990. 'Even to everything which the ground causes to creep forth' means affections for good. This is clear both from what has gone before and also from the meaning of 'the ground' from which they are produced or creep forth. From what has gone before where the evils and falsities over which the regenerate person rules are the subject, it is clear that the affections for good which are given into his hands are therefore the subject here. And from the meaning of 'the ground' from which they are produced or creep forth - 'the ground' being in general the member of the Church and whatever constitutes the Church - it is clear that whatever is produced in the external by the Lord by way of the internal man is therefore meant here. The ground itself is situated in the external man - in his affections and in his memory. The reason why it is said, 'Everything that the ground causes to creep forth', is that it seems as though man himself produced goods. But that is the appearance. In reality all good derives from the Lord by way of the internal man, for as stated, nothing good or true exists unless it derives from the Lord.