第十八节 爱上帝与爱邻舍的结合
456# 众所周知，从西奈山颁布的律法，被刻写在两块石版上；其中一块论及上帝，另一块论及人。又知这两块石版在摩西手中乃合为一版，其右侧写着关于上帝的事，左侧写着关于人的事；如此呈现在人眼前时，两边的文字便同时可见，于是一边在另一边的面前，正如雅威与摩西说话、摩西与说话，乃是面对面，照经上所记。
这样做，是为使如此合一的两块石版，表征上帝与人的结合，以及人与上帝的相互结合。因这缘故，刻写其上的律法称为“约”与“见证”：约表示结合，见证表示照约中所立之事而生活。
从这两块如此合一的石版，可以看出爱上帝与爱邻舍的结合。第一块石版包含一切属于爱上帝的事，首要的是：人必须承认一位上帝，承认祂的人性是神性的，承认圣言的神圣性，并且必须借由从祂而出的圣物敬拜祂。这一块石版包含这些内容，可由第五章中对十诫所作的阐释看出。
第二块石版包含一切属于爱邻舍的事；其中居前的五条诫命关乎实际行事，故称为行为；居后的两条则关乎意志，因而属于仁义在其本源中的事。因为在这两条中说：“不可贪恋。”当人不贪恋属于邻舍之物时，他便善意待邻舍。
关于十诫包含一切属于爱上帝的事，以及一切属于爱邻舍的事，可见前文329—331节；那里也已经说明，这两块石版的结合，存在于那些在仁义中的人里面。
456# 众所周知，从西乃山上颁布的律法写在了两块石版上，其中一块与神有关，另一块与人有关。它们在摩西手里是一块石版，右边所写的与神有关，左边所写的与人有关；因此，当如此呈现在人们眼前时，两边所写的就同时被看到，因而两边面对面，就像耶和华与摩西，并摩西与耶和华面对面交谈一样，如经上（出埃及记33:11；申命记34:10）所记的。这样做是为了如此联结的两块石版可以代表神与人的结合，并人与神的相互结合。这就是为何写在它们上面的律法被称为约和证言，“约”表示结合，“证言”表示遵照约的条款的生活。如此联结的这两块石版体现了对神之爱与对邻之爱的结合。第一块石版包括了与对神之爱有关的一切事，这些事主要是，人要承认一位神，承认祂人身的神性和圣言的神圣，要通过从神发出的神圣事物来敬拜祂。这块石版包括这些事，这一点从第五章对十诫的解释（TCR 291-308节）明显看出来。第二块石版包括了与对邻之爱有关的一切事，它的头五条诫命包括与被称为作为的行为有关的一切，后两条诫命则包括与意愿，因而与源头上的仁爱有关的一切；因为在后两条诫命中，经上说“不可贪恋”，当人不贪恋邻舍的东西时，他就会对邻舍心怀善意。十诫包含与对神之爱有关的一切，也包含与对邻之爱有关的一切，对此，可参看前文（TCR 329-331节）；那里还说明，这两块石版在那些处于仁爱的人里面是结合在一起的。
456. The Connection between Loving God and Loving Our Neighbor
People generally know that the law proclaimed on Mount Sinai was written on two tablets, one of which was about God and the other about humankind. People also know that in Moses' hand the two were a single tablet: the right-hand side contained writing concerning God, and the left-hand side contained writing concerning humankind, because if it was set before people's eyes in this way, the writing on both sides would be seen at once. Therefore the sides faced one another like Jehovah talking with Moses and Moses with Jehovah, face to face, as we read [Exodus 33:11; Deuteronomy 34:10].
The tablets were made in this way so that together they would represent God's connection to people and people's reciprocal connection to God. For this reason the law written there was called "the Covenant" and "the Testimony. " The term "covenant" refers to the partnership and "testimony" refers to the life that follows the points agreed upon.
The union of the two tablets shows the connection between loving God and loving our neighbor. The first tablet covers all aspects of loving God; they are primarily that we should acknowledge one God, the divinity of his human manifestation, and the holiness of the Word; and that in worshiping him we are to use the holy things that come from him. (The fact that the first tablet covers the above is clear from the comments made in chapter 5 on the Ten Commandments [291-308].)
The second tablet covers all aspects of loving our neighbor. The first five of its commandments relate to our behavior, or what are called our "works. " Its other two commandments relate to our will and to the origins of goodwill: they tell us that we should not covet what our neighbors have, and that by not doing so, we have their well-being in mind.
On the point that the Ten Commandments contain everything about how to love God and how to love our neighbor, see 329, 330, and 331 above. That discussion also shows that in people who have goodwill the two tablets are connected.
456. XVIII. The linking of love to God and love towards the neighbour.
It is well known that the law delivered from Mount Sinai was written on two tablets, one of them relating to God, the other to men; and that these were in Moses' hand a single tablet, with the writing about God on the right side and that about men on the left. 1 Thus when it was presented to human eyes, the writing on both sides would be seen together; so one part would be visible to the other, like Jehovah talking with Moses, and Moses with Jehovah face to face, as we read. This was done so that the tablets thus joined should represent the linking of God with men, and reciprocally that of men with God. This was the reason why the law so written was called a covenant and a witness; a covenant means linking, and witness means living in accordance with agreements.
[2] These two tablets so joined allow us to see the linking of love to God and love towards the neighbour. The first tablet is concerned with everything to do with love to God, and these occupy the leading position: we should acknowledge one God, the divinity of His Human, and the holiness of the Word, and God is to be worshipped by means of the holy things coming from Him. It is clear that this is the subject of this tablet from the remarks made in Chapter 5 about the Ten Commandments. The second tablet is concerned with everything to do with love towards the neighbour; its first five commandments deal with actions and are called deeds, and the last two with matters of the will, so what is to do with charity in its origin. In these last it says, 'You are not to covet,' and when a person does not covet what is his neighbour's, then he wishes him well. The Ten Commandments contain everything to do with love to God and everything to do with love towards the neighbour; 329-331 above. It was also shown there that the linking of the two tablets takes place with those who possess charity.
Footnotes:
1. Since Hebrew writing is from right to left, the right-hand column would be written first.
456. XVIII. THE CONJUNCTION OF LOVE TO GOD AND LOVE TOWARDS THE NEIGHBOR
It is known that the Law promulgated from Mount Sinai was written upon two tables, one of which related to God and the other to men; that in the hands of Moses they were one table, the writing on the right side of which related to God, and that on the left to men; and that when so presented to the eyes of men the writing on both sides was seen at the same time, thus one side was in view of the other, like Jehovah talking to Moses and Moses to Jehovah, face to face, as it is written. This was done in order that the tables so united might represent the conjunction of God with men, and the reciprocal conjunction of men with God; and this is why the written law was called a Covenant and a Testimony, "covenant" signifying conjunction, and "testimony" life according to the compact. These two tables so united exhibit the conjunction of love to God with love towards the neighbor. The first table includes all things pertaining to love to God, which are, primarily, that man should acknowledge the one God, the Divinity of His Human, and the holiness of the Word, and that God is to be worshiped through the holy things that proceed from Him. That this table includes these things is evident from the explanation, in chapter five, of the commandments of the Decalogue. The second table includes all things pertaining to love towards the neighbor, its first five commandments all things pertaining to action, which are called works, and the last two all things pertaining to the will, thus to charity in its origin; for in these it is said, "Thou shalt not covet," and when man does not covet what belongs to his neighbor, he wishes well to him. That the ten commandments of the Decalogue contain all things pertaining to love to God and all things pertaining to love towards the neighbor, may be seen above (329-331); where it is also shown that there is a conjunction of the two tables in those who are in charity.
456. XVIII. THE CONJUNCTION OF LOVE TO GOD AND LOVE TOWARDS THE NEIGHBOR.
As is well known, the Law promulgated from Mount Sinai was written on two tables, one of which treats of God and the other of men. In the hand of Moses they were one table, on the right side of which was written what relates to God, and on the left what relates to men; so that when presented for men to read, the writing on both tables was seen at the same time. Thus one part was in view of the other, like Jehovah speaking with Moses and Moses with Jehovah, face to face, as it is written. The tables were so united that they might represent the conjunction of God with men, and the reciprocal conjunction of men with God. Hence the Law written on them was called the Covenant and the Testimony; for a covenant signifies conjunction, and testimony a life according to the terms of the covenant.
This union of the two tables exemplifies the conjunction of love to God and love towards the neighbor. The first table includes all things relating to love to God. These are, primarily, that man ought to acknowledge one God, the Divinity of His Human, and the holiness of the Word; and that He is to be worshipped by means of the holy things which proceed from Him. That these are the contents of the first table appears from what has been said in Chapter V regarding the precepts of the Decalogue. The second table includes all things relating to love towards the neighbor. Its first five commandments include those things which relate to action, and which are called works; and the last two include those things which relate to the will, and thus to charity at its source; for in these two commandments it is said: "Thou shalt not covet," and when a man does not covet what belongs to the neighbor, he then bears good will towards him. That the ten commandments of the Decalogue contain all things respecting love to God and love towards the neighbor, may be seen above in Nos. 329-331, where it is also shown that there is a conjunction of both tables with those who are in charity.
456. De Conjunctione amoris in Deum, et amoris erga proximum.
Notum est, quod Lex e Monte Sinai promulgata, inscripta sit binis Tabulis, et quod una harum sit de Deo, et altera de Hominibus, et quod illae in manu Mosis una Tabula fuerint, a cujus Parte dextra fuit Scriptum de Deo, et a sinistra de hominibus, et quod sic oblata oculis hominum scriptura utriusque Partis simul conspiceretur, ita fuit una Pars in conspectu alterius, sicut Jehovae loquentis cum Mose et Mosis cum Jehovah facie ad faciem, ut legitur. Hoc ideo factum est, ut Tabulae sic unitae repraesentarent conjunctionem Dei cum hominibus, et reciprocam hominum cum Deo; propter quam causam Lex inscripta vocabatur FOEDUS ET TESTIMONIUM; Foedus significat conjunctionem, et Testimonium vitam secundum pacta.
[2] Ex binis his Tabulis ita unitis videri potest conjunctio Amoris in Deum, et Amoris erga proximum; Prima Tabula involvit omnia quae Amoris in Deum sunt, quae primario sunt, quod oporteat agnoscere Unum Deum, Divinitatem Humani Ipsius, et Sanctitatem Verbi, et quod colendus sit per Sancta quae procedunt ab Ipso; quod haec Tabula involvat illa, constat ex illis, quae in Capite Vto super Decalogi Praecepta commentata sunt: Secunda Tabula involvit omnia illa quae Amoris erga proximum sunt; quinque priora ejus praecepta illa quae facti sunt, et vocantur Opera, et duo posteriora illa quae voluntatis sunt, ita illa quae Charitatis sunt in sua origine; in his enim dicitur non Concupisces, et cum homo non concupiscit illa quae proximi sunt, tunc bene illi vult; Quod Decem Praecepta Decalogi contineant omnia quae Amoris in Deum sunt, et omnia quae Amoris erga proximum sunt, videatur supra 329-331. Ubi etiam ostensum est quod conjunctio utriusque Tabulae sit apud illos qui in Charitate sunt.