378.“曾把他们的袍子洗了”表他们将自己的宗教信仰准则从虚假的邪恶中洁净。在圣言中，“洗”表示从邪恶与虚假中洁净；“袍子”表示一般真理（328节）。一般真理是指取自圣言字义的良善与真理的认知，他们照之生活，因此这些一般真理就成了宗教信仰准则；由于一切宗教信仰准则都涉及良善与真理，所以经上两次提及“袍子”，即“他们洗了袍子”和“把袍子洗白净了”。只有那些与邪恶争战，从而弃绝虚假的人才会洁净“袍子”或宗教信仰准则，因此他们会经历“大苦难”所表示的试探（377节）。“洗”表示从邪恶与虚假中洁净，从而得以改造和重生。这一点从以下经文明显看出来：
主以公义的灵和洁净的灵，将锡安女子的污秽洗去，又将耶路撒冷的血除净。（以赛亚书4:3）
你们要洗濯、自洁，从我眼前除掉你们的恶行，要止住作恶。（以赛亚书1:16）
耶路撒冷啊，你当洗去心中的恶，使你可以得救。（耶利米书4:14）
你虽然用碱洗你，多用肥皂，你的罪孽仍保留痕迹。（耶利米书2:22）
我若用雪水洗我，用碱洁净我的手，我的衣服都憎恶我。（约伯记9:30，31）
他在葡萄酒中洗了衣服，在血红葡萄汁中洗了袍褂。（创世记49:11）
这论及属天教会，属天教会由那些处于对主之爱的人组成，在至高意义上则论及主；“葡萄酒”和“血红葡萄汁”是指属灵和属天的神性真理。
我用水洗你，洗净你身上的血。（以西结书16:9）
这论及耶路撒冷；“水”是指真理，“血”是指对真理的玷污。
从这些事明显可知，在以色列教会，“洗”代表并因此表示什么。亚伦在穿上供职的衣服之前，要用水洗身（利未记16:4，24）；接近祭坛供职前用水洗手洗脚（出埃及记30:18-21；40:30-31）；利未人同样如此（民数记8:6-7）；其他因罪而不洁净的人也是；他们甚至要洗器皿（利未记11:32；14:8-9；15:5-13；17:15-16；马太福音23:25-26）；他们因洗而成圣（出埃及记29:4；40:12；利未记8:6）；叙利亚来的乃缦在约旦河中洗涤（列王纪下5:10，14）；因此，为了让他们能洗涤自己，所以在殿旁边放了铜海和许多铜盆（列王纪上7:23-39）；主为门徒洗脚（约翰福音13:5-10）；主叫那个瞎眼的往西罗亚池子去洗（约翰福音9:6，7，11，15）。
从这些事明显可知，对以色列人来说，“洗”代表属灵的洗，也就是洗去邪恶和虚假，由此改造和重生。从前面所述也明显可知约翰在约旦河的洗礼是什么意思（马太福音3:5-7；马可福音1:4-13）。约翰论到主的这些话是什么意思，即：祂要用圣灵与火施洗。（路加福音3:16；约翰福音1:33）
论到他自己：
他用水施洗。（约翰福音1:26）
这意思是说，主以神性真理和神性良善来洗涤或洁净人，而约翰则以他的洗礼来代表这一切；因为“圣灵”是神性真理，“火”是神性良善，“水”是这二者的代表；“水”表示圣言的真理，这真理通过照之的生活变成良善。
378. "And have washed their robes." This symbolically means, who have cleansed their religious beliefs of the evils accompanying falsity.
Washing in the Word symbolizes a cleansing oneself of evils and falsities, and robes symbolize general truths (no. 328). General truths are concepts of goodness and truth drawn from the literal sense of the Word, in accordance with which these people have lived, so that they are religious beliefs. And because every matter of religion has relation to goodness and truth, therefore robes are mentioned twice - "have washed their robes" and "have made their robes white."
Robes or religious beliefs are cleansed only in the case of people who fight against evils and so reject falsities, who thus undergo temptations or trials, which are symbolically meant by "the great tribulation" (no. 377).
That to be washed means, symbolically, to be cleansed of evils and falsities, and so to be reformed and regenerated, can be seen from the following passages:
When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and rinsed away the blood of Jerusalem... by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of purification... (Isaiah 4:4)
Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from My eyes. Cease to do evil... (Isaiah 1:16)
Wash your heart of its wickedness, O Jerusalem, that you may be saved. (Jeremiah 4:14)
Wash me clean of my iniquity..., and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalms 51:2, 7)
...if you wash yourself with soda, and use much soap, your iniquity will still retain its spots. (Jeremiah 2:22)
If I wash myself with melted snow, and cleanse my hands with soap..., yet... my own clothes will abhor me. (Job 9:30-31)
Who... has washed his clothing in wine, and his vesture in the blood of grapes. (Genesis 49:11)
This is said of the celestial church, from which come people prompted by love toward the Lord, and in the highest sense it is said of the Lord Himself. Wine and the blood of grapes are spiritual and celestial Divine truth.
I washed you with water, and rinsed off your blood from upon you... (Ezekiel 16:9)
This is said of Jerusalem. Water is truth, and blood is an adulteration of truth.
[2] It can be seen from this what washing in the Israelite Church represented and thus symbolized. As, for example, that Aaron was to wash himself before he put on the vestments of his ministry (Leviticus 16:4, 24), and before he approached the altar to minister (Exodus 30:18-21; 40:30-31).
[3] It can be seen from this that among the children of Israel washing represented a spiritual washing, which is a cleansing from evils and falsities, and thus reformation and regeneration.
It is apparent also from the aforesaid what baptism by John in the Jordan symbolized (Matthew 3, Mark 1:4-13), and what the symbolic meaning of the following words by John regarding the Lord is, that He baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Luke 3:16, John 1:33), and regarding himself, that he baptized with water (John 1:26). The meaning is that the Lord washes or purifies a person by Divine truth and Divine goodness, and that John by his baptism represented this. For the Holy Spirit is Divine truth, the fire is Divine goodness, and the water is representative of these. For water symbolizes the truth in the Word, which becomes goodness by one's living in accordance with it (no. 50).
378. 'And have washed their robes' signifies and who have cleansed their religious principles (religiosa) from evils of untruth. By 'to wash' in the Word is signified to cleanse oneself from evils and untruths, and by 'robes' are signified general truths (328). General truths are the cognitions of good and truth out of the sense of the letter of the Word in accordance with which they live, and consequently they are religious principles; and because every religious principle relates to good and truth, therefore the robes are mentioned twice, namely, 'they have washed the robes and have made the robes white.' The 'robes' or religious principles are cleansed with those only who fight against evils and so reject untruths, thus by means of the temptations that are signified by 'great affliction' (377). That 'to be washed' signifies to be cleansed from evils and untruths, and so reformed and regenerated, can be established from the following passages:
When the Lord washes off the excrement of the daughters of Zion, and washes away the bloods of Jerusalem in the spirit of judgment and in the spirit of cleansing (expurgatio). Isaiah 4:4.
Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from Mine eyes, cease to do evil. Isaiah 1:16.
Wash thy heart from wickedness, O Jerusalem, that thou mayest be saved. Jeremiah 4:14.
Wash me from mine iniquity, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalms 51:2, 7 [H.B. 4, 9].
If thou shouldest wash thee with nitre, and lather thyself with soap, yet thine iniquity will retain blemishes. Jeremiah 2:22.
If I should wash myself in snow water, and cleanse my hands with soap, yet shall my clothes abhor me, Job 9:30-31.
Who washed his garment in wine, and his clothing (velamen) in the blood of grapes, Genesis 49:11.
This [is said] of the celestial Church, of which those are who are in love directed to the Lord, and in the highest sense [said] of the Lord; 'wine' and 'the blood of grapes' is Divine Truth spiritual and celestial.
I have washed thee with waters, and I have washed away bloods from upon thee. Ezekiel 16:9.
This [is said] of Jerusalem; 'waters' are truths, and 'bloods' are adulterations of truth.
[2] From these passages it can be established what was represented and consequently signified by the 'washings' in the Israelitish Church, as:
That Aaron should wash himself before he put on the garments of ministry. Leviticus 16:4, 24.
And before he drew near to the altar to minister, Exodus 30:18-21; 40:30-31.
In like manner the Levites. Numbers 8:6-7.
In like manner others who became unclean through sins; even that they washed vessels. Leviticus 11:32; 14:8-9; 15:5-12; 17:15-16; Matthew 23:25-26.
That they were sanctified by the washings, Exodus 29:4; 40:12; Leviticus 8:6.
That Naaman from Syria washed himself in the Jordan, 2 Kings 5:10, 14.
Therefore, that they might wash themselves,
The bronze sea and many lavers were placed near the temple, 1 Kings 7:23-39.
And that the Lord washed the disciples' feet. John 13:10.
And He said to the blind man that he should wash in the pool of Siloam. John 9:6-7, 11, 15.
[3] It can be established from these things that 'washing' with the sons of Israel represented spiritual washing, which is a cleansing from evils and untruths, and the resulting reformation and regeneration. From the things said above it is also plain what was signified by baptism in the Jordan by John (Matthew 3; Mark 1:4-13), and what was signified by these words of John concerning the Lord:
That He would baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Luke 3:16; John 1:33; and concerning himself:
That he would baptise with water. John 1:26.
The meaning of this is that the Lord washes or purifies man by Divine Truth and Divine Good, and that John by his baptism represented this; for the 'Holy Spirit' is Divine Truth, 'fire' is Divine Good, and 'water' is a representative of them; for 'water' signifies the Truth of the Word, which becomes good by a life in accordance with it (50).
378. And have washed their robes, signifies, and who have cleansed their religions principles from the evils of falsity. By "washing," in the Word, is signified to cleanse from evils and falsities; and by "robes" are signified general truths, (328). General truths are the knowledges of good and truth from the sense of the letter of the Word, according to which they have lived, and thence they are religious principles; and as every religious principle relates to good and truth, therefore robes are twice mentioned, namely, "they have washed their robes" and "have made their robes white.""Robes," or religious principles, are cleansed only with those who fight against evils, and so reject falsities; thus by temptations, which are signified by "great affliction" (377). That "to be washed" signifies to be cleansed from evils and falsities, and so to be reformed and regenerated, may be seen evidently from the following passages:
When the Lord hath washed off the filth of the daughters of Zion, and hath washed away the blood of Jerusalem by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of purifying, (Isaiah 4:4).
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doing from Mine eyes; cease to do evil, (Isaiah 1:16).
Wash thy heart from wickedness, O Jerusalem, that thou mayest be saved, (Jeremiah 4:14).
Wash me from my iniquity, and I shall be whiter than snow, (Psalms 51:2, 7).
If thou shouldst wash thee with nitre, and shouldst take thee much soap, thy iniquity will still retain its spots, (Jeremiah 2:21).
If I should wash me in the waters of snow, and should cleanse my hands with soap, still my garments shall abhor me, (Job 9:30-31).
Who washed his garment in wine, his covering in the blood of grapes, (Genesis 49:11).
This is said of the celestial church, from which they are who are in love to the Lord, and in the highest sense it is concerning the Lord; "wine" and "the blood of grapes" is the Divine truth spiritual and celestial.
I have washed thee with waters, and I have washed away the blood from off thee, (Ezekiel 16:9).
This is said of Jerusalem; "waters" are truths, and "bloods" are the adulterations of truth.
[2] It may be evident from these things what was represented and thence signified by the "washings" in the Israelitish church.
Aaron should wash himself before he put on the garments of ministry, (Leviticus 16:24).
And before he drew near to the altar to minister, (Exodus 30:18-21; 40:30-31).
In like manner the Levites, (Numbers 8:6-7).
In like manner others, who were made unclean by sins; even that they washed the vessels, (Leviticus 11:32; 14:8-9; 15:5-13; 17:15-16; Matthew 23:25-26).
They were sanctified by the washings, (Exodus 29:4; 40:12; Leviticus 8:6).
Naaman of Syria washed himself in the Jordan, (2 Kings 5:10, 14).
Therefore:
That they might wash themselves, the brazen sea and many lavers were placed near the temple, (1 Kings 7:23-39).
And that the Lord washed the feet of the disciples, (John 13:5-10).
And He said to the blind man that he should wash in the pool of Siloam, (John 9:6-7, 11).
[3] From these things it may appear that "washing" with the sons of Israel represented spiritual washing, which is cleansing from evils and falsities, and thence reformation and regeneration. From what has been said above, it is also evident what was signified by:
The baptism in Jordan by John, (Matthew 3:5-7; Mark 1:4-13).
And what by these words of John concerning the Lord, that:
He would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire, (Luke 3:16; John 1:33).
And of himself, that:
He baptized with water, (John 1:26).
The meaning of which is, that the Lord washes or purifies man by the Divine truth and the Divine good, and that John represented this by his baptism; for the "Holy Spirit" is the Divine truth, "fire" is the Divine good, and "water" is the representative of both; for "water" signifies the truth of the Word, which becomes good by a life according to it, (50).
378. "Et laverunt stolas suas;" significat et qui mundaverunt religiosa sua a malis falsi. - Per "lavare" in Verbo, significatur mundare se a malis et falsis; et per "stolas" significantur communia vera (328); communia vera sunt cognitiones boni et veri ex Sensu literae Verbi, secundum quas vixerunt, et inde sunt religiosa; et quia omne religio sum se refert ad bonum et verum, ideo stolae bis nominantur, nempe, "laverunt stolas" et "dealbaverunt stolas" "Stolae" seu religiosa mundantur solum apud illos qui pugnant contra mala, et sic rejiciunt falsa, ita per tentationes, quae significantur per "afflictionem magnam (377). Quod "lavari" significet mundari a malis et falsis, et sic reformari et regenerari, constare potest a sequentibus locis:
"Cum Laverit Dominus excrementum filiarum Sionis, et sanguines Hierosolymae abluerit in spiritu judicii et in spiritu expurgationis," (Esaias 4:4);
"Lavate vos, mundate vos, removete malum operum vestrorum ab oculis Meis, cessate malum facere," (Esaias 1:16);
"Lava a malitia cor tuum, Hierosolyma, ut salveris," (Jeremias 4:14);
"Lava me ab iniquitate mea, et prae nive albus ero," (Psalm 51:4, 9 (B.A. 2, 7));
"Si Laveris te nitro, et multiplicaveris tibi smegma, usque maculas retinebit iniquitas tua," (Jeremias 2:22);
"Si Lavero me in aquis nivis, et mundavero smegmate manus meas, usque abominabuntur me vestes meae," (Hiob 9:30-31);
"Qui Lavit in vino vestimentum suum, et in sanguine uvarum velamen suum," (Genesis 49:11);
hoc de Ecclesia Caelesti, ex qua sunt qui in amore in Dominum, et in supremo Sensu de Domino; "vinum" et "sanguis uvarum" est Divinum Verum spirituale et caeleste.
"Lavi te aquis, et Ablui sanguines a super te," (Ezechiel 16:9);
hoc de Hierosolyma; "aquae" sunt vera, et "sanguines" sunt adulterationes veri. Ex his constare potest quid repraesentatum est et inde significatum per "lavationes" in Ecclesia Israelitica, ut Quod Aharon Lavaret se antequam indueret vestes ministerii, (Leviticus 16:4, 24);
Et antequam accederet ad Altare ad ministrandum, (Exodus 30:18-21; 40:30-31);
Similiter Levitae, (Numeri 8:6-7);
Similiter alii, qui per peccata immundi facti sunt: imo quod Laverint vasa, (Leviticus 11:32; 14:8-9; 15:5-13; 117:15-16; Matthaeus 23:25-26); 2
Quod sanctificati sint per Lavationes, (Exodus 29:4; 340:12; Leviticus 8:6);
Quod Naaman e Syria Laverit se in Jordane, (2 Regnum 5:10, 14);
Quare ut se Lavarent, Mare aeneum et plura Lavacra posita fuerunt juxta Templum, (1 Regnum 7:23-39);
Quodque Dominus Laverit pedes discipulorum, (Johannes 13:5-10); 4
Et dixerit ad Caecum quod Lavaret se in lacu Siloah, (Johannes 9:6-7, 11, 15).
Ex his constare potest quod "lavatio" apud filios Israelis repraesentaverit lavationem spiritualem, quae est mundatio a malis et falsis, et inde reformatio et regeneratio. Ex supradictis etiam patet, quid significatum est per Baptismum in Jordane a Johanne, (Matthaeus 3; Marcus 1:4-13);
et quid per haec Johannis verba de Domino, quod "Baptizet Spiritu Sancto et Igne," ((Matthaeus 3:11) Luca 3:16; Johannes 1:33);
et de se, quod Baptizet aqua, (Johannes 1:26);
quorum intellectus est, quod Dominus lavet seu purificet hominem per Divinum Verum et Divinum Bonum, et quod Johannes per suum baptismum repraesentaverit illa; nam "Spiritus Sanctus" est Divinum Verum, "Ignis" est Divinum Bonum, et "aqua" est repraesentativum illorum; "aqua,' enim significat Verum Verbi, quod fit Bonum per vitam secundum illud (50).
Footnotes:
1. 13 pro "12"
2. 25, 26 pro "26, 27"
3. 29:4 pro "24:9"
4. 5-10 pro "10"