1796. 'This Damascene, Eliezer' is the external Church. This is clear from what has just been stated, and also from the meaning of 'Damascene'. Damascus was the chief city of Syria where remnants of the worship of the Ancient Church existed, and from where Heber, or the Hebrew nation, came with whom none but the external dimension of the Church existed, as stated already in 1238, 1241. Thus no more then 'the stewardship of the house' existed with the nation. That within these words there is something of despair, and consequently of the Lord's temptation, is evident from the words themselves, and also from the comfort which follows concerning the internal Church.