238# 字义中的圣言，犹如一只匣柜，其中按次序陈列宝石、珍珠与冠冕。凡以圣言为圣，并为生活之用而阅读之人，其心智之思维，相较而言，犹如手持此等匣柜而将之送达天堂者；此匣柜在上升途中开启，其中珍宝遂至天使那里；天使观看并细察这些珍宝，便由衷愉悦。此种愉悦与人相交通，并形成相交，亦形成知觉之交通。
为着人与天使的此种相交，并同时为着人与主的联结，圣餐遂被设立；在圣餐中，饼在天堂成为神性良善，酒成为神性真理，二者皆由主而来。此种对应出于创造，其目的乃在于使天使的天堂与地上的教会，并一般而言，使灵性世界与自然世界，成为一体；又使主同时将祂自己与二者相联结。
238# 字义上的圣言就像一个宝箱，里面依次排列着宝石、珍珠和钻石。如果一个人视圣言为神圣，为了生活的功用而阅读它，那么他心智的思维可以比作一个手里拿着这种宝箱，并把它抛向天堂的人；宝箱在上升的过程中打开，里面的宝物向天使们显露，天使们非常高兴地看到并仔细检查它们。天使们的这种快乐就传给这个人，产生一种联系和一种感知的共享。圣餐就是为了与天使的这种联系，同时为了与主的结合而设立的；其中，在天堂，饼变成神性良善，酒变成神性真理，在这两种情况下都来自主。这种对应来自创造，是为了天使天堂可以与地上的教会构成一体，总体上灵界可以与自然界构成一体，主可以同时与这两者结合。
238. In its letter the Word is like a case that has precious stones, pearls, and gems laid out in a pattern inside. When we regard the Word as holy and read it in order to have a useful life, our minds have thoughts like a jewel case that someone takes hold of and sends up to heaven. As the jewel case rises, it opens, making the precious things inside accessible to the angels, who are profoundly delighted to see them and to hold them up to the light. The angels' pleasure is shared with us; this process brings angels into association with us and allows them to share with us not only that pleasure but also their perceptions.
The Holy Supper was established to allow us this kind of association with angels as well as a connection to the Lord. During the Holy Supper, in heaven the bread becomes divine goodness and the wine becomes divine truth, both of which are from the Lord. Ever since creation this correspondence has existed for two reasons: so the angelic heaven and the church on earth, or more generally the spiritual world and the physical world, could be one; and so the Lord could be connected to both of them at once.
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238. The Word in its literal sense is like a treasure-chest, in which lie arranged in rows precious stones, pearls and diadems. If a person regards the Word as holy and reads it as a useful guide to life, the thoughts in his mind can be compared to one who holds such a chest in his hand, and throws it heavenwards; and as it rises it flies open and the treasures inside reach the angels, who take great pleasure in seeing and carefully examining them. The pleasure they get from this is shared with men and brings about association and also the sharing of perceptions. It was for the sake of this association with angels, and at the same time being linked with the Lord, that the Holy Supper was instituted; in this the bread becomes in heaven Divine good and the wine becomes Divine truth, in both cases coming from the Lord. This kind of correspondence is from creation, and was established in order that the heaven of the angels and the church on earth, and in general the spiritual world and the natural one, should be one, and so that the Lord might link Himself with both at once.
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238. The Word in the letter is like a casket, where precious stones, pearls, and diadems lie in order. The thoughts of a man's mind, who regards the Word as holy, and who reads it for the sake of the uses of life, may be compared to one holding such a casket in his hand, and throwing it toward heaven; and the casket opening in its ascent, the precious things in it are disclosed to the angels, who are deeply delighted in seeing and examining them. This delight of the angels is communicated to the man, and effects an affiliation and a sharing of perceptions. For the sake of this affiliation with angels, and at the same time conjunction with the Lord, the Holy Supper was instituted, the bread of which in heaven becomes Divine good, and the wine Divine truth, each from the Lord. Such correspondence exists by creation, to the end that the angelic heaven may make one with the church on earth, and in general the spiritual world may make one with the natural world, and the Lord may conjoin Himself with both at once.
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238. The Word in the Letter is like a casket in which are arranged precious stones, pearls and diadems. When a man regards the Word as holy, and reads it with a view to the uses of life, his thoughts may be compared to those of a person who takes such a casket in his hand and sends it upward to heaven. In its ascent it opens, and its precious contents reach the angels, who are deeply delighted as they see and examine them. Their delight is communicated to the man, so bringing about association, and interchange of perceptions. For the sake of this association with angels, and at the same time, conjunction with the Lord, the Holy Supper was instituted, in which the bread becomes in heaven Divine Good, and the wine, Divine Truth, both from the Lord. Such correspondence exists from creation, to the end that the angelic heaven and the Church on earth, and in general, the spiritual world and the natural world, may make one, and that the Lord may enter into conjunction with both at the same time.
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238. Verbum in litera est sicut Theca, in qua in ordine jacent lapides pretiosi, uniones, et diademata; homo, qui sanctum habet Verbum, et propter usus vitae legit illud, 1 ejus mentis cogitationes sunt comparative, sicut qui thecam talem in manu tenet, et mittit illam ad Coelum, et haec in ascensu aperitur, et pretiosa inibi ad Angelos veniunt, qui ex illis visis et lustratis penitus delectantur; haec illorum 2 delectatio communicatur cum homine, et facit consociationem, et quoque communicationem perceptionum. Propter hanc consociationem cum Angelis, et simul conjunctionem cum Domino, instituta est SANCTA COENA, in qua PANIS fit in Coelo Divinum Bonum et VINUM fit Divinum Verum, utrumque a Domino: talis Correspondentia est ex Creatione, propter finem, ut Coelum Angelicum et Ecclesia in terris, et in genere Mundus spiritualis cum Mundo naturali, unum faciat, et Dominus se cum utroque simul conjungat.
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