Page:Sermons on the Ten Commandments.djvu/66

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

goodness and truth in the minds of angels, and also of men, which conjunction is the essential principle of heaven; and thus the Sabbath represented heaven itself and its happiness. "The Israelitish nation," says the New Church Doctrine, "did not think about these things,—the union of the Divine with the Divine Human of the Lord, nor about the Lord's conjunction with heaven, nor about the conjunction of good and truth in heaven;—for that people were altogether in things external without an internal; yet they were enjoined to account the Sabbath most holy, in order that in heaven those Divine and celestial things might thereby be represented."[1]

The reason that the Sabbath had this representation is, because the word Sabbath, in the Hebrew language, signifies rest or peace. Now, when the Lord had finished his combats with the hells, and glorified his Humanity, then He had Divine rest or peace. Hence, when he appeared amidst the disciples after His resurrection, he said to them, "Peace be unto you;"[2] hence, also, he is called the "Prince of peace." In like manner, from the new and more powerful influx received by the angels through the conjunction of the Lord's glorified Humanity with the heavens, they too had rest and peace. And, finally, when, in the course of regeneration, truth becomes conjoined with good in the heart of man, he has rest and peace—rest from the disturbing influences of hell, and peace of soul; and such rest and peace constitute heaven within him. All these were represented by the Sabbath. Hence

  1. Arcana Cœlestia, n. 8886.
  2. John xx. 19.