1089. Which hath a kingdom over the kings of the earth. That this signifies domination over the truths of the church, is evident from the signification of having a kingdom, as denoting domination, and from being predicated of truths or falses; that kingdom denotes the church as to truths or falsities may be seen (n. 48, 684, 685); and from the signification of the kings of the earth, as denoting truths, see n. 31, 625, 1034, 1063, 1073; and from the signification of the earth, as denoting, the church, of which we have frequently spoken above. Hence it is evident, that by having a kingdom over the kings of the earth, is signified domination over the truths of the church. That it is domination over the truths of the church is because their chief, who is called Pope and Pontiff, makes his own edicts of equal sanctity, and of like inspiration, with the truths of the Word. It is also of their doctrine that it is lawful for him to alter the truths of the Word according to the changes of the state of the church, and thus to change them into such things as are a means of domination, which are falsities. For all the things that look to domination are falsities, or truths falsified. For the end chooses and applies to itself the means; and the means applied to an end, which is domination over the souls of men, over all things of the church, and over heaven, cannot be truths. And if they are truths, still the end falsifies them; but with those [only] who are in [the lust of] dominion.
Continuation concerning the Word:-
[2] The absolute truth is, that no one can understand the Word without doctrine; for he may be led away into errors of every kind, to which he may incline from some love, or to which he may be drawn from some principle, by which his mind becomes vague and uncertain, so that at length it is, as it were, without truth. But he who reads the Word from doctrine sees all the things that confirm it, and also many things which are hidden from the eyes of others. Nor does he allow himself to be drawn into strange [doctrines]. Hence it is that his mind is made up so that he sees definitely.
[3] The reason why the Word may be turned to confirm even heresies, unless it is read from doctrine, is, that its literal sense consists of pure correspondences, and these, for the most part, are appearances of truth, and in part, genuine truths, which can be neither seen nor distinguished unless doctrine be the lamp.
[4] But doctrine cannot be procured except from the Word, and only by those who are enlightened by the Lord. Those who love truths because they are truths, and incorporate them in their life, are enlightened. Moreover, everything of doctrine must be confirmed by the literal sense of the Word, because therein Divine truth is in its fulness and in its power, and by this a man is in conjunction with the Lord, and associated with the angels. In a word, he who loves truth because it is truth may, as it were, interrogate the Lord in doubtful matters of faith, and receive answers from Him, but nowhere else than in the Word, because the Lord is the Word.
THE END OF THE FIFTH VOLUME.
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