Arcana Coelestia volume 7 - Swedenborg Foundation

ARCANA COELESTIA 4050a “rod” denotes power; “almond tree” the perception of interiortruth; here, being predicated of Jehovah, it denotes watching overit; “word” denotes truth.[3] By the “almonds which budded from the rod of Aaron for thetribe of Levi” are also signified goods of charity or goods of life, ofwhich we read in Moses:It came to pass on the morrow, when Moses entered into the tentof meeting, behold the rod of Aaron for the tribe of Levi had blossomedand brought forth blossom, so that the flower flowered, and barealmonds (Num. 17:8).This was a sign that this tribe was chosen for the priesthood; for bythe “the tribe of Levi” was signified charity (see n. 3875, 3877,4497, 4502, 4503), which is the essential of the spiritual church.5623. And take double silver in your hands. That this signifiestruth received in the abilities is evident from the signification of“silver” as being truth (see n. 1551, 2954); and from thesignification of “double” as being again in succession (see n. 1335),namely truth which was gratuitously bestowed on them, and whichwas to be bestowed on them again; and from the signification of“hands” as being abilities (n. 878, 3387, 4931–4937, 5327, 5328).Truth in the abilities means in the capacities for receiving it, thusaccording to the capacities. But the capacities or abilities forreceiving truth are wholly according to good, because the Lordadjoins them to good; for when the Lord flows in with good he alsoflows in with capacity. Hence truth received in the abilities meansaccording to goods. That the capacities for receiving truth areaccording to good is evident from much experience in the otherlife. They who are in good there have the capacity not only forperceiving truth, but also for receiving it, yet according to theamount and quality of the good in which they are. But they whoare in evil have on the other hand no capacity for receiving truth.This comes from pleasure and consequent desire. They who are ingood have pleasure in perfecting good by means of truth, becausegood takes its quality from truths; and therefore they desire truths.But they who are in evil have pleasure in evil, and in confirming it