306. 'It was given to the one sitting upon it to take peace away from the land' signifies the abolition of charity, spiritual security, and internal rest. By 'peace' are signified all things in a complex whole that are from the Lord, and consequently all the things of heaven and the Church; also the blessedness of life in them. These are of peace in the supreme or inmost sense. It follows, therefore, that charity, spiritual security and internal rest are 'peace', for when a man is in the Lord he is in the peace with the neighbour that is charity, in the protection against the hells that is spiritual security; and when he is in peace with the neighbour and in protection against the hells, he is in internal rest from evils and untruths. Since therefore all these things are derived from the Lord, what is signified by 'peace' in general and in each case can be established in the following passages:-
For unto us a Boy is born, unto us a Son is given, upon Whose shoulder [shall be] the government, His Name shall be called God, Hero, the Father of eternity, the Prince of Peace. To the increase of His government and peace there shall not be an end Isa. ix 6, 7 [H.B. 5, 6].
Jesus said, Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give unto you John xiv 27.
Jesus said, These things have I spoken, that you might have peace in Me John xvi 33.
In His days shall the just flourish, and much peace Ps. lxxii 3, 7.
Then I will make a covenant of peace Ezek. xxxiv 25, 27; xxxvii 25, 26; Mal. ii 4, 5.
How pleasant upon the mountains are the feet of One bringing good tidings, making to hear peace, saying unto Zion, Thy King* reigns Isa. lii 7.
Jehovah bless thee, and lift up His faces upon thee, and give thee peace Num. vi 24-26.
Jehovah will bless His people in peace Ps. xxix 11.
Jehovah will redeem my soul in peace Ps. lv 18 [H.B. 19].
The work of Jehovah** is peace, the labour of justice is quietness, and security for ever: so that they may dwell in the tabernacle of peace, and in the tents of security, and in tranquil quiet places Isa. xxxii 17, 18.
Jesus said unto the seventy whom He sent out, Into whatsoever house you enter, first say, Peace be to the house, and if there is the son of peace, your peace shall rest upon it Luke x 5, 6; Matt. x 12-14.
The miserable shall possess the land, and shall delight themselves over the multitude of peace; see the upright, for the end of the man is peace Ps. xxxvii 11, 37.
Zechariah prophesying said, The Dayspring from on high has appeared, to direct our feet into the way of peace Luke i 78, 79.
Depart from evil, and do good, seek peace, and pursue it Ps. xxxiv 14 [H.B. 15].
Much peace to those loving Thy law Ps. cxix 165, 166.
O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments, and thy peace shall be as a river. There is no peace, says Jehovah, to the wicked Isa. xvliii 18, 22.
Jehovah will speak peace unto His people: justice and peace shall kiss each other Ps. lxxxv 8, 10 [H.B. 9, 11].
There is no peace in my bones because of my sin Ps. xxxviii 3 [H.B. 4].
He has filled me with bitterness, my soul has been removed from peace, I have forgotten good Lam. iii 15, 17;
besides in many other places, from which it can be seen that the aforesaid things are understood by 'peace'. Keep the mind on spiritual peace and you will see clearly. Likewise in these places (Isa. xxvi 12; liii 5; liv 10, 13; Jer. xxxiii 6, 9; Hag. ii 9; Zech. viii 16, 19; Ps. iv 6-8 [H.B. 7-9]; cxx 6, 7; cxxii 6-9; cxxviii 5, 6; cxlvii 14. That peace is an inmost affecting of every good with blessedness may be seen in the work concerning HEAVEN AND HELL (n. 284-290). * So also AE 365:30 and other places; but Hebrew has 'God'. ** So also have AE 365:40 and TCR 303; but AC 3780 and HH 287 have 'justice [or righteousness]' as in Hebrew.
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