799. 'Because thy great ones* were the merchants of the land' signifies that the higher ones in their ecclesiastical hierarchy are such, because by means of various, even arbitrary, rights left to them in the statutes of the order they trade and make a profit. By 'great ones' are understood the higher ones in their ecclesiastical hierarchy, who are called cardinals, bishops and primates. These are called 'merchants' because they make gain by means of the holy things of the Church as by merchandise (n. 771, 783). Here they are those who by means of various, even arbitrary, laws left to them in the statutes of the order trade and make a profit. Why this is said is plain from the things preceding, for this is a consequence of them. In the preceding statements it is said that 'there shall not be heard any more in Babylon the voice of harpers, of musicians, of flute-players and of trumpeters, that there shall not be a craftsman of any craft, there shall not he heard the voice of a mill, there shall not be the light of a lamp, neither the voice of the bridegroom and bride'. By these things is signified that in Babylon there is not any affection of spiritual truth, nor any understanding of it and consequent thought, neither any search after and examination of it, nor enlightenment and a perception of it, and consequently no conjunction of good and truth that makes the Church, as may be seen above (n. 792-794, 796, 797). The reason why they do not have these things is because the higher ones in the order also trade and make gain and thus set an example to the lower ones. This therefore is why it is said 'because thy great ones were the merchants of the hand'. [2] But perhaps someone may say, 'What are those even arbitrary rights which are called tradings?' They are not their annual revenues and stipends, but they are the dispensations resulting from the authority of the keys. These are, that they remit sins even enormous ones, and thereby release from the temporal penalties; that by intercessions with the pope they get the power for contracting marriages within the prohibited degrees, and for breaking off those within the degrees not prohibited. And they [do the same] themselves by tolerations without intercession; by gifts of the privileges pertaining to their rights; by ordinations of ministers, and confirmations; by gratuities general and particular derived from monasteries; by awards of revenues from one source which belong by right to another; and by many other things. These things, and not their annual revenues if they have been content with them, are the cause of their not having any affection, thought, examination and perception of spiritual truth, nor conjunction of truth and good, because they are the gains of the unjust mammon, and an unjust person perpetually lusts after natural wealth and is averse to the spiritual riches that are the Divine Truths (veritas) out of the Word. [3] From these considerations it can now be established that by 'because thy great ones were the merchants of the land' is signified that the higher ones in their ecclesiastical hierarchy are such because by means of various even arbitrary rights left to them in the statutes of their order they trade and make a profit. Something further shall be said here concerning the dispensation, derived from the authority of the keys, over even enormous crimes, by means of which they not only liberate the guilty from eternal but also from temporal penalties; and if they do not liberate them, they still protect them by giving sanctuary (per azyla). Who does not see that this is not a matter of ecclesiastical but of civil jurisdiction; and that it is to extend dominion over everything secular; and that this is to destroy public security; also that by this authority still reserved to themselves they are in the power of bringing back their former despotic domination over all matters of judgment established by kings, thus over even the highest judges? This also they would do but for their fearing a withdrawal [of adherents]. This is understood in Daniel by this, that:-