109# “得胜的，我必将生命树赐给他吃”表示从心里接受的人将充满爱之良善和由此而来的天堂喜乐。这从“得胜”、“吃”和“生命树”的含义清楚可知：“得胜”是指从心里接受(对此，我们将在下文论述)；“吃”是指变成自己的并结合(参看《属天的奥秘》, 2187, 2343, 3168, 3813, 5643节)；“生命树”是指爱之良善和由此而来的天堂喜乐(对此，我们也会很快论述)。“得胜”是指从心里接受，是因为凡即将接受属灵生命的人必须与属于他的属世生命的邪恶和虚假争战；当战胜它们时，他就从心里接受属于属灵生命的良善和真理。从心里接受就是在意愿和爱中接受，因为在圣言中，“心”表示意愿和爱(参看《属天的奥秘》，2930, 3313, 7542, 8910, 9050, 9113, 10336节)；因此，从心里接受良善和真理，就是出于意愿或爱来实行它们；这就是“得胜”所表示的。
“生命树”表示爱之良善和由此而来的天堂喜乐，是因为“树”表示那些从内在在人里面，属于其内层心智(内层人)或外在心智的事物；“枝”和“叶”表示那些属于真理和良善的知识或认知的事物，“果子”表示生活良善本身。树的这种含义来源于灵界；因为在灵界会看到各种树，所看到的这些树就对应于天使和灵人的心智内层；最美丽、最能结果的树对应于那些处于爱之良善，由此处于智慧之人的内层；不那么美丽和结果的树对应于那些处于信之良善的人；而那些只长叶子，不结果的树则对应于那些仅处于真理的知识或认知的人；结毒果的可怕或色调阴郁的树对应于那些处于知识或认知和生活邪恶的人。然而，那些未处于知识，却处于生活邪恶的人则看不见任何树，取而代之的是石头和沙子。灵界的这些表象实际上是从对应流出的，因为灵界居民的心智内层通过这些形式实际呈现在他们眼前。这些事最好参看《天堂与地狱》中的两章，其中一章论述了天堂与地上一切事物的对应关系(HH103–115节)；另一章论述了天堂里的代表和表象(HH170–176， 177–190节)。
这就是为何圣言如此频繁地提到“树”，它们表示那些属于人心智的事物；这也是为何《创世记》头几章说两棵树被安置在伊甸园中，其中一棵被称为生命树，另一棵被称为“知识树”。那里提到的“生命树”表示对主之爱的良善和由此而来的天堂喜乐，那些那时形成教会，由“人”和他的“妻子”来表示的人就拥有它们；“知识树”表示只源于仅仅为了荣誉或利益而被视为有学问，获得博学多才的名声的知识或认知之快乐。“生命树”也表示天堂的喜乐，是因为具体由那树来表示的对主之爱的良善就拥有天堂的喜乐在里面(参看《天堂与地狱》，395–414节；《新耶路撒冷及其属天教义》，230–239节)。
圣言如此频繁地提到的“树”表示人的内在和外在心智的内层，树上长出的东西，如叶和果，表示诸如源于这些内层的那类事物，这一点可从以下经文明显看出来，以赛亚书：
我要在荒漠种上什亭的香柏树、桃金娘和橄榄树；我要把杉树，松树，并黄杨树放在旷野。(以赛亚书41:19)
此处论述的是教会的建立。同一先知书：
利巴嫩的荣耀，就是杉树，松树，黄杨树，都必一同归你，为要修饰我圣所之地。(以赛亚书60:13)
以西结书：
田野的一切树木都必知道我耶和华使高树矮小，矮树高大，青树枯干，枯树发旺。(以西结书17:24)
同一先知书：
看哪，我要在你那里点火，吞灭你中间的一切青树和一切枯树。(以西结书20:47)
约珥书：
葡萄树枯干，无花果树衰残；石榴树，及棕树、苹果树，田野所有的树木都枯干；喜乐从人子那里消灭。(约珥书1:12)
启示录：
天使吹号时，就有雹子与火落在地上；树的第三部分被烧了。(启示录8:7)
但以理书：
尼布甲尼撒梦见地中间有一棵树，极其高大，叶子华美，果子甚多，众生的食物就在其中。(但以理书4:10–12)
由于“树”一般表示诸如属于人，并构成其心智内层的事物，因而表示属于教会的属灵事物，并且后者和前者都是各种各样的，所以经上才会提到如此多种类的树，每一种都表示某种不同的事物。《属天的奥秘》说明了各种树表示什么，如“橄榄树”表示什么(9277, 10261节)；“香柏树”表示什么(9472, 9486, 9528, 9715, 10178节)；“葡萄树”表示什么(1069, 5113, 6375, 6378, 9277节)；“无花果树”表示什么(217, 4231, 5113等节)。
此外，树上长出的东西，如叶和果，表示那些属于人的事物；“叶”表示属于他的真理，“果”表示良善，如以下经文，耶利米书：
他必像树栽于水旁，在河旁发出根来；他的叶子必青翠；而且结果不止。(耶利米书17:8)
以西结书：
在从神的家流出的河旁，在河这边与那边的岸上必生长可作食物的树木，树叶不凋零，其果子不断绝；且按月结果，因为这水是从圣所流出来的；树上的果子必作食物，树叶可作药物。(以西结书47:12)
启示录：
在街道和(从神和羔羊的宝座流出来的)河中间，在河这边与那边有生命树，结十二样果子，每月都结果子；树上的叶子乃为医治列族。(启示录22:1, 2)
诗篇：
以律法为快乐的人是有福的；他要像一棵树栽在溪水旁，按时候结果子，叶子也不枯干。(诗篇1:2-3)
约珥书：
不要惧怕，因为树木将要结果，无花果树和葡萄树也都效力。(约珥书2:22)
诗篇：
耶和华的树，就是祂所栽种的黎巴嫩香柏树，都得到了充分的灌溉。(诗篇104:16)
又：
果树和一切香柏树，你们都赞美耶和华。(诗篇148:7, 9)
由于“果”表示与人同在的生活良善，所以作为一个代表性教会的以色列教会被吩咐，树所结的果子，和人们自己一样，都要受割礼；对此，经上如此记着说：
在迦南地，树所结可作食物的果子要受割礼；三年之久，你们要以它们如未受割礼的。但第四年其一切果子都要成为圣，用以赞美耶和华。第五年，你们要吃那树上的果子。(利未记19:23–25)
由于“树的果子”表示生活的良善，所以经上还吩咐：
在住棚节，他们要拿美好树上的果子，以及枝子，在耶和华面前欢乐，从而守这节。(利未记23:40, 41)
因为“帐棚”表示天堂之爱的良善和由此而来的神圣敬拜(参看《属天的奥秘》，414, 1102, 2145, 2152, 3312, 4391, 10545节)；“住棚节”表示这爱之良善的植入(9296节)。由于“果”表示爱之良善，也就是生活的良善，所以“田野的树木结果子”是一种祝福，它不结果子是一种诅咒(利未记26:4, 20)。因此，经上还吩咐，当有城被围困时，他们不可把斧子放在凡结好果子的树上(申命记20:19, 20)。由此可见“果”表示爱之良善，或也可说，生活的良善，这些良善也被称为“作为”，这也是福音书的这些经文的意思，马太福音：
斧子已经放在树根上，凡不结好果子的树，都要砍下来，丢在火里。(马太福音3:10; 7:16–21)
同一福音书：
你们或以为树好，果子也好；树坏，果子也坏；因为凭果子就能认出树来。(马太福音12:33; 路加福音6:43, 44)
约翰福音：
凡在我里面不结果子的枝子都被剪去；凡结果子的枝子都被修理干净，使枝子结果子更多。(约翰福音15:2–8)
路加福音：
一个人有一棵无花果树，栽在葡萄园里；他来到树前找果子，却找不着，就对葡萄园工说，看哪，我这三年来到这棵无花果树前找果子，竟找不着；把它砍了吧，何必白占土地呢？(路加福音13:6–9)
马太福音：
耶稣看见路旁有一棵无花果树，就走到跟前，在树上找不着什么，只有叶子；就说，从今以后，你永不结果子。那无花果树就立刻枯干了。(马太福音21:19; 马可福音11:13, 14, 20)
“无花果树”表示属世人及其内层，“果子”表示他的良善(《属天的奥秘》，217, 4231, 5113节)；但“叶子”表示知识或认知(885节)。由此清楚可知“无花果树枯干”表示什么，因为主在这树上只找到叶子，没有找到果子。引用这一切经文是为了叫人们知道，“神乐园中间的生命树”表示什么，即表示从主发出的爱之良善和由此而来的天堂喜乐。
109. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life. That this signifies that he who receives in the heart shall be filled with the good of love, and hence with heavenly joy, is evident from the signification of overcoming, as being to receive in the heart, concerning which we shall treat in what follows; and from the signification of eating, as being to appropriate and to be conjoined (concerning which see Arcana Coelestia 2187, 2343, 3168, 3813, 5643); and from the signification of the tree of life, as being the good of love, and thence heavenly joy, concerning which also we shall speak presently. The reason why to overcome denotes to receive in the heart is, that everyone who is about to receive spiritual life will fight against the evils and falsities of his natural life, and when he overcomes them, then goods and truths, which belong to the spiritual life, are received in the heart (to receive in the heart is to receive in the will and love, for the heart in the Word signifies the will and love, as may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 2930, 3313, 7542, 8910, 9050, 9113, 10336); wherefore to receive goods and truths in the heart, is to do them from the will or love; this is what is meant by overcoming.
[2] The reason why the tree of life signifies the good of love, and thence heavenly joy is, that trees signify those things that are internally in man, which pertain to his interior mind (mens), or his external mind (animus), the boughs and leaves those things which pertain to the knowledges (cognitiones) of truth and good, and the fruits the goods of life themselves. This signification of trees originates in the spiritual world; for in that world trees of all kinds are seen; and these trees correspond to the interiors of the minds of angels and spirits; beautiful and fruitful trees to the interiors of those who are in the good of love, and thence in wisdom; trees less beautiful and fruitful to those who are in the good of faith; but trees bearing leaves only, and without fruit, to those who are only in the knowledges (cognitiones) of truth; and trees of a dismal hue, with malignant fruits, to those who are in knowledges (cognitiones) and in evil of life; but by those who are not in knowledges, and are in evil of life, trees are not seen, but instead stones and sand.
These appearances in the spiritual world, actually flow from correspondence; for the interiors of the mind of the inhabitants of that world are by such forms actually presented before their eyes. (These things may be seen better from two articles in the work, Heaven and Hell; in the first, where the correspondence of heaven with all things of the earth is treated of, n. 103-115; and in the other, where representatives and appearances in heaven are treated of, n. 170-176, and n. 177-190.)
[3] This then is why trees are so often mentioned in the Word, by which are signified those things which pertain to a man's mind; and why it is, that in the first chapters of Genesis, two trees are said to have been placed in the garden of Eden, one of which was called the tree of life, and the other the tree of knowledge (scientia). By the tree of life mentioned there is signified the good of love to the Lord, and thence heavenly joy, which those possessed who at that time formed the church, and who are meant by the man and his wife; and by the tree of knowledge is signified the delight of knowledges (cognitiones) without any other use than to be accounted learned, and to acquire renown for erudition, solely for the sake of honour or gain. The reason why the tree of life also signifies heavenly joy is, because the good of love to the Lord, which is specifically signified by that tree, has heavenly joy in it. (See the work, Heaven and Hell 395-414, and The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 230-239.)
[4] That trees, so often mentioned in the Word, signify the interiors of man's internal and external minds, and the things produced by the trees, as the leaves and fruit, such things as are derived from them, is evident from the following passages:
"I will give in the desert the cedar, the schittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the wilderness the fir tree, the pine and the box" (9277, 10261 what by the cedar, n. 9472, 9486, 9528, 9715, 10178 what by the vine, n. 1069, 5113, 6375, 6378, 9277; what by the fig, n. 217, 4231, 5113, and so forth.)
[5] Moreover, the things which are upon trees, as leaves and fruits, signify those things that pertain to man; leaves signify the truths pertaining to him, and fruits the goods, as in the following passages:
"He shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river; her leaf shall be green; neither shall it cease from yielding fruit" (Jeremiah 17:8).
By the river which went out from the house of God "upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, ascendeth the tree of food, whose leaf falleth not off, nor is its fruit consumed; it springeth again in its months, because its waters issue out of the sanctuary, whence its fruit is for food, and its leaf for medicine" (Ezekiel 47:12).
"In the midst of the street of it, and of the river (going out from the throne of God and the Lamb), on this side and on that side, was there the tree of life bearing twelve fruits, and yielding her fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations" (Apoc. 22:1, 2).
"Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law; he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither" (Psalms 1:1-3).
"Be not afraid, for the tree shall bear her fruit, the fig tree and the vine shall yield their strength" (Joel 2:22).
"The trees of Jehovah are full of sap, the cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted" (Psalms 104:16).
"Praise Jehovah, ye fruitful trees, and all cedars" (Psalms 148:9).
[6] Because fruits signified the goods of life with man, therefore in the Israelitish church, which was a representative church, it was commanded that the fruit of trees, like the men themselves, should be circumcised, concerning which it is thus written: The fruit of a tree serving for food shall be uncircumcised in the land of Canaan;
"three years shall it be uncircumcised unto you; and in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy, the praises of Jehovah. And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof" (Arcana Coelestia 217, 4231, 5113); but leaves signify knowledges (cognitiones), (n. 885). Hence it is clear what is signified by the fig-tree withering away, because the Lord found on it leaves only, and no fruit. All these passages are quoted in order that it may be known that by the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God, is signified the good of love proceeding from the Lord, and heavenly joy therefrom.
109. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, signifies that he who receives in the heart shall be filled with the good of love and with heavenly joy therefrom. This is evident from the signification of "overcoming," as being to receive in the heart (of which in what follows); also from the signification of "eating," as being to be appropriated and to be conjoined (See Arcana Coelestia 2187, 2343, 3168, 3813, 5643); and from the signification of "the tree of life," as being the good of love and heavenly joy therefrom (of which also in what follows). "To overcome" is to receive in the heart, because everyone who is to receive spiritual life must fight against evils and falsities which belong to his natural life; and when he overcomes these he receives in the heart the goods and truths which belong to the spiritual life. To receive in the heart is to receive in the will and love, for "heart" in the Word signifies the will and love (See Arcana Coelestia 2930, 3313, 7542, 8910, 9050, 9113, 10336). To receive in the heart, then, is to do these from the will or love; this is what is meant by "overcoming."
[2] "The tree of life" signifies the good of love and heavenly joy therefrom, because "trees" signify such things as are with man in his interiors, which are of his mind [mens] or disposition [animus]; "boughs" and "leaves" signifying those things that are of the knowledges of truth and good, and "fruits" the goods of life themselves. This signification of trees draws its origin from the spiritual world; for in that world trees of every kind are seen, and the trees that are seen correspond to the interiors of the angels and spirits which are of their mind; the most beautiful and fruitful trees to the interiors of those who are in the good of love and thence in wisdom; trees less beautiful and fruitful to those who are in the good of faith; but trees bearing leaves only, and without fruits, to those who are only in the knowledges of truth; and horrible trees, with noxious fruits, to those who are in knowledges and in evil of life. To those, however, who are not in knowledges, and who are in evil of life, no trees appear, but stones and sands instead. These appearances in the spiritual world really flow from correspondence, for the interiors of the minds of those there are by such effigies presented actually before their eyes. (These things may be better seen from two chapters in the work on Heaven and Hell; first, where the Correspondence of Heaven with all things of Earth is treated of, n. 103-115; and the other, where Representatives and Appearances in Heaven are treated of, n. 170-176, and in what follows there, n 177-190.)
[3] It is from this that "trees" are so often mentioned in the Word, and by them are signified the things with men that belong to their minds; and from this it is also that in the first chapters of Genesis: two trees are said to have been placed in the garden of Eden, one called "the tree of life," and the other "the tree of knowledge." "The tree of life" there signifies the good of love to the Lord, and heavenly joy therefrom, which were with those who were then of the church, and who are meant by the "man" and his "wife;" and by "the tree of knowledge" is signified the delight of knowledges apart from any other use than to be accounted learned and to acquire repute for erudition solely for the sake of honor or gain. "The tree of life" also signifies heavenly joy, because the good of love to the Lord, which is specifically signified by that tree, has heavenly joy in it (See in the work on Heaven and Hell 395-414, and in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 230-239).
[4] That "trees," which are so often mentioned in the Word, signify the interiors of man which belong to his mind and disposition, and the things that are on trees, as leaves and fruit, signify such things as are from these interiors, can be seen from the following passages:
I will give in the desert the cedar, the shittah tree, 1and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the wilderness the fir tree, the pine, and the box tree (Isaiah 41:19).
The establishment of the church is there treated of:
The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine, and the box tree together, to deck the place of My sanctuary (Isaiah 60:13).
All the trees of the field shall know that I, Jehovah, humble the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree to bud (Ezekiel 17:24).
Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour the green tree in thee, and every dry tree (Ezekiel 20:47).
The vine is withered, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, all the trees of the field are withered: joy is withered away from the sons of men (Joel 1:12).
When the angel sounded, there followed hail and fire, which fell upon the earth; and the third part of the trees was burnt up (Revelation 8:7).
Beltshasar 2saw in a dream a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. The leaves thereof were fair, and the flowers many, and in it was food for all (Arcana Coelestia 9277, 10261; what by the "cedar," n. 9472, 9486, 9528, 9715, 10178; what by the "vine," n. 1069, 5113, 6375, 6378, 9277; what by the "fig," n. 217, 4231, 5113, etc.)
[5] Moreover, the things that are on trees, as leaves and fruit, signify such things as are with man; "leaves," the truths with him, and "fruits," the goods, as in the following passages:
He shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and shall spread out his roots by the river; his leaf shall be green; neither shall he cease from yielding fruit (Jeremiah 17:8).
By the river flowing out from the house of God, upon the bank on this side and on that, ascendeth the tree of food, whose leaf falleth not off, nor is its fruit consumed; it is renewed in its months, because its waters issue out of the sanctuary, whence its fruit is for food, and its leaf for medicine (Ezekiel 47:12).
In the midst of the street and of the river (flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb), on this side and on that, was the tree of life, bearing twelve fruits, yielding its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:1, 2).
Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law; he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of waters, that bringeth forth its fruit in its time, whose leaf also doth not wither (Psalms 1:3).
Be not afraid, for the tree shall bear fruit, the fig tree and the vine shall yield their strength (Joel 2:22).
The trees of Jehovah are satisfied, the cedars of Lebanon which He hath planted (Psalms 104:16).
Praise Jehovah, ye fruit trees, and all cedars (Psalms 148:7, 9).
[6] Because "fruits" signified the goods of life with man, therefore it was commanded in the Israelitish church, which was a representative church, that the fruits of trees, like men themselves, should be circumcised, concerning which it is thus written:
The fruit of the tree serving for food in the land of Canaan shall be uncircumcised; three years shall they be uncircumcised. But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy, praises to Jehovah. And in the fifth year shall ye eat [of the fruit thereof] (Arcana Coelestia 217, 4231, 5113); but "leaves" signify knowledges (Arcana Coelestia 885). From this it is clear what is signified by the fig tree's withering away because the Lord found on it leaves only and no fruit. All these passages are cited that it may be known what is signified by the "tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God," namely, the good of love proceeding from the Lord, and heavenly joy therefrom.
Footnotes:
1. This is translated "the cedar of Shittah" in Arcana Coelestia 9472, 9780, and in this work, 294, 375, 730.
2. In the Chaldee this is related of Nebuchadnezzar.
109. "Vincenti dabo edere de arbore vitae." - Quod significet qui corde recipit implebitur bono amoris et inde gaudio caelesti, constat ex significatione "vincere", quod sit corde recipere (de qua Sequitur); ex significatione "edere", quod sit appropriari et conjungi (de qua n. 2187, 2343, 3168, 3813, 5643); et ex significatione "arboris vitae", quod sit bonum amoris et inde gaudium caeleste (de qua etiam sequitur).
Quod "vincere" sit corde recipere, est quia omnis, qui recepturus est vitam spiritualem, pugnabit contra mala et falsa quae sunt vitae ejus naturalis; et quando illa vincit, tunc bona et vera, quae sunt vitae spiritualis, recipit corde: recipere corde est voluntate et amore, nam "cor" in Verbo significat illa (videatur n. 2930, 3313, 7542, 8910, 9050, 9113, 10336); quapropter recipere corde est ex voluntate seu amore facere illa; hoc intelligitur per "vincere."
[2] Quod "arbor vitae" significet bonum amoris et inde gaudium caeleste, est quia "arbores" significant talia quae sunt apud hominem in ejus interioribus, quae mentis seu animi ejus sunt, "frondes" et "folia" illa quae sunt cognitionum veri et boni, ac "fructus" ipsa bona vitae. Haec significatio "arborum" trahit suam originem ex mundo spirituali, ibi enim apparent arbores omnis generis: et arbores, quae apparent, correspondent interioribus angelorum et spirituum, quae sunt mentis eorum; arbores pulcherrimae et fructiferae, illorum interioribus qui in bono amoris et inde in Sapientia sunt; arbores minus pulchrae et fructiferae, illis qui in bono fidei; at arbores solum foliaceae et absque fructibus, illis qui modo in cognitionibus veri sunt; ac arbores tetrae cum fructibus malignis, illis qui in cognitionibus sunt et in malo vitae; illis autem qui non in cognitionibus et in malo vitae sunt, non apparent arbores, sed loco illarum saxa et arenae. Hae apparentiae in mundo spirituali actualiter fluunt ex correspondentia; nam interiora quae mentis eorum sunt per tales effigies sistuntur actualiter coram oculis eorum. (Sed haec melius videri possunt ex binis articulis in opere De Caelo et Inferno: in primo, ubi agitur De Correspondentia Caeli cum omnibus Telluris, n. 103-115; et in altero, ubi agitur De Repraesentativis et Apparentiis in Caelo, n. 170-176; et in sequentibus ibi, n. 177-190.)
[3] Inde nunc est quod in Verbo toties nominentur "arbores"; per quas ibi significantur ea apud homines quae sunt mentis eorum: et inde quoque est quod in primis capitibus Geneseos dicantur "binae arbores" in horto Edenis positae, una quae vocatur "Arbor Vitae", et altera quae "Arbor Scientiae." Per "arborem vitae" ibi significatur bonum amoris in Dominum, et inde gaudium caeleste, quae erant illis qui tunc ab ecclesia, et intelliguntur per "Hominem et ejus Uxorem"; et per "arborem scientiae" significatur jucundum cognitionum absque alio usu quam ut audiant docti et captent famam eruditionis solum propter honorem aut lucrum.
Quod "arbor vitae" etiam significet gaudium caeleste, est quia bonum amoris in Dominum, quod in specie per illam arborem significatur, gaudium caeleste in se habet (videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno 395-414: et in Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae, n. De 230-239).
[4] Quod "arbores", quae toties nominantur in Verbo, significent interiora hominis quae mentis et animi ejus sunt, et illa quae super arboribus, ut "folia" et "fructus", talia quae ex illis, constare potest a sequentibus his locis:
"Dabo in deserto cedrum schittim, et myrtum, et arborem olei; ponam in solitudine abietem, taedam et buxum" (Esaias 41:19);
ibi agitur de ecclesiae instauratione.
"Gloria Libani ad te veniet, abies, taeda et buxus simul, ad decorandum locum sanctuarii mei" (Esaias 60:13).
"Cognoscant omnes arbores agri, quod Ego Jehovah humiliem arborem altam, exaltem arborem humiliem, arefaciam arborem viridem, et germinare faciam arborem aridam" (Ezechiel 17:24);
"Ecce Ego in te incendam ignem, qui comedet in te arborem viridem, et omnem arborem aridam" (Ezechiel 21:3 [B.A. 20:47]);
"Vitis exaruit, et ficus languet, malus punica etiamque palma et malus, omnes arbores agri exsiccatae sunt; exaruit gaudium de filiis hominum" (Joel 1:12);
"Cum angelus clanxit, facta est grando et ignis, ... qui cecidit super terram, et tertia pars arborum combusta est" (Apocalypsis 8:7);
1
Nebuchadnezar vidit in somnio "arborem in medio terrae, cujus altitudo magna, ... folium pulchrum, flos multus, et cibus omnibus in ea" (Daniel 4:7-12).
(Quia arbores in genere significant talia quae apud hominem, ac interiora quae mentis ejus sunt faciunt, et sic quoque spiritualia quae ecclesiae, et haec et illa varia sunt, ideo tot species arborum nominantur, et unaquaeque species significat aliquod differens; quid variae species significant, ostensum est in Arcanis Caelestibus: ut quid arbor olei", n. 9277, 10261; quid "cedrus", n. 9472, 9486, 9528, 9715, 10178; quid "vitis", n. 1069, 5113, 6375, 6378, 9277; quid "ficus", 217, 4231, 5113: et sic porro.)
[5] Insuper illa quae sunt super arboribus, ut folia et fructus, significant talia quae apud hominem, "folia" vera apud illum, et "fructus" bona; ut in sequentibus:-
"Erit sicut arbor plantata juxta aquas, et juxta fluvium emittit radices;... erit folium ejus viride... nec cessabit a ferendo fructum" (Jeremias 17:8);
Juxta fluvium exeuntem e Domo Dei" ascendit super ripa hinc et hinc arbor cibi, cujus non decidit folium, neque consumitur fructus ejus; in menses suos renascitur; quia aquae ejus e sanctuario exeunt; unde fructus ejus in cibum, et folium ejus in medicamentum" (Ezechiel 47:12);
"In medio plateae et fluvii (exeuntis e throno Dei et Agni) hinc et hinc arbor vitae faciens fructus duodecim, per mensem quemvis reddens fructum suum, et folia arboris ad sanitatem gentium" (Apoc. 22 [1,] 2);
"Beatus vir, ... cujus in lege beneplacitum;... erit sicut arbor plantata juxta rivos aquarum, quae fructum suum dabit in tempore suo, et folium non decidit" (Psalm. 1 (1, 2,) 3);
"Ne timete, ... quia arbor feret fructum, ficus atque vitis dabit vim suam" (Joel 2:22);
"Saturantur arbores Jehovae, cedri Libani quas plantavit" (Psalms 104:16);
"Laudate Jehovam arbores fructus, et omnes cedri" (Psalm. 148:7, 9).
[6] Quia "fructus" significabant bona vitae apud hominem, ideo in Ecclesia Israelitica, quae erat ecclesia repraesentativa, mandatum fuit ut fructus arborum, sicut ipsi homines, circumciderentur; de quibus ita legitur:
Fructus arboris inservient esui praeputiabitur in Terra Canaan, "et erunt praeputiati tribus annis;... et anno quarto erit omnis fructus sanctus, laudes Jehovae; quinto autem comedentur" (Leviticus 19:23-25).
Quia "fructus arboris" significabant bona vitae, ideo etiam mandatum est,
Ut in Festo Tabernaculorum acciperent fructus arboris honoris, et ramos, ac laetarentur coram Jehovah, et sic feriarentur festum (Leviticus 23:40, 41);
per "tabernacula" enim significabantur bona amoris caelestis, et inde sanctus cultus (n. 414, 1102, 2145, 2152, 3312, 2
4391, 10545); et per "Festum Tabernaculorum" significabatur implantatio illius boni seu amoris (n. 9296). Quia "fructus" significabant bona amoris, quae sunt bona vitae, ideo
Inter benedictiones erat, quod arbor agri daret fructum suum; et inter maledictiones quod non daret fructum (Levit. 26:4, 20 3
).
Et ideo quoque vetitum fuit, cum obsideretur aliqua urbs,
Ne securim mitterent in aliquam arborem fructus boni (Deuteronomius 20:19, 20).
Ex his nunc constare potest quod per "fructus" significentur bona amoris, seu quod idem, bona vitae, quae etiam "opera" vocantur; ut quoque in his locis apud Evangelistas:
"Securis ad radicem arboris jacet; omnis arbor non faciens fructum. bonum exscindetur et in ignem conjicietur" (Matthaeus 3:10; 7:16-21);
"Aut facite arborem bonam et fructum bonum, aut facite arborem putrem et fructum putrem; ex fructu enim cognoscitur arbor" (Matthaeus 12:33; Luca 6:43, 44);
"Omnis palmes non ferens fructum, 4
auferetur, omnis autem fructum ferens putabitur, ut plus fructus ferat" (Johannes 15:2-8);
"Ficum habebat aliquis in vinea sua plantatam; venit fructum quaerens in ea, sed non invenit; dicit ad vinitorem, Ecce tribus annis venio quaerens fructum ex ficu et non invenio; exscinde eam; quid terram infrugiferam reddet?" ( 5
"Jesus vidit ficum juxta viam; venit ad illam, et nihil invenit in ea nisi folia tantum; dixit, Nunquam ex te fructus erit; et arefacta est statim ficus" (Matthaeus 21:19; Marcus 11:13, 14, 20);
"ficus" significat naturalem hominem et ejus interiora, et "fructus" bona ejus (n. 217, 4231, 5113); "folia" autem significant cognitiones (n. 885): inde patet, quid significatur per quod ficus arefacta sit quia Dominus in ea solum folia invenit, et non fructus. Haec omnia allata sunt ut sciatur quid significatur per "arborem vitae in medio paradisi Dei", quod nempe bonum amoris procedens a Domino, et inde gaudium caeleste.
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