said at verse 3, "He cannot see the kingdom of God;" but here it is said, "He cannot enter into the kingdom of God;" plainly pointing out a distinction between seeing and entering into, seeing having relation to the birth of truth in the understanding, and entering into having relation to the good of truth, or the conjunction of truth with its good, in the will and life. Verse 11. We speak what we have known, and testify what we have seen. It is remarkable that in this verse the Lord speaks in the plural number, whereas in the next verse he speaks in the singular. In this verse therefore he makes a distinction between speaking and testifying, also between knowing and seeing, because speaking and knowing relate more to the good of His divine love, whilst testifying and seeing relate more to the truth of His divine wisdom, thus both expressions taken together relate to the divine and heavenly marriage, which is manifested in every part of the sacred volume. But to shew that this marriage existed in himself, and thus that in speaking in the plural number He had respect to those two divine principles existing in himself, He in the next verse speaks in the singular number, If I have told you earthly things, &c. Verse 34. For God giveth not the spirit by measure. In the common version of the New Testament, it is here added in italics to him, as if the immeasurable gift of the spirit was confined to the ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON, but in the original Greek there is no such limitation, and therefore we may conclude that every gift of the divine Spirit to every one is immeasurable. Verse 36. He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life, but he that disobeyeth the Son, &c. What is here rendered disobeyeth is rendered believeth not in the common version of the New Testament, but the original Greek is awe, which properly signifies to disobey, or to be disobedient to, thus inculcating the edifying lesson, that it is not simply unbelief, or a mere dissent in the understanding, which condemns man, but a disobedient will, or a will not inclined to accede to divine testimony, by loving and doing what it requires. JOHN. CHAPTER IV. 1. WHEN therefore therefore the LORD knew that the Pharisees had heard that JESUS made and baptized more disciples than John, 2. Though JESUS himself baptized not, but His disciples, 3. He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee. 4. But He must needs go through Samaria. 5. Then He cometh to a city of Samaria called Sichar, near to the parcel of ground which Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6. But the fountain of Ja cob was there. JESUS therefore, being wearied with the journey, sat thus at the fountain. It was about the sixth hour. 7. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water. JESUS saith unto her, Give to me to drink. 8. For His disciples were gone away into the city to buy meat. 9. Then saith the Samaritan woman unto Him, How is it that thou being a Jew askest THE INTERNAL SENSE. THAT the LORD perceived from His divine principle in what manner the perverted church was offended at His teaching internal truths, and their prevalence over external, and that thus purification was effected by the truths derived from good, therefore He again applies himself to plant the church amongst the Gentiles, v. 1, 2, 3, 4. And first amongst those who are principled in interior truths, in connection with interior spiritual good, thus with the Word, from which instruction is given in the things of love and charity, after a state of spiritual labour, v. 5, 6. That on this occasion, they who are principled in the affection of good in that church ,seek instruction in truth, and this from divine dictate, to the intent that from the doctrine of truth they might appropriate good, v. 7, 8. They are therefore inquisitive concerning the divine dictate and its requirements, not to drink of me, who am a Samaritan woman? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10. JESUS answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water. 11. The woman saith unto Him, LORD, thou hast no vessel to draw with, and the well is deep; whence then hast thou that living water? 12. Art thou greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his sons, and his cattle? 13. JESUS answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; 14. But whosoever drinketh of the water which I shall give him, shall not thirst for an age; but the water which I shall give him, shall be in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life. 15. The woman saith unto him, LORD, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. 16. JESUS saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. 17. The woman answered and said, I have not a husband. JESUS said unto her, being aware of the operation of such a dictate, and are accordingly instructed that it is from the DIVINE HUMANITY of the LORD, who is the source of every truth of good, and who imparts such truth to those who apply to Him for it, v. 9, 10. This however appears incredible to those, who believe only in the letter of the Word, and who therefore do not see that all the Jewish patriarchs were representative of the LORD, and that all the instruction they received from the Word was in consequence of its connection with His D1VINE HUMANITY, v. 11, 12. Therefore they are further instructed, that the truths of the Word can never become full and living and eternal truths in man, until they are seen and received as one with the divine truth, which is the same thing as the LORD'S DIVINE HU UMANITY, v. 14. And in consequence of this instruction, they are led earnestly to desire the knowledge of the interior truths of the Word, v. 15. But are further taught that such interior truths cannot be apprehended, until conjunction of good and truth be formed in the intellectual principle, which conjunction was at pre Thou hast well said, I have sent not genuine or legitimate, v. 16, 17, 18. not a husband. 18. For thou hast had five busbands, and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband; in this thou saidst truly. 19. The woman saith to Him, LORD, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where it is expedient to worship. 21. JESUS saith unto her, Woman, believe me that the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, ye shall worship the Fa ther. 22. Ye worship what ye do not know; we worship what we do know; for salvation is of the Jews. 23. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeketh such that worship Him. 24. GOD [is] Spirit; and they that worship Him, must worship in spirit and truth. 25. The woman saith unto Him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ; when He is come, He will tell us all things. 26. JESUS saith unto her, I am, that speaketh to thee, Hence they perceive that the LORD in His DIVINE HUMANITY is the source of all truth, and hence they are further instructed that representative worship is to cease, because it is a worship unattended with intellectual light, and that it is to be supplanted by a worship grounded in love, and enlightened by wisdom, which worship leads to conjunction with the SUPREME GOOD, v. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. Because GOD is divine love and wisdom in a human form, or in a DIVINE HUMANITY, and therefore none can worship Him acceptably but from that love and according to that wisdom, v. 24. That it is revealed to those of the church who are in the affection of good, that divine truth will be manifested on earth in a bodily form, to impart instruction, and they are further taught from the Word, that the LORD in His DIVINE HUMANITY is that truth, in 27. And upon this came His disciples, and wondered that He talked with the woman; yet no one said, What seekest thou? or what speakest thou with her? 28. The woman then left her water-pot, and went away into the city, and saith to the men, 29. Come, see a man who hath told me all things whatever I have done: Is not this the Christ? .30. Then they went out from the city, and came to Him. 31. In the mean time the disciples asked Him, saying, Rabbi, eat. 32. But He said unto them, I have meat to eat which ye know not of. 33. Then the disciples said one to another, Hath any one brought Him to eat? 34. JESUS saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work. 35. Say not ye, that there are yet four months, and harvest cometh? Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look upon the fields, for they are white already to har vest. 36. And he who reapeth receiveth recompence, and ga union with the DIVINE GOOD, v. 25, 26. That with those who are principled in truth, the establishment of the church amongst the Gentiles appears strange, and they are afraid to enquire into the purpose intended by it, or the manner of its accomplishment, v. 27. But they, who are in the affection of good, when they have received instruction in truth, form their lives accordingly, and testify by doctrine. that the divine truth is manifested as a man, who is thus omniscient, and acquainted with all the purposes and thoughts of man, v. 28, 29. Which testimony is received in the church, and thus the LORD is approached in His DIVINE HUMANITY, v. 30. |