671.“穿着洁白光明的细麻衣，胸间束着金带”表这一切是出于纯粹和真正的圣言真理和良善。很快就会看到，“洁白光明的细麻衣”表示纯粹和真正的真理。“胸间束着金带”表示发出同时联结的神性，也就是神性良善，如前所述（46节）。“穿着和束着”表示显现并存在于它们里面；因为衣表示披裹良善的真理（166节）；带表示容纳真理和良善于其次序和联系中（46节）。从这些事明显可知，“天使穿着洁白光明的细麻衣，胸间束着金带”表示纯粹和真正的真理和良善，它们因并非来自其它源头，只来自圣言，故表示圣言的真理和良善。
“细麻衣”表示神性真理，这一点从以下经文明显看出来：
亚伦进入会幕，就近祭坛时，要穿细麻布裤子。（出埃及记28:42，43）
亚伦进入圣地时，要穿上细麻布圣内袍，把细麻布裤子穿在身上；束细麻布带子，戴细麻布冠冕；这些都是圣衣，他为百姓行赎罪之礼时，要穿上这圣衣。（利未记16:4，32）
同样：
祭司，利未人进内院门时，要穿细麻衣，头上要戴细麻布裹头巾，腰穿细麻布裤子。（以西结书44:17，18）
穿细麻布以弗得的祭司。（撒母耳记上22:18）
那时，撒母耳还是孩子，穿着细麻布的以弗得，侍立在耶和华面前。（撒母耳记上2:18）
当约柜被抬进城里时，大卫穿着细麻布的以弗得。（撒母耳记下6:14）
从这些事明显可知为何：
主在为门徒洗脚时，以细麻衣束腰，用细麻衣擦他们的脚。（约翰福音13:4，5）天使身穿细麻衣。（但以理书10:5；以西结书9:2-4，11；10:2-7）
以及：
在主的坟墓前见到的天使衣服明亮，放白光。（马太福音28:3）
量新殿的天使手拿麻绳。（以西结书40:3）
耶利米为代表教会在真理上的状态：
被吩咐去买一根麻布带子，将它藏在幼发拉底河边的磐石穴中，后来发现它变坏了。（耶利米书13:1-7）
在以赛亚书，经上说：
压伤的芦苇，祂不折断，冒烟的残麻，祂不扑灭，祂凭真理将公理传开。（以赛亚书42:3）
在这些地方，“麻”无非表示真理。
671. Clothed in clean bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden sashes. This symbolically means, this [a preparation by the Lord for influx into the church] 1in accordance with the pure and genuine truths and goods in the Word.
Clean bright linen symbolizes pure, genuine truth, as we will show below. A golden sash about the breast symbolizes the emanating Divinity that at the same time conjoins, namely Divine good (no. 46 above). To be clothed and girded means, symbolically, to appear and be seen in this truth and goodness, for garments symbolize truths that clothe goodness (no. 166). Sashes or girdles then symbolize truths and goods that hold everything in their order and connection (no. 46).
It is apparent from this that angels clothed in clean bright linen and girded about their breasts with golden sashes symbolize pure and genuine truths and goods, and because these come only from the Word, they symbolize truths and goods in the Word.
[2] That linen symbolizes Divine truth can be seen from the following, as that Aaron wore linen breeches when he entered the Tabernacle or approached the altar (Exodus 28:42-43). That the priests wore linen ephods (1 Samuel 22:18). That when Samuel as a child ministered before Jehovah, he wore a linen ephod (1 Samuel 2:18). That when David was transporting the Ark into his city he was girded with a linen ephod (2 Samuel 6:14).
It can be seen from this why, when the Lord washed the disciples' feet, He girded Himself in linen and wiped their feet with linen 2(John 13:4-5).
Moreover, the angels seen in the Lord's sepulcher appeared in dazzling bright white clothing (Matthew 28:3 [cf. Luke 24]).
[4]. The angel who measured the new temple had in his hand a line of linen (Ezekiel 40:3). In order that he might represent the state of the church with respect to truth, Jeremiah was told to buy a linen sash and hide it in a hole in the rock by the Euphrates, and later he found it ruined (Jeremiah 13:1-7). We read, too, in Isaiah:
A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking linen He will not quench; He will bring forth justice in truth. (Isaiah 42:3)
By linen in these places nothing else is meant but truth.
Footnotes:
1. I.e., a preparation by the Lord for influx from the inmost of heaven into the church, to expose its evils and falsities in their entirety and so to separate evil people from the good (no. 670 above).
2. The writer here follows the Latin translation of Sebastian Schmidt, who mistakes the Greek lention (levntion, a towel) to have the same meaning as the Latin linteum (linen).
671. 'Clothed with clean and shining linen, and girded about the breasts with golden girdles' signifies this out of the pure and genuine truths and goods of the Word. By 'clean and shining linen' is signified pure and genuine Truth, concerning which [something] follows. By 'a golden girdle about the breast' is signified the proceeding and at the same time conjoining Divine, which is Divine good (46 above). By 'to be clothed and girded about' is signified to appear and be presented in them, for 'garments' signify truths clothing good (166), and 'girdles' or belts signify truths and goods holding together in order and connection (46). From these things it is plain that by 'angels clothed with clean and shining linen, and girded about the breasts with golden girdles' are signified pure and genuine truths and goods, which because they are from nowhere else but the Word signify the truths and goods of the Word.
[2] That 'linen' signifies Divine Truth can be established from the following references, as that:
Aaron had breeches of linen when he entered the tent and drew near to the altar, Exodus 28:42-43.
When Aaron entered into the holy-place he put on a coat of linen of holiness, coverings (caligae) of linen were upon his flesh, he girded himself with a belt of linen, and put upon himself a mitre of linen; these are the garments of holiness; and he put on the same garments when he made atonement for the people. Leviticus 16:4, 32.
In like manner that:
The priests, the Levites, when they entered at the gates of the inner court, put on garments of linen, mitres of linen upon the head, and breeches of linen upon the loins. Ezekiel 44:17-18.
The priests wore ephods of linen, 1 Samuel 22:18.
Samuel, when as a boy he ministered before Jehovah, was clothed with an ephod of linen, 1 Samuel 2:18.
David, when the ark was being transported into his city, was girded with an ephod of linen, 2 Samuel 6:14.
From these things it can be established why:
The Lord, when He washed the disciples' feet, girded Himself with linen and wiped their feet with the linen cloth. John 13:4-5.
Angels also appeared clothed with linen. Daniel 10:5; Ezekiel 9:2-4, 11; 10:2-7.
Also that:
The angels seen in the Lord's sepulchre appeared clothed with bright and shining white. Matthew 28:3.
The angel who measured the new temple had a thread of linen in his hand. Ezekiel 40:3.
Jeremiah, so that he might represent the state of the Church as to truth, was commanded to buy a girdle of linen, and he hid it in a hole of the rock by the Euphrates, and afterwards he found it spoiled. Jeremiah 13:1-7.
It is also said in Isaiah:
A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, and He shall bring forth the judgment into the truth (veritas). Isaiah 42:3.
By 'linen' in those places nothing else is understood but Truth.
671. Clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded about the breasts with golden girdles, signifies this from the pure and genuine truths and goods of the Word. By "linen clean and bright" is signified truth pure and genuine, as will be seen presently. By "the golden girdle about the breast" is signified the proceeding and at the same time conjoining Divine, which is the Divine good, as above, (46). By "being clothed and girded" is signified to appear and be presented in them; for garments signify truths clothing good, (166); and zones or girdles signify containing truths and goods in their order and connection, (46). From these things it is evident, that by "angels clothed in linen, clean and bright, and having their breasts girded about with golden girdles," are signified truths and goods pure and genuine, which because they are from no other source than the Word, signify the truths and goods of the Word.
[2] That "linen" signifies Divine truth, may appear from the following passages, as that:
Aaron had breeches of linen, when he entered into the tent, and drew near to the altar, (Exodus 28:42-43).
When Aaron entered into the holy-place, he put on the linen coat of holiness, breeches of linen were upon his flesh; with a linen belt he girdled himself, and put upon himself the linen miter; these were the garments of holiness, and he put on the same garments, when he made atonement for the people, (Leviticus 16:4, 32).
In like manner that:
The priests, the Levites, when they entered at the gates of the inner court, put on linen garments, linen miters upon their head, and linen beeches upon their loins, (Ezekiel 44:17-18).
The priests wore linen ephods, (1 Samuel 2:18).
Samuel, when he ministered while a boy before Jehovah, was clothed with a linen ephod, (1 Samuel 2:18).
David, when the ark was transferred into his city, was girded with a linen ephod, (2 Samuel 6:14).
From these things it may be evident why:
The Lord, when He washed the disciples' feet, girded Himself with a linen cloth, and wiped their feet with the linen cloth, (John 13:4-5 (, 6).
That angels appeared clothed with linen, (Daniel 10:5; Ezekiel 9:2-4, 11; 10:2-7).
Also the angels seen in the Lord's sepulcher appeared clothed with bright and shining white, (Matthew 28:3).
The angel that measured the new temple had a linen line in his hand, (Ezekiel 40:3).
Jeremiah, that he might represent the state of the church as to truth:
Was commanded to buy a linen girdle, and hide it in a hole of a rock by the Euphrates, and afterwards found it spoiled, (Jeremiah 13:1-7).
It is also said in Isaiah:
A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench, He shall bring forth judgment unto truth, (Isaiah 42:3).
By linen in these places nothing else is meant than truth.
671. "Induti lino mundo et splendido, et circumcincti circa pectora zonis aureis," significat hoc ex veris et bonis puris et genuinis Verbi. -Per "linum mundum et splendidum" significatur Verum purum et genuinum, de quo sequitur; per "zonam auream circa pectus" significatur Divinum procedens et simul conjungens, quod est Divinum bonum, supra (46); per "indui" et "circumcingi" significatur apparere et sisti in illis, vestes enim significant vera induentia bonum (166); et "zonae" seu "cingula" significant vera et bona continentia in ordine et nexu (46). Ex his patet, quod per "Angelos indutos lino mundo et splendido, et circumcinctos circa pectora zonis aureis," significentur vera et bona pura ac genuina; quae quia non aliunde sunt quam ex Verbo, significant vera et bona Verbi. Quod "linum" significet Divinum Verum, constare potest ex sequentibus,
Ut quod Aharoni essent Femoralia Lini cum intraret Tentorium, et accederet ad Altare, (Exodus 28:42-43); 1
Ut quod cum Aharon intraret in Sanctum, "Tunicam Lini sanctitatis indueret, Caligae Lini essent super carne ejus, Baltheo Lini cingeret se, et Cidarin Lini imponeret sibi; hae vestes sanctitatis;" et quod easdem vestes indueret cum expiaret populum, (Leviticus 16:4, 32).
Similiter Quod Sacerdotes Levitae, "quando intrarent ad portas Atrii interioris, Vestes Lini induerent, Cidares Lini super capite, et Femoralia Lini super lumbis," (Ezechiel 44:17-18);
Quod Sacerdotes portarent Ephodos Lini, (1 Samuelis 22:18); 2
Quod Samuel, cum ut puer ministrabat coram Jehovah, indutus esset Ephodo Lini (1 Samuelis 2:18);
Quod David, cum transferebatur Arca in urbem ejus, cinctus esset Ephodo Lini, (2 Samuelis 6:14).
Ex his constare potest, cur Dominus, cum lavaret pedes discipulorum, succinxerit Se Linteo, et absterserit pedes Linteo, (Johannes 13:4-5);
Tum quod Angeli apparerent induti Linteo, (Daniel 10:5; Ezechiel 9:2-4, 11; 10:2-7);
Etiam Angeli visi in sepulchro Domini apparuerunt induti albo splendido et fulgurante, (Matthaeus 28:3);
Quod Angelus qui mensurabat novum Templum haberet Filum Lini in manu, (Ezechiel 40:3);
quod Jeremias, ut repraesentaret statum Ecclesiae quoad verum, jussus sit Emere Cingulum Lini, et abscondere 3in foramine petrae juxta Euphratem, et quod postea inveniret illud corruptum, (Jeremias 13:1-7).
Dicitur etiam apud Esajam.
"Calamum contusum non confringet, et Linum fumigans non exstinguet, et in veritatem proferet judicium," (42:3).
Per "linum" in illis locis non aliud intelligitur quam Verum.
Footnotes:
1. xxviii. pro "xxix."
2. 22:18 pro "20:11, 18"
3. abscondere pro "absconderet"