199# 主在世时乃藉对应而说话，故其言虽为属世之言，同时亦为属灵之言；此可由祂的诸比喻得知，因为其中每一词皆有灵义。试以十童女的比喻为例。主说：
“天国好比十个童女，拿着灯出去迎接新郎。其中有五个是聪明的，五个是愚拙的。愚拙的拿着灯，却不带油；聪明的拿着灯，又在器皿里带着油。新郎迟延的时候，她们都打盹，睡着了。半夜有人喊着说：‘新郎来了，你们出来迎接他！’那些童女就都起来收拾灯。愚拙的对聪明的说：‘请分点油给我们，因为我们的灯要灭了。’聪明的回答说：‘恐怕不够你我用的；不如你们自己到卖油的那里去买吧。’她们去买的时候，新郎到了；那预备好了的，同他进去坐席，门就关了。其后，其余的童女也来了，说：‘主啊，主啊，给我们开门！’他却回答说：‘我实在告诉你们，我不认识你们。’”（太25:1—12）
此诸语之每一细节皆有灵义，并由此有神性之圣；然除非人知道灵义存在，且知道其为何义，否则不能看见。于灵义中，“天国”意指天堂与教会；“新郎”意指主；“婚筵”意指主藉爱之良善与信之真理同他们所立的婚合；“童女”意指属教会之人；“十”意指全体；“五”意指其中一部分；“灯”意指属信之事；“油”意指属爱之良善之事；“睡着”与“醒起”意指人在世之生命为属世的，而死后之生命为属灵的；“买”意指为自己取得；“到卖油者那里去买油”意指死后从他人那里为自己取得爱之良善。然因彼时已不能再取得，故她们虽带着灯，并带着所买之油，来到婚筵所在之门前，新郎仍对她们说：“我不认识你们。”其原因在于：人离世之后，仍保持其在世生活时之所是。
由此可见，主乃纯藉对应而说话；其所以如此，是因祂出于神性而说，而此神性在祂里面，并且属于祂自己。因“童女”表示属教会之人，故在先知圣言中屡言“锡安的童女与女子”、“耶路撒冷的童女与女子”、“犹大的童女与女子”、“以色列的童女与女子”；又因“油”表示爱之良善，故以色列教会的一切圣物皆用油膏抹。
其余诸比喻亦然；凡主所说的一切话亦然。故主说，祂的话就是灵，就是生命（约6:63）。
199# 主在世时通过对应关系说话，也就是说，当主属世地说话时，祂也属灵地说话，这一点可从祂的比喻看出来，其中每句话里面都有一个灵义。以十个童女的比喻为例。祂说：
天国好比十个童女，拿着灯，出去迎接新郎。其中有五个是聪明的，五个是愚拙的。愚拙的拿着灯，却没有随身带油。聪明的拿着灯，又带着油在器皿里。新郞迟延的时候，她们都打盹、睡着了。半夜有喊叫，看哪，新郎来了，你们出来迎接他。那时那些童女就都醒过来收拾灯。愚拙的对聪明的说，请分点油给我们，因为我们的灯要灭了。但聪明的回答说，恐怕不够你我用的；不如你们到卖油的那里为自己买吧。她们去买的时候，新郎到了，那预备好了的，同他进去赴婚筵，门就关了。其余的童女随后也来了，说，主啊，主啊，给我们开门。他却回答说，我实在告诉你们，我不认识你们。（马太福音25:1-12）
除了那些知道圣言有灵义，并知道灵义的性质，或灵义是什么的人外，没有人能看出，所有这些细节里面都有灵义，因而有一种神性神圣性。在灵义上，“天国”是指天堂和教会；“新郎”是指主；“婚筵（即婚礼）”是指主通过爱之良善和信之真理而与天堂和教会的婚姻；“童女”是指那些构成教会的人；“十”是指所有或全部；“五”是指某一部分；“灯”是指属于信仰的事物；“油”是指属于爱之良善的事物；“睡”和“醒”是指人在世上的属世生活和他死后的属灵生活；“买”是指为自己获取；“到卖油的那里买油”是指死后从其他人那里为自己获取爱之良善；由于那时，爱之良善再也无法获取，所以尽管她们拿着灯和买来的油来到婚筵的门口，但新郎还是对她们说：“我不认识你们。”这是因为人在世上的生命结束后，仍是他活在世上的样子。由此清楚可知，主只通过纯粹的对应说话，这是因为祂出于在祂里面并属于祂的神性说话。由于“童女”表示那些构成教会的人，所以在预言圣言中，经上经常提到锡安、耶路撒冷、犹大和以色列的童女或处女和女子或女儿。由于“油”表示爱之良善，所以教会的一切圣物都用油来膏抹。其它比喻和主所说的一切话都是如此。这就是为何主说，祂的话就是灵，就是生命（约翰福音6:63）。
199. The Lord spoke in correspondences when he was in the world. While he was talking in an earthly way, he was also talking in a spiritual way. This is clear from his parables. Every word of them has a spiritual meaning inside.
Take, for example, the parable of the ten young women. He said,
The kingdom of the heavens is like ten young women who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were prudent and five were foolish. When the foolish women took their lamps, they did not take any oil. The prudent women took oil in their lamps. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. In the middle of the night there was a shout: "Behold, the bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet him. " At that, all the women woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish women said to the prudent ones, "Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out. " The prudent women replied, "There might not be enough for us all. Go instead to the sellers and buy yourselves some. " But as they were going away to buy some, the bridegroom arrived and the women who were prepared walked in with him to the wedding and the door was closed. Later the other women came along and said, "Lord, Lord, open up for us. " But he answered and said, "I tell you truly, I do not know you. " (Matthew 25:1-12)
The only people who see that in each of these details there is a spiritual meaning and therefore something holy and divine are those who have a general awareness of the existence and nature of spiritual meaning.
In the spiritual meaning, the kingdom of the heavens means heaven and the church. The bridegroom means the Lord. The wedding means the Lord's marriage to heaven and the church through the good that love does and the truth that faith perceives. The young women mean people who are in the church. Ten means all. Five means a part. Lamps mean beliefs. Oil means loving what is good. Sleeping and awakening mean our life in the world, which is an earthly life, and our life after death, which is a spiritual life. Buying means acquiring for ourselves. Going to the sellers and buying oil means trying after we have died to acquire from others a love for what is good. Since we can no longer acquire a love for what is good after we die, therefore although they brought their lamps and the oil they had purchased to the door where the wedding was taking place, the bridegroom told them, "I do not know you. " The reason is that after our life in the world, the way we have lived in the world remains.
This makes it clear that the Lord spoke entirely in correspondences because he spoke from the divine nature that was in him and was his.
Young women mean people who are in the church. This is why the prophetic Word says the virgin or daughter of Zion, of Jerusalem, of Judah, of Israel so many times. Oil means love for what is good. This is why all the church's sacred objects were anointed with oil.
This correspondent nature applies to all the other parables and all the other words that the Lord spoke. This is why the Lord says that his words are spirit and are life (John 6:63).
199. The Lord, when He was in the world, spoke by means of correspondences; so He spoke spiritually as well as naturally. This can be proved by His parables, the individual expressions of which contain a spiritual sense. Let us take as an example the parable of the ten virgins. He said:
The kingdom of the heavens is like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise, but five were foolish. The foolish ones, when they took their lamps, failed to take oil, but the wise ones took oil in their lamps. But when the bridegroom was late, they all became drowsy and went to sleep. However, in the middle of the night a cry went up, Look, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him. Then all those virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. But the foolish ones said to the wise ones, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. The wise ones, however, replied and said, Perhaps there may not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the sellers and buy some for yourselves. While they were away buying it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. At length the other virgins came too, and said, Lord, Lord, open the door to us. But he replied and said, In truth I tell you, I do not know you, Matthew 25:1-12.
No one who does not know that there is a spiritual sense, and what sort of sense it is, can see that each of these details contains a spiritual sense, and therefore a Divine holiness. In the spiritual sense the kingdom of the heavens means heaven and the church, the bridegroom means the Lord, the wedding the Lord's marriage with heaven and the church by means of the good of love and the truth of faith. The virgins mean those who belong to the church, ten means all, five a part. The lamps mean things to do with faith, oil things to do with the good of love. Sleeping and waking mean a person's life in the world, which is natural, and his life after death, which is spiritual. Buying means acquiring, going to the sellers and buying oil means acquiring the good of love from others after death. Because it cannot then any longer be acquired, although they came with their lamps and the oil they had bought to the door where the wedding was, still the bridegroom told them, I do not know you. This is because after his life in the world a person remains such as his life in the world made him. It is plain from this that the Lord spoke purely in correspondences, and this was because He spoke from the Divine which was in Him and was His. It is because virgins stand for those who belong to the church that we find so often in the prophetic parts of the Word mention of the virgin and daughter of Zion, of Jerusalem, of Judah, or of Israel, and it was because oil stands for the good of love, that all the holy things of that church were anointed with oil. It is the same in the rest of the parables and in every expression which the Lord used; thus it is that the Lord says that His words are spirit and life (John 6:63).
199. That the Lord when in the world spoke by correspondences, that is, when He spoke naturally He also spoke spiritually, can be seen from His parables, in each word of which there is a spiritual meaning. Take for example the parable of the ten virgins. He said:
The kingdom of heaven is like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise, but five were foolish. They that were foolish taking their lamps took no oil; but the wise took oil in their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. But the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered saying Peradventure, there will not be enough for us and you; go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. But while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with Him to the wedding, and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not (Matthew 25:1-12).
That in all these particulars there is a spiritual sense and therefore a Divine holiness, no one sees except he who knows that the Word has a spiritual sense and who knows what that sense is. In the spiritual sense "the kingdom of the heavens" means heaven and the church; "the bridegroom" means the Lord; "the wedding" means the marriage of the Lord with heaven and the church, through good of love and truth of faith; "the virgins" mean those who constitute the church; "ten" means all; "five" some portion; "lamps" things pertaining to faith; "oil" things pertaining to good of love; "to sleep" and "to arise" means man's life in the world which is natural, and his life after death which is spiritual; "to buy" means to procure for oneself; "going to those who sell and buying oil" means to procure for oneself good of love from others after death; and because good of love is then no longer to be procured, although they came to the door where the wedding feast was with their lamps and the oil they had bought, still the bridegroom said to them, "I know you not;" this is because man, after his life in the world, remains such as he had lived in the world. From all this it is clear that the Lord spoke solely by correspondences, and this because He spoke from the Divine that was in Him and was His. As "virgins" signify those who constitute the church, so the terms virgin and daughter of Zion, of Jerusalem, of Judah, and of Israel, are frequently used in the prophetic Word. And because "oil" signifies good of love, all the sacred things of the church were anointed with oil. It is the same with the other parables, and with all the words spoken by the Lord. This is why the Lord says that His words are spirit and are life (John 6:63).
199. The Lord, when in the world, spoke by correspondences, thus with a spiritual and at the same time a natural meaning, as may be seen from His parables, in every word of which there is a spiritual sense. Take for example the parable of the Ten Virgins. He said:
"The kingdom of the heavens is like (A.V., Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened) unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, (A.V., Not so;) lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage; and the door was shut. Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said; Verily I say unto you, I know you not" Matthew 25:1-12.
That in every part of this parable there is a spiritual sense, and consequently a Divine holiness, none can see but those who know that there is a spiritual sense, and are acquainted with the nature of it. In the spiritual sense, by the kingdom of the heavens is meant heaven and the Church, by the bridegroom is meant the Lord, and by the wedding is meant the marriage of the Lord with heaven and the Church by means of the good of love and the truth of faith. By the virgins are meant those who belong to the Church; by ten are meant all, and by five a certain part; by lamps are meant the things of faith, and by oil the things of the good of love. By sleeping and waking are meant the natural life of man in the world, and his spiritual life after death. By buying is meant to procure for themselves; and by going to those that sell, and buying oil, is meant to procure for themselves the good of love from others, after death. Because this can no longer be acquired after death, therefore, although they came to the marriage door with their lamps and the oil they had purchased, still the bridegroom said to them, "I know you not." This is because man, after his life in the world is over, remains such as he had been in the world. From these things it is evident that the Lord spoke by pure correspondences, and this because He spoke from the Divine that was in Him and was His own. Because virgins signify those who belong to the Church, therefore in the Prophetical Word is there such frequent mention of virgin, and daughter of Zion, of Jerusalem, of Judah, and of Israel; and because oil signifies the good of love, therefore all the holy things of the Church were anointed with oil. The case is the same with the other parables, and with all the words spoken by the Lord. For this reason the Lord declares that His words are spirit and life, John 6:63.
199. Quod Dominus, cum in Mundo fuit, loquutus sit per Correspondentias, ita etiam spiritualiter cum naturaliter, constare potest a Parabolis Ipsius, quarum singulis verbis inest sensus spiritualis; exemplo sit Parabola de decem Virginibus: dixit, "Simile est Regnum Coelorum decem Virginibus, quae accipientes Lampades suas exiverunt in occursum Sponsi: quinque ex illis erant Prudentes, quinque vero Stultae: quae erant Stultae, accipientes Lampades suas non acceperunt oleum, Prudentes vero acceperunt oleum in lampadibus suis. Tardante vero Sponso, dormitarunt omnes et obdormierunt: media autem nocte clamor factus est, ecce Sponsus venit, exite in occursum Ejus; tunc expergefactae omnes Virgines istae, et adornabant Lampades suas, verum Stultae Prudentibus dicebant, date nobis de Oleo vestro, quia Lampades nostrae exstinguuntur: sed respondebant Prudentes, dicentes, ne forte sufficiat nobis et vobis; abite potius ad Vendentes, et emite vobis ipsis. At abeuntibus illis ad emendum, venit Sponsus, et paratae ingressae sunt cum Ipso ad nuptias; et ostium clausum est. Et tandem veniunt etiam reliquae Virgines, dicentes, Domine, Domine, aperi nobis; Ille vero respondens dixit, amen dico vobis, non novi vos," Matthaeus 25:1-12. Quod in singulis his sit Sensus spiritualis, et inde Sanctum Divinum, non videt, nisi qui novit quod Sensus spiritualis sit, et qualis ille. In Sensu spirituali per Regnum coelorum, intelligitur Coelum et Ecclesia; per Sponsum Dominus; per Nuptias Conjugium Domini cum illis per bonum amoris et verum fidei; per Virgines illi qui ab Ecclesia sunt; per Decem omnes; per Quinque aliqua pars; per Lampades illa quae fidei sunt; per Oleum illa quae boni amoris; per Dormire et Expergisci, vita hominis in Mundo quae naturalis, et vita ejus post mortem quae spiritualis; per Emere, comparare sibi; per ire ad Vendentes et Emere Oleum, comparare sibi bonum amoris ab aliis post mortem; et quia tunc non amplius comparatur, ideo tametsi cum lampadibus et empto Oleo ad ostium, ubi nuptiae erant, venerunt, usque illis dictum est a Sponso, non novi vos; causa est, quia homo post vitam in Mundo, manet qualis in Mundo vixerat. Ex his patet quod Dominus per meras Correspondentias loquutus sit, et hoc quia ex Divino, quod in Ipso et Ipsius erat. Quia Virgines significant illos qui ab Ecclesia sunt, ideo toties in Verbo Prophetico dicitur Virgo et Filia Sionis, Hierosolymae, Jehudae, Israelis: et quia Oleum significat bonum amoris, ideo omnia Sancta Ecclesiae oleo ungebantur. Simile est in reliquis Parabolis, et in omnibus verbis, quae Dominus loquutus est; inde est quod Dominus dicat, quod verba Ipsius spiritus et vita sint, Johannes 6:63.