334、“如同无花果树被大风摇动，丢下她未熟的无花果一样”表示通过与属灵人分离的属世人的推理。虽说它具有这种含义，而事实上，这是一个对比，因为在圣言中，一切对比也都是对应，在灵义上与所论述的主题是一致的，如现在的例子。“无花果树”因对应而表示与人的属灵良善结合的其属世良善，但此处在反面意义上表示与人的属灵良善分离的其属世良善，这样的属世良善不是良善；由于属世人当与属灵人分离时，就会通过推理败坏星辰所表示的良善和真理的知识或认知，所以可推知，这就是“无花果树被大风摇动”所表示的。“风”和“风暴”表示推理，这一点从圣言中的许多经文明显看出来，但没有必要在此引用它们，因为这是一个对比。“无花果树”之所以表示人的属世良善，是因为每种树都表示人里面教会的某种事物，因而也表示在这方面的人。以下经文可以证实，以赛亚书：
天上的万象尽都陨坠，如叶子从葡萄树上凋落，又如叶子从无花果树上凋落一样。(以赛亚书34:4)
耶利米书：
我必使他们全然灭绝，葡萄树上必没有葡萄，无花果树上必没有无花果，叶子也必凋落。(耶利米书8:13)
那鸿书：
你一切的堡垒必如无花果树上初熟的无花果，若一摇动，就落在吃者的嘴上。(那鸿书3:12)
除此之外还有其它地方(如耶利米书24:2-3, 5, 8; 以赛亚书38:21; 耶利米书29:17-18; 何西阿书2:12; 9:10; 约珥书1:7, 12; 撒迦利亚书3:10; 马太福音21:18-21; 24:32-33; 马可福音11:12-14, 20-24; 路加福音6:44; 13:6-9)。在这些地方，“无花果树”不是指别的。
334. As a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. This symbolically means, by reasonings of the natural self divorced from the spiritual self.
We say that this is its symbolic meaning even though the characterization is a metaphor, because all metaphors in the Word are at the same time correspondent expressions, and they cohere in the spiritual sense with the subject being addressed.
Such is the case here. For a fig tree by correspondence symbolizes a person's natural goodness conjoined with his spiritual goodness, and here, in an opposite sense, a person's natural goodness divorced from his spiritual goodness, which is not good. Moreover, because the natural self divorced from the spiritual self corrupts by its reasonings any concepts of goodness and truth, symbolized by the stars, it follows that this is what is symbolized by a fig tree shaken by a mighty wind.
That a wind or a storm symbolizes reasoning is apparent from many passages in the Word, but because we are dealing with a metaphor, it is not necessary for us to cite them here.
A fig tree symbolizes a person's natural goodness because every tree symbolizes some element of the church in a person, and so also the person himself in respect to it. By way of confirmation we cite the following:
All the host of heaven... shall fall down, as the leaf falls from the vine, and as it falls from a fig tree. (Isaiah 34:4)
I will surely consume them... No grapes shall be on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall float down. (Jeremiah 8:13)
All your strongholds are as fig trees with their first ripe figs, which, if they are shaken, fall into the mouth of the eater. (Nahum 3:12)
And so also elsewhere, as in Jeremiah 24:2-3, 5, 8; Mark 11:12-14, 20-26; Luke 6:44; 13:6-9. In these places a fig tree has exactly this meaning.
334. 'As a fig-tree shaken by a great wind casts its unripe figs' signifies by means of the reasonings of the natural man separated from the spiritual. It is said that they signify, when yet there is a comparison, because all the comparisons in the Word are likewise correspondences, and in the spiritual sense they harmonise with the fact treated of, as here in like manner. For 'a fig,' as a result of correspondence, signifies man's natural good conjoined with his spiritual good. Here, however, in the opposite sense [it signifies] a man's natural good separated from his spiritual good, and this is not good; and because the natural man separated from the spiritual perverts by reasonings the cognitions of good and truth, which are signified by the stars, it follows that this is signified by a 'fig-tree shaken by a great wind.' That reasoning is signified by 'wind' and 'tempest' is plain from many places in the Word, but there is no need to adduce them here, because there is a comparison.
'A fig-tree' signifies a man's natural good because every tree signifies something of the Church with a man, thus also the man in regard to it. These [passages] are in confirmation:
All the host of heaven shall fall down, as the leaf falls off from the vine, and as it falls off the fig-tree. Isaiah 34:4.
I will consume them, no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig-tree, and the leaf shall glide down. Jeremiah 8:13.
All thy fortifications, as fig-trees with the first-fruits, which if they be shaken, shall fall down into the mouth of the eater, Nahum 3:12; besides other places, as Isaiah 38:21; Jeremiah 24:2-3, 5, 8; 29:17-18; Hosea 2:12; 9:10; Joel 1:7, 12; Zechariah 3:10; Matthew 21:18-21; 24:32-33; Mark 11:12-14, 19-26; Luke 6:44; 13:6-9; in which places nothing else is understood by 'a fig-tree.
334. Even as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs, when shaken by a great wind, signifies by reasonings of the natural man separated from the spiritual. It is said to have this signification, when yet it is a comparison, because all comparisons in the Word are also correspondences, and in the spiritual sense they cohere with the subject treated of, as in the present instance; for "a fig," from correspondence signifies the natural good of man conjoined with his spiritual good, but here, in the opposite sense, the natural good of man separated from his spiritual good, which is not good; and as the natural man, when separated from the spiritual, perverts by reasonings the knowledges of good and truth, which are signified by the stars, it follows that this is signified by "a fig tree shaken by a great wind." That "wind" and "storm" signify reasoning is evident from many passages in the Word, but it is not necessary to adduce them here, because it is a comparison. The reason why "a fig tree" signifies the natural good of man is because every tree signifies something of the church in man, therefore also man with respect thereto. In confirmation are these passages:
All the host of heaven shall fall down, as a leaf falleth from the vine, and as it falleth from the fig tree, (Isaiah 34:4).
I will consume them, there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fall, (Jeremiah 8:13).
All thy bulwarks shall be like fig trees with the first fruits; if they be shaken, they shall even fall upon the mouth of the eater, (Nahum 3:12; besides other places; as Jeremiah 24:2-3, 5, 8; Isaiah 38:21; Jeremiah 29:17-18; Hosea 2:12; 9:10; Joel 1:7, 12; Zechariah 3:10; Matthew 21:18-21; 24:32-33; Mark 11:12-14, 20-24; Luke 6:44; 13:6-9).
In which places nothing else is meant by "a fig tree."
334. "Sicut ficus dejicit grossos suos a magno vento agitata," significat per ratiocinationes naturalis hominis separati a spirituali. -Quod dicatur quod significent, cum tamen est comparatio, est quia omnes comparationes in Verbo similiter sunt correspondentiae, et in spirituali sensu cohaerent cum re de qua agitur; similiter hic: "ficus" enim ex correspondentia significat bonum naturale hominis conjunctum cum bono spirituali ejus; hic autem in opposito sensu bonum naturale hominis separatum a bono spirituali ejus, quod non est bonum; et quia naturalis homo separatus a spirituali cognitiones boni et veri, quae per stellas significantur, per ratiocinationes pervertit, sequitur quod hoc significetur per "ficum a magno vento agitatam." Quod per "ventum" et "procellam" significetur ratiocinatio, patet a pluribus locis in Verbo; sed illa hic adducere, quia est comparatio, non opus est. Quod "ficus" significet bonum naturale hominis, est quia omnis arbor significat aliquid Ecclesiae apud hominem, ita quoque hominem quoad illud. In confirmationem sint haec:
Omnis exercitus Caeli "decidet, sicut decidit folium e vite, et sicut decidit de Ficu," (Esaias 34:4);
"Consumam eos, non uvae in vite neque Ficus in Ficu, et folium defluet," 1(Jeremias 8:13);
"Omnia munimenta tua, ut Ficus cum primitiis, quae si commoventur, decidunt super os comedentis," (Nahum 3:12).
Praeter alibi, ut Jeremias 24:2-3, 5, 8; 2Esajas 38:21; 3Jeremias 29:17-18; Hoschea 2:12; 9:10; Joel 1:7, 12; Sacharias 3:10; Matthaeus 21:18-21; 24:32-33; Marcus 11:12-14, 20-24; 4Luca 6:44; 13:6-9; in quibus locis non aliud per "ficus" intelligitur
Footnotes:
1. defluet pro "defluent"
2. Jerem. pro "Esaj."
3. Esaj. pro "cap."
4. 12-14, 20-24 pro "12 ad 15, 19 ad 25"