279# 第三则可记之事如下：
七年前，当我追忆摩西从那些名为雅威的战记与预言者之言的古书卷中所摘录之事（民数记二十一章）时，有几位天使在场，并对我说：那些书卷乃是古圣言；其中历史部分称为雅威的战记，先知部分称为预言者之言。他们又说，此圣言至今仍保存于天堂，并为那里的古人所用；这些古人从前在世时，即已有此圣言。
这些在天堂中仍使用此圣言的古人，就一部分而言，来自迦南地及其周边，如叙利亚、美索不达米亚、阿拉伯、迦勒底、亚述、埃及、西顿、推罗、尼尼微等地。凡这些王国的居民，都处于表象性的敬拜之中，因而具有关于对应的知识。那时代的智慧，即出于此知识；并藉此知识，他们有内在的知觉，且能与诸天交通。凡知道此圣言之对应者，称为智慧人和通达人；后来则称为占卜者与术士。
【2】然而，由于此圣言充满这种对应，而这些对应是以较遥远的方式表征天上与属灵之事；又因许多人开始歪曲它，故此圣言由于主的神性天命，遂随时间逐渐消失；另有一部圣言被赐下，是以不那么遥远的对应写成的，即藉以色列子孙中的先知所写成的圣言。在这部圣言中，仍保留了许多地名；这些地名不仅属于迦南地，也属于周边亚洲各地，而这一切地名皆表征教会之事与教会之状态；但其表征意义则来自那部古圣言。正因如此，亚伯兰才被吩咐往那地去，而他从雅各所出的后裔也被引入那地。
【3】关于这部在以色列圣言以前已存在于亚洲的古圣言，还可陈述一件新事：它至今仍保存在居住于大鞑靼的诸民那里。我曾与灵界中来自那里的灵与天使交谈；他们说，他们拥有圣言，并且自古以来即拥有此圣言；他们照此圣言行其神圣敬拜；而此圣言全由纯粹的对应构成。
他们说，其中也有雅煞珥书；此书见于约书亚记：“当雅威将亚摩利人交付以色列人的日子，约书亚就祷告雅威，在以色列人眼前说：日头啊，你要停在基遍；月亮啊，你要止在亚雅仑谷。于是日头停留，月亮止住，直等国民向敌人报仇。这事岂不是写在雅煞珥书上吗？日头在天当中停住，不急速下落，约有一日之久。”（书10:12—13）
又见于撒母耳记下： “大卫作哀歌，吊扫罗和他儿子约拿单，且吩咐将这歌教导犹大人。这歌名叫弓歌，写在雅煞珥书上。”（撒下1:17—18）
他们还说，他们那里也有雅威的战记与预言者之言；这些书为摩西所提及，见于民数记： “所以雅威的战记上说：苏法的哇哈伯与亚嫩河的谷，并向亚珥城众谷的下坡，是靠近摩押的境界。”（民21:14—15）
又说： “所以那些作诗歌的说：你们来到希实本；愿西宏的城被修造，被建立。因为有火从希实本发出，有火焰出于西宏的城，烧尽摩押的亚珥和亚嫩河邱坛的祭司。摩押啊，你有祸了！基抹的民哪，你们灭亡了！基抹的男子逃奔，女子被掳，交付亚摩利的王西宏。我们射了他们；希实本直到底本尽皆毁灭。我们使地变成荒场，直到挪法；这挪法直延到米底巴。”（民21:27—30）
当我在他们面前诵读摩西从其中摘录的话时，他们查问这些话是否存在于他们的圣言中，后来果然找到了。由此我明白，古圣言至今仍在他们那里存留。我与他们谈话时，他们说自己敬拜雅威；有人敬拜祂为不可见的上帝，有人敬拜祂为可见的上帝。
【4】此外，他们还说，他们不容外人进入他们那里，惟独中国人例外；他们与中国人保持和平，因为中国皇帝出自那里。他们又说，他们人口极为众多，以致不信全世界还有哪一地区比他们更众多；这从中国人为防御他们侵入而在古时修筑、绵延数千里的长城，也可见其可信。
此外，我从天使那里听见：创世记最初各章，论及创造、亚当与夏娃、伊甸园，以及他们的子孙后裔直到洪水，又论及挪亚和他的儿子们的那些内容，也在这部圣言之中；因此，这些内容乃为摩西从其中抄录而来。来自大鞑靼的天使与灵，显现于南方偏东方位；他们与其余诸灵分开，因为他们居于较高的广阔空间，并且不容基督教世界中任何人到他们那里；若有人升上去，他们便看守，使其不得离开。之所以如此分隔，是因为他们拥有另一部圣言。
279# 记事三：
七年前，我正在收集摩西从被称为《耶和华战记》和《宣告》的两本书中写在民数记第21章中的内容，一些天使出现了；他们告诉我，这两本书是古圣言，它的历史部分被称为《耶和华战记》，预言部分被称为《宣告》。他们说，这部圣言仍保存在天堂，在那里的古人当中使用，他们在世时就拥有这部圣言。在天堂仍使用该圣言的这些古人部分来自迦南地及其邻近地区，如叙利亚、美索不达米亚、阿拉伯、迦勒底、亚述、埃及、西顿、推罗和尼尼微。所有这些国家的居民都拥有代表性的敬拜，因而拥有对应的知识。那个时代的智慧就来自对应的知识，人们通过这种知识拥有内在感知，也拥有与天堂的交流。那些知道这部圣言的对应关系的人被称为智慧和聪明，后来被称为占卜者和术士。
由于这部圣言充满诸如遥远地表示属天和属灵事物的那种对应关系，因而开始被许多人歪曲，所以按照主的圣治，随着时间推移，它消失了；另一部圣言被赐下，它由不那么遥远的对应关系、通过以色列人当中的众先知写成。在这部圣言中，许多地名，无论迦南地的，还是亚洲周边的，都保留下来，所有这些地名都表示教会的事物和状态。但这些含义来自那部古圣言。因此，亚伯兰被吩咐去往那地，他经由雅各而来的后代也被领到那地。
关于在以色列的圣言之前存在于亚洲的这部古圣言，我被允许讲述前所未知的新事，即：它仍被保存在生活在大鞑靼（中亚国家）的人民当中。在灵界，我曾与来自该地区的灵人和天使交谈，他们说，他们拥有一部圣言，并且自古就拥有它；他们根据这部圣言举行神性敬拜，它纯由对应关系构成。他们说，他们的圣言还包含约书亚记（10:12，13）和撒母耳记下（1:17，18）提到的《雅煞珥书》；它所包含的其它书叫《耶和华战记》和《宣告》，摩西在民数记（21:14，15，27-30）中提到了它们。当我把摩西从中引用的话读给他们时，他们就查找，看看这些话在不在那里，然后找到了它们。这些事让我清楚知道，古圣言仍在他们当中。在我们交谈的过程中，他们说，他们敬拜耶和华，其中一些人视耶和华为一位可见的神，一些人则视祂为一位不可见的神。
他们还告诉我，他们不允许外人来到他们中间，除了与他们和平共处的中国人，因为中国的皇帝（译注：英文译者认为，这可能是指13-14世纪的元朝，他们具有蒙古血统；但也许是指自1644年以来统治中国的非中国的清朝）来自他们的地区或国家。他们还说，中国人口如此之多，以至于他们不相信全世界还有什么地区的人口比这里更多；这话的确可信，因为中国人曾经为了保护自己免受这些人的入侵而修筑了万里长城。我还从天使那里听说，创世记头几章也包含在这部圣言中；这几章论述了创造、亚当和夏娃、伊甸园、他们的孩子和后代，直到大洪水，以及挪亚和他的孩子；摩西从这部圣言中抄录了这些故事。来自大鞑靼的天使和灵人出现在东南地区，因住在更高的穹苍而与其他人分离；他们不允许来自基督教界的任何人来找他们，或如果有人设法攀登上来，他们就会把他们关起来，防止他们离开。他们拥有一部不同的圣言是这种分离的原因。
279. The third memorable occurrence. Seven years ago, when I was remembering that Moses mentions two books called The Wars of Jehovah and The Pronouncements (Numbers 21), some angels became present and said to me that these books were the ancient Word. Its historical portion was called The Wars of Jehovah and its prophetical portion was called The Pronouncements. The angels said that that Word is still preserved in heaven and is used by ancient peoples there who had had that Word when they were in the world. Some of the ancient peoples who are still using that Word in heaven came from the land of Canaan and its neighbors, such as Syria, Mesopotamia, Arabia, Chaldea, Assyria; Egypt; and Sidon, Tyre, and Nineveh. The people in all these countries had symbolic worship and therefore studied correspondences. The wisdom of their times was in fact based on the study of correspondences. That study gave them inner awareness and communication with the heavens. The people who knew the correspondences in that Word were called "the wise" and "the intelligent. " Later they were called "diviners" and "magi. "
[2] Since that Word was full of correspondences that referred indirectly to heavenly and spiritual realities, and consequently many people began to falsify its correspondences, by the Lord's divine providence that Word disappeared over the course of time.
Another Word, written in correspondences that were less indirect, was given through the prophets of the children of Israel. In it many of the names of places were retained - places not only in the land of Canaan but also in the surrounding areas in the Middle East. All these names referred to aspects and conditions of the church. Their meanings were taken over from the ancient Word. This is why Abram was commanded to go into that country and why his descendants through Jacob were established there.
[3] Here I am allowed to relate something previously unknown about the ancient Word that used to exist in the Middle East before the Israelite Word: it is still preserved among the peoples who live in Great Tartary.
I have spoken with spirits and angels in the spiritual world who were originally from that area. They said that they possessed this Word and had done so since ancient times; that they followed this Word in conducting their divine worship; and that their Word consisted entirely of correspondences.
They said that their Word included the Book of Jasher that is mentioned in Joshua 10:12-13, and 2 Samuel 1:17-18. Other books it contains are The Wars of Jehovah and The Pronouncements, which are mentioned by Moses (Numbers 21:14-15, ). When I read these people the words that Moses quoted from it, they looked up the passages to see whether the words were still in their text, and they found the passages. These events made it clear to me that the ancient Word still exists among them. During our conversation they said that they worship Jehovah. Some of them worship Jehovah as a God who can be seen, some as a God who cannot be seen.
[4] They went on to say that they do not let in foreign immigrants except the Chinese, with whom they have peaceful relations because the Chinese emperor is from their area. They also said that their territory is so heavily populated that they cannot imagine that any other part of the entire world is populated more heavily. This seems plausible given the many miles of the Great Wall that the Chinese once built to protect themselves from an invasion of these people.
I have also heard from angels that the first chapters in Genesis, which deal with creation, Adam and Eve, the garden of Eden, their children and descendants right down to the flood, and also Noah and his children, are in that Word as well. Moses copied these stories from that Word.
The angels and spirits from Great Tartary are found in a southern region toward the east. They are separated from all others by their location on a high plateau. They do not let in people from the Christian world. If some manage to climb up to them, they put them under guard to keep them from leaving. The reason for this separation is that they have a different Word.
279. The third experience.
Seven years ago, when I was collecting the passages which Moses wrote drawing on the two books called The Wars of Jehovah and The Utterances (Numbers 21), some angels were present who told me that those books were the ancient Word; its historical parts are called The Wars of Jehovah, the prophetical parts The Utterances. They said that this Word was still preserved in heaven and was used by the ancients there, whose Word it had been when they were in the world. The ancients, among whom this Word is still in use in heaven, were in part from the land of Canaan and the neighbouring countries, for instance, Syria, Mesopotamia, Arabia, Chaldaea, Assyria, Egypt, Sidon, Tyre and Niniveh. The inhabitants of all these kingdoms had a representative form of worship, and thus a knowledge of correspondences. The wisdom of those times came from that knowledge, which endowed them with inward perception and communication with the heavens. Those who knew the correspondences of that Word were called wise and intelligent, and in later times soothsayers and sorcerers.
[2] But because that Word was full of the sort of correspondences which conveyed celestial and spiritual ideas distantly, so that many people began to falsify it, therefore by the Lord's Divine providence in course of time it vanished, and another Word was given written by correspondences not so distant; this was done through the prophets among the Children of Israel. This Word retains many place names, not only in the land of Canaan, but also in the adjacent parts of Asia; all of these meant matters concerning the church and its states. But these meanings were taken over from the ancient Word. That was the reason why Abram was ordered to go into that land, and his descendants through Jacob were brought into it.
[3] I am allowed to report this new piece of information about the ancient Word, which was in Asia before the Israelite Word existed. It is still preserved there among the peoples who live in Great Tartary. I have spoken with spirits and angels in the spiritual world who came from there. They said that they possess the Word, and have done so from ancient times; and they conduct their Divine worship in accordance with that Word. It is composed purely of correspondences. They said that it also contains the book of Jashar mentioned in Joshua (Joshua 10:12-13), and in the Second Book of Samuel (2 Samuel 1:17-18); they also have the books called The Wars of Jehovah and The Utterances, which are mentioned by Moses (Numbers 21:14-15, 27-30). When I read in their presence the words which Moses took from this source, they looked to see whether they were there, and they found them. This made it clear to me that they still have the ancient Word. During our conversation they mentioned that they worship Jehovah, some of them as an invisible God, and some as visible.
[4] They went on to say that they do not allow foreigners to enter their territory, except the Chinese, with whom they have peaceful relations, because the Chinese Emperor comes from there. 1 They added that they are so populous that they do not believe any region in all the world is more so. This too is plausible when one considers the wall so many miles long, which the Chinese in former times constructed as a defence against invasion by them.
Moreover I was told by angels that the first chapters of Genesis, dealing with creation, Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden, their sons and descendants down to the flood, as well as Noah and his sons, are also found in that Word, and were copied from it by Moses. Angels and spirits from Great Tartary are to be seen in the southern quarter towards the east. They are separated from others by living on a higher level. They do not allow anyone from Christian countries to visit them, and if any do go up, they put them under guard to prevent them leaving. The reason for this isolation is that they possess a different Word.
Footnotes:
1. This may refer to the Yuan dynasty (13th-14th centuries) who were of Mongol origin; but perhaps the reference is to the non-Chinese Manchu dynasty who ruled China from 1644.
279. Third Memorable Relation:
Seven years ago, when I was collecting what Moses wrote in the twenty-first chapter of Numbers from the two books called The Wars of Jehovah and Enunciations, some angels were present who told me that those books were the ancient Word, the historical parts of which were called the Wars of Jehovah, and the prophetic Enunciations; and they said that this Word is still preserved in heaven, and in use among the ancient people there who had this Word when they were in the world. These ancient people, among whom that Word is still in use in heaven, were in part from the land of Canaan and the neighboring countries, as Syria, Mesopotamia, Arabia, Chaldea, Assyria, Egypt, Sidon, Tyre, and Nineveh; the inhabitants of all of which kingdoms had representative worship and consequently a knowledge of correspondences. The wisdom of that time was from that knowledge, and by it men had interior perception, and communication with the heavens. Those who knew the correspondences of that Word were called wise and intelligent, and afterward diviners and Magi.
[2] But because that Word was full of such correspondences as remotely signified things celestial and spiritual, and consequently began to be falsified by many, in course of time by the Lord's Divine Providence it disappeared, and another Word was given, written by correspondences not so remote, and this through the prophets among the sons of Israel. In this Word many names of the places, both in the land of Canaan and round about in Asia, are retained, all of which signified things and states of the church; but the significations were from the ancient Word. For this reason Abram was commanded to go into that land, and his posterity through Jacob were led into it.
[3] Of that ancient Word which existed in Asia before the Israelitish Word, I am permitted to state this new thing, namely, that it is still preserved there among the people who dwell in Great Tartary. In the spiritual world I have talked with spirits and angels from that country, who said that they have a Word, and have had it from ancient times; and that they conduct their Divine worship according to this Word, and that it consists solely of correspondences. They said, that in it also is the Book of Jasher, which is mentioned in Joshua (10:12, 13), and in 2 Samuel (1:17, 18); and that they have also among them the books called the Wars of Jehovah and Enunciations, which are mentioned by Moses (Numbers 21:14, 15, and27-30); and when I read to them the words that Moses had quoted therefrom, they searched to see if they were there, and found them; from which it was evident to me that the ancient Word is still among that people. While talking with them they said that they worshiped Jehovah, some as an invisible God, and some as visible.
[4] They also told me that they do not permit foreigners to come among them, except the Chinese, with whom they cultivate peaceful relations, because the Chinese Emperor is from their country; also that the population is so great that they do not believe that any region in the whole world is more populous, which is indeed credible from the wall so many miles in length which the Chinese formerly built as a protection against invasion from these people. I have further heard from the angels, that the first chapters of Genesis which treat of creation, of Adam and Eve, the garden of Eden, their sons and their posterity down to the flood, and of Noah and his sons, are also contained in that Word, and thus were transcribed from it by Moses. The angels and spirits from Great Tartary are seen in the southern quarter on its eastern side, and are separated from others by dwelling in a higher expanse, and by their not permitting anyone to come to them from the Christian world, or, if any ascend, by guarding them to prevent their return. Their possessing a different Word is the cause of this separation.
279. The third experience. Seven years ago I was collecting what Moses wrote in Numbers 21 from the two Books called "The Wars of Jehovah" and "The Enunciations." Some angels who were present told me that those Books were the ancient Word, its historical parts being called "The Wars of Jehovah" and its prophetical parts, "The Enunciations." They said that that Word was still preserved in heaven, and was in use among the Ancients there, who possessed it when they were in the world. Some of those ancient people, among whom that Word is still in use in heaven, were from the Land of Canaan, and from the neighboring countries of Syria, Mesopotamia, Arabia, Chaldea, Assyria, Egypt, Sidon, Tyre and Nineveh. The inhabitants of all these kingdoms practiced a representative form of worship, and consequently had a knowledge of correspondences. The wisdom of that time was from that knowledge, and by it men had an interior perception, and also had communication with the heavens. Those who understood the correspondences of that Word were called wise and intelligent, and later, diviners and magi.
[2] As, however, that Word was full of correspondences which in a remote way signified celestial and spiritual things, many people in consequence began to falsify it. Therefore, by the Lord's Divine Providence, it disappeared in the course of time, and another Word was given, written by correspondences less remote, and this, through the Prophets among the children of Israel. In this Word are retained many names of places not only in Canaan but also in the surrounding countries of Asia, all of which signified things and states of the Church; but the significations were adopted from the ancient Word. Because of the signification of Canaan, Abram was commanded to go into that land, and his posterity, descended from Jacob, were brought into it.
[3] It may be stated, as a circumstance not already known, that the ancient Word which existed in Asia before the Israelitish Word, is still preserved among the people of Great Tartary. 1 I have conversed in the spiritual world with spirits and angels from that country, who informed me that the inhabitants possess a Word, and have possessed it from ancient times, according to which they observe their own form of Divine worship, and which consists of pure correspondences. They said also that it contains the Book of Jasher which is mentioned in Joshua 10:12-13, and in 2 Samuel 1:17-18; and also that they possess the Books called "The Wars of Jehovah" and "The Enunciations," which are mentioned by Moses in Numbers 21:14-15, and 27-30. When I read to them the words that Moses quoted from these Books, they looked up to see whether they were in the original, and they found them there. It was thus evident to me that they still possess the ancient Word. In the course of our conversation they said that they worship Jehovah, some as an invisible, and some as a visible God.
[4] They told me further that they do not allow strangers to come among them, except the Chinese, with whom they cultivate peaceful relations, because the Emperor of China is from their country. They also said that they are so numerous that they do not believe there is another country in the whole world more densely populated. This, indeed, is credible from the great length of the wall which the Chinese built long ago as a protection against invasion from that people. I have, moreover, heard from angels that the early chapters of Genesis, which treat of creation, Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden, and their children and posterity till the Flood, and of Noah and his sons, are also contained in that Word, from which they were copied by Moses. The angels and spirits from Great Tartary occupy a southern district towards the East, and live in isolation, as the country they inhabit is an elevated plateau, to which they admit no one from the Christian world. Should any make their way up they are placed under guard and not allowed to depart. They live thus isolated because they possess a different Word.
Footnotes:
1. Tartaria, Tartary, country of Central Asia.
279. TERTIUM MEMORABILE.
Ante septennium, quando recollegi illa, quae Moses ex binis illis Libris, BELLA JEHOVAE et ENUNTIATA, vocatis, Numeri 21, scripsit, aderant quidam Angeli, et mihi dixerunt, quod illi Libri essent Verbum vetustum, cujus HISTORICA vocata sunt BELLA JEHOVAE, et PROPHETICA vocata sunt ENUNTIATA, et dixerunt, quod id Verbum adhuc in Coelo conservatum sit, et in usu apud Antiquos ibi, apud quos, cum in Mundo fuerunt, id Verbum fuit. Antiqui illi, apud quos illud Verbum in Coelo adhuc in usu est, fuerunt quoad partem ex terra Canaane, et ex confiniis ejus, ut ex Syria, Mesopotamia, Arabia, Chaldaea, Assyria, ex Aegypto, ex Zidone, Tyro, Ninive, quorum omnium Regnorum incolae fuerunt in Cultu repraesentativo, et inde in Scientia correspondentiarum; Sapientia illius temporis fuit ex illa Scientia, et per illam fuit illis perceptio interior, et communicatio cum Coelis: illi qui correspondentias illius Verbi noverunt, vocati sunt Sapientes et Intelligentes, ac postea Divinatores et Magi.
[2] Sed quia id Verbum erat plenum talibus Correspondentiis, quae remote significabant Coelestia et Spiritualia, et inde a multis incepit falsificari, ideo ex Divina Domini Providentia id successu temporis evanuit, et aliud Verbum per Correspondentias non ita remotas conscriptum, datum est, et hoc, per Prophetas apud filios Israelis. In hoc Verbo retenta sunt plura Nomina locorum, non modo quae in terra Canaane, sed etiam quae circum circa in Asia fuerunt, quae omnia significabant res et status Ecclesiae; at significationes ex Verbo vetusto illo erant. Propter illam causam Abram in illam Terram ire jussus est, et ejus posteri ex Jacobo in illam introducti sunt.
[3] De Verbo illo vetusto, quod in Asia ante Verbum Israeliticum fuerat, referre licet hoc Novum, quod illud ibi adhuc reservatum sit apud Populos qui in Magna Tartaria habitant; loquutus sum cum Spiritibus et Angelis, qui in Mundo spirituali inde erant, qui dixerunt, quod possideant Verbum, et quod id ab antiquis temporibus possederint, et quod secundum hoc Verbum Divinum suum cultum obeant, et quod id ex meris Correspondentiis consistat: dixerunt, quod in illo etiam Liber JASCHAR sit, qui memoratur apud Joschuam 10:12-13, et in Libro 2 Samuelis 1:17-18: tum etiam, quod apud illos sint Libri, BELLA JEHOVAE ac ENUNTIATA, qui memorantur a Mose, Numeri 21:14-15, 27-30; et cum legi coram illis verba, quae Moses inde desumserat, inquisiverunt Numeri illa ibi 1 exstent, et invenerunt: ex his patuit mihi, quod Verbum vetustum adhuc apud illos sit. Inter loquendum cum illis dixerunt, quod Jehovam colant, quidam ut Deum invisibilem, quidam ut visibilem.
[4] Porro retulerunt, quod non patiantur ut Extranei ad illos intrent, praeter Chinenses, cum quibus pacem colunt, quia Imperator Chinensis inde est: tum etiam, quod tam populosi sint, ut non credant aliquam Regionem in Universo Mundo populosiorem esse; quod etiam credibile est ex Muro tot milliarium, quem Chinenses pro tutela sua contra invasionem ab illis olim exstruxerant. Praeterea audivi ab Angelis, quod Prima Capita Geneseos, in quibus de Creatione, de Adamo et Chaiva, de Horto Edenis, deque Filiis et posteris illorum usque ad Diluvium, et quoque de Noacho et ejus Filiis, agitur, in illo Verbo etiam sint, et sic quod a Mose inde exscripta sint. Angeli et Spiritus e Magna Tartaria apparent in Plaga meridionali a latere Orientis, et a reliquis separati sunt, per quod in Expanso eminentiori habitent; et quod non aliquem e Christiano Orbe ad se admittant, et quod si aliqui ascendunt, illos custodiant, ne exeant. Causa separationis istius est, quia aliud Verbum possident.
Footnotes:
1. Sic Apocalypsis Revelata 11:2. Prima editio: ubi.