Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 7768

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7768. 'When he sends everything away he will surely drive you out from here' means that they will leave them completely, and will loathe and shun their presence. This is clear from the meaning of 'sending everything away 'as leaving completely; and from the meaning of 'surely driving you out' as loathing and shunning those belonging to the spiritual Church whom they have molested. For anyone who loathes another's presence shuns it too, and also drives him away from himself. The reason why they now loathe and shun those who belong to the spiritual Church is that inflowing goodness and truth now torment them. The situation may be compared to painful sores which cannot stand even the touch of warm water or a breath of air on them, or to a damaged eye that cannot stand even gentle rays from the sun. So it is with those who molest. Their natural mind is now like something wounded in this way; after they have undergone vastation, that is, after things which have been matters of faith have been cast away, they feel pain when the slightest breath of goodness or truth blows on them, which gives rise to loathing.


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