1044# “和珍珠”表示外在上的表象，就好像他们处于良善和真理的知识，尽管他们在内在上处于邪恶和虚假的知识。这从“珍珠”的含义清楚可知，“珍珠”是指良善和真理的知识或认知（对此，我们稍后会提到）；因此，“珍珠”在反面意义上表示邪恶和虚假的知识，这些知识是他们的诡诈和狡猾，或狡诈和恶意的源头。巴比伦民族具有这种性质，即：他们渴望显得圣洁，从而拥有一切良善和真理，以及关于它们的知识，由此显得比世界上的其他所有人都聪明，尽管事实上，他们既没有良善，也没有真理，又没有良善和真理的任何知识，因而在属灵事物上没有任何聪明和智慧。他们没有这些，事实上，他们在这些事物上是疯狂的，这一点在灵界是显而易见的；在灵界，每个人的内层都被打开，从而清楚显现出来。对修道士，尤其耶稣会士来说，尽管他们被认为比其他人更聪明，但他们的内层看起来如此空虚和空白，以至于他们甚至连一个通往天堂的真理也不知道。经过检查，结果发现他们是这样的。
他们在外在上之所以看起来处于良善、真理、知识、聪明和智慧，是因为他们使圣言、教会和敬拜的一切圣物都服从他们的统治；因此，他们出于统治权或权威与普通民众交谈，说服他们相信，天堂的奥秘掌握在他们手中，他们的教皇出于灵感发出他的法令，就像众先知和使徒们所行的一样。他们能以一种傲慢的方式宣称这一点，因为他们出于统治灵魂，天堂和地狱的权威来说话。普通民众也相信这一点，因为他们被说服了，相信其教导者是神圣的，内心并不反感；为达到这个目的，他们被保持在对属灵事物的浓密幽暗中。在这种幽暗中，他们将他们称之为神性和属天堂的虚假良善和毫无意义的真理传授给普通民众。事实上，普通民众被保持在如此大的幽暗之中，以至于他们能向普通民众灌输魔鬼和地狱的邪恶和虚假，使这些人相信它们是属天和属灵的良善和真理。因为只有通过这种方式，他们才能被崇拜为神明，使国家和财产都服从他们的统治，受他们支配。这就是从内在隐藏在他们里面的东西，而表面上，他们看似“穿着紫色和朱红色的衣服，镶嵌着金子、宝石和珍珠。”
“珍珠”表示良善和真理的知识，这一点可从以下经文明显看出来。马太福音：天国又好比一个寻找好珍珠的商人；发现一颗极贵重的珍珠时，就去变卖他所有的一切，买了它。（马太福音13:45–46）
“天国”是指天堂和教会；“商人”是指那些为自己获取良善和真理的人，天堂和教会可以通过这些良善和真理来获得；“珍珠”表示良善和真理的知识，因为这些知识是属世人的真理；“一颗极贵重的珍珠”是指关于主及其神性的知识；“就去变卖他所有的一切，买了它”表示弃绝自我，以便从主那里获得生命。
同一福音书：不要把圣物给狗，也不要把你们的珍珠丢在猪前，恐怕它们用脚践踏了它们，转过来撕裂你们。（马太福音7:6）
“狗”表示贪求和欲望；“猪”表示肮脏的爱，就是地狱里的通奸者所拥有的那种。这些人因处于地狱的婚姻，也就是虚假与邪恶的婚姻，故完全弃绝良善和真理，以及关于它们的知识，而且以轻蔑或污辱和嘲笑来对待它们；故经上说：“不要把你们的珍珠丢在猪前，恐怕它们用脚践踏了它们，转过来撕裂你们。”“用脚践踏”是指当作污物一样完全弃绝，“转过来撕裂”是指以轻蔑或污辱和嘲笑来对待。
在以下启示录的经文中，“珍珠”也表示良善和真理的知识：地上的客商都为巴比伦哭泣悲哀，因为没有人再买他们的货物了，就是金，银，宝石和珍珠的货物。（启示录18:11–12）
又：
新耶路撒冷城墙的十二个门是十二颗珍珠；每门是一颗珍珠。（启示录21:21）
由于“新耶路撒冷的门”表示那些属于取自圣言的教义、把人引入教会的事物，这些事物就是来自圣言的真理和良善的知识，所以这些门被看到是“珍珠”的。
1044. And pearls. That this signifies the appearance in externals as if they were in the knowledges of good and truth, although, in internals, they are in the knowledge of evil and falsity, is evident from the signification of pearls, as denoting the knowledges of good and truth, of which we shall speak presently. Hence, in the opposite sense, by pearls is signified the knowledge of evil and falsity, whence came their craftiness and malice.
That the Babylonian nation is such, namely, that they are desirous to appear holy, and thence to possess all good and truth, and the knowledges thereof, consequently, to be intelligent above all others in the world, although they have neither the good nor the truth, nor the knowledges thereof, and thence have no intelligence and wisdom in spiritual things. That they have not these, indeed, that they are insane as to these things, is plainly seen in the spiritual world, where the interiors of every man are opened and thence made manifest. These in the case of the monks, and even the Jesuits, who were reputed to be more intelligent than others, appeared so empty and void, that they did not know even a single truth that leads to heaven. They have been examined, and were found to be such.
[2] The reason why they appear in externals to be in goods, in true knowledges, intelligence and wisdom is, that they have subjected to their dominion all the holy things of the Word, of the church, and of worship; and because they consequently speak from authority with the common people, persuading them that the mysteries of heaven are in their hands, and that their Pope utters his edicts from inspiration just as the Prophets and Apostles did. And this, also, they can declare in a haughty manner, because they speak from the authority of dominion over souls, and over heaven and hell. And this also is believed by the common people from a belief in the sanctity of their instructors, without repugnance of heart, since they are kept, for that end, in gross darkness about spiritual things; in this darkness they impart to them spurious goods, and unmeaning truths, which they call Divine and heavenly. Indeed, so great is the darkness in which the common people are kept, that they are able to breathe into them diabolical and infernal evils and falsities, and cause such to believe them to be celestial and spiritual goods and truths. For in this and no other way could they be worshipped as deities, and subject the earth and the possessions thereof to their rule and disposal. Such are the things that lie concealed inwardly in them, while outwardly they appear to be clothed in crimson and scarlet, and decked with gold, precious stone, and pearls.
[3] That pearls signify the knowledges of good and truth, is evident from the following passages. In Matthew:
"The kingdom of the heavens is like unto a merchantman seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one precious pearl, went and sold all that he had, and bought it" (13:45, 46).
By the kingdom of the heavens is meant both heaven and the church. By the merchant-man are meant those who procure to themselves the goods and truths, by which heaven and the church [may be attained]. By pearls are signified the knowledges of good and truth; for these are the truths of the natural man. By one precious pearl is meant knowledge concerning the Lord and concerning His Divine. And by his going and selling all that he had, and buying it, is signified that he put away the proprium in order to receive life from the Lord.
[4] In the same:
"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample on them with their feet, and turn again and rend you" (7:6).
By dogs are signified lusts and appetites. By swine are signified filthy loves, such as are those in the hells of adulterers. These being in the infernal marriage, which is that of falsity and evil, altogether reject goods and truths, and the knowledges thereof, and, moreover, treat them with ignominy and contempt. Therefore it is said, "Cast not your pearls before swine, lest they trample on them with their feet, and turn and rend you." To trample with the feet, denotes to reject altogether as dirt; and to turn and rend, denotes to treat with ignominy and contempt.
[5] By pearls are signified the knowledges of good and truth also in the following passages in the Apocalypse:
"The merchants of the earth shall weep and wail over Babylon, that no one buyeth their merchandise any more; merchandise of gold and silver, and of precious stones and pearls" (18:11, 12).
Also:
"The twelve gates" of the wall of the New Jerusalem were "twelve pearls; each gate was one pearl" (21:21).
Because by the gates for the New Jerusalem are signified those things pertaining to doctrine from the Word that introduce a man into the church, and these are the knowledges of truth and good from the Word, therefore the gates were seen to be of pearls.
1044. And pearls, signifies their appearance in externals to be in the cognitions [cognitiones] of good and truth, and yet in internals they are in the knowledge [scientia] of evil and falsity. This is evident from the signification of "pearls," as being the cognitions of good and truth (of which presently); therefore in the contrary sense "pearls" signify the knowledges of evil and falsity, which are the source of their craft and cunning. That the Babylonian nation is such, namely, that they wish to appear to be in sanctity, and thus in every good and truth and in the knowledges of these, and to appear in consequence to be intelligent above all others in the world, although in fact they are in no good or truth nor in any knowledges of these, and thus not in any intelligence or wisdom in spiritual things. That they are not in these, but are instead insane in respect to them, is clearly seen in the spiritual world, where the interiors of every man are laid bare and thus clearly appear. In the case of the monks, and especially the Jesuits, who from their cleverness were considered to be more intelligent than all others in the world, their interiors were found to be so empty and void that they did not know a single truth that leads to heaven. These have been explored, and have been found to be such.
[2] They appear in externals to be in goods, truths, knowledges, intelligence, and wisdom, because they have made subject to their dominion all the holy things of the Word, of the church, and of worship, and therefore from dominion they speak with the common people, persuading them that they hold the mysteries of heaven, and that their Pope utters his edicts from inspiration, like that of the prophets and apostles; and this they can declare in a haughty manner, because they speak from the authority of dominion over souls, and over heaven and hell; and from a persuasion of their holiness it can be accepted by the common people with no repugnance of heart, since the common people are kept for this very purpose in dense thick darkness respecting spiritual things. And in that thick darkness they inspire spurious goods and foolish truths, which they call Divine and heavenly; and in such thick darkness in which the common people are kept, they are even able to inspire devilish and infernal evils and falsities, and to induce a faith in them as if they were celestial and spiritual goods and truths; for thus and not otherwise can they be adored as deities, and subject countries and possessions to their command and disposal. Such are the things that lie hidden inwardly in them, while outwardly they appear as if "arrayed in purple and scarlet, and inwrought with gold, precious stones, and pearls."
[3] That "pearls" signify the knowledges of good and truth can be seen from the following passages. In Matthew:
The kingdom of the heavens is like unto a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one precious pearl, going away sold all that he had and bought it (Matthew 13:45-46).
"The kingdom of the heavens" means both heaven and the church; the "merchant" means those who acquire for themselves the goods and truths through which heaven and the church come; "pearls" signify the knowledges of good and truth, for these are the truths of the natural man; "the one precious pearl" means the knowledge respecting the Lord and His Divine; "going away he sold all that he had and bought it" signifies to reject what is one's own [proprium] in order to receive life from the Lord.
[4] In the same:
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest they trample on them with their feet, and turn and rend you (Matthew 7:6).
"Dogs" signify lusts and appetites; "swine" signify filthy loves, such as are those in the hells of adulterers. Because such are in the infernal marriage, which is the marriage of falsity and evil, they utterly reject goods and truths and the knowledges of these, and moreover treat them with scorn and scoffing; therefore it is said, "Cast not your pearls before the swine, lest they trample on them with their feet, and turn and rend you," "to trample with the feet" being to wholly reject as filth, and "to turn and rend" being to treat with scorn and scoffing.
[5] "Pearls" also signify the knowledges of good and truth in the following passages in Revelation:
The merchants of the earth shall weep and wail over Babylon, for no one buyeth their merchandise any more, merchandise of gold and silver, and of precious stone and pearl (Revelation 18:11-12).
Again:
The twelve gates of the wall of the New Jerusalem were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was one pearl (Revelation 21:21).
As "the gates to the New Jerusalem" signify such things of doctrine from the Word as introduce man into the church, and these are the knowledges of truth and good from the Word, so the gates were seen to be "of pearls."
1044. "Et margaritis." - Quod significet apparentiam in externis sicut forent in cognitionibus boni et veri, cum tamen in internis sunt in scientia mali et falsi, constat ex significatione "margaritarum", quod sint cognitiones boni et veri (de qua sequitur); inde in opposito sensu per "margaritas" significatur scientia mali et falsi, ex qua illis est astutia et malitia. Quod gens Babylonica talis sit, nempe quod velint apparere in sancto, et inde sicut in omni bono et vero, inque cognitionibus illorum, proinde in intelligentia prae omnibus in mundo, cum tamen potius sunt in nullo bono et vero, nec in cognitionibus illorum, et inde non in aliqua intelligentia et sapientia in spiritualibus, – quod in illis non sint, immo quod insaniant in illis, – manifeste videtur in mundo spirituali, ubi interiora cujusvis hominis aperiuntur et inde patent; quae apud monachos, immo apud Jesuitas, qui intelligentes ex ingenio prae reliquis in mundo reputati sunt, tam vacua et inania apparuerunt ut ne quidem unum verum quod ducit ad caelum sciverint; explorati sunt, et visi tales.
[2] Quod in externis appareant quod in bonis, veris, cognitionibus, intelligentia et sapientia sint, est quia dominio suo subjecerunt omnia sancta Verbi, ecclesiae et cultus, et quia inde ex dominio loquuntur cum vulgo, persuadendo quod arcana caeli apud illos sint, et quod eorum Papa ex inspiratione, aeque ac Prophetae et Apostoli, enuntiata edat; et quoque hoc fastuose ab illis dici potest, quia ex auctoritate dominii super animas, superque caelum et infernum loquuntur, et quoque a vulgo credi potest ex persuasione sanctitatis illorum, absque repugnantia cordis, quoniam vulgus ob illum finem in densa caligine de rebus spiritualibus tenetur; in qua caligine inspirant bona spuria, et vera fatua, quae vocant Divina et caelestia; immo in tali caligine, in qua vulgus tenetur, inspirare possunt mala et falsa diabolica et infernalia, ac inducere fidem sicut forent bona et vera caelestia et spiritualia; sic enim et non aliter possunt adorari sicut numina, ac suo imperio et suae ditioni subjicere terras et possessiones: haec namque apud illos interius latent, dum exterius apparent sicut induti purpura et coccino, ac inaurati auro, lapide pretioso et margaritis.
[3] Quod "margaritae" significent cognitiones boni et veri, constat ex sequentibus:
– Apud Matthaeum,
"Simile est regnum caelorum negotiatori quaerenti pulchras margaritas, qui cum invenisset unam pretiosam margaritam, abiens vendidit omnia quae habuit, et emit illam" (13:45, 46):
per "regnum caelorum" intelligitur et caelum et ecclesia; per "negotiatorem" intelliguntur qui comparant sibi bona et vera, per quae caelum et ecclesia; per "margaritas" significantur cognitiones boni et veri, sunt enim hae vera naturalis hominis; per "unam margaritam pretiosam" intelligitur cognitio de Domino, et de Ipsius Divino; quod "abiens vendiderit omnia quae habuit, et emerit illam", significat quod proprium rejiceret, ut vitam a Domino acciperet.
[4] Apud eundem,
"Non detis quod sanctum est canibus, ne projicite margaritas vestras ante porcos, ne forte conculcent eas pedibus, et versi lacerent vos" (7:6):
per "canes" significantur concupiscentiae et appetitus: per "porcos" sIgnificantur spurci amores, quales in infernis adulterorum sunt; hi quia in conjugio infernali, quod est falsi et mali, sunt, ideo vera et bona ac illorum cognitiones prorsus rejiciunt, ac insuper ignominia et contumeliis afficiunt; ideo dicitur, "Ne projicite margaritas vestras ante porcos, ne forte conculcent eas pedibus suis, et versi lacerent vos"; "conculcare pedibus" est prorsus rejicere sicut caenum, ac "versi lacerare" est ignominia et contumeliis afficere.
[5] Per "margaritas" significantur cognitiones boni et veri etiam in sequentibus in Apocalypsi,
"Mercatores terrae flebunt et plangent super" Babylone, "quod merces eorum nemo emat amplius, merces auri et argenti, et lapidis pretiosi, et margaritae" (18:11, 12):
Tum "duodecim portae" muri Novae Hierosolymae", duodecim margaritae, unaquaeque portarum erat margarita una" (Apocalypsis 21:21);
quoniam per "portas ad Novam Hierosolymam" significantur talia doctrinae ex Verbo quae introducunt hominem in ecclesiam, et illa sunt cognitiones veri et boni ex Verbo, ideo portae visae sunt "ex margaritis."