respondences. For whatever proceeds from the Divinity, when it comes into outward nature, manifests itself in such outward things as correspond with what is divine; which outward things then become the repositories of divine things, otherwise called celestial and spiritual, that lie contained within them in a hidden and mysterious manner.
The ancients, who were versed in the science of correspondences, made themselves images, which corresponded with things heavenly; and were greatly delighted therewith, on account of their signification, and because they could discern in them what related to heaven and the church. They therefore placed those images both in their temples and in their houses, not with any intention to worship them, but to serve as means of recollecting the heavenly things signified by them. Hence in Egypt, and in other places, they made images of calves, oxen, serpents, and also of children, old men, and virgins; because calves and oxen signified the affections and powers of the natural man; serpents, the prudence and likewise cunning of the sensual man; children, innocence and charity; old men, wisdom; and virgins, the affections of truth, &c. Succeeding ages, when the science of correspondences was obliterated, began to adore as holy, and at length to worship as deities, the images and pictures set up by their forefathers, because they found them in and about their temples. This was the origin of the idolatries of the gentiles of old: and when in process of time these idolatries became universal, then the Israelites were raised up, and commanded to destroy all the pictures and images, which they should find in the land of Canaan; and also to pull down all the high places, which were appropriated to idolatrous worship.
