278# 第二则可记之事如下：
有一次，从天堂降下一张小纸给我，上面以希伯来文字写成；但其书写方式如古人所有，因为今日有些部分呈直线形的字母，在古人那里乃是弯曲的，并带有向上伸出的微小角饰。当时在我身旁的天使说，他们单从字母本身便知道完整的意义，并且尤其从字母线条的曲折与尖点知道其义。他们又解释各字母单独与联结时各表示什么，并说：加在亚伯兰与撒莱名字上的 H，表征无限与永恒。
他们还在我面前，仅从字母或音节解释诗篇三十二篇二节的圣言意义；其意义概括而言乃是：主也怜悯那些作恶之人。他们告诉我：第三天堂中的文字，是由弯曲而形态各异的字母构成，每一个字母都含有某种意义；其中的元音代表声音，而声音对应于情感。在那天堂，他们不能发 i 与 e 两个元音，而以 y与 eu代之；他们使用 a、o、u诸元音，因为这些元音发出圆满之声。
他们又说，在那里若有辅音，并不以粗厉方式发出，而以柔和方式发出；某些希伯来字母内部加点，正是为标明其应柔和发音。他们说，字母中的粗厉性用于属灵天堂，因为那里的人处于真理之中，而真理容许粗厉；但良善却不容许粗厉，主之属天国度、即第三天堂的天使，正处于良善之中。
他们还说，他们那里有圣言，是以弯曲字母写成，并带有具有表征意义的角饰与尖点。由此便显明主这些话所指为何：“律法的一点一画，也绝不废去，直到一切都成全。”（太5:18）又说：“天地废去，比律法的一点落空还容易。”（路16:17）
278# 记事二：
有一次，有一张小纸条从天上降到我这里，上面写满希伯来字母，不过是用古人所用的那种来写的；如今大部分是直的字母在当时是弯曲的，有向上的小角或尖端；与我同在的天使们说，他们从字母本身就明白整个含义，尤其从字母的线条和尖端的弯曲来感知它们。他们也解释了这些字母单独表示什么，联合起来表示什么，说，被添加到亚伯兰和撒莱这两个名字上的字母“H”表示无限和永恒。他们还仅从字母或音节向我解释了诗篇32:2中的圣言的含义，并补充说，字母，包括一切屈折变化的意思是，甚至对那些作恶的人来说，主也是仁慈的。天使们告诉我说，在第三层天堂，文字是由各种弯曲的字母组成的，其中每个字母都包含某种意义；那里的元音表示与情感相对应的语调。在第三层天堂，天使们发不出元音“i”和“e”，而是用“y”和“eu”来取代它们。他们使用元音“a”、“o”和“u”，因为它们发出完整的声音。他们还说，他们只柔和地，而非生硬地发出辅音。这就是为何有些希伯来字母里面有点作为符号，表明它们要被柔和地发出来。他们补充说，属灵天堂使用发音生硬的字母，因为那里的天使处于真理；真理允许生硬，但主的属天国度或第三层天堂的天使所处的良善不允许。此外，他们说，他们所拥有的圣言也是用带有有意义的角和尖端的弯曲字母来写的。这清楚表明主的这些话表示什么：
一点一画也决不能从律法上过去，直到一切都实现。（马太福音5:18）
以及这句话：
天地过去比律法的一点一画落空还容易。（路加福音16:17）
278. The second memorable occurrence. Once a sheet of paper was sent down to me from heaven that was full of writing in Hebrew lettering, but written in the way the ancients used to write. Letters that today are largely straight were curved then and had little horns or tips that turned upward. Angels who were with me at the time said they knew whole meanings just from the letters. They derived these meanings especially from the curvature of the lines and of the tips of the letters. They explained what these meant individually and in combination. They said that the letter "h," which was added to both Abram and Sarai's names, meant infinity and eternity. They also explained to me the meaning of Psalm 32:2 in the Word on the basis of the letters alone. Taken all together the meaning of the letters was that the Lord is also compassionate to those who do evil.
The angels told me that the writing in the third heaven consists of letters that are bent and curved in various ways, each of which contains some meaning. The vowels in that writing indicate sounds that correspond to different feelings of love. Angels in that heaven cannot pronounce the vowel sounds of "I" and "e," so instead they use "y" and "eu. " They do use the vowel sounds of "a," "o," and "u" since these give a full sound. There are some consonantal letters that these angels pronounce as soft rather than hard. This is why some Hebrew letters have a dot inside them as a sign to pronounce them as [hard, and no dot as a sign to pronounce them as] soft. They said that pronouncing these letters as hard was practiced in the spiritual heaven because the angels there focus on truths and truth allows for hardness. The goodness among angels in the Lord's heavenly kingdom (the third heaven) does not allow for hardness. The angels [with me] said that the written Word they have also has curved letters with meaningful horns or tips.
All this makes it clear what these sayings of the Lord's mean: "Not one little letter or the tip of one letter will pass from the law until all of it is fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18); and "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for the tip of one letter of the law to fall" (Luke 16:17).
278. The second experience.
Once a paper was sent down to me from heaven written in Hebrew letters, but in the script used in ancient times; the letters which nowadays have in places straight lines were curved, with flourishes pointing upwards. The angels who were then present with me said that they gathered complete ideas from the letters themselves, knowing them especially from the curves of the lines and the serifs of the letters. They explained what these meant separately and what when combined. They said that H, which was added to the names of Abram and Sarai, meant what is infinite and eternal. They also explained in my presence the meaning of a verse of the Word, Psalm 32:2, simply from the letters or characters; their meaning was in short that the Lord is merciful to those who do wrong.
They told me that writing in the third heaven consists of letters bent into various curves, each of which conveys some meaning. Vowels there stood for the sound which corresponds to an affection. In that heaven they cannot pronounce the vowels i and e, but substitute for them y and eu 1 , They used the vowels a, o and u, because they give a full sound. They also said that they did not pronounce any consonants harshly, but softly; and this was why certain Hebrew letters have a point inside, as a sign they are pronounced softly. They said that harshness in letters was used in the spiritual heaven, because there they possess truths, and the truth admits harshness, but good does not, and the angels of the Lord's celestial kingdom, that is, the third heaven, possess good.
They also said that they had among themselves the Word written in curved letters with flourishes and serifs which conveyed a meaning. This made it plain what these words of the Lord mean:
Not a jot nor a stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all things are done, Matthew 5:18.
Also:
It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to fall out, Luke 16:17.
Footnotes:
1. These letters must be understood as having values as in modern Italian, but y means the sound of French u or German u.
278. Second Memorable Relation:
There was once sent down to me from heaven a little paper with Hebrew letters inscribed on it, but written as with the ancients, with whom those letters which at the present are formed in part of straight lines were curved, with little horns turned upward; and the angels who were with me said that they recognized complete meanings in the very letters, perceiving them especially from the curves of the lines and apexes of the letters. They also explained what the letters signified both separately and conjointly, saying that the letter H, which was added to the names of Abram and Sarai, signified the infinite and eternal. They also explained to me the meaning of the Word in Psalms 32:2, from the letters or syllables alone, saying that their meaning in brief is that the Lord is merciful even to those who do evil. They told me that the writings in the third heaven consist of letters bent and variously curved, each one of which contains a certain meaning; and that the vowels there stand for the tone of the voice, which corresponds to affection; also that they are unable in that heaven to pronounce the vowels i and e, but use in their place y and eu; and that the vowels a, o, and u were in use among them, because they have a full sound. They also said that they pronounce none of the consonants roughly, but only softly, and that this is why some Hebrew letters have points within them as a sign that they are to be pronounced softly; adding that the rough sounds of letters are in use in the spiritual heaven, because there the angels are in truths; and truth admits roughness, but the good in which the angels of the Lord's celestial kingdom or of the third heaven are, does not. They said, moreover, that they have a Word among themselves written with curved letters with little horns and apexes that are significative. This makes clear what these words of the Lord signify:
One jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished (Matthew 5:18)
also of these:
It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fall (Luke 16:17).
278. The second experience. There was once sent down to me from heaven a piece of paper covered with Hebrew characters, but written as they used to be among the Ancients, with whom those letters, which to-day are partly linear, were curved, with little flourishes turning upwards. The angels who were then with me said that they understood a complete sense from the letters themselves, but a special sense from the curves of the lines and the upturned flourishes over any letter. They explained what the letters and the inflections signified, both separately and conjointly, and said that the letter H, which was added to the names Abram and Sarai, signified the infinite and the eternal. They also explained to me the meaning of the Word in Psalms 32:2, from the letters or syllables alone; adding that the meaning of the letters with all inflections included was, that the Lord is merciful even to those who do evil.
They informed me that writing in the third heaven consisted of letters inflected and variously curved, each of which contained a certain meaning; that the vowels there represented sound, which corresponds to affection; that in that heaven they cannot pronounce the vowels i and e, but employ instead of them y and eu; and that the vowels a, o, and u are in use among them, because these have a full sound. They also said that they did not sound any consonants hard, but soft, and for this reason certain Hebrew letters had dots within them, as a sign that they should have a soft pronunciation. They added that a hardness in sounding letters was in use in the spiritual heaven, because there the angels are in truths; and truth admits of hardness; but not so, good in which are the angels of the Lord's celestial or third heaven. They said, moreover, that they had the Word among them written in letters inflected with the up-tuned flourishes (tittles) which have a meaning of their own. From this it was plain what is signified by these words of the Lord:
"One jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" Matthew 5:18;
and also:
"It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail" Luke 16:17.
278. SECUNDUM MEMORABILE. Quondam ad me e Coelo demissa est chartula exarata literis Hebraicis, sed scriptis sicut apud Antiquos, apud quos illae literae quae hodie quoad aliquam partem lineares sunt, fuerunt inflexae cum corniculis sursum vergentibus; et dicebant Angeli, qui tunc apud me erant, quod scirent integros Sensus ex ipsis literis, et quod illos scirent imprimis ex flexuris linearum et apicum literae, et explicabant quid significarent seorsim et quid conjunctim, dicentes quod H, quod additum est nominibus Abrami et Sarai, significaret Infinitum ac Aeternum; explicabant etiam coram me Sensum Verbi Psalm 32:2, ex solis literis seu syllabis, quod Sensus illarum in summa esset, QUOD DOMINUS ETIAM MISERICORS SIT ILLIS, QUI MALEFACIUNT: informabant me, quod Scriptura in Tertio Coelo ex literis inflexis et varie incurvatis, quarum unaquaevis contineret quendam Sensum, constaret; et quod Vocales ibi essent pro sono, qui correspondet affectioni, et quod in illo Coelo non possent enuntiare vocales i et e, sed pro illis y et eu, et quod vocales a, o, et u, illis in usu essent, quia dant sonum plenum; tum quod non exprimerent aliquas Literas consonantes aspere, sed molliter, et quod inde sit, quod literae quaedam Hebraicae intus punctatae sint, in signum ut molliter enuntientur, dicentes quod asperitas in literis esset in usu in spirituali Coelo, ex causa quia ibi in veris sint, ac verum admittit asperum, non autem bonum, in quo sunt Angeli Regni coelestis Domini seu Tertii Coeli: dicebant etiam quod Verbum apud se conscriptum haberent literis inflexis cum corniculis et apicibus significativis; ex quo patuit, quid etiam significant haec Domini verba, Non Jotha et Corniculum praeteribit de Lege, donec omnia fiunt, Matthaeus 5:18. Tum, Facilius est Coelum et Terram transire, quam Legis unum Apicem cadere, Luca 16:17.