Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 7920

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7920. That is in the basin' means contained in the good of the natural. This is clear from the meaning of 'the basin' as the good of the natural; for in general vessels mean known facts that belong to the natural, 3068, because those facts are receptacles of goodness and truth that flow in. And since vessels mean known facts they also mean the natural; for factual knowledge belongs to the natural, and the natural is a general receptacle. But more specifically, vessels made of wood and of bronze meant forms of good belonging to the natural; for 'wood' and also 'bronze' mean good. This is why 'the basin' means the good of the natural. It should be recognized that one thing is meant by natural good, another by the good of the natural. Natural good is what a person possesses by heredity, but the good of the natural is what comes to him from the Lord through regeneration. Regarding natural good, see 7197.


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