Page:Arcana Coelestia (Potts) vol 1.djvu/58



It is there, said of the ark that it went from the Mount of Jehovah "to search out a rest for them" (verse 33). [3] The rest of the celestial man is described by the Sabbath in Isaiah:—

Such is the quality of the celestial man that he acts not according to his own desire, but according to the good pleasure of the Lord, which is his " desire." Thus he enjoys internal peace and happiness—here expressed by "being uplifted over the lofty things of the earth"—and at the same time external tranquillity and delight, which is signified by "being fed with the heritage of Jacob."

. When the spiritual man, who has become the "sixth day," is beginning to be celestial, which state is here first treated of, it is the "eve of the Sabbath," represented in the Jewish Church by the keeping holy of the Sabbath from the evening. The celestial man is the "morning" to be spoken of presently.

. Another reason why the celestial man is the "Sabbath," or "rest," is that combat ceases when he becomes celestial. The evil spirits retire, and good ones approach, as well as celestial angels; and when these are present, evil spirits cannot possibly remain, but flee far away. And since it was not the man himself who carried on the combat, but the Lord alone for the man, it is said that the Lord "rested."

. When the spiritual man becomes celestial, he is called the "work of God," because the Lord alone has fought for him, and has created, formed, and made him; and therefore it is here said, "God finished His work on the seventh day;" and twice, that "He rested from all His work." By the Prophets man is repeatedly called the "work of the hands and of the