Arcana Coelestia volume 7 - Swedenborg Foundation

ARCANA COELESTIA 3585are called the “blessed of Jehovah,” being then gifted with heavenand eternal salvation. Hence the “blessing of Jehovah,” in theexternal sense or in the sense which relates to the state of man inthe world is to be content in God, and thence to be content withthe state of honor and wealth in which one is, whether it be amongthe honored and rich, or among the less honored and poor; for hewho is content in God regards honors and riches as means for uses;and when he thinks of them and at the same time of eternal life, heregards the honor and riches as of no importance, and eternal life asessential. Because the “blessing of Jehovah,” or of the Lord, in thegenuine sense involves these things, “blessing” also containsnumberless things within it, and hence signifies various thingswhich follow therefrom; as to be enriched with spiritual andcelestial good (n. 981, 1731); to be made fruitful from the affectionof truth (n. 2846); to be disposed in heavenly order (n. 3017); tobe gifted with the good of love, and so to be conjoined with theLord (n. 3406, 3504, 3514, 3530, 3584); and joy (n. 4216). Whattherefore “blessing” signifies specifically may be seen from the seriesof the things that precede and that follow. That here the “blessingof Jehovah” signifies increasings in good and truth, or in life anddoctrine, is plain from the words that follow, for it is said “theblessing of Jehovah was in the house and in the field,” and by a“house” is signified the good which is of the life, and by a “field”the truth which is of doctrine. From this it is plain that increasingsin these things is here signified by the “blessing of Jehovah.”4982. Was upon all that he had in the house and in the field. Thatthis signifies in life and in doctrine is evident from the significationof “house” as being good (n. 2048, 2233, 2559, 3128, 3652,3720), and because it signifies good, it signifies also life, for allgood is of life; and from the signification of “field” as being thetruth of the church (n. 368, 3508, 3766, 4440, 4443), and becauseit signifies the truth of the church, it signifies also doctrine, for alltruth is of doctrine. “House” and “field” are occasionallymentioned in other parts of the Word, and when the subjecttreated of is the celestial man, by “house” is signified celestial good,and by “field” spiritual good. Celestial good is the good of love tothe Lord, and spiritual good is the good of charity toward theneighbor. But when the spiritual man is treated of, by “house” is