13. THE SENSE OF THE LETTER OR THE EXTERNAL SENSE OF THE WORD. The sense of the letter of the Word is expressed according to appearances in the world, (n. 589, 926, 1832, 1874, 2242, 2520, 2533, 2719), [1408, 1410]. And it is adapted to the comprehension of the simple-minded, (n. 2533, 9048, 9063, 9086). In the sense of the letter the Word is natural, (n. 8783), because what is natural is the ultimate in which spiritual and celestial things terminate, and upon which they stand like a house upon its foundation. Moreover, without an external, the internal sense of the Word would be like a house without a foundation, (n. 9360, 9430, 9433, 9824, 10044, 10436). Being of such a character the Word is the containant of a spiritual and a celestial sense, (n. 9407), and because it is such there is a Divine holiness in the sense of the letter as to each and all things therein, even to every single jot, (n. 639, 680, 1869, 1870, 9198, 10321, 10637). Although abrogated, the laws laid down for the Israelites are still the Holy Word on account of the internal sense within them, (n. 9211, 9259, 9349). Among the laws, judgments and statutes laid down for the Israelitish or Jewish Church, which was a representative Church, there are some still binding both in the external and internal sense; there are some which ought to be wholly observed in their external sense; some, which may be of use, if people wish to observe them, and some which are entirely abrogated, (n. 9349). The Word is Divine, even as to those things which are abrogated, on account of the heavenly things which lie concealed within their internal sense, (n. 10637). What the quality of the Word is in the sense of the letter, if it is not understood at the same time as to the internal sense, or, what is the same thing, according to true doctrine from the Word, (n. 10402). Without the internal sense, that is, without genuine doctrine from the Word, an immense profusion of heresies springs up from the sense of the letter, (n. 10400). Those who are in externals without internals cannot endure the interior things of the Word, (n. 10694). Such were the Jews and such also are they today, (n. 301, 302, 303, 3479, 4429, 4433, 4680, 4844, 4847, 10396, 10401, 10407, 10694, 10701, 10707).