Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 4244

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4244. 'And I have oxen and asses, flocks and men servants and women servants' means acquisitions existing there in their proper order. This is clear from the meaning of 'oxen and asses, flocks and men servants and women servants' as subservient goods and truths, exterior and interior, and so acquisitions in their proper order. 'An ox' means exterior natural good, and 'an ass' exterior natural truth, see 2781; and 'a flock' means interior natural good, 'a man servant' its truth, and 'a woman servant' the affection for that truth, as is clear from the meaning of each, dealt with several times already. Those kinds of good and truth constitute the acquisitions referred to here, which are, it is evident, mentioned in their proper order since exterior ones are meant by 'oxen and asses' and interior ones by 'flocks, men servants and women servants'.


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