128. 'And charity and ministry' signifies the spiritual affection that is called charity, and the working thereof. 'Charity' is the spiritual affection, because charity is love towards the neighbour, and love towards the neighbour is that affection. 'Ministry' is the working thereof, because in the Word they are termed 'ministers' who are doing the things that are of charity. A man worshipping God is sometimes called a 'servant' and sometimes a 'minister', and he who is in truths is termed 'servant of God', and he who is in goods 'minister of God'. This is because truth is of service to good, while good ministers to truth. That he who is in truths is termed a 'servant' may be seen above (n. 3); but that he who is in good is termed a minister' is plain from these passages:-
You shall be called priests of Jehovah, the ministers of your* God Isa. lxi 6.
My covenant shall not become ineffectual with the Levites My ministers Jer. xxxiii 21.
They are called 'ministers' because the priests were representing the Lord as to Divine Good.
Bless Jehovah all His hosts, the ministers who do His will Ps. ciii 21, 22.
Jehovah makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flaming fire Ps. civ 4.
'Angels spirits' are they who are in truths, and 'angels ministers' are they who are in goods; a 'flaming fire' also signifies good of love. Jesus said:
Whosoever wishes to be great ought to be your minister, and whosoever wishes to be first ought to be your servant Matt. xx 26, 27; xxiii ii, 12.
'Minister' is said there of good, and 'servant' of truth. The like is signified by 'ministering' and 'ministry' in Isa. lvi 6; John xii 26; Luke xii 37; and elsewhere. It is plain from these things that by 'charity and ministry' is signified the spiritual affection and the working thereof; for good is of charity, and truth is of faith. * Hebrew has 'our'.
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