Arcana Coelestia volume 7 - Swedenborg Foundation

ARCANA COELESTIA 3599and that his life in this world is wholly continued there, and is ofthe same quality as it had been in this world. This I can assert,because I know it; for I have talked after their decease with almostall with whom I had been acquainted in the life of the body, andthus by living experience it has been given me to know what lotawaits everyone, namely, a lot according to his life; yet those whoare of such a quality do not believe even these things. But what ismeant and involved in truth natural not spiritual wishing to beconjoined with truth spiritual natural, which is signified by her“catching hold of Joseph in his garment,” will be shown in whatpresently follows.5007. Saying, Lie with me. That this signifies for the purpose ofconjunction is evident from the signification of “lying with,” asbeing conjunction (of which above, n. 4989, 5001); here for thepurpose of conjunction, or to the intent that it might be conjoined.5008. And he left his garment in her hand. That this signifies thatit took away this ultimate truth is evident from the signification of“leaving in her hand” as being in her power, for “hand” is ability orpower (n. 878, 3091, 3387, 3563, 4931–4937); and because shecaught hold of his garment, it is here meant to take away; and fromthe signification of a “garment” as being ultimate truth (of whichabove, n. 5006). That truth natural not spiritual wished to conjoinitself with truth spiritual natural, and that this was averse toconjunction, and for this reason left ultimate truth, or suffered it tobe taken away, cannot be comprehended by anyone unless it ismade clear by examples. But first let it be seen what truth naturalnot spiritual is, and what truth spiritual natural (n. 4988, 4992),and that there is an affinity in their ultimates, yet not anyconjunction.[2] But as before said, let this be made clear by examples, and letthis be the first. It is a truth natural not spiritual, within thechurch, that good ought to be done to the poor, to widows, and tothe fatherless, and that to do good to them is the charity which isenjoined in the Word; but truth not spiritual—that is, they whoare in truth not spiritual—understand by the poor, the widows,