669# 洗礼与圣餐这两个圣礼，在基督教会中如同君王权杖上的两颗宝石；若不知道它们的功用，它们便不过像手杖上两块乌木的形状。又可把基督教会中的这两个圣礼，比作皇帝披风上的两颗红宝石或红玉；若不知道它们的功用，它们便如同某件长袍上的两块玛瑙或水晶。
若这两个圣礼的功用不借属灵意义启示出来，人们关于它们所散布的就只是猜测；这些猜测就像那些凭星辰占卜者的猜测，甚至像古时那些凭鸟飞或内脏占卜者的猜测。
这两个圣礼的功用，可以比作一座因年久而陷入地下的圣殿，周围被废墟掩埋，一直埋到屋顶；少年人与老年人在其上行走，乘车经过，骑马经过，却不知道脚下隐藏着这样一座圣殿；其中有金祭坛，内墙为银，装饰以宝石。这些若不借属灵意义，便不能被挖掘出来、带入光中；而这属灵意义如今为了新教会，为了在敬拜主中的功用，已经被揭示出来。
这些圣礼也可比作一座双层圣殿，一层在下，一层在上。在下层圣殿中，人们宣讲关于主新的降临的福音，也宣讲关于重生、并由此从祂而来的救恩的福音。从这座圣殿，在祭坛周围有阶梯通向上层圣殿；圣餐在那里举行，并由此有通道进入天堂，主在那里接纳他们。
它们还可比作会幕；人进去以后，看见一张桌子，上面按次序陈设着陈设饼；又看见用于焚香的金坛，并在中央看见灯台，其上点着灯。借这些灯，所有那些事物都进入人的视野；最后，对于那些愿意让自己受光照的人，通往至圣所的幔子便被开启。在至圣所里，代替曾存放十诫的约柜，放置着圣言；其上有施恩座，并有金基路伯。
这些就是那两个圣礼连同其功用的表象。
669# 洗礼和圣餐这两项圣礼，在基督教会中就像国王权杖上的两颗宝石；但如果它们的功用不为人知，那么它们只是像雕刻在杖上的两个乌木形像。在基督教会，这两项圣礼也可以比作皇帝长袍上的两颗红宝石或红玉；但如果它们的功用不为人知，那么它们就像斗篷上的的两颗红玉髓或水晶。除非两项圣礼的功用通过灵义被揭示出来，否则只会有关于它们的各种零散的猜测，就像那些用星星占卜的人所形成的猜测，或甚至古代那些从鸟的飞行或内脏中求取预兆的人所形成的猜测一样。这两项圣礼的功用可以比作一座圣殿，它因年代久远而沉入地下，埋在周围的垃圾或废墟中，甚至埋到殿顶，老老少少都在上面行走，坐着马车或骑马经过，却不知道脚下藏着这样一座圣殿，里面有金坛，墙上镶着银子、装饰着宝石。这些宝藏只有通过灵义才能被挖掘出来，重见天日；如今这灵义为了新教会，为了它在敬拜主时的功用而被揭示出来了。再者，这些圣礼也可以比作一座双重圣殿，一座圣殿在下面，一座圣殿在上面。在下层圣殿中传讲的是主的新降临的福音，以及重生和随之被祂救赎的福音。从这座圣殿中，在祭坛附近，有一条路可以上升到上层圣殿，圣餐在上层圣殿举行；从那里有一条通往天堂的通道，主在天堂接待敬拜的人或升上来的人。它们又可以比作一个帐幕，进去后会看到一张桌子，上面按顺序摆放着陈设饼；那里还有烧香的金坛，中间是带有点亮的灯盏的灯台，这一切藉着灯台变得可见；最后，对那些允许自己被光照的人来说，幔子向至圣所打开，那里摆放的不是以前存放十诫的约柜，而是圣言，圣言上面是施恩座和金基路伯。这些事物是两项圣礼及其功用的代表。
669. In Christianity the two sacraments, baptism and the Holy Supper, are actually like two royal insignia on a monarch's scepter. If we do not know what function these sacraments perform, however, they seem to us like two figures carved in ebony on someone's walking stick.
In Christianity the two sacraments can also be compared to two rubies or precious garnets on an emperor's robe. If we do not know what function they perform, however, they seem to us like a pair of cheap carnelians or pieces of cut glass on someone's overcoat.
If the functions of the two sacraments were not revealed through the spiritual meaning, guesses about them would spread, but those guesses would have no more value than the pronouncements of people who read the stars or people in ancient times who read omens in the flight of birds or in entrails.
The functions of the two sacraments can be compared to a church building that because of its extreme age has sunk into the ground; even the roof is completely covered with debris. People young and old walk or ride in carriages or ride horses over it without any idea that hidden underfoot there is a beautiful church with altars of gold, interior walls of silver, and decorations of precious stones. The only way to dig these treasures up and bring them to light is through the spiritual meaning, which is being disclosed today for the new church and its worship of the Lord.
The sacraments can be compared to two temples, one of which is built on top of the other. In the lower temple someone is preaching the good news of the Lord's new coming, and also the good news that we are regenerated and saved by the Lord. From this temple, around its altar, there is a way to go up to the higher temple. There the Holy Supper is being celebrated and there is a passageway to heaven where the Lord is welcoming us.
The sacraments can also be compared to a tabernacle. After we enter it a table appears on which the showbread has been carefully arranged. That tabernacle also contains a golden incense altar, and in the middle, a lampstand with its lamps lit, allowing all these things to come into view. Eventually, if we allow ourselves to be enlightened, the veil to the most holy place opens, where in place of the ark that held the Ten Commandments, the Word is kept. Above it there is a mercy seat, protected by angel guardians that are made of gold.
These are representations of the two sacraments and their functions.
669. The two sacraments, baptism and the Holy Supper, are in the Christian church like two ornaments on a king's sceptre; if their purpose were not known, they would be merely two ebony shapes on a staff. Those two sacraments in the Christian church can also be compared with two rubies or carbuncles on an emperor's mantle; if their purpose were not known, they would be like two cornelians or crystals on some cloak. But for the revelation of the purposes of those two sacraments by means of the spiritual sense, there would only be guesses about them scattered around, like those offered by astrologers, or rather those which in antiquity were offered by men who drew auguries from the flight of birds or from entrails.
The purposes of those two sacraments can be compared to a church, which is so old it has sunk into the ground, and now lies surrounded by ruins reaching to its roof, so that young men and old walk upon it, ride in carriages or on horseback across it, with no idea that such a church lies hidden beneath their feet, containing altars of gold, walls covered inside in silver and ornaments made of precious stones; and these cannot be dug up and brought to light, except by means of the spiritual sense, which has at the present time been revealed for the new church, so that it can be used in the worship of the Lord.
[2] Those sacraments can also be compared to a double church, in which there is one below and another above. In the lower one the good news is preached about the Lord's coming anew, and also about regeneration and so salvation under His guidance. From this church a path around the altar leads up to the upper church, where the Holy Supper is celebrated; and from there a passage exists to heaven, where the Lord receives those who come.
They can also be compared to the Tabernacle, in which on passing through the entrance a table is seen, on which the loaves of the Presence are arranged in order, and also a golden altar for incense, and in the midst a lamp-stand with lamps burning to make all the rest visible. Finally, for those who allow themselves to be enlightened, the veil to the holy of holies is drawn back, where instead of the Ark containing the Ten Commandments the Word is laid up, and set above it the Mercy-seat with cherubs made of gold. These are representations of those two sacraments together with their purposes.
669. The two sacraments, baptism and the holy supper, are in the Christian church like two gems in the scepter of a king; but if their uses are unknown are merely like two figures of ebony on a staff. These two sacraments in the Christian church may also be likened to two rubies or carbuncles on the robe of an emperor, but if their uses are unknown they are like two carnelians or crystals on a cloak. Without a revelation by means of the spiritual sense of the uses of these two sacraments, there would be nothing but scattered conjectures about them, like the conjectures of those who practice divination by the stars, or even of those who in old times drew auguries from entrails or the flight of birds. The uses of these two sacraments may be likened to a temple, which by reason of its antiquity has sunk into the ground, and lies buried in the surrounding rubbish even to the roof, over which old and young walk and ride in carriages or on horses, not knowing that such a temple is hidden beneath their feet, in which are altars of gold, walls inlaid with silver, and decorations of precious stones. And these treasures can be dug up and brought to light only by means of the spiritual sense, which is now disclosed for the New Church, for its use in the worship of the Lord. Again, these sacraments may be likened to a double temple, one below, the other above. In the lower one the gospel of the Lord's new coming and of regeneration and consequent salvation by Him is preached; and from this temple, near the altar, there is a way of ascent to the higher temple, where the holy supper is celebrated; and from it is the passage into heaven, where those ascending are received by the Lord. Again, they may be likened to a tabernacle, in which after entering there are seen the table on which the bread of faces is arranged in its order, also the golden altar for incense, and between these the candlestick with its lighted lamps, by which all these things are made visible; and at length, for those who suffer themselves to be illuminated, the veil is opened to the holy of holies, where, instead of the ark, which formerly contained the Decalogue, the Word is placed, over which is the mercy seat with the golden cherubs. These things are representations of the two sacraments and their uses.
669. The two sacraments, Baptism and the Holy Supper, are in the Christian Church like two jewels in the sceptre of a king; and if their uses are not known, they are only like two figures of ebony carved on a staff. They may also be compared to two rubies or garnets on the cloak of an emperor; but if their uses are not known, they are only like two cornelians or crystals on any gown. Unless the uses of those two sacraments were revealed by means of the spiritual sense, there would be promulgated various conjectures about them, such as are formed by those who practice divination by the stars, or indeed such as prevailed with those whose auguries were determined by the flight of birds or the entrails of sacrificial victims. Their uses may be compared to a temple which from age has sunk into the ground and lies buried in the surrounding ruins even to its roof; and over it both young and old walk, drive in carriages and ride on horseback, unaware that beneath their feet is hidden such a temple with altars of gold, walls of silver and decorations of precious stones. These things cannot be dug up and brought to light except by means of the spiritual sense, which at this day has been disclosed for the New Church, for the sake of its use in the worship of the Lord.
Those sacraments may also be compared to a temple in duplicate, one temple above the other, in the lower of which is preached the gospel of the Lord's new coming, and also of regeneration and consequent salvation by Him. From this temple, circling upwards from the altar, is an ascent to the upper temple, where the Holy Supper is celebrated; and thence is a passage into heaven, where the worshipers are received by the Lord. They may also be compared to a tabernacle, in which, behind the entrance, appears the table on which the shew-bread is placed in order; where there is also the golden altar for incense, and in the midst the candlestick with lighted lamps, by which all these things come into view; and finally, for those who allow themselves to be enlightened, the veil is opened to the Holy of Holies, where, instead of the ark in which the Decalogue had reposed, the Word is placed over which is the mercy-seat with the golden cherubim. These things are representations of those two sacraments with their uses.
669. Duo Sacramenta, Baptismus et Sancta Coena, sunt in Ecclesia Christiana sicut duo Clenodia in Sceptro Regis, quorum usus si nesciuntur, sunt modo sicut duae formae ex ebeno in scipione. Duo illa Sacramenta in Ecclesia Christiana comparari etiam possunt cum duobus Rubinis seu Carbunculis in Chlamyde Imperatoris, quorum usus si nesciuntur, sunt sicut duo carneoli aut crystalli in aliqua toga. Absque Usibus duorum illorum Sacramentorum per Sensum spiritualem revelatis, spargerentur modo de illis conjecturae, quales sunt apud illos qui ex Astris divinant, imo quales fuerunt apud illos olim, qui ex avium volatu aut ab extis augurati sunt. Usus duorum illorum Sacramentorum comparari possunt Templo, quod ex vetustate in terram subsiderat, et usque ad tectum ruinis circum obsitum jacet, super quo juvenes et senes gradiuntur, curribus vehuntur, et equitant, nescientes quod tale Templum sit sub pedibus et absconditum, in quo sunt Altaria ex auro, parietes intus ex argento, et decoramenta ex lapide pretioso, quae non effodi et in lucem expromi possunt, nisi per sensum spiritualem, qui detectus est hodie pro Nova Ecclesia, propter usum in Cultu Domini.
[2] Sacramenta illa etiam comparari possunt duplicato Templo, quorum unum est infra, alterum supra, et in quorum inferiori praedicatur Evangelium de Novo Adventu Domini, et quoque de Regeneratione et inde salvatione ab Ipso; ex hoc Templo circa Altare est ascensus in Templum superius, in quo Sancta Coena celebratur, et inde est transitus in Coelum, ubi Dominus illos excipit. Comparari etiam possunt Tabernaculo, in quo post introitum apparet Mensa, super qua in suo ordine dispositi sunt panes facierum, et quoque Altare aureum pro suffitu, et in medio Candelabrum cum lucernis accensis, ex quibus omnia illa in conspectum veniunt; et tandem pro illis qui illuminari se patiuntur, aperitur Velum ad Sanctum sanctorum, ubi loco Arcae, in qua fuerat Decalogus, repositum est Verbum, supra quod datum est Propitiatorium cum Cherubis ex Auro. Haec sunt Repraesentationes duorum illorum Sacramentorum cum Usibus illorum.