hilarate the minds of the angels, fill their bosoms with pleasure, and recreate their bodies; but not until they have performed uses in their functions and employments. From these uses is the soul or life of all their joys and delights. And if this soul or life be taken away, accessory joys gradually become no joys, exciting first of all indifference, then disgust, and lastly sorrow and anxiety."—C. L. n. 5.
"There is a certain latent vein in the affection of the will of every angel, which draws his mind to the doing of something; and by this the mind is tranquillized and made satisfied with itself. This tranquillity and satisfaction form a state of mind capable of receiving the love of uses from the Lord; from the reception of this love is heavenly happiness which is the life of the joys mentioned above. Heavenly food in its essence is nothing else but love, wisdom and use together; that is, use, by wisdom, from love. Wherefore food for the body is given to every one in heaven according to the use which he performs; magnificent to those who are in eminent uses; moderate, but of exquisite relish, to those who are in uses of a middle degree; and ordinary to such as are in ordinary uses; but none to the indolent."—Ibid. n. 6.
"Learn what is meant by kings and princes, and reigning with Christ; that it is to know and do uses; for the kingdom of Christ, which is heaven, is a kingdom of uses. For the Lord loves all, and thence wills good to all. But good is use; and because the Lord does good or uses mediately by the angels, and in the world by men, so to them who faithfully do uses He gives the love of use and its reward which is internal blessedness, and this is eternal happiness. There are in the heavens as in the earth, supereminent dominions and the richest treasures; for there are governments and forms of government, and thus there are greater and less powers and dignities. For those of the highest rank, are palaces