Arcana Coelestia volume 7 - Swedenborg Foundation

ARCANA COELESTIA 4051by falsities, and therefore they desire falsities; and because theydesire falsities they are averse to truths. For this reason they have nocapacity for receiving truths, for they reject or stifle or pervert themas soon as they reach the ear or occur to the thought. Besides, everyman who is of sound mind has a capacity for receiving truths; butthey extinguish this capacity who turn to evil, and they exalt it whoturn to good.5624. And the silver that was returned in the mouth of your bagscarry back in your hand. That this signifies that by means of thetruth given gratuitously in the exterior natural they were to submitthemselves as far as possible is evident from the signification of the“silver returned” as being truth given gratuitously (see n. 5530);from the signification of “in the mouth of their bags” as being inthe threshold of the exterior natural (see n. 5497); and from thesignification of “in the hand” as being in the ability (of which justabove, see n. 5623), thus as far as possible. Their submittingthemselves by means of this truth is signified by their “carrying itback”; for in the spiritual world to carry back truth to the Lord,from whom it has been received gratuitously, is to submit one’s selfby means of it. But the manner in which they submitted themselvesby its means is plain from the conversation with the man who wasover Joseph’s house (verses 18–24).5625. Peradventure it was an error. That this signifies lest he beadverse is evident from the signification of an “error” as being whatis adverse, for the error here meant is as if they had forgotten to paythe silver and so were taking it back, everyone in his own sack; forwhich reason he might possibly be adverse to them, as they alsobelieved; for they were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’shouse, and said, “Upon the word of the silver that was returned inour bags in the beginning are we brought, to roll down upon us,and to throw himself upon us, and to take us for servants, and ourasses” (verse 18). Moreover “sin” signifies disjunction and aversion(n. 5229, 5474); and so does “error” if there is sin in it, but in a lessdegree; wherefore it is said “lest he be adverse.”