206. * [verse 17] 'Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods' signifies that they believe themselves to possess in great abundance the cognitions of truth and good that are of the Church and heaven. To be 'rich and increased with goods' here signifies nothing else than fully to know and understand such things as are of the Church and heaven, which are called spiritual and theological, because here [the Word] treats of those things. Spiritual riches and plenty are nothing else. Those whose belief is derived from themselves and not from the Lord through the Word, also believe themselves to know and understand all things. This is because their spiritual mind has been closed and only the natural mind opened, and without spiritual light this mind does not see otherwise. That by 'riches' and 'wealth' in the Word are signified spiritual riches and wealth, which are cognitions of good and truth, is plain from these passages:-
In thy wisdom and in thy understanding thou hast made wealth for thyself, gold and silver in thy treasure-chambers; by the great Increase of thy wisdom thou hast greatly increased wealth for thyself Ezek. xxviii 4, 5.
These things [are said] of Tyre, by which is signified the Church as to cognitions of truth and good. In like manner:-
The daughter of Tyre shall bring thee a gift; O daughter of the king, the rich peoples shall entreat thy faces Ps. xlv 12 [H.B. 13].
Jehovah will impoverish Tyre, He will shake off her wealth in the sea Zech. ix 4.
O Tyre, they shall plunder thy wealth Ezek. xxvi 12.
Asshur has said, By the strength of my hand have I done it, and through my wisdom, because I am intelligent; whence I will plunder the treasures of the peoples, my hand shall find the wealth of the peoples Isa. x 13, 14.
By 'Asshur' is signified the rational, here that it perverts the goods and truths of the Church, which are the 'treasures' and 'wealth' of the peoples, which he shall plunder.
I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and the hidden wealth of the hiding-places Isa. xlv 3.
Blessed is the man who fears Jehovah, wealth and riches are in his house, and his justice stands for ever Ps. cxii 1, 3.
God has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent empty away Luke i 53.
Woe to you that are rich, for you have taken your joy; woe to you that have been filled, for you shall hunger Luke vi 24, 25.
By 'the rich' here are understood those who were in possession of cognitions of good and truth, because in possession of the Word, and these were the Jews. In like manner [they are understood] by the rich man who was clothed with purple and fine linen (Luke xvi 19). Likewise by 'the rich' and 'riches' elsewhere (as Isa. xxx 6; Jer. xvii; Micah iv 13; vi 12; Zech. xiv 14; Matt. xii 35; xiii 44; Luke xii 21). * Number 205 is missing in the Original text.
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