Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 6597

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6597. The internal sense of things in the Book of Genesis has now been dealt with; but since that book consists entirely of historical narratives, apart from Chapters 48 and 49, in which prophetical declarations also occur, it can hardly be apparent that what has been expounded really is the internal sense. For historical narratives confine the mind to the literal sense and so move it away from the internal sense, especially as the internal sense is entirely different from the literal since the internal sense deals with spiritual and celestial things, the literal sense with worldly and earthly ones. But the fact that the nature of the internal sense is as has been expounded is evident from every detail that has been explained, and above all from the consideration that it has been declared to me from heaven.


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