Spiritual Meaning of Foundation, Base

Spiritual Meaning of

Foundation, Base

Bases correspond to the feet and soles of the feet in man; and in general to the bones which support all the fleshy part of the body; and by the feet and the bones in like manner is signified the truth which supports; and by the fleshy part in the body is signified the good which supports itself by means of truth. That all things in nature bear relation to the human form, and have a signification in accordance with their relation to it, (AC 9496); also that flesh signifies good, (AC 3813, 6968, 7850, 9127); that the feet denote what is natural, thus truth in power from good, (AC 5327, 5328); that the body signifies good, (AC 6135); and the bones, truth supporting, (AC 3812, 8005).

It is for this reason also that a foundation, which is a common base, denotes the truth of faith, and faith itself, as can be seen from the passages in the Word where a foundation is spoken of; as in Isaiah:--

Do ye not know? do ye not hear? do ye not understand the foundations of the earth? (Isa. 40:21);

he who does not know what is signified by a foundation, and what by the earth, has no other idea than that the lowest parts of the earth are here meant by the foundations of the earth, although he may perceive, if he pays attention, that something else is meant; for what would it be to know, to hear, and to understand the foundations of the earth? From this it can be seen that by the foundations of the earth are signified such things as belong to the church. That the earth in the Word denotes the church, is very evident from the passages in the Word where the earth is mentioned (AC 9325); and that its foundations denote the truths of faith, for these truths serve the church for foundations, as can also be seen further from the following passages. In David:--

They acknowledge not, neither do they understand; they walk: in darkness; all the foundations of the earth totter (Ps. 82:5);

that the foundations of the earth do not totter, but the truths of the church with those who do not know, who do not understand, and who walk in darkness, is clear. Again:--

The earth was shaken and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains were agitated, and were shaken (Ps. 18:7);

where mountains denote the goods of love (AC 795, 4210, 6435, 8327), and their foundations, the truths of faith. And in Isaiah:--

The cataracts from on high have been opened, and the foundations of the earth have quaked (Isa. 24:18);

As a foundation denotes the truth of faith, and a city, the doctrine of it, therefore in the Word the foundation of the city is said when the truth of doctrine is meant; as in David:--

The channels of waters appeared, and the foundations of the city were uncovered, by the rebuke of Jehovah (Ps. 18:15);

that a city denotes the doctrine of truth, (AC 402, 2449, 2943, 3216, 4492, 4493).

[4] From this it can be seen what is signified by the foundations of the city of the holy Jerusalemin John:--

The wall of the city of the holy Jerusalem had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The foundations of the wall were adorned with every precious stone (Rev. 21:14-20);

he who does not know what is signified by the holy Jerusalem, what by a city, what by a wall, what by a foundation, and what by the twelve apostles, can see nothing of the secret here hidden; when yet by the holy Jerusalem is meant the New Church of the Lord which will succeed this of ours; by the city is meant doctrine; by a wall, the truth protecting and defending; by the foundations, the truths of faith; and by the twelve apostles, all the goods of love and truths of faith in the complex. From this it can be seen why it is said that there will be twelve foundations, and that they will be adorned with every precious stone; for a precious stone denotes the truth of faith from the good of love (AC 114, 3858, 6640, 9476); and the twelve apostles denote all things of love and faith in the complex (AC 3488, 3858, 6397).

[5] From this it is evident what is here signified by foundations in Isaiah:--

Behold, I set thy stones with antimony, and lay thy foundations with sapphires (Isa. 54:11);

where sapphires denote interior truths (AC 9407). In the same:--

Jehovah shall smite Asshur with a rod. Then shall be every passing of the rod of the foundation, upon which Jehovah shall cause him to rest (Isa. 30:31, 32);

the rod of the foundation denotes the power of truth. That a rod denotes power, (AC 4013, 4015, 4876, 4936, 6947, 7011, 7026). And in Jeremiah:--

They shall not take from thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone of foundations (Jer. 51:26);

where a stone of foundations denotes the truths of faith.

[6] In Job:--

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare if thou knowest intelligence; who hath appointed the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Upon what were its bases? or who laid the corner stone thereof? when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God sounded (Job 38:4-7).

he who does not know what is signified in the internal sense by the earth, by the measures thereof, and by the bases, also what by a comer stone, morning stars, and the sons of God, sees nothing of the secret therein, believing that it is the earth which is meant, and also its foundation, measures, bases, and corner stone; and knowing not at all what is signified by the morning stars singing, and by the sons of God sounding. But be will come out of darkness into light as soon as he knows that the earth denotes the church; that its foundations denote the truth of faith; its measures, states of good and truth; its bases, the supporting truths themselves; the corner stone, the power of truth; the morning stars, the knowledges of good and truth derived from good; and the sons of God, truths Divine. The latter are said to sound when they come into existence, and the former to sing when they arise.

from AC 9643

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Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.