derived from the One Supreme Fountain, the Lord Himself. Like the rest of the Divine Word, they have, too, an internal sense, within and above that of the letter. As the literal sense is intended for men in a simple, natural state, so the internal or spiritual sense is for those men whose minds are in a more elevated and spiritual state; and also for those who were once men in this world, but are now dwelling in the spiritual world, good and happy—angels of heaven. They, too, have these Divine Commandments, and know and obey them; for it is written, "Forever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in heaven."[1]
We propose on the present occasion to explain the meaning of the Commandment which is the subject of our text,—first in its literal, and then in its spiritual sense.
"By bearing false witness against the neighbor," says the Doctrine of the New Church, "is meant, in the natural sense, first of all, to act as a false witness before a judge, or before others not in a court of justice, against any one who is rashly accused of any evil; and to asseverate this by the name of God or anything holy. By this Commandment, in a wider natural sense, are meant lies of every kind, and hypocrisies, which look to a bad end; and also to traduce and defame the neighbor, so that his honor, name, and fame, on which the character of the whole man depends, are injured. In the widest natural sense are meant, unfaithfulness, stratagems, and evil purposes against any one, from various origins, as from enmity, hatred,
