IX.
THE FIRST STATE AFTER DEATH.
HERE are three states through which man passes after death, before he enters either heaven or hell. The first state is that of his exteriors; the second, that of his interiors; and the third, that of his preparation. These states are passed through in the world of spirits.
But there are some who do not pass through them; but immediately after death they are either taken up into heaven or cast into hell. They who are immediately taken up into heaven, are those who have been regenerated, and thus prepared for heaven, in the world. They who have become so regenerated and prepared that they need only to cast off natural defilements with the body, are immediately conveyed by the angels to heaven. I have seen them taken up soon after the hour of death.
But they who have been interiorly wicked, though to outward appearance good, and thus have filled their wickedness with deceit, and have used goodness as a means of deceiving, are immediately cast into hell. I have seen some such cast into hell directly after death,—one of the most deceitful, with his
