863a.“因为他们是童身”表示因为他们处于为了真理而对真理的情感。这从“童身”的含义清楚可知，“童身”(virgins，即处女或童女)是指对真理的情感，这些情感被称为对真理的属灵情感。因为对真理的属世情感是存在的，它几乎存在于每个人里面，尤其在童年和青少年时期。但对真理的属世情感以回报为目的，一开始以名声为目的，后来以荣誉和利益为目的。此处“童身”不是指这些情感，而是指对真理的属灵情感，就是那些以永生和永生的功用为目的的情感。那些处于这些情感的人热爱真理，是因为它们是真理，因而与世上的荣耀、荣誉和利益无关；那些脱离这些东西而热爱真理的人就是爱主的；因为主在来自良善的真理中与人同在。从显为太阳的主发出之物是神性真理，从主发出之物就是主；因此，出于属灵之爱接受真理，因为它是真理的人接受主。故论到这些人，经上说：“这些人是跟随羔羊的，无论祂往哪里去。”此外，主在马太福音中的这些话也是指这些人：
天国好比藏在田地里的宝贝，人遇见了就把它藏起来，欢欢喜喜地去变卖他所有的一切，买下这块田地。天国又好比一个人，就是一个寻找漂亮珍珠的商人；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13:44–46)
“藏在田地里的宝贝”和“珍珠”表示天堂和教会的真理；“一颗极贵重的珍珠”表示对主的承认。“人欢欢喜喜地去变卖他所有的一切，买下藏有宝贝的这块田地”，以及“商人去变卖他所有的一切，买下贵重珍珠”表示为了真理本身而对真理的情感。
那些处于对真理的属灵情感的人被称为“处女或童女”，是由于良善与真理的婚姻，婚姻之爱从该婚姻发出；因为“妻子”是对良善的情感，“丈夫”是对真理的理解；此外，女性和男性生来就是如此。处女因喜欢与处于对真理的理解的男人结合而表示对真理的情感。关于这个主题，详情可参看《天堂与地狱》(366–386节)，那里论述了灵界的婚姻。这清楚表明，在以下圣言经文中，“处女”表示什么。耶利米哀歌：
锡安的道路因无人前来过节就悲哀；她所有的城门都荒废，她的祭司叹息，她的处女悲伤，自己也受苦头。主抛弃我中间的一切勇士，宣布攻击我的指定时间，以打碎我的少年人。主为处女犹大或锡安女子踹下酒醡。众民哪，请听一听，看一下我的痛苦；我的处女和少年人都被掳去。(耶利米哀歌1:4,15,18)
这些话描述了教会中的神性真理的毁坏，它们所论及的“锡安”表示教会，就是主通过神性真理掌权的地方。“锡安的道路就悲哀”表示神性真理不再被寻求；“无人前来过节”表示那时没有任何敬拜；“她所有的城门都荒废”表示没有对真理的接近；“她的祭司叹息，她的处女悲伤”表示对良善的情感和对真理的情感都被摧毁；“主抛弃我中间的一切勇士”表示真理对抗虚假的一切能力都灭亡；“宣布攻击我的指定时间”表示当主即将到来时，它的最后状态；“以打碎我的少年人”表示当不再有对真理的任何理解时；“主为处女犹大或锡安女子踹下酒醡”表示当圣言的一切真理都被歪曲时；“我的处女和少年人都被掳去”表示当对真理的一切情感和对真理的理解都因虚假而灭亡时。
又：锡安女子的长老都坐在地上，默默无声；他们把尘灰撒在头上，腰束麻布；耶路撒冷的处女都垂头至地。处女锡安女子啊，我可用什么向你证明呢？
我可用什么与你相比呢？少年人和老年人都躺卧在街上；我的处女和少年人都倒在剑下。(耶利米哀歌2:10,13,21)
这些话也描述了教会中的神性真理的毁坏；“锡安女子”是指主通过神性真理在其中掌权作王的教会；“坐在地上”、“长老都默默无声”、“把尘灰撒在头上”、“腰束麻布”和“垂头至地”描述了因它的毁坏而悲伤。“锡安女子的长老”表示那些处于神性真理的人；“耶路撒冷的处女”表示那些出于对真理的情感教导真理的人；“少年人和老年人都躺卧在街上”表示纯真和智慧，与神性真理一起被摧毁；“我的处女和少年人都倒在剑下”表示对真理的一切情感和对真理的一切理解都因虚假而灭亡，“处女”是指对真理的情感，“少年人”是指对真理的理解，“倒在剑下”是指因虚假而灭亡。
又：因饥荒的风暴，我们的皮肤黑如烤炉；锡安的妇人被强奸，犹大城邑的处女被奸污；首领手被吊起；长老的脸面也不受尊敬。(耶利米哀歌5:10–12)
此处涉及类似事物。前面解释了“锡安的妇人”、“犹大城邑的处女”、“首领和长老”表示什么(AE540,555,655节)。阿摩司书：
看哪，日子将到，我必打发饥荒到地上，饥荒非因无饼，干渴非因无水，乃因不听耶和华的话。当那日，美貌的处女和少年人，必因干渴发昏。(阿摩司书8:11,13)
这段经文描述了神性真理的缺乏。“饥荒”和“干渴”就是指这种缺乏；故经上说：“饥荒非因无饼，干渴非因无水，乃因不听耶和华的话。”“当那日，美貌的处女和少年人，必因干渴发昏”表示对真理的情感和对真理的理解都将因这种缺乏而停止。
以赛亚书：西顿哪，你当惭愧，大海说过，就是海中的堡垒说，我没有受过产痛，也没有生产过；我没有培养过少年人，也没有养大过童女。(以赛亚书23:4)
“西顿和推罗”表示良善与真理的知识方面的教会；“大海”和“海中的堡垒”表示这些知识所在的属世层。“我没有受过产痛，也没有生产过”表示没有人通过这些知识被改造；“我没有培养过少年人，也没有养大过童女”表示因此，没有对真理的理解，也没有对真理的情感。
诗篇：神将祂的百姓交与剑，向祂的产业发烈怒。火吞灭少年人，处女也无法婚嫁。祭司倒在剑下。(诗篇78:62–64)
这段经文也论述了教会因虚假和邪恶而毁坏。“神将祂的百姓交与剑，向祂的产业发烈怒”表示教会因虚假和邪恶而灭亡，“剑”表示虚假对真理的摧毁，“发烈怒”表示邪恶的摧毁，“百姓”表示那些处于真理的教会之人，“产业”表示那些处于良善的人，但在此表示那些处于虚假和邪恶的人。“火吞灭少年人”表示自我之爱，因而自我聪明的骄傲摧毁了对真理的理解；“处女也无法婚嫁”表示对真理的情感因不理解真理而消亡；“祭司倒在剑下”表示教会的良善，也就是作为、仁爱和生活的良善，都被虚假摧毁了。
摩西五经：外头有使人丧亲的剑，内室有惊恐，使少年人、童女、吃奶的、老人，尽都灭绝。(申命记32:25)
“外头有使人丧亲的剑，内室有惊恐”表示来自里面的虚假和邪恶必毁坏属世人和理性人；“少年人和童女”表示对真理的理解和对真理的情感；“吃奶的、老人”表示纯真和智慧。
耶利米书：我要用你分散列族；用你毁灭列国；用你分散马和骑马的；用你分散战车和坐在其上的；用你分散老人和男童；用你分散少男和处女；用你分散牧人和他的羊群；用你分散农夫和他的牲畜；用你分散官员和掌权的。(耶利米书51:20–23)
这些话论及雅各和以色列，雅各和以色列在至高意义上是指主，在主降临的时候，祂要摧毁在教会掌权的邪恶和虚假；祂要分散的“列族和列国”表示总体上的邪恶和虚假；“马和骑马的”表示基于虚假反对真理的推理；“战车和坐在其上的”表示教义的虚假；“老人和男童”表示已经确认的和没有确认的虚假；“少男和处女”表示对虚假的理解和对虚假的情感；“牧人和他的羊群”表示教导者和学习者；“农夫和他的牲畜”具有相同的含义；“官员和掌权的”表示虚假和邪恶的原则。
以西结书：耶和华说，你穿过那城中间，穿过耶路撒冷中间。要将老年人、少年人，并处女、婴孩和妇女都杀掉灭尽；只是不要挨近凡有记号的人。(以西结书9:4,6)
这些话描述了属于教会的一切的毁坏；“耶路撒冷”表示教会；“老年人、少年人，并处女、婴孩和妇女”表示教会的一切，“老年人”表示智慧，“少年人”表示聪明，“处女”表示对真理的情感，“婴孩”表示纯真，“妇女”表示与真理结合的良善；“杀掉灭尽”表示彻底摧毁。这些事并没有发生，只是被先知在灵里看到了，这一点从之前的几节经文明显看出来，其中以色列和犹大家的可憎之事就以各种形式和物体被呈现出来；由于这些事没有发生，只是被看到了，所以很明显，“老年人、少年人，并处女、婴孩和妇女”具有这种含义。至于“只是不要挨近凡有记号的人”表示什么，可参看前文(AE427a节)。
约珥书：他们为我的百姓拈阄；他们用男童换妓女，卖女童换他们所喝的酒。(约珥书3:3)
“为百姓拈阄”表示通过虚假驱散教会的真理；“用男童换妓女”表示歪曲圣言的真理；“卖女童换酒”表示歪曲圣言的良善；“他们所喝的”表示充满或沾染虚假。
撒迦利亚书：城里的街道必满有男孩女孩在街上玩耍。(撒迦利亚书8:5)
“男孩女孩”表示纯真之真理和良善，如本质上构成教会的圣言的真理和良善；“城里的街道”表示教义，这就是古人在街上教导人的原因；“在街上玩耍”表示因教义而欢喜快乐。
耶利米书：以色列的处女啊，我要再建造你；那时处女必欢乐跳舞，少年人和老年人，也必一同欢乐。(耶利米书31:4,13)
“以色列的处女”表示来自对真理的情感的教会；“那时处女必欢乐跳舞”表示那些处于对真理的属灵情感之人内心的欢乐，因为一切属灵欢乐都来自对真理的情感；这就是为何圣言在论及处女和少女时，会用到“玩耍”、“跳舞”、“歌唱”这些词。
863b# 由于教会凭对真理的属灵情感，也就是为了真理而对真理的爱而为一个教会，所以圣言经常用到以下表述：以色列的处女或童女(耶利米书18:13;31:4,21;阿摩司书5:2)；处女锡安女子(列王纪下19:21;以赛亚书37:22;耶利米哀歌1:4;2:13)；处女我百姓的女子(耶利米书14:17)；处女锡安女子(以赛亚书23:12)；处女埃及女子(耶利米书46:11)；以及处女巴比伦女子(以赛亚书47:1)。诗篇：
神啊，我行走的神，我的王，人已经看见你行走，进入圣所。歌唱的行在前，作乐的随在后，都在击鼓的童女中间。(诗篇68:24,25)
这些话论及主，此处“我的神”和“我的王”是指祂；“祂行走，进入圣所”是指祂的降临；“歌唱的，作乐的，击鼓的”表示所有属于主的属灵和属天国度的人，“歌唱的童女”表示那些属于祂的属灵国度的人，“作乐的，击鼓的”表示那些属于祂的属天国度的人；他们凭对真理和良善的情感而被称为“童女”；“歌唱、弹乐器和击鼓”描述了他们内心的欢喜快乐，因为击打和吹奏的乐器描述了那些属于属天国度之人的喜悦；而弦乐器和歌唱描述了那些属于属灵国度之人的快乐。
又：
王的女儿在你的尊贵人当中；王后佩戴上好的俄斐金，站在你右手边。女子啊，你要听，要看，要侧耳而听。那时王喜欢你的美丽；因为他是你的主，你当向他下拜。推罗的女子必带着礼物而来，民间富有的人必求你的脸面。王的女儿在里面极其荣华，她的衣服是金线绣的；她要穿锦绣的衣服，被引到王前；随从她的童女，她的同伴，也要被带到他面前；她们要欢喜快乐被引导，她们要进入王宫。(诗篇45:9–15)
这些话论及主，这一点从之前的几节经文(诗篇45:2–8)和接下来的几节经文(诗篇45:16,17)明显看出来。“王的女儿”表示对神性真理的情感；佩戴上好的俄斐金、在他右手边的“王后”表示天堂和教会，天堂和教会处于来自神性良善的神性真理；“要听，要看，要侧耳而听”论及王的女儿，表示听从，感知，服从，因而从主那里理解，行动并变得智慧。“那时王喜欢你的美丽”表示那时她将被主接纳，“美丽”论及对真理的情感，因为这情感构成天使的美丽；“你当向他下拜”表示出于一颗谦卑的心来敬拜。“推罗的女子必带着礼物而来”表示那些处于真理的知识之人的敬拜；“民间富有的人必求你的脸面”表示那些因这些知识而处于聪明之人的崇拜；“王的女儿在里面极其荣华”表示对真理的属灵情感，这情感凭真理的丰富而被称为“荣华”，而“里面”表示属灵之物；“她的衣服是金线绣的”表示从爱之良善中形成的投入真理(investing truths)；“她要穿锦绣的衣服，被引到王前”表示真理的表象，就是存在于圣言字义中的那种；“随从她的童女，她的同伴”表示对服务的真理的属灵-属世情感；“她们要欢喜快乐被引导，她们要进入王宫”表示怀着进入主所在的天堂的天堂喜乐。
由于“王的女儿”表示对真理的属灵情感，她们的“衣服”表示在秩序终端中的真理，如在圣言字义中的圣言真理，所以从前身为处女的王的女儿都身穿多彩的袍子，如论及大卫的女儿他玛的话(撒母耳记下13:18)。在撒迦利亚书：
祂的善何等大，祂的美何等大！五谷使少年人成长，新酒使处女成长。(撒迦利亚书9:17)
这些话也论述了主；“祂的善和美”表示神性良善和神性真理。“五谷使少年人成长，新酒使处女成长”表示对真理的理解和对真理的情感通过来自祂的良善和真理形成。从这些经文清楚可知，在圣言中，“处女或童女”表示对真理的情感，这一点从其它经文同样看出来(如以赛亚书62:5;耶利米书2:32;约珥书1:7,8;诗篇148:12;士师记5:30)。
由于“处女或童女”表示对教会纯正真理的情感，这情感与爱之良善完全一致，所以经上吩咐：
寡妇或是被休的妇人，或是被污为妓的女人，大祭司都不可娶，只可娶他自己民中的处女为妻，免得他亵渎他的种。(利未记21:13–15;以西结书44:22)
前面解释了这段经文的细节(可参看AE768d节)。正因“处女或童女”表示对纯正真理的情感，对她的玷污表示对神性真理的歪曲，所以经上严厉禁止行淫或通奸：
人若劝诱处女，与她同寝，就必须聘她为妻；若她的父亲不肯给出她，他就要按处女的聘礼，称给他聘银。(出埃及记22:15,16;申命记22:28,29)
《属天的奥秘》(可参看9181–9186节)解释了这段经文。正因对真理的情感和对真理的理解构成一个婚姻，就像一个处女被一个男子求婚，并与他结婚，后来他们像每个人的意愿和理解力，或情感和思维，或良善和真理那样构成一体，而不同的情感不能与同一种思维结合，或不同的意愿不能与同一种理解力结合，或不同的教会真理不能与同一种爱之良善结合，否则就会造成对真理的歪曲和驱散，所以与已经被聘定的处女同寝是一种可判处死刑的罪行，正如摩西五经中的这些话所说的：
若一个身为处女的少女已经聘定给丈夫，一个男人却与她在城里同寝，这二人都要用石头打死；若在田野，只要将男子处死，少女没有该死的罪。(申命记22:23–27)
“在城里同寝”表示对来自圣言的教义的良善和真理的玷污，因为“城”表示教义，“用石头打死”是对伤害教义真理的一种惩罚。但“在田野同寝”表示在教会真理被接受为教义之前，对它的歪曲；这不是对教会良善的玷污，因为“田野”表示教会，在这种教会，真理首先被植入，然后成长，最后成为教义事务，或说与教义合一；这就是为何只有这个男人必须被处死。由此也可以看出，“处女或童女”表示未被玷污的对真理的情感(如利未记21:13;申命记22:13–21;以西结书23:3,8)。
863. For they are virgins. That this signifies for the reason that they are in the affection of truth for the sake of truth, is evident from the signification of virgins, as denoting the affections of truth, which are called spiritual. For there are affections of truth which are natural, and this is the case with almost all people, especially during youth and adolescence; and such natural affections have reward as an end; in the first place fame, and afterwards honour and gain. But these affections are not meant here by virgins, but spiritual affections of truth, which are those which have eternal life, and the uses of that life as their end. Those who are in these affections, love truths because they are truths, thus apart from the world's glory, honours, and gain. And those who love truths apart from such things, love the Lord; for the Lord is with man in the truths which are from good. For that which proceeds from the Lord as a Sun is Divine truth; and the Lord is that which proceeds from Himself. He, therefore, who receives truth because it is truth, from spiritual love, receives the Lord. Hence it is said of such, "These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth." These are also meant by these words of the Lord, in Matthew:
"The kingdom of the heavens is like to a treasure hid in a field, which when a man hath found he hideth; and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth the field."
Again:
"The kingdom of the heavens is like to a merchantman seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found one precious pearl, went and sold all that he had, and bought it" (13:44-46).
By the treasure hid in the field, and by the pearls, are signified the truths of heaven and the church; and by the one precious pearl is signified the acknowledgment of the Lord. The affection of truths for their own sake is signified by the man going for joy, and selling all that he had, and buying the field in which the treasure was hid; also by the merchantman going and selling all that he had, and buying the precious pearl.
[2] Those who are in the spiritual affection of truth are called virgins, from the marriage of good and truth, from which proceeds conjugial love. For the wife is the affection of good, and the husband is the understanding of truth; females and males are such by birth. Now because virgins love to be conjoined to men who are in the understanding of truth, therefore they signify the affections of truth. But upon this subject more may be seen in the work concerning 1:4, 15, 18).
The devastation of Divine truth in the church is described by these words. Zion, of which these words are spoken, signifies the church where the Lord reigns by means of Divine truth. The ways of Zion mourning, signifies that Divine truths are no longer sought. No one coming to the feast, signifies that there is then no worship. All her gates being laid waste, signifies that there is no approach to truths. Her priests sigh, her virgins are sad, signifies that the affections of good and the affections of truth are destroyed. He hath prostrated all my mighty men in the midst of me, signifies that all the power of truth against falsities has perished. He hath proclaimed against me the time appointed, signifies its last state, when the Lord is about to come. To break my young men, signifies, when there is no longer any understanding of truth. The Lord hath trodden the wine-press for the virgin daughter of Zion, signifies, when all the truths of the Word are falsified. My virgins and my young men have gone into captivity, signifies, when all affection of truth and the understanding of truth have perished by falsities.
[3] Again:
"The elders of the daughter of Zion, they sit on the earth, they keep silence; they have cast up dust upon their heads, they have girded themselves with sackcloth, the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground. What shall I testify to thee, to what shall I liken thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? The boy and the old man have lain in the streets; my virgins and my young men have fallen by the sword" (Lamentations 2:10, 13, 21).
By these words also is described the devastation of Divine truth in the church; the daughter of Zion denoting the church in which the Lord reigns by means of Divine truth. Grief on account of her devastation is described by sitting on the earth, by the elders being silent, by casting up dust upon the head, by girding themselves with sackcloth, and by hanging down the head to the earth. By the elders of the daughter of Zion are signified those who have been in Divine truths. By the virgins of Jerusalem are signified those who have taught truths from affection for truth. The boy and the old man have lain in the streets, signifies that, with Divine truths, innocence and wisdom are destroyed. My virgins and my young men have fallen by the sword, signifies that all the affection of truth and the understanding of truth have perished by falsities, virgin denoting the affection of truth, young man the understanding of truth; and to fall by the sword, to perish by falsities.
[4] Again:
"Our skins are blackened as an oven on account of the storms of famine; the women in Zion were violated, the virgins in the cities of Judah; the princes were hanged up by their hands, the faces of the elders were not honoured" (Lamentations 5:10-12).
Here similar things are involved. What is signified by the women in Zion, the virgins in the cities of Judah, and by the princes and old men, has been explained above (n. 8:11,13).
This refers to the want of Divine truth. Such want is meant by famine and thirst. It is said, therefore, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for waters, but of hearing the words of Jehovah. That the affection of truth and the understanding of truth will cease through want, is signified by, in that day, the virgins and the young men shall faint for thirst.
[5] In Isaiah:
"Be thou ashamed, O Zidon; the sea hath spoken, the fortress of the sea, saying, I have not travailed nor brought forth; I have not nourished young men, nor brought up virgins" (23:4).
By Zidon and Tyre is meant the church as to the knowledges of good and truth; and by the sea and the fortress of the sea, the Natural where those knowledges are. That none are reformed by those knowledges is signified by, I have not travailed nor brought forth; and that consequently there is no understanding of truth, nor affection of truth, is signified by, I have not nourished young men, nor brought up virgins.
[6] In David:
God "gave up his people to the sword, and was wroth with his inheritance. The fire hath devoured his young men, and his virgins are not given in marriage. Their priests have fallen by the sword" (Psalms 78:62-64).
Here also the devastation of the church by falsities and evils is treated of. God gave up His people to the sword, and was wroth with His inheritance, signifies that the church perished by falsities and evils; the sword denoting the destruction of truth by falsities; and being wroth, destruction by evils. The people signify those in the church who are in truths, and the inheritance, those who are in goods; in this case, those who are in falsities and evils. The fire hath devoured His young men, signifies that the love of self and the pride of their own intelligence thence, have destroyed the understanding of truth. His virgins are not given in marriage, signifies that the affections of truth perished, through not understanding truth. His priests have fallen by the sword, signifies that the goods of the church, which are the goods of works, charity, and life, were destroyed by falsities.
[7] In Moses:
"Without shall the sword bereave, and from the inner chambers terror, both the young man and the virgin, the suckling with the man of age" (Deuteronomy 32:25).
Without shall the sword bereave, and from the inner chambers terror, signifies that falsity and evil, which are from hell, shall devastate both the natural and the rational man. The young man and virgin signify the understanding of truth and the affection for it. The suckling with the man of age, signifies innocence and wisdom.
[8] In Jeremiah:
"By thee will I disperse nations, and by thee will I destroy kingdoms; by thee will I disperse the horse and the rider; by thee will I disperse the chariot and him that is carried therein; by thee will I disperse the old man and the boy; by thee will I disperse the young man and the virgin; by thee will I disperse the shepherd and his flock; by thee will I disperse the husbandman and his yokes; by thee will I disperse the officers and the rulers" (51:20-23).
These things are said of Jacob and Israel, by whom, in the highest sense, is meant the Lord, who was to destroy the evils and falsities which ruled in the church about the time of His advent. By the nations and kingdoms which He will disperse, are signified evils and falsities in general. By the horse and his rider, are signified reasonings from falsities against truth. By the chariot and him who is carried therein, are signified the falsities of doctrine. By old man and boy, are signified falsities confirmed and not confirmed. By young man and virgin, are signified the understanding of falsity and the affection for it. By the shepherd and his flock are signified those who teach and those who learn. By the husbandman and his yokes, are signified things of a similar kind. By officers and rulers, are signified the principles of falsity and evil.
[9] In Ezekiel:
"Jehovah said, go through the midst of the city, and through the midst of Jerusalem, and slay to destruction the old man, the young man, the virgin, and the infant, and the women; but against any man upon whom is the sign, approach not" (427).
[10] In Joel:
"They cast lots upon my people, and gave a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, which they drank" (3:3).
To cast lots upon the people, signifies to disperse the truths of the church by means of falsities. To give a boy for a harlot, signifies to falsify the truths of the Word. To sell a girl for wine, signifies to falsify the goods of the Word. Which they drank, signifies being tainted with falsity.
[11] In Zechariah:
"The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in my streets" (8:5).
By boys and girls are signified the truths and goods of innocence, such as the truths and goods of the Word are, which essentially constitute the church. By the streets of the city are signified doctrinals, which was the reason that the ancients taught in the streets. And to play in the streets, signifies to be glad and rejoice on account of them.
[12] In Jeremiah:
"Again will I build thee, O virgin Israel; then shall the virgin be glad in her dance, and the young men and old men together" (31:4, 13).
By the virgin Israel is signified the church from the affection of truth. Then shall the virgin be glad in the dance, signifies the gladness of heart of those who are in the spiritual affection of truth; because all spiritual gladness is from the affection for truth. Wherefore to play, dance, sing, and similar things, are spoken in the Word of virgins and damsels.
[13] Because the church is a church from the spiritual affection for truth, which is the love of truth for the sake of truth, therefore mention is made in the Word throughout of
"The virgin Israel" (as in Jeremiah 18:13; 31:4, 21; Amos 5:2).
"The virgin daughter of Zion" (2 Kings 19:21; Isaiah 37:22; Lamentations 1:4; 2:13).
"The virgin daughter of my people" (Jeremiah 14:17).
"The virgin daughter of Zidon" (Isaiah 23:12).
"The virgin daughter of Egypt" (Jeremiah 46:11).
Also:
"The virgin daughter of Babel" (Isaiah 47:1).
In David:
"They have seen thy steps, O God, the steps of my God, my King, in the sanctuary; the singers went before, the players on instruments followed after, in the midst of the virgins playing on the timbrels" (Psalms 68:24, 25, 26).
These things are said of the Lord, who is there meant by my God and my King. And His Advent is meant by His steps in the sanctuary. By the singers, the players on instruments and on timbrels, are signified all those who belong to His spiritual and celestial kingdoms. By the singing virgins, those who belong to the Lord's spiritual kingdom. By players on instruments and on the timbrels, those who belong to His celestial kingdom; these are called virgins from the affection of truth and good. And singing, playing on instruments and on timbrels, are said of their gladness and joy of heart. For by instruments which are beaten and those which are blown is described the joy of those who belong to the celestial kingdom, but by stringed instruments and singing the gladness of those who belong to the spiritual kingdom is described.
[14] Again:
"The daughters of kings among the precious ones; at thy right hand standeth the queen in purest gold of Ophir; hear, O daughter, and see, incline thine ear, then shall the king be delighted in thy beauty, for he is thy Lord, therefore bow thyself down to him. Also the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift, the rich of the people shall intreat thy favour. The king's daughter is all glorious within; her clothing of wrought gold; she shall be brought unto the king in broidered garments; the virgins that follow her, her companions, shall be brought to him, with joy and exultation they shall be brought, into the palace of the king" (Psalms 45:9-15).
That these things are said of the Lord, is evident from the verses that precede, 2-8, and from those that follow, 16 and 17. And by the daughters of kings are signified affections for Divine truth. By the queen at His right hand in purest gold of Ophir, is signified heaven and the church, which are in Divine truths from Divine good. To hear, see, and incline the ear, which are said of the King's daughter, signify to hearken, perceive, and obey; thus to understand, to act, and be wise, from the Lord. That then she will be accepted of the Lord, is signified by, then shall the King be delighted in thy beauty, beauty being predicated of the affection of truth; for this constitutes the beauty of the angels. Therefore, bow thyself down to Him, signifies worship from a humble heart. Also the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift, signifies worship from those who are in the knowledges of truth. The rich of the people shall intreat thy favour, signifies adoration from those who are in intelligence from those knowledges. The King's daughter is all glorious within, signifies the spiritual affection of truth, which is called glorious from the abundance of truth; and within, signifies spiritual. Her clothing of wrought gold, signifies investing truths formed from the good of love. She shall be brought to the King in embroidered garments, signifies appearances of truth, such as exist in the literal sense of the Word. The virgins that follow her, her companions, signifies spiritual-natural affections of truth, which are of service. With joy and exultation they shall be brought, they shall come into the palace of the king, signifies with heavenly joy into heaven, where the Lord is.
[15] Because the daughters of a king signified spiritual affections for truth; and their garments signified truths in the ultimate of order, such as the truths of the Word in the literal sense are; therefore,
The daughters of a king, whilst they were virgins, were formerly clothed in robes made of variegated pieces, as is said of Tamar, the daughter of David (2 Sam. 13:18).
In Zechariah:
"How great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty; corn maketh the young men to grow, and new wine the virgins" (9:17).
This treats also of the Lord. And by His goodness and beauty are meant Divine good and Divine truth. Corn makes the young men to grow, and new wine the virgins, signifies that the understanding of truth, and the affection for truth, are formed by means of good and truth from Him.
From these passages it is clear that by virgins, in the Word, are signified affections of truth; and similarly in other passages.
[16] As in Arcana Coelestia 9181-9186).
[17] Because the affection for truth and the understanding of truth form a marriage, like that of a virgin espoused and married to a man, and that they afterwards make one like will and understanding, or like affection and thought, or like good and truth, in every man; and because different affections cannot be conjoined to one and the same thought, or different wills to one and the same understanding, or different truths of the church to one and the same good of love, without its resulting in the falsification and thence the dissipation of truth; hence it was that lying with a virgin who was betrothed was a crime punishable by death; according to these words in Moses:
"If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed to a husband, and a man lie with her in the city, both shall be stoned; but if it be in the field, the man alone shall die, the damsel is not guilty of death" (Deuteronomy 22:23-27).
By lying together in the city is signified the adulteration of the good and truth of doctrine from the Word; for a city denotes doctrine; and stoning was a punishment for injuring the truth of doctrine. But by lying together in the field is signified the falsification of the truth of the church before it is received as a doctrinal; thus not in adulteration of the good thereof. For a field denotes the church, where truth is first implanted, and afterwards grows, and at last becomes united with doctrine; this is why the man alone had to die.
From these things it is also evident that virginity signifies undefiled affection for truth.
As in Leviticus 21:13; Deuteronomy 22:13-21; Ezekiel 23:3, 8.
863. For they are virgins, signifies for the reason that they are in the affection of truth for the sake of truth. This is evident from the signification of "virgins," as being affections of truth, which are called spiritual affections of truth. For there are natural affections of truth which exist in almost everyone, especially during childhood and youth. But natural affections of truth have reward as an end, at first reputation, and afterwards honor and gain. These are not the affections here meant by "virgins," but spiritual affections of truth are meant, which are such as have for their end eternal life and the uses of that life. Those who are in such affections love truths because they are truths, thus apart from the world's glory, honors, and gains; and those who love truths apart from such considerations love the Lord; for the Lord is with man in the truths that are from good. For that which proceeds from the Lord as a Sun is the Divine truth, and that which proceeds from the Lord is the Lord; consequently he that receives truth from spiritual love because it is truth receives the Lord. Therefore of such it is said "these are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth." Moreover, such are meant by the Lord in these words in Matthew:
The kingdom of the heavens is like unto a treasure hidden in a field, which a man having found hideth, and in his joy goeth and selleth all things whatsoever he hath, and buyeth the field. Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like unto a man, a merchant, seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one precious pearl, went and sold all that he had, and bought it (Matthew 13:44-46).
"The treasure hidden in a field" and "the pearls" signify the truths of heaven and the church; and the "one precious pearl" signifies the acknowledgment of the Lord. The affection of truths because they are truths is meant by "the man went in his joy and sold all that he had, and bought the field" in which the treasure was hidden, also by "the merchant's going and selling all that he had, and buying the precious pearl."
[2] Those who are in the spiritual affection of truth are called "virgins" from the marriage of good and truth from which is conjugial love; for a "wife" is the affection of good, and a "husband" the understanding of truth; moreover, females and males are born such. Now because virgins love to be conjoined to men with whom is the understanding of truth, therefore they signify the affections of truth. (But on this see more fully in the work on Heaven and Hell 366-386, where "Marriages in the Spiritual World" are treated of.) This makes clear what "virgins" signify in the following passages in the Word.
In Lamentations:
The ways of Zion do mourn because they come not to the feast; all her gates are devastated, her priests moan, her virgins are sad, and she herself is in bitterness. The Lord hath cast down all my mighty in the midst of me; He hath proclaimed against me an appointed time for breaking my youths. The Lord hath trodden the wine-press for the virgin daughter of Zion. 1Hear, I pray, all ye people, and behold my grief; my virgins and my youths have gone into captivity (Lamentations 1:4, 15, 18).
This describes the devastation of Divine truth in the church, "Zion" of which this is said signifying the church, where the Lord reigns by the Divine truth. "The ways of Zion do mourn" signifies that Divine truths are no longer sought; "no one comes to the feast" signifies that there is at that time no worship; "all her gates are desolated" signifies that there is no approach to truths; "her priests moan, her virgins are sad," signifies that affections of good and affections of truth are destroyed; "He hath cast down all my mighty in the midst of me" signifies that all power of truth against falsities has perished; "He hath proclaimed against me an appointed time" signifies its last state, when the Lord is about to come; "for breaking my youths" signifies when there is no longer any understanding of truth; "the Lord hath trodden the wine-press for the virgin daughter of Zion" 1signifies when all the truths of the Word are falsified; "my virgins and my youths have gone into captivity" signifies when all the affection of truth and the understanding of truth have perished by falsities.
[3] In the same:
The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the earth; they keep silence; they have cast up dust upon their head; they have girded themselves with sackcloth; the virgins of Jerusalem have made their head to go down to the earth. What shall I testify unto thee, to what shall I liken thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? They have lain in the streets, the boy and the old man; my virgins and my youths have fallen by the sword (Lamentations 2:10, 13, 21).
These words, too, describe the devastation of Divine truth in the church, "the daughter of Zion" being the church in which the Lord reigns by Divine truth; grief on account of its devastation is described by "sitting on the earth," "the elders being silent," "casting up dust upon the head," "girding themselves with sackcloth," and "making the head to go down to the earth." "The elders of the daughter of Zion" signify those who have been in Divine truths; "the virgins of Jerusalem" signify those who have taught truths from the affection of truth; "they have lain in the streets, the boy and the old man," signifies that innocence and wisdom have been destroyed, together with Divine truths; "my virgins and my youths have fallen by the sword" signifies that all the affection of truth and all the understanding of truth have perished by falsities, "virgin" being the affection of truth, "youth" the understanding of truth, and "to fall by the sword" is to perish through falsities.
[4] In the same:
Our skins are become black like an oven because of the tempests of famine; the women in Zion have been ravished, the virgins in the cities of Judah; the princes have been hanged up by their hand; the faces of the elders have not been honored (Lamentations 5:10-12).
In this like things are involved. What is signified by "the women in Zion," "the virgins in the cities of Judah," and "the princes and old men," has been explained above (n. Amos 8:11, 13).
This describes the lack of Divine truth. That lack is meant by "famine" and by "thirst;" therefore it is said, "not a famine for bread nor a thirst for waters, but for hearing the words of Jehovah." That the affection of truth and the understanding of truth will cease because of this lack is signified by "in that day shall the beautiful virgins and the youths faint for thirst."
[5] In Isaiah:
Blush, O Zidon, the sea hath said, the stronghold of the sea, saying, I have not travailed, neither brought forth; I have not trained up youths, I have not brought up virgins (Isaiah 23:4).
"Zidon and Tyre" mean the church as to the knowledges of good and truth; and the "sea" and "the stronghold of the sea" mean the natural where such knowledges are. That none are reformed by those knowledges is signified by "I have not travailed, neither brought forth;" and that consequently there is no understanding of truth and no affection of truth is signified by "I have not trained up youths, I have not brought up virgins."
[6] In David:
God shut up His people to the sword, and was wroth with His inheritance. The fire hath devoured her youths, and her virgins are not wedded. Her priests have fallen by the sword (Psalms 78:62-64).
This, too, treats of the devastation of the church by falsities and evils. "God shut up His people to the sword, and was wroth with His inheritance," signifies that the church perished through falsities and evils, the "sword" signifies the destruction of truth by falsities, "to be wroth" destruction by evils, the "people" those of the church who are in truths, and "inheritance" those who are in goods, but here those who are in falsities and evils. "The fire hath devoured her youths" signifies that the love of self and thence the pride of self-intelligence have destroyed the understanding of truth; "her virgins are not wedded" signifies that the affections of truth have perished through non-understanding of truth; "her priests have fallen by the sword" signifies that the goods of the church, which are the goods of works, of charity, and of life, have been destroyed by falsities.
[7] In Moses:
Without shall the sword bereave, and from the chambers terror, both the youth and the virgin, the suckling with the old man (Deuteronomy 32:25).
"Without shall the sword bereave, and from the chambers terror," signifies that falsity and evil, which are from within, shall devastate both the natural and the rational man; "the youth and the virgin" signify the understanding of truth and the affection of it; "the suckling with the old man" signifies innocence and wisdom.
[8] In Jeremiah:
By thee I will scatter nations, and by thee I will destroy kingdoms; by thee I will scatter the horse and his rider; by thee I will scatter the chariot and him that is carried therein; by thee I will scatter the old man and the boy; by thee I will scatter the youth and the virgin; by thee I will scatter the shepherd and his flock; by thee I will scatter the husbandman and his team; by thee I will scatter the governors and the leaders (Jeremiah 51:20-23).
This is said of Jacob and Israel, by whom is meant in the highest sense the Lord, who was to destroy the evils and falsities that bore rule in the church about the time of His coming; the "nations" and "kingdoms" that He will scatter signify evils and falsities in general; "the horse and his rider" signify reasonings from falsities against truths; "the chariot and him who is carried therein" signify falsities of doctrine; "the old man and the boy" signify falsities confirmed and not confirmed; "the youth and the virgin" signify the understanding of falsity and the affection of it; "the shepherd and his flock" signify those who teach and those who learn; "the husbandman and his team" have a like signification; "governors and leaders" signify the principles of falsity and evil.
[9] In Ezekiel:
Jehovah said, Go through the midst of the city, and through the midst of Jerusalem. Slay to destruction the old man, the youth and the virgin, and the infant and the women; but come not against any man upon whom is the sign (427.
[10] In Joel:
They have cast lots upon my people, and they have given a boy for a harlot, and have sold a girl for wine which they drank (Joel 3:3).
"To cast lots upon the people" signifies to disperse the truths of the church by falsities; "to give a boy for a harlot" signifies to falsify the truths of the Word; "to sell a girl for wine" signifies to falsify the goods of the Word; "which they drank" signifies becoming imbued with falsity.
[11] In Zechariah:
The streets of the city were filled with boys and girls playing in its 2streets (Zechariah 8:5).
"Boys and girls" signify the truths and goods of innocence, such as are the truths and goods of the Word, which essentially constitute the church; "streets of the city" signify doctrinals, for which reason the ancients taught in the streets; and "to play in the streets" signifies to be glad and rejoice from doctrinals.
[12] In Jeremiah:
Again will I build thee, O virgin Israel; then shall the virgin be glad in her dance, and the young men and old men together (Jeremiah 31:4, 13).
"The virgin Israel" signifies the church from the affection of truth; "then shall the virgin be glad in the dance" signifies the gladness of heart of those who are in the spiritual affection of truth, since all spiritual gladness is from the affection of truth; and this is why the expressions "to play," "to dance," "to sing," and the like, are used in the Word in reference to virgins and girls.
[13] Because the church is a church from the spiritual affection of truth, which is the love of truth for the sake of truth, the following expressions are frequently used in the Word:
The virgin of Israel (Jeremiah 18:13; 31:4, 21; Amos 5:2);
The virgin daughter of Zion (2 Kings 19:21; Isaiah 37:22; Lamentations 1:4; 2:13);
The virgin daughter of my people (Jeremiah 14:17);
The virgin daughter of Zidon (Isaiah 23:12);
The virgin daughter of Egypt (Jeremiah 46:11);
Also the virgin daughter of Babylon (Isaiah 47:1).
In David:
They have seen thy goings, O God, the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary. The singers went before, the minstrels after, in the midst of virgins playing on timbrels (Psalms 68:24, 25).
This is said of the Lord, who is here meant by "my God" and "my King," and His coming is meant by "His goings in the sanctuary," "the singers, minstrels, and players on timbrels," signify all who are of the Lord's spiritual and celestial kingdom, "the virgins singing," those who are of His spiritual kingdom, and "the minstrels and players on timbrels" those who are of His celestial kingdom; they are called "virgins" from the affection of truth and good; and "to sing, to play on instruments and on timbrels" describes the gladness and joy of their heart, for instruments played by beating and by blowing depict the joy of those who are of the celestial kingdom; while stringed instruments and singing depict the gladness of those who are of the spiritual kingdom.
[14] In the same:
King's daughters are among thy precious ones; on thy right hand standeth the queen in the best gold of Ophir. Hear, O daughter and see, incline thine ear. Then shall the king delight in thy beauty; for he is thy lord, therefore bow thyself down to him. The daughter of Tyre also with an offering, the rich of the people shall entreat thy faces. The king's daughter is all precious within, her clothing is inwrought with gold; she shall be brought unto the king in broidered work; the virgins that follow her, her companions, shall be brought unto him; with joy and exultation they shall be brought, they shall come into the king's palace (Psalms 45:9-15).
It is evident from the verses that precede (Psalms 45:2-8), and from those that follow (Psalms 45:16, 17), that this is said of the Lord. "King's daughters" signify the affections of Divine truth; "the queen that was at his right hand in the best gold of Ophir" signifies heaven and the church, which are in Divine truths from Divine good; "to hear, to see, and to incline the ear," which is said of the king's daughter, signifies to hearken, to perceive, and to obey, thus to understand, to do, and to be wise, from the Lord. That she will then be acceptable to the Lord is signified by "then shall the king delight in thy beauty," "beauty" is predicated of the affection of truth, for this is what constitutes the beauty of angels; "therefore bow thyself down to him" signifies worship from a humble heart. "And the daughter of Tyre shall send an offering" signifies worship by those who are in the knowledges of truth; "the rich of the people shall entreat thy faces" signifies adoration by those who are in intelligence from these knowledges; "the king's daughter is all glorious within" signifies the spiritual affection of truth, which is called "glorious" from abundance of truth, while "within" signifies what is spiritual; "her clothing is inwrought with gold" signifies investing truths formed from the good of love; "she shall be brought unto the king in broidered work" signifies the appearances of truth, such as are in the sense of the letter of the Word; "the virgins that follow her, her companions," signify the spiritual-natural affections of truth which serve; "with joy and exultation they shall be brought, they shall come into the king's palace," signifies with heavenly joy into heaven, where the Lord is.
[15] Because "king's daughters" signified the spiritual affections of truth, and their "garments" signified truths in the ultimate of order, such as the truths of the Word are in the sense of its letter, therefore:
The king's daughters that were virgins were formerly clothed in robes of diverse colors, as is said of Tamar the daughter of David (2 Samuel 13:18).
In Zechariah:
How great is His goodness, and how great is His beauty! Corn maketh the young men to grow, and new wine the virgins (Zechariah 9:17).
This, too, is said of the Lord; and "His goodness and beauty" mean the Divine good and the Divine truth. "Corn maketh the young men to grow, and new wine the virgins," signifies that the understanding of truth and the affection of truth are formed by good and truth from Him. It is evident from these passages that "virgins" signify in the Word the affections of truth, likewise from other passages (as Isaiah 62:5; Jeremiah 2:32; Joel 1:7, 8; Psalms 148:12; Judges 5:30).
[16] Because a "virgin" signified the affection of the genuine truth of the church, which is wholly in accord with the good of love, it was commanded:
That the high priest should not take to wife a widow, or one divorced, or one polluted, a harlot, but a virgin of his own people, lest he profane his seed (Arcana Coelestia 9181-9186.
[17] Because the affection of truth and the understanding of truth constitute a marriage, like that of a virgin espoused and married to a man, and these afterwards make one, like will and understanding, or affection and thought, or good and truth, in every man, and because diverse affections cannot be conjoined to one and the same thought, or diverse wills to one and the same understanding, or diverse truths of the church to one and the same good of love, without causing falsifications and dispersions of truth, so lying with a virgin who was betrothed was made a crime punishable with death, according to this command in Moses:
If a man lie in a city with a damsel that is a virgin betrothed to a man, both shall be stoned; but if in the field the man alone shall die, to the damsel there is no crime of death (Deuteronomy 22:23-27).
"Lying together in the city" signifies the adulteration of the good and truth of doctrine from the Word, for a "city" means doctrine, and "stoning" was a punishment for harm done to the truth of doctrine. But "lying together in the field" signifies the falsification of the truth of the church before it has been accepted as a doctrinal; and this is not the adulteration of its good, since a "field" means the church, in which truth at first is implanted and afterwards grows and at length becomes a matter of doctrine; and for this reason the man only should die. From this it can also be seen that "virginity" signifies the undefiled affection of truth (as in Leviticus 21:13; Deuteronomy 22:13-21; Ezekiel 23:3, 8.
Footnotes:
1. The Hebrew has "Judah," which is also found in n. 922.
2. The Hebrew has "its," see above, n. 652.
863. "Virgines enim sunt." Quod significet ex eo quod in affectione veri propter verum sint, constat ex significatione "virginum", quod sint affectiones veri, quae affectiones veri spirituales vocantur: dantur enim affectiones veri naturales, et paene apud omnes, imprimis dum pueri et adolescentes sunt; sed affectiones veri naturales pro fine habent remunerationem, primum famam, postea honores et lucra: at hae affectiones hic non intelliguntur per "virgines", sed affectiones veri spirituales, quae sunt quae pro fine habent vitam aeternam, ac usus illius vitae. Illi qui in iis affectionibus sunt, amant vera quia vera sunt, ita abstracte a gloria mundi, honoribus et lucris; et qui vera abstracte a talibus amant, illi amant Dominum; nam Dominus apud hominem est in veris quae ex bono sunt; id enim quod procedit a Domino ut sole, est Divinum Verum, ac Dominus est id quod procedit ab Ipso; quare qui recipit verum quia est verum ex amore spirituali, is recipit Dominum: inde est quod de illis dicatur, "Hi sunt qui sequuntur Agnum quocunque vadit." Illi etiam intelliguntur a Domino per haec apud Matthaeum,
"Simile est regnum caelorum thesauro abscondito in agro, quem repertum homo abscondit, et prae gaudio suo abit, et omnia quaecunque habet, vendit, et emit agrum. Rursus simile est regnum caelorum homini negotiatori quaerenti pulchras margaritas, qui cum invenisset unam pretiosam margaritam, abiit, vendidit omnia quae habuit, et emit eam" (13:44-46):
per "thesaurum absconditum in agro", et per "margaritas", significantur vera caeli et ecclesiae; et per "unam margaritam pretiosam" significatur agnitio Domini: affectio veritatum propterea quod veritates sint, intelligitur per quod "homo prae gaudio abiverit, ac omnia quae habuit vendiderit, et emerit agrum" in quo reconditus fuit thesaurus, et per quod "negotiator similiter abiens vendiderit omnia, et pretiosam margaritam emerit."
[2] Quod illi qui in affectione veri spirituali sunt dicantur "virgines", est ex conjugio boni et veri, ex quo est amor conjugialis; "uxor" enim est affectio boni, ac "maritus" est intellectus veri; femellae et mares etiam nascuntur tales: nunc quia virgines amant conjungi viris, apud quos est intellectus veri, ideo significant affectiones veri. (Sed de hac re videatur plura in opere De Caelo et Inferno 366-386, ubi De Conjugiis in Mundo Spirituali agitur.) Ex his nunc constare potest quid per "virgines" in Verbo in sequentibus locis significatur: In Threnis,
"Viae Zionis lugentes, propterea quod non veniant ad festum, omnes portae ejus devastatae, sacerdotes ejus gemunt, virgines ejus tristes, et illi amaritudo est:.... prostravit omnes robustos..Dominus in medio mei: proclamavit contra me constitutum tempus, ad frangendum juvenes meos: torcular calcavit Dominus virgini filiae 1
Zionis. .... Audite, quaeso, omnes populi, et videte dolorem meum: virgines meae et juvenes mei iverunt in captivitatem" (1:4, 15, 18):
devastatio Divini Veri in ecclesia per haec describitur; "Zion", de qua haec dicuntur, significat ecclesiam ubi Dominus per Divinum Verum regnat; "viae Zionis lugentes", significant quod Divina vera non amplius quaerantur; quod "nemo veniat ad festum" significat non cultum tunc; "omnes portae ejus devastatae", significat quod non aditus ad vera; "sacerdotes ejus gemunt, virgines ejus tristes", significat quod affectiones boni et affectiones veri deperditae sint; "prostravit omnes robustos meos in medio mei", significat quod omnis potentia veri contra falsa perierit; "proclamavit contra me constitutum tempus", significat statum ultimum ejus, dum venturus Dominus; "ad frangendum juvenes", significat quando non amplius aliquis intellectus veri; "torcular calcavit Dominus virgini filiae 2
Zionis", significat cum omnia vera Verbi falsificata sunt; "virgines meae et juvenes mei iverunt in captivitatem", significat cum omnis affectio veri ac intellectus veri per falsa perierit.
[3] Apud eundem,
"Sedent in terra, conticescunt seniores filiae Zionis, ascendere fecerunt pulverem super caput suum, cinxerunt se saccis, descendere fecerunt in terram caput suum virgines Hierosolymae. .... Quid testificabor tibi? cui assimilabo te, .... virgo filia Zionis? Jacuerunt...in plateis puer et senex, virgines meae et juvenes mei ceciderunt gladio" (Threni 2:10, 13, 21):
similiter per haec describitur devastatio Divini Veri in ecclesia; "filia Zionis" est ecclesia, in qua Dominus per Divinum Verum regnat; dolor propter devastationem ejus describitur per "sedere in terra", "conticescere seniores", "ascendere facere pulverem super caput", "cingere se saccis", "descendere facere in terram caput"; per "seniores filiae Zionis" significantur illi qui in Divinis veris fuerunt; per "virgines Hierosolymae" significantur illi qui ex affectione veri docuerunt vera; "jacuerunt in plateis puer et senex", significat quod cum Divinis veris deperdita sit innocentia et sapientia; "virgines meae et juvenes mei ceciderunt gladio", significat quod omnis affectio veri et intellectus veri per falsa perierit; "virgo" est affectio veri, "juvenis" est intellectus veri, "cadere gladio" est perire per falsa.
[4] Apud eundem,
"Cutes nostrae sicut clibanus denigratae sunt, propter procellas famis; mulieres in Zione compressae sunt, virgines in urbibus Jehudae; principes manu eorum suspensi sunt, facies senum non honoratae sunt" (Threni 5:10-12):
haec similia involvunt; quid per "mulieres in Zione", "virgines in urbibus Jehudae", et per "principes "et "senes" significatur, supra (n. 540, 555, 655) explicatum est.
Apud Amos,
"Ecce dies venturi, .... quibus immittam famem in terra; non famem ad panem, neque sitim ad aquas, sed ad audiendum verba Jehovae:.... in die illo deficient virgines pulchrae et juvenes siti" (8:11, 13):
haec de defectu Divini Veri; defectus ille intelligitur per "famem" et per "sitim"; quare dicitur, "non fames ad panem, neque sitis ad aquas, sed ad audiendum verba Jehovae": quod affectio veri ac intellectus veri ex defectu cessaturi sint, significatur per "In die illo deficient virgines pulchrae et juvenes siti."
[5] Apud Esaiam,
"Erubesce Zidon; dixit..mare, munimentum maris, dicendo, Non parturivi, nec peperi, et non educavi juvenes, adolescere feci virgines" (23:4):
per "Zidonem" et "Tyrum" intelligitur ecclesia quoad cognitiones boni et veri; et per "mare" et per "munimentum maris" intelligitur naturale, ubi illae cognitiones; quod non aliqui per cognitiones illas reformati sint, significatur per "Non parturivi, et non peperi"; et quod inde non intellectus veri, nec affectio veri, significatur per "Non educavi juvenes, adolescere feci virgines."
[6] Apud Davidem,
Deus "conclusit gladio populum suum, et in hereditatem suam exarsit; juvenes ejus comedit ignis, et virgines ejus non nuptae sunt; sacerdotes ejus gladio ceciderunt" (Psalms 78:62-64):
haec quoque de ecclesiae devastatione per falsa et mala; "Deus conclusit gladio populum suum, et in hereditatem suam exarsit", significat quod ecclesia perierit per falsa et mala; "gladius" significat destructionem veri per falsa, "exardere" destructionem per mala, "populus" sunt qui ab ecclesia in veris sunt, et "hereditas" qui in bonis, nunc in falsis et malis; "juvenes ejus comedit ignis", significat quod amor sui et inde fastus propriae intelligentiae perdiderit intellectum veri; "virgines ejus non nuptae sunt", significat quod affectiones veri perierint per non intellectum veri; "sacerdotes ejus gladio ceciderunt", significat quod bona ecclesiae, quae sunt bona operum, charitatis et vitae, per falsa destructa sint.
[7] Apud Mosen,
"Foris orbabit gladius, et ex conclavibus terror, tam juvenem quam virginem, lactantem cum viro sene" (Deutr: 32:25):
"Foris orbabit gladius, et ex conclavibus terror", significat quod falsum et malum, quae ab interno, devastabunt et naturalem et rationalem hominem; "juvenem et virginem", significat intellectum veri et affectionem ejus; "lactantem cum viro sene", significat innocentiam et sapientiam.
[8] Apud Jeremiam,
"Dispergam per te gentes, et perdam per te regna, dispergam per te equum et equitem.., dispergam per te currum et vectum in illo, .... dispergam per te senem et puerum, dispergam per te juvenem et virginem, dispergam per te pastorem et gregem ejus, dispergam per te agricolam et jugales ejus, dispergam per te praefectos et antistites" (51:20-23):
haec de Jacobo et Israele, per quos in supremo sensu intelligitur Dominus, qui mala et falsa circa tempus adventus Ipsius in ecclesia dominantia destructurus est; per "gentes" et "regna" quae disperget, significantur mala et falsa in genere; per "equum et equitem" significantur ratiocinationes ex falsis contra vera; per "currum et vectum in illo" significantur doctrinae falsa; per "senem et puerum" significantur falsa confirmata et non confirmata; per "juvenem et virginem" significantur intellectus et affectio falsi; per "pastorem et gregem ejus" significantur docentes et discentes; per "agricolam et jugales ejus" significantur similia; per "praefectos et antistites" significantur principia falsi et mali.
[9] Apud Ezechielem,
"Dixit Jehovah.., Transi per medium urbis, et per medium Hierosolymae, .... senem, juvenem et virginem, et infantem, et mulieres occidite ad perditionem; sed contra ullum virum super quo signum, ne appropinquate" (9:4, 6):
per haec describitur devastatio omnium quae ecclesiae sunt; per "Hierosolymam" significatur illa ecclesia: per "senem, juvenem, virginem, infantem et mulieres", significantur omnia ecclesiae; per "senem" sapientia, per "juvenem" intelligentia, per "virginem" affectio veri, per "infantem" innocentia, per "mulieres" bona conjuncta veris; "occidere ad perditionem", significat prorsus destruere: quod haec non facta sint, sed modo visa prophetae dum in spiritu erat, patet a praecedentibus ibi, ubi abominationes domus Israelis et Jehudae sub variis speciebus et objectis ostensae memorantur; et quia non facta sunt sed solum visa, manifeste constat quod per "senem, juvenem, virginem, infantem et mulieres", talia quae dicta sunt, significata sint: quid significatur per "non appropinquare ad ullum virum super quo signum", videatur supra (n. 427 [a]).
[10] Apud Joelem,
"Super populum meum jecerunt sortem, et dederunt puerum pro scorto, et puellam vendiderunt vino, quod biberunt" (4 [B.A. 3:3] 3);
"jacere sortem super populum" significat dispergere ecclesiae vera per falsa; "puerum dare pro 3
scorto" significat falsificare vera Verbi; "puellam vendere vino" significat falsificare bona Verbi; "quod biberunt" significat imbuitionem falsi.
[11] Apud Sachariam,
" 4
Implebantur plateae urbis pueris et pueris ludentibus in plateis 5
meis" (8:5):
per "pueros et puellas" significantur vera et bona innocentiae, qualia sunt vera et bona Verbi, quae essentialiter faciunt ecclesiam; per "plateas urbis" significantur doctrinalia, quae causa fuit quod antiqui docuerint in plateis; et "ludere in plateis" significat laetari et gaudere ex illis.
[12] Apud Jeremiam,
"Denuo aedificabo te, ...virgo Israel;.... tunc laetabitur virgo in chorea sua, ac adolescentes et senes simul" (31:4, 13):
per "virginem Israelem" significatur ecclesia ex affectione veri; tunc laetabitur virgo in chorea", significat laetitiam cordis illorum qui in affectione veri spirituali sunt, omnis enim laetitia spiritualis est ex affectione veri; quare "ludere", "saltare" et "canere", et similia, in Verbo dicuntur de virginibus et puellis.
[13] Quoniam ecclesia est ecclesia ex affectione veri spirituali, quae est amor veri propter verum, ideo passim in Verbo dicitur
"Virgo Israel" (ut Jeremias 18:13; 31:4, 21; Amos 5:2):
"Virgo filia Zion" (2 Regnum 19:21; Esaias 37:22; Threni 1:4; 2:13):
"Virgo filia populi mei" (Jeremias 14:17):
"Virgo filia Zidonis" (Esaias 23:12):
"Virgo filia Aegypti" (Jeremias 46:11):
Tum "Virgo filia Babelis" (Esaias 47:1).
Apud Davidem,
"Viderunt gressus tuos, Deus, gressus Dei mei, Regis mei in sanctuario; praecesserunt cantantes post pulsantes in medio virginum tympanizantium" (Psalms 68:25, 26 [B.A. 24, 25]):
haec de Domino, qui ibi "est Deus meus", et "Rex meus"; et adventus Ipsius intelligitur per "gressus Ipsius in sanctuario": per "cantantes post pulsantes et tympanizantes" significantur omnes qui e spirituali et e caelesti regno Ipsius sunt; per "virgines cantantes" qui e spirituali regno Domini sunt, per "pulsantes et tympanizantes" qui e regno caelesti Ipsius; qui "virgines" dicuntur ex affectione veri et boni, ac "cantare", "pulsare" et "tympanizare" dicuntur ex laetitia et gaudio cordis illorum; per instrumenta enim pulsatoria et inflatoria describitur gaudium illorum qui e caelesti regno sunt, per instrumenta autem chordacea et per cantus, describitur laetitia illorum qui e regno spirituali sunt.
[14] Apud eundem,
"Filiae regum inter pretiosas tuas; consistit Regina ad dextram tuam in auro optimo Ophiris: audi, filia, et vide, ..inclina aurem tuam;.... tunc delectabitur Rex pulchritudine tua, 6
Ipse namque Dominus tuus, ideo incurva te Ipsi. Etiam filia Tyri munus, facies tuas deprecabuntur divites populi;.... tota pretiosa filia Regis intus, de implexis auri vestis ejus, in acupictis adducetur Regi, virgines post illam, amicae ejus, quae adducentur 7
Ipsi, adducentur cum gaudiis et exultatione, venient in palatium Regis" (Psalms 45:10-16 [B.A. 9-15]):
quod haec de Domino dicta sint, patet a versibus (3-9 [B.A. 2-8]) ibi qui praecedunt, et a versibus (17 et 18 [B.A. 16 et 17]) qui sequuntur; et per "filias regum" significantur affectiones Divini Veri; per "Reginam" quae ad dextram Ipsius in auro optimo Ophiris, significatur caelum et ecclesia, quae in Divinis veris ex Divino Bono sunt; "audire", "videre" et "inclinare aurem", quod dicitur de filia Regis, significat auscultare, percipere et obedire, ita intelligere, facere et sapere a Domino: quod tunc accepta erit Domino, significatur per "Tunc delectabitur Rex pulchritudine tua"; "pulchritudo" praedicatur de affectione veri, haec enim facit pulchritudinem angelorum: "ideo incurva te Ipsi" significat cultum ex humili corde; "et filia Tyri munus mittet" significat cultum ab illis qui in cognitionibus veri sunt; "facies tuas deprecabuntur divites populi" significat adorationem ab illis qui in intelligentia ex cognitionibus illis sunt; "tota gloriosa filia Regis intus" significat affectionem veri spiritualem, quae "gloriosa" dicitur ex abundantia veri, ac "intus" significat spirituale; "de implexis auri vestis ejus" significat vera induentia formata ex bono amoris; "in acupictis adducetur Regi" significat apparentias veri, quales sunt in sensu litterae Verbi; "virgines post illam, amicae ejus", significat affectiones veri spirituales naturales, inservientes; "adducentur cum gaudio et exultatione, venient in palatium Regis", significat cum gaudio caelesti in caelum ubi Dominus.
[15] Quoniam "filiae regis" significabant affectiones veri spirituales, et "vestes" illarum significabant vera in ultimo ordinis, qualia sunt vera Verbi in sensu litterae ejus, ideo
Filiae Regis virgines olim vestiebantur togis frustatim variegatis, ut legitur de Thamare filia Davidis (2 Samuelis 13:18).
Apud Sachariam,
"Quantum..bonum Ipsius, et quanta pulchritudo Ipsius; frumentum juvenes, et mustum adolescere facit virgines" (9:17):
haec etiam de Domino; et per "bonum" et per "pulchritudinem Ipsius" intelligitur Divinum Bonum ac Divinum Verum; "frumentum juvenes, et mustum adolescere facit virgines", significat quod intellectus veri ac affectio veri formetur per bonum ac per verum ab Ipso. Ex his locis patet quod per "virgines" in Verbo significentur affectiones veri: similiter alibi (Ut Esaias 62:5; Jeremias 2:32; Joel 7, 8; Psalms 148:12; Judicum 5:30).
[16] Quoniam per "virginem" significabatur affectio genuini veri ecclesiae, quae cum bono amoris prorsus concordat, ideo statutum fuit
Quod sacerdos magnus non viduam aut repudiatam, aut corruptam meretricem, sed virginem e populis suis acciperet uxorem, ne profanaret semen suum (Leviticus 21:13-15; tum Ezechiel 44:22);
(quae singillatim explicata supra, n. 768 [d] , videantur). Quia per "virginem" significatur affectio genuini Veri, et per "stuprationem" illius significatur falsificatio Divini Veri, ideo tam severe prohibitum fuit scortari; ut
"Si quis persuaserit virgini, ...et cubuerit cum illa, dote dotaret illam sibi in uxorem..at si..renueret pater..dare illam.., argentum penderet quantum dos virginum est" (Exodus 22:15, 16 [B.A. 16, 17] ; Deuteronomius 22:28, 29);
(quae explicata videantur in Arcanis Caelestibus, n. 9181-9186).
[17] Quoniam affectio veri et intellectus veri faciunt conjugium, sicut virgo desponsata et maritata viro, ac postea unum faciunt sicut voluntas et intellectus, aut sicut affectio et cogitatio aut sicut bonum et verum apud unumquemvis hominem, nec conjungi possunt diversae affectiones uni eidemque cogitationi, seu diversae voluntates uni eidemque intellectui, seu diversa vera ecclesiae uni eidemque bono amoris, nisi falsificationes et inde dissipationes veri existerent; inde erat quod concubitus cum virgine desponsata crimen mortis esset: secundum haec apud Mosen,
Si vir cum puella virgine desponsata viro in urbe cubuerit, ambo lapidabuntur; si vero in agro, morietur vir solus, non puellae crimen mortis (Deuteronomius 22:23-27):
per "concubitum in urbe" significatur adulteratio boni et veri doctrinae ex Verbo, "urbs" enim est doctrina, et lapidatio erat poena laesi veri doctrinae: per "concubitum" autem "in agro", significatur falsificatio veri ecclesiae antequam id ut doctrinale receptum est, ita non adulteratio boni ejus; "ager" enim est ecclesia ubi verum primum inplantatur, dein crescit, et demum fit doctrinae; quare vir solus moriretur. Ex his quoque constare potest quod per "virginitatem" significetur affectio veri illibata (Ut Leviticus 21:13; Deuteronomius 22:13-21; Ezechiel 23:3, 8).
Footnotes:
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