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THE SQUARE |
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Have you ever been called "square" because you followed the rules? People call others "square" when they think they are not liberal enough. Actually, this is a very scientific description. Space may be boundless but a square is a geometrical figure that encloses and constrains within a limited area or region of space. A square also consists of four right angles; it is righteous in all directions. Those who prefer to obey the rules of universal order are righteous or just. Those who choose to transgress them are not righteous. While those who choose to make up and obey their own rules are self-righteous. However, if the universe is consistent on all levels, the spiritual world, like the physical world and human society, should also be permeated with Freedom and governed by spiritual laws of Divine Order. In fact, Freedom in the whole universe is derived from God's Love and order from His Wisdom. And, like in the physical world and human society, if we transgress these spiritual laws, we may destroy or condemn our soul or be imprisoned outside of God’s spiritual society or Heaven. The New Jerusalem "lieth foursquare" because a square represents Justice, Truth and Righteousness. Yes, this city has walls or constraints like a square. But these sturdy walls which surround the City of God are the Truths and spiritual laws of the Word that protect us from the disorder of falsity, evil and selfishness. Within these walls we are free to live in faith, righteousness, love and harmony and we never again have to worry and fear that we will ever be attacked by false thoughts and evil lusts. And the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from My God, signifies the doctrine of the new church, which is in the heavens. This is evident from the signification of "the city of My God," as being the doctrine of Divine truth; also from the signification of "the New Jerusalem," as being the church in respect to doctrine; also from the signification of "which cometh down out of heaven from My God," as being that it is out of heaven from Divine truth there. That "God" means in the Word Divine truth, see above (n. 220, 222). And as Divine truth, which is in heaven and which comes down from heaven, is from the Lord alone, the Lord calls it His God. That "the city of My God" signifies the doctrine of Divine truth seems at first view remote, for the mind cannot readily think of doctrine when "city" is mentioned, or think of the church when a "land" is mentioned; yet in the Word, "cities" mean nothing else in the spiritual sense; and for the reason that the idea of a city is merely natural, but the idea of doctrine in a city is spiritual. Angels, because they are spiritual, can have no other idea of a city than of the people therein in respect to doctrine, as they can have no other idea of a land than of the people therein in respect to their church or their religion. The reason of this is that the societies into which the heavens are divided are for the most part like cities [communities], all differing from one another in respect to the reception of Divine truth in good; when, therefore, a "city" is mentioned angels think of the doctrine of truth. Emanuel Swedenborg [AE 223] Open ye the gates, that a just nation which keepeth faithfulness may enter in (Isa. 26:2). "The city lieth foursquare" that the length and breadth thereof might be equal, and by "length" is signified the good of that church, and by "breadth" its truth, and when good and truth are equal, then there is what is just. It is owing to this signification of "a square," that in common discourse a man is said to be "square," who is a man that does not from injustice incline either to this or that party. Because "foursquare" signifies what is just, therefore, the altar of burnt-offering, by which was signified worship from good and thence from celestial truth, was "foursquare" (Exod. 27:1); also the altar of incense, by which was signified worship from good and thence from spiritual truth, was likewise "foursquare" (Exod. 30:1, 2). And also, the breastplate of judgment, in which was the Urim and Thummim, was "foursquare" doubled (Exod. 28:15, 16; 39:9); besides other passages. Emanuel Swedenborg [AR 905] |
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Painting Credit: Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives ; Artist: Frederic Edwin Church |
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