Page:A Compendium of the Chief Doctrines of the True Christian Religion.djvu/147

Rh apostles of the Lamb, are meant all things in general and in particular relative to the goods and truths of the church, and it's doctrine. By the twelve gates of pearls are meant all introductory truths, which are likewise signified by the twelve angels at the gates. By gold like onto clear glass, of which the city and it's street consisted, is signified the good of love, giving clearness and translucency to the doctrine and it's truths. By the nations who are saved, and the kings of the earth who bring their glory and honour into the city, are meant all the members of the church, who will be under the influence of goodness and truth. By no temple being seen in the city is signified, that in the New Church there will be no external worship separate from internal: because the Lord alone will be approached, acknowledged, and worshipped in his Divine Humanity, which in the supreme sense is what is meant by the temple. By there being no need of the sun, nor of the moon to shine in it, because the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof, is signified, that the New Church will not be under the dominion of self-love and self-derived intelligence, and consequently not under the influence of mere natural light; but will in all things be guided by the light of divine truth proceeding from the Lord, who as to his Essential Divinity is called God, and as to his Divine Humanity is called the Lamb. The New Church, or New Jerusalem, is further represented in the same chapter, under a more interior idea, as the Bride and Wife of the Lamb; being called a Bride in reference to her state of preparation to receive the Lord, and a Wife in reference to her actual conjunction with him. That this church will be established on earth, and that it will in due time constitute the crown and glory of all churches,