Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 591that guards and protects lest the heavens be approached exceptthrough the good of love and charity. (That “feet” signify thenatural, see Arcana Coelestia, n. 2162, 3147, 3761, 3986, 4280,4938–4952, 5327, 5328; that that which is to the right signifiesgood from which is truth, n. 9604, 9736, 10061; therefore a“straight foot” signifies the natural in respect to good. That“palms,” “soles,” and “hoofs,” signify the ultimates in the natural,see n. 4938, 7729; and that “burnished brass” signifies naturalgood, see above, n. 70.)[3] In Hosea:Return ye to Jehovah; say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, andaccept good, and we will pay back the bullocks of our lips (14:2).What it is to “pay back the bullocks of the lips” no one can knowunless he knows what “bullocks” and what “lips” signify; they meanevidently confession and thanksgiving from a good heart; but it isthus expressed because “bullocks” signify external good, and “lips”doctrine; therefore “paying back the bullocks of the lips” signifiesto confess and give thanks from the goods of doctrine. (That “lips”signify doctrine, see Arcana Coelestia, n. 1286, 1288.)[4] In Amos:Ye cause the habitation of violence to draw near; they lie uponbeds of ivory, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out ofthe midst of the stall (6:3, 4).Here those who have an abundance of the knowledges of good andtruth and yet lead an evil life are treated of; “to eat the lambs out ofthe flock” signifies to imbibe the knowledges of internal good or ofthe spiritual man; and “to eat the calves out of the midst of thestall” signifies to imbibe the knowledges of external good or of thenatural man; and “to cause the habitation of violence to draw near”is to live a life contrary to charity.[5] In Malachi: