353. I said above that every truth shines in heaven, and consequently truth when shining is faith in essence. The beauty and charm faith gets from this illumination, as the truths in it increase in number, can be compared with various shapes, objects and pictures, formed by different colours harmoniously juxtaposed; also with the precious stones of different colours in Aaron's breastplate, which were collectively called Urim and Thummim. Likewise they can be compared with the precious stones of which the foundations of the wall of the New Jerusalem were to be built (as described in Revelation chapter 21); or with the precious stones of different colours in a king's crown. Moreover, precious stones mean the truths of faith. Comparison is also possible with the beauty of the rainbow, or of a meadow full of flowers, and of a garden in bloom in early springtime.
[2] The light and glorious appearance of faith, which it gets from the volume of truths which form its structure, can be compared with the lighting of churches by a great number of lamp-stands, of houses by lamps and of streets by lanterns. The raising of faith to a higher level by the volume of truths can be illustrated by comparison with the increase in the volume of sound and the accompanying melody produced by playing a number of musical instruments in harmony; and also with the increase in fragrance produced by the grouping together of sweet-smelling flowers, and so on.
The resistance to falsities and evils of a faith formed from a large number of truths can be compared with the strength of a church built of well-fitted masonry, with columns to buttress the walls and support the ceiling. It can also be compared with troops drawn up to make a square formation, standing shoulder to shoulder and thus making up and acting as a single strongpoint. It can also be compared with the muscles which form the structure of the whole body, and, although they are so numerous and widely dispersed, none the less in action exert a single force; and so on and so forth.
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