640. 'Yes indeed, says the spirit, that they may rest from their labours' signifies that the Divine Truth of the Word teaches that those who afflict the soul and crucify the flesh on account of this are going to have peace in the Lord. 'Yes indeed, says the spirit' signifies that the Divine [Truth] of the Word teaches (n. 87, 104). 'That they may rest signifies that they are going to have peace in the Lord. By 'peace' is understood the soul's rest resulting from no infestation by evils and untruths, thus by hell, as formerly. By 'labours' are understood the labours of the soul, which are to afflict and crucify its flesh and to be tempted. Consequently by 'they shall rest from their labours' is signified that those who afflict the soul and crucify the flesh in the world for the sake of the Lord and eternal life are going to have peace in the Lord; for the Lord says:-
In Me you may have peace, in the world you have affliction John xvi 33.
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you, not as the world gives do I give to you John xiv 27.
Such affliction is understood by 'labour' in these passages:-
By the labour of His soul He shall see and be satisfied and shall justify many Isa. liii 11.
Jehovah has seen our affliction and our labour and our oppression Deut. xxvi 7.
They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth in terror Isa. lxv 23.
I have known thy labour and thy patience, but thou hast borne, thou hast patience and for the sake of My Name hast laboured Rev. ii 2, 3.
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