9572. And the tongs thereof, and the basins thereof. That this signifies the purifiers and evacuators in the natural, is evident from the signification of "tongs and basins," as being things for cleansing, thus for purifying and emptying. That these are in the natural, is because the natural is the emunctory,* thus the place of purifying and evacuating; for all things that belong to the internal or spiritual man descend into the natural, and are purified; for there things filthy and superfluous are discharged, and things suitable for uses are disposed into order. That this is done in the natural, can be seen from the fact that while the internal or spiritual man is in the body, it thinks in the natural, and sets forth or utters its thoughts in the corporeal; and that it also wills in the natural, and does what it wills in the corporeal; and therefore the evacuators and cleansers are there. This is signified by "the washing of the feet," of which the Lord thus speaks in John:
He that is washed needeth not save to be washed as to his feet, and is clean every whit (John 13:10);
"washing" signified the purification of the internal man (n. 3147, 5954, 9088); and "the feet," the natural (n. 2162, 3147, 3761, 3986, 4280, 4938-4952).
* place of waste removal