7893. No work shall be done in them. That this signifies a keeping back then from earthly and worldly things, is evident from the signification of "work," as being labors and occupations which have for their end the things of the world and of the earth; consequently by "no manner of work shall be done in them" is signified a keeping back from such things. That it was so severely forbidden to do any work on the feasts and sabbaths, was in order that they might then be in a full representative state, that is, in such things as represented heavenly and spiritual things, which state would have been disturbed if they had done works that looked to the world and the earth as their end. For the representatives of a church were instituted among the posterity of Jacob to the intent that by means of them there might be communication of heaven with man, which is the end for which the church exists. This communication would not have been maintained, unless under the penalty of death it had been forbidden them to do any work on the days of the feasts and sabbaths; for their minds were occupied with things worldly and earthly, in which they immersed themselves with the whole heart, such being their nature; and therefore if they had been free to busy themselves in these things at the same time, the communication by representatives would have been altogether interrupted and destroyed. But afterward the same feasts were retained for the sake of heavenly life at the time, and for the sake of the teaching, that they might then learn what faith and charity are.