4001. And black among the lambs. That this signifies the first state of innocence, is evident from the signification of "black," as being what is man's own; and from the signification of a "lamb," as being innocence (concerning which just above, n. 3994). That the "black in the lambs" here signifies the first state of innocence, is because at first the own of the man who is being regenerated reigns; for he supposes that he does what is good from his own, and also he must do it as if from his own, in order that he may be endowed with a heavenly own (see n. 1712, 1937, 1947, 2882, 2883, 2891). This is the reason why by the "black among the lambs" is here signified the first state of innocence.