not know that they are in the former world, with this only difference, that they no longer see those whom they had left in that world, but those who have departed from it, or have died. They now see the latter and not the former, because they are no longer natural but spiritual or substantial men; and the spiritual or substantial man sees the spiritual or substantial one, as the natural or material man sees the natural or material one; but not each the other, because of the difference between the substantial and the material, which is like the difference between the prior and posterior; and the prior, because in itself purer, cannot appear to the posterior which in itself is grosser, nor can the posterior, because it is grosser, appear to the prior which in itself is purer. Consequently an angel cannot appear to a man of this world, nor a man of this world to an angel.
That man after death is a spiritual or substantial man, is because this man lay concealed inwardly in the natural or material man. The latter was to the former as a covering or exuviæ; and when this is cast off, the spiritual or substantial man comes forth more pure, interior and perfect. That the spiritual man is still a perfect man, although he does not appear to the natural man, is manifest from the Lord's being seen by the apostles after his resurrection; in that He appeared and presently disappeared, and yet He was a man like Himself when seen and not seen. They said also when they saw Him, that their eyes were opened.
