1002. Working Signs. That this signifies persuasions by means of fallacies and sophistries, is evident from the signification of signs, as denoting testifications and persuasions, and thereby also confirmations (concerning which see n. 708, 804); in this case persuasions by fallacies and sophistries, because the subject treated of is those who by means of reasonings confirm faith separated from life. And because this is done by means of fallacies and sophistries, by which the simple are persuaded, therefore by working signs are here signified persuasions and confirmations by means of fallacies and sophistries. That persuasions are effected by means of fallacies was shown above, where the beast ascending out of the sea was treated of (xiii. 1-13). By it also were signified confirmations by reasonings from the natural man. The reason why such things are signified by signs is, that it is said that they were to go away to the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle, which signifies to excite dissensions and combats against truths in the whole church.
Continuation concerning the Sixth Precept:-
[2] From the things so far adduced a conclusion may be formed as to what good arises from chastity in marriage; consequently, what the good works of chastity are that are done by a man who shuns adulteries as sins against God. The good works of chastity are those which concern either the married partners themselves, or their offspring and posterity, or the heavenly societies. The good works of chastity that concern the married partners themselves are spiritual and celestial loves, intelligence and wisdom, innocence and peace, power and protection against the hells, and against the evils and the falsities therefrom; and they are manifold joys and felicities to eternity. All these are possessed by those who live in chaste marriage, according to what has been said before. The good works of chastity that concern the offspring and posterity are, that so many and such great evils do not become innate in families. For the ruling love of parents is transmitted into the offspring and sometimes into late posterity, and becomes their hereditary nature. This is broken and mitigated with parents who shun adulteries as infernal, and love marriage as heavenly. [3] The good works of chastity that relate to the heavenly societies are, that chaste marriages are the delights of heaven; that they are its seminaries; and that they are its securities. They afford delights to heaven by means of communications; they are seminaries of heaven by means of progeny, and they are securities to heaven by power against the hells; for diabolical spirits, at the presence of conjugial love, become furious, insane, mentally impotent, and cast themselves into the deep.
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