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155.And ministry and faith. That this signifies good and truth pertaining to them is evident from the signification of ministry, as denoting good, of which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of faith, as denoting truth. The reason why faith signifies truth is, that truth is of faith, and faith is of truth. The reason why ministry signifies good is, that, in the Word, it is used in reference to good; hence the office of Aaron, of his sons, and of the Levites, was called ministry, and in general the offices of priests. By ministering to Jehovah, or the Lord, is meant to worship Him from the good of love; hence it is evident that ministry has reference to works, and faith to charity, concerning which see above, where it is said,
"I know thy works and charity";
for faith and charity make one, because where there is no charity there is no faith (as may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 108-122; and in the small work, The Last Judgment 33-40).
[2] That ministry, and to minister, in the Word, are said of the good of love, is evident from the following passages; as in David:
Jehovah "maketh his angels spirits, his ministers a flaming fire" (130). By making His ministers a flaming fire, is signified that they are recipients of His Divine good, for flaming fire signifies the good of love (as may be seen above, n. 68). Hence it is clear, that by ministers are meant those who are in the good of love.
[3] In the same:
"Bless Jehovah, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his that do his will" (3448, 7236, 7988, 8019), and ministers those who are in goods; therefore it is said that they do His will. To do the will of the Lord is to act from the good of love; for all good has reference to the will, as all truth has to the understanding.
[4] In Isaiah:
"Ye shall be called the priests of Jehovah; the ministers of our God" (Arcana Coelestia 9806, 9946, 10017; that the priests in general signified the same, n. 2015, 6148; that hence by the priesthood in the Word is signified the Divine good of the Lord's Divine love, n. 9806, 9809.)
[5] The whole heaven is divided into two kingdoms: in one kingdom are the angels who are in the good of celestial love, in the other the angels who are in the good of spiritual love, or charity. The celestial kingdom of the Lord is called His priesthood, and the spiritual kingdom His royalty (see the work, Matthew 20:26-28; 23:11; Mark 9:35; Luke 22:24-27).
Jesus said,
"If any man will minister to me, let him follow me; then where I am, there shall also my minister be; if any man hath ministered to me, him will my Father honour" (John 12:26).
Jesus said
"Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching; I say unto you, that he will gird himself and make them to sit down, and rising up will minister to them" (Luke 12:37).
In Isaiah:
"The sons of the stranger, that join themselves to Jehovah to minister to him, and to love the name of Jehovah" (56:6).
Hence, because ministering is said of the good of love, the sons of the stranger are said to minister to Jehovah, and to love Him; and of the Lord Himself it is said, that He will minister. From these considerations it is evident that by ministry is signified all that is done from the good of love, thus the good of love.
155. And ministry and faith, signifies good and truth therein. This is evident from the signification of "ministry," as being good (of which presently); and from the signification of "faith," as being truth. Faith signifies truth, because truth is of faith, and faith is of truth. "Ministry" signifies good, because in the Word "ministry" is predicated of good. For this reason the function of Aaron, of his sons, and of the Levites, and the priestly function in general, was called a "ministry." For the same reason, "ministering" to Jehovah, or to the Lord, means to worship Him from the good of love. From this it is clear that "ministry" has reference to works, and "faith" to charity, of which just above, where it is said, "I know thy works and charity," for faith and charity make one, since where there is no charity there is no faith (See The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 108-122; and the small work on The Last Judgment 33-40).
[2] That "ministry" and "ministering" in the Word are predicated of the good of love can be seen from the following passages. In David:
Jehovah maketh His angels spirits, His ministers a flaming fire (130). "Making His ministers a flaming fire" means that they are recipients of Divine good for "flaming fire" signifies the good of love (See above, n. 68). From this it is clear that by "ministers" those who are in the good of love are meant.
[3] In the same:
Bless Jehovah, all ye His hosts; ye ministers of His that do His will (3448, 7236, 7988, 8019), and "ministers" those who are in goods; therefore it is said, "that do His will." Doing the Lord's will is acting from the good of love; for all good has reference to the will, as all truth has to the understanding.
[4] In Isaiah:
Ye shall be called the priests of Jehovah, the ministers of our God (Arcana Coelestia 9806), 9806, 9946, 10017; likewise priests in general, n. 2015, 6148 consequently by "priesthood" in the Word the Divine good of the Lord's Divine love is signified, n. 9806, 9809)
[5] There are two kingdoms into which the whole heaven is divided, in one of which are the angels who are in the good of celestial love, in the other the angels who are in the good of spiritual love, or in charity. The Lord's celestial kingdom is called His "priesthood," the spiritual kingdom His "royalty" (See in the work on Heaven and Hell (Matthew 20:26-28; 23:11-12; Mark 9:35; Luke 22:24-27).
Jesus said, If any man will minister to Me let him follow Me; then where I am, there shall also My minister be; yea, if any man will minister to Me, him will My Father honor (John 12:26).
Jesus said, Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching; I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to recline to eat, and He will come forth and minister to them (Luke 12:37).
In Isaiah:
The sons of the alien that conjoin themselves to Jehovah to minister to Him, and to love the name of Jehovah (Isaiah 56:6).
Because "ministering" is predicated of the good of love, "the sons of the alien" are said "to minister to Jehovah," and "to love Him;" and of the Lord Himself it is said that "He would minister." From all this it can now be seen that by "ministry" is signified everything that is done from the good of love, thus the good of love.
155. "Et ministerium et fidem." - Quod significet bonum et verum ibi, constat ex significatione "ministerii", quod sit bonum (de qua sequitur), et ex significatione "fidei", quod sit verum. Causa quod "fides" significet verum est quia verum est fidei et fides est veri.
Quod "ministerium" significet bonum, est quia "ministerium" in Verbo dicitur de bono: inde est quod functio Aharonis, filiorum ejus, et Levitarum, dicta fuerit "ministerium", et in genere functio sacerdotum; et quod per "ministrare" Jehovae seu Domino, intelligatur colere Ipsum ex bono amoris. Inde patet quod "ministerium" se referat ad "opera", et "fides" ad "charitatem", de quibus mox supra, ubi dictum est, "Novi opera tua et charitatem": nam fides et charitas unum faciunt; ubi enim non charitas ibi nec fides (videatur in Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae, n. 108-122; et in opusculo De Ultimo Judicio, n. 33-40).
[2] Quod "ministerium" et "ministrare" in Verbo dicatur de bono amoris, constare potest a sequentibus locis:
- Apud Davidem,
Jehovah "facit angelos suos spiritus, ministros suos ignem flammantem" (Psalms 104:4);
quod Jehovah faciat "angelos suos spiritus" est quod recipientes Divini Veri (videatur supra, n. 130(a)); quod faciat "ministros suos ignem flammantem" est quod recipientes Divini Boni, nam per "ignem flammantem" significatur bonum amoris (videatur supra, n. 68): inde patet quod per "ministros" intelligantur illi qui in bono amoris sunt.
[3] Apud eundem,
"Benedicite Jehovae omnes exercitus Ipsius, ministri Ipsius facientes voluntatem Ipsius" (Psalm. 103:21 1
);
"exercitus" Jehovae dicuntur qui in veris sunt (videatur n. 3448, 7236, 7988, 8019) "ministri" qui in bonis, quare dicitur "facientes voluntatem Ipsius"; "facere voluntatem" Domini est ex bono amoris, nam omne bonum se refert ad voluntatem, sicut omne verum ad intellectum.
[4] Apud Esaiam,
"Vos sacerdotes Jehovae vocabimini, ministri Dei nostri" (61:6);
sacerdotes vocantur "ministri", quia illi repraesentabant Dominum quoad bonum amoris; inde est (quod) qui in bono amoris sunt, in Verbo dicantur "sacerdotes" (videatur n. 2015, 6148, 9809, 10017); ex eo etiam est quod dicantur "ministri Dei"; inde est quod functio Aharonis et filiorum ejus dicatur "ministerium", et quoque functio Levitarum sacerdotum; et quod intrare in tentorium conventus et fungi ibi ministerio, et quoque accedere ad altare et ibi fungi ministerio, dicatur "ministrare." (Videatur Exodus 28:35; fff230:20: Numeri 8:15, 19, 24-26.)
Et apud Jeremiam,
"Foedus meum irritum fiet. .. . cum Levitis sacerdotibus ministris meis" (33:21).
(Quod Aharon repraesentaverit Dominum quoad Bonum Amoris, videatur n. 9806, 2
quod etiam in genere sacerdotes, n. 2015, 6148:
quod inde per "sacerdotium" in Verbo significetur Divinum Bonum Divini Amoris Domini, n. 9806, 9809.)
[5] Sunt duo regna in quae totum caelum distinctum est, unum in quo angeli qui in bono amoris caelestis sunt, alterum in quo sunt angeli qui in bono amoris spiritualis seu in charitate. Regnum caeleste Domini vocatur "sacerdotium" Ipsius, et regnum spirituale vocatur "regium" Ipsius (videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno 24, 226). De illis qui in regno caelesti dicitur "ministrare", at de illis qui in regno spirituali sunt dicitur "servire." Inde patet quid per "ministrare" et "ministrum", et quid per "servire" et "servum" significatur in sequentibus his locis: -
Jesus dixit discipulis, "Quisquis voluerit esse magnus, esse debet vester minister; et quisquis voluerit esse primus, esse debet vester servus: sicut Filius hominis non venit ut Ipsi ministretur, sed ut ministret" (Matthaeus 20:16-18; 23:11, 12; Marcus 9:35; Luca 22:24-27);
Jesus dixit, "Si quis ministraverit Mihi, sequitor Me; tunc ubi Ego sum, etiam minister meus erit; immo si quis Mihi ministraverit, honorabit eum Pater" (Johannes 12:26);
Jesus dixit, "Beati servi, quos veniens Dominus invenerit vigilantes; dico vobis quod cincturus sit Se, et accumbere facturus eos, Ipseque accedens ministraturus illis" (Luca 12:37):
apud Esaiam,
"Filii alienigenae, qui adhaerent Jehovae ad ministrandum Illi, et ad amandum nomen Jehovae" (56:6):
quia "ministrare" praedicatur de bono amoris, ideo dicitur "ad ministrandum Jehovae, et ad amandum"; ac ideo dicitur de Domino quod Ipse "ministraturus." Ex his nunc constare potest quod per "ministerium" significetur omne quod fit ex bono amoris, ita bonum amoris.
Footnotes:
1. The editors made a correction or note here.
2. The editors made a correction or note here.