THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 61)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 61)
THE DECALOGUE TEACHES WHAT EVILS ARE SINS.

The commandments of this Law were called the "Ten Words," (see Exod. 34:28; Deut. 4:13; 10:4.)

They are so called because "ten" signifies all, and "words" signifies truths, for there were more than ten words. As "ten" signifies all,

The curtains of the tabernacle were ten (Exod. 26:1);

And for the same reason the Lord said

That a certain man who was to receive a kingdom, called ten of his servants, and gave them ten pounds to trade with (Luke 19:13).

And for the same reason also the Lord

Likened the kingdom of the heavens to ten virgins (Matt. 25:1).

For the same reason also,

The dragon is described as having ten horns, and upon his horns ten diadems (Rev. 12:3).

In like manner the beast that came up out of the sea (Rev. 13:1).

And another beast also (Rev. 17:3, 7).

Likewise the beast in Daniel (7:7, 20, 24).

The like is signified by ten in Leviticus 26:26, and in Zechariah 8:23, and in other places.
This is the origin of tithes, for "tithes" (or "tenths") signify something from all.

(LIFE 61)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 60)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 60)
THE DECALOGUE TEACHES WHAT EVILS ARE SINS.

The tables of stone on which the Law was written were called "the tables of the covenant," and that from them the ark was called "the ark of the covenant," and the Law itself "the covenant," (see Num. 10:33; Deut. 4:13, 23; 5:2, 3; 9:9; Josh. 3:11; 1 Kings 8:19, 21; Rev. 11:19; and in many other places.

The reason why the Law was called the "covenant," is that "covenant" signifies conjunction; and it is therefore said of the Lord that:

He shall be for a covenant to the people (Isa. 42:6; 49:8);

and He is called:

The messenger of the covenant (Mal. 3:1);

and His blood:

The blood of the covenant (Matt. 26:28; Zech. 9:11; Exod. 24:4-10).

And therefore the Word is called the "Old Covenant," and the "New Covenant."

Moreover covenants are made for the sake of love, friendship, association, and thus for the sake of conjunction.

(LIFE 60)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 59)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 58)
THE DECALOGUE TEACHES WHAT EVILS ARE SINS.

What has been said [previously] (pt. 54-56) respecting the promulgation, holiness, and power of that Law, will be found in the following places in the Word:

• That Jehovah came down on Mount Sinai in fire, and that the mountain smoked and quaked, and that there were thunderings, lightnings, and a thick cloud, and the voice of a trumpet (Exod. 19:16, 18; Deut. 4:11; 5:22-26).
• That before the descent of Jehovah the people prepared and sanctified themselves for three days (Exod. 19:10, 11, 15).
• That bounds were set round the mountain, lest anyone should come near its base, and should die and that not even were the priests to come near, but Moses only (Exod. 19:12, 13, 20-23; 24:1, 2).
• That the Law was promulgated from Mount Sinai (Exod. 20:2-17; Deut. 5:6-21).
• That that Law was written by the finger of God on two tables of stone (Exod. 31:18; 32:15, 16; Deut. 9:10).
• That when Moses brought those tables down from the mountain the second time, his face shone (Exod. 34:29-35).
• That the tables were kept in the ark (Exod. 25:16; 40:20; Deut. 10:5; 1 Kings 8:9).
• That upon the ark was placed the mercy-seat, and upon this the golden cherubs (Exod. 25:17-21).
• That the ark, together with the mercy-seat and the cherubs, constituted the inmost of the tabernacle, and that the golden lampstand, the golden altar of incense, and the table overlaid with gold on which were the loaves of faces, constituted the exterior of the tabernacle and the ten curtains of fine linen, bright-crimson, and scarlet, its outermost (Exod. 25:1-end; 26:1-end; 40:17-28).
• That the place where the ark was, was called the holy of holies (Exod. 26:33).
• That the whole people of Israel encamped around the habitation in order according to their tribes, and marched in order after it (Num. 2:1-end).
• That there was then over the habitation a cloud by day and a fire by night (Exod. 40:38; Num. 9:15-end; 14:14; Deut. 1:33).
• That the Lord spoke with Moses from over the ark between the cherubs (Exod. 25:22; Num. 7:89).
• That the ark, from the Law within it, was called Jehovah-There, for when the ark set forward, Moses said, Rise up, Jehovah; and when it rested be said, Return Jehovah (Num. 10:35, 36), and see further 2 Sam. 6:2; Ps. 132:7, 8.
• That on account of the holiness of that Law Aaron was not allowed to enter within the veil except with sacrifices and with incense (Lev. 16:2-14, etc.).
• That the ark was brought into Zion by David with sacrifices and with shouting (2 Sam. 6:1-19). That on that occasion, Uzzah, who touched it, died (verses 6 and 7).
• That the ark was placed in the midst of the temple in Jerusalem, where it constituted the shrine (1 Kings 6:19, etc. 8:3-9).
• That by the Lord's presence and power in the Law that was in the ark, the waters of Jordan were cleft asunder, and so long as the ark rested in the midst of it, the people passed over on dry ground (Josh. 3:1-17; 4:5-20).
• That when the ark was carried around them, the walls of Jericho fell (Josh. 6:1-20).
• That Dagon the god of the Philistines fell to the earth before the ark, and afterwards lay upon the threshold of the temple headless (1 Sam. 5:1-4).
• That on account of the ark the Bethshemites were smitten, to the number of many thousands (1 Sam. 6:19).

(LIFE 58)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 58)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 58)
THE DECALOGUE TEACHES WHAT EVILS ARE SINS.

In the second table, which is for man, it is not said that man must do this or that good, but that he must not do this or that evil, as for example, "Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet."

The reason is that man cannot do any good whatever from himself, but when he no longer does evils, then he does good, not from himself but from the Lord. That by the power of the Lord a man is able to shun evils as of himself if he begs for that power, will be seen in the following . . .

(LIFE 58)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 57)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 57)
THE DECALOGUE TEACHES WHAT EVILS ARE SINS.

As by means of this Law there is a conjunction of the Lord with man and of man with the Lord, it is called the "Covenant," and the "Testimony," — the "Covenant" because it conjoins — the "Testimony" because it bears witness.

• A "covenant" signifies conjunction
• A "testimony" the attestation of it.

For this reason there were two tables, one for the Lord and the other for man.

The conjunction is effected by the Lord, but only when the man does the things that have been written in his table. For the Lord is constantly present and working, and wills to enter in, but man must open to the Lord in the freedom which he has from Him; for the Lord says:

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me (Rev. 3:20).

(LIFE 57)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 56)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 56)
THE DECALOGUE TEACHES WHAT EVILS ARE SINS.

So great a power and so great a holiness existed in that Law for the further reason that it was a complex of all things of religion for it consisted of two tables of which the one contains all things that are on the part of God, and the other in a complex all things that are on the part of man. The commandments of this Law are therefore called the "Ten Words," and are so called because "ten" signifies all.

(LIFE 56)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE (pt. 55)

THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
for the
NEW JERUSALEM
FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Emanuel Swedenborg
— Doctrinal Series —
(pt. 55)
THE DECALOGUE TEACHES WHAT EVILS ARE SINS.

. . . these laws were the first-fruits of the Word, and therefore the first-fruits of the church that was to be again set up by the Lord with the Israelitish nation, and as they were in a brief summary a complex of all those things of religion by means of which there is conjunction of the Lord with man and of man with the Lord, they were so holy that nothing is more so.

That they were most holy is evident from the fact that —
• Jehovah Himself (that is, the Lord) came down upon Mount Sinai in fire, and with angels, and promulgated them from it by a living voice, and that the people had prepared themselves for three days to see and to hear;
• that the mountain was fenced about lest anyone should go near it and should die; that neither were the priests nor the elders to draw near, but Moses only;
• that those laws were written by the finger of God on two tables of stone;
• that when Moses brought the tables down from the mountain the second time, his face shone;
• that the tables were afterwards laid away in the ark, and the ark in the inmost of the tabernacle, and upon it was placed the mercy-seat, and upon this cherubs of gold;
• that this was the most holy thing of their church, being called the holy of holies;
• that outside the veil that hung before it there were placed things that represented holy things of heaven and the church, namely, the lampstand with its seven golden lamps, the golden altar of incense, and the table overlaid with gold on which were the loaves of faces, and surrounded with curtains of fine linen, bright-crimson, and scarlet.

The holiness of this whole tabernacle had no other source than the Law that was in the ark.

On account of this holiness of the tabernacle from the Law in the ark, the whole people of Israel, by command, encamped around it in the order of their tribes, and marched in order after it, and there was then a cloud over it by day, and a fire by night.

On account of the holiness of that Law, and the presence of the Lord in it, the Lord spoke with Moses above the mercy-seat between the cherubs, and the ark was called "Jehovah there." Aaron also was not allowed to enter within the veil except with sacrifices and incense.

Because that Law was the very holiness of the church, the ark was brought by David into Zion; and later it was kept in the midst of the temple at Jerusalem, and constituted its shrine.

On account of the Lord's presence in that Law and around it, miracles were wrought by the ark in which was that Law:
• the waters of Jordan were cleft asunder, and so long as the ark was resting in the midst of it, the people passed over on dry ground;
• when the ark was carried round the walls of Jericho they fell;
• Dagon the god of the Philistines fell down before it, and afterwards lay on the threshold of the temple without his head;
• the Bethshemites were smitten to the number of many thousands not to mention other miracles. These were all performed solely by the Lord's presence in His Ten Words, which are the commandments of the decalogue.

(LIFE 55)