex- ternal mind, with the Love, Faith, and the Knowledges thereof, as the " Sun,- Moon and Stars," are signified by the *' Host of them," and when the Celestial principle of Love begins to rule, the Work of Redemption is finished, and the regenerating man is saved by the Lord, for the "earth" or External mind is redeemed by the Word. " / have glorljied thee on the earth ; I have finished the work thou (javest me to do.'' " / have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name ; thou art mine, /, even /, am the Lord ; and beside me there is no Saviour.'* 370 THE FACE OF JESUS: Peter, James, and John, An Interior vision. THE TRANSFIGURATION. And after Six Days, Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John Jiis brother, and bringeth them up into an high moun- tain apart, and was transfigured before them ; and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. Matt. 17 : 1, 2. 844. " Peter" signifies a Rock, and a Rock signifies Truth or Faith. " James" signifies Love, or Charity, and "John" signifies the Good Works of charity. The rest of the " disciples" represent Goods and Truths derived from these three principles, in the same manner as the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and the three names, "Peter, James and John" signify the same as the Twelve, or all " His brother" signifies the Affection of Good. It is at the end of a state of combat with the Proprium, that " Jesus," or the Divine Love, " bringeth them up into an h^gh mountain," by which is signified the elevation of the Rational Faculty to perceive the Celestial principles within the Word. No person can see the " Glory of the Lord " within the Word, unless he is principled in a Rational Faith, and in the charity grounded therein, and mani- fests the living goodness of that Love to the Neighbor. Others are capable of beholding this " glory," but they do not see it, be- cause they do not live the life which leads to the opening of the spiritual sight. 845. The Transfiguration signifies the opening of the percep- tions of the Rational Faculty to see that the Son of God is the Interior Truth of the Word received into the life, and that the Word of God is the Divine Humanity, made clearly manifest to the Spiritual Vision of the regenerating man, as a culmination of all his combats with the Proprium. Tiiis is a Vision which will never be clfaced from his Interior memory, for he has been faith- ful unto the death of his evils and falses, and this is the crown of THE NATURE OF THE ]YORD OF GOD. 371 The shining Face. Communication and conjunction. life whose lustre can never be dimmed, and this " glory" will ever more lighten his pathway. 846. By " His face did shine as the sun," is .signified the inflow- ing of the Interior Divine Truth into the Rational Faculty from the Divine Love. By " His raiment was white as the light," is signified the perception of the Divine Truth within the Literal Sense of the Word, which is the clothing of the Internal Sense, and "Raiment," as well as " Light" signify the Divine Truth pro- ceeding from the Lord. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Matt. 17 : 3. 847. By " Moses" is here signified the Historical or Represen- tative Word, and by " Elias," is signified the Prophetical Word. By " talking with him," is signified the communication of percep- tion to the Rational Faculty that the Internal Sense of the Historical and Prophetical forms of expression treats of the same Celestial and Spiritual principles of regeneration. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here ; if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles ; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. Matt. 17:4. 848. To "answer" signifies communication, and to " saj'," signi- fies perception, thus " Thou answered Peter and said unto Jesus," signifies the communication of Divine Truth f lom the Word, and the perception that it is from the Lord, and " It is good for us to be here," signifies the Heavenly state of the three principles represented by " Peter," " James," and " John," when vivified by the Interior Good and Truth of the Word. " If thou wilt," signi- fies the inflowing of the Divine Love, and " Lot us make here three tabernacles," signifies the conjunction of the Good and Truth of the Word into the Life, by regeneration, which has led to this Celestial state signified by "Three Tabernacles" in which the Divine Humanity of the Lord is seen. 372 THE FACE OF JESUS: The tabernacle. The beloved Son. 849. The " Tabernacle " in tlic Word is made of" wood," wliicli signifies Good, while the "Temple" is made of "stone," which siffnities Truth. "Three talturnacles " signify the Celestial piin- eiples of the Word. " One for Thee " .signifies the Divine Love. "One for Moses," signifies the Divine Wisdom, as " Moses" repre- sents the " Law," which is the Divine Truth of the Word, and " One for Elias," signifies the Divine Proceeding, for"Elias"or "Elijah," signifies the Fropiietic Word. A "Prophet" signifies True Doctrine from the Word, and the teaching of the Interior Good and Truth of the Word which culminates in a regenerated life, is the Divine Proceeding. Thus the "Three Tabernacles" .signify the ;same principles of the Word as " Father," " Son," and " Holy Spirit." While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them : and behold a voice out of the clouds, which said, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased ; hear ye him. Matt. 17:5. 850. " While he yet spake," signifies the continuance of this State of Perception. " A bright cloud overshadowed them," sig- nifies the Literal Sense of the Word within which is the Internal Sense, and in which the First Advent of the Lord is made. " Br- hold He Cometh in clouds, and every eye tfhall see Him." " Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven ? This same Jesus, which is taken up fvom you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." " Overshadowed" signifies from within, or above (§180), and these Celestial and Spiritual principles of the Word are clothed by the Literal Sense. " Behold, a voice out of the cloud," signifies annunciation, or com- munication of Divine Truth from the Word, for a " Voice " is pre- dicted of speech, and the W^ord is the " Voice " of the Lord, and this Word communicates the expression, " This is my beloved Son," which signifies that this " beloved Son " of the Literal Sense is the Lord's Divine Humanity, or the Interior Divine Truth of the Wcrd thus personified. " In whom I am well pleased," sig- THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 37^ The Second Advent, Sacred fear. nifies that this rovolatioii of ])ivine Truth is from the Lord alone, and the Divine Hujnanity cannot be manifested in any other form than from the Internal Sense throuj^^h tlie Literal Sense. " They fladl see the Son of M^ Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 w 374 THE FACE OF JESUS The right and left eye, Descending from the mountain. or Eternal Life, and this elevation can come only from the Lord by the Word. The "Eye" si<,mifie8 the understanding, for as the physical eye sees from natural light, the regenerated understand- ing sees from the Spiritual Light of the Word. The right eye corresponds to the Affection of Good, and the loft eye to the Af- fection of Truth, "which two affections are united when the Rational Faculty is elevated by the Lord. The sight of the left eye corresponds to the intellectual principle of Truth, and the sight of the right eye corresponds to the Affection of that prin- ciple. No man in his own strength can look above himself, and therefore "no man," or Proprium, is seen in this Transfiguration of the Word in the regenerating man, for this revelation of its Interior Divine Truth is not originated bj' any man, neither can it be seen from the Natural or corporeal principles of the External mind. 854. "Jesus only," signifies the Divine Love within the Word, for "Ko man hath seen God at any time ; the only bcjjot- ten Son, which is in the bosovi of the Father, He hath declared Him." The " Only begotten Son," is the Divine Truth of the Word which the regenerating man obeys and makes living. The " Bosom of the Father," signifies the Spiritual Truth of the Word which proceeds from the Inmost Life of Divine Love, and when this Love and Truth permeates the life of the regenerating man, the In- terior Truths How clearly into his Rational Faculty. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying. Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. Matt 17:9. 855. This elevation of the Interior Affections and Thoughts is represented as being upon a " high mountain," from which the re- generating man must descend to attend to the active duties of the natural life, which will be governed by these Celestial and Spiritual principles, and although the warm heart is burning with the desire to communicate this Holy vision to others, so that they THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 87.-. / •) Imparting the vision. The essential principles of Faith may sec tliis " Glory " within the Wonl, a perception is communi- cated to the Rational Faculty to impart this vision to " no man," until the Son of Man be risen again from the dca( the Word. 85G. The Transfiguration signifies the Glory of the whole Word in its Internal and Literal Sense, when its Good and Truth is re- ceived by the re-created receptacles in the regenerating man. The Word is then proved to be the Lord himself, for nothing which is created and finite can redeem a man from his sins, and lead him into the Life of Heaven. " Rt'celce v/ifh mce'cness tJte injraffcd Word, which is able to save your soals." THE LAST TEMPTATION. 8.")7. As all the incidents narratetl in the Spiritual History within the Word have their Heavenly culminations in the lives of regenerated men, it is not essential to salvation from sin to be- lieve that a physical Man was literally cruciHetl ujtou a cross of wood many centuries ago in the land of Palestine, but it is essen- tial to Salvation, to believe and live according to the Precepts of the Word. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Fountain of Eternal Life within the Word, and the Son of God whom men have created in their systems of religious doctrine, are not identical ; but the Divine Truth of the Word, and the Son of God there personified, are one and the same God. Should all records of earthly history be swept out of existence, the spiritual history contained within the Literal 370 THE FACE OF JESUS: A mighty fortress. Sufferings of the External mind. Sense of the Word would remain tlio same for the natural do- 'ice of thouji^ht to receive first in the order of regeneration. With thi.s perception of the Literal Sense of the Word, the mind will not waver or be shaken in faith when its enemies attacit iL in any form, for its Divine Precepts become axioms which ai*e seen to be Eternal, the origin of which is anterior to the limitatiouy ot time and space. 858. The Lord is crucified in " Sodom and Egypt," in " the great city, luhich spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, tuhcre also our Lord was crucijied." * The " Great Cit\ ," is the false doctrine originating with the Love of Self, and .sanctimoniously confirnied from the Appearances of Truth in the Literal Sense of the Word. " Sodom," signifies the evil rf Self Love, anl "Egypt," in the evil sense, signifies the .self-intelligence and scientifics of the natural principle' of the mind which pervert and obscure tiie }>lain Living Truths of Love to the Lord and the Neighboi", which are characteristic of false religious doctrines, confirmed from a merely literal interpretation of the Word. 859. The incidents and historical narrations of the Gospels arc true in the history of the states of tiie regenerating man, and are there only to be seen as actual facts. The trials and temptations of the Son of man, ending with the Passion of the Cross, are rep- resentative of the sufiferingsof the External mind during the com- bats of regeneration by the Truths of the Word. This is the Last Temptation, when the evils and falses of the Proprium have their last struggle with tlie entrance of the Divine Truth of the Word, and this last struggle is so severe, in whatever form it may be experienced, that all that belongs to the External mind seems to perish, and in this state of death, the Literal Sense of the Word eeems also dead, or to have no Divinity within its expressions, and the temptation nearly prevails to reject and cast aside that Word of Cod which has so sacredly been handed down from one generation to another. •llev. 11 ; 8^ I THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 377 Extinction of natural light. Failure of every earthly help. And when the sixth hour was come, there was dark- ness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, say- ing, Eloi I Eloi 1 lamo. sabachthani. Murk. 15 : 33, 34. 8G0. In this hour of darkness, all light from the natural world is extinguished, and all the niatf-rial ideas of the regenerating man toncerning Heaven are taken from him, and even his previous thoughts concerning Immortality, which have been the gi'ound of his strong hope, and a great resource for his self-intelligence to draw from and discourse about, — all disappear, and nothing finite can give him any help. He has seen his cherished friends and hopes pass out of this earthly existence, and he knows that ho himself must soon follow. " And it vxia about the sixth hour, and there icos darkness over all the land until the ninth hour." 861. The number " Six " denotes Combat, while the number " Nine," signifies Conjunction. The " Sixth hour " is the state of devastation and destruction which exists in this last and greatest temptation before the conjunction of the Internal Sense with the Literal is clearly seen, and the desolate spirit of the regenerating man, who has long intellectually accepted the.se principles, is brought to the experimental proof of his Affection for the Truth, and as he is actuated by the power of the Living Truth of the Word, he now with a " loud voice" in agony cries, " My God! nij God! why hast thou forscl-en me ? " 802. As every earthly help fails him in this hour of his struggle, and as the "waters" are about to overwhelm him in oblivion, he finds himself lifted upon a Rock, alone in his individuality, with nothing loft of this world's effects but the Word of God, which he firndy clasps in his hands, and which says to him in this " Sixth Hour," " When thou passest throufjh the waters I will he with thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour." 803. Here alone he finds Etern.al Truths which in themselves are Immortal, and which clothe him with Immortality. The desire to know the future originates from the love of evil, and it 378 THE FACE OF JESUS: Confidence in the Divine Providence. Innplicit trust. is taken away from those who believe in the Divine Providence, because they have confidence that the Lord will order all their ways. " Take no thought for your life, what yc shall eat ; neither for the body wltat ye ahatl jyut on, hut rather seek ye the Kinydom of God," No man can know his own future, or any hidden event before its occurrence, for such fore-knowledge would prevent his becoming regenerated. The dead do not impart the secrets of the future existence of any man, and none whose physical bodies have been dissolved in the grave, have ever returned to their former life, neither do they who are gone communicate with the mind of man, excepting by their writings or traditions in which their thoughts and lives have been incorporated. The Word itself, which reveals the Spiritual Principles of the Regenerate Life, and exhibits their development and growth in men, as well as illustrating the effects of their re- jection both in its Literal and Internal Sense, gives only the manna which must bo gathered and eaten To-Day, and does not lift the veil to disclose the mysteries of the actual future of any individ- ual man, for such a disclosure would not only prevent his progiess in the attainment of spiritual life, but would destroy his confidence in the Divine Guidance of the Lord, so that instead of becominf; regenerated, he would lead and confirm himself in an increasing state of self-love, which would defeat the object of his creation. The principles of Immortality, or Eternal Life, are contain- ed only in the Living Precepts of the Word> which, when obeyed, continually lead to an increase of Heavenly Love and Intelligence ; while the disobedient continually lead themselves away from the Lord, or the Word, to a state of Spiritual Death. " To-day " is always an Eternal Now, and True Faith, according to the Interior Truth of the Word, leads the regenerating man to give up all self- intelligent conjectures, and material ideas concerning the future existence, and the Word teaches him to trust implicitly in the Lord as a little child, and receive the gift of Eternal Life from day to day, and from state to state. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 37f> Elias. The superscription on the cross. And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Ehas. Mark 15 : 35. 8G4. " Ellas," signifies the Prophetic Word, and this narrative of the crucifixion is the prophetic utterance of the Last Tempta- tion of the regenerating man when he earnestly seeks the Divine Truth of the Word. In the darkest state of the spiritual obscurity which coveis his mental vision, he bows his head in humility as he hears the Voice of Divine Love saying " It is finished," wliich signifies the consunnnation of this tenijjtation, and in response, with his whole heart he says, " Father, into thy hands I com- mend my siyirit." When this surrender of self occurs, and his life is sincerely consecrated to the Good and Truth of the Word, the " veil of the temple," or the Appearances of Truth which obscuie the Literal Truths of the Word, is " rent in the midst," or interior- ly opened, by the Divine Truth from within. 8G5. Now the "Glory of the Lord" shines forth from the Internal Sense of the Word, and the regenerating mind is raised from this Last Temptation, in which all the evil powers of the Proprium have united to crucify the Son of Man. Thus the Lord suffers in each regenerating man, by the Word, for the "sins of the world." When the Propriuin is overcome and surrendered, the real Resur- rection takes place, at the consummation of the Sixth Day of Labor, and the Seventh Day becomes the beginning of the Holy Week of the External mind, which will be purified from the hereditary evils and falses, " for the Lord has risen indeed," and appears to the "disciples " within the Living Truths of the Word as they are revealed by the Internal Sense. " And I vhU raise him up at the Last Day." 8GG. The Superscription on the Cross is " written in Heljrew, and Greek, and Latin," which is placed at the head, over the cru- cified Son of Man, . >d signifies the whole Word of God, by means of which the regenerating man is enabled to bear the cross, or the temptations from his Proprium, and overcome them. In the Literal Form of the W^ord the " Hebrew " represents the Natural i ■ 380 THE FACE OF JESUS. Hebrew, Greek and Latin. The key to the Latin personifications. l)rinciplc of tlio Word as it appears in the external rites of the Old Testament, which in them.selves are representative of Celestial and Spiritual principles. The " Gi'eek," represents the Divine princi- ples of the New Testament, which are clearer in their doctrine concerning Celestial and Spiritual principles, but which are also significative, while the " Latin " signifies the Internal Sense of l)oth the Old and New Testament, and therefore of the entire Word, and represents the Intermediate Principle of Conjunction which is received by the Rational Faculty of the regenerating man. While the Revelation of Divine Truth externally written in Hebrew and Greek, consists of the Representatives and SiGNiFicATiVES (703) of the spiritual principles of Regeneration, the principles of the spiritual world revealed within the Internal Sense of the Word, when illustrated in the Latin writings,* are there also personified, and these illustrations are to be interpreted by the Science of Correspondence, the key to which they also furnish to the Rational Faculty of the Regenerating man. * Arcana Ccelestia, Apocaiypsu Explicata, Apocalypaia llevdata. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 381 The Seventh Day of Rest. Keeping the Sabbath THE SABBATH. And on the Seventh Day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the Seventh Dayft'om all his works which he had made. Gen. 2 : 2. 8G7. Tho Regenerating Man is now called the " Seventh Day,' for the number " Seven " signifies a Holy State which has been attained by the Work of the Lord during the Six Days of Crea- tion, and the combat between Spiritual principles and tho Pro- prium having ceased, it is here said that tho Lord " rested on tho Seventh Day." On this account the Seventh Day is sanctified and called the Sabbath, from a Hebrew word signifying " Rest ;" and thus man has been created from the " dust of tho earth," or earthly principles of thought, and by the Living Truths of tho Word, has been formed into tho Imago and Likeness of God. 8G8. Among all nations and people who have possessed the Word one day in seven has been sot apart for Instruction fioni the Word, and the cessation from physical labor, and this external observance is derived from its corre^'pondonce with the culmina- tion of the Work of Regeneration. This work should occupy the chief thoughts of every man, and he should bend every energy of mind and body in entering tho way which leads to Life Pater- nal, by the study of tho Wonl and oiiodienco to its Precept-^. With the regenerating man whoso daily life is one of constant worship, all days of labor afibrd leligious instruction, for in every ca'"^hly object and event, he sees its spiritual corrcsiiondence in the W^ord, within his own mind, and ho acknowledges the Lord in all his ways, and permits Him thus by the Word, to direet his paths. 8G9. In obedience to the Commandment, and for the sake of others who perceive only the Literal Sense of the Word, he will keep the weekly Sabbath as a day of .special religious instruction ^82 THE FACE OF JESUS: The Sabbath of the Word. Heavenly peace. and coinniunion with other minds, and refrain from pursuing his daily avocations, enjoying its hours of rest as typical of the cessa- tion of his spiritual warfare. " The Sabbath was made for man" and evory man possesses the faculty for attaining the Heavenly Stat(j for which he was created. In the liighest sense, the Lord, /imiinff of the world, men hate not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, God, besides Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waitethfor him. Is. 64 : 4. 873. In the successive degrees of regenerate life, the first state of a man's life is ISatural, from which he be- comes Moral, and thence he becomes Spiritual, for he must first obey the Literal Commands of the Word, which constitute the Moral Law, before their Interior Truths can be revealed to him and create the Spiritual and Celestial degrees of his mind. 874. The Fiust Advent of the Loku, in the order of regeneration, is His entrance to the External mind by obedience to the Truths of the Literal Sense of the Word ; and the Second Advent of the Lokd is the opening of the Rational Faculty of those to whom He has made the First Advent, to perceive the Internal Sense of the Word, which reveals Jehovah God, or the ;iH* TUK FACI'J OF JESUS: The order of regeneration. The history of all men. Lord Jesus Clirist, ns TirK Wokd, within tlio Divino 'rulli of which Tiianifestation Ilo can only he found. ■ /{fi ye then'Jnfd ready also : for the Son oj Man comctlt at an lunw ivlirn ye think not'' Luko 12 : 40. S7j. P»o;,'iiinin^' ■with tho fourth vei'He of the Second Chapter of ^'enesis, the formation of tlio(,'elestial prineiplewof the Ke^'enerat- rii,' iiiiin are coherently described; concernin;,' which these pngcs 'o not treat, they havinj^ relation .siniply to the Spiritual degree of the mind in relation to the Word, The Third Chapter of Oene.sis treats of the principlcfc of the External mind which cause the Fall of hunum nature from the innocent and holy state oi Celestial and Spiritual Life, from which exists all the sin and suf- fering which deluges the Spiritual and physical nature of mankind. H70. The twelfth chapter of Genesis begins with the true history of the order of the entrance of the Lord Jesus Christ into the lit'o of the regenerating man, vvhicli is de|)icted by [)ure correspondences under the form of the historical narrative of " Abram " in the Literal Sense, the hiternal Sense )f which cannot appear to any man until he has entered upon the State there described, and which cannot be seen if tlie mental sight is confined to the literal form of history as though thes physical earthly |)atriarch, but the Lord, who is within the Internal mind of the n^generating man, entering the External mind in the successive order of Infancy, Childhood and Manhood, through the P]nlightened Rational Faculty, into the land of the Proprium. 877. The whole Word of God thus becomes representative of the various states of not only one, but of all regenerating men in their griefs, trials, and temptations, as well as in their seasons of delight and peace, and it describes the malignity of the evils of the unregenerated Proprium in order that men may resist tiie in- riuences of the Love of Self and fear to trust in their own self in- telligence. THE NArUlth: OF THE WORD OF GOD. The entrance of Divine Truth. nnr. Honoring the pulpit. Tin-: PULriT and thk nn:ss. S7H. In the coininoii onlcr of n-liL^ioiis instruction, tlio t('ncliin<( of tlio Truths of thti LitiTiil Sense of the Word are enfoi'ce(l upon the luirul throuj^'h the sense of hearing,', liy means of the influence of the pulpit, or the voice of the clerj^'y. " So then faith vo)ncth by hear'nuj, and hcarl'ny hj the Word of God." In the order of i'»li;,'ious education these ministrations will not cense. The ])ovvc'r of speech is i^lvoi man so tluvt he may connnimicate to others tin* tliou^'hts which tlow into liis mind, and as the ohject of creation is the rei^ffiu'ration of men, the j^dft of speech attains its liigliest use wlieti it is emi)Ioved in communicatinjj Trutl.t from thy Word, rather than in ihe utterunco of self-intelligent speculations. 879. Tlie great power of tlie pulpit consists in reacldng the de- gree of natural thought in men with living lessons drawn from the fountain of the Literal Sense of the Word, awakeninjf them to ohedience, and tliis methe taught from external ohjects, and no man has ever been horn, or will ever he horn with inherent regeneiutetl principles of >piritual life. 8S(). Therefore the pulpit, wliich represents f)ral religious in- .struction, is to Ikj honored by men for the sake of t};e Word which it solenmly declares, and which stimulates them to live according to itsTrtiths, ITntil each hearer who is atldressed froin the Sacred ]X'sk, makes a personal study of the Word, and in its applieation endeavors to live according to its Precepts, anf the Literal Sense must form the burden of all preaching. When the cleigy themselves recogni/e the Internal Sense uf the Word, judgment will be given them to adajit their illustiations, so that those who n' I 38G THE FACE OF JESUS: The Spiritual Universe of the Word. A printed mennory. are in natural thought only, may be led to the perception of spiritual life, and thus to perceive that the Word is Divine from its interior principles of holiness. 881. Since the majority of men do not reflect interiorly, and their minds are fully occupied with the duties and cares of this life, the influence of the pulpit will not retrograde, but will con- tinue to be the great ])owerof lifting them up above worldly life, by presenting in varied forms, the fundamental laws of spiritual life, which inculcate Love to the Lord and the Neighbor, for upon these two things depend all the principles of the Spiritual and Natural Universe of the Word, and all things in the physical uni- verse also have reference to these two principles of Eternal Life, by the laws of correspondence, 882. The inculcation of a holy life according to the Com- mandments, b}' looking to the Lord within the Word, and resisting all evils of life, when proclaimed by one whose own life is in harmony with all the teachings of the Word, causes the pulpit to be instrumental in preparing the way for the perception and reception of the Internal Sense by those who are able to bear it. " / have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot hear them now." Thus the Pulpit is representative of the Literal Sense of the Word. 883. The printing of thoughts in religious books is also a Divine means of spiritual instruction for the promulgation of more interior thoughts concerning the Word, for the reason that all the expressions are fixed in their record, so that they may be referred to in their coherent order. An orderly prepared book is a printed memory which may be consulted for confirmation of the subject of which it treats. In listening to the words of speech, the mind is occupied with the meaning expressed within the words in the order of their delivery, and there is no opportunity for reflection and comparison, other than awakening thought which will lead to subsequent investigation. Tn a book of in- struction, its primary declarations may be investigated, stored within the memory, and the succeeding principles may be built THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 387 Nourishment for the Rational Faculty. Study and reflection. up in regular progression, with the opportunity of reference, for the pui-pose of establishing the instructions there presented. 884). The Intern.al Sense of the Word can only be made coherent to the mind of a regenerating man whose Rational Faculty has been enlightened, and which is in active occupation in meditation, comparison, and the rejection of every false principle of thought or doctrine. There can be no growth of this Spiritual faculty, without the employment of the means of nourishment provided through the instrumentality of the Press, which is from the Lord, for He is the Author of every spiritual help, and of every inven- tion which flows into the minds of men for the benefit of man- kind. (§306.) 885. The Word itself is held and preserved in its Literal Form by means of the printing-press, as formerly by the slower and more limited method of writing. Text books, such as dictionaries, grammars, concordances and collateral writings, are held in form and are presented to the mind by means of the press, and the re- cords of the principles which teach the laws which reveal the Internal Sense of the Word to the enlightened understanding, are also fixed in printed language. These principles must be studied by the affectionate searcher for the Truth, and also are to be inter- preted by the interior thoughts there recorded, to prevent their spiritual instruction being perverted by minds possessing only natural and material ideas concerning Divine principles. 88G. From the means thus afforded for study and reflection, and hence giving opportunity in freedom for the acceptance or re- jection of recorded thoughts, while the mind is in the interme- diate state of receiving instruction, the Press becomes representa- tive of interic. thought, or of the Internal Sense of the Word. When the instruction of the Pulpit is carefully prepared from the Word, and is recorded in printed form so that it may be read and stored within the memory, and by reflection be confirmed and accepted as true, and afterwards be brought forth in the life, then the utterance of the Pulpit from first being external, becomes re- presentative of internal principles when issued from the Press. S88 THE FACE OF JESUS: The conversion of the world. Subjective principles 887. The Pulpit and the Press are the external and internal methods of imparting spiilLual instruction concerning the Word, and are therefore united as means employed for the conversion of the world to holiness of life. The Voice of the Pulpit declares outwardly, so that the sense of hearing n^ay convey to the mind the truths of life embodied within the sounds, while the Voice of the Press conveys to the mental eye in printed forms, not only the same truths of life, but the means of higher mental develop- ment concerning the Word, which would be impossible to attain by oral instruction alone, without the aid of books. Although by means of speech and writing, or printing, the Truths of the Word are first taught objectively to the natural degree of thought, thoy become subjective principles of Divine Life, when they are in- scribed, or printed upon the heart, jr Will, for from this interior affection they will then be externally manifested in all the con- vor«-ition and actions of regenerating men, who are the Angels thus created by the angelic Life of the Word, " which is Christ in you, the hope of glory : ivhom ive 2^reach,^varning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom ; that we may jyresent every moji perfect in Christ Jesus :" " To the acknoivledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Col. 1 : 2 — 2 : 3. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 389 The Rock of Ages. The surrender of self. COXCLUSIOX. -And Vne hook is delivered to him that is not learned, ,sa .in. Real rJus, Ipray thee and he saith, 1 am not learned," K-. -/.• ^ " '^ '"^ ^f^'^ll ^?«y ^^^^
.lood," as it Hows irom the A\ounded Side," or Heart of the Divine Love, and «ayes from the '' Wrath," or evil and falsity of the hered- itary nature, and which alone can save m^n from their sins.^ Ihen will they see the Divine Truth of the A\V.rd ^"'' '^"^»t Throne," on the " Last Day," when closed all spiritual death, ayd then in the simple trust of lightened Kational Faith will they d an en- cy discern the 8i)iritual £90 THE FACE OF JESUS: The use of sacred music. The spirit of charity. sii^nificance of the Word of God, and also comprehend an interior meaning in such familiar hymns as *' Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee." 889. When a beautiful piece of sacred music is well sung, there are some who are delighted with the sound of the melody and harmony proceeding from the culti- vated voices which vibrate in sympathy with the words which are being clothed with concordant tones. "When these external sounds have ceased, there remains in the mind, the thoughts within the words which have been conveyed through the instrumentality of the music, and if the Truths therein are obeyed and incorporated into the life, these harmonious sounds have performed their highest use, in the elevation of the natural thoughts above earthly things. But there are some listeners whose minds are not moved so much by the sound of the music and the voices, as by the Truths which are uttered within the melody and harmony. 890. Every man receives impressions of the Truth according to the obedience and quality of his individu- ality, and if he understands the operation or form of the human mind, he will not expect the mental features of other persons to be cast in the mould of his own face. He will therefore have charity for others, and be inwardly delighted, if by any means they may be brought to see the Lord within the Word, and led to perceive the Glory of its Internal Sense. If he has more light than his neighbor, he will not arrogantly assert himself as more THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 391 Led by the Word. The recognition of Truth highly favored, for the more light that a man receives concerning the nature of the Word of God, the more he recognizes his own weakness, and in humility feels that he is only a receptacle of life from the Lord, and his own hereditary self-hood will be removed to the farthest extreme from the Fountain and C^enter of Life. lie will thus be led solely by the Lord through obedience to the Word. 89L Ho will seek to aid others tlu'ough the Truths which shine from the Literal Sense of the Word, and will rejoice when he sees them in the endeavor to live in the loving kindness of the Commandments. His charity Avih be so warm with affection for the Word that he will not thoughtlessly give offence to others by hastily destroying that form in which the Divine Truth first reaches their minds, and discretion will be given him, if he sinks himself, so t/iat he will be led to com- municate the Light from th3 Internal Sense where it will be received into willing hearts without being pro- faned or misunderstood. 892. His judgment will be led by knowledges from the Word, as he is filled with good-will toward men, and his own mind will dwell in peace. Instead of be- ing antagonistic toward the religious tenets of others who do not perceive the Interior l*riuci[)les of the Word which arc vital to him, he will recognize Truth in any form which is derived from the Word, and be willing to extend the hand of religious fellowship to all who make the? rule of their life according to the Precepts of the Word. 392 THE FACE OF JESUS: A living witness. The presence of the Lord Jesus Christ 893. Living witliout ofrcnding the "little ones" who are in the innocent life of charity, he will not ruthlessly take away their Lord by the uncharitable presentation of his elevating doctrines, but his "Light will so shine," as he consistently walks through the daily journey of life, that others will intuitively recognize him as a living witness of the Divine Truth which has created him a son of God by means of the Human Form of the Word. 894. There arc manv devout souls who love to think of the L,)rd Jesus Christ as a Divine ^lan on this ter- restial globe, going al^out doing good, healing the sick, casting out devils, restoring sight to the blind, folding the little ones to llis Heart, feeding the hungry, and teaching all men to " Bkss them that curse you, do (jood to them that hate yon, and pray for them which despite/idly use you." If they thus obey the Divine Precepts, lie will reveal Himself unto them within the Word, and en- able them to live the Life which ITe teaches by the Word. 895. There are others who see Him personified in the Word which they love and obey, and their thoughts d(> not go back to earthly events, but they perceive the liOrd Jesus Christ present in every part of the Word l)y the Internal Sense, and recognizing that the External mind of the regenerating man is the " Earth" into which He is born, and perceiving the Humanity wdiich He there assumes in the Literal Sense and makes Divine l)y the Internal Sense, they see Him in the Human Eorm of the Word as within the Spiritual Sun which illumines the Heaven of the Internal mind. THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. SOo Influence upon others. Prior existence of the Word 897. Upon the Doctrine of Eternal Life embodied in the Tm'O Precepts of the Word, all who recognize the Internal Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, may strengthen each other in the journey of life, l)y shunning all evil as sin and death, and looking to the Lord within the Word. Thus will their atfections be warmed to^vard each other, and others l)e led to the Word, througli tlie ett'ects of its Divine Human Form incarnated in tlie lives of those who believe and manifest its Ihunanity. " J/e that Itdth my commandments, and kapeth them, he it is that loreth me: and he that loveth me shall he luted of mil Father, and I trill love him, and will manifest my- self to him" 81)7. There are some natures Avhose degree of faith requires that they must see the sheathing husk as well as the enclosed kernel of wheat ; while there are others who readily discern the noniishing grain, with the know- ledge that in its growth it has been clothed with its pro- tecting husk. The wheat itself is the Doctrine (.f Love to the Lord and tlie Neighbor brouglit forth into the life, and this is the Fundamental Truth upon which all religious minds actuallv unite. From this fruit of tlie "Earth" of the Literal Sense of the Word, the spiritual life of all devout people is nourished and sustained in their Heavenly voyage. '* lie 'maketh peace in thy bor- ders, andfdlest thee with the finest of the wheat" 8G8. The Word of God has existed prior to all the traditions of apparent earthly history which have been derived from its external or Literal contents, (John 1:1) :J04 THE FACE OF JESUS: The Catholic nature of the Word. Who may see its Divinity and the Internal Evidence of this Divine Kevelation illustrates that the Principles contained within the Internal Sense are of a Universal or Catholic nature, independent of the many and various forms of religious worship which are prevalent. All llituals, whether simple or elaborate, which honor the Word of God, will be found to contain a C'orrespondence with the Heavenly Truths taught from the coherent Interior understanding of this Word. 899. When the Kational Faculty is led to discriminate between the Appearances of Truth which exist in the Literal Sense, and the Actual Truth, by being enlight- ened through a life according to the Precepts of the Word, the Internal Sense will find welcome reception, .ind will lead all the powers of the mind to rest firmly on that KocK of AtiES in which there is Everlasting Strength. The Kational mind of the regenerating man is the " House," in which the Lord enters and dwells by means of the Divine Truth of the Word. *^ And the rain descended, and the Jioods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house ; and it fell not : for it was founded ttpon a Jiock." Matt. 7 : 25. 900. From the thoughts presented in the preceding pages, which simply treat of a few principles beheld within the Holy Temple, from its threshold, glimpses of the Divinity of the Letter of the Word may be seen by such readers who love the Truth of Spiritual Life for its own sake, or "for Christ's sake." On the Earth of its Literal Sense may everywhere be seen traversing each THE NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD. 305 The Ark of the Covenant. Beholding the Face of Jesus. lii«,'hway and byway, over mountains veiled in clouds, and down through fertile valleys, a *,'olden chariot of Heavenly Doctrine, drawn by white horses, l)earing' in radiant glory the Ark of the Covenant, within which are the T\. o Tables of Stone holding the inscription of those Precepts which form the Foundation of Inmior- tality. yui. jjurmg ino post ages or eariniy nistory, while the Science of Spiritual Correspondence has been con- cealed within the Literal Sense of the Word on account of the low degree in which material thought concerning Divine principles has been immersed, its Living Truths have been revered in the hearts and lives of the obedient ; tabernacles, temples, houses of worship, and grand cathedrals have been erected to enshrine its sacred pages, and disseminate its Divine Teachings, and thus the Lord has protected The Word, which, through the clouds of its Literal Sense, has shed its radiating heat and light, until those who are prepared to receive it have affectionately yearned for more Light concerning its Heavenly Principles, " to fulfil the Word of God ; even the mystery ivhich hath been hidjrom ages and from generations, hut now is made manifest to His saints." Col. 1 : 20. 902. The Lord has now permitted the veiled covering to be reverently removed for the Spiritual Sight of these regenerating men, so that they may behold the Living Face of Jesus, which shines as the Sun, for it is the Lord Himself who is manifested bv the Internal Sense 390 Till-: FACE OF JEHUS : The Lamb of God. The Second Coming. of Vh) AVord, and who supplies this Sun with warmth uiid lij^lit. 1>0J3. " Behold the Lamb of (Hod ivMch tnketh away the Sin of tha tvorld! " By boholdiug this Lamb of God, the ])ivine Humanity of the Word, in the innocence of child- like affection, and by i)artal