975. (v. 6) Because they have shed the blood of saints and of Prophets. That this signifies, because they have falsified the truths of the Word and of doctrine from the Word, is evident from the signification of blood, as denoting Divine truth (concerning which see n. 30, 328, 329, 476, 748) and from the signification of shedding it, as denoting to offer violence to Divine truth, which is to falsify it (seen. 329) and from the signification of saints, as denoting those who are in Divine truth from the Lord (see n. 204); but in the abstract sense, Divine truths from the Lord (n. 325); and because by saints are meant the Divine truths in the Word, therefore the Word is meant thereby; and from the signification of prophets, as denoting those who teach doctrine from the Word; and, in the abstract sense, the truths of doctrine from the Word (see n. 624). Hence, then, by shedding the blood of the saints and of the prophets, is signified to falsify the truths of the Word, and the truths of doctrine from the Word.
Continuation concerning the Fifth Precept:-
[2]It was said, that so far as man shuns evils as sins and turns away from them, so far he does good, and that the goods which he does are the good works meant in the Word, by reason of their being wrought in the Lord. Also, that these works are good, in so far as man turns away from the evils opposed to them, because they are so far done from the Lord, and not from man. Works, however, are more or less good according to the excellence of uses, for works must be uses. The best are those that are done for the sake of uses to the church. In the quality of goodness follow those that are done for the sake of uses to one's native country, and so on. Uses determine the good quality of works. The good quality of works also increases with man according to the plenitude of the truths from whose affection they are done. For a man who turns away from evils as sins desires to know truths, because truths teach uses and the quality of their good. Hence it is that good loves truth, and truth loves good, and that they desire to be conjoined. In proportion, therefore, as such a man learns truths from affection for them, in the same proportion he does goods more wisely and more fully; more wisely, because he knows how to distinguish uses, and to do them with judgment and justice; and more fully, because all truths are present in the performance of uses and form a spiritual sphere, which the affection of them produces.
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