Arcana Coelestia volume 7 - Swedenborg Foundation

ARCANA COELESTIA 4067is of the external church (of which above, n. 5640), thus doctrine,for this is of the church. Moreover, by “man” is signified truth, andthus doctrine (n. 3134), and by a “house” the church (see n. 1795),and as “Joseph” is the internal (n. 5469), “Joseph’s house” is theinternal church. Doctrine from the Word is what is over this house,in being of service and in ministering.5653. And they spoke unto him at the door of the house. That thissignifies taking counsel of them about introduction is evident fromthe signification of “speaking to the man over Joseph’s house” asbeing to take counsel of them, namely, of doctrinals; and from thesignification of the “door of the house” as being introduction (seen. 2356, 2385), here from the natural or external man to thespiritual or internal, which is the subject treated of. As this issignified, it is not said in the original “at the door of the house” but“the door of the house.”5654. And said, In me, my lord. That this signifies a testifying isevident from this very form of speech, as being one of testifying,namely, that they will tell the truth about the silver that was foundin the mouth of everyone’s bag.5655. In coming down we came down in the beginning to buy food.That this signifies a disposition to procure good for truths isevident from the signification of “coming down” as being adisposition or an intention; for he who comes down or betakeshimself anywhere, does so from a disposition, here to procure goodfor truths, signified by “to buy food”; for by “buying” is signifiedprocuring and appropriating (n. 5374, 5397, 5406, 5414, 5426),and by “food” the good of truth (n. 5340, 5342), here good for thetruths represented by Jacob’s sons, who say this of themselves.5656. And it came to pass when we came to the inn and we openedour bags. That this signifies introspection into the exterior natural isevident from the signification of an “inn” as being the exteriornatural in general (see n. 5495); and from the signification of“opening” as being introspection, for he who opens does so for the