896. 'Noah removed the covering of the ark, and saw out' means the light, once falsities had been removed, shed by the truths of faith which he acknowledged and in which he had faith. This becomes clear from the meaning of 'removing the covering' as taking away the things that obstruct the light. Since 'the ark' means the member of the Ancient Church who was to be regenerated, 'the covering' can mean nothing else than that which obstructed his view of the sky, that is, of the light. It was falsity that obstructed it, which is why it is said that he 'saw out'. In the Word seeing means understanding and possessing faith. In the present context it means that he acknowledged truths and had faith in them. Knowing truths is one thing, acknowledging truths altogether another, and having faith in truths yet another. Knowing is the first step in regeneration, acknowledging the second, and having faith the third. The difference between knowing, acknowledging, and having faith becomes clear from the fact that the worst people of all are capable of knowing and yet do not acknowledge, as is the case with Jews and with people who endeavour to demolish matters of doctrine with brilliant arguments. People who are not true believers are able to acknowledge as well, and in certain states are able with zeal to preach, confirm, and persuade. None but true believers however can have faith.
[2] Those who have faith know, acknowledge, and believe; they have charity, and they have conscience. Consequently faith can never be attributed to anyone, that is, he cannot be said to have faith, unless he is such as these people are. This then is what being regenerate entails. Merely knowing something that belongs to faith is an activity of memory which does not involve any assent of the rational. Acknowledging that which belongs to faith is in itself a rational assent brought about by certain causes and for the sake of certain ends. But having faith is an activity of conscience, that is, of the Lord working through conscience. These distinctions are made clear best of all from people in the next life. Of those who merely know, many are in hell; and many of those who acknowledge are there also, for the reason that their acknowledgement during their lifetime was, as stated, confined to certain states. But when they perceive in the next life that what they have preached, taught, and persuaded others of has been the truth, they are most surprised and acknowledge that it is the truth only when they are reminded that they have so preached it. But of those who have had faith, all are in heaven.
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