2658. For the Son of this Bond-woman fhall not be Heir with my Son, even with Ifaac, that it fignifies that the Rational merely human cannot have a Life in common with the Rational Divine itself, neither with respect to Truth, nor with refpect to Good, may appear from the Signification of, to inherit, which is to have the Life of another, of which presently; from the Signification of the Son of a Bond-woman, which is the Rational merely human with refpect to Truth and with respect to Good, of which, N. 2657; and from the Signification of, my Son, even Ifaac, which is the Rational Divine with refpect to Truth, which is my Son, and with refpect to Good, which is, even Ifaac, of which, N. 2623. 2630. That Ifaac is the Rational Divine with respect to Good, from the Signification of Laughter, from which he was named, which is the Affection of Truth or the Good of Truth, appears from Ver. 6, 7, N. 2640, 2641. 2643; hence it is plain, that the Son of this Bond-woman shall not be Heir with my Son, even with Ifaac, is, that the Rational merely human cannot have Life in common with the Rational Divine, neither with refpect to Truth nor with respect to Good. That it cannot have Life in common, appears from this alone, that the Divine is Life itself, and fo has Life in Itfelf; but the merely human is the Organ of Life, and fo has not Life in itself; the Human of the Lord when it was made Divine, was no longer the Organ of Life or the Recipient of Life, but was Life itself, fuch as that of Jehovah Himself; from the Conception from Jehovah he had this firft, which is clearly evident from the Words of our Lord Himself, in John, "For as the Father bath Life in "bimfelf; fo hath he given to the Son to have Life in himself," v. 26. The Divine Human is that which is called the Son, N. 1729. 2159. 2628. In the fame, "In him was Life, and his Life was the Light of Men," i. 4. In the fame," Jefus faid, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” xiv. 6. In the fame, "Jefus faid, I am the Refurrection and the Life, whofoever "believeth in me, altho' he were dead, yet fhall he live," xi. 25. In the fame, "The Bread of God is he which came down from Heaven, and giveth Life unto the World," vii. 33. That Man is not Life, but the Organ or Recipient of Life, may be feen N. 2021. and elsewhere occafionally; from hence it may be evident, that when the Lord with refpect to his Human was also made Divine, that, which was not Life in himself, that is, that which was merely human, should be removed; this is fignified by that, the Son of the Bond-woman fhould not inherit with the Son Ifaac. That to inherit, in the internal Senfe, when it is predicated of the Lord, is to have the Life of the Father, fo in Himfelf; and when it is predicated of Men, that it is to have the Life of the Lord, that is, to accept Life from the Lord, appears from many Places in the Word; to have Life in Himfelf is the very Being of Life, that is, Jehovah but to have the Life of the Lord, or to accept Life from the Lord, is to receive the Lord in Love and Faith, and because they are in the Lord, and are Lords, they are called the Heirs and Children of Him. In the Word of the Old Testament Heirship is predicated as well as of the Celestial or Good, as

of

of the Spiritual or Truth, but yet one is exprefs'd by a Word different from the other, we may interpret that Word by, to poffefs hereditarily, but this by, to inherit; that Word likewife in the original Tongue involves Poffeffion, but this Derivation from thence, as is the Celestial and Spiritual, or Good and Truth; in this Verfe, where by Ifaac is reprefented the Divine Rational or the Divine Human of the Lord, it is a Word of Poffeffion from hereditary Right, because the Divine Human of the Lord is the Sole poffeffing Heir, as alfo He himself teaches by Parables, Matt. xxi. 33, 37, 38. Mark. xii. 7. Luke xx. 14. and occafionally declares, that all Things of the Father, are His. That to poffefs hereditarily and to inherit in the Word, when it is predicated of Men, fignifies to accept Life from the Lord, and fo Life eternal or Heaven, for they alone accept Heaven, who receive the Life of the Lord, appears in John, "He that overcometh fhall inherit all Things, " and I will be his God, and he fhall be my Son," Rev. xxi. 7. In Matthew, "And every one that hath forfaken Houses, or Brethren, or Sifters, or "Father, or Mother, or Wife, or Children, or Lands for my Name's Sake, "fhall receive an Hundred-fold, and inherit everlasting Life," xix. 29. Chap. xxv. 34. Mark x. 17. Luke xviii. 18. Here Heaven is called Life eternal, elsewhere fimply Life, as Matt. xviii. 8, 9. Chap. xix. 17. John iii. 36. Chap. v. 24, 29. for this Reafon, because the Lord is Life itfelf, and he who accepts the Life of him, he is in Heaven. In David, "For God will fave Sion, and will build the Cities of Judah, that they may dwell there, and "have Poffeffion. The Seed alfo of his Servants fhall inherit it; and they "that love his Name fhall dwell therein." Pf. Ixix. 35, 36. where to poffefs hereditarily, is predicated of thofe, who are in celeftial Love, to inherit, of thofe who are in fpiritual Love. In Ifaiah, "But he that putteth his Truft "in me, fhall poffefs the Land, and shall inherit my holy Mountain," lvii. 13. In like Manner in Mofes, "And I will bring you in unto the Land con"cerning which I fware to give it to Abraham, to Ifaac, and to Jacob; "and I will give it to you for an Heritage," Exod. vi. 8. Thefe Things in the Sense of the Letter fignify, that the Land of Canaan fhould be given to them for an hereditary Poffeffion, which was done; but in the internal Senfe they signify, that Heaven fhould be given to those who are in Love and Faith toward the Lord; for as the Lord is reprefented by Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, fo Love itself and Faith itself is fignified, and fo they who are in Love and Faith, fo they who are in the Lord: As alfo by Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, with whom they fhall fit down together in the Kingdom of Heaven, in Matthew Chap. viii. 11. for in Heaven Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob are wholly unknown, but it is only known what is reprefented and fignified by them, in like Manner what it is to fit down and eat with them; for that all Names in the Word fignify Things, may be feen N. 1413. 1607. 1733. 2571, as alfo in Matthew, "Bleffed are the Meek, for they fhall inherit the Earth,"

N. 5.

No VI.

D

2659.

2659. Ver. 11. And the Thing was very grievous in Abraham's Sight, because of his Son. And the Thing was very grievous in Abraham's Sight, fignifies the first State of the Lord when he thought of feparating that Rational from himfelf. Because of his Son, fignifies because of that that he loved it.

2660. The Thing was very grievous in Abraham's Sight, that it fignifies the first State of the Lord, when he fhould think of feparating that Rational from himself, namely, that it would be a State of Grief from Love, may ap pear without Explanation.

2661. Because of his Son, that it fignifies becaufe of that that loved it, namely, the first Rational, appears from the Signification of Son, namely, of the Handmaid, which is the Rational merely human, or the first, of which before. The Caufe of Grief indeed is not here mentioned, but yet is plain from thofe Things which follow, which that it is from Love is evident, for it is fpoken of his Son, and of him it is treated in the following from Ver. 13 to 21. but that it may be known, why there was this Grief, or wherefore it is said, the Thing was very grievous in Abraham's Sight because of his Son, these few Things may be proper for Illuftration: The Lord did not come into the World that he might fave Celestials or Spirituals; the moft Antient Church, which was called Man, was celeftial, this if it had remained in its Integrity, would have had no need that the Lord fhould be born Man, wherefore when this firft began to fall off, the Lord forefaw that the celeftial Church would be abfolutely loft in the World, therefore a Prediction was immediately given of the Coming of the Lord into the World, Gen. iii. 15. after the Time of that Church there was no longer a celeftial Church, but a Church fpiritual. The Antient Church which was after the Flood, was the Church fpiritual, of which frequently in the First Part; this Church, or they who are of the Church Spiritual, could not be faved, unless the Lord had come into the World; thefe Things are understood by the Words of the Lord in Matthew, "They "that be whole need not a Phyfician, but they that are fick; I came "not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance," ix. 12, 13. alfo by thefe, "And other Sheep I have, which are not of this Fold; them alfo I "muft bring, and they fhall hear my Voice; and there fhall be one Fold and one Shepherd," John x. 16. as alfo by the Parable of the hundred Sheep, in Matthew, Chap. xviii, 11, 12, 13. Now as by Ifaac the Divine Rational of the Lord is represented, the Celestials are alfo fignified, who are called Heirs ; and as by Ifmael is reprefented the Rational merely human of the Lord, the Spirituals are alfo fignified who are called Sons, as from thofe Things which are faid above, N. 2658, is alfo manifeft; hence he had Grief from Love Divine, or the Words which are in this Verfe; hence alfo are those Things which follow from Ver. 13 to 21. where by the Son of Hagar and the Mother is represented the Church fpiritual, and the State of that is treated of, or of those who are of that Church, N. 2612. These are Secrets which cannot yet be declared in more Words; only, that in the Lord, when he was in the World, all the States in the Church were reprefented, and how by him they

fhould

fhould be faved; wherefore alfo the fame States of the Church are alfo fignified by the fame Names.

2662. Ver. 12. And God faid unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy Sight because of the Lad, and because of thy Bond-woman; in all that Sarah bath faid unto thee, bearken unto her Voice, for in Ifaac fhall thy Seed be called. God faid unto Abraham, fignifies the Perception of the Lord from the Divine. Let it not be grievous in thy Sight because of the Lad, and because of thy Bondwoman, fignifies the Change of the State toward that Rational. In all that Sarah hath faid unto thee, hearken unto her Voice, fignifies that he should act according to Truth fpiritual. For in Ifaac fhall thy Seed be called, fignifies that from the Divine Human of the Lord is all Salvation to those who are in Good.

2663. God faid unto Abraham, that it fignifies the Perception of the Lord from the Divine, appears from the Signification of, to fay, in the Hiftoricals of the Word, which is to perceive, of which often before; and because from the Divine, it is faid that God faid unto Abraham; by both, as well by God, as by Abraham, is understood the Lord; that Hiftoricals, which are the Sense of the Letter, divide the Ideas, but that the internal Senfe unites them, is plain from thefe; in the historical Senfe of the Letter there are two Persons, namely, God and Abraham, who fpeak, but in the Internal Senfe there is one, namely, the Lord with refpect to the Divine; hence it is likewife plain, that the Three who are in the Senfe of the Letter, are One, as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who are not three Gods, but one, and that in the Lord all the Trinity is perfect, namely, in Himfelf is the Father as He Himself says, and from Him the Holy Spirit, as He also fays.

2664. Let it not be grievous in thy Sight, because of the Lad, and because of the Bond-woman, which that it fignifies the Change of State towards that Rational; in the Senfe nearest the internal, according to the Words it is that he fhould not grieve for that, that he should separate from himself the merely Human, also that he should not have grieved, for it was from the Perception from the Divine, that there fhould be a Neceffity of its being separated, because otherwife Mankind could not be faved; this State is the State which is fignified.

2665. That in all that Sarab hath faid unto thee, hearken unto her Voice, fignifies that he should act according to fpiritual Truth, appears from the Reprefentation of Sarah, which is the Divine Spiritual, or the Divine Truth, of which, N. 2622; and from the Signification of, to hearken to her Voice, which is to act according to it, of which, N. 2542. What it is to act according to fpiritual Truth, cannot be fo explained to the Apprehenfion, as that it can be perceived by thofe who are in the internal Senfe; wherefore if according to the Apprehenfion of these it should be declared what it is, it would fcarcely be acknowledged, for this Reafon alfo, because many Secrets must first be laid open, even be believed, before the Thing explained can enter into the Ideas of Faith; what in common it fignifies may be a little fpoken to, nameD 2

ly,

ly, that it is that which the Lord would conclude, and would act according to it, fo from his own Power; alfo the Divine Truth was by that which united the Human to the Divine and the Divine Good, by that which united the Divine to the Human, that there might be a reciprocal Union, as may be feen N. 2004.

2666. That in Ifaac fhall thy Seed be called, fignifies that from the Human of the Lord is all Salvation to thofe who are in Good, appears from the Representation of Ifaac, which is the Divine Rational, of which before, so the Divine Human, for in the Intimate of the Rational begins the Human, N. 2106; and from the Signification of Seed, which is predicated of Ifaac, which is the Rational celeftial, or which is the fame Thing, they who are celeftial, of which, N. 2085. 2661; fo to be called thy Seed, fignifies that they are Heirs, and fo that Salvation is to them; the Spirituals are likewife Seed, but from the Son of the Handmaid, as it is faid in the following Verfe, "And "alfo of the Son of the Bond-woman will I make a Nation, because he is thy "Seed," wherefore alfo Salvation is to them, if they are in Good, as will appear from the internal Senfe of thofe Words; for the Lord teaches the fame Thing in many Places, and manifeftly in John, "As many as received him, to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God even to them "that believe on his Name; which were born, not of Blood, nor of the Will "of the Flesh, nor of the Will of Man, but of God," i. 12. 13.

2667. From the first Verse of this Chapter to the feventeenth has been difcuffed the Union of the Human with the Divine, and of the Divine with the Human of the Lord, and from that Union the Human of the Lord made Divine; the Contents of the particular Verfes may be feen N. 2649. Afterwards is confider'd the Rational merely buman, which should be separated, Ver. 8. because not agreeing with the Divine Rational, Ver. 9. neither could have Life in common, with this, as well with respect to Truth as with respect to Good, Ver. 10. that Separation would be first a Grief to the Lord, Ver. 11. but that it perceiv'd from the Divine that Mankind could not otherwise be faved, Ver. 12. What now follows is concerning those who are of the Church Spiritual, who are fignified by the Son of Hagar after he was fent away.

2668. Ver. 13. And also of the Son of the Bond-woman will I make a Nation, because he is thy Seed. And alfo of the Son of the Bond-woman will I make a Nation, fignifies the Church spiritual which fhould accept the Good of Faith." Because he is thy Seed, fignifies that from the Divine of the Lord Salvation is alfo to them.

2669. Alfo of the Son of the Bond-woman will I make a Nation, that it fignifies the Church fpiritual, which fhould accept the Good of Faith, appears from the Signification of the Son of the Bond-woman, alfo of Nation; the Son of the Bond-woman or Ifmael, while he was in the House of Abraham, or with Abrabam, reprefented the firft Rational of the Lord, as N. 2652. 2653. 2657.