Page:Heaven Revealed.djvu/70

V.

CHARACTER OF THE ANGELS.

FROM what has been said of the essential nature of heaven, it is plain to be seen what ought to be the general and particular character of the angels—what their prevailing dispositions and motives, and how they ought uniformly to feel and act. But Swedenborg has himself sketched their character in many parts of his writings. Let us see, then, whether his sketch be such as ought to follow by logical sequence from the alleged ruling loves of all in heaven; and whether their character as portrayed by him, be in agreement with the laws of love as revealed in Holy Scripture.

According to his disclosures, no one in heaven desires any good merely for himself; but it is the delight of every one there "to do good and communicate," hoping for nothing in return. Their highest happiness consists in freely imparting their joys to others. He says:

"Mutual love which reigns in heaven, consists in this: that each loves his neighbor more than himself. Hence the whole heaven constitutes, as it were, a single man, all being thus consociated by mutual love from the Lord. Hence it is, too, that the felicities of all are communicated to each individual, and those of each individual to all: and hence the heavenly form is such, that every one is, as it were, a kind of centre, whence he is a centre of the communications, consequently of the felicities, proceeding from all; which take place according to all the differences of that love, which are