128、“仁爱、事工”表示被称为仁爱的属灵情感及其运作。“仁爱”是一种属灵情感，因为仁爱就是对邻之爱，对邻之爱就是这种情感。“事工”(Ministry，或事奉)是仁爱的运作，因为在圣言中，那些做属于仁爱的事之人被称为“事奉者或用人”(ministers)。一个拜神的人有时被称为“仆人”(servant)，有时被称为“事奉者或用人”；处于真理的人被称为“神的仆人”，处于良善的人被称为“神的事奉者或用人”。原因在于，真理服侍良善，良善事奉真理。处于真理的人被称为“仆人”(servant)(可参看AR 3节)，而处于良善的人被称为“事奉者或用人”，这一点从以下经文明显看出来；以赛亚书：
你们要被称为耶和华的祭司，我们神的事奉者。(以赛亚书61:6)
耶利米书：
我与事奉我的祭司利未人所立的约必不废弃。(耶利米书33:21)
他们被称为“事奉者”，是因为“祭司”代表神性良善方面的主。诗篇：
祂的万象，遵行祂旨意的事奉者，你们都要祝福耶和华。(诗篇103:21)
又：
耶和华使祂的使者为灵，使祂的事奉者为火焰。(诗篇104:4)
为“灵”的“使者”是指那些处于真理的人，为“事奉者”的“使者”是指那些处于良善的人；“火焰”也表示爱之良善。耶稣说：
谁愿为大，就必作你们的用人；谁愿为首，就必作你们的仆人。(马太福音20:26-27; 23:11-12)
“用人”(Minister，或事奉者)在此论及良善，“仆人”论及真理。在以赛亚书(61:6)，约翰福音(m12:26)，路加福音(m12:37)，以及其它地方的“事奉”(ministering，或译为服事等)和“事工”(ministry，或译为仆役等)所表相同。因此，很明显，“仁爱、事工”表示属灵情感及其运作；因为良善属于仁爱，真理属于信仰。
128. "'And charity and ministry.'" This symbolizes the spiritual affection called charity, and the practice of it.
Charity is a spiritual affection because charity is love for the neighbor, and a love for the neighbor is that affection.
Ministry is the practice of it, because in the Word those are called ministers who put into practice things that are matters of charity.
In the Word, a worshiper of God is called sometimes a servant, sometimes a minister; and a servant of God is the term used for one who is governed by truths, and a minister of God for one who is governed by goods. The reason is that truth serves good, and good ministers to truth. That servant is a term used for someone governed by truths, see no. 3 above. That minister, on the other hand, is a term used for someone governed by good is apparent from the following passages:
You shall be named the priests of Jehovah, ...the ministers of our God. (Isaiah 61:6)
...My covenant will also be broken... with the Levites..., My ministers. (Jeremiah 33:21)
They are called ministers because priests represented the Lord in relation to Divine good.
Bless Jehovah, all you His hosts, His ministers who do His will. (Psalms 103:21)
(Jehovah) makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire. (Psalms 104:4)
Angel spirits are ones who are governed by truths, and angel ministers are ones who are governed by goods. A flame of fire also symbolizes the goodness of love.
(Jesus said,) "whoever desires to become great..., let him be your minister. And whoever desires to be first..., let him be your servant." (Matthew 20:26-27, cf. 23:11-12)
"Minister" there refers to good, and "servant" to truth.
Ministering and ministry have the same symbolic meaning in Isaiah 56:6, John 12:26, Luke 12:37, and elsewhere.
It is apparent from this that charity and ministry symbolize the spiritual affection called charity and the practice of it. For good is connected with charity, and truth with faith.
128. 'And charity and ministry' signifies the spiritual affection that is called charity, and the working thereof. 'Charity' is the spiritual affection, because charity is love towards the neighbour, and love towards the neighbour is that affection. 'Ministry' is the working thereof, because in the Word they are termed 'ministers' who are doing the things that are of charity. A man worshipping God is sometimes called a 'servant' and sometimes a 'minister,' and he who is in truths is termed 'servant of God,' and he who is in goods 'minister of God.' This is because truth is of service to good, while good ministers to truth. That he who is in truths is termed a 'servant' may be seen above (3); but that he who is in good is termed a minister' is plain from these passages:
You shall be called priests of Jehovah, the ministers of your 1God. Isaiah 61:6.
My covenant shall not become ineffectual with the Levites My ministers. Jeremiah 33:21.
They are called 'ministers' because the priests were representing the Lord as to Divine Good.
Bless Jehovah all His hosts, the ministers who do His will. Psalms 103:21-22.
Jehovah makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flaming fire. Psalms 104:4.
'Angels spirits' are they who are in truths, and 'angels ministers' are they who are in goods; a 'flaming fire' also signifies good of love. Jesus said:
Whosoever wishes to be great ought to be your minister, and whosoever wishes to be first ought to be your servant. Matthew 20:26-27; 23:11-12.
'Minister' is said there of good, and 'servant' of truth. The like is signified by 'ministering' and 'ministry' in Isaiah 56:6; John 12:26; Luke 12:37; and elsewhere. It is plain from these things that by 'charity and ministry' is signified the spiritual affection and the working thereof; for good is of charity, and truth is of faith.
Footnotes:
1. Hebrew has 'our.'
128. And charity and ministry, signifies the spiritual affection which is called charity, and its operation. Charity is a spiritual affection, because charity is love towards the neighbor, and love towards the neighbor is that affection: that "ministry" is its operation, follows from their being called "ministers" in the Word who do the things which are of charity. The man who is a worshiper of God is sometimes called "a servant," and sometimes a "minister," and he is called "a servant of God" who is in truths, and "a minister of God" who is in goods; the reason is, because truth serves good, and good ministers to truth. That he is called "a servant" who is in truths, may be seen above, (3[1-3]) but that he is called "a minister" who is in good, is evident from these passages:
Ye shall be called the priests of Jehovah, the ministers of our 1God, (Isaiah 61:6).
My covenant shall not be broken with the Levites My ministers, (Jeremiah 33:21).
They are called "ministers," because priests represented the Lord as to Divine good.
Bless Jehovah all His hosts, ye ministers of His that do His will, (Psalms 103:21-22).
Jehovah maketh His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire, (Psalms 104:4).
"Angels spirits" are they who are in truths, and "angels ministers" they who are in goods; "flaming fire" also signifies the good of love. Jesus said:
Whosoever will be great, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be first, let him be your servant, (Matthew 20:26-27; 23:11-12).
"Minister" is here predicated of good, and "servant" of truth. The same is signified by "ministering" and "ministry" in Isaiah 61:6; John 12:26; Luke 12:37 and other places. Hence it is evident, that by "charity" and "ministry," is signified spiritual affection and its operation; for good is of charity, and truth is of faith.
Footnotes:
1. The original Latin has "vestri" ("your").
128. "Et charitatem et ministerium," significat actionem spiritualem, quae vocatur charitas, et ejus operationem. - Quod charitas sit affectio spiritualis, est quia charitas est amor erga proximum, et amor erga proximum est illa affectio: quod "ministerium" sit operatio ejus, est quia "ministri" in Verbo dicuntur qui operantur illa quae charitatis sunt. Homo cultor Dei nunc vocatur "servus," nunc "minister;" et "servus Dei" dicitur qui in veris est, ac "minister Dei" qui in bonis; causa est, quia verum inservit bono, ac bonum ministrat vero. Quod "servus" dicatur qui in veris, videatur supra (3); quod autem "minister" dicatur qui in bono, patet ex his locis:
"Vos sacerdotes Jehovae vocabimini, Ministri Dei nostri," 1(Esaias 61:6);
"Foedus Meum irritum 2fiet cum Levitis Ministris Meis," (Jeremias 33:21);
vocantur "ministri," quia sacerdotes repraesentabant Dominum quoad Divinum bonum.
"Benedicite Jehovae omnes exercitus Ipsius, Ministri facientes voluntatem Ipsius," (Psalm 103:21-22)
Jehovah "facit Angelos Suos Spiritus, Ministros Suos ignem flammantem," (Psalm 104:4);
"angeli spiritus" sunt qui in veris, et "angeli ministri qui in bonis; "ignis flammans" etiam significat bonum amoris.
Jesus dixit, "Quisquis voluerit esse magnus, esse debet vester Minister, et quisquis voluerit esse primus, esse debet vester Servus," (Matthaeus 20:26-27; 23:11-12);
"minister" ibi dicitur de bono, et "servus" de vero.
(Simile per "ministrare" et per "ministerium" significatur apud Esajam 61:6; 3Johannes 12:26; Luca 12:37; et alibi.)
Ex his patet, quod per "charitatem" et "ministerium" significetur affectio spiritualis et ejus operatio; bonum enim est charitatis, et verum est fidei.
Footnotes:
1. nostri pro "vestri"
2. irritum pro "non irritum"
3. lxi. pro "lvi."