70# 经上说脚“像擦亮的铜”，是因为擦亮的铜是抛光的铜，因某种火一样的东西而发光；在圣言中，“铜”表示属世良善。金属和圣言中的所有其它事物一样，是有意义的。在圣言中，“金”表示属天良善，也就是最内在的良善；“银”表示它的真理，也就是属灵良善；“铜”表示属世良善，也就是最外在的良善，“铁”表示它的真理，也就是属世真理。金属表示这些事物是由于对应；因为在天堂，许多东西看上去就像金银那样闪闪发光，还有许多东西看上去像铜铁那样闪闪发光。在那里，众所周知，这些东西表示前面提到的良善和真理。这就是为何拥有对应知识的古人根据这些金属命名各个时代；他们将第一个时代称为“黄金时代”，因为那时纯真、爱和由此而来的智慧掌权；他们将第二个时代称为“白银时代”，因为那时源于那良善或属灵良善的真理和由此而来的聪明掌权；他们将第三个时代称为“青铜时代”，因为那时只有属世良善，也就是道德生活的公义和诚实掌权；但他们将最后一个时代称为“黑铁时代”，因为那时只有没有良善的真理掌权，当这样的真理掌权时，虚假也掌权。这些时代如此区分，是由于这些金属的属灵含义。
由此可知尼布甲尼撒梦见的雕像表示什么：
这像的头是精金的，胸膛和膀臂是银的，肚腹和大腿是铜的，小腿是铁的，脚是半铁半泥的。(但以理书2:32, 33)
即表示在良善和真理方面教会从初期到末期的状态；它的末期就是主降世的时候。当知道“金”表示属天良善，“银”表示属灵良善，“铜”表示属世良善，“铁”表示属世真理时，就能明白圣言中提到这些金属的地方的许多奥秘。例如，以赛亚书中的这些话表示什么：
我要拿金子代替铜，拿银子代替铁，拿铜代替木头，拿铁代替石头；并要以和平为你的官长，以公义为你的税吏。(以赛亚书60:17)
但由于此处论述的是表示属世良善的“铜”的含义，所以我只引用提到表示属世良善的“铜”的一些经文。因此，在摩西五经：
愿亚设得他弟兄的悦纳，可以把脚蘸在油中。你的鞋是铁的、铜的。你的日子如何，你的名声也必如何。(申命记33:24–25)
“亚设”作为众支派当中的一支，表示生命的祝福或幸福和情感的快乐(参看《属天的奥秘》，3938–3939, 6408节)；“把脚蘸在油中”表示属世快乐，“油”是指快乐(参看9954节)，“脚”是指属世层(参看AE69节)；“鞋是铁的、铜的”表示源于真理和良善的最低属世层，“鞋”是指最低属世层(参看1748, 1860, 6844节)，“铁”是指它的真理，“铜”是指它的良善，如前所述。同一先知书：
耶和华你神领你进入美地；从那地的石头可以凿出铁来，从它的山上可以挖出铜来。(申命记8:7, 9)
耶利米书：
我必将你归给这百姓成为坚固的铜墙，好叫他们攻击你，却不能胜你。(耶利米书15:20)
以西结书：
雅完，土巴，米设，都是你的客商；他们拿人的灵魂和铜器兑换你的货物。(以西结书27:13)
这一章论述了推罗的客商，这些客商表示良善和真理的知识或认知；“雅完，土巴，米设”这些名字表示那些属于良善和真理的事物，这些知识与它们有关；“人的灵魂”是指生活的真理；“铜器”是指属世良善的知识。
至于“推罗”表示什么，可参看《属天的奥秘》(1201节)；“客商”表示什么(2967, 4453节)；“土巴，米设”表示什么(1151节)；“雅完”表示什么(1152, 1153, 1155节)；“人的灵魂”表示什么(2930, 9050, 9281节)；“器皿”表示什么(3068, 3079,3316, 3318节)。同一先知书：
基路伯的脚都像磨光了的铜那么发亮。(以西结书1:7)
“基路伯”和“脚”表示什么，可参看前文(AE69节)。
又：
我观看，见有一人，他的形状像铜的样子，手拿麻线；站在门口。(以西结书40:3)
由于此处提到的天使量了神家的墙和门，而墙和门表示教会的外在，所以他的形状看上去是铜的样子。人若知道“铜”表示教会的外在，这外在本身是属世的，就能在某种程度上知道为何燔祭坛用铜包裹，坛周围的格栅是铜的，器具都用铜作(出埃及记27:1–4)；也知道为何被称为海的大器具和它下面的十二头牛，十个盆和座，以及用于神家的一切器具，都是由所罗门用抛光的铜作的(列王纪上7:43–47)。
知道“铜”表示什么的人也会进入这个奥秘，即为何经上吩咐要为百姓挂起所望的铜蛇；对此，摩西五经上如此记着说：
耶和华打发蛇进入百姓中间，蛇就咬百姓。祂对摩西说，你要造一条蛇，挂在旗杆上；凡被咬的，一望这蛇就必存活。摩西就造了一条铜蛇，挂在旗杆上；蛇若咬了什么人，那人一望这铜蛇，就活了。(民数记21:6, 8–9)
这“蛇”表示主，主自己在约翰福音教导了这一点：
摩西在旷野怎样举蛇，人子也必照样被举起来，叫凡信祂的，不至灭亡，反得永生。(约翰福音3:14–16)
“蛇”表示人里面生命的终端，该层面被称为外在感官层，也就是属世层。由于主里面的这终端是神性，所以在以色列人中间造了铜蛇，以色列人当中的一切事物都具有代表性；含义是这样，他们若仰望主的神性人身，就会复活，也就是说，他们若信祂，就会拥有永生，如主自己所教导的。“看”在内义上是指相信(参看AE37, 68节)；“蛇”是指外在感官层，也就是人生命的终端(参看《属天的奥秘》，100, 195–197, 6398, 6949, 10313节)。在圣言中，“铜”和“铁”也表示刚硬的东西(如以赛亚书48:4; 但以理书7:19等)，这一点可见于下文。
70. The reason why the feet are said to be like unto fine brass is, that by fine brass is meant brass polished and shining, like something fiery; and brass in the Word signifies natural good. Metals, like all other things in the Word, are significative. Gold in the Word signifies celestial good, which is inmost good; silver signifies its truth, which is spiritual good; brass natural good, which is ultimate good, and iron its truth, which is natural truth. That such things are signified by metals, is from correspondence; for many things are seen in heaven shining like gold and silver, and also many things shining like brass and iron. And it is there known, that by those things are signified the above-mentioned kinds of good and truth; this is why the ancients, who were in the knowledge of correspondences, named the ages after those metals. The first age they called the golden age, because innocence, love and wisdom therefrom, then reigned; but the second age they called the silver age, because truth from that good, or spiritual good, and intelligence therefrom, then reigned; the third age they called the brazen, or copper, age, because only natural good, which is what is just and sincere pertaining to moral life, then reigned; but the last age they called the iron age, because only truth without good then reigned, and when that reigns, then also falsity reigns. The reason why the ages were thus distinguished, was from the spiritual signification of those metals.
[2] From these considerations it is evident what is signified by the statue of Nebuchadnezzar, seen in his dream,
"whose head was of gold, the chest and arms of silver, the belly and thighs of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet partly of iron and partly of clay" (Dan. 2:32, 33).
The state of the church from its first time to its last as to good and truth, is here signified; its last time was when the Lord came into the world.
When it is known that gold signifies celestial good, silver spiritual good, brass natural good, and iron natural truth, many arcana in the Word where those metals are mentioned can be known. For example, what is signified by these words in Isaiah:
"For brass I will bring gold, for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron; I will also make thy government peace, and thine exactors justice" (60:17).
[3] But as the signification of brass is what is here treated of, as being natural good, it is necessary only to adduce a few passages where brass is mentioned and signifies that good. Thus in Moses:
"Asher acceptable to his brethren, and dipping his foot in oil; iron and brass thy shoe, and as thy day, thy fame" (Deuteronomy 33:24, 25).
Asher, as one of the tribes, signifies the happiness of life, and the delight of the affections (see Deuteronomy 8:7, 9).
And in Jeremiah:
"I will give thee unto this people for a fortified wall of brass, that they may fight against thee, and not prevail over thee" (15:20).
And in Ezekiel:
"Javan, Tubal, and Mesech, they were thy merchants; with the soul of man and vessels of brass they gave thy merchandise" (27:13).
In this chapter the merchandises of Tyre are treated of, by which are signified the knowledges (cognitiones) of good and truth. By the names Javan, Tubal, and Mesech, are signified those things that pertain to good and truth, to which the knowledges relate; the soul of man denotes the truth of life; vessels of brass denote scientifics of natural good.
[4] (What is signified by Tyre, may be seen, 1:7).
(What the cherubs and the feet signify, may be seen above, n. 40:3).
Because the angel here mentioned measured the wall and the gates of the house of God, which signify the externals of the church, his appearance was seen to be the appearance of brass.
He who knows that brass signifies the external of the church, which in itself is natural, may in some measure understand why the altar of burnt-offering was overlaid with brass, and the gate round it was of brass, and the vessels of brass (Exodus 27:1-4), also why the great vessel, which was called the sea, with the twelve, oxen under it, and the ten lavers with the bases, and also all the vessels of the tabernacle for the house of God, were made by Solomon of polished brass (1 Kings 7:43-47). He who knows what brass signifies, can also enter into the arcanum why a serpent of brass was commanded to be set up for the people to look at, concerning which it is thus written in Moses:
"Jehovah sent serpents among the people, which bit the people. And he said unto Moses, Make thee a serpent, and set it upon a pole; and it shall come to pass that every one that is bitten, when he hath looked upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that when a serpent had bitten any man, and he looked upon the serpent of brass, he lived" (Numbers 21:6, 8, 9).
That the Lord was signified by that serpent, He himself teaches in John:
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (3:14, 15).
By the serpent is signified the ultimate of life in man, which is called the external Sensual, which is natural. To represent this ultimate, which in the Lord was Divine, among the sons of Israel, with whom all things were representative, a serpent of brass was made; and the signification was, that, if they looked to the Divine Human of the Lord, they would revive, that is, if they believed in Him, they should have eternal life, as the Lord himself also teaches. (That to see in the spiritual sense is to believe, may be seen above, n. Isaiah 48:4; Dan. 7:19; and other places, will be seen in the following pages.
70. The feet are said to be "like unto burnished brass," because burnished brass is polished brass, shining from something fiery; and "brass" in the Word signifies natural good. Metals are equally significative with the rest in the Word. "Gold" in the Word signifies celestial good, which is inmost good; "silver" signifies the truth thereof, which is spiritual good: "brass" natural good which is outmost good, and "iron" the truth thereof, which is natural truth.
Metals have such significations from correspondence; for in heaven many things are seen shining as if from gold and silver, and also many things as if from brass and iron; and it is there known that by these the goods and truths mentioned above are signified. It was from this that the ancients, who had a knowledge of correspondences, named the ages according to these metals; calling the first age the "golden," because innocence, love, and wisdom therefrom then ruled; but the second "silver," because truth from that good, or spiritual good, and intelligence therefrom then ruled; the third age "brazen" or "copper," because mere natural good, which is justness and sincerity of moral life, then ruled; but the last age they called "iron," because mere truth without good then ruled, and when that rules, falsity also rules. All this was from the spiritual signification of these metals.
[2] From this it can be known what is signified by the image seen in a dream by Nebuchadnezzar:
The head of which was of gold, the breast and arms of silver, the belly and sides of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet partly of iron and partly of clay (Daniel 2:23, 33);
namely, the state of the church in respect to good and truth, from its first time to its last; its last time was when the Lord came into the world. When it is known that "gold" signifies celestial good, "silver" spiritual good, "brass" natural good, and "iron" natural truth, many arcana in the Word, where these metals are mentioned, can be understood. Thus what is signified by these words in Isaiah:
For brass I will bring gold, for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron; I will also make thy government peace, and thine exactors justice (Isaiah 60:17).
[3] But as the signification of "brass," as meaning natural good, is here treated of, I will cite only a few passages where "brass" is mentioned, as signifying that good. Thus in Moses:
Asher acceptable unto his brethren, and dipping his foot in oil. Thy shoe iron and brass, and as thy days thy fame (69.
[4] In the same:
I saw and behold there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, and a line of flax was in his hand; and he was standing in the gate (Ezekiel 40:3).
It was because this angel measured the wall and the gates of the house of God, which signify the externals of the church, that his appearance was seen as the appearance of brass. He who knows that "brass" signifies the external of the church, which in itself is natural, can in some measure know why:
The altar of burnt-offering was overlaid with brass, and the grating about it was of brass, and the vessels of brass (Exodus 27:1-4);
as also why:
The great vessel, which was called the sea, with the twelve oxen under it, and the ten lavers with the bases, and also all the vessels of the tabernacle for the house of God, were made by Solomon of polished brass (1 Kings 7:43-47).
[5] He who knows what "brass" signifies may also enter into the arcanum why it was commanded that a serpent of brass be set up for the people to look at, of which it is thus written in Moses:
Jehovah sent serpents among the people, and they bit the people. And He said unto Moses, Make thee a serpent, and set it upon a standard, and it shall come to pass that everyone that is bitten, and looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it upon a standard; and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, and he looked unto the serpent of brass, he lived (Numbers 21:6, 8-9).
That this "serpent" signified the Lord, He Himself teaches in John:
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him may not perish, but may have everlasting life (John 3:14-15).
By the "serpent" is signified that which is the ultimate of life with man, and is called the external sensual, which is the natural. Because this ultimate in the Lord was Divine, a serpent of brass was made among the sons of Israel, with whom all things were representative; and this signified that if they would look to the Divine Human of the Lord they would live again, that is, if they would believe in Him they would have eternal life, as the Lord Himself also teaches. (That to "see" is in the spiritual sense to believe, see above, n. Isaiah 48:4; Daniel 7:19 where), will be seen in what follows.
70. Quod pedes dicti sint "similes chalcolibano", est quia chalcolibanum est aes levigatum micans ex quodam igneo, et "aes" in Verbo significat bonum naturale. Sunt metalla aeque significativa ac reliqua in Verbo; "aurum" ibi significat bonum caeleSte, quod est bonum intimum; "argentum" significat verum ejus, quod est bonum spirituale; "aes" bonum naturale, quod est bonum ultimum; et "ferrum" verum ejus, quod est verum naturale. Quod metalla significent illa, est ex correspondentia; apparent enim in caelo plura fulgentia sicut ex auro et argento, et quoque plura sicut ex aere et ferro, et notum est ibi quod per illa significentur memorata bona et vera. Inde est, quod antiqui, qui in scientia correspondentiarum fuerunt, appellaverint saecula secundum illa metalla; primum saeculum, "Aureum", quia tunc regnabat innocentia, amor, et inde sapientia; secundum autem saeculum, "Argenteum", quia tunc regnabat verum ex illo bono, seu bonum spirituale, et inde intelligentia; tertium saeculum, "Aeneum" seu "Cupreum", quia tunc regnabat modo bonum naturale, quod est justum et sincerum moralis vitae; ultimum autem saeculum vocabant "Ferreum", quia tunc regnabat modo verum absque bono, et cum id regnat, tunc quoque regnat falsum: haec omnia ex significatione spirituali illorum metallorum.
[2] Ex his constare potest quid significatur per statuam Nebuchadnezari in somnio visam
Cujus "caput erat ex auro, pectus et brachia ex argento, venter et latus ex aere; crura ex ferro, et pedes partim ex ferro partim ex luto" (Daniel 2:32, 33);
quod nempe status ecclesiae quoad bonum et Verum, a primo tempore usque ad ultimum ejus; ultimum ejus fuit quando Dominus in mundum venit. Quando scitur quod "aurum" significet bonum caeleste, "argentum" bonum spirituale, "aes" bonum naturale, et "ferrum" verum naturale, sciri possunt plura arcana in Verbo ubi illa metalla nominantur:
Ut quid significatur apud Esaiam,
"Pro aere adducam aurum, pro ferro adducam argentum, et pro lignis aes, et pro lapidibus ferrum; et ponam praefecturam tuam pacem, et exactores tuos justitiam" (60:17).
[3] Sed quia de significatione "aeris", quod sit bonum naturale, hic agitur, velim modo aliqua loca adducere, ubi "aes" nominatur et id bonum significat.
Apud Mosen,
"Ascher acceptus fratribus suis, et intingens in oleum pedem suum; ferrum et aes calceus tuus, et sicut dies tui fama tua" (Deuteronomius 33:24, 25);
"Ascher" ut una tribus significat felicitatem vitae et jucundum affectionum (n. 3938, 3939, 6408); "intingere in oleum pedem" significat jucundum naturale, "oleum" jucundum, (n. 9954), "pes" naturale (ut mox supra, n. 69); "ferrum et aes calceus", significat infimum naturale ex vero et bono, "calceus" est infimum naturale (n. 1748, 1860, 6844), "ferrum" est verum ejus et aes est bonum ejus (ut supra).
(Apud eundem, )
"Jehovah Deus tuus introducturus est te in terram opimam terram e cujus lapidibus ferrum et e cujus montibus excides aes" (Deuteronomius 8:7, 9).
Apud Jeremiam,
"Dabo te populo huic in murum aeris munitum, ut oppugnent te, et non praevaleant tibi" (15:20 1
).
Apud Ezechielem,
" 2
Javan, Thubal et Meschech mercatores tui, cum anima hominis et vasis aeris dederunt negotiationem tuam" (27:13):
agitur in eo capite de mercaturis Tyri, per quas significantur cognitiones boni et veri; per nomina "Javan, Thubal et Meschech" significantur talia quae boni et veri sunt, de quibus cognitiones; "anima hominis" est verum vitae; "vasa aeris" sunt scientifica boni naturalis. (Quid per "Tyrum" significatur, videatur n. 1201: quid per "mercaturas", n. 2967, 4453: quid per "Thubal et Meschech", n. 1151: quid per "Javan", n. 1152, 1153, 1155: quid per "animam hominis", n. 2930, 9050, 9281: quid per "vasa", n. 3068, 3079, 3316, 3318.)
Apud eundem,
Pedes cheruborum erant "micantes sicut species aeris levigati" (1:7):
quid "cherubi", et quid "pedes", vide mox supra (n. 69).
[4] Apud eundem,
Vidi, et "ecce vir cujus aspectus sicut aspectus aeris, et filum lini in manibus... is stans in porta" (40:3):
ille angelus, quia mensus est murum et portas Domus Dei, quae significant externa ecclesiae, visus est aspectus ejus sicut aspectus aeris. Qui scit quod "aes" significet externum ecclesiae, quod in se est naturale, is aliquantum scire potuit cur
Altare holocausti obductum fuit ex aere, ac cribrum ex aere circum illud, et vasa ex aere (Exodus 27:1-4);
ut et cur
Magnum vas, quod mare vocabatur, cum duodecim bovibus sub illo, ac decem labra cum basibus, ut et omnia vasa tabernaculi pro Domo Dei, a Salomone facta sunt ex aere polito ( 3
[5] Qui scit quid "aes" significat, is in id arcanum etiam venire potest, cur mandatum fuit quod serpens aeneus poneretur ad aspiciendum a populo, de quo ita apud Mosen:
"Misit Jehovah serpentes in populum, qui momorderunt populum;... et dixit ad Mosen, Fac tibi serpentem, et pone eum super signum, et fiet, omnis qui morsus fuerit et aspexerit illum vivet. Et fecit Moses serpentem aeris, et posuit eum super signum; et factum est cum momordit serpens virum, et aspexit serpentem aeris, revixit" (Numeri 21:6, 8, 9).
Quod ille significaverit Dominum, docet Ipse apud Johannem:
"Sicut Moses exaltavit serpentem in deserto, ita Oportet exaltari Filium hominis, ut omnis qui credit in Ipsum non pereat, sed habeat vitam aeternam" (3:14, 15).
Per "serpentem" significatur id quod est ultimum vitae apud hominem, et vocatur sensuale externum, quod est naturale; hoc ultimum, quia in Domino erat Divinum, ideo serpens aeris apud filios Israelis, apud quos omnia erant repraesentativa, factus est, et significabat quod si aspicerent in Divinum Humanum Domini, reviverent; hoc est, si crederent in Ipsum, vitam aeternam haberent, ut quoque Ipse Dominus docet.
(Quod "videre" in sensu spirituali sit credere, videatur etiam supra, n. 37, 68; et quod "serpens" sit sensuale externum, quod est ultimum vitae hominis, in Arcanis Caelestibus, n. 195, 196, 197, 6398, 6949, 10313.)
Quod "aes" et "ferrum" in Verbo etiam significent durum (Ut Esaias 48:4; Daniel 7:19; et alibi), videbitur in sequentibus.
Footnotes:
1. The editors made a correction or note here.
2. The editors made a correction or note here.
3. The editors made a correction or note here.