Arcana Coelestia volume 7 - Swedenborg Foundation

ARCANA COELESTIA 3993when they lived as men in the world, yet had led a life of charity,taken up into heavenly societies; and then they were in similarintelligence and wisdom with the angels there, and even did notknow but that this wisdom and intelligence were in them. Forthrough the good in which they had been they were in the capacityof receiving all influx from the angelic societies in which they were.Such a capacity, and hence such fruitfulness, is in good. But thetruths which are made fruitful in them by good do not remaintruths, but are committed by them to life, and then become uses;and therefore by “going about trading in the land” is signified alsothat they all will turn to use and profit.5528. Verses 35–38. And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks,and behold everyone’s bundle of silver was in his sack; and they saw thebundles of their silver, they and their father, and they were afraid. AndJacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved, Joseph is not,and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin; all these things will beupon me. And Reuben spoke unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons ifI bring him not to thee; give him upon my hand, and I will bring himunto thee again. And he said, My son shall not go down with you; forhis brother is dead, and he only is left; and mischief will befall him inthe way wherein ye shall go, and ye will make my gray hairs go downin sorrow to the grave. “And it came to pass as they emptied theirsacks” signifies use from the truths in the natural; “and beholdeveryone’s bundle of silver” signifies settings in order of truthsbestowed gratis; “was in his sack” signifies in the receptacle of each;“and they saw the bundles of their silver” signifies perception that itwas so; “they and their father” signifies from truths and the good oftruth in the natural; “and they were afraid” signifies what is holy;“and Jacob their father said unto them” signifies perception inthem from the good of truth; “Me have ye bereaved” signifies thatthus the church was no more; “Joseph is not” signifies that there isno internal; “and Simeon is not” signifies that neither is there faithin the will; “and ye will take Benjamin” signifies if the intermediatealso is taken away; “all these things will be upon me” signifies thatthus what is of the church will be destroyed; “and Reuben spokeunto his father” signifies the things of faith in the understandingperceived from the good of truth; “saying, Slay my two sons”signifies that neither kind of faith will live; “if I bring him not to