205# 古时外邦人的偶像崇拜之所以源于对应之学，是因为地上所显现的一切事物皆有对应；因此，不仅树木有对应，各类走兽、飞鸟，以及鱼和其余事物，也都有对应。古人既处于对应之学中，便为自己制作与属天事物相对应的图像；他们喜爱这些图像，因为它们表示属于天堂和教会的事物。因此，他们不仅将这些图像安置在庙宇中，也安置在家中；其目的并非为崇拜，而是为记念它们所表示的属天事物。由此，在埃及及其他地方，便有牛犊、公牛、蛇，又有孩童、老人、童女等形像；因为“牛犊”和“公牛”表示属世人的情感与能力，“蛇”表示感官之人的谨慎，也表示其狡黠；“孩童”表示纯真与仁义，“老人”表示智慧，“童女”表示对真理的情感；诸如此类。
后来，当对应之学被抹去之后，后人便开始崇拜古人所设立的图像与偶像；因它们在庙中，且与庙相近，便视之为圣物，最终奉之为神明。古人也因此在园中、在林苑中，按树木种类举行敬拜，又在山上和丘陵上举行敬拜；因为“园”和“林苑”表示智慧与聪明，而每一种树也表示其中某种事物。例如，“橄榄树”表示爱之善，“葡萄树”表示由此善而来的真理；“香柏树”表示理性的善与真；“山”表示至高天堂，“丘陵”表示其下的天堂。
对应之学曾在许多东方人中一直保存到主降临之时，这也可由东方来的智慧人看出；他们在主诞生时前来朝见主。因此，有一颗星在他们前面引路，他们也随身带来礼物，即“黄金、乳香和没药”（太2:1，2，9—11）；因为在他们前面引路的“星”表示来自天堂的认知，“黄金”表示属天的善，“乳香”表示属灵的善，“没药”表示属世的善；一切敬拜皆由这三者构成。
然而，对应之学在以色列民族和犹太民族中却全然不存在，尽管他们敬拜中的一切、藉摩西赐给他们的一切律例和典章，以及圣言中的一切，全都是纯粹的对应。其原因在于，他们心中是偶像崇拜者，故其性质如此，以致他们甚至不愿知道其敬拜中有任何事物表示属天与属灵之事；因为他们相信，这一切本身就是圣的。因此，若属天和属灵之事向他们揭示，他们不仅会弃绝，而且还会亵渎。正因如此，天堂对他们关闭到如此程度，以致他们几乎不知道有永生存在。此事确为如此，可由以下事实清楚看出：他们不承认主，尽管整部圣经都预言祂，并预告祂的降临；他们弃绝祂，仅仅因为祂教导他们关于天国，而不是关于地上的国；因为他们所要的是一位能使他们高举于普世万民之上的弥赛亚，而不是一位顾念他们永恒救恩的弥赛亚。
205# 古代外邦民族的偶像崇拜起源于对应的知识，因为地上可见的一切事物都有对应关系，如树木、各种鸟兽、鱼类和其它所有事物。拥有对应知识的古人为自己制作了对应于天上事物的形像，并以它们为快乐，因为它们表示诸如属于天堂和教会的那类事物。因此，他们把这些形像不仅摆在他们的圣殿中，还摆在自己家里，不是为了敬拜，而是为了想起它们所表示的天上事物。因此，埃及和其它地方都有牛犊、公牛和蛇的形像，以及孩子、老人和童女的形像；因为牛犊和公牛表示属世人的情感和能力，蛇表示感官人的谨慎和狡猾，孩子表示纯真和仁爱，老人表示智慧，童女表示对真理的情感，等等。然而，当对应的知识失传时，他们的后代因这些形像被古人摆在圣殿之内和周围，就开始拜它们为神圣，最终拜为神明。出于同样的原因，古人在园子和小树林里照着其中不同种类的树木进行敬拜，也在大山和小山上敬拜；因为园子和小树林表示智慧和聪明，每种树都表示与这些有关的某种事物；因此，橄榄树表示爱之良善，葡萄树表示来自这良善的真理，香柏树表示理性良善和真理；大山表示最高层天堂，小山表示它下面的天堂。对应的知识保留在许多东方民族中，甚至直到主的降临，这一点可从东方的智者来拜刚出生的主看出来：
因此，一颗星在他们前头行，他们带来了礼物，就是黄金、乳香和没药。（马太福音2:1，2，9-11）
因为在他们前头行的那颗“星”表示来自天堂的知识；“黄金”表示属天良善，“乳香”表示属灵良善；“没药”表示属世良善；一切敬拜都是从这三种良善中发出的。然而，以色列和犹太民族当中没有任何对应的知识，尽管他们敬拜的一切细节、摩西给他们的一切律例和典章，以及包含在圣言中的一切，都是纯粹的对应。原因在于，犹太人内心是偶像崇拜者，因此具有这种性质：他们甚至不愿意知道在他们的敬拜中，有什么东西表示某种属天和属灵事物，或说他们敬拜的任何部分具有属天或属灵的意义，因为他们相信他们敬拜的一切事物本身都是神圣的；因此，如果属天和属灵事物被揭示给他们，他们不仅会弃绝它们，还会亵渎之。正因如此，天堂向他们如此关闭，以至于他们几乎不知道永生的存在。情况就是这样，这一点从以下事实明显看出来：他们不承认主，尽管整部圣经都预言了主，并预言了祂的降临。他们弃绝祂的唯一原因是，祂教导他们天国，而不是地上的国；因为他们想要一个把他们高举在全世界所有民族之上的弥赛亚，而不是一个关注他们永恒救恩的弥赛亚。
205. Among people outside the church in early times, the study of correspondences led to forms of idolatry because all things that are visible on earth have a correspondence - not only trees but also animals and birds of every kind, as well as fish, and everything else. Early people involved in the study of correspondences made images that corresponded to things in heaven. They enjoyed these images because the images stood for things related to heaven and the church. They placed these images not only in their temples but also in their homes, not in order to worship them but to be reminded of the heavenly things they meant. In Egypt and elsewhere there were images of calves, oxen, and snakes, as well as children, old people, and young women, because calves and oxen meant the emotions and forces in the earthly self; snakes meant prudence but also the deceitfulness of the senses; children meant innocence and goodwill; old people meant wisdom; and young women meant types of love for the truth; and so on.
When the study of correspondences was wiped out, later generations began worshiping the images and statues erected by the early people. They worshiped them first as sacred objects and then as deities, since they found them in and around temples.
Because of the study of correspondences, the early people had also worshiped in gardens and groves, depending on which species of trees were there. They also worshiped on mountains and hills. Gardens and groves meant wisdom and intelligence; and every tree meant some aspect of wisdom and intelligence. For example, an olive tree meant good actions that come from love, while a grapevine meant the true insights that come from those good actions. A cedar tree meant rational goodness and truth. A mountain meant the highest heaven, and a hill, a heaven below it.
The study of correspondences continued among many in the Middle East even to the time of the Lord's coming, as you can see from the wise ones from the Middle East who came to the Lord when he was born. Therefore a star went before them and they brought gifts with them: gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11). The star that went before them meant knowledge from heaven. Gold meant the heavenly goodness; frankincense, the spiritual goodness; and myrrh, the earthly goodness that together form the source of all worship.
There was absolutely no study of correspondences among the Israelite and Jewish nation, although all the aspects of their worship, all the statutes and judgments given to them through Moses, and all the details throughout their Word were correspondences. The reason for this lack was that at heart the people were idolatrous. They had no desire at all to know that any aspect of their worship meant something heavenly or spiritual. They believed that all their rituals were intrinsically holy. If the heavenly and spiritual underpinnings had been revealed to them, they would have not only rejected those underpinnings but also desecrated them. As a result, heaven was so tightly closed to them that they were scarcely aware that eternal life existed.
The truth of this is very clear from the fact that the people did not acknowledge the Lord even though their entire Sacred Scripture had prophesied about him and foretold his coming. They rejected him for one single reason: he taught them about a heavenly kingdom, not an earthly one. They wanted a Messiah who would lift them above all the nations in the whole world, not some Messiah who was concerned with their eternal salvation.
205. The reason why the idolatrous practices of the gentiles in antiquity originated from the science of correspondences was that everything to be seen on earth has a corresponding meaning; this is true not only of trees, but also animals and birds of every kind, as well as fish and other things. The ancient people who possessed the science of correspondences made themselves images to correspond to heavenly ideas; and they took pleasure in them because they stood for such things as concern heaven and the church. They placed these images therefore not only in their temples, but also in their houses, not so as to worship them, but to call to mind the heavenly ideas they stood for. Hence it was that in Egypt and elsewhere they used images of calves, oxen and snakes, not to mention children, old men and young women. Calves and oxen meant the affections and powers of the natural man, snakes the prudence and craftiness of the man who relies upon his senses. Children meant innocence and charity, old men wisdom, young women affections for truth, and so on. Once the knowledge of correspondences had been wiped out, their descendants started to worship as holy, and finally as deities, the images and statues their ancestors had erected, because they were in or near temples. This too was the reason why the ancients worshipped in gardens and plantations, depending on the species of tree, as well as on mountains and hills. Gardens and plantations meant wisdom and intelligence, and each tree meant some particular detail of them. For instance, the olive meant the good of love, the vine truth coming from that good, the cedar rational good and truth; a mountain meant the highest heaven and a hill the heaven below this.
[2] The fact that the science of correspondences was preserved among a number of eastern peoples right down to the Lord's coming can be established by the wise men from the east, who came to visit the Lord at the time of His birth; therefore the star went before them, and they brought gifts with them, gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11). The star which went before them meant knowledge learned from heaven, gold celestial good, frankincense spiritual good, and myrrh natural good; it is these three kinds of good which are the source of all worship. Nonetheless correspondences were totally unknown to the Israelite and Jewish people, even though all the details of their worship, all their laws and judgments given them by Moses, and everything in the Word were nothing but correspondences. The reason was that they were at heart idolatrous, and therefore of such a character that they did not even want to know that anything in their worship had a celestial or spiritual meaning, since they believed that these things were all in themselves holy. If therefore the celestial and spiritual meanings had been revealed to them, they would not only have rejected them, but also profaned them. On account of this heaven was so closed to them that they scarcely knew that there was an everlasting life. The truth of this is perfectly plain from the fact that they failed to acknowledge the Lord, even though the whole of Sacred Scripture was a prophecy about Him and foretold His coming. The only reason why they rejected Him was that He taught them about a kingdom in heaven, not one on earth. For they wanted a Messiah who would make them superior to all peoples throughout the world, not one who would provide for their eternal salvation.
205. The idolatries of nations in ancient times originated in a knowledge of correspondences, since all things visible on earth correspond; thus not only trees, but all kind of beasts and birds, also fishes, and all other things. The ancients, who had a knowledge of correspondences, made for themselves images corresponding to heavenly things, and took delight in them because they signified such things as belong to heaven and the church; consequently they placed these images not only in their temples but also in their houses, not for worship but to call to mind the heavenly things they signified. So in Egypt and elsewhere there were images of calves, oxen, and serpents, also of boys, old men, and virgins; because calves and oxen signified the affections and powers of the natural man; serpents the prudence and the cunning of the sensual man; boys innocence and charity; old men wisdom, and virgins affections for truth; and so on. When the knowledge of correspondences had perished, their posterity, because these images and figures had been placed by the ancients in and near their temples, began to worship these as holy, and finally as deities. For the same reason the ancients worshiped in gardens and groves, according to the different kinds of trees in them; also on mountains and hills; for gardens and groves signified wisdom and intelligence, and each tree signified something pertaining thereto; thus the olive signified the good of love; the vine truth from that good; the cedar rational good and truth; a mountain the highest heaven; and a hill the heaven below it. That the knowledge of correspondences remained with many of the people of the East even till the advent of the Lord can be seen also in the coming of the wise men of the East to the Lord when He was born:
Therefore a star went before them, and they brought with them gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:1, 2, 9-11);
for "the star" that went before signified knowledge from heaven; "gold" signified celestial good; "frankincense" spiritual good; and "myrrh" natural good; from which three all worship proceeds. Nevertheless, with the Israelitish and Jewish nation there was no knowledge whatever of correspondences, although every thing pertaining to their worship, and all the statutes and judgments given them by Moses, and all things in the Word, were pure correspondences. This was because in heart the Jews were idolaters, and therefore such that they were not even willing to know that anything in their worship signified what is heavenly and spiritual; for they believed that all things of their worship were holy in themselves; and therefore if things heavenly and spiritual had been disclosed to them they would not only have rejected them but also have profaned them. For this reason heaven was so closed to them that they scarcely knew that there was any eternal life. The truth of this is plainly evident from the fact that they did not acknowledge the Lord, although the whole Sacred Scripture prophesied of Him and foretold His coming. They rejected Him solely for the reason that He taught them of a heavenly instead of an earthly kingdom; for they wanted a Messiah who would exalt them above all the nations in the whole world, and not a Messiah who would have regard to their eternal salvation.
205. The idolatries of nations in ancient times arose from a knowledge of correspondences, because all things that appear on the earth have a correspondence, as trees, beasts, and birds of every kind, also fishes and all other things. The ancients who had a knowledge of correspondences made for themselves images corresponding to heavenly things, and they took delight in them because they signified things of heaven and the Church. These images therefore they set up, not only in their temples but also in their homes, not to worship them, but that they might remind them of the heavenly things which they signified. Thus in Egypt and elsewhere they set up in effigy calves, oxen, serpents, also children, old men and virgins; because calves and oxen signified the affections and powers of the natural man; serpents, the prudence and also the cunning of the sensual man; children, innocence and charity; old men, wisdom; and virgins, the affections of truth; and so on. When, however, the knowledge of correspondences was lost, their posterity began to worship as holy, and at length as deities, the images and likenesses set up by the ancients, because these were in and about their temples. For the same reason the ancients worshiped in gardens and in groves, according to the different kinds of trees growing in them, and also on mountains and hills; because gardens and groves signified wisdom and intelligence, and every tree something that had relation to these. Thus the olive signified the good of love, the vine, truth from that good; the cedar, rational good and truth; while a mountain signified the highest heaven, and a hill, the heaven beneath it.
The knowledge of correspondences remained among many eastern nations even until the Coming of the Lord. This may be seen from the story of the wise men from the East, who came to the Lord at His nativity.
A star went before them, and they brought with them gifts; gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11.
For the star which went before them signified knowledge from heaven; gold, celestial good; frankincense, spiritual good; and myrrh, natural good; and from these three all worship proceeds. Still there was no knowledge whatever of correspondences among the Israelitish and Jewish nation, although all the particulars of their worship, all the statutes and judgments given to them by Moses, and everything contained in the Word, were pure correspondences. The reason of this was that they were at heart idolaters, and consequently were not even willing to know that any part of their worship had a celestial and spiritual meaning. They believed that all those things were holy in themselves; if therefore the celestial and spiritual things had been revealed to them, they would not only have rejected, but would even have profaned them. For this reason heaven was so closed to them that they hardly knew that there was a life eternal. That such was the case is very evident from the fact that they did not acknowledge the Lord, although the whole Sacred Scripture prophesied concerning Him, and foretold His Coming. They rejected Him for the sole reason that He taught them about a heavenly and not about an earthly kingdom; for they desired a Messiah who should exalt them above all the nations in the world, and not one who should make their eternal salvation His chief regard.
205. Quod Idololatriae Gentium Antiquis temporibus ex scientia Correspondentiarum traxerint originem, erat ex causa, quia omnia, quae apparent super Tellure, correspondent, ita non modo Arbores, sed etiam Bestiae et Aves omnis generis, tum Pisces et reliqua. Antiqui, qui in scientia Correspondentiarum fuerunt, fecerunt sibi Imagines, quae Coelestibus correspondebant, et illis delectabantur quia significabant talia, quae Coeli et Ecclesiae erant, et ideo illa non modo in suis Templis, sed etiam in suis Domibus posuerunt, non adorationis causa, sed recordationis rerum coelestium, quas significabant: inde in Aegypto et alibi fuerunt in imagine Vituli, Boves, Serpentes, tum Pueri, Senes, Virgines, quia Vituli et Boves significabant affectiones et vires Naturalis hominis, Serpentes prudentiam et quoque astutiam sensualis hominis; Pueri innocentiam et charitatem, Senes sapientiam, ac Virgines affectiones veri; et sic porro. Posteri, quando scientia Correspondentiarum obliterata est, coeperunt Imagines et Simulachra ab Antiquis posita, quia in Templis, et juxta illa, colere ut Sancta, et tandem ut Numina. Inde erat Antiquis etiam Cultus in Hortis et in Lucis secundum Arborum species; tum etiam super Montibus et Collibus; Horti enim et Luci significabant sapientiam et intelligentiam, et unaquaevis Arbor aliquid illarum, sicut Olea bonum amoris, Vitis verum ex illo bono; Cedrus bonum et verum rationale; Mons Coelum supremum, et Collis Coelum sub illo.
[2] Quod scientia Correspondentiarum permanserit apud plures Orientales usque ad Adventum Domini, constare etiam potest ex Sapientibus ab Oriente, qui venerunt ad Dominum cum natus est, quare illis praeivit Stella, et illi secum tulerunt dona, Aurum, Thus et Myrrham, Matthaeus 2:1-2, 9-11; Stella enim, quae praeivit, significabat cognitionem e Coelo, Aurum significabat bonum coeleste, Thus bonum spirituale, et Myrrha bonum naturale, ex quibus tribus est omnis Cultus. Sed usque Scientia Correspondentiarum prorsus nulla fuit apud Gentem Israeliticam et Judaicam, tametsi omnia Cultus eorum et omnia Statuta et Judicia illis per Mosen data, et omnia Verbi, erant merae Correspondentiae; causa fuit, quia illi corde Idololatrae erant, et inde tales, ut ne quidem scire vellent, quod aliquid Cultus illorum significaret Coeleste et Spirituale, credebant enim quod illa omnia essent Sancta ex se; quare si illis Coelestia et Spiritualia detecta fuissent, non modo rejecissent illa, sed etiam prophanavissent; quapropter Coelum illis ita clausum fuit, ut vix scirent quod Vita aeterna daretur; quod ita sit, manifeste patet ex eo, quod non agnoverint Dominum, tametsi universa Scriptura Sacra de Ipso prophetavit, et Adventum Ipsius praedixit; rejecerunt Ipsum propter illam solam causam, quia illos de Regno coelesti, et non de Regno terrestri docuit, voluerunt enim Messiam, qui illos super omnes Gentes in universo Mundo exaltaret, et non aliquem Messiam, qui saluti aeternae eorum consuleret.