640. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, signifies that the Divine truth of the Word teaches, that they who afflict their soul and crucify the flesh on account of it, shall have peace in the Lord. "Yea, saith the spirit," signifies that the Divine truth of the Word teaches (n. 87, 104). "That they may rest," signifies that they will have peace in the Lord; by "peace" is meant rest of the soul when no longer infested as before by evils and falsities, thus by hell. By "labors" are meant labors of the soul, which consist in afflicting and crucifying the flesh, and in being tempted; therefore by "they shall rest from their labors," is signified that they who afflict the soul and crucify the flesh in this world for the sake of the Lord and of life eternal will have peace in the Lord; for the Lord says:
In Me ye shall have peace; in the world ye shall have affliction (John 16:33). Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you (John 14:27). Such affliction is meant by "labor" in these passages:
By the labor of His soul He shall see and be satisfied, and He shall justify many (Isa. 53:11). Jehovah seeth our affliction, and our labor, and our oppression (Deut. 26:7). They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth in terror (Isa. 65:23). I know thy labor, and thy patience, but hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake thou hast labored (Rev. 2:2-3).
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