all things, and the neighbor as himself. Hence it is evident that the former life which is of hell, must be altogether destroyed; that is, evils and falsities must be removed, to the intent that new life, which is the life of heaven, may be implanted. This cannot in any wise be done hastily; for every evil being inrooted with its falsities, has connection with all evils and their falsities; and such evils and falsities are innumerable, and their connection is so manifold that it cannot be comprehended even by the angels, but only by the Lord. Hence it is evident, that the life of hell with man cannot be destroyed suddenly, for if suddenly he would altogether expire; and neither can the life of heaven be implanted suddenly, for if suddenly, he would also expire. There are thousands and thousands of arcana, of which scarcely one is known to man, whereby he is led of the Lord, when from the life of hell into the life of heaven. That this is so, has been given me to know from heaven; and it has been likewise confirmed by several things which came to the apperception. Inasmuch as man knows scarcely anything concerning these arcana, therefore many have fallen into errors concerning man's liberation from evils and falsities, or concerning the remission of sins, by believing that the life of hell with man can in a moment be transcribed into the life of heaven with him through mercy; when yet the whole act of regeneration is mercy, and no others are regenerated, but those who receive the mercy of the Lord by faith and life during their abode in the world."—A. C, n. 9336; see also n. 9334, 5398.
Now is not this teaching amply sustained by the testimony of reason, experience and the Volume of revelation? The upbuilding of the kingdom of heaven in the soul, is a truly divine work, yet one which cannot be performed without our voluntary cooperation. It should,
