789# 该教会中人的波动在这里通过“水越来越多”,即伪谬的增多来描述;然后“把方舟漂起”;再是“它从地上被升起”;接着是“水势浩大,在地上变得极多”,最后是“方舟行进在水面上”。
虽然详细叙述这些波动的每个阶段既繁琐又多余,但重要的是明白这里描述了这些波动的存在。只有对“方舟从地上被升起并行进在水面上”的意义有了解,才能理解人类如何被恶行和谬误所束缚;这是个秘密,需要简要说明。包括重生者在内的每个人都是这样的,以至于除非主阻止他远离邪恶和伪谬,否则他将自己急速投向地狱,任何时刻不被勒住,他就会冲向深渊。这是通过我的经验得知的,并且也通过马的象征表示出来(参阅第187,188节)。被勒住,从而不落入邪恶和伪谬,这就像“被升起”,使得邪恶和伪谬被感知于下方,而自己在上方。关于这种提升,蒙主怜悯,将在后续章节中详述。这种提升就是“方舟从地上被升起并行进在水面上”所象征的意义了。
789、此处描述了该教会成员的摇摆不定:首先描述为“水(即虚假)往上长”;接着描述为它们“浮起方舟”;然后描述为“它就从地上漂起来”;此后描述为“水在地上逐渐加强,大大增长”;最后描述为“方舟漂浮在水面上”。不过,要解释摇摆的每种程度太过冗长,也没有必要,知道此处正在描述它们就足够了。我们只提一下“方舟从地上漂起来,漂浮在水面上”表示什么。没有人能知道这句话的含义,除非他被告知人如何从邪恶和虚假中被拦回。这是一个奥秘,故必须简要解释一下。一般来说,每个人,包括重生之人,乃是这样:若非主把他从邪恶和虚假中拦回来,他必一头栽入地狱。一不被拦回,他就朝那个方向直奔。我已经通过实际经历得知这一点,这一点也向我表现为一匹马(对此,参看187,188节)。从邪恶和虚假中的这种拦回实际上是一种提升,以便邪恶和虚假被感知为在下面,而人自己在上面。关于这种提升,蒙主的神性怜悯,容后再述。这种提升正是“方舟从地上漂起来,漂浮在水面上”所表示的。
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]789. The details here portray the faltering of the people in this church. First the waters — falsities — grew, then they lifted the ark and it rose off the earth. Next the water strengthened and increased greatly on the earth, and finally the ark went on the face of the water. But describing the different stages of vacillation would be both tedious and useless. It is enough to know they are depicted here. All that needs explaining is the meaning of the phrases it rose off the earth and it went on the face of the water. The symbolism is not evident to anyone who has not learned how we are held back from evil and falsity. Since this is unknown I must explain it briefly.
All people in general, and even those who are regenerate, are such that unless the Lord held them back from evil and falsity they would throw themselves headlong into hell. At any moment that we are not withheld, we rush there precipitately, as I have discovered through various experiences. The horse mentioned in 187, 188 also represented this.
To be held back in this way is no different from being lifted up or rising, so that the evil and falsity are perceived as being below and the person above. More about such elevation will come later, with the Lord's divine mercy.{*1} This lifting up or rising is what the ark symbolized in rising off the earth and going on the face of the water.
Footnotes:
{*1} On this spiritual elevation, see, for example, 1044:3, 1857:3, 2116:2. [LHC]
Potts(1905-1910) 789
789. The fluctuations of the man of this church are described here; first, by its being said that the "waters (that is, falsities) increased;" then, that they "bare up the ark" and that it was "lifted up from off the earth;" afterwards, that the "waters were strengthened, and increased greatly upon the and finally, that the "ark went upon the face of the waters." But to explain each degree of the fluctuation would be too prolix, and unnecessary. It is sufficient to know that they are here described. We will merely mention what is signified by the statement that the ark was lifted up from off the earth, and went upon the face of the waters. As no one can know this unless he is informed how man is withheld from evils and falsities, and as this is a hidden thing, it shall be briefly explained. Speaking generally, every man, even the regenerate, is such that if the Lord did not withhold him from evils and falsities he would cast himself headlong into hell. The very moment he is not withheld, he rushes headlong into it. This has been made known to me by experience, and was also represented by a horse (as before described, n. 187, 188). This withholding from evils and falsities is in effect a lifting up, so that evils and falsities are perceived below, and the man above. Concerning this elevation, of the Lord's Divine mercy hereafter. It is this elevation which is signified by the "ark being lifted up from off the earth, and going upon the face of the waters."
Elliott(1983-1999) 789
789. The waverings of the member of this Church are described here first of all by the waters, that is, falsities, increasing; then by their raising the ark; further still by its being lifted above the earth; after that by the waters growing more and more and increasing greatly over the earth; and finally by the ark going over the facea of the waters. It would however take far too long and it would be superfluous to describe individual waverings. It is sufficient just to know that they are being described here. Let merely the statement be considered that the ark was lifted above the earth and went over the facea of the waters. Its meaning becomes clear to no one unless he has been told about how a person is withheld from evils and falsities. This being an arcanum it must be described briefly. Everyone in general, including a regenerate person, is such that unless the Lord withholds him from evils and falsities he hurls himself headlong into hell. The moment he is not being withheld he rushes headlong in that direction. This has been made known to me through actual experiences, and has also been represented to me by a horse, about which see 187, 188. This withholding from evils and falsities is nothing other than 'a lifting up' so that evils and falsities are perceived as being beneath, and man himself above. This lifting up will in the Lord's Divine mercy be dealt with later on. It is what is meant by the statements about the ark being lifted above the earth and about the ark going over the facea of the waters.
Latin(1748-1756) 789
789. Fluctuationes hominis hujus Ecclesiae describuntur hic per quod 'primum creverint aquae,' hoc est, falsa; tum quod 'sustulerint arcam'; adhuc quod 'elevata sit desuper terra'; dein quod 'corroboratae aquae et auctae valde super terra'; demum quod 'iverit arca super faciebus aquarum'; sed singulos fluctuationis gradus describere, et prolixum nimis et supervacaneum foret; satis est quod sciatur, hic describi illos; solum quid significet quod 'arca elevata sit desuper terra, et iverit super faciebus aquarum,' quod constare nemini potest nisi sit instructus quomodo homo a malis et falsis detinetur; hoc quia arcanum est, paucis describendum: omnis homo in genere, tum quoque regeneratus, talis est ut nisi Dominus detineat eum a malis et falsis, quod se praecipitem conjiciat in infernum, et quo momento non detinetur, praeceps ruit; quod per experientias mihi notum factum, et repraesentatum quoque per equum, de quo videatur, n. 187, 188: haec detentio a malis et falsis non aliter se habet ac 'elevatio,' sic ut mala et falsa percipiantur infra, et is supra; de qua elevatione, ex Divina Domini Misericordia, in sequentibus: haec elevatio est quae significatur per 'arcam quod elevata sit desuper terra' et quod 'iverit arca super faciebus aquarum.'