278.“这香就是众圣徒的祈祷”表那些出于属灵的良善和真理敬拜主之人所具有的属信的思维，这种思维源自属仁的情感。“祈祷”表示祈祷者所具有的属于信的事物，同时属于仁的事物，因为没有它们，祈祷不是祈祷，只是空洞的声音。“圣徒”表示那些处于属灵的良善和真理之人（173节）。“香”之所以被称为“众圣徒的祈祷”，是因为香气与良善和真理的情感相对应。正因如此，圣言常说“馨香之气”、“献给耶和华的馨香之气”（如出埃及记29:18，25，41；利未记1:9，13，17；2:2，9，12；3:5；4:31；6:15，21；8:28；23:13，18；26:31；民数记15:3，7；28:6，8，13；29:2，6，8，13，36；以西结书20:41；何西阿书14:7）。在以下启示录经文中，被称为“香”的“祈祷”也具有同样的含义：
一位天使拿着金香炉，来站在祭坛旁边。有许多香赐给他，他要和众圣徒的祈祷一同献在金坛上。那香的烟和众圣徒的祈祷，从天使的手中一同升到神面前。（启示录8:3-5）
诗篇：
愿你俯耳垂听我的声音，愿我的祷告如香陈列在你面前！（诗篇141:1-2）
278. Which are the prayers of the saints. This symbolizes thoughts that are matters of faith springing from affections that are matters of charity in people who worship the Lord in accord with spiritual goods and truths.
Prayers mean matters having to do with faith in people who pour forth prayers, and at the same time matters having do to with charity, since without these, prayers are not prayers but empty sounds.
That saints symbolize people who are impelled by spiritual goods and truths may be seen in no. 173 above.
Burnings of incense are called the prayers of the saints because fragrant aromas correspond to affections for goodness and truth. That is why reference is made so often in the Word to a pleasing aroma or a restful aroma to Jehovah, as in Exodus 29:18, 25, 41, Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17; 2:2, 9, 12; 3:5; 4:31; 6:15, 21; 8:28; 23:13, 18; 26:31, Numbers 28:6, 8, 13; 15:3; 29:2, 6, 8, 13, 36, Ezekiel 20:41, Hosea 14:7.
Prayers called incense have the same symbolic meaning in the following verses in the book of Revelation:
(An angel, standing at the altar,) having a golden censer..., was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar... And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand. (Revelation 8:3-4)
And in the book of Psalms:
Give ear to my voice... My prayers are accepted as incense before You... (Psalms 141:1-2)
278. 'Which are the prayers of the saints' signifies the thoughts that are of faith derived from the affections that are of charity, with those who worship the Lord out of spiritual goods and truths. By 'prayers' are understood the things that are of faith, and at the same time the things that are of charity, with those who pour forth prayers, since prayers without those things are not prayers but empty sounds. That saints signify those who are in spiritual goods and truths may be seen above (173). 'Incense-offerings' are said to be 'the prayers of the saints' because fragrant odours correspond to affections of good and truth. This is why it is said so often in the Word 'a grateful odour,' and 'an odour of rest to Jehovah,' as Exodus 29:18, 25, 41; Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17; 2:2, 9, 12; 3:5; 4:31; 6:15, 21 [H.B. 8, 14]; 8:28; 23:13, 18; 26:31; Numbers 15:3, 7; 28:6, 8, 13; 29:2, 6, 8, 13, 36; Ezekiel 20:41; Hosea 14:7. Similar things are signified by the 'prayers' that are called 'incense-offerings' in the following passages, in the Apocalypse:
An angel standing at the altar, having a golden phial, and there was given to him many incense-offerings, that he should offer with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar; and the smoke of the incense-offerings with the prayers of the saints ascended up out of the angel's hand in full view of God. Revelation 8:3-5; and in David:
Give ear unto my voice; my prayers have been accepted as incense before Thee. Psalms 141:1-2.
278. Which are the prayers of saints, signifies thoughts which are of faith, from affections which are of charity, with those who worship the Lord from spiritual goods and truths. By "prayers" are meant the things which are of faith, and at the same time things which are of charity, with those who pour forth prayers, because prayers without them are not prayers, but empty sounds. That "saints" mean those who are in spiritual goods and truths, may be seen above, (173). The reason why incense is called "the prayers of saints" is because fragrant odors correspond to the affections of good and truth; hence it is, that "a grateful odor" and "an odor of rest to Jehovah," so often occur in the Word (as in Exodus 29:18, 25, 41; Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17; 2:2, 9, 12; 3:5; 4:31; 6:15, 21; 8:28; 23:13, 18; 26:31; Numbers 15:3, 7; 28:6, 8, 13; 29:2, 6, 8, 13, 36; Ezekiel 20:41; Hosea 14:7). "Prayers" which are called "incense" have a similar signification in the following passages in Revelation:
An angel stood at the altar having a golden vial, and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar; And the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand, (Revelation 8:3-5).
And in David:
Give ear unto my voice; my prayers have been accepted before Thee as incense, (Psalms 141:1-2).
278. "Quae sunt preces sanctorum," significat cogitationes quae sunt fidei ex affectionibus quae sunt charitatis, apud illos qui ex bonis et veris spiritualibus colunt Domini. - Per "preces" intelliguntur illa quae fidei sunt, et simul illa quae charitatis sunt, apud illos qui preces fundunt, quoniam preces absque illis non sunt preces, sed soni vacui: quod "sancti" significent illos qui in bonis et veris spiritualibus sunt, videatur supra (173). Quod suffitus dicantur "preces sanctorum," est causa, quia odores fragrantes correspondent affectionibus boni et veri; inde est, quod toties dicatur in Verbo "Odor gratus, ac "Odor quietis Jehovae" (ut Exodus 29:18, 25, 41; 1Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17; 2:2, 9, 12; 3:5; 4:31; 6:8, 14 (B.A. 15, 21)); 28:28; 23:12-13, 18; 326:31; Numeri 15:3, 7; 28:6, 8, 13; 29:2, 6, 8, 13, 36; 4Ezechiel 20:41; Hoschea 14:7).
Similia significantur per "preces," quae vocantur "suffitus," in sequentibus in Apocalypsi:
Angelus stans ad Altare, habens phialam auream," et dati sunt ei Suffitus multi, ut offeret cum Precibus sanctorum omnium super altare aureum: et ascendit fumus Suffituum cum precibus sanctorum e manu Angeli ad conspectum Dei," (8:3-5);
et apud Davidem;
"Attende aurem ad vocem meam: acceptae sunt Preces meae, Suffimentum coram Te," (Psalm 141:1-2).
Footnotes:
1. 18 pro "10"
2. 12 pro "10"
3. 28:13 pro "28:8, 14"
4. 15:3, 7 pro "15:5" et 28:6, 8, 13 pro "Numeri 6:6, 8, 13"