Word are signified the goods which are of love, | fruit trees of every kind, lawns, cornfields, plains and by lights the truths which are of faith.-A. C. replenished with flowers, herbs, and grasses of 3216-3222.

803. Among the eminent faculties which man possesses in himself, although he is ignorant of it, and which he carries with him into another life, when he passes thither after his liberation from the body, is, that he perceives what is signified by the representatives which appear in another life, also that he is able by the sense of his mind to express fully in a moment of time, what he could during hours in the body, and this by ideas from those things which are of the light of heaven, assisted and made as it were winged by suitable appearances representative of the subject of discourse, which are such as cannot be described: and whereas man after death comes into those faculties, and has no need to be instructed respecting them in another life, it may hence appear that he is in them, that is, that they are in him, during his life in the body, although he does not know it. The reason of this is, because there is a continual influx with man through heaven from the Lord; this influx is of things spiritual and celestial, which fall into his natural things, and are there exhibited representatively.-A. C. 3226.

every kind, likewise the things derived from them, as oils, wines, all kinds of juices, and other things appertaining to the vegetable kingdom; there appear also animals of the earth, fowls of the heaven, fishes of the sea, reptiles, and these of every kind, and so much like those which are in our earth, that they cannot be distinguished; I have seen them, and could not perceive any distinction. But still there is this difference, that the things which appear in heaven are from spiritual origin, but those which appear in our world are from a material origin; and the things which are from a spiritual origin affect the senses of the angels, inasmuch as they are spiritual, equally as those which are from a material origin affect the senses of men, inasmuch as they are material; for spiritual things are homogeneous with those who are spiritual, and material things with those who are material.-A. E. 926.

such a sort as in external form appeared beautiful and delightful, but there were hidden therein snakes and serpents of various kinds, which the spirits did not see; the narrow way was not so decorated with trees and flowers to the sight, but appeared sorrowful and obscure, but in it there were angel infants most beautifully adorned in paradises and flower gardens most pleasant, which yet the spirits did not see; they were then asked which way they wished to go; they said, the broad way; when suddenly their eyes were opened, and in the broad way they saw the serpents, but in the narrow way the angels: and they were then again asked, which way they wished to go, whereupon they remained silent; and so far as their sight was opened, they said they desired to go the narrow way, and so far as their sight was closed, that they desired to go the broad way. — A. C. 3477.

806. It was said that there are continual representatives in the heavens, and indeed such as involve the deepest arcana of wisdom; those which are manifest to man from the literal sense of the Word, are so few respectively, as are the waters 804. To show more plainly the nature of repre- of a small pool to the waters of the ocean: the sentatives, it is permitted to adduce one further nature of representatives in the heavens may apinstance: I heard several angels of the interior pear from what has been occasionally related above heaven, who together or in consort formed a repre- from things seen, and likewise from the following. sentative; the spirits about me could not perceive There was represented before certain spirits, as I it, except from a certain influx of interior affection; myself saw, a broad way and a narrow way, conit was a choir, in which those several together cerning which in the Word; a broad way which thought the same thing, and spake the same thing; led to hell, and a narrow one which led to heaven; by representations they formed a golden crown the broad way was beset with trees and flowers, of with diamonds around the head of the Lord; which was effected at the same time by quick series of representations, such as are of thought and speech: and what is wonderful, although there were many, still they all thought and spake as one, thus they all represented as one, and this because none was desirous to act at all from himself, still less to preside over the rest, and lead the choir, for whoever does this, is of himself dissociated instantly; but they suffered themselves to be led mutually by each other, thus all in singular and in general by the Lord: all the good, who come into another life, are brought into such harmonious agreements afterwards were heard several choirs, which exhibited various things representatively, and although there were several choirs, and several in each choir, still they acted as one, for from the form of things various there resulted a one, in which was the beautiful celestial. Thus the universal heaven, which consists of myriads of myriads, can act as one, in consequence of being in mutual love, for thus they suffer themselves to be led of the Lord; and what is wonderful, the greater their numbers are, that is, the greater the number of the myriads which constitute heaven, so much the more distinctly and perfectly all and single things are done; this is the case also, as the angels are of a more interior heaven, for all perfection increases towards interiors. - A. C. 3350. 805. In general, whatsoever appears in heaven, appears altogether similar to what exists in our material world in its three kingdoms; and those things appear before the angels altogether like such as are of those three kingdoms before the eyes of men in the world there appear there gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, stones precious and not precious, ground, earths, mountains, hills, valleys, waters, fountains, and other things appertaining to the mineral kingdom; there appear paradises, gardens, forests,

Heavenly Scenery.

807. As to what respects the paradisiacal scenery, it is stupendous. There are paradisiacal gardens presented to view, of an immense extent, consisting of all sorts of trees, of a beauty and pleasantness exceeding every idea of human thought, which yet appear in so living a manner before their external sight, that they not only see them in the gross, but also perceive every single object much more vividly than the bodily sight does, when exercised on similar objects here on earth. In order to remove all doubt concerning this circumstance, I was conducted to, and introduced amongst, those who live a paradisiacal life. The situation where they dwell is in front, in an upper direction, over against the angle of the right eye. All things there, to every single object, appear in their most beautiful spring and bloom, with an astonishing magnificence and variety; and they are living by virtue of their being representative: for

there is nothing but what represents and signifies | least of the astonishing things in the other life. something celestial and spiritual. Thus the objects A. C. 1626, 1627. presented to view not only affect the sight with pleasantness, but the mind with happiness. Certain souls lately deceased, who, in consequence of the principles they had imbibed in the world, doubted the possibility of such things existing in another life, where there is neither wood nor stone, being taken up into that paradise, and discoursing thence with me, said in their astonishment, that what they saw was inexpressible, and that they could not represent its inexpressibility by any idea, and that delights and happiness shone forth from every object, and this with successive varieties. The souls that are introduced into heaven, are generally first conducted to such paradisiacal scenes. But the angels behold such things with other eyes, not being delighted with the paradises, but with the representatives, and thus with the celestial and spiritual things which give them birth. It was from these celestial and spiritual things that the most ancient church derived their paradisiacal

812. Spirits are very indignant to think that men have no ideas of the life of spirits and angels, but suppose that they are in an obscure state, which must needs be a very melancholy one, and in a kind of vacuity and emptiness; when neverthe.ess they are in the highest degree of light, and in the enjoyment of all good things as to all the senses, and indeed to their inmost perception. - A. C. 1630.

scenery.

813. Before my interior sight was opened, my idea concerning the innumerable things which appear in the other life, differed little from that which the generality of people entertain, viz., that light, and such things as exist by virtue of light, together with objects of sense, could by no means have existence there. This idea was formed in consequence of the prevailing imaginary conceit of the learned respecting immateriality, upon which they so much insist in their disquisitions on the nature of spirits and of all things relating to the life of spirits; from which no other conception can be 808. As to what respects the rainbow-like splen- formed, than that, being immaterial, their state dors, it is to be observed, that there is as it were a must either be so obscure as to fall under no idea, rainbow heaven, where the whole atmosphere ap- or else that it is a mere nonentity; for this is impears to consist of very small continued rainbows. plied in the notion of such immateriality. NeverIn this heaven are they who appertain to the prov-theless, the very reverse of this is the truth: for ince of the interior eye: they dwell to the right in front, a little upwards. The whole atmosphere or aura therein consists of such splendors, and is radiated thus in every one, as it were, of the points in which it originates. Around is the form of a very large rainbow, encompassing the whole heaven, most beautiful to behold, being composed of similar smaller rainbows, which are images of the larger. Every single color consists thus of innumerable rays, so that myriads constitute one common perceptible object, which is, as it were, a modification of the origins of light arising from the celestial and spiritual things which produce it, and which at the same time present to the sight a representative idea of them. The varieties and varia-habitations and mansions; some because they do tions of the rainbows are indefinite.

unless spirits and angels were organized substances, it would be impossible for them either to speak, or see, or think.-A. C. 1533.

Habitations and Mansions of the Angels.

814. Since in heaven there are societies, and the angels live as men, therefore also they have habitations, and these likewise various according to every one's state of life; magnificent for those who are in greater dignity, and less magnificent for those who are in an inferior state. Respecting the habitations in heaven I have several times spoken with angels, and said that at this day scarcely any one would believe that they have

not see them, some because they do not know that 809. All visible colors, in the other life, repre- angels are men, some because they believe that sent what is celestial and spiritual; the colors the angelic heaven is the heaven which is seen originating in a flame-like brightness representing with their eyes around them, and because this apthe things appertaining to love and the affection of pears empty, and they suppose that angels are goodness, and those originating in a white bright- ethereal forms, they conclude that they live in ness the things appertaining to faith and the affec-ether: besides that they do not comprehend that tion of truth. All colors, in the other life, are from these origins; and therefore they are of such a refulgent brightness, that no colors in this world are to be compared with them. There are also colors which were never seen here on earth.-A. C. 1622-1624.

810. Beside these paradisiacal objects, there are also cities exhibited to view, with magnificent palaces, contiguous to each other, splendid in their colors, and of an architecture surpassing all the powers of art. This is the less surprising, since cities were seen also by the prophets, when their interior sight was open, and this so plainly that nothing in the world could be plainer.

811. Besides cities and palaces, it has also, at times, been given me to see the decorations of particular parts; as those of the steps and gates thereof: and they seemed to move as if they were alive, and to vary themselves continually with new beauty and symmetry. I was also informed, that the variations may thus succeed perpetually, yea, even to eternity, with continually new harmony, the succession itself forming such harmony; and it was further told me that these are among the

there are such things in the spiritual world as are in the natural world, because they know nothing concerning the spiritual.

815. But it is better to bring forward the proofs of experience. As often as I have spoken with the angels face to face, so often I have been with them in their habitations. Their habitations are altogether like the habitations on earth, which are called houses, but more beautiful; in them are parlors, rooms, and bed chambers, in great num bers: there are also courts, and round about are gardens, shrubberies and fields. Where they are consociated, the habitations are contiguous, one near another, disposed in the form of a city, with streets, ways, and public squares, altogether after the likeness of cities on our earth. It has also been granted me to pass through them, and to look about me on every side, and at times to enter the houses: this was done in full wakefulness, when my interior sight was opened.

816. Palaces of heaven have been seen, which were so magnificent that they could not be described: above they glittered as if they were of pure gold, and below as if they were of precious

stones: some palaces were more splendid than others. Within, it was the same; the rooms were ornamented with such decorations as neither words nor sciences are sufficient to describe. On the side which looked to the south, there were paradises, where all things in like manner glittered, and in some places the leaves were as of silver, and the fruits as of gold; and the flowers in their beds presented by their colors as it were rainbows: at the boundaries again were seen palaces, in which the view terminated. Such is the architecture of heaven, that you would say that the art is there in its own art; and no wonder, because that art itself is from heaven. The angels said that such things, and innumerable others which are still more perfect, are presented by the Lord before their eyes; but still that they delight their minds more than their eyes, and this because in every thing they see correspondences, and by correspondences, things divine.

817. Concerning correspondences I have also been informed, that not only palaces and houses, but also all and each of the things which are within and without them, correspond to interior things which are from the Lord with them: that the house itself in general corresponds to their good, and that the several things which are within the houses correspond to the various things of which their good consists; and the things out of the houses, to their truths which are from good, and likewise to perceptions and knowledges: and because they correspond to the goods and truths with them from the Lord, that they correspond to their love, and thence to their wisdom and intelligence, because love is of good, wisdom is of good and at the same time of truth, and intelligence is of truth from good; and that such are the things which the angels perceive when they look at them, and that therefore those things delight and affect their minds more than their eyes. -H. H. 184-186.

818. The angels who constitute the Lord's celestial kingdom, dwell for the most part in elevated places, which appear as mountains from the ground: the angels who constitute the Lord's spiritual kingdom, dwell in less elevated places, which appear as hills: but the angels who are in the lowest parts of heaven, dwell in places which appear as rocks of stone. These things also exist from correspondence, for interior things correspond to superior, and exterior things to inferior. From this it is, that mountains, in the Word, signify celestial love, hills spiritual love, and rocks faith.

819. There are also angels who do not live consociated, but separate, house and house: these dwell in the midst of heaven, because they are the best of angels.

820. The houses in which angels dwell, are not built like the houses in the world, but are given to them gratis by the Lord, to every one according to their reception of good and truth: they are also varied a little according to the changes of the state of their interiors. All things whatsoever, which the angels possess, they acknowledge as received from the Lord, and whatever things they need are given to them. -H. H. 188-190.

821. All the angels have their respective habitations, which are magnificent. I have at times seen them, and been in them, and admired them; and conversed there with the inhabitants. They are so distinct and conspicuous that nothing can be more so. The houses on earth are scarce any thing in comparison: indeed, the angels say that such things on earth are dead and not real, but that their own are alive and true, because they are

from the Lord. The architecture of them is such, as to be the ground and source of the architectonic art, with an indefinite variety. The angels have declared to me, that if they could possess all the palaces throughout the whole earth, they would not exchange their own for them. What is of stone, and mortar, and wood, is to them dead; but what is from the Lord, and from essential life and light, this, they say, is alive, and the more so, as they enjoy it with all fulness of sense. For the things that are in heaven are completely adapted to the senses of spirits and angels; whilst the things that are in the light of this solar world are utterly invisible to them. Buildings of stone and wood, however, are adapted to the senses of men in the body. Spiritual things correspond with those that are spiritual, and corporeal things with those that are corporeal.

822. The habitations of good spirits and of angelic spirits have generally porticoes, or long arched courts, attached to them, sometimes double, to walk in; the walls of which are constructed with much variety, and are adorned also with flowers and wreaths of flowers wonderfully composed, bcside many other ornaments, which, as observed above, are varied in an orderly succession. At one time they appear in a clearer light, at another time in a light less clear, but always with interior delight. Their dwellings are also changed into more beautiful ones, in proportion as the spirits are perfected. At the time of the change there appears somewhat representing a window on the side, which is dilated, and a rather obscure expanse is displayed within, and there is opened something as of heaven with stars, and a kind of cloud; which is a mark that their habitations are changing into such as are more pleasant. —-A. C. 1628, 1629.

Garments of the Angels.

823. The garments with which angels are clothed, like the other things, correspond; and because they correspond, they also really exist. Their garments correspond to their intelligence: wherefore all in the heavens appear clothed according to intelligence; and because one excels another in intelligence, therefore one has more excellent garments than another. The most intelligent have garments glittering as from flame, some shining as from light; the less intelligent have bright and white garments without splendor; and the still less intelligent have garments of diverse colors but the angels of the inmost heaven are naked.

824. Because the garments of the angels correspond to their intelligence, therefore also they correspond to truth, since all intelligence is from divine truth; wherefore whether you say that angels are clothed according to intelligence, or according to divine truth, it is the same thing. That the garments of some glitter as from flame, and those of some shine as from light, is because flame corresponds to good, and light to truth from good. That the garments of some are bright and white without splendor, and of some are of diverse colors, is because the divine good and truth are less refulgent, and also are variously received, with the less intelligent: brightness also, and whiteness, correspond to truth, and colors to its varieties. That those in the inmost heaven are naked, is because they are in innocence, and innocence corresponds to nakedness.

825. Because the angels are clothed with garments in heaven, therefore also they have appeared clothed with garments when seen in the world, as

That a natural sphere is continually flowing forth, not only from man, but also from beasts, yea, from trees, fruits, flowers, and also from metals, is a thing generally known; the case is the same in the spiritual world; but the spheres flowing forth from subjects in that world are spiritual, and those which emane from spirits and angels are altogether spiritual, because there appertain thereto affections of love, and thence perceptions and interior thoughts; all of sympathy and antipathy hath hence its rise, and likewise all conjunction and disjunction, and according thereto presence and absence in the spiritual world, for what is homogeneous or concordant causes conjunction and presence, and what is heterogeneous and discordant causes disjunction and absence, wherefore those spheres cause distances in that world. What those spiritual spheres operate in the natural world, is also known to some. The inclination of conjugial partners one towards the other is from no other origin than this; such partners are united by unanimous and concordant spheres, and disunited by adverse and discordant spheres; for concordant spheres are delightful and grateful, whereas discordant spheres are undelightful and ungrateful. I have been informed by the angels, who are in a clear perception of those spheres, that there is not any part within in man, nor any without, which doth not renew itself, and that this renewal is effected by solutions and reparations, and that hence is the sphere which continually issues forth. -- C. L. 171.

those seen by the prophets, and likewise those seen | affections of his love, which encompasses him, and at the Lord's sepulchre, "who had the appearance infuses itself into the natural sphere derived from of lightning, and their raiment was glittering and the body, so that the two spheres are conjoined. white," Matt. xxviii. 3; Mark xvi. 5; Luke xxiv. 4; John xx. 12, 13: and those seen in heaven by John had "garments of fine linen and white," Apoc. iv. 4; chap. xix. 11, 13. And because intelligence is from divine truth, therefore the garments of the Lord, when He was transfigured, were "glittering and white as the light," Matt. xvii. 2; Mark ix. 3; Luke ix. 29: that light is divine truth proceeding from the Lord, may be seen above. Hence it is, that garments in the Word signify truths, and from these intelligence; as in the Apocalypse, "Those who have not polluted their garments, shall walk with Me in white, because they are worthy; he that overcometh shall be clothed with white raiment," chap. iii. 4, 5. "Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments," chap. xvi. 15. And concerning Jerusalem, by which is understood the church which is in truth, it is thus written in Isaiah: "Stir up thyself, put on strength, O Zion; put on the garments of thy gracefulness, O Jerusalem," lii. 1: and in Ezekiel: "Jerusalem, I girded thee with fine linen, and covered thee with silk; thy garments were fine linen and silk;" xvi. 10, 13: besides many other passages. But he who is not in truths, is said not to be clothed with a wedding garment; as in Matthew, "When the king came in, he saw a man who was not clothed in a wedding garment; and he said to him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding garment? Wherefore he was cast into outer darkness," xxii. 12, 13. By the house of the wedding is understood heaven and the church, from the conjunction of the Lord with them by his divine truth; wherefore the Lord, in the Word, is called the Bridegroom and Husband, and heaven with the church, the bride and wife.

826. That the garments of the angels do not merely appear as garments, but that they really are garments, is evident from this, that they not only see them, but also feel them; and also that they have more garments than one, and that they put them off and put them on, and those which are not in use they preserve; and when in use they reassume them: that they are clothed with various garments, has been seen by me a thousand times. I inquired whence they had the garments, and they said that it was from the Lord, and that they are given to them, and that they are sometimes clothed without knowing it. They said also that their garments are changed according to the changes of their state, and that in the first and second state they have shining and bright garments, in the third and fourth a little more obscure; and this likewise from correspondence, because they have changes of state as to intelligence and wisdom.

827. Because every one in the spiritual world has garments according to intelligence, thus according to the truths from which intelligence is, therefore those who are in the hells, since they are without truths, appear indeed clothed with garments, but ragged, squalid and filthy, every one according to his insanity; nor can they wear any other. It is given to them by the Lord to be clothed, lest they should appear naked.-H. H. 178-182.

Spheres around every Spirit, and Consociations thence.

828. There flows forth, yea, overflows, from every man a spiritual sphere, derived from the

829. Sympathies and antipathies are nothing else than exhalations of affections, from minds which affect one another, according to similitudes, and excite aversion according to dissimilitudes. These, although they are innumerable, and are not sensibly perceived by any sense of the body, are yet perceived by the sense of the soul as one; and according to them all conjunctions and consociations in the spiritual world are made.-T. C. R. 365.

830. Spiritual spheres encompass all spirits and societies of spirits, flowing forth from the life of the affections and of the thoughts thence; wherefore if the affections be contrary, collision takes place, whence comes anxiety. — A. C. 10,312.

831. It has been already observed, that in the other life the character of every one is known at his first approach, whether he opens his lips to speak, or not; from which circumstance it is obvious, that the interiors of man have a certain unknown activity, by which the character of a spirit is perceivable. That this is the case might appear from this consideration, that the sphere of such activity not only extends itself to a distance, but is also at particular times, when the Lord permits, made manifest to the senses by various methods.

832. I have likewise been informed how those spheres are procured which are made so sensible in the other life. To give some idea of this matter, let us take for an example one who has conceived a high opinion of himself, and of his own excellence, compared with others; such a person at length contracts such a habit, and, as it were, such a nature, that whithersoever he goes, and whenever he sees or converses with other persons, his attention is fixed on himself. This he at first manifestly perceives, but afterwards he does it without taking notice of it: still however the same regard to himself prevails, and is uppermost, both

otherwise, and this by reason of their sphere. In like manner genii, who are principled in evils, enter by influx into the will, and excite a sensation as if evil were good, so that there is no possibility of its being perceived otherwise, and this also by reason of their sphere. It has been granted me a thousand times over to perceive manifestly the influx both of the former and of the latter, and also from whom it proceeded, and in what manner the angels from the Lord removed it, with a variety of circumstances which cannot be particularly de

in all the particulars of his affection and thought, truth, so that there is no possibility of its appearing and in all the particulars of his behavior and conversation. This is discernible even amongst men, who can perceive it in others. Such then is the nature of that which causes a sphere in the other life; and there it is perceptible, yet only at such times, and on such occasions, as the Lord permits. This is the case with other affections: wherefore there are as many spheres as there are affections, and compounds of affections, which are innumerable The sphere of a spirit is, as it were, his image extended without him, and is indeed the image of all things appertaining to him. But what is ex-clared. Hence it was made evident to me, with hibited visibly and perceptibly in the world of such certainty that nothing can be more so, whence spirits, is only a sort of general image or resem- come the falsities and evils that prevail in man; blance: its quality, however, as to its particulars, and that from principles of falsity, and from lusts is discerned in heaven; but its quality as to its par- of evil, proceed such spheres, which remain after ticulars of particulars, or individual component the life of the body, and manifest themselves so principles, no one knows but the Lord alone. evidently. A. C. 1510, 1511. A. C. 1504, 1505.

836. Spheres are also rendered sensible by odors, which spirits have a more exquisite perception of than men; for, what is wonderful, odors correspond with spheres. They who have been accustomed to play the hypocrite and to impose on others by false pretences, and have thereby contracted a nature accordingly, when their sphere is changed into an odor, it is like the stench of vomiting. Such as have studied the art of eloquence, with no other view than to gain themselves admiration, when their sphere is made odoriferous, it is like the smell of burnt bread. Where men have indulged in mere sensual pleasures, and have lived unprincipled in charity and faith, the odor of their

833. There was a certain spirit, who, during his life in the body, seemed to himself to be great and wise in comparison with others; in other respects he was well disposed, and not so much given to despise others in comparison with himself; but being of high birth, he had contracted a sphere of preeminence and authority. This spirit came to me, and for a long time said nothing, but I perceived that he was encompassed about as it were with a mist, which proceeding from him began to overspread the associate spirits; at which they began to feel distressed. Upon this they spoke with me, and said, that they could not on any account bear his approach, because they felt them-sphere is like that of excrement. The case is the selves deprived of their liberty, and as if they did not dare even to open their lips to speak. He also began to discourse, and entered into conversation with them, calling them his sons, and at times instructing them, but in the spirit of authority which he had contracted. Hence may appear what is the nature and quality of the sphere of authority in the other life. — Å. C. 1507.

834. Every spirit, and still more every society of spirits, have their own particular sphere proceeding from the principles and persuasions they have imbibed, which is a sphere of those principles and persuasions. Evil genii have a sphere of lusts. The sphere of principles and persuasions is of such a nature, that, when it acts upon another spirit, it causes truths to appear like falsities, and calls forth all sorts of confirmatory arguments, so as to induce the belief that things false are true, and that things evil are good. Hence it may appear, how easily man may be confirmed in falsities and evils, unless he believe the truths which are from the Lord. Such spheres have a greater or less density according to the nature of the falsities which give them birth. These spheres can in no ⚫ respect accord with the spheres of spirits principled in truths, but as they approximate each other, there arises a conflict; when, if, by permission, the sphere of falsity prevails, the good come into temptation, and into anxiety. There was perceived also a sphere of incredulity, which is of such a nature, that the spirits from whom it proceeds believe nothing which is told them, and scarce what is exhibited to their view. The sphere also of those who believe nothing but what they comprehend by the bodily senses, was made perceptible. 835. It has been made known to me by much experience, and with such certainty as to admit of no doubt. that the spirits who are principled in false sentiments, enter by influx into the thoughts, and induce a persuasion as if what is false were

same with those who have passed their lives in adulteries; but the odor of these is still more offensively stinking. Where men have lived in violent hatred, revenge, and cruelty, their sphere, when changed into odors, has the stench of a putrid carcass. Such as have been immersed in sordid avarice give forth a stench like that of mice. Such as have persecuted the innocent emit a stench like that of bugs. These odors cannot be perceived by any man, unless his interior sensations be open, so as to give him sensible intercourse with spirits. -A. C. 1514.

837. A vinous odor was once perceived, and I was informed that it proceeded from those who deal much in compliments to each other, but under the influence of friendship and lawful love, so that there is involved in their compliments a principle of truth. This odor is perceivable with much variety, and arises from the sphere of what is elegant in the forms of civility and politeness. A. C. 1517.

838. When the spheres of charity and faith are perceived as odors, they are most delightful; the odors are sweet and pleasant like those of flowers, lilies, and spices of divers kinds, with an indefinite variety. Moreover, the spheres of the angels are sometimes rendered visible like atmospheres, which are of such beauty, pleasantness, and variety, as to admit of no description. —A. C. 1519.

839. Man does not know, that according to the life of his affections, a certain spiritual sphere encompasses him, which sphere is more perceptible to the angels, than a sphere of odor is to the most exquisite sense in the world. If his life has been in externals alone, namely, in pleasures derived from hatreds against his neighbor, from revenges and from cruelty thence, from adulteries, from selfexaltation, and thence contempt of others, from clandestine rapines, from avarice, from deceits,