Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 5733

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5733. 'Fill the men's pouches with food' means into the natural, bringing the good of truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'pouch' as the exterior natural, dealt with in 5497, and from the meaning of 'food' as the good of truth, dealt with in 5340, 5342, 5410, 5426, 5487, 5582, 5588, 5655. From these meanings it is evident that 'he commanded the one who was over his house, Fill the men's pouches with food' means an influx from itself into the natural, bringing the good of truth. Since the expressions 'the good of truth' and 'the truth of good' occur rather often, the difference between the two should be stated. Anyone unacquainted with what the celestial Church is when compared with the spiritual Church cannot possibly know the difference. The truth of good is a characteristic of the celestial Church, the good of truth a characteristic of the spiritual Church. With members of the celestial Church good was implanted in the will part of the mind, the proper place for good to be seated. From that good - that is, through that good received from the Lord - they had a perception of truth; that is why the truth of good resided with them. But with members of the spiritual Church good is implanted in the understanding part of the mind, by means of truth; for all truth belongs in the understanding. They are led by means of truth towards good, for good consists for these people in putting truth into practice, which is why the good of truth resides with them. This is the situation, properly speaking, with those two Churches; but the truth of good is also attributed to those who belong to the spiritual Church, even though they are not properly speaking in possession of it, for reasons which will be discussed elsewhere.


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