Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 1.djvu/78

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can take cognizance of, I will adduce some facts from experience whereby the same things may be illustrated and confirmed.

First, it shall be shown that man after death is his own love or his own will. Secondly, that man remains to eternity such as he is in respect to his will or ruling love. Thirdly, that the man whose love is celestial and spiritual goes to heaven, and that he whose love is corporeal and worldly, destitute of that which is celestial and spiritual, goes to hell. Fourthly, that faith does not remain with man, if it be not from heavenly love. Fifthly, that it is love in act which remains with man; therefore that it is his life.

That man after death is his own love or his own will, has been testified to me by manifold experience. The universal heaven is distinguished into societies according to the differences of the love of good; and every spirit who is elevated into heaven and becomes an angel, is conveyed to that society which is distinguished by his ruling love. On his arrival there, he is as though he were at home, and living in the house where he was born. The angel perceives this, and is there consociated with those like himself. When he departs thence and goes to some other place, he is always sensible of a certain inward resistance, attended with a desire to return to his like, and thus to his ruling love. It is in this way that consociations in heaven are effected.