400. 'And hurled upon the land, and a third part of the trees was burnt' signifies that with those who are in the internal things of the Church and in faith alone, every affection and perception of truth that make the man of the Church had perished. By the 'land' upon which the hail and fire mingled with blood were hurled is signified the Church with those who are in the internal things thereof and in faith alone. That these are the clergy may be seen above (n. 398). By 'a third part' is signified all as to truth, just as by 'a fourth part' all as to good (n. 322). That by 'three', persons or things, is signified all, full, and altogether, will be seen below (n. 505). Consequently by 'a third' which is 'a third part' the like is signified. By 'to be burnt' is signified to perish, here by means of the untruth derived from infernal love that is understood by 'hail and fire mingled with blood', of which just above (n. 399). By a 'tree' is signified man; and because a man is a man by virtue of the affection that is of the will and the perception that is of the understanding, therefore these are also signified by 'tree'. There is indeed a correspondence between a man and a tree, and therefore in heaven there appear paradises of trees, which correspond to the affections and consequent perceptions of angels; and also in some places in hell there are forests of trees that bear bad fruits, in accordance with a correspondence with the lusts and consequent thoughts of those there. That 'trees' in general signify men as to their affections and consequent perceptions, can be established from the following passages:-
All the trees of the field shall know that I Jehovah have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree sprout forth Ezek. xvii 24.
Blessed is the man who trusts in Jehovah, he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, he shall not cease from bearing fruit Jer. xvii 7, 8.
Blessed is the man whose good pleasure is in the law, he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of waters, that gives fruit in its season Ps. i 1-3.
Praise Jehovah, O fruit trees Ps. cxlviii 9.
The trees of Jehovah are full of sap Ps. civ 16.
The axe lies at the root of the tree, every tree not producing good fruit shall be hewn down Matt. iii 10; vii 16-20.
Either make the tree good and the fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and the fruit corrupt, for the tree is known by its fruit Matt. xii 33; Luke vi 43, 44.
I will kindle a fire that shall devour every green tree and every dry tree Ezek. xx 47 [H.B. xxi 3].
Since 'a tree' signifies a man, therefore it was a statute that:-
The fruit of a tree serving for food in the land of Canaan should be circumcised Lev. xix 23-25.
Also:-
When any city was besieged, they should not wield an axe against any tree of good fruit Deut. xx 19, 20.
As also that:-
At the feast of tabernacles they should take the fruit of the tree of honour, and be glad before Jehovah Lev. xxiii 40, 41.
Besides more passages, which are not adduced here by reason of their abundance.
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