Arcana Coelestia (Potts) n. 6766

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6766. And he said, Who set thee for a man, a prince, and a judge over us? That this signifies perception that he was not as yet so far advanced in the truths of faith as to settle differences within the church, is evident from the signification of "he said," as being perception (of which often above); and from the signification of "a man a prince," as being one who is in primary truths, thus who has been preeminently enlightened in the doctrine of truth. Such a one was meant in the representative church by "a prince," and hence by the words "Who set thee for a man, a prince?" is signified that he was not yet so far advanced in the truths of the church (that a "prince" is one in primary truths, see n. 5044). And from the significance of a "judge," as being one who settles disputes or differences, here differences within the church, because between two Hebrew men, by whom are signified those who are of the church. [2] In the supreme sense the subject treated of has been the beginnings of the law Divine in the Lord's Human, and now the subject treated of is the progress of this law; but in the internal sense the subject treated of now is the progress of Divine truth with the man who is being regenerated. This progress is such that the man is for the first time enabled to discriminate between falsity and truth; for from the truth in which he is he can see falsity, because it is opposite; but he cannot at this first time settle differences between the truths of faith within the church; in order to be able to do this he must make further progress, for man is enlightened successively. This is very evident from youths and young men, who believe the doctrinal things of their church to be truth itself, and from these judge of falsities, but as yet are not able to settle differences between matters of faith within the church. This ability comes by degrees; and therefore a man to whom this is possible must be of a more advanced age, and must have the interiors of his understanding enlightened.


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