Heavenly Doctrine (Tafel) n. 221

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221. Concerning Sacrifices. Burnt-offerings and sacrifices signified all things pertaining to worship from the good of love, and from the truths of faith, nos. 923, 6905, 8680, 8936, 10042. Burnt-offerings and sacrifices signified the Divine-celestial things, which are the internal things of the Church, from which is worship, nos. 2180, 2805, 2807, 2830, 3519; with a variety and a distinction according to the various things of worship, nos. 2805, 6905, 8936. Wherefore there were many kinds of sacrifices and various procedures therein; and also various animals were made use of, nos. 2830, 8936, 9990. The various thing signified thereby in general, may appear from an unfolding of each single thing by the internal sense, no. 10042. What was signified specifically by the animals which were sacrificed, no. 10042. Arcana of heaven are contained in the rituals and procedures of the sacrifices, no. 10057. In general there are contained therein arcana of the glorification of the Lord's Human; and in a respective sense, arcana of man's regeneration and purification from evils and falsities; wherefore they were [appointed] for various sins, crimes, and purifications, nos. 9990, 10022, 10042, 10053,10057. What was signified by the imposition of hands on the beasts which were sacrificed, no. 10023. What by the lower parts of the slain beasts being put in the burnt-offerings under their upper parts, no. 10051. What by the meat-offerings that were burned at the same time, no. 10079. What by the drink-offering, nos. 4581, 10137. What by the salt which was used no. 10300. What by the altar and all the things which belonged to it, nos. 921, 2777, 2784, 2811, 2812, 4489, 4541, 8935, 8940, 9388, 9389, 9714, 9726, 9963, 9964, 10028, 10123, 10151, 10242, 10245, 10344. What by the fire of the altar, nos. 934, 6314, 6832. What by eating together of the things sanctified, nos. 2187, 8682. It is shown from the Word, that sacrifices were not commanded, but charity and faith; that sacrifices thus were only permitted, nos. 922, 2180. Why they were permitted, nos. 2180, 2818. That the burnt-offerings and sacrifices, in which were offered lambs, she-goats, sheep, kids, be-goats, bullocks, and oxen, were in one word called "bread," may appear from the following passages: "And the priest shall burn it upon the altar; IT IS THE BREAD OF THE OFFERING MADE BY FIRE UNTO THE LORD (Levit. iii. 11, 16)." "The sons of Aaron shall be holy unto their God; neither shall they profane the name of their God; for the offerings of Jehovah made by fire, the BREAD OF THEIR GOD, they do offer. Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth THE BREAD OF THY GOD. A man of the seed of Aaron, in whom there is a blemish, let him not come nigh to offer the BREAD OF HIS GOD (Ibid. xxi. 6, 8, 17, 21)." "Command the sons of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, MY BREAD, for my offerings made by fire for an odour of rest, ye shall observe, to offer unto Me in their due season (Numb. xxviii. 2)." "He that toucheth any unclean thing shall not eat of the things sanctified, but shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall eat of the holy things, because it is his BREAD (Levit. xxii. 6, 7)." "Ye offer POLLUTED BREAD upon mine altar (Malachi i. 7)." Hence it was said above (no. 214), "The Holy Supper includes and comprises the whole of the Divine worship instituted in the Israelitish Church; for the burnt-offerings and sacrifices in which the worship of that Church principally consisted, were termed in one expression 'bread'; and hence, also, the Holy Supper is a summing up of that worship." From all this it can now be seen what is meant by Bread in John (vi. 31-35, 47-51), "Jesus said to them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave them not BREAD FROM HEAVEN; but My Father giveth you the TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN; for THE BREAD OF GOD is He that cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. They said unto Him, Lord, evermore give us THIS BREAD. Jesus said unto them, I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE: he that cometh to Me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. He that believeth on Me, hath eternal life. I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. THIS IS THE BREAD which cometh down from heaven that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I AM THE LIVING BREAD which came down from heaven; if any one shall eat OF THIS BREAD, he shall live for ever." From the latter and the former passages it is evident, that bread means all the good that proceeds from the Lord; for the Lord Himself is in His own good; and therefore the bread and wine in the Holy Supper mean all the worship of the Lord from the good of love and faith.


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