2967、“商人通用”表示适合他们的状态，这从“商人”、因而“商人通用”的含义清楚可知。在圣言中，“商人”表示那些拥有良善和真理的知识或认知的人，而“货物”或“商品”表示那些知识或认知本身。因此，“商人通用的银子”表示一个人所能接受的真理的量，换句话说，适合各人的状态和能力的真理。谁都能看出，加上去的这个短语包含某种奥秘。
下面会说明“商人”和“货物”的具体含义，但整个短语的大体含义是这样：凡正在被改造和重生的人都被主赋予仁和信，但各人照自己的能力和状态来接受。因为人从幼年起所吸收的邪恶和虚假使得任何一个人都不可能和别人一样接受被赋予的东西。在一个人能被重生之前，这些邪恶和虚假必须先经历荒废，或被剥离。荒废或剥离后剩余的属天和属灵生命的量就决定了剩下的东西能被真理光照，并富有良善的程度。那时获得生命的，正是余剩，也就是被储存在一个人里面的来自主的良善和真理。这些良善和真理是人从童年早期甚至直到改造时所获得的，并且这个人可能获得的多一些，那个人可能获得的少一些。它们被保存在他的内在人里面，无法被带出来，除非他的外在人被带入与内在人相对应的状态，这主要通过试探和多种多样的荒废实现。事实上，违背良善和真理的肉体欲望（就是诸如爱自己和爱世界的那类欲望）必须先沉寂下来，或处于休眠状态。在此之前，属于对良善和真理的情感的属天和属灵事物或渴望无法流进来。这就是为何各人都照自己的状态和能力被改造。主也以关于往国外去的人的比喻教导了这一点：
他就叫了仆人来，把他的财产托付给他们；一个给了五个他连得（talents，希腊文，他连得），一个给了二个，一个给了一个，各照各自的才干。那领五个他连得的拿它们做买卖，另外赚了五个；那领二个的，也照样另赚了二个。（马太福音25:14-17等）
这样的教导也出现在关于十个仆人的比喻中，他交给仆人们十锭银子去作生意（路加福音19:12-13等）。
“商人”表示那些拥有良善和真理的知识或认知的人，“货物”表示这些知识或认知本身，这一点从刚才所引用的马太福音和路加福音中的经文，以及接下来的经文清楚看出来。以西结书：
对推罗说，推罗啊，你是住在海口的人，是众民的交易者，交易通到许多海岛。他施因你多有各类的财物，就作你的客商，拿银、铁、锡、铅兑换你的货物。雅完、土巴、米设都与你交易；他们用人的灵魂和铜器兑换你的货物。底但与你交易；许多海岛作你手下的市场。亚兰因你的手工品很多，就作你的客商；犹大和以色列地都与你交易；他们用米匿的麦子、饼、蜜、油、止痛香膏兑换你的货物。大马色因你的手工品很多，又因你多有各类的财物，因黑本酒和察哈尔羊毛，就作你的客商。但和雅完拿纺成的线兑换你的货物。底但人用战车的敞篷与你交易。阿拉伯人和基达的一切首领因羊羔，公绵羊，公山羊，就作你的客商，他们因这些就作你的客商。示巴和拉玛的商人，他们以各类上好的香料与你交易。哈兰人、干尼人、伊甸人、示巴的商人，亚述人、基抹人与你交易。这些商人以美好的货物与你交易。（以西结书27:3， 12-13， 15-24）
这几节经文论及推罗，“推罗”表示良善和真理的知识或认知（参看1201节），这从包含在这几节经文中的具体细节清楚看出来。此处提到的“交易”、“兑换”和“货物”没有其它含义，仅仅是指这些知识或认知；因此，推罗被称为“住在海口的人”；“水”表示知识或认知，“海”表示这些知识或认知的汇集（参看28节）。推罗还被称为“众民的交易者，交易通到许多海岛”，也就是说，甚至通到那些敬拜离真正的敬拜更遥远的人，“海岛”表示更遥远的敬拜形式（参看1158节）。至于“他施”表示什么，这在前面已经解释了（1156节）。他施的“银、铁、锡、铅”表示处于自己适当次序中的真理的不同层级，直到最外在或最后的那种，也就是感官真理。至于“银子”表示什么，可参看前文（1551， 2048节），“铁”表示什么（425-426节），以及“雅完、土巴、米设人”表示什么（1151-1153， 1155节）。来自这些地方的“人的灵魂”和“铜器”表示与属世生命有关的事物：“灵魂”表示来自主的一切生命（参看1000， 1040， 1436， 1742节）；“铜器”表示从那生命所获得的属世良善（425， 1551节）。前面解释了“底但”表示什么（参看1172节），“亚兰”（Syria，即叙利亚）表示什么（参看1232， 1234节）。“犹大和以色列地用米匿的麦子、饼、蜜、油、止痛香膏与你交易”表示来自圣言的属天和属灵事物。所提到的其他民族及其货物则表示真理和良善的各种属和种，因而表示“推罗”所指的那些人拥有的知识或认知。
以西结书以下面这些话很清楚地表明，这些知识或认知是智慧和聪明的源头：
人子啊，你要对推罗的君王说，你靠自己的智慧聪明得了财富，你得了金银收入你的宝库。你靠自己的丰富智慧和贸易增加你的财富，因你的财富，心里就高傲。所以，看哪，我必使外人，就是列族中的强暴人临到你这里。（以西结书28:2， 4-7）
此处显而易见，他们交易的货物表示良善和真理的知识或认知，因为智慧和聪明的源头就是这些知识或认知，而不是其它的。这就是为何经上说：“你靠自己的智慧聪明得了财富，你得了金银收入你的宝库。”但当知识或认知是为了自我，为了获得显赫和名声，或财富时，它们就没有任何生命可言；那些获得它们的人会完全丧失它们。活在肉身时，他们因信奉虚假而非真理，信奉邪恶而非良善而丧失它们，在来世甚至会完全丧失那些真实事物。这就是为何经上说：“因你的财富，心里就高傲。所以，看哪，我必使外人（即虚假），就是列族中的强暴人（即邪恶）临到你这里。”
在以西结书的另一处：
推罗就像从海中间被剪除的一座城；你的货物由海上运出时，你就使许多人民满足；你以众多财富、货物，使地上的君王丰富。如今你在水的深处被海打破；你的货物和你中间所有的同伴都沉下去了；列民中的客商都向你发嘶声。（以西结书27:32-34， 36）
以赛亚书：
论推罗的预言。海岛的居民，就是航海的西顿商人哪，当静默无言；他们充满了你；在大水之上，西曷的种、尼罗河的庄稼是她的进项，你是列族的商埠。谁策划这事来攻击推罗呢？他是赐自己冠冕的，他的商人是王子。（以赛亚书23:2-3， 8）
这论及推罗的荒废。
启示录说，巴比伦也有“交易”和“货物”，但它们是被玷污的良善的知识或认知和被歪曲的真理的知识或认知：
巴比伦使列族喝她邪淫烈怒的酒，地上的君王素来与她行淫，地上的客商因她极度奢华就发了财。地上的客商也都为她哭泣悲哀，因为没有人再买他们的货物了；这货物就是金，银，宝石，珍珠，细麻布，紫色料，绸子，朱红色料。这些物件的客商藉着她发了财，因怕她的折磨，就远远地站着哭泣悲哀。（启示录18:3， 11-12， 15）
“巴比伦”表示敬拜，这敬拜的外在看似神圣，但内在却是亵渎（参看1182， 1283， 1295， 1304， 1306， 1326节）。由此明显可知它的“交易”和“货物”是什么。
主在马太福音中的话表明，“商人”表示一个为自己获取真理和良善的知识或认知，并由此获得聪明和智慧的人：
天国又好像商人寻找好珍珠，发现一颗重价珍珠，就去卖掉他所有的一切，买了它。（马太福音13:45-46）
“好珍珠”是指仁爱，或信之良善。
以赛亚书表明，良善和真理的一切知识或认知都来自主：
耶和华如此说，埃及劳碌得来的，古实和西巴人，就是身量高大之人的货物必过来归你，也要属你。他们必随从你，带着锁链过来向你下拜，祈求你说，神只在你们中间，此外再没有别神。（以赛亚书45:14）
这论及主的神性人身或人性。
由此可见“交易”，也就是买卖，是什么意思，即：为自己获取良善和真理的知识或认知，并通过它们获得良善本身。以赛亚书表明，这良善唯独从主那里获得：
凡口渴的，都就近水来，没有银钱的，也来，买了吃；不用银钱，不用价值，也来买酒和奶。（以赛亚书55:1-2）
此处“买”表示为自己获取，“酒”表示属灵真理（1071， 1798节），“奶”表示属灵良善（2184节）。谁都能看出，“就近水来”在此不是指到水这里来，“买”不是指购买，“银子”不是指银子，“酒和奶”也不是指酒和奶。相反，它们表示可以说在内义上对应于它们的那种事物。因为圣言是神性，它的一切词语虽来自自然界和人的感官印象，但都有与它们相对应的神性属灵和属天事物。圣言只以这种方式而为神启的。
Potts(1905-1910) 2967
2967. Current with the merchant. That this signifies adapted to their state, is evident from the signification of the "merchant," and thence of "current with the merchant." A "merchant" in the Word signifies those who have the knowledges of good and truth; and their "merchandise" signifies the knowledges themselves; hence "silver current with the merchant" signifies truth, as much as can be received; or what is the same, adapted to the state and capacity of each one. That these added words involve some arcanum, anyone may see. [2] Concerning the signification of "merchant" and of "merchandise," something will be said presently; but as regards the thing itself the case is this. All who are being reformed and regenerated are gifted with charity and faith by the Lord, but each according to his capacity and his state; for there are evils and falsities with which man has imbued himself from infancy, which stand in the way of one person's receiving a like gift with another; these evils and falsities must be vastated before the man can be regenerated; and insofar as there is a residue of heavenly and spiritual life after vastation, this can be enlightened with truth and enriched with good. It is the remains, which are goods and truths from the Lord stored up with man, that then receive life. These goods and truths are acquired from infancy even to the time of reformation, with one person more, with another fewer. These are reserved in his internal man; nor can they be brought forward until his external man has been reduced to correspondence, which is effected chiefly by temptations, and by many kinds of vastation; for until corporeal things, which are contrary to them, become quiescent (such as the things of the love of self and of the world), celestial and spiritual things, which are of the affection of good and truth, cannot flow in; this is the reason why everyone is reformed according to his state and capacity. This also the Lord teaches in the parable concerning the man who went abroad:
Who called his own servants and delivered unto them his goods; and unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability. He that received the five talents traded with them, and made other five talents; in like manner he also that received the two, he also gained other two (Matt. 25:14-17, etc.). So too concerning the ten servants, to whom were given ten pounds, that they might trade with them (Luke 19:12-13, etc.). [3] That a "merchant" signifies those who have the knowledges of good and truth; and that "merchandise" signifies the knowledges themselves is evident from the passages that have just been quoted from Matthew and Luke, and also from those which now follow. In Ezekiel:
Say unto Tyre, O thou that dwellest at the entrances of the sea, that art the trader of the peoples unto many isles, Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches; in silver, iron, tin, and lead, they furnished thy fairs. Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, these were thy traders; in the soul of man and vessels of brass they furnished thy commerce. The sons of Dedan were thy traders; many isles were the mart of thy hand. Syria was thy merchant in the multitude of thy handiworks. Judah and the land of Israel, they were thy traders; in wheat, minnith and pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm, they furnished thy commerce. Damascus was thy merchant in the multitude of thy handiworks, by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches, in the wine of Helbon* and wool of Zahar. Dan also and Javan furnished yarn in thy fairs. Dedan was thy trader in flowing garments for riding. The Arabian and all the princes of Kedar, they were the merchants of thy hand, in lambs, in rams, and goats, in these were they thy merchants. The traders of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy traders in the chief of all spices. Haran and Canneh, and Eden, the traders of Sheba; Asshur, Chilmad, were thy traders. These were thy traders in perfect things (Ezek. 27:3, 12-13, 15-24). These things are said concerning Tyre; and by "Tyre" are signified the knowledges of good and truth (see n. 1201), as is plain from the several particulars. The "traffickings," and "merchandise," and the "wares" that are here mentioned, are nothing else than these knowledges; and for this reason Tyre is called the "dweller at the entrances of the sea" (that "waters" are knowledges; and that the "sea" is a collection of these, may be seen above, n. 28); and is also called the "trader of the peoples unto many isles," that is, even to those who are more remotely in worship (that "islands" are the more remote kinds of worship, may be seen above, n. 1158; also what is signified by "Tarshish," n. 1156). The "silver, iron, tin, and lead," which are from thence, are truths in their order, even to the last which are sensuous. (What "silver" signifies, may be seen above, n. 1551, 2048; also what "iron" signifies, n. 425, 426,; also what "Javan, Tubal, and Meshech," n. 1151-1153, 1155.) The "soul of man," and the "vessels of brass," therefrom, are the things which are of natural life (that "soul" signifies all life that is from the Lord, may be seen above, n. 1000, 1040, 1436, 1742; also that "vessels of brass" are the natural goods which receive that life, n. 425, 1551). (What "Dedan" signifies has been stated, see n. 1172; and what "Syria," n. 1232, 1234.) That "Judah and the land of Israel" are "traders in wheat, minnith and pannag, honey, oil, balm" signifies celestial and spiritual things from the Word. The other nations and their merchandise which are mentioned, are the various genera and species of truth and good, thus the knowledges which are with those who are signified by "Tyre." [4] That they are knowledges from which come wisdom and intelligence is plainly evident in the same prophet, where it is thus said:
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyre, By thy wisdom, and by thine intelligence thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures; by the multitude of thy wisdom, by thy trading, thou hast multiplied thy riches, and thy heart is lifted up because of thy riches; therefore behold I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations (Ezek. 28:2, 4-7);
where it is manifestly evident that the wares with which they traded are the knowledges of good and truth; for from these, and from no other source, come wisdom and intelligence; and it is therefore said, "by thy wisdom and by thine intelligence thou hast gotten thee riches, and thou hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures." But when knowledges are for the sake of self, for gaining eminence and reputation, or wealth, then they have no life, and those who acquire them are altogether deprived of them; they are deprived of them in the life of the body by embracing falsities for truths and evils for goods; and in the other life they are wholly deprived even of those which are true; and from this it is said, "because thy heart is lifted up because of thy riches, therefore behold I will bring strangers upon thee" (that is, falsities); and "the terrible of the nations" (that is, evils). [5] Also in another place in the same prophet:
Tyre is like one that is cut off from the midst of the sea; when thy traffickings went forth out of the seas, thou didst satiate many peoples; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise. Now thou art broken by the seas, in the depths of the waters; thy commerce and all thy company are fallen in the midst of thee; the merchants among the peoples hiss at thee (Ezek. 27:32-34, 36). Also in Isaiah:
The prophecy concerning Tyre. Let the inhabitants of the isle be silent; the merchants of Zidon that pass over the sea have replenished thee; and in [great] waters [the seed] of Shihor, the harvest of the river, was her revenue, and thou wast** the mart of the nations. Who hath purposed this against Tyre that crowneth herself, whose merchants are princes? (Isa. 23:2-3, 8);
where the vastation of Tyre is treated of. [6] Of Babylon in like manner are predicated "trading" and "merchandise," which are the knowledges of good adulterated, and the knowledges of truth falsified. As in the Revelation:
Babylon hath made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her whoredom, and the kings of the earth have committed whoredom with her, and the merchants of the earth were made rich by the abundance of her delicacies. The merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth their merchandise any more; the merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and pearl, and fine linen, and crimson, and silk, and scarlet. The merchants of these things who were made rich by her shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning (Rev. 18:3, 11, 15). That "Babylon" is worship the externals of which appear holy while the interiors are profane, may be seen above (n. 1182, 1283, 1295, 1304, 1306, 1326); and from this it is plain what its "tradings" and "merchandise" are. [7] That a "merchant" is one who procures for himself knowledges of truth and good, and thence intelligence and wisdom, is evident from the Lord's words in Matthew:
The kingdom of the heavens is like unto a merchant man seeking goodly pearls; who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it (Matt. 13:45-46);
the "goodly pearl" is charity, or the good of faith. [8] That all the knowledges of good and truth are from the Lord, is taught in Isaiah:
Thus said Jehovah, The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Cush and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall pass over upon thee, and they shall be thine; they shall go after thee, in chains they shall pass over, and they shall bow themselves down to thee, they shall pray unto thee. Surely God is in thee, and there is no God else (Isa. 45:14);
treating of the Divine Human of the Lord. [9] From all this it may now be seen what is meant by "trading," that is, buying and selling; namely, that it is procuring for one's self the knowledges of good and truth, and by means of them good itself. That this is from the Lord alone is taught in the same Prophet:
Ho everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no silver; come ye, buy and eat; yea come, buy wine and milk without silver and without price (Isa. 55:1-2);
where "buying" denotes procuring for one's self; "wine" denotes spiritual truth (n. 1071, 1798); "milk," spiritual good (n. 2184). Anyone may see that "coming to the waters" here is not coming to the waters, that "buying" is not buying, that "silver" is not silver, and that "wine and milk" are not wine and milk, but are that which is said to correspond to them in the internal sense; for the Word is Divine, and to its several expressions which are from the natural world and man's sensuous things correspond Divine spiritual and celestial things. In this way and in no other is the Word Divinely inspired. * The Latin has Heshbon. ** Eras; but fuit, n. 1201. [Rotch ed.]
Elliott(1983-1999) 2967
2967. 'Current with the merchant' means in conformity with their state. This becomes clear from the meaning of 'a merchant', and, from this, of 'current with the merchant'. In the Word 'a merchant' means people who possess cognitions of good and truth, while 'merchandise' means those cognitions themselves. Consequently 'silver current with the merchant' means truth to the extent that it can be received, or what amounts to the same, in conformity with each individual's state and ability. For the embodiment of some arcanum within this added phrase may be seen by anyone. The specific meaning of 'a merchant' and of 'merchandise' is dealt with below, but the general meaning of the whole phrase is this: Everyone who is being reformed and regenerated has charity and faith conferred on him from the Lord; but each individual receives these according to his ability and his state. For the evils and falsities which a person absorbs from earliest childhood make it impossible for one individual to receive what is given in the same way as any other receives it. Those evils and falsities must first undergo vastation before a person can be regenerated. The amount of celestial and spiritual life left following vastation determines how far what is then left can be enlightened with truth and enriched with good.
[2] It is the remnants, that is, the goods and truths from the Lord stored away in a person, that receive life at that time. The goods and truths acquired in the period from early childhood to when reformation takes place are with one person more, with another less. They are preserved in his internal man, and cannot be brought out until his external man has been brought into a state of correspondence with the internal, which is effected chiefly by means of temptations, and by many kinds of vastation. Indeed until bodily desires which are contrary to goods and truths - as is the nature of desires which constitute self-love and love of the world - become dormant, celestial and spiritual desires that belong to the affection for good and truth cannot enter in. This is the reason why each individual is reformed in conformity with his state and ability. This is also the Lord's teaching in the parable about a man who went away on a journey,
He called his servants and delivered to them his riches. To the first he gave five talents, to the second two, and to the third one, to each according to his own ability. He who received the five talents traded with them and earned five talents more. So too he who received the two earned two more. Matt 25:14-17, and following verses.The same teaching also occurs in the parable about the ten servants to whom he gave ten pounds to trade with, Luke 19:12, 13, and following verses.
[3] As regards 'a merchant' meaning those who possess cognitions of good and truth and 'merchandise' meaning those cognitions themselves, this is clear from the places which have just been quoted from Matthew and Luke, and also from the following: In Ezekiel,
Say to Tyre, one that dwells upon the entrances of the sea, she that is the trader of the peoples to many islands: Tarshish was your merchant because of the abundance of all riches; silver, iron, tin, and lead they exchanged for your wares. Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were your traders in the souls of men - and they gave vessels of bronze for your commerce. The sons of Dedan were your traders, many islands were the merchandise of your hand. Syria was your merchant in the multitude of your handyworks; Judah and the land of Israel, they were your traders. Wheat of minnith and pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm, they exchanged for your commerce. Damascus was your merchant in the multitude of your handyworks because of the multitude of all riches - in the wine of Helbon and the wool of Zahar And Dan and Javan exchanged yarn for your wares. Dedan was your trader in chariot-cloaks.a The Arab and all the princes of Kedar were the merchants of your hand in lambs, in rams and goats; in these they were your merchants. The traders of Sheba and Raamah, they were your traders in the best of every spice. Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the traders of Shebah; Asshur, Chilmad, was your trader. These were your traders in choice wares. Ezek 27:3, 12, 13, 15-24.
These verses refer to Tyre, by which - as may be seen in 1201 and as is evident from all the specific details contained in these verses - cognitions of truth are meant. The tracings and merchandise, and also the wares, mentioned there have no other meaning, for which reason Tyre is described as 'one that dwells upon the entrances of the sea' - 'waters' meaning cognitions and 'the sea' a gathering together of these, 28. Tyre is also called 'the trader of the peoples to many islands', that is, extending even to those whose worship is more remote - 'islands' meaning more remote forms of worship, see 1158. What Tarshish means is explained in 1156, while 'silver, iron, tin, and read' from there means truths in their own order even to the last, which are sensory truths - what 'silver' means being explained in 1551, 2048, 'iron' in 425, 426.
What 'Javan, Tubal and Meshech' means is explained in 1151-1153, 1155, while 'the souls of men' and 'vessels of bronze' from those places mean things that have to do with natural life - 'soul' meaning all life that comes from the Lord, 1000, 1040, 1436, 1742; 'vessels of bronze' the natural goods which receive that life, 425, 1551. What 'Dedan' means is explained in 1172, 'Syria' in 1232, 1234. 'Judah and the land of Israel were your traders in wheat of minnith and pannag, honey, oil, and balm' means celestial and spiritual things from the Word. The rest of the nations and their merchandise that are mentioned mean different genera and species of truth and good, and so the cognitions that exist with those meant by 'Tyre'.
[4] On such cognitions wisdom and understanding rest, as is quite clear in the same prophet where the following is stated,
Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, By your wisdom and by your intelligence you have gained riches for yourself and gained gold and silver in your treasuries. By the vastness of your wisdom, by your trading, you have increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up on account of your riches; therefore, behold, I am bringing strangers - the terrible of the nations - upon you. Ezek 28:2, 4-7.
Here it is quite evident that the commodities with which they traded mean cognitions of good and truth since there is no other source from which wisdom and intelligence may be derived. Hence the statement, 'By your wisdom and by your intelligence you have gained riches for yourself and gained gold and silver in your treasuries'. But when cognitions are sought for the selfish purpose of becoming pre-eminent, and of gaining either reputation or riches, they have no life, and those people who possess them are deprived of such altogether. In this life they are deprived of them by embracing falsities instead of truths and evils instead of goods, and in the next life too they are deprived altogether of those things that are true. This is why it is said, 'Because your heart is lifted up on account of your riches, therefore I am bringing strangers (meaning falsities) - the terrible of nations (meaning evils) - upon you'. And elsewhere in the same prophet,
Tyre is like [a city] destroyed in the midst of the sea. When your wares came out of the seas you satisfied many peoples; with the multitude of your riches and of your commerce you enriched the kings of the earth. Now you are broken by the seas, in the depths of the waters; your commerce and all your company have sunk in the midst of you. The merchants among the peoples hiss at you.b Ezek 27:32-34, 36.
And in Isaiah,
The prophecy concerning Tyre. The inhabitants of the island are silent, O merchant of Sidon passing over the sea; they have replenished you. On the great waters the seed of Shihor, the harvest of the river, was her revenue and was the merchandise of nations. Who has purposed this against Tyre crowning itself, whose merchants were princes? Isa 23:2, 3, 8.
This refers to the vastation of Tyre.
[5] Merchandise and wares are in a similar way spoken of in reference to Babylon, these being adulterated cognitions of good, and falsified cognitions of truth. In John,
Babylon has given all nations drink from the wine of the fury of her whoredom, and the kings of the earth have committed whoredom with her; and the merchants of the earth, have grown rich from the abundance of her luxuries. The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, since no one buys their wares any more, wares of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, etc. The merchants in these things who were made rich by her will stand far off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning. Rev 18:3, 11, 12, 15.
'Babylon' means worship, the external features of which seem holy but the interior features are unholy, see 1182, 1283, 1295, 1304, 1306, 1326. From this it is evident what its merchandise and wares mean.
[6] That 'a merchant' means one who acquires to himself cognitions of truth and good, and from these intelligence and wisdom, is clear from the Lord's words in Matthew,
The kingdom of heaven is like a trader seeking fine pearls, who, having found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matt 13:45, 46.
'A fine pearl' is charity or the good of faith.
[7] That all cognitions of good and truth come from the Lord is taught in Isaiah,
Thus said Jehovah, The labour of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush and of the Sabaeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours. They will follow after you, they will come over in chains and bow down to you. To you they will make the supplication, God is with you only, and there is no other besides God. Isa 45:14.
This refers to the Lord's Divine Human.
[8] From all these places one may now see what is meant by acting as a merchant, or buying and selling, namely acquiring cognitions of good and truth for oneself, and by means of these cognitions acquiring good itself. This good is acquired from the Lord alone, as is clear in the same prophet,
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters, and he who has no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isa 55:1, 2.
Here 'buying' stands for acquiring for oneself, 'wine' stands for spiritual truth, 1071, 1798, 'milk' for spiritual good, 2184. Anyone may see that here 'coming to the waters' does not mean coming to the waters, nor that 'buying' means buying, nor 'money' money, nor 'wine and milk' wine and milk, but that each of these means something corresponding to it in the internal sense. For this is the Divine Word, in which all the expressions used - though fashioned out of things perceptible in the natural world and out of man's sensory impressions - have Divine spiritual and celestial things corresponding to them. In this and no other way is the Word Divinely inspired.
Latin(1748-1756) 2967
2967. `Transeuntis mercatori': quod significet applicate ad illorum statum, constare potest a significatione `mercatoris,' et inde `transeuntis mercatori'; `mercator' in Verbo significat illos qui habent cognitiones boni et veri, et `mercatura' ipsas illas cognitiones, inde `argentum transiens mercatori' significat verum quantum recipi potest, seu quod idem, applicate ad cujusvis statum et facultatem; quod adjectio haec aliquid arcani involvat, quisque videre potest; de significatione `mercatoris et mercaturae' sequitur: quod autem ipsam rem attinet, illa se ita habet: omnes qui reformantur et regenerantur, donantur charitate et fide a Domino, sed quisque secundum suam facultatem et suum statum; sunt enim mala et falsa, quibus se homo {1}imbuit ab infantia, quae obstant quin recipere possit unus simile donum ac alius mala et falsa illa prius vastanda sunt quam regenerari potest homo; [2] quantum vitae caelestis et spiritualis post vastationem residuum est, tantum hoc potest illustrari vero et ditari bono; sunt reliquiae, quae sunt bona et vera a Domino apud hominem recondita, quae tunc vitam accipiunt; bona et vera acquiruntur ab infantia usque ad reformationis tempus, apud unum plura, apud alium pauciora; haec reservantur in interno ejus homine; nec produci possunt priusquam externus ejus homo ad correspondentiam redactus est, quod fit imprimis per tentationes, et per plures species vastationis; antequam enim quiescunt corporea quae illis contraria sunt, ut sunt illa quae sunt {2}amoris sui et mundi, {3}non influere possunt caelestia et spiritualia quae sunt {4}affectionis boni et veri; haec causa est quod quisque reformetur applicate ad ejus statum et facultatem; quod etiam Dominus docet in parabola de Homine qui peregre abiit, Et vocavit proprios servos, et tradidit illis opes suas, et {5}uni dedit quique talenta, alteri duo, et tertio unum, unicuique juxta propriam facultatem:...qui quinque talenta accepit, negotiatus est cum illis, et lucratus alia quinque talenta; similiter etiam is qui duo, lucratus est etiam {6}ille alia duo, Matth. xxv 14-17, seq.:
tum etiam de Decem servis, quibus dedit decem minas, ut cum illis negotiarentur, Luc. xix 12, 13, seq. [3] Quod `mercator' significet illos qui habent cognitiones boni et veri, et `mercatura' ipsas illas cognitiones, constat ab illis locis quae adducta, apud Matthaeum et Lucam, tum etiam ab his; apud Ezechielem, Dicas Tyro, Habitatrix super introitibus maris, negotiatrix populorum ad insulas multas....Tarshish mercatrix tua ex multitudine omnium opum; in argento, in ferro, in stanno et plumbo dederunt nundinationes tuas. Javan, Tubal et Meshech, hi negotiatores tui, in anima hominis, et vasis aeris dederunt commercium tuum....Filii Dedanis negotiatores tui:
insulae multae mercatura manus tuae....Syria mercatrix tua in multitudine operum tuorum. Jehudah et terra Israelis, illi negotiatores tui in triticis minnith et pannag, et melle, et oleo, et opobalsamo dederunt commercium tuum. Damascus mercatrix tua in multitudine operum tuorum ex multitudine omnium opum, in vino {7}Helbonis et lana zaharis. Et Dan et Javan netum in nundinationibus tuis dederunt. Dedan negotiatrix tua in vestibus libertatis ad currum. Arabs et omnes principes Kedar illi mercatores manus tuae, in agnis, in arietibus et hircis, in his mercatores tui. Negotiatores Shebae et Raamae illi negotiatores tui in primario omnis aromatis. Haran, et Channeh, et Eden, negotiatores Shebae;
Asshur, Kilmad, negotiatrix tua. Hi negotiatores tui in perfectionibus, xxvii 3, 12, 13, 15, 16-23, [24];
haec de Tyro, per quam quod significentur cognitiones boni et veri, videatur n. 1201, et patet a singulis; `negotiationes et mercaturae,' tum `merces' quae ibi memorantur: nec aliud sunt, ideo vocatur Tyrus `habitatrix super introitibus maris'; quod `aquae' sint cognitiones{8}, ac `mare' congregatio {9}illarum, n. 28; et vocatur `negotiatrix populorum ad insulas multas,' hoc est, usque ad illos qui remotius in cultu sunt; quod `insulae' sint cultus remotiores, n. 1158; quid Tarshish, n. 1156, argentum, ferrum, stannum, et plumbum,' quae inde, sunt vera in suo ordine usque ad ultima, quae sunt sensualia; quid argentum, n. 1551, 2048; quid ferrum, n. 425, 426; quid Javan, Tubal et Meshech, n. 1151-1153, 1155; `anima hominis et vasa aeris' quae inde, sunt illa quae sunt vitae naturalis; quod `anima' sit omnis vita quae a Domino, n. 1000, 1040, 1436, 1742; quod `vasa aeris' sint bona naturalia quae recipiunt illam vitam, n. 425, 1551; quid Dedan, n. 1172; quid Syria, n. l232, 1234; quod `Jehudah et terra Israelis negotiatores in triticis, minnith et pannag, melle, oleo, opobalsamo' significat caelestia et spiritualia e Verbo; reliquae gentes et earum mercaturae quae memorantur, sunt genera et species veri et boni, ita cognitiones, quae apud illos qui significantur per `Tyrum': [4] quod sint cognitiones ex quibus sapientia et intelligentia, constat manifeste apud eundem Prophetam, ubi ita, Fili hominis, dic principi Tyri,...In sapientia tua, et in intelligentia tua fecisti tibi opes, et fecisti aurum et argentum in thesauris tuis: in multitudine sapientiae tuae, in negotiatione tua, multiplicasti opes tuas, et elatum cor tuum in opibus tuis,...propterea ecce adduco super te alienos, violentos gentium, xxviii 2, 4-7;
ubi manifeste patet quod `merces cum quibus negotiati' sint cognitiones boni et veri, inde enim non aliunde sapientia et intelligentia, quare dicitur `in sapientia tua et in intelligentia tua fecisti tibi opes, et fecisti aurum et argentum in thesauris tuis': sed cum cognitiones sunt sui causa, ut emineant et lucrentur aut famam aut opes, tunc nullam vitam habent, ac illis prorsus privantur, in vita corporis falsa pro veris et mala pro bonis amplectendo, ac in altera vita illis quoque quae vera sunt, prorsus privantur; inde est quod dicatur `quia elatum cor tuum in opibus tuis,...propterea ecce adduco super te alienos,' hoc est, falsa, `et violentos gentium,' hoc est, mala: et alibi apud eundem, Tyrus sicut excisa e medio maris, in exire nundinationes tuas e maribus, satiasti populos multos, in multitudine opum tuarum, et commerciorum tuorum ditasti reges terrae, jam fracta es e maribus, in profunditatibus aquarum, commercium tuum, et omnis congregatio tua in medio {10}tui ceciderunt;...mercatores in populis frendent super te, xxvii 32-34, 36:
et apud Esaiam, Propheticum de Tyro;...tacent habitatores insulae, mercator Zidon transiens mare, impleverunt te: et in aquis multis semen Shihoris, messis fluvii proventus ejus, et {11}erat mercatura gentium: quis consultavit hoc super Tyrum coronantem se, cujus mercatores principes, xxiii 2, 3, 8;
ubi de vastatione Tyri agitur. [5] `Mercaturae et merces' similiter praedicantur de Babylone, quae sunt cognitiones boni adulteratae et cognitiones veri falsificatae, apud Johannem, Babylon ex vino furoris scortationis suae potavit omnes gentes, et reges terrae cum ea scortati sunt; et mercatores terrae ex facultatibus deliciarum ejus ditati sunt:...mercatores terrae flebunt et plangent super ea, quod merces eorum nemo emit amplius; merces auri, et argenti, et lapidis pretiosi, et margaritae, et byssi, et purpurae, et serici, et coccini, etc.:...mercatores horum, qui ditati sunt ab ea, e longinquo stabunt propter metum cruciatus ejus, flentes et plangentes, Apoc. xviii 3, 11, [12], 15;
quod `Babylon' sit cultus, cujus externa apparent sancta, sed interiora profana, videatur n. 1182, 1283, 1295, 1304, 1306, 1326; inde quid mercaturae et merces ejus, patet. [6] Quod `mercator' sit qui comparat sibi cognitiones veri et boni, et inde intelligentiam et sapientiam, constat a Domini verbis apud Matthaeum, Simile est regnum caelorum homini negotiatori, quaerenti pulchras margaritas, qui cum invenisset unam pretiosam margaritam, abiens vendidit omnia quae habuit, et emit illam, xiii 45, 46;
`pulchra margarita' est charitas seu bonum fidei. [7] Quod omnes cognitiones boni et veri sint a Domino, apud Esaiam, Sic dixit Jehovah, Labor Aegypti, et mercatura Cushi et Sabaeorum, virorum mensurae, super te transibunt, et tibi erunt; post te ibunt, in vinculis transibunt, et ad te incurvabunt se, ad te orabunt; tantummodo in te Deus, et nullus praeterea Deus, xlv 14;
ubi de Divino Humano Domini. [8] Inde nunc constare potest quid sit `mercari,' seu emere et vendere, quod nempe comparare sibi cognitiones boni et veri, et per illas ipsum bonum; {12}quod hoc a Domino solo, apud eundem prophetam {13}, Heu omnis sitiens, ite ad aquas, et cui nullum argentum, ite, emite, et edite; et ite, emite absque argento, et absque pretio, vinum et lac, lv 1, 2;
ubi `emere' pro comparare sibi, `vinum' pro vero spirituali, n. 1071, 1798; `lac' pro bono spirituali, n. 2184; quisque videre potest quod hic `ire ad aquas' non sit ire ad aquas, quod `emere' non sit emere, quod `argentum' non sit argentum, nec quod `vinum et lac' sit vinum et lac, sed quod tale quod vocatur correspondens in sensu {14}interno; est enim Verbum Divinum, cujus singulis vocibus, quae e naturali mundo et e sensualibus hominis sunt, spiritualia et caelestia Divina correspondent, ita non aliter Verbum divinitus inspiratum est. @1 after infantia$ @2 ex amore sui et amore mundi$ @3 for non influere possunt A has influere nequeunt after boni et veri$ @4 affectiones$ @5 huic$ @6 ipse$ @7 as Heb. A and I have Chesbonis as also in n. 9470 and AE 376, but Ind. Bib. has Chelbon.$ @8 i et scientifica$ @9 eorum$ @10 as heb. A and I have ejus$ @11 eras I$ @12 i et$ @13 i ita$ @14 spirituali$