781a.“脚像熊的脚”表示来自属世事物，也就是来自谬误。这从“脚”和“熊”的含义清楚可知：“脚”是指属世事物(参看AE69,600a,632,666节)；“熊”是指那些处于来自圣言的属世意义的能力之人，无论善人还是恶人(对此，我们稍后会提到)。身体像豹、脚像熊脚的那只兽的“脚”之所以表示谬误，是因为“豹”表示不一致，却看似连贯的推理(参看AE780节)；只要这些推理来自最低或终端属世层，也就是感官层，它们就是谬误，这些谬误由“熊脚”来表示。
在圣言中，许多经文都提到了兽，无论洁净的还是不洁净的，它们表示要么属于天堂，要么属于地狱的各种事物；洁净和有用的兽表示诸如属于天堂的那类事物，不洁净和无用的兽表示诸如属于地狱的那类事物。至于所表示的属于天堂或地狱的事物是什么，最好从灵界的代表得知，兽也出现在那里；它们都是代表天使或灵人出于其情感、倾向、欲望、快乐和渴望正在思考的那些事物的表象。这些事物以各种形式呈现在他们眼前，如花园，森林，田野，平原和源泉；还有宫殿和房屋，以及其中的房间，房间里有各种装饰和有用的东西；上面有各种食物的桌子也出现在那里。此外，这些事物也以种类无限的地上的动物和天上的飞行物，以及爬行物的形式来展现；不仅以我们地球上的那些动物和飞行物的形式来展现，还以地上不存在的各种复合形式来展现，我被恩准看见其中的许多事物。当这些事物出现时，就能立刻得知它们的属灵起源，从而得知它们表示什么。不过，一旦灵人或天使停止思考和默想，这些动物和飞鸟就立刻消失。
这些事物的确出现在灵界，这一点从众先知所看到的类似事物很清楚地看出来；例如，主看上去像羔羊；基路伯看上去有像狮子、牛和鹰的脸(但以理书有描述)；当羔羊揭开其印时，只见数匹马从生命册中出来，以及一匹白马，还有许多白马，天上的人都骑在它们上面(启示录)；白马、粟色马、红马、黑马和有斑点的马(撒迦利亚书)；还看见有数个头和角的红龙；现在，在此处看到的是像豹一样的兽，有熊的脚和狮子的口；又有另一只兽有像羔羊一样的两个角，后来又出现有一个女人骑在上面的朱红色兽。但以理也看到四只兽从海中上来，其中第一只兽看上去像一头狮子，有鹰的翅膀，第二只像熊，第三只像长着四个翅膀的豹子，第四只则很可怕。由此清楚可知，这些兽不仅出现在灵界，还都具有意义；由此也可以看出，圣言提到的一切兽和一切飞鸟都表示诸如灵界的兽所代表的那类事物。下文会说明“熊”表示什么。
781b# 在从圣言说明之前，我要举一些例子来说明在此由“像熊脚的脚”来表示的谬误是什么意思。人从没有属灵之光，也就是没有被主光照的理解力之光的属世人那里推理并得出结论的许多东西，就被称为谬误，因为属世人从尘世、肉体和世俗事物中汲取他的思维观念，这些事物本身都是物质的；当人的思维没有被提升到这些之上时，他就物质地思想属灵事物。没有属灵之光的物质思维从属世人的爱及其快乐(而这些与天堂之爱及其快乐相反)中获得一切，或说获得它的一切品质。这就是为何只从属世人及其愚昧或虚假之光得出的结论和进行的推理都是谬误。不过，要举例来说明这一点。
这是一个谬误：有思考力的信(即信只是思维的事)使人得救，尽管人就是他生活的样子，或说其生活品质的样子。这是一个谬误：有思考力的信是属灵的，尽管爱主高于一切，并爱邻如己才是真正属灵的；爱就是意愿并实行。这是一个谬误：信也能瞬间被赐予，尽管人必须从邪恶和由此而来的虚假中洁净，并被主重生，而这是一个长期持续的过程；只有当人被洁净和重生时，他才获得属灵之信。这是一个谬误：人能在死亡的那一刻获得信，并得救，无论他的生活是什么样，尽管人的生活保持不变，他照着他的行为和作为受审判。
这是一个谬误：小孩子通过洗礼也能获得信，尽管信必须通过真理和良善的知识，以及照之的生活获得。这是一个谬误：教会仅凭信就能存在于人里面，尽管教会凭仁之信存在于他里面；仁爱属于生活，不属于与生活分离的信仰。这是一个谬误：人唯信称义，当他称义时，主的功德由此就被归算给他，以后就没有什么能定他罪的了，尽管没有信仰生活，也就是没有仁爱的信仰有时被说成是没有灵魂的生活，这种信仰本身就是死的；仁爱是信仰的灵魂，因为它是信仰的生命；因此，人不是凭死的信仰称义的，更不用说凭这信仰实现主功德的归算和拯救了；哪里没有拯救，哪里就有定罪。
这是一个谬误：爱和仁被植入唯信，尽管爱和仁就是意愿并实行，因为一个人所爱的，他不仅去思考，还去意愿并实行。这是一个谬误：在圣言中，提到“实行”、“行为”和“作为”的地方，所指的是有信，因为这些被植入信，尽管它们就像思维和意愿一样不同；因为一个人能思考他不意愿的许多事，而当他独自一人时，他才会思考他所意愿的；意愿就是实行。此外，意愿和由此而来的思维才是这个人自己，而不是与意愿分离的思维；行为和作为属于意愿，并由此属于思维，但唯信属于与属于意愿的行为和作为分离的思维。
这是一个谬误：信仰必须与善行分离，因为人不能凭自己行善，他若行善，就会将功德置于其中，尽管当人从圣言行善时，他不是从自己行善，而是从主行善，因为主就在圣言中，并且也是圣言；当人貌似凭自己行善，却又相信他从主行善，因为是从圣言行善时，他不是凭自己行善；此外，当人认为他所行的良善来自主时，他不可能将功德置于行为。这是一个谬误：理解力必须受到约束，以服从信，理解力所看见的信不是属灵之信；然而，当圣言被阅读时，在信的事物上被光照的，正是理解力；当光照被排除时，理解力不知道哪怕一件事是真的还是假的；在这种情况下，信不会变成人自己的信，而是成为别人在他里面的信，这是一种历史的信，当历史的信被确认时，它就变成一种说服的信，这种信视虚假为真理，视真理为虚假。这是一切异端邪说的源头。
这是一个谬误：被称为得救之信、不用理解就接受的信是属灵的信心；然而，不经理解的信心是别人说服的结果，或是由圣言中各处零散的经文确认的结果，这些经文被收集在一起，通过来自属世人的推理而用于一个虚假原则。这种信心是一种盲目的信，盲目的信是纯属世的，因为它看不到一件事是真的还是假的。此外，一切真理都渴望被看见，因为它属于天堂之光；但没有被看见的真理可能会以各种方式被歪曲；被歪曲的真理就是虚假。
这些都是只涉及与善行分离之信的谬误。还有其它许多谬误不仅涉及信，还涉及善行、仁爱和邻舍，尤其涉及它们与信的结合，这些结合是由学者们精心设计出来的。“熊的脚”表示这些谬误，因为“熊”表示那些处于来自圣言的属世意义的能力之人，无论正直人还是恶人。由于“脚”表示属世事物，所以“熊的脚”表示谬误，他们从这些谬误通过推理歪曲圣言的字义，并将属于字义的真理表象变成谬误。
781c# “熊”表示来自圣言属世意义的能力，无论在正直人那里，还是在恶人那里，这一点可从以下经文明显看出来。列王纪下：
当以利沙上伯特利时，正在路上上去的时候，有些孩童从城里出来，讥笑他，对他说，秃头的，上去吧！秃头的，上去吧！他往他身后一看，就看见他们，奉耶和华的名诅咒他们；于是有两只母熊从森林中出来，撕碎了四十二个孩童。(列王纪下2:23,24)
为何孩童只因称以利沙为“秃头”，就被以利沙诅咒，并因此被两只熊撕碎，这是无法知道的，除非知道“以利沙”代表什么，“秃头”表示什么，“熊”又表示什么。显然，以利沙不是出于没有理智的愤怒、没有正当理由做这事的，他不可能仅仅因为小孩子说“秃头的，上去吧”就如此残忍。这的确是对先知的一种侮辱，但不足以让他们为此被熊撕碎。但这事之所以发生，是因为以利沙代表圣言方面的主，因而代表来自主的圣言。“秃头”表示丧失属世意义，也就是丧失字义的圣言；“从森林中出来的熊”表示来自圣言的属世意义或字义的能力，如前所述；这些“孩童”表示那些亵渎圣言的人，因为圣言的属世意义就是这样；“四十二”表示亵渎。由此清楚可知，这些事物代表、因而表示对亵渎圣言的惩罚。因为圣言的一切能力和神圣性都包含在字义中，或说都聚集并居于字义中；没有字义，圣言不可能存在，因为没有字义，圣言就会像一座没有地基的房子，这房子被风摇动，从而倒塌破碎。圣言也会像一个没有皮肤的人，而皮肤会覆盖封闭的内脏，并把它们保持在它们的位置和秩序中。由于这就是“秃头”的含义，并且“以利沙”代表圣言，所以孩童被熊撕成碎片，而熊表示来自圣言属世意义，也就是字义的能力，无论在正直人那里，还是在恶人那里。由此清楚可知，圣言的历史部分与圣言的预言部分一样，都包含灵义。
大卫所击打的熊具有相同的含义；对此，撒母耳记上如此描述：大卫对扫罗说，你的仆人正在放牧他父亲的羊群，来了一只狮子和一只熊，从羊群中抓走一只羊；我就出去追他，击打他；当他起来攻击我时，我便揪住他的胡子，击打他，将他杀死。你仆人曾打死狮子和熊。因此，这未受割礼的非利士人必像他们当中的一个，因为他竟公然藐视永生神的力量。(撒母耳记上17:34–37)
大卫之所以被赋予能力击打从羊群中抓走羊的狮子和熊，是因为“大卫”代表神性真理方面的主，那些属于主教会的人被教导神性真理；“狮子”表示属灵神性真理的能力，在反面意义上，如此处，表示反对神性真理的地狱虚假的能力；而“熊”表示属世神性真理的能力，在反面意义上表示反对这真理的虚假的能力。但“羊群中的羊”表示那些属于主的教会之人。由于所代表的，是这些事物，所以大卫被赋予能力击打熊和狮子，以代表并表示主通过神性真理保护教会中祂自己的人免受来自地狱的邪恶之虚假伤害的能力。大卫揪住熊的胡子涉及一个奥秘，这个奥秘的确能被解开，但几乎无法理解。“胡子”表示终端中的神性真理，它的本质或真正能力就在于这终端。诚然，处于虚假的恶人也口头上承认它，但他们却滥用它，以毁灭它；然而，当它被夺走时，他们不再有任何能力。这就是为何他杀死熊，击打狮子。不过，别的地方会进一步解释这一点。但作为一个非利士人，因此被称为“未受割礼”的“歌利亚”表示那些处于没有良善的真理之人；没有良善的真理是被歪曲的真理，被歪曲的真理本身就是虚假。“未受割礼的”表示那些处于污秽的肉体之爱的人；因为包皮对应于这些爱。由此清楚可知，大卫战胜歌利亚代表什么。由此可见，为何户筛把大卫比作田野丢崽子的熊(撒母耳记下17:8)。
781d# 但以理书：从海中上来的另一只兽像熊，它半身侧立，有三根肋骨在它口内牙齿间；他们对它说，起来吞吃多肉。(但以理书7:5)从海中上来的四个兽描述了教会的相继状态，甚至直到它的毁灭，也就是它的结束。这“像熊”一样的第二只兽表示对圣言真理的歪曲，其能力仍在字义中。“它半身侧立”表示对歪曲圣言良善的渴望。“口内牙齿间的三根肋骨”表示来自圣言的大量真理知识，这些知识因基于谬误的推理而被败坏了；“吞吃多肉”表示虚假对良善的毁灭，以及邪恶的采用或归给。
何西阿书：我向他们如狮子，又如豹子在道旁窥伺；我遇见他们必像丢崽子的熊；在那里，我必像巨狮一样吞吃；田野的野兽必撕裂他们。(何西阿书13:7,8)
前面解释了这些话的含义，即：“我向他们如狮子，又如豹子在道旁窥伺。”“遇见他们必像丢崽子的熊”表示对圣言字义的歪曲；“像巨狮一样吞吃”表示对圣言的一切真理，因而对教会的毁灭和破坏；“田野的野兽必撕裂他们”表示他们将因来自邪恶的虚假而灭亡。
耶利米哀歌：尽管我哀号呼喊，他却阻塞我的祷告，他用凿过的石头挡住我的道路，他颠覆我的路径；他向我如熊埋伏，如狮子在隐密处，他使我转离正路，使我凄凉。(耶利米哀歌3:8–11)
这是来自神、对教会中的真理荒凉的哀悼；“尽管我哀号呼喊，他却阻塞我的祷告”表示它们因虚假而不能被听见。“他用凿过的石头挡住我的道路，他颠覆我的路径”表示出于自我聪明的虚假转身离开并弃绝真理的流注；神的“道路和路径”表示通向良善的真理，“凿过的石头”表示那些属于自我聪明的东西。由于这就是“凿过的石头”的含义，所以经上禁止用凿过的石头建造祭坛，同样禁止用凿过的石头建造耶路撒冷的圣殿。向我埋伏的“熊”表示败坏圣言字义的属世人；“狮子在隐密处”表示内在属世人出于他里面的邪恶败坏圣言真理的一切意义，由此败坏教会真理的一切意义，这是虚假的源头；“他使我转离正路，使我凄凉”表示教会真理的毁灭。
阿摩司书：渴望耶和华日子的人有祸了。耶和华的日子对你们有什么好处呢？
那日黑暗没有光明；就像人躲避了狮子，却遇见了熊，或进了屋子，手靠着墙，却给蛇咬了。(阿摩司书5:18,19)
“耶和华的日子”是指主的降临，主是他们所期待的弥赛亚；他们因相信祂会把他们从地上的仇敌那里解救出来，在荣耀中高举他们在所有民族之上而渴望祂。但由于主降世不是为了地上的任何国度，而是为了天国，并且犹太民族处于邪恶之虚假，那时这些虚假已经变得很明显了，所以经上说“渴望耶和华日子的人有祸了。耶和华的日子对你们有什么好处呢？那日黑暗没有光明”，“黑暗没有光明”表示他们所处的虚假；“就像人躲避了狮子，却遇见了熊”表示当从圣言的字义寻求真理时，因虚假的统治而惧怕，他们不能不歪曲这些真理；因为当一个人从内在处于来自邪恶的虚假，并被引导从圣言的字义来调查真理时，就说他“躲避了狮子，却遇见了熊”，在这种情况下，他因来自邪恶的虚假的内在统治而不得不败坏这些真理；“进了屋子，手靠着墙，却给蛇咬了”表示当这样一个人在寻求良善的过程中请教字义上的圣言时，他看不到邪恶败坏它；“蛇咬”表示歪曲，在此表示由来自邪恶的虚假的内在统治产生的歪曲。以赛亚书：豺狼必与绵羊羔同居，豹子与山羊羔同卧；牛犊与少壮狮子并肥畜一起躺卧，小孩子要牵引它们；小母牛必与熊同食，它们的幼崽必一起躺卧；狮子必吃草，像牛一样。(以赛亚书11:6,7)
前面已经解释了“豺狼必与绵羊羔同居，豹子与山羊羔同卧；牛犊与少壮狮子并肥畜一起躺卧，小孩子要牵引它们”的含义。“小母牛必与熊同食，它们的幼崽必一起躺卧”表示属世人歪曲圣言真理的能力和渴望不会伤害属世人的良善及其情感，“小母牛”表示对属世人的良善和真理的情感，“熊”表示属世人歪曲圣言字义的真理的能力和渴望；“狮子必吃草，像牛一样”表示急切摧毁教会真理的地狱虚假不会伤害属世人的良善的情感，无论就单个人本身而言，还是就彼此间的人而言；它也不会伤害圣言；“草”表示字面上的圣言，这圣言会被地狱的虚假败坏，但不会被那些处于来自良善的真理之人败坏。
同一先知书：我们摸索墙壁，好像瞎子，我们摸索，如同无目之人；我们晌午绊跌，如在黄昏一样；我们在活人当中，却如死人一般；我们咆哮如熊，哀鸣如鸽；指望公平，却是没有；指望救恩，却远离我们；我们的过犯在你面前增多，我们的罪回应反对我们。(以赛亚书59:10–12)
“我们摸索墙壁，好像瞎子，我们摸索，如同无目之人”表示没有对真理的理解；“我们晌午绊跌，如在黄昏一样”表示陷入错误，尽管他们在圣言所在的教会中，他们本可以通过圣言进入真理之光；“我们在活人当中，却如死人一般”表示他们本可以通过圣言处于属灵的生命，然而却没有，因为他们处于虚假；“我们咆哮如熊，哀鸣如鸽”表示属世人的悲伤和由此而来的属灵人的悲伤；“指望公平，却是没有；指望救恩，却远离我们”表示对光照理解力和随之而来的拯救的希望，但徒劳无功；“我们的过犯在你面前增多，我们的罪回应反对我们”表示因来自邪恶的虚假。
由此可见，“熊”表示在两种意义上来自圣言字义的能力方面，以及对歪曲字义的渴望方面的属世人。这就是“熊”所表示的，这一点已经通过在灵界所看到的熊向我清楚显明了，它的形式代表了那些属世，并研究圣言，想通过由此而来的知识取胜之人的思维。在那里也看见了齿间衔着肋骨的熊，就像前面从但以理书引用的经文所描述的那样；并且得以理解，肋骨代表他们在世时从圣言中所汲取的知识。白熊也出现在那里，它们代表属灵-属世人通过圣言所获得的能力。此外，在灵界，当具有这种特征的人在默想中经过时，由熊、豹、狼、牛，以及带有翅膀的这些动物组合而成的兽或动物也会出现，它们都表示这些人。
781. And his feet were as those of a bear. This signifies reasonings from natural things which are fallacies, is evident from the signification of feet, as denoting things natural (concerning which see above; (n. 69, 600, 632, 666). Also from the signification of a bear, as denoting those who are in power from the natural sense of the Word, both the good and the evil, concerning which we shall speak presently. The reason why by the feet of the beast which, as to the body, was like a leopard, and as to the feet like a bear, are signified fallacies is, because by the leopard are signified reasonings which are discordant, and yet appear to be coherent (concerning which see just above, n. 780). And those reasonings, so far as they are from the ultimate Natural, which is the Sensual, are fallacies, these being signified by the feet of the bear.
[2] Beasts, both clean and unclean, are frequently mentioned in the Word, and signify various things pertaining either to heaven or hell, the clean and useful beasts signifying such things as pertain to heaven, and the unclean and useless, such as pertain to hell. But what those signify that pertain to heaven and hell cannot be better known than from representatives in the spiritual world, where also beasts appear; all of which are appearances representing the thoughts of angels and spirits arising from their affections, inclinations, appetites, pleasures, and desires. For in the spiritual world these things are set forth before the eyes in various forms, in the form of gardens, forests, fields, plains, and also fountains; also palaces and houses, and chambers therein, in which are various decorations and articles. Tables upon which are various kinds of food there are seen also. Moreover, these things are shown in the forms of animals of the earth, fowls of the heaven, and reptiles, in an infinite variety; and not only forms like those on our earth, but in various composite forms, such as exist nowhere on earth, several of which it has been granted me to see. And when such things appear, it is known immediately from what spiritual origin they are, and thus what they signify. But those animals and fowls immediately disappear, as soon as the spirit or angel ceases from his thought and meditation.
[3] That such things do appear in the spiritual world, is evident from similar things seen by the prophets; as, for example, the Lord appeared like a lamb; cherubs were seen with faces like a lion, an ox, and an eagle, in Ezekiel; horses were seen going forth out of the book of life, when the Lamb opened its seals; also a white horse, and several white horses, upon which they rode in heaven, in the Apocalypse; and also white, bay, red, black, and grisled horses, in Zechariah; also a red dragon which had several heads and horns was seen; and now here was seen a beast like a leopard, with the feet of a bear, the mouth of a lion, as also another beast which had two horns like a lamb; and afterwards a scarlet beast upon which sat a woman. There also appeared to Daniel four beasts coming up out of the sea, the first of which was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle, the other like a bear, the third like a leopard, which had four wings, and the fourth terrible. It is evident, therefore, not only that such beasts appear in the spiritual world, but also that they are significative. It can therefore be seen that all the beasts, and also all the birds, mentioned in the Word, are significative of such things as are represented by beasts in the spiritual world. The signification of the bear will be shown in what follows.
[4] But before demonstrating from the Word, we will illustrate by some examples what is meant by the fallacies that are here signified by the feet as those of a bear. Several things are called fallacies which man reasons and forms conclusions about from the natural man without spiritual light, that is, without the light of the understanding enlightened by the Lord. For the natural man takes the ideas of his thought from earthly, corporeal, and worldly objects, which in themselves are material; and when the thought of a man is not raised above these, he thinks materially about things spiritual. And material thought without spiritual light derives all its quality from the loves of the natural man and from their delights, these being contrary to heavenly loves and to their delights. For this reason, conclusions and reasonings from the natural man alone, and his foolish light (lumen), are fallacies. But this shall be illustrated by examples. It is a fallacy that faith which is merely a matter of the thought saves, when, notwithstanding, a man is such as the quality of his life.
[5] It is a fallacy that faith which is merely a matter of the thought is spiritual, when, notwithstanding, to love the Lord above all things, and the neighbour as oneself, is what is really spiritual; and to love is to will and do. It is a fallacy that faith is also given instantaneously, when, notwithstanding, a man must be purified from evils and from the falsities therefrom, and be regenerated by the Lord, which is a process of long continuance; and in proportion only as he is purified and regenerated does he receive spiritual faith. It is a fallacy that man can receive faith and be saved at the hour of death, whatever his life has been, when, notwithstanding, the life of a man remains, and he is judged according to his deeds and works. It is a fallacy that faith is communicated to children by baptism, when, notwithstanding, faith must be procured by the knowledges of truth and good, and by a life according to them. It is a fallacy that by faith alone the church exists in man, when, notwithstanding, it is by the faith of charity that the church exists in him; and charity pertains to the life, and not to faith separate from the life.
[6] It is a fallacy that man is justified by faith alone, and that, when he is justified, the Lord's merit is thereby imputed to him, and that afterwards nothing can condemn him, when, notwithstanding, faith without the life of faith, which is charity, is sometimes said to be living without a soul, but which, in itself, is dead; for charity is the soul of faith, because it is the life thereof. Therefore a man is not justified by a dead faith, much less is the Lord's merit thereby imputed and salvation effected; and where there is no salvation, there is condemnation. It is a fallacy that love and charity are implanted in faith alone, when, notwithstanding, love and charity are to will and do; for what a man loves, this he not only thinks, but also wills and does. It is a fallacy that where doing is spoken of in the Word, and where deeds and works are mentioned, is meant thereby to have faith, because these are implanted in faith, when, notwithstanding, they are distinct like thought and will; for a man can think many things which he does not will, whereas what he wills this he thinks when left to himself; and to will is to do. The will also and thought therefrom is the real man, and not the thought separate from the will; and deeds and works belong to the will and thence to the thought but faith alone belongs to the thought, separate from deeds and works, which belong to the will.
[7] It is a fallacy that faith must be separated from good works because a man cannot do good of himself, and if he does good that he places merit therein, when, notwithstanding, man does not do good from himself, but from the Lord, when he does it from the Word, because the Lord is in the Word, and also is the Word; and a man does not do good of himself when he does it as of himself, and yet believes that it is from the Lord because from the Word. Also because he believes that the good which he does is from the Lord, he cannot place merit in acts.
[8] It is a fallacy that the understanding must be held captive under obedience to faith, and that faith seen in the understanding is not spiritual faith, when, nevertheless, it is the understanding which is enlightened in the things of faith when the Word is read; and the understanding shut out from enlightenment does not know whether a thing be true or false; consequently faith in such a case does not become a man's own, but the faith of another in him; and this is a mere historical faith, which can see falsities as truths and truths as falsities. Hence comes the faith characterising heresies of all kinds.
[9] It is a fallacy that the confidence which is called saving faith, conceived without understanding, is spiritual confidence, when, nevertheless, confidence without understanding is the result of persuasion by another, or of confirmation by passages scattered here and there in the Word, which are collected together, and by reasonings from the natural man applied to a false principle. Such confidence is a blind faith, which, because it does not consider whether what it conceives be true or false, is merely natural. Moreover, all truth desires to be seen, because it is of the light of heaven; but the truth which is not seen may be falsified by various means; and truth falsified is falsity.
[10] Such are the fallacies connected merely with faith separate from good works. There are still various others, which have reference not only to faith, but also to good works, to charity, and to the neighbour; and especially to their conjunctions with faith, which are artfully devised by the learned.
The reason why such fallacies are signified by the feet of a bear is, that by a bear are signified those who are in power from the natural sense of the Word, as well the upright as the wicked. And because by feet are signified natural things, therefore by the feet of the bear are signified the fallacies from which, by reasonings, they falsify the sense of the letter of the Word, and into which they turn the appearance of truth pertaining to that sense.
[11] That a bear signifies power from the natural sense of the Word, both with the upright and the wicked, is evident from the following passages. In 2 Kings:
"When Elisha went up to Bethel, as he was going in the way, there came boys out of the city and mocked him, and said to him, Go up thou bald head, go up thou bald head; and he looked back behind him, and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Jehovah; and there came two bears out of the forest, and tore in pieces forty-two children of them" (2:23, 24).
Why the boys were cursed by Elisha and therefore torn in pieces by two bears, because they called him bald head, cannot be known, unless it be known what Elisha represented, and what a bald head signifies, and also what is signified by the bears. That this was not done by Elisha from immoderate anger and an unjust reason, is evident from this, that he could not be so cruel because the little boys merely said, "Go up thou bald head." It was indeed an insult to the prophet, but not a sufficient reason for them to be torn in pieces by bears. But this occurred because Elisha represented the Lord as to the Word, thus the Word, which is from the Lord. By bald head was signified the Word deprived of the natural sense, which is the sense of the letter; and by the bears out of the wood is signified the power from the natural or literal sense of the Word, as was said above; and by the boys were signified those who blaspheme the Word because its natural sense is such as it is. By forty-two is signified blasphemy. It is now evident, therefore, that by those things was represented, and thence signified, punishment for blaspheming the Word.
For all the power and sanctity of the Word is contained in the sense of the letter; for if this sense did not exist, there would be no Word; since without it the Word would be like a house without a foundation, which would tremble, fall to pieces, and be destroyed. It would be also like a man without a skin, which covers and keeps the enclosed viscera in their place and order. And because baldness has this signification, and Elisha represented the Word, therefore the children were torn in pieces by bears, by which was signified the power from the natural sense of the Word, which is the sense of the letter, both with the upright and the wicked. From these things also it is evident, that the historical parts of the Word, equally with its prophetical parts, contain a spiritual sense.
[12] The signification of the bear which David smote is similar, concerning which it is written as follows in 1 Samuel:
"David said unto Saul, Thy servant was feeding his father's flock, and there came a lion and a bear, and took away a sheep of the flock; I went out after him, and smote him, and when he arose against me, I took hold of his beard and smote him, and slew him; thy servant smote both the lion and the bear; therefore this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, because he hath opprobriously defied the forces of the living God" (17:34-37).
The reason why power was given to David to smite the lion and the bear which took away the sheep from the flock, was, that David represented the Lord as to Divine truth, by which those who belong to His church are instructed; and by the lion is signified the power of spiritual Divine truth, and in the opposite sense, as in this case, the power of infernal falsity against Divine truth; and by the bear is signified the power of natural Divine truth, and in the opposite sense, the power of falsity against that truth; but by the sheep from the flock are signified those who belong to the Lord's church. And because these things are represented, therefore power was given to David to smite the bear and the lion, in order that by this might be represented and signified the Lord's power of defending His own in the church by means of His Divine truth, from the falsities of evil which are from hell. That David took hold of the beard of the bear, involves a mystery, which may indeed be opened up, but can scarcely be comprehended. The beard signifies Divine truth in the ultimates, in which its very power consists. This truth even the evil, who are in falsities, do indeed confess with their mouth, but they misuse it in order to destroy it; when, however, it is taken away they have no longer any power; hence he slew the bear, and smote the lion. But this will be further explained elsewhere.
By Goliath, who was a Philistine, and thence uncircumcised, are signified those who are in truths without good; and truths without good are truths falsified, which in themselves are falsities. "Uncircumcised" signifies those who are in unclean corporeal loves; for the foreskin corresponds to those loves. It is evident, therefore, what the victory of David over Goliath represented.
[13] From these considerations it is evident why David is compared by Hushai to a bear bereaved in the field (2 Sam. 17:8).
In Daniel:
"Another beast ascending out of the sea, like to a bear, and it raised up itself upon its side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and they said unto it, Arise, devour much flesh" (7:5).
By the four beasts ascending out of the sea, is described the successive states of the church, even to the devastation which is its end; and by this other beast, which was like a bear, is signified the falsification of the truth of the Word, the power thereof still remaining in the sense of the letter. The desire to falsify its goods is signified by its raising itself up on one side. By the three ribs in the mouth between the teeth, are signified the knowledges of truth from the Word in abundance, which are perverted by reasonings from fallacies; and by eating much flesh, is signified the destruction of good by falsities; also the appropriation of evil.
[14] In Hosea:
"I am become to them as a lion, as a leopard will I watch by the way; I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved, and there will I devour as a fierce lion; the wild beast of the field shall rend them" (13:7, 8).
The signification of "I am become to them as a lion, as a leopard will I watch by the way," was explained in the preceding article. By meeting them as a bear that is bereaved, is signified the falsification of the sense of the letter of the Word. By devouring as a fierce lion, is signified the destruction and devastation of every truth of the Word, and consequently of the church. The wild beast of the field shall rend them, signifies that they will perish by falsities from evil.
[15] In Lamentations:
"Although I cry and shout, he obstructeth my prayers, he hath fenced the ways with hewn stone, he hath overturned my paths; a bear lying in wait for me, a lion in secret places, he hath turned aside my ways, he hath made me desolate" (3:8-11).
This is a lamentation from God concerning the desolation of truth in the church. And that they cannot be heard because of falsities is signified by, although I cry and shout, he obstructeth my prayers. That falsities from man's own intelligence turn aside and reject the influx of truth is signified by, he hath fenced about the ways with hewn stone, he hath overturned my paths. By the ways and paths of God are signified truths leading to good, and by hewn stone are signified those things that are from man's own intelligence. Because these things are signified by hewn stone it was forbidden to construct an altar of hewn stones, and similarly with regard to the temple of Jerusalem. A bear lying in wait for me, signifies the natural man perverting the sense of the letter of the Word. A lion in secret places, signifies that the interior natural man, from the evils in him, perverts the entire meaning of the truth of the Word, and consequently of the church; whence come falsities. He hath turned aside my ways, he has made me desolate, signifies the devastation of the truth of the church.
[16] Again, in Amos:
"Woe to them that desire the day of Jehovah! What is the day of Jehovah to you? A day of darkness and not of light; as he who fleeth from a lion meeteth a bear, or who cometh to a house and leaneth his hand upon the wall, and a serpent biteth him" (5:18, 19).
By the day of Jehovah is meant the Coming of the Lord, who is the Messiah whom they expected. And because they believed that He would deliver them from earthly enemies, and exalt them in glory above all nations, therefore they desired Him. But as the Lord did not come for the sake of any kingdom on earth, but for the sake of a kingdom in heaven; and because the Jewish nation was in the falsities of evil, which were then made manifest, therefore it is said, "Woe to them that desire the day of Jehovah; What is the day of Jehovah to you? A day of darkness, not of light." Darkness and not light denotes the falsities in which they were. As he who fleeth from a lion meeteth a bear, signifies fear on account of the dominion of falsity, in seeking truths from the sense of the letter of the Word, which they cannot but falsify. For he is said to flee from a lion and to meet with a bear, who is interiorly in falsity from evil, and is led to the knowledge of truths from the sense of the letter of the Word, which, because of the interior dominion of falsity from evil, he, in that case, cannot but pervert. He who cometh to a house, and leaneth his hand upon a wall, and a serpent biteth him, signifies that while, being of such a nature, he consults the Word in the sense of the letter, seeking what is good, he does not see that evils pervert it; the bite of the serpent here signifying the falsification which arises from the interior dominion of falsity from evil.
[17] Again, in Isaiah:
"The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard with the kid; the calf shall lie down, and the young lion and fatling together, and a little boy shall lead them; and the heifer and the bear shall feed, and their young shall lie down together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox" (11:6, 7).
What is signified by the wolf dwelling with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling lying down together, and a little boy leading them, was explained in the preceding article. By the heifer and the bear feeding, and their young lying down together, is signified that the power and desire of the natural man to falsify the truths of the Word, shall not hurt the good of the natural man and the affection thereof; the heifer denoting the affection of good and truth pertaining to the natural man; and the bear, the power and desire of the natural man to falsify the truths of the sense of the letter of the Word. The lion shall eat straw like an ox, signifies that infernal falsity, which burns to destroy the truths of the church, shall not hurt the affection of good pertaining to the natural man, either in the case of man in himself or of men among each other; and that neither shall it hurt the Word. Straw signifies the Word in the letter, which is perverted by infernal falsity, but cannot be perverted by those who are in truths from good.
[18] Again in the same prophet:
"We feel for the wall as the blind, we grope as they that have no eyes; we stumble at noon-day as in the twilight; among the living as dead. We roar as bears, and moaning we moan as doves; we look for judgment but there is none, salvation is far from us; for our prevarications are multiplied before thee, and our sins answer against us" (59:10, 11, 12).
We feel for the wall as the blind, and we grope as they that have no eyes, signifies that there is not any understanding of truth. We stumble at noon-day as in the twilight, signifies a falling into errors, although they are in the church where is the Word, by means of which they might come into the light of truth. Among the living as dead, signifies that they might be in spiritual life by the Word, and yet are not, because they are in falsities. We roar as bears, and moaning we moan as doves, signifies the grief of the natural man, and thence of the spiritual man. We look for judgment but there is none, salvation is far from us, signifies the hope of the enlightenment of the understanding, and thence of salvation, but in vain. Our prevarications before thee, are multiplied, and our sins answer against us, signifies, by reason of falsities from evil.
[19] From these considerations it is now evident, that by a bear is signified the natural man as to power from the sense of the letter of the Word, in both senses; also as to the desire of falsifying that sense. That such things are signified by a bear, has been made evident to me from bears seen in the spiritual world, in whose forms were represented the thoughts of those who were natural, and who studied the Word, while by knowledge therefrom they desired to prevail. There were also seen bears which had ribs between their teeth, like that described in Daniel; and it was permitted to be understood that by the ribs were represented the knowledges which, while in the world, they drew from the Word. White bears were seen also, which represented the power of the spiritual-natural man through the Word. Moreover, in that world there are seen animals compounded from bears, panthers, wolves, oxen, and also the same furnished with wings, which all are significative of such persons, whilst they pass along in meditation.
781. And his feet were as of a bear, signifies from natural things which are fallacies. This is evident from the signification of "feet," as being natural things (See above, n. 69, 600, 632, 666); also from the signification of a "bear," as being those who are in power from the natural sense of the Word, both the good and the evil (of which presently). The "feet" of the beast whose body was like a leopard's and whose feet were like a bear's signifies fallacies, because a "leopard" signifies reasonings which are discordant and yet appear to be coherent (See just above, n. 780, and so far as such reasonings are from the lowest natural, which is the sensual, they are fallacies, which are signified by "the feet of a bear."
[2] Beasts, both clean and unclean, are mentioned in many passages in the Word, and they signify various things pertaining either to heaven or to hell; clean and useful beasts signify such things as pertain to heaven, unclean and useless beasts such things as pertain to hell. But what pertaining to heaven or to hell is signified can be best known from representatives in the spiritual world, where also beasts appear, all of which are appearances representing such things as angels or spirits are thinking from their affections, inclinations, appetites, pleasures, and desires. These things are presented before their eyes in various forms, as gardens, forests, fields, plains, and also fountains; likewise palaces and houses, and chambers therein, in which are decorative and useful things; also tables are seen upon which are various kinds of food. They are also exhibited in the forms of animals of the earth, the flying things of heaven, and creeping things, in an infinite variety; not only in the forms of such animals and flying things as are upon our earth, but in forms composite from several forms, which nowhere exist on earth, many of which it has been granted me to see. When these appear, their spiritual origin and thus what they signify is at once known. But as soon as the spirit or angel ceases from his thought and meditation these animals and birds instantly vanish.
[3] That such things are seen in the spiritual world is clearly evident from like things seen by the prophets as that the Lord appeared like a Lamb; cherubs were seen with faces like a lion, an ox, and an eagle (described in Ezekiel); horses were seen going forth out of the book of life when the Lamb opened its seals, also a white horse, and also many white horses upon which those in heaven rode (in John); also white, bay, red, black, and grisled horses (in Zechariah); there was also seen a red dragon having many heads and horns; and now here was seen a beast like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion; also another beast having two horns like a lamb, and afterwards a scarlet beast upon which sat a woman. Again, to Daniel four beasts coming up out of the sea appeared, the first of which appeared like a lion with wings of an eagle, the second like a bear, the third like a leopard which had four wings, and the fourth terrible. From this it is clear not only that such beasts appear in the spiritual world, but also that they are significative; and from this it can also be seen that all the beasts as well as all the birds mentioned in the Word are significative of such things as are represented by beasts in the spiritual world. But what is signified by "the bear" will be told in what follows.
[4] Before this is shown from the Word I will illustrate by some examples what is meant by the fallacies that are here signified by "the feet as of a bear." The many things that man reasons and forms conclusions about from the natural man without spiritual light, that is, without the light of the understanding enlightened by the Lord, are called fallacies, for the natural man takes the ideas of his thought from earthly, corporeal, and worldly things, which in themselves are material; and when a man's thought is not elevated above these he thinks materially about things spiritual; and material thought without spiritual light derives everything from the loves of the natural man and from their delights, which are contrary to heavenly loves and their delights. This is why conclusions and reasonings from the natural man alone and its delusive lumen are fallacies. But let this be illustrated by examples.
[5] It is a fallacy that cogitative faith saves, since man is such as his life is. It is a fallacy that cogitative faith is spiritual, since to love the Lord above all things and the neighbor as oneself is the spiritual itself, and to love is to will and do. It is a fallacy that faith can also be given in a moment, since man must be purified from evils and from falsities therefrom and be regenerated by the Lord, and this is a long-continued process, and only so far as man is purified and regenerated does he receive spiritual faith. It is a fallacy that man can receive faith and be saved at the hour of death whatever his life may have been, since a man's life remains and he is judged according to his deeds and works.
[6] It is a fallacy that little children also have faith through baptism, since faith must be acquired through the knowledges of truth and good, and by a life in accordance with them. It is a fallacy that through faith alone the church exists with man, since it is through the faith of charity that the church exists with him; and charity is of the life, and not of faith separated from the life. It is a fallacy that man is justified by faith alone, and that the merit of the Lord is thereby imputed to him when he is justified, and that afterwards nothing condemns him, since faith without the life of faith, which is charity, is like something that is said to be living but has no soul, which in itself is dead; for charity is the soul of faith, because it is its life; consequently man is not justified by a dead faith, much less is the merit of the Lord imputed and salvation effected by it; and where there is no salvation there is condemnation.
[7] It is a fallacy that in faith alone, there is love and charity, since love and charity are willing and doing, for what a man loves he not only thinks but also wills and does. It is a fallacy that where "doing" and "deeds" and "works" are mentioned in the Word to have faith is meant, because these are present in faith, since these are as distinct as thought and will are; for a man can think many things that he does not will, while what he wills he thinks when left alone to himself; and to will is to do. Moreover, the will and the thought therefrom are the man himself, and not the thought separate; and deeds and works are of the will and of the thought therefrom; while faith alone is of the thought separate from deeds and works, which are of the will.
[8] It is a fallacy that faith is to be separated from good works because man is unable to do good of himself, and if he does good he places merit in it, since man when he does good from the Word does not do it from himself but from the Lord, because the Lord is in the Word and is the Word; and man then does not do good of himself, when he does it as of himself and yet believes that he does it from the Lord, because from the Word; moreover, when a man believes that the good that he does is from the Lord he cannot place merit in the deeds. It is a fallacy that the understanding must be held bound under obedience to faith, and that faith seen by the understanding is not spiritual faith; when yet it is the understanding that is enlightened in the things of faith when the Word is read; and when enlightenment is excluded the understanding does not know whether a thing is true or false; and in that case faith does not become a man's own faith but the faith of another in him, and this is a historical faith, and when it is confirmed it becomes a persuasive faith, which can see falsities as truths and truths as falsities. This is the source of all heretical beliefs.
[9] It is a fallacy that the confidence that is called saving faith, accepted without understanding, is spiritual confidence, since confidence apart from understanding is a persuasion from another, or from confirmation by passages gathered up here and there from the Word, and applied by reasonings from the natural man to a false principle. Such confidence is a blind faith, which is merely natural because it does not see whether a thing is true or false. Moreover, all truth wishes to be seen because it belongs to the light of heaven; but truth that is not seen may be falsified in many ways; and falsified truth is falsity.
[10] Such are the fallacies that pertain merely to such faith as is separated from good works. There are yet many others that pertain not only to faith but also to good works, to charity, and to the neighbor, and especially to such conjunctions of these with faith as are skillfully adjusted by the learned. Such fallacies are signified by "the feet of a bear," because a "bear" signifies those, both the well-disposed and the evil, who have power from the natural sense of the Word. And as "feet" signify things natural, "the feet of the bear" signify the fallacies from which the sense of the letter of the Word is falsified by reasonings, and into which the appearances of truth of that sense are changed.
[11] That a "bear" signifies power from the natural sense of the Word, both with the well-disposed and with the evil, can be seen from the following passages. In the second book of Kings:
When Elisha went up to Bethel, as he was going up in the way there came forth boys out of the city and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up thou baldhead, go up thou baldhead. And he looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Jehovah; and there came forth two she-bears out of the forest, and tare in pieces forty-two boys (2 Kings 2:23, 24).
Why the boys were cursed by Elisha and in consequence were torn by two bears because they called him "baldhead," cannot be known except by knowing what "Elisha" represented, and what a "baldhead" signifies, and what "bears" signify. This evidently was not done by Elisha from unrestrained anger and without just cause, for he could not have been so cruel merely because the little boys said, "Go up thou baldhead." This was indeed, an insult to the prophet, but not a sufficient reason for their being therefore torn to pieces by bears. But this was done because Elisha represented the Lord in respect to the Word, thus the Word that is from the Lord. "Baldhead" signified the Word deprived of the natural sense, which is the sense of its letter; and "bears out of the forest" signified power from the natural sense or sense of the letter of the Word, as has been said above; and these "boys" signified such as blaspheme the Word because its natural sense is such as it is; and "forty-two" signifies blasphemy. From this it is clear that this represented and thence signified the punishment for blaspheming the Word. For all the power and sanctity of the Word are gathered up and have their seat in the sense of its letter; for without this sense the Word could not exist, since without it the Word would be like a house without a foundation, which would be shaken by the wind, and thus be overthrown and fall to pieces. The Word would also be like a man without a skin, which surrounds and holds the enclosed viscera in their position and order. And as this is the signification of "baldness," and "Elisha" represented the Word, the boys were torn in pieces by bears which signifies the power from the natural sense of the Word, which is the sense of the letter, both with the well-disposed and with the evil. From this it is clear that the historical things of the Word, as well as its prophecies, contain a spiritual sense.
[12] The bear that David smote has a like signification; this is described in the first book of Samuel:
David said unto Saul, Thy servant was pasturing his father's flock, and there came a lion and a bear and took away a sheep from the flock; I went out after him and smote him; and when he arose against me I took hold of his beard and smote him and killed him. Thy servant smote both the lion and the bear. Therefore this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, because he hath reproached the ranks of the living God (1 Samuel 17:34-37).
Power was given to David to smite the lion and the bear that took away the sheep from the flock, because "David" represented the Lord in reference to Divine truth in which those who are of His church are instructed; and a "lion" signifies the power of spiritual Divine truth, and in the contrary sense, as here, the power of infernal falsity against Divine truth; while a "bear" signifies the power of natural Divine truth, and in the contrary sense the power of falsity against that truth. But "a sheep from the flock" signifies those who are of the Lord's church. And as this was represented, the power was given to David to smite the bear and the lion, to represent and signify the Lord's power to defend by His Divine truth His own in the church from the falsities of evil that are from hell. David's taking hold of the beard of the bear involves an arcanum that may be disclosed, indeed, but can scarcely be comprehended. The "beard" signifies the Divine truth in ultimates, in which its essential power rests. This truth also the evil who are in falsities carry indeed in the mouth but they misuse it to destroy; but when it is taken away they no longer have any power. This is why he killed the bear and smote the lion. But this will be further explained elsewhere. But "Goliath," who was a Philistine and was therefore called "uncircumcised," signifies such as are in truths without good; and truths without good are truths falsified, which in themselves are falsities. "The uncircumcised" signifies those who are in filthy corporeal loves; for the foreskin corresponds to those loves. From this it is clear what the victory of David over Goliath represented. From this it can be seen why:
David is compared by Hushai to a bear bereaved in the field (2 Samuel 17:8).
[13] In Daniel:
Another beast coming up out of the sea was like to a bear, and it raised itself upon its side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and they said unto it, Arise, devour much flesh (Daniel 7:5).
The four beasts coming up out of the sea depict the successive states of the church, even to its devastation, which is its end. This second beast, which was "like to a bear," signifies the falsification of the truth of the Word, the power of which still remains in the sense of the letter. The eagerness to falsify its goods is signified by "raising itself upon one side." The "three ribs in the mouth between the teeth" signify the knowledges of truth from the Word in abundance, which are perverted by reasonings from fallacies; and "to devour much flesh" signifies the destruction of good by falsities, and the appropriation of evil.
[14] In Hosea:
I am become to them as a lion, as a leopard will I watch over the way; I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved; and there I will devour as a huge lion; the wild beast of the field shall rend them (Hosea 3:7, 8).
The signification of the words, "I am become to them as a lion, as a leopard will I watch over the way," was explained in the preceding article. "To meet them as a bear that is bereaved" signifies the falsification of the sense of the letter of the Word; "to devour as a huge lion" signifies the destruction and devastation of every truth of the Word, and thence of the church; "the wild beast of the field shall rend them" signifies that they will be destroyed by the falsities from evil.
[15] In Lamentations:
Although I cry out and shout he shutteth out my prayers, he hath hedged about my ways with hewn stone, he hath overturned my footpaths; a bear lying in wait for me, a lion in secret places, he hath perverted my ways, he hath made me desolate (Lamentations 3:8-11).
This is a lamentation from God respecting the desolation of truth in the church; and that they cannot be heard by reason of falsities is signified by "Although I cry out and shout he shutteth out my prayers." That falsities from self-intelligence turn away and reject the influx of truth is signified by "he hath hedged about my ways with hewn stone, he hath overturned my footpaths;" God's "ways and footpaths" signifying truths leading to good, and "hewn stone" what belongs to self-intelligence. Because this was the signification of "hewn stone" it was forbidden to build an altar of hewn stones, and likewise the temple at Jerusalem. "A bear lying in wait for me" signifies the natural man perverting the sense of the letter of the Word; "a lion in secret places" signifies the interior natural man from the evils in him perverting every sense of the truth of the Word and thence of the church, which is the source of falsities; "he hath perverted my ways, he hath made me desolate," signifies the devastation of the truth of the church.
[16] In Amos:
Woe unto you that desire the day of Jehovah. What to you is the day of Jehovah? It is a day of darkness and not of light; as one who fleeth from a lion and meeteth a bear, or who cometh to a house and leaneth with his hand upon the wall and a serpent biteth him (Amos 5:18, 19).
"The day of Jehovah" means the coming of the Lord, who is the Messiah whom they expected; and as they believed that He would deliver them from the enemies of the land, and would exalt them in glory above all the nations, they desired Him. But as the Lord came into the world not for the sake of any kingdom on earth but for the sake of a kingdom in heaven, and as the Jewish nation was in the falsities of evil, and these were at that time manifested, it is said, "Woe unto you that desire the day of Jehovah. What to you is the day of Jehovah? It is a day of darkness and not of light," "darkness and not light" meaning the falsities in which they were; "as one who fleeth from a lion meeteth a bear" signifies fear because of the dominion of falsity when truths are sought from the sense of the letter of the Word, which they cannot but falsify; for one is said "to flee from a lion and to meet a bear" when he is interiorly in falsity from evil, and is led to investigate truths from the sense of the letter of the Word, which he then, because of the interior dominion of falsity from evil, cannot but pervert; "who cometh to a house and leaneth with his hand upon a wall and a serpent biteth him" signifies that when such a man in seeking goods consults the Word from the sense of the letter he does not see that evils pervert it; "the bite of a serpent" signifying falsification, here the falsification that arises from the interior dominion of falsity from evil.
[17] In Isaiah:
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard with the kid; the calf shall lie down, and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little boy shall lead them; and the heifer and the bear shall feed, and their young ones shall lie down together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox (Isaiah 11:6, 7).
The signification of "the wolf dwelling with [the lamb, and the leopard with] the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling lying down together, and a little boy leading them," has been explained in the preceding article. "The heifer and the bear shall feed, and their young ones shall lie down together," signifies the power and eagerness of the natural man to falsify the truths of the Word, and that these shall do no harm to the good of the natural man and its affection, "heifer" meaning the affection for good and truth of the natural man, and "bear" the power and eagerness of the natural man to falsify the truths of the sense of the letter of the Word; "the lion shall eat straw like an ox" signifies that infernal falsity burning to destroy the truths of the church shall do no harm to the affection of good of the natural man, either as to the individual man in himself or as to men in relation to one another, nor shall it do harm to the Word, "straw" signifying the Word in the letter which is perverted by infernal falsity, but cannot be perverted by those who are in truths from good.
[18] In the same:
We grope for the wall as the blind, and we grope as they that have no eyes, we stumble in the noonday as in the twilight; among the living we are as dead; we growl like bears, and moaning we moan like doves; we wait for judgment but there is none, for salvation but it is far from us; for our transgressions before Thee are multiplied, and our sins answer against us (Isaiah 59:10-12).
"We grope for the wall as the blind, and we grope as they that have no eyes," signifies that there is no understanding of truth; "we stumble in the noonday as in the twilight" signifies a falling into errors, although they are in the church where the Word is, by which they might come into the light of truth; "among the living we are as dead," signifies that they might be in spiritual life through the Word, and yet are not, because they are in falsities; "we growl like bears, and moaning we moan like doves," signifies the grief of the natural man, and the grief of the spiritual man therefrom; "we wait for judgment but there is none, for salvation but it is far from us," signifies a hope for the enlightenment of the understanding, and consequent salvation, but in vain; "our transgressions before 1Thee are multiplied, and our sins answer against us," signifies by reason of falsities from evil.
[19] From this it can now be seen that a "bear" signifies the natural man in respect to its power from the sense of the letter of the Word, in both senses, also in respect to the eagerness to falsify that sense. That this is what a "bear" signifies has been made evident to me by the bears seen in the spiritual world, in whose form the thoughts of those were represented who had been natural, and had studied the Word, and had wished to prevail by means of knowledge therefrom. Bears were also seen that had ribs between their teeth, like the bear described in the passage cited above from Daniel; and it was given to understand that the ribs represented the knowledges that they had drawn from the Word while in the world. White bears also appear there, which represent the power of the spiritual-natural man through the Word. Furthermore, composite beasts appear there of bears, panthers, wolves, and oxen, also the same furnished with wings, which are all significative of persons of such character when they are passing along in meditation.
Footnotes:
1. the Latin has "before" for "against."
781. "Et pedes ejus sicut ursi." Quod significet ex naturalibus quae sunt fallaciae, constat ex significatione "pedum", quod sint naturalia (de qua supra, n. 69, 600 [a] , 632, 666); et ex significatione "ursi", quod sint qui in potentia ex naturali sensu Verbi, tam boni quam mali (de qua sequitur); quod hic per "pedes bestiae", quae quoad corpus similis fuit pardo, et quoad pedes sicut ursus, significentur fallaciae, est quia per "pardum" significantur ratiocinia discordantia et usque apparentia sicut cohaereant (de quo mox supra, n. 780), et illa ratiocinia quatenus sunt ex naturali ultimo, quod est sensuale, sunt fallaciae, quae significantur per "pedes ursi."
[2] Multis in locis in Verbo nominantur "bestiae", tam mundae quam immundae, et per illas significantur varia, quae vel caeli vel inferni sunt; per "bestias mundas et utiles" talia quae sunt caeli, ac per "bestias immundas seu inutiles", talia quae sunt inferni; at quid caeli et inferni significant, non aliunde melius sciri potest quam ex repraesentativis in mundo spirituali, ubi etiam bestiae apparent; quae omnia sunt apparentiae repraesentantes illa quae angeli aut spiritus ex affectionibus, inclinationibus, appetitibus, voluptatibus et cupiditatibus cogitant. Haec sistuntur coram oculis eorum in variis formis, sicut in hortis, in silvis, in agris, in campis, et quoque in fontibus; tum in palatiis, domibus, et inibi conclavibus, in quibus decoramenta et utensilia; sistuntur etiam mensae, super quibus varii generis cibi: praeterea sistuntur illa in formis animalium terrae, volatilium caeli, et reptilium, infinita varietate; non modo in formis animalium et volatilium, qualia sunt super nostra tellure, sed etiam composita ex pluribus, quae nullibi in terris dantur, ex quibus mihi datum est videre plura: et cum illa apparent, noscitur statim ex qua origine spirituali sunt, ita quid significant: sed animalia et volatilia illa illico evanescunt, ut primum spiritus aut angelus desistit a cogitatione et meditatione sua.
[3] Quod talia in mundo spirituali appareant, manifeste constare potest a similibus visis a prophetis; ut quod Dominus apparuerit sicut Agnus; quod cherubi visi sint quoad facies sicut leo, sicut bos, et sicut aquila (de quibus apud Ezechielem); quod equi visi sint exeuntes ex Libro vitae, cum Agnus aperuit sigilla; tum Equus albus, ut et plures equi albi super quibus in caelo equitabant (apud Johannem); et quoque equi albi, 1
badii, rufi, nigri, grandinati (apud Sachariam); tum quoque quod visus sit draco rufus, cui plura capita et cornua; et hic nunc visa est bestia similis pardo, cum pedibus ursi, cui os leonis; ut et alia bestia, cui duo cornua similia agno; et, postea bestia coccinea super qua sedit mulier: visae etiam sunt Danieli quatuor bestiae ex mari ascendentes, quarum prima apparuit sicut leo cui alae aquilae, altera similis urso, tertia similis pardo, cui quatuor alae, et quarta terribilis. Ex quibus constare potest non modo quod tales bestiae in mundo spirituali appareant, sed etiam quod significent. Inde quoque videri potest quod omnes "bestiae", et quoque omnes "aves", quae memorantur in Verbo, significativae talium sint quae per bestias in mundo spirituali repraesentantur. Quid autem "ursus" significat, in sequentibus dicetur.
[4] Antequam in Verbo ostenditur quid significatur per "ursum", velim aliquot exemplis illustrare quid intelligitur per fallacias, quae per "pedes sicut ursi" hic significantur. Fallaciae dicuntur plura quae homo ratiocinatur et concludit ex naturali homine absque luce spirituali, quae est lux intellectus illustrati a Domino; naturalis enim homo suae cogitationis ideas capit ex terrestribus, corporeis et mundanis, quae in se sunt materiales; et quando cogitatio hominis non supra illas elevatur, materialiter cogitat de spiritualibus; et materialis cogitatio absque luce spirituali omne suum trahit ex amoribus naturalis hominis et ex eorum jucundis, quae contra amores caelestes et contra eorum jucunda sunt: inde est quod conclusa et ratiocinia ex solo naturali homine, et ejus fatuo lumine, sint fallaciae. Sed exempla illustrent.
[5] Fallacia est, Quod fides cogitativa salvet; cum tamen homo talis est qualis ejus vita est. Fallacia est, Quod fides cogitativa sit spiritualis; cum tamen amare Dominum super omnia, et proximum sicut se ipsum, sit ipsum spirituale; et amare est velle et facere. Fallacia est, Quod fides etiam momentanea detur; cum tamen homo purificandus est a malis et inde falsis, et regenerandus a Domino, quod diu perstat, et [sciendum est] quod sicut purificatur et regeneratur fidem spiritualem accipiat. Fallacia est, Quod homo possit recipere fidem et salvari in hora mortis, utcunque ejus vita fuerat; cum tamen vita hominem manet, et homo judicatur secundum facta et opera.
[6] Fallacia est, Quod fides per baptismum etiam sit infantibus; cum tamen fides comparanda est per cognitiones veri et boni, et per vitam secundum illas. Fallacia est, Quod per solam fidem ecclesia apud hominem; cum tamen per fidem charitatis est ecclesia apud illum, et charitas est vitae et non fidei separatae. Fallacia est, Quod homo per solam fidem justificetur, et quod justificato per illam meritum Domini imputetur, et quod postea illum nihil condemnet; cum tamen fides absque vita fidei, quae est charitas, est quasi dicatur vivum absque anima, quod in se est mortuum, nam charitas est anima fidei, quia est vita ejus; quare non justificatur homo per fidem mortuam; minus per illam imputatur meritum Domini, et fit salvatio; et ubi non salvatio, est condemnatio.
[7] Fallacia est, Quod soli fidei amor et charitas insit; cum tamen amor et charitas est velle et facere; quod enim homo amat, hoc non solum cogitat, sed etiam vult et facit. Fallacia est, Quod ubi legitur "facere" in Verbo, et ubi dicuntur "facta" et "opera", intelligatur fidem habere, quia fidei insunt; cum tamen distincta sunt sicut cogitatio et voluntas; potest enim homo cogitare multa quae non vult, et quod vult hoc cogitat cum sibi soli relictus est, ac velle est facere: voluntas etiam et inde cogitatio est ipse homo, et non cogitatio separata; ac facta et opera sunt voluntatis et inde cogitationis, at sola fides est cogitationis separatae a factis et operibus quae sunt voluntatis.
[8] Fallacia est, Quod fides separanda sit a bonis operibus, quia homo bonum a se non potest facere, et si; faciat quod ponat in eo meritum; cum tamen homo non bonum facit a se, sed ex Domino, cum ex Verbo, quia in Verbo est Dominus, et quoque Dominus est Verbum; et tunc homo non bonum facit a se, cum facit sicut a se, et usque credit quod ex Domino, quia ex Verbo; et quia credit quod bonum quod facit sit a Domino, non potest in factis meritum ponere. Fallacia est, Quod intellectus captivandus sit sub obedientia fidei, et quod fides visa intellectu non sit fides spiritualis; cum tamen intellectus est qui illustratur in rebus fidei cum legitur Verbum, et intellectus ab illustratione seclusus non scit num verum sit vel num falsum: inde fides nec fit fides ipsius, sed fides alterius in se; quae fides est fides historica, et cum confirmatur fit fides persuasiva, quae potest videre falsa ut vera, ac vera ut falsa; inde est fides omnium haeresium.
[9] Fallacia est, Quod fiducia, quae vocatur fides salvans, capta absque intellectu, sit fiducia spiritualis; cum tamen fiducia absque intellectu est persuasio ex alio, aut ex confirmatione per loca Verbi hic et ibi sparsim collecta, et per ratiocinia ex naturali homine falso principio applicata; talis fiducia caeca fides est, quae quia non videt num verum sit aut falsum, est mere naturalis: praeterea omne verum vult videri, quia est lucis caeli; at verum quod non videtur, potest multis falsificari, et verum falsificatum est falsum.
[10] Tales sunt fallaciae solummodo quoad fidem separatam a bonis operibus. Sunt adhuc plures, non modo quoad fidem, sed etiam quoad bona opera, quoad charitatem et quoad proximum, imprimis quoad conjunctiones illorum cum fide ab eruditis artificiose concinnatas. Quod tales fallaciae significentur per "pedes ursi", est quia per "ursum" significantur illi qui in potentia ex naturali sensu Verbi sunt, tam probi quam mali; et quia per "pedes" significantur naturalia, ideo per "pedes ursi" significantur fallaciae, ex quibus per ratiocinia falsificant sensum litterae Verbi, et in quas vertunt apparentias veri illius sensus.
[11] Quod "ursus" significet potentiam ex naturali sensu Verbi, tam apud probos quam apud malos, constare potest ex sequentibus: In Libro secundo Regum,
"Cum..Elisaeus ascenderet..Bethelem, ille ascendens in via, cum pueri exiverunt ex urbe, et illuserunt illi, et dixerunt illi, Ascende calve, ascende calve; et respexit post se, et vidit eos, et maledixit illis in nomine Jehovae; et exiverunt duae ursae e silva, et discerpserunt de iis quadraginta et duos pueros" (2:23, 24):
cur pueri maledicti sunt ab Elisaeo, et ideo a binis ursis discerpti, quia vocarunt illum "calvum", non sciri potest nisi sciatur quid repraesentavit Elisaeus, et quid significat "calvus", tum quid significant "ursi." Quod non factum sit ab Elisaeo ex immoderata ira et injusta causa, constare potest ex eo, quod ille non tam immanis potuerit esse solum quia pueri parvi dixerunt, "Ascende calve"; erat quidem convitium in prophetam, sed non tale ut propterea ab ursis discerperentur. Sed ita factum est quia Elisaeus repraesentabat Dominum quoad Verbum, ita Verbum quod a Domino; per "calvum "significabatur Verbum orbatum sensu naturali, qui est sensus litterae ejus, et per "ursas e silva" significabatur potentia ex sensu naturali seu litterae Verbi, ut supra dictum est; et per "pueros" illos significabantur illi qui Verbum blasphemant propter sensum ejus naturalem, quia talis; per "quadraginta duo" significatur blasphematio. Inde nunc patet quod per illa repraesentata et inde significata sit poena blasphemationis Verbi. Omnis enim potentia et sanctitas Verbi residet collecta in ejus sensu litterae; si enim hic non foret, nec foret Verbum; nam sine eo foret Verbum sicut domus absque fundamento, quae vibraretur in aere, ac inde concideretur et dilaberetur; et foret Verbum sicut homo absque cute, quae circumtegit et continet viscera inclusa in suo situ et ordine; et quia tale significatur per "calvum", et per Elisaeum repraesentabatur Verbum, ideo pueri discerpti sunt ab ursis, per quas significabatur potentia ex naturali sensu Verbi, qui est sensus litterae, tam apud probos quam apud malos. Ex his etiam patet quod historica Verbi, aeque ac ejus prophetica, sensum spiritualem contineant.
[12] Simile per "ursum" significatur, quem David percussit; de quo ita in Libro Primo Samuelis,
"Dixit David ad Saulem, Pascens fuit servus tuus patri suo gregem, et venit leo, et quidem cum urso, et abstulit pecudem de grege; exivi post eum, et percussi eum...; et cum surgeret contra me, apprehendi barbam ejus, et percussi eum et occidi eum; tam leonem quam ursum percussit servus tuus: erit ergo Philisthaeus..praeputiatus, sicut unus de illis, eo quod opprobrio provocaverit ordines Dei vivi" (17:34-37):
quod Davidi data sit potentia percutiendi leonem et ursum, qui abstulit pecudem de grege, erat quia per Davidem repraesentabatur Dominus quoad Divinum Verum, quo illi qui ab ecclesia Ipsius sunt instruuntur; et per "leonem" significatur potentia Divini Veri spiritualis, et in opposito sensu, ut hic, potentia falsi infernalis contra Divinum Verum; ac per "ursum" significatur potentia Divini Veri naturalis, et in opposito sensu potentia falsi contra id verum; per "pecudem" autem de grege, significantur illi qui ab ecclesia Domini sunt; et quia haec repraesentata sunt, ideo data est Davidi potentia percutiendi ursum et leonem, ut per id repraesentaretur et significaretur potentia Domini tutandi suos in ecclesia per Divinum suum Verum, a falsis mali quae ab inferno. Quod David "apprehenderit barbam ursi", involvit arcanum, quod quidem aperiri potest, sed vix comprehendi: "barba" significat Divinum Verum in ultimis, in quo ipsa potentia ejus consistit; quod verum etiam mali qui in falsis sunt ore quidem ferunt, sed illo abutuntur ad destruendum; quo tamen ablato, non amplius illis aliqua potentia est; quare ursum occidit et leonem percussit; sed de hac re alibi plura. Per Goliathum autem, qui erat Philisthaeus, et inde vocatur "praeputiatus", significantur illi qui in veris absque bono sunt; et vera absque bono, sunt vera falsificata, quae in se falsa sunt: "praeputiatus" significat illos qui in spurcis amoribus corporeis sunt, nam praeputium illis amoribus correspondet; inde patet quid victoria Davidis super Goliathum repraesentabat. Ex his constare potest, unde est,
Quod David a Chuschajo comparetur urso orbato in agro (2 Samuelis 17:8).
[13] Apud Danielem,
Bestia altera ascendens e mari, "similis urso, et ad latus ejus erexit se, et tres costae in ore ejus inter dentes ejus; insuper..dicentes ei, Surge, comede carnem multam" (7:5):
describitur per "quatuor bestias e mari ascendentes" status ecclesiae successivus usque ad devastationem, quae est finis ejus; et per "alteram hanc bestiam", quae "similis urso", significatur falsificatio veri Verbi, remanente usque ejus potentia in sensu litterae; cupiditas falsificandi bona ejus significatur per quod "ad latus unum erexerit se"; per "tres costas in ore inter dentes" significantur cognitiones veri ex Verbo in copia, quae per ratiocinia ex fallaciis pervertuntur; et per "comedere carnem multam" significatur destructio boni per falsa, tum appropriatio mali.
[14] Apud Hoscheam,
"Factus sum illis sicut leo, sicut pardus super via observabo: occurram illis sicut ursus orbatus, .... et comedam ibi sicut immanis leo, fera agri discindet eos" (13:7, 8):
quid significat, "Factus sum illis sicut leo, sicut pardus super via observabo", in mox praecedente articulo explicatum est: per "occurrere illi sicut ursus orbatus" significatur falsificatio sensus litterae Verbi; per "comedere sicut immanis leo" significatur destructio et devastatio omnis veri Verbi et inde ecclesiae; "fera agri discindet eos" significat quod perituri per falsa ex malo.
[15] In Threnis,
"Etiamsi clamo et vociferor, obstruit preces meas: circumsepsit vias..lapide exciso, semitas meas pervertit, ...ursus insidians..mihi, leo in latibulis vias meas pervertit, ...posuit Me desolatum" (3:8-11):
lamentatio a Deo de desolatione veri in ecclesia, et quod non audiri possint propter falsa, significatur per "Etiamsi clamo et vociferor, obstruit preces meas": quod falsa ex propria intelligentia influxum veri avertant et rejiciant, significatur per "Circumsepsit vias lapide exciso, semitas meas avertit"; per "vias" et "semitas" Dei significantur vera ducentia ad bonum, et per "lapidem excisum" significantur illa quae propriae intelligentiae sunt; quia haec per "lapidem excisum" significantur, ideo prohibitum fuit construere altare ex lapidibus excisis, similiter templum Hierosolymae: "ursus insidians Mihi" significat quod naturalis homo perverterit sensum litterae Verbi; "leo in latibulis" significat quod interior naturalis homo, ex malis in eo, pervertat omnem sensum veri Verbi et inde ecclesiae, unde falsa: "vias meas pervertit, posuit Me desolatum", significat devastationem veri ecclesiae.
[16] Apud Amosum,
"Vae desiderantibus diem Jehovae; quid vobis dies Jehovae? ille tenebrarum et non lucis; sicut qui fugit leonem incidat in ursum, aut venit domum, [et] nitatur manu sua super parietem, et mordeat anguis" (5:18, 19):
per "diem Jehovae" intelligitur adventus Domini, qui est Messias, quem exspectaverunt; et quia crediderunt quod Ille liberaturus esset eos ab hostibus terrae, et evecturus eos in gloriam super omnes gentes, ideo desideraverunt Ipsum: sed quia Dominus non propter aliquod regnum in terra, sed propter regnum in caelo, in mundum venit, et quia Judaica gens in falsis mali fuit, et ea tunc manifestarentur, dicitur, "Vae desiderantibus diem Jehovae; quid vobis dies Jehovae? ille tenebrarum [et] non lucis"; "tenebrae et non lux" sunt falsa in quibus fuerunt: "sicut qui fugit leonem incidat in ursum" significat timorem prae dominio falsi, quaerendo vera ex sensu litterae Verbi, quae non possunt non falsificari; is enim dicitur "fugere leonem, et incidere in ursum", qui interius in falso ex malo est, et fertur ad cognoscendum vera ex sensu litterae Verbi, quem tunc ex interiori dominio falsi ex malo non potest non pervertere; "venit domum, et nitatur manu super parietem, et mordeat eum anguis", significat dum talis consulit Verbum in sensu litterae quaerendo bona, non videat quod mala pervertant illum; "morsus anguis" significat falsificationem, hic ex dominio interiori falsi ex malo.
[17] Apud Esaiam,
"Commorabitur lupus cum agno, et pardus cum haedo, cubabit vitulus, et leo juvenis et saginatum una, et puer parvus ducet eos; et juvenca et ursus pascent, et una cubabunt fetus eorum, leo sicut bos comedet stramen" (11 2
):
quid significat quod "lupus cum haedo commorabitur, et vitulus, leo juvenis et saginatum una cubabunt, et puer parvus ducet eos", in praecedente articulo explicatum est: quod "juvenca et ursus pascent, et una cubabunt fetus eorum", significat potentiam et cupidinem naturalis hominis falsificandi vera Verbi, et quod illae non nociturae sint bono naturalis hominis et ejus affectioni; "juvenca" est affectio boni et veri naturalis hominis, et "ursus" est potentia et cupido naturalis hominis falsificandi vera sensus litterae Verbi: "leo sicut bos comedet stramen" significat quod infernale falsum ardens destruere vera ecclesiae non nociturum sit affectioni boni naturalis hominis, tam apud hominem in se, quam apud homines inter se, et quod nec nociturum sit Verbo; per "stramen" significatur Verbum in littera quod per falsum infernale pervertitur, sed non perverti potest ab illis qui in veris ex bono sunt.
[18] Apud eundem,
"Palpamus sicut caeci parietem, et sicut non oculi palpitamus; offendimus in meridie sicut in crepusculo, inter vivos sicut mortui; fremimus sicut ursi..., et sicut columbae gemendo gemimus; exspectamus judicium, sed non; salutem, procul a nobis; nam multiplicatae sunt praevaricationes nostrae coram Te, et peccata nostra respondent contra nos" (59:10-12):
"Palpamus sicut caeci parietem, et sicut non oculi palpitamus", significat non aliquem intellectum veri; " offendimus in meridie sicut in crepusculo" significat lapsum in errores, tametsi in ecclesia sunt ubi est Verbum, ex quo in lucem veri veniri posset; "inter vivos sicut mortui" significat quod possent in vita spirituali per Verbum esse, et tamen non sunt quia in falsis; "fremimus sicut ursi, et sicut columbae gemendo gemimus", significat dolorem naturalis hominis, et dolorem spiritualis hominis inde; "exspectamus judicium, sed non; salutem, procul a nobis", significat spem illustrationis intellectus et inde salvationis, sed in vanum; "multiplicatae sunt praevaricationes 3
coram Te, et peccata nostra respondent contra nos", significat propter falsa ex malo.
[19] Ex his nunc constare potest quod per "ursum" significetur naturalis homo quoad potentiam ex sensu litterae Verbi, in utroque sensu, tum quoad cupidinem falsificandi illum sensum: quod haec per "ursum" significentur, patuit etiam mihi ex visis ursis in spirituali mundo, in quorum forma repraesentatae sunt cogitationes illorum qui naturales fuerunt, et Verbo studuerunt, dum per scientiam inde voluerunt praevalere: etiam visi sunt ursi qui inter dentes ferebant costas, sicut describitur ursus in loco supracitato apud Danielem, et datum est intelligere quod per "costas" repraesentarentur cognitiones quas in mundo hauserunt ex Verbo. Apparent etiam ibi ursi albi, per quos repraesentabatur potentia spiritualis naturalis hominis per Verbum. Praeterea apparent ibi bestiae compositae ex ursis, pantheris, lupis, bovibus, et quoque eaedem alis praeditae, quae omnia significativa talium sunt, cum in meditatione vadunt.
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.