3142# "我已经打扫了房屋"象征一切都准备就绪，充满了良善。这一点从"打扫"和"房屋"的含义可以看出来。"打扫"象征着准备和充满，稍后会讨论。而"房屋"象征良善（参2233，2234，2559节）。实际上，人因其内在的善而被称为“房屋"（参3128节）。
"打扫"之所以象征着准备和充满，是因为人只需要"打扫房屋"，也就是拒绝邪恶的欲望和由此产生的伪谬观念。这样做之后，良善就会充满他。良善从主那里持续不断地流入，但只会流入已经净化的"房屋"，也就是已经清除了那些阻碍、扭曲或窒息良善流入的人。
古人有一种说法，叫做"打扫或清洁房屋"，以及"铺平和准备道路"。"打扫房屋"被理解为净化自己，摒弃邪恶，为良善的进入做好准备。而"打扫道路"则象征着为接受真理做好准备。这是因为"房屋"象征良善，而"道路"象征真理（参627，2333节）。
【2】正如《以赛亚书》所言：
在旷野，有人声喊着说：“当扫清（预备）耶和华的路，在沙漠地为我们的神修直大道。（以赛亚书40:3）
你们要修筑，修筑，扫清（预备）道路，将绊脚石从我百姓的路中除掉。（以赛亚书57:14）
你们当从门经过，经过，扫清（预备）百姓的路；你们要修筑，修筑大道，捡去石头。（以赛亚书62:10）
《玛拉基书》说：
看哪，我要差遣我的使者，在我前面扫清（预备）道路。你们所寻求的主必忽然进入他的殿。"（玛拉基书3:1）
在这些经文中，"扫清道路"象征着为接受真理做好准备。这里讲的是主的到来，人们应当为接受信仰的真理做好准备，通过这真理接受仁义之善，并借此获得永恒的救赎。
【3】你从埃及挪出一棵葡萄树，赶出外邦人，把这树栽上。你在它前面扫清（杂物），它就深深扎根，充满了地。（诗篇80:9-10）
这里从最高的意义上讲是指主；"从埃及来的葡萄树"是指来自事实性知识的真理，"赶出外邦人"是指清除邪恶，"在它前面扫清杂物"是指为良善充满做准备。
"打扫房屋"在相反的意义上也可以指人剥夺自己的一切真与善，被恶与伪充满，如经上所言：
污鬼离了人身，就在无水之地过来过去，寻求安歇之处；既寻不着，便说：“我要回到我所出来的屋里去。”到了，就看见里面打扫干净，修饰好了，便去另带了七个比自己更恶的鬼来，都进去住在那里。（路加福音11:24-26；马太福音12:43-45）
3142、“我已经打扫了房屋”表示一切事物都已预备好并充满良善。这从“打扫”和“房屋”的含义清楚可知：“打扫”是指预备并充满，如下文所述；“房屋”（house，或家）是指良善，如前所述（2233， 2234， 2559节）。人自己凭他里面的良善被称为一个房屋或一个家（3128节）。“打扫”之所以表示预备并充满，是因为对人唯一的要求就是打扫房屋，也就是弃绝恶欲和由此滋生的虚假说服。他若如此行，就会充满良善，因为良善不断从主流入。它流入“房屋”，也就是流入洁除了诸如阻碍流注，也就是反弹，或扭曲，或窒息所流入的良善的那类事物的人。因此，古人常常说打扫或清洁房屋，还说清扫并预备道路。“打扫房屋”表示把自己从邪恶中洁净出来，以这种方式预备良善进入；而“清扫道路”表示预备自己接受真理。这是因为“房屋或家”表示良善（3128节），“道路或路”表示真理（627， 2333节）。
如以赛亚书：
在旷野有一个呼喊的嗓声，清扫（或预备）耶和华的路，在沙漠为我们的神修直大道。（以赛亚书40:3）
同一先知书：
铺平，铺平，清扫（或预备）道路，将绊脚石从我百姓的路中除掉！（以赛亚书57:14）
又：
你们要经过，要从城门经过，清扫（或预备）百姓的路；铺平，铺平大道；捡去石头。（以赛亚书62:10）
玛拉基书：
看哪，我要差遣我的使者，祂必在我前面清扫（或预备）道路。你们所寻求的主，必忽然进入祂的殿。（玛拉基书3:1）
在这些经文中，“清扫道路”表示使自己做好准备，预备接受真理。此处论述的主题是主的降临；在这种时候，人们要预备自己接受信之真理，并通过这真理接受仁之良善，再通过这良善接受永恒的救赎。
诗篇：
你从埃及带出一棵葡萄树，赶出列族，把这树栽上。你在它面前清扫，使它深深扎根，它就充满这地。（诗篇80:8-9）
这在至高意义上论及主。“从埃及带出一棵葡萄树”是指基于记忆知识或事实的真理；“赶出列族”是指洁除邪恶；“在它面前清扫”是指使自己预备好充满良善。“打扫房屋”在反面意义上也表示丧失一切良善和真理，从而充满邪恶和虚假的人，如路加福音：
污灵找不到安歇之处，便说，我要回到我所出来的屋里去；到了，就发现那屋子打扫干净，修饰好了；便去另带了七个比自己更恶的灵来，都进去住在那里。（路加福音11:24-26；马太福音12:43-45）
Potts(1905-1910) 3142
3142. For I have swept the house. That this signifies that all things were prepared, and full of goods, is evident from the signification of "sweeping," as being to prepare and to be filled (of which we shall speak presently); and from the signification of a "house" as being good (concerning which above, n. 2233, 2234, 2559; and that man himself, from the good which is in him, is called a house, n. 3128). The reason "to sweep" signifies to prepare and to be filled, is that nothing else is required of man than to sweep the house; that is, to reject the cupidities of evil and the derivative persuasions of falsity; for he is then filled with goods, because good is continually flowing in from the Lord-but into "the house," that is, into the man who is purified from such things as impede the influx, that is, which reflect, or pervert, or suffocate the inflowing good. Hence it was common with the ancients to speak of sweeping or cleaning the house, and of sweeping and preparing the way; and by sweeping the house was meant to purify one's self from evils, and thereby to prepare one's self for goods to enter; but by sweeping the way was meant to prepare one's self so that truths might be received (for by a "house" was signified good, n. 3128; and by a "way," truth, n. 627, 2333). [2] As in Isaiah:
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Sweep [prepare] ye the way of Jehovah; make straight in the desert a highway for our God (Isa. 40:3). In the same:
Cast up, cast up, sweep [prepare] the way, take away the stumbling-block out of the way of My people (Isa. 57:14). Again:
Go through, go through the gates, sweep [prepare] the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway, gather out the stones (Isa. 62:10). In Malachi:
Behold I send Mine angel, and He shall sweep [prepare] the way before Me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple (Mal. 3:1). In these passages, to "sweep the way" signifies to make themselves ready and prepare to receive truth. The subject treated of therein is the advent of the Lord, for which they were to prepare themselves for receiving the truth of faith, and thereby the good of charity, and by this eternal salvation. [3] In David:
Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt, Thou didst drive out the nations and plantedst it; Thou didst sweep before it, and didst cause its root to be rooted, and it filled the land (Ps. 80:8-9);
where in the supreme sense the Lord is treated of; the "vine out of Egypt" is truth from memory-knowledges; "driving out the nations" is purifying from evils; "sweeping before it," is making ready so that goods may fill. In the opposite sense "to sweep the house" is said also of the man who deprives himself of all goods and truths, and thus is filled with evils and falsities; as in Luke:
The unclean spirit, finding no rest, says, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when he is come he findeth it swept and garnished; then goeth he and taketh to him seven other spirits worse than himself, and they enter in and dwell there (Luke 11:24-26; Matt. 12:43-45).
Elliott(1983-1999) 3142
3142. 'And I have swept the house' means all things had been prepared and filled with goods. This is clear from the meaning of 'sweeping' as preparing and being filled, dealt with immediately below, and from the meaning of 'a house' as good, dealt with in 2233, 2234, 2559. And a person himself, from the good which governs him, is called a house, 3128. The reason why 'sweeping' means preparing and being filled is that nothing else is asked of anyone except to 'sweep his house', that is, to reject evil desires and resulting false persuasions. If he does this he is filled with all forms of good, for good from the Lord is constantly flowing in. It flows into 'the house', that is, into the person who has been cleansed of such things as hinder influx, that is, which turn away, or pervert, or stifle inflowing good. Hence the proverbial expression used by the ancients about sweeping or cleansing the house, and also about sweeping and preparing the way. 'Sweeping the house' was used to mean cleansing oneself of evils and thereby preparing oneself for goods to enter, while 'sweeping the way' was used to mean preparing oneself for the reception of truths; for 'a house' meant good, 3128, and 'the way' truth, 627, 2333.
[2] As in Isaiah,
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Sweep (prepare) the way of Jehovah; make straight in the lonely place a highway for our God. Isa 40:3.
In the same prophet,
Level out, level out, sweep (prepare) the way; remove the stumbling block from My people's way. Isa 57:14.
In the same prophet,
Go through, go through into the gates; sweep (prepare) the way of the people. Level out, level out the way; gather out the stones. Isa 62:10.
In Malachi,
Behold, I am sending My angel, and he will sweep (prepare) the way before Me; and suddenly there will come to His temple the Lord whom you are seeking. Mal 3:1.
In these places 'sweeping the way' stands for getting oneself ready and preparing to receive truth. They refer to the Lord's coming, for which people were to prepare themselves so as to receive the truth of faith, and through that the good of charity, and through this in turn eternal salvation.
[3] In David,
You caused a vine to journey out of Egypt. You cast out the nations, and You planted it, You swept before it and caused its root to be rooted, and it filled the land. Ps 80:8, 9.
This refers in the highest sense to the Lord. 'A vine out of Egypt' is truth based on facts, 'casting out the nations' cleansing from evils, 'sweeping before it' preparing for goods to fill it. 'Sweeping the house' also means in the contrary sense the person who dispossesses himself of all goods and truths and so is filled with evils and falsities, as in Luke,
If the unclean spirit finds no rest he says, I will return to my house out of which I came. And if when he comes he finds it swept and decorated, he goes away and brings seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. Luke 11:24-26; Matt 12:43-45.
Latin(1748-1756) 3142
3142. `Et ego veri domum': quod significet omnia parata et plena bonis esse, constat (c)a significatione `verrere' quod sit parare et impleri, de qua mox; et ex significatione `domus' quod sit bonum, de qua n. 2233, 2234, 2559, et quod ipse homo, ex bono quod in illo, dicatur `domus', n. 3128: quod `verrere' sit parare et impleri, inde est quia nihil aliud ab homine requiritur quam ut `vertat domum,' hoc est, rejiciat cupiditates mali et persuasiones falsi inde, tunc impletur ille bonis, nam bonum a Domino continue influit, sed in domum, seu in hominem purgatum a talibus quae influxum impediunt, hoc est, `quae' bonum influum reflectunt, vel pervertunt, vel suffocat; inde formula antiquis fuit, {1}verrere seu purgare domum, tum vertere et parare viam; et per `verrere domum' intellectum est se purgare a malis, et sic se praeparare ut bona intrent; at per `verrere viam' intellectum est se parare ut vera recipiantur; nam per `domum' significatum fuit bonum, n. 3128, et per `viam' verum, n. 627, 2333; [2] ut apud Esaiam, Vox clamantis in deserto, Verrite (parate) viam Jehovae, et rectam facite in solitudine semitam Deo nostro, xl 3:apud eundem, Sternite, sternite, verrite (parate) viam, removete offendiculum a via populi Mei, lvii 14:
apud eundem, Transite, transite in portas, verrite (parate) viam populi; sternite, sternite viam, elapidate e lapide, lxii 10:
apud Malachiam, Ecce Ego mittens angelum Meum, et verret (parabit) viam coram Me, et subito veniet ad templum Dominus, quem vos quaerentes, iii 1;
illis in locis `verrere viam' pro parare se et praeparare ad recipiendum verum; agitur ibi de adventu Domini, ad quem se praepararent ad recipiendum verum fidei, et per illud bonum charitatis, et per hoc salutem aeternam: [3] apud Davidem, Vitem ex Aegypto proficisci fecisti, expulisti gentes, et plantasti illam, verristi coram illa, et radicari fecisti radicem ejus, et implevit terram, Ps. lxxx 9, 10 [A.V. 8, 9];
ibi in sensu supremo de Domino; `vitis ex Aegypto' est verum ex scientificis, `expellere gentes' est purgare a malis, `vertere coram illa' est parare ut bona impleant. {2} `Verrere domum' etiam in opposito sensu significat hominem, qui deprivat se ab omnibus bonis et veris, et sic impletur malis et falsis, ut apud Lucam, Immundus spiritus requiem si non invenit, dicit, Revertar in domum meam, unde egressus sum, quam si veniens invenit scopis purgatam et ornatam, tunc abit, et assumit septem alios spiritus se pejores, et ingressi habitant ibi, xi 24-26;
Matth. xii 43-45. @1 Heb. (panah and Lat. verrere are not necessarily connected with brooms or brushes. The former, and probably the latter, has the meaning `to turn,' hence `to turn out (rubbish, etc.)' and so `to put in order,' or `to prepare.'$ @2 i radicare radicem et implere terram est fructificatio in infinitum$