SEM (Buss) n. 4545

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4545

4545. (CONCERNING ORDER, AS FAR AS CONSCIENCE IS CONCERNED.
The first plane is the inmost of the rational, and pertains to perception; thus to love to the Lord; consequently, to good and the truth of good. The second plane is the middle of the rational, and pertains to the conscience of good and truth, thus to piety, and is of the Church and the Lord's kingdom. The third plane pertains to the conscience of justice and right; thus to employment in civil life, consequently to society and the common good: it belongs to the inferior rational. The fourth plane pertains to propriety and decorum; thus to interaction; consequently, [to the relations] amongst friends and acquaintances: it belongs to the corporeal faculty. These planes can be conjoined, and the interior inflow into the exterior; and, then, the last plane, namely, that of propriety and decorum, is good, because it inflows from a good origin.

SEM (Buss) n. 4546

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4546

4546. But when the exterior plane is separated from the interior, although there is the appearance of propriety, it is either on account of honor, reputation, gain, life, or the laws; not from an interior source: then it is only imitative, and is nothing worth. These things were perceived.

SEM (Buss) n. 4547

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4547

4547. Conscience is not given without charity towards the neighbor. Man is in so obscure a perception and idea, that he is unable to know whether he has charity, because he is not much sensible of affection; nor, if he has it, does he reflect upon it; but it is known from his zeal towards good and truth, and towards justice and right. He then has charity, if he is in zeal, namely, in the zeal of punishing the evil for the end that they may become good and that the good may not be hurt, and that the community or public might be freed from such; for then he has charity, although it does not so appear; nor is he himself able to know this.)

SEM (Buss) n. 4548

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4548

4548. CONCERNING A CERTAIN ONE'S SPHERE, WHICH, FROM CONFIRMED HABIT, POURED FORTH VENOMOUS SARCASMS AGAINST OTHERS. GUSTAF BENZELSTJERNA.
There was a certain one, who, in the life of the body, was able to pour forth, against others, such sarcasms as could not be answered; for he so turned them, that he against whom he hurled them became, as it were, stunned, and angry that he was unable to retort. This [trait] he derived from a confirmed natural disposition of harming others, by innuendoes and the like. But, inasmuch as he supposed himself to be more learned than others, he was instigated to utter such sarcasms; one of which was shown, to wit, that he was well able to receive the opinions of a well-intentioned mind, but was ignorant where to put them away; thus ridiculing [them].

SEM (Buss) n. 4549

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4549

4549. It was shown that his sphere was wound about him, like a roll of paper of vast extent, agreeably to the roundness of a roll. I did not see whether he bent himself on himself. And it was similar with a horizontal roll around him. Such was his sphere. I had not seen it previously. The roll was, as it were, something aerial. It was observed that it consisted of those who despised others in comparison with themselves, and who did not think well of others.

SEM (Buss) n. 4550

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4550

4550. OF WHAT QUALITY MEMORY IS IN THE OTHER LIFE.
((I spoke with spirits concerning [their] memory, to the effect, namely, that language [such as we have on earth], consequently, the memory of words, does not exist [with them]; neither the recollection of such scientific matters as are in the memory [of men in the world]; but whatever they have learned, by means of languages and sciences, regarding equity and good: thus not even things theological, so far as they are matters of memory.))

SEM (Buss) n. 4551

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4551

4551. CONCERNING THE CRUELTY OF CERTAIN ONES, OPERATED BY MEANS OF FIRE AND TOW, IN PHANTASY.
Certain spirits practice that cruelty by means of the phantasy, that they have, as it were, a lighted candle, and with it they burn others who are round about, in whom they endeavour to induce, as it were, bodily sensation. Some set tow on fire; and they burn others with this, by means of phantasies; also inducing sensation.

SEM (Buss) n. 4552

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4552

4552. A certain one had such tow, and carried it about; but the tow-fire was turned into his palm and into his finger. He cried out that he had been dreadfully burned. Hence it may be manifest, in what way such things may be produced, by means of phantasies, unless [spirits] are freed from them by the Lord.

SEM (Buss) n. 4553

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4553

4553. IDEAS.
The ideas which are of the memory are various; as, for instance, the idea of a person, namely, whatsoever one has heard concerning him, has seen in connection with him, has observed while he spoke with him, whatever he has thought about him, both well and ill-all remain; and many more things than he was ever aware of which have appeared to him, as it were, unnoticed. All these ideas remain, and are presented simultaneously in the other life, when anything is thought about any one; but, still, in such a way, that, when good is thought concerning him, then evils are as it were rejected to the circumference; when evil, then goods are rejected to the circumference. Thus, at the same time, thousands of things are presented simultaneously, or in a moment; and they appear before good spirits and angels, or are even perceived. Wherefore, they who have thought nothing but ill concerning men, are not able to think otherwise than ill concerning them. They who [have thought] well, not otherwise than well: and so forth.

SEM (Buss) n. 4554

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4554

4554. Also, ideas of places are presented at the same time; and, with these, all things that happened there. Whatever happened there, adheres to the memory of the place, and is presented at the same time with it: thus, thousands of things simultaneously.

SEM (Buss) n. 4555

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4555

4555. In like manner, the ideas of things, for instance, of matters of the sciences and the like: whatever one has learned and thought concerning that matter, is simultaneously presented; thus more fully, when he has thought much about such a thing.

SEM (Buss) n. 4556

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4556

4556. That many more things enter ideas than man apprehends, was shown by this: that when I walked in the street of a city, and in a wood, it was said that those things which I surveyed slightly with the eye, and scarce observed save in a contemplative manner, nevertheless adhere, and can be recalled. It is thus, too, as regards persons and things.

SEM (Buss) n. 4557

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4557

4557. Spirits talk together, by means of ideas, and I spoke with them, by means of ideas, many times; and, then, in a brief second, or beat of the pulse, they utter all that they think concerning any matter, which things they were scarcely able to enunciate, so as to be understood, even in half-an-hour's time. It is thus with very many orders of things, and it is done so quickly and connectedly that it is incredible; and the ideas are fuller and fuller, according to the interior memory formed of them.

SEM (Buss) n. 4558

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4558

4558. I had no need to more than think about a person with the idea of his qualities, and at the same time of his position, dignity, and other circumstance, without any idea of his face, body, and of such things as a man is described by in human speech-still less his name-and they at once discerned and knew who it was, and of what quality he was in my thought.

SEM (Buss) n. 4559

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4559

4559. In like manner, respecting kingdoms, cities, and similar thing.

SEM (Buss) n. 4560

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4560

4560. Besides this, I have thought with an obscure idea, as it were confused-in which idea was nothing but obscurity-respecting a certain matter. But spirits were aware of these things manifestly, because they are able to read, as it were, the deeper things which are with me in my memory, whilst I am unaware of it: thus, they can fill in, and elucidate, those things which, with me, are obscure.

SEM (Buss) n. 4561

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4561

4561. CONCERNING PAUL.
Paul, while he was alive, thought, respecting the other life, only in a worldly manner. He supposed there would be worldly glory there, not knowing what heavenly glory was, or whether it was anything. And he therefore supposed that it was he who should introduce all into heaven, and that the Lord would accept them on his account. Moreover, he imagined that he deserved better than others. On account of that glory, namely worldly glory, he underwent so many dangers and punishments, so that he might be greatest; consequently, from another motive than that the Lord taught, namely, that he who wished to be greatest should not enter, but he who [wished to be] least, and that the last will be first. Hence it is, that he associated himself, on several occasions, with evil spirits and devils, in order that he might make for himself an altogether infernal heaven; and hence it is, that he rejects the interiors of the Word, because they are opposed to worldly glory, and opposed to merit.

SEM (Buss) n. 4562

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4562

4562. He seems to himself to have with him a sheet of paper, and whatever he observes he writes down. But the manner in which he writes was shown me: namely, by lines curved around at the ends. Perhaps such writing, with them, answers to their language. This is allowed him, in order that such things as are to be observed may be the better impressed on his memory. I do not know that he looks again at those things. If he does look at them again, perhaps some things, advantageous to him, are then recalled to his memory. At the last, Paul was given a habitation by himself above, on the left; but, still, he repeatedly wished to make a disturbance. At length, he was brought lower down, where he does not know that he had been Paul.

SEM (Buss) n. 4563

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4563

4563. THAT EVIL SPIRITS POSSESS RATIONALITY.
I wondered that evil spirits, also, are able to perceive what is good and true and to be clearly convinced, even so as to confess it, that it is good and true, both moral and spiritual, and this according to the gift which they had possessed in the life of the body. Hence I supposed that they [who could do so] were good, or that they could become good. But, when they fell away from that state and returned into the life of evil, or into their nature, they were devils, and some of them amongst the worst: so that the faculty of knowing is something separate, by which they are able to perceive good and truth; and, because this is not conjoined with their evil life, it is, therefore, separated from them when they return into the life of evil. Hence it is, that the worst infernals are sometimes as well able to reason, yea, to produce truths, when in that state, as the good; but, still, they are infernal: as, for instance, Adam Lejel, who is amongst the worst infernals. Sometimes, he so inferred truths by deductions from natural things, that he was fully convinced; but, yet, he is amongst the worst of the infernals.

SEM (Buss) n. 4564

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4564

4564. CONCERNING URINE. CORRESPONDENCE.
Adam Lejel was amongst the worst infernals. As often as I thought about urine, he relapsed into his scandalous principles, which corresponded to his life, from which principles shocking things existed-not principles, but other heinous things; and this happened often. He could not be restrained from these things, except by tortures, when he persisted. Thus urine only causes him to fall into such heinous principles; for such things correspond.

SEM (Buss) n. 4565

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4565

4565. CONCERNING THE SAINTS: ANTHONY, IGNATIUS, FRANCIS XAVIER, AGNES.
I spoke with Anthony of Padua, and was instructed, that, in the life of the body, he had collected many proofs of a holy life, which might endure after his death, and which he had committed to friends, with the promise that he would render them aid if he should become a saint. He is a subtle spirit. He does not wish to be worshipped in such a way that it is manifest; but, still, it sticks fast in his mind that he ought to be worshipped; so he aims thereat in secret ways. He knows that, if it were manifest, he would be thrust down into hell. But he was told that such crafty tricks are turned into stupidity, and more grievous infernal states, and that he ought to act with a sincere heart.

SEM (Buss) n. 4566

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4566

4566. Anthony stood near, above the head, and brought it to pass, by taking away the first principle of the idea of speech, was totally unable to speak: thus, he was a more subtle spirit than others. He brought it to pass that I was entirely unable to get out a word. It was said that he had learned such magic, in order that he might thus enter into the ideas of spirits, and secretly lead them whither he would; thus, to the admiration and worship of himself. He said that he was thus able to lead man; but it was replied that he leads sows and pigs, not men. He was also sent into a pig, that he might rule him-namely, into a pig, into which had been turned one who had polluted himself with the obscenities of adulteries-and he became similar; and this, for the reason that interior magic is nothing but interior adulteries; for it produces such things.

SEM (Buss) n. 4567

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4567

4567. It seems that Anthony employs the agency of the white Jesuits, respecting whom mention is made below.

SEM (Buss) n. 4568

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4568

4568. Anthony had influx into the interiors of the tongue namely, into the muscular fibers. The nature of interior magic was shown, namely, that it is secret hatred against the Lord, and against the innocent. He [Anthony] was sent into a hell, deep down among the profane, and was afterwards raised up; and, then, they whom he had deceived spoke with him, and rebuked him for being of such a character; but he still endeavored to deceive them.

SEM (Buss) n. 4569

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4569

4569. Anthony also made himself divine by means of phantasies, but by a fantastic representation of a vocal idea, with which he surrounded himself; but he was then turned into a most revolting, poisonous animal, and cast down into hell.

SEM (Buss) n. 4570

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4570

4570. Francis Xavier, the second father of the Jesuits, appeared deep down under the buttocks. He was a still subtler magician, operating profanely by means of conjugial love and innocence, and doing many things secretly. He is among the interiors of the urethra. Perhaps it is another.

SEM (Buss) n. 4571

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4571

4571. Ignatius, the father of the Jesuits, was above, towards the front. He was subtle; but I was not able to observe other than that he had been good, not wishing, nor was it his intention, that they [his followers] should be of such a character [as they are]. He fled adoration, by making himself as filthy as a sow.

SEM (Buss) n. 4572

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4572

4572. Agnes, the Parisian, is at the right, among upright women, who love her. As often as they worship [her], she says it is vile, and is turned into something vile; and so, at last, she is received by them into society.

SEM (Buss) n. 4573

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4573

4573. CONCERNING THE WHITE JESUITS.
There are Jesuits who wished, in the life of the body, to obtain everything by means of prayers, in order that they might thus command others, in the life of the body and in the other life: so that the prayers were for the sake of self as an end. They prayed in their manner, out of their books, which are in daily use, and which they read daily, according to ecclesiastical regulation. They appear small, with bright clothing, forwards, near the earth, a little to the left. They descend into their hell, by means of ladders, and ascend by means of ladders just as angels are represented [to have ascended and descended] by means of a ladder, when seen by Jacob. They ascended, and then they were seen standing in a line with books in their hands, reading. They are able to deceive the ignorant; but, since their reading and praying regards themselves, it may hence also be inferred what their quality is, and that they suppose themselves to be just, from themselves.

SEM (Buss) n. 4574

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4574

4574. CONCERNING SPIRITS, WHO TAKE AWAY FROM OTHERS THE LIFE OF THINKING.
There are spirits who, when in the world, associated with others without any other end, or delight, than that they may be present. They were possessed of no other life. They are of two sorts. Some listen to others speaking, without any end but that they may hear: and some speak in such a way, without any end but that they may recite and pervert what they become acquainted with from another. They are distinct. Those who hear are on high, forwards, a little to the left. They who speak are lower down, near to the head. As often as they spoke, there occurred, at the first, a kind of indigestion of the stomach, so that they foully affected the stomach; and, at the same time, they took away from others, and myself, all the life of thought, since [they left us] without end and use. Life consists in end and use, and such is life. When they saw that others perceived, or wished to, say anything, they inquired into it. Moreover, they are not evil, but are very troublesome.

SEM (Buss) n. 4575

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4575

4575. CONCERNING THE REPRESENTATION OF A PAIR OF SCISSORS: A MAGICAL AFFAIR.
Quite high, above the head, a pair of scissors was represented by magical art, and I was ignorant what it signified; but I was instructed, that, so long as the scissors appear there, an open womb is steadily observed. Then, when the infernals are in such a phantasy, the scissors appear thence; and it is a magical affair.

SEM (Buss) n. 4576

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4576

4576. CONCERNING THE REPRESENTATION OF THE SHOULDER: A MAGICAL AFFAIR.
Shoulders, also, are represented magically, spreading out towards the left and right, like shoulders of a man. This occurs on the right, in the plane of the human shoulder. They appear like naked post-like things; and, when they appear, it is a sign that the sorcerers are thinking about bending back those things, which others are thinking and speaking, to a different place. When I spoke, then the right shoulder was moved, and thus the ideas of the thought and of speech were bent back elsewhere, or to others; nor was it directed towards him to whom I spoke. When the sorcerers have this in view, such shoulders are then represented there.

SEM (Buss) n. 4577

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4577

4577. A CHARACTERISTIC MARK OF THE EVIL AND THE GOOD.
A characteristic mark of the evil, is, that the ideas of their thought and speech are wont to commence from good, but they end in evil; and of the good, that the ideas of their thought and speech may commence from evil, but they end in good: for, with the evil, evil is universally dominant, hence they are swayed thither; but, with the good, good is universally dominant, therefore their ideas are swayed thither. What is universally dominant is the end, and the standard of affirmation; so that it is a plane towards which [all things gravitate].

SEM (Buss) n. 4578

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4578

4578. HOW WORTHLESS ARE THE MODERN SCIENCES, BY VIRTUE OF WHICH MEN PASS FOR WISE.
I spoke with spirits concerning the modern sciences whereby men seem wise. In general, sciences are nothing else than means of becoming wise, or of forming one's rational mind; just as languages are means of developing thought. They who are in truths, are able, by means of sciences, to acquire many confirmations, and so to fill up their ideas. They who are in falses are also able, by means of the same sciences, to have confirmations, and so to fill up their ideas with falses. The useful sciences are physics, optics, chemistry, pharmacy, anatomy, mathematics, astronomy, architecture, botany, metallurgy, history, the governments of kingdoms, and the like, by all of which, as means, every one is able to become rational. But there are some [sciences] which utterly destroy the faculty of thinking, and annihilate the rational: as, for instance, scholastics, namely, when they describe one plain matter, intelligible to almost any one, by means of many scholastic terms, until no one understands it. Philosophy, when a judgment is formed by means of a train of inferences-from definitions of terms, and conclusions thence,-which, when they are linked together, set forth such things as can be understood by no one; nor what is their connection. They take away all reason; when, nevertheless, they comprise nothing else than may be so simply explained, that it may be understood by any one who pleased. Logic, which analyzes verities, and assigns them a place amongst things doubtful; and still more when, by means of many [propositions], a single matter is to be unfolded, which is then involved. The conclusion, on many occasions, is such that it is intelligible without any syllogism.
These are also circumstanced like Geometry and Algebra, when simple verities are demonstrated by these; and then the thing, thus mixed up, is expressed by angular, circular and curved figures, and explained according to them, so that it is intelligible to no one. Such sciences, and the applications of such sciences, bring it about, that man loses common-sense and becomes insane.

SEM (Buss) n. 4579

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4579

4579. At this day, men versed in such sciences pass for wise, when, yet, they are stupider than the most simple. Such is the wisdom of the present day. Ancient wisdom was never of such a description: this taught naked truths; and thus, man was able to know and think innumerable truths; when, at the present day, [he can know] scarcely any.

SEM (Buss) n. 4580

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4580

4580. CONCERNING AFFIRMATIVE DOUBT, AND NEGATIVE DOUBT. MIRACLES.
I was surrounded by many spirits, with whom I spoke; and they wished that this or that should be done, so that they might thence know whether the power of the Lord was so great as was said. But it was replied, that this could have been done, but it would be of no use, since they wanted to infer thence just as from miracles, the power of the Lord. It was said that certain spirits are in affirmative doubt; some in negative doubt. The former can be convinced; but the latter never. For they would constantly form for themselves such [objections] anew, even if the thing should go on for ever; for they inwardly deny it. The reason is, that they who have been in the good of life, are in doubt at the start, but in an affirmative manner because good itself is the recipient of the affirmative, or the faculty of receiving is in good itself; of which they are unaware while in the doubt. These are able, by such signs [as are alluded to above], by experiences, and by miracles, to be led to certainty. If they are such as are in the evil of life, they cannot be because evil is the recipient of the negative: hence every such doubt is led thither, and becomes, gradually, negative, also.

SEM (Buss) n. 4581

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4581

4581. CONCERNING MAGIC.
Magical arts in the other life are so abundant and so wicked, that they can never be described. They [who practice them] know how to bind themselves to a man, if he should be a spirit in the other life, like myself, in execrable ways, namely, by binding all things of the face, of the mouth, of the head, of the occiput - where is common-sense - and entering into and binding the ideas; and this by divers modes, subtleties and deception. It is done with a spiral figure in deceitful ways; and it is wonderful, in that the thing is sensibly perceived how they are bound. For they are bound, so that they [who bind them] lead the exteriors of the memory and thought. The reason is, that the spirits and genii who are by, and inflow into such ideas, are present, and form a sphere about the man, and thus adjoin infernal spirits; so that, by these, they may be led to think similarly: and besides this, spirits are present, who suppose themselves to be the man, by whom also they operate, all together. There are many such magical modes: and they can never be removed, save by the help and mercy of the Lord.

SEM (Buss) n. 4582

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4582

4582. ENVY.
The envious are they who are hidden beneath, somewhat deeply, under the province of the scrotum: and those who are more envious operate into the scrotum, and into the ligaments towards the testicles.

SEM (Buss) n. 4583

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4583

4583. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE POOR, THE WRETCHED, THE STRANGER, THOSE WHO ARE IN PRISON, THE SICK, ORPHANS, AND WIDOWS.
The poor, are those who thirst and hunger after goods and truths, and are aware that they possess few, if any; nor do they desire gold and silver, supposing that they would be too much for them; but copper and iron: these also are given to them.

SEM (Buss) n. 4584

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4584

4584. The wretched are, in general, all that are poor, embracing both strangers and bound. While the poor have regard to truths, the wretched have regard to goods. Strangers, are all who are ignorant of truths and goods, who are to be instructed what the good of charity is.

SEM (Buss) n. 4585

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4585

4585. Those who are in prison, are all who are held in bondage by evil and are aware of this; as, for example, those who are in temptations, who, for the most part [know that they are in bondage to evil].

SEM (Buss) n. 4586

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4586

4586. The sick, are those [who] are distressed by evils and falses, and are to be visited, by some who bring comfort and by others who bring a remedy.

SEM (Buss) n. 4587

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4587

4587. Orphans are such as are in innocence. Widows, are they who are in the good of charity: but it should be seen, from the Word, whether these things are so.

SEM (Buss) n. 4588

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4588

4588. Furthermore [as to what is meant by] the maimed, the halt, the blind, [Luke 14:21] and the deaf.

SEM (Buss) n. 4589

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4589

4589. IN WHAT MANNER THE TRUTHS OF FAITH ENTER TO THE LOVE, AND LOVE INFILLS THEM.
There is, for example, loving any king or prince: That love exists and grows according to the virtues which one esteems and reverences in him. So that, if he is merciful, just, magnanimous, etc., then the love of mercy, regarded in itself, enters that love; also the love of justice, and of magnanimity. Every such thing, namely, mercy, justice, magnanimity, carries with itself reverence and love: all these loves enter the common love, and so confirm it.

SEM (Buss) n. 4590

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4590

4590. If, however, [the king] is not of such a character, but the reverse, and still is loved because he is king, the love is filthy and base. It is so, on account of the vices which he loves. And if he should be loved, notwithstanding that he possesses such qualities, merely because he is a king, no matter what his character may be, it is a love which is general; and, with the upright in heart, it [the love] is changed according to the virtues and their [relative] worth.

SEM (Buss) n. 4591

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4591

4591. As regards the Lord, all such things as enter and confirm the love, are called truths of faith; and they are only knowledges of what the Lord is, what [the man] himself is, what the kingdom of the Lord is, what the neighbor is, and what love is. Faith, regarded apart from love, is only an acquaintance with such things.

SEM (Buss) n. 4592

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4592

4592. In what manner these things enter into the general love, which is like that of infants towards parents, and confirm it, and how those things are imbued with love, may now, from hence, be apparent.

SEM (Buss) n. 4593

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4593

4593. They who have love towards the neighbor do not always possess love to the Lord; as, for instance, the spiritual; but they have reverence and esteem, which are confirmed by the truths of faith.

SEM (Buss) n. 4594

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4594

4594. CONCERNING THOSE WHO APPEAR AS IT WERE CORPOREAL.
Certain ones were seen in front, near by, rising up, as if from the deep, exactly like something corporeal and hairy. They are such as in the other life return almost into corporeals. When they rise up, there appears the likeness of a sword, which aims at piercing the head.

SEM (Buss) n. 4595

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4595

4595. I spoke with them. They said that all things and every single thing, appears to them, just as though they were in the body. In like manner, those things which they see and touch [Gripenhjelm]. It is a proof that they have been corporeal.)

SEM (Buss) n. 4596

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4596

4596. CONCERNING MAGIC. THE SKIN. GENERAL LOVE TOWARDS THE NEIGHBOR.
It would be prolix to enumerate all the magical arts; for it was granted to see many, and how they bind others in order that they may adhere [to them]. Several times they were thus bound to me, as regards the face, forehead and occiput, and this magically, so that I complained much; nor could I speak, save with them; but I could think independent of them.

SEM (Buss) n. 4597

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4597

4597. There appear callosities in the skin of the head and in the skull, to which they attached themselves. In each of these they produced pain, unless, perchance, they [the callosities] should be softened; for they correspond to the things upright and true, which are in the left side of the skull, which was the first plane where the softening took place. The bindings occur, for the reason that then, spirits are correspondently associated, who are of such a character that they know nothing save the generals of faith, not the particulars, and still less its minute details; thus, such as had a general love towards the neighbor, without any consideration as to who is the neighbor, or what is the nature of love. These persons greatly abound at the present day, and suffer themselves to be seduced by every deceitful, hypocritical and dissimulating spirit: yea, neither do they apprehend that they are of such a character, although they are told. They are, for the most part, sensual, and enter little into reasons. They constitute the skin: these ones, the skin of the skull. I spoke with them. They said that they have no feeling of horror on account of criminal actions, let them but put on a sweet and good appearance; and they suffer themselves to be persuaded with difficulty [that they are criminal]. There is a considerable diversity of such character. They correspond to the skin of the skull in various parts. There are some who are towards the occiput, some towards the forehead, some at the face, others at the skin of the rest of the body. Hence it may be evident, how necessary it is to imbue knowledges of rectitude and truth, and to act according them, and to confirm love. I think that many such are in the Roman Catholic religion, where they have no acquaintance with the truths of faith, but are persuaded by the monks. But their affection is general; and this [affection] is on account of the desire of the salvation of the soul, after death.)

SEM (Buss) n. 4598

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4598

4598. THE LANGUAGE OF ANGELIC SPIRITS.
Twice I have been in speech almost like that of angelic spirits, when in, as it were, a half-wakeful state; and thought was formed, concerning the truths of faith, in an inexpressible manner. It was an interior vision, and can in no wise be described in words.

SEM (Buss) n. 4599

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4599

4599. THE NATURE OF THE OPERATION OF THOSE WHO POSSESS GENERAL AFFECTION.
There were some who had general affection, and, since there was not in it anything of detail, they took away the life of the body, as it were, or induced lassitude of mind, with lassitude of the body, as it were, and a certain indigestion in the stomach; for the reason that there is little vitality in such general affection. Life itself consists in the intelligence and wisdom of truth; and, if this is absent, there is little vitality, or there is lassitude.

SEM (Buss) n. 4600

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4600

4600. THAT EVIL SPIRITS MUST NOT BE EXPELLED.
Sometimes, diabolical spirits adhered to the ideas and affections of the body; and several times I endeavored to expel them in various ways, but in vain. Hence [I knew], from experience, that they are not expelled, but that they recede of themselves. They are stubborn, and take pleasure in combats, and it somewhat augments their pleasure: wherefore, they are not expelled in this manner; but, when left alone, then they recede of themselves.

SEM (Buss) n. 4601

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4601

4601. CONCERNING A TOWER.
I beheld, in a semi-wakeful state, a tower of ordinary height. But, soon, there appeared an immense tower, with boarded steps round about, by which ascent could be made, to so great a height, as cannot be told. Midway in its height it vanished in heaven, so that it could not be seen. But I was not told what it signified. [I wonder] whether the ascent of angels into heaven was thus represented.

SEM (Buss) n. 4602

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4602

4602. CONCERNING AURICULAR SPIRITS.
There are spirits, not evil, who ascend inwardly to the left side, towards the internal ear, and there apply their ear so as to observe what is going on in the world of spirits. I was told, that, when these rise up and apply the ear, my sight would be kept in the world of spirits, so that it cannot be removed thence, concerning which matter I complained several times.

SEM (Buss) n. 4603

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4603

4603. A CONVERSATION WITH A CERTAIN ROMAN CATHOLIC CONCERNING THEIR SAINTS.
I spoke with a certain spirit, who was of the Roman Catholic religion, concerning their saints. He was told that they worship saints just as the heathen do their idols. He said that they only reverence them, and were instructed by their example: but he was told that they actually go down on their knees before them, pray them to give help, and that they ascribe these honors to them before the eyes of their priests, and are not deterred nor admonished by them; also that their prayers are such as are found in their sacred books, so that they pray to them for assistance. He supposed that they [the saints] interceded, and that it was tolerated on account of the simplicity of the people; but he was told that their holy prayers were thus instituted, and that they [the saints] act in this manner [that is, bear them aid], is pretended by the monks for the sake of gain and honor: exhibiting their miracles, extolling them with the mouth, and showing, in church, that they act in this way. To these things he was not able to reply. He was told that they are worse than the heathen; for the heathen do not know that idolatry is a sin, but they do know: wherefore they are sooner to be condemned than those. He said that the saints intercede; but he was told that many of the saints are in hell, and were, more than others, addicted to magic; and certain ones were mentioned, for example, Antonius, Francis Xavier, and David - a remark was also made about Paul - and that they were ignorant what heaven is: besides other things - some of which I do not remember - as that it is well known that every one is allowed to approach the Lord by prayers, and that He hears every one, and that it is He alone who ought to be worshipped, etc.

SEM (Buss) n. 4604

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4604

4604. (CONCERNING CONJUGIAL LOVE AND MUTUAL LOVE.
They who, in the life of the body, have lived in conjugial love, are together in the other life, for the reason that conjugial love is innocence: thus, there is nothing of lascivious love therein, although they appear naked to each other.

SEM (Buss) n. 4605

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4605

4605. But they who have lived in another kind of marriage, wherein conjugial love was not, but lascivious love are separated; for nothing of lasciviousness is tolerated in the other life: still more are those married partners separated, who were averse to each other, and more again they who have lived in hatred.

SEM (Buss) n. 4606

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4606

4606. Conjugial love is such, that one wishes to be the other's. It is thus mutually.

SEM (Buss) n. 4607

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4607

4607. Mutual love is such that it wishes better to another than to one's-self; and thus, it wills to give another what belongs to ones-self [namely, one's goods].)

SEM (Buss) n. 4608

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4608

4608. THOSE WHO INSPIRE, IN ORDER THAT THEY CAN BE WORSHIPPED.
There are devils, near, to the left side towards the region of the back, who inspire others to say that they must be worshipped. They are beneath, under the plane of the sole, towards the heel. When others said that they should seek these spirits and they would perform, it was these that then inspired it: they do it openly. Beyond this, I am ignorant of the quality of that crew.

SEM (Buss) n. 4609

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4609

4609. OF WHAT SORT IS THE IDEA OF INFINITY AND ETERNITY, IF THE IDEAS ARE TAKEN FROM SPACE AND TIME.
I also spoke with spirits concerning the idea of infinity and eternity from space and time, [to the effect] that that idea altogether perishes so as to become nothing; and that, thence, there is disbelief in the Divine. A proposition was made to think of eternity before the creation of the world. If time is in it, there is no idea there. If you think from time, this finite notion comes up: that there was some beginning to the existence of God, so that He had an origin: it is impossible to think otherwise; from time. Similarly concerning space outside of the universe; which, also, cannot be conceived in infinity, if from space. Its boundary is nowhere, and so forth; and, notwithstanding its ridiculous nature, no one can ever be withdrawn from that absurdity, except when his idea of time and space perishes. The more interiorly any one is elevated into heaven, the further [is he removed] from the idea of time and space; and the more fully [he is removed] from heaven the further [is he plunged] into the idea of time and space; thus, the more is he removed from the idea of infinity and eternity, consequently from faith. Time and space are those things which bound human ideas, and make them altogether natural, and adhere to other ideas; whereof man is ignorant; and they constitute the natural man, which reasons. The case is similar with the Divine Human of the Lord, a finite idea of which man takes from corporeal things, in himself and others: from which idea, unless he be removed, he cannot conceive other than that the Lord is like another man. Likewise, the numerical idea of Three in one God, or a trine, belong to space and time; from the human finite idea, it is conceived as being a separated trine: but the angels then have the idea as of a one.

SEM (Buss) n. 4610

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4610

4610. IN WHAT WAY PRINCIPLES SUBDUE AFFECTIONS.
That principles of truth change and subdue the cupidities, or delights, of evil, was made known to me, from experience. When I was in an affection of evil, and principles of truth were insinuated within, then those delights began to cease: hence, also, they were recognized that they were evil.

SEM (Buss) n. 4611

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4611

4611. Hence it may be evident in what way faith, or the knowledge of truth, operates upon the conscience, and how, by means of truths, man is reformed: for there is in faith, or truths insinuated by the Lord, an imperceptible blessing, relating to eternal blessedness, which is preferred to evil delights. Hence may be manifest, how it is with reformation by the truths of faith.

SEM (Buss) n. 4612

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4612

4612. Also, on the other hand, the affections of good can be, and are wont to be, crushed, by principles of the false: namely, when the false is accepted as true. For instance: when anyone is in conjugial love, and adopts the principle that to love his wife is only an obligation by virtue of the external contract, and nothing more:-if any one confirms himself in this false principle, he then destroys conjugial love, and turns it into lasciviousness, and, at the same time, regards adulteries as unimportant. It is so with all things else: as, also, he who adopts the principle that piety and the goods of charity avail nothing: from this principle he destroys charity and the affection of good, and is no longer careful about the life; and so forth.

SEM (Buss) n. 4613

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4613

4613. How strongly principles operate, may be evident merely from this: if any one believes that the food in which he has delighted is injurious to him, he then, by virtue of that principle, abstains from that food, and, at length, turns away from it in dislike - if he only adopt that persuasion, or be in it from some physician whom he supposes to know. It is thus in many other cases: so that principles subdue affections. Hence it may be evident, of how great importance it is to be acquainted with the knowledges of truth, and to believe that what is here stated is true.

SEM (Buss) n. 4614

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4614

4614. When [any one] possesses, and accepts, and believes principles of truth, or truths of faith, then, although their operation, so long as he lives in the body, is insensible, yet, still, the Lord infuses blessing therein, which, if he does not perceive in the life of the body, yet he does in the other life: and then, [the state is] better still, when he has put restraint upon his natural disposition, and begins to shun, and hold in aversion, evil delights. But time is needed; for this cannot take place in a moment. Much time is needed to change delights in this manner; for they belong to the life derived from childhood.

SEM (Buss) n. 4615

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4615

4615. CONCERNING THE WORSHIP OF GOD: THAT [AS IT EXISTS WITH MANY] IT IS AN EXTERNAL MATTER.
There was a certain one with whom I had some acquaintance in the life of the body. I talked with him; and this with a perception as to what manner of man he was, and thus, of what quality are very many others: namely, that Divine worship [with him] is an external matter, which does not affect the man; thus, that the worship does not penetrate to his interiors, nor even to his exteriors, but that it is something externally added, which happens because it is customary from infancy, and because man is judged, from that, by others, as to what his character is. Hence their worship in externals scarce affects aught of their interiors, to wit, of their ideas, still less of the affections; when, nevertheless, worship, above all other things, ought to affect man, because, thence, he has life after death.

SEM (Buss) n. 4616

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4616

4616. CONCERNING IDEAS.
Ideas of thought are so obscure to man, that he is ignorant what an idea is, and does not know that he has ideas. The reason is, because he does not reflect upon this matter, nor, in that obscurity, does he observe of what character they are; and since he does not observe what their quality is, neither does he know what it is; when, nevertheless, thought consists of mere ideas distinguished from each other.

SEM (Buss) n. 4617

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4617

4617. How much more perfect are the ideas of thought than the words of speech, may be evident from this: that a man is able to think more things in a moment, than he could utter or describe in an hour. Speech, after death, is distinguished into ideas, and consists of ideas, which, amongst spirits, take the place of words and sound; for sound, amongst spirits, corresponds to thought, which, in itself, is tacit speech, but to spirits it is audible. From hence it is evident of what nature the speech of spirits is; namely, that it is more perfect than human speech, just as thought surpasses verbal speech. It was granted to observe what is its nature, inasmuch as I spoke with spirits, by means of ideas: and when with words at the same time, then did the ideas present much more than the words, and wonderfully filled up the sense. Sometimes, they presented things which could not be uttered in words.

SEM (Buss) n. 4618

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4618

4618. There are ideas, concerning every man and concerning every thing, taken from all that one has heard and seen about the man, and from all one has thought respecting him. These occur to a man, simultaneously, when he thinks about a person and when he sees him; but all things are, at the same time, in obscurity. There is, for the most part, evil and good concerning the same person. When the idea of evil is removed, there is good; when the idea of good is removed, there is evil. It [the idea] is determined, also, according to the particular kind of evil or of good; but, still, all things are together, arranged in different ways. Wherefore, when such an idea occurs to the mind in the other life, the person appears present.

SEM (Buss) n. 4619

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4619

4619. It is similar with the idea of anything whatever; which is fuller, according as one has known more concerning that particular matter: for instance, when it is the idea of the sky, he who has studied astronomy, has a much fuller idea of the sky, than he who has nothing further than that he has seen the stars and the sun.

SEM (Buss) n. 4620

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4620

4620. Ideas in the other life are wonderful. Take the idea of a city: nothing is necessary but to think concerning the city, and at the same time concerning those things which are there: the spirits present at once know what city it is. Ideas are wonderful in the other life. They are formed by means of unspeakable varieties which can never be described, and by means of shade and lights, by their determinations and by other variegations.

SEM (Buss) n. 4621

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4621

4621. Man is ignorant that he never has aught impressed on the memory, of which he has not formed some idea, or known something. Man is ignorant that there are ideas themselves, still more of what nature they are; but, in the other life, though he say nothing, they are clearly manifested, when any matter comes up in the mind.

SEM (Buss) n. 4622

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4622

4622. It is of much importance what sort of idea a man has acquired for himself concerning the truths of faith; which ideas, although they are varied, yet, nevertheless, when the end is good-and good is that wherein it [the truth of faith] is implanted-the ideas are still good.

SEM (Buss) n. 4623

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4623

4623. The most recondite mysteries have also their idea remaining after death: for instance, the Trinity. Christians can have no other idea than of three gods, because they acknowledge three persons, and say, the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there is one God. Thus they have in them the idea of several gods, which the heathen have not. Wherefore, it is a matter of the greatest labor to bring back the ideas of Christians to one God, namely, to the Lord, in whom the whole trine is perfect.

SEM (Buss) n. 4624

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4624

4624. Ideas of the false, and ideas of evil, can with difficulty, if ever, be broken up or bended, save by the good of life.

SEM (Buss) n. 4625

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4625

4625. Principles which are according to order, to wit, the truths of faith, can be animated by the Lord, because they are in accordance with order; and, when animated, they become affections of truth. Principles of the false are not so; but, if there are affections of good, then principles not true can be bent into truths, and so, as it were, be changed, and, thus, man be saved: but never, unless there are affections of good.)

SEM (Buss) n. 4626

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4626

4626. CONCERNING CHARITY AND FAITH.
Charity is given without faith, as with infants and gentiles: these easily suffer themselves to be instructed, as is clear from the things which have been told concerning infants and gentiles: faith, however, without charity, is not given. Take, for instance, these three things. 1st. The belief that the Lord redeemed man, and saved him from hell. They who do not love the Lord, or the neighbor, do not believe this. If they say that they believe, it is with the mouth, not with the heart. To believe from the heart is from love. [The person] is not affected without love. Wherefore the faith [in this case] is of the mouth. 2nd. The belief that all good is from the Lord. Unless there be charity, neither, consequently, is there good: wherefore, neither does [the man] know what good truly is. He supposes what is corporeal and worldly to be good itself; wherefore, he does not believe good itself to be from the Lord. To him, good itself is entirely unknown. 3rd. He who believes that all evil is from himself will be in charity, and so he will know how to distinguish between good and evil. He who is not in charity, supposes good to be evil, and evil to be good; wherefore, he has no faith. Hence it may be evident, that there is never any faith capable of existing unless there be charity; or, what is the same, that it can never be implanted save in the good of charity, nor be produced save by the good of charity, that is, by the new will.

SEM (Buss) n. 4627

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4627

4627. THE ALMOST IRRESISTIBLE CLEVERNESS OF MAN.
I spoke with a certain one concerning Anton Swab, that he was able to speak with such intelligence, modesty, and semblance of reason, as could scarce be resisted. Such cleverness, with the evil, or those who regard ends which are not good, was represented by the head of a certain animal, which I have not seen [before], from which went forth coarse spicula of salt, shaped in this way, of a yellow color. It was stated that it was poison salts, [which], when they penetrate, cannot be plucked out; and, at the same time, they infuse etter,* which is a sort of poison.
* Etter = venom of an asp.

SEM (Buss) n. 4628

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4628

4628. CONCERNING THE LOVE OF THE MARRIED PARTNER AND OF INFANTS.
The men of the Most Ancient Church loved their wives better than their children. Their posterity loved their children in preference to their wives. Conjugial love is heavenly; wherefore, love begins from thence, because it is innocence. But even the worst are able to love children, and not wives; because they behold images of their own glory in the children, and not in the wife. They are able to be averse to their wives and love their children, and to be with a wife and not to love her at all, which is a perversion; this ability exists for the sake of the education of infants, and because of domestic arrangements, and for other reasons. It is then the love of lasciviousness which rules; which ceasing, love becomes nothing; and, if there are no children, they reject it from the heart. Every moment [when the partners love each other] there appears something like when they were first married, or conjoined in marriage. They are then like infants, and sport almost similarly. But this love recedes, if there is not conjugial love.

SEM (Buss) n. 4629

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4629

4629. Conjugial love is [such] that one wishes to be the other's [so as to be] altogether like one; and the highest felicity is to be not one's own, but the other's; and thus, on the part of both. It is such a conjunction of souls and minds, that the life of one is the life of the other; and it is so reciprocally.]

SEM (Buss) n. 4630

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4630

4630. (CONCERNING THE MISFORTUNES OF THE FAITHFUL.
I talked with angelic spirits concerning the misfortunes of the faithful, which, it is well-known, they suffer as much as, and even more than, the unfaithful. The reason was told why some of them are thus let into trials: some, for the reason that they may not ascribe good to themselves; for, if they were exempted [from trials], then would they ascribe it to their own goodness, thus they would arrogate to themselves merit and justice. Lest this should happen, they are let into common misfortunes, so that they come to grief as far as life riches and possessions are concerned, equally with others. If, however, they were of such a character that they would not hence attribute good to themselves, they would be oftener exempted from ordinary misfortune. Thus, there are hidden causes at work: for it is known, that, when misfortune arrives, any of the faithful think about good, and in such sort that they consider they should be spared on account of the good they have done; and if then, they were to be spared, they would boast it was on account of their being good, and, so, would taunt the wicked with this; consequently, would arrogate good to themselves.)

SEM (Buss) n. 4631

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4631

4631. CONCERNING PAUL.
I spoke with Paul [to the effect] that he wishes to be the introducer [into heaven], and that the Lord should receive those whom he might introduce; which is absurd, since introduction is not from arbitrary pleasure, but from the life, which no one knows but the Lord. I stated, that, if he had understood the Word according to the letter, this should be the office of Peter, to whom were given the keys of the kingdom of the heavens; and, thus, that he would be stealing from him. He said that he wanted to steal this away from him, and appropriate it to himself, because he had labored more. Paul has an utter aversion to Peter, and says that he [Peter] understands nothing, and so has no power.

SEM (Buss) n. 4632

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4632

4632. CONCERNING CHARITY.
He who has charity does all the commandments in their internal sense: to wit, he adores and worships the Lord; honors parents in the internal sense, and thus the Lord, who is Father of all. He kills, that is, he bears hatred to, no one. He does not steal, that is, ascribe justice to himself, for this is contrary to charity. He does not commit adultery, that is, he is not unfaithful to the goods and truths of faith. He does not covet what belongs to others, that is, he does not give ear to evil cupidities: and so forth.

SEM (Buss) n. 4633

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4633

4633. CONCERNING THE NEIGHBOR.
What the neighbor is, may be known from its opposite. He who loves himself, says he is neighbor to himself, and acts accordingly: next to himself [he treats as neighbors], his friends, for the sake of honor, of gain, of enjoyments and of social interaction. Others he does not style neighbor, except as far as they favor him.

SEM (Buss) n. 4634

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4634

4634. From these things, it is clear what the neighbor is in the internal sense, namely, that it is the Lord; next; the kingdom of the Lord in heaven and earth: then, all who are in the Lord's kingdom, according to all the degrees of charity and faith, thus with all difference and variety,-which is infinite.

SEM (Buss) n. 4635

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4635

4635. CONCERNING THE ORDER INTO WHICH MAN IS BORN.
If man were without hereditary evil, he would be born into Divine order itself, namely, into love to the Lord, and love towards the neighbor, wherein would thus be implanted the whole, and every one, of those things that are of faith: just as animals, which are born into their order, are born into the affections natural to them; and, then, all things that belong to their life are therein. When, however, [the hereditary state] is contrary to order, then it is otherwise.

SEM (Buss) n. 4636

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4636

4636. The sons of the Most Ancient Church were born almost in this condition, namely, into the affections of good and the affections of truth. Wherefore, in the very affections was everything whatever of good and truth which the doctrine of faith teaches; but, still, in course of time, by instruction, experience, inspiration, and revelation, it was given them to know all things that pertained to faith, to which they at once assented inwardly-so that they had a perception of them, because they accorded with their affections.

SEM (Buss) n. 4637

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4637

4637. CONCERNING CHARITY TOWARDS THE NEIGHBOR.
When holiness and good descends from the Lord, through angels, into man and the delight of his life, then it is like a seed hidden in the ground. If the delight be pride, or the love of self, then it falls into evil ground, where there are thorns. So, also, if into that delight of man which is the lust of gain. Wherefore, such ground is regarded by the angels as something sterile, foul and excrementitious, into which nothing good can sink down, because it is swallowed up by evils. But if good and holiness from the Lord fall into the delight of charity, into the affection of justice and rectitude and into contempt of gain and honor except for the sake of use, then it falls into good ground and bears much fruit. Affection itself is the ground, whose quality is not perceptible in any other way than from the delight of the man. There is the best ground, if the affection is of charity; and, also, if the charity is of faith in the Lord.
The worst ground is the delight of honor and dignity not for the sake of use; and next, the delight of riches not for the sake of use. As is the quality of the use, such is the delight.

SEM (Buss) n. 4638

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4638

4638. CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT.
It may be manifest to every one, that all holiness is from the Lord, and that the very holiness of the Holy Spirit belongs to the Lord, because it proceeds from the Lord. Whatever in the Holy Spirit [is imagined] not to proceed from the Lord, cannot be holy. The Holy Spirit itself cannot proceed from the Lord, but its likeness.*
* It is desirable to mention that by the Holy Spirit Itself, is meant Divine Truth Itself, as it is in the Lord [AC 6993]; and this, being intrinsically Infinite, cannot be communicated to man so as to be received by him, as it is in itself, because he is radically finite. Man can only receive it in a Divinely accommodated and finited form, which is what is here meant by "its likeness. " On this matter, the reader may advantageously consult AC 6982, 6996, 8760.

SEM (Buss) n. 4639

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4639

4639. CONCERNING CHARITY AND GOOD WORKS.
Good works are principally the exercise of justice; for he [who does this] does good, both to the public, and to the good; also to the evils when he reforms them by means of punishments. Thus all exercise charity who practice justice and equity. So in every employment.

SEM (Buss) n. 4640

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4640

4640. ((CONCERNING THE FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE LAW OF NATURE, IN ITS QUALITY.
One said that the fundamental characteristic of natural law, is the conformity of natural things with the Lord; since it wishes to destroy nothing.))

SEM (Buss) n. 4641

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4641

4641. CONCERNING MARRIAGE.
((They who are in conjugial love have reciprocation, and, this, on the whole and in every respect; so that the wife wishes to be her husband's and the husband to be his wife's: this, in the whole and in every department of life, and in all and every one of the details of affection, and in all and every one of the things of thought. This was shown me by experience.

SEM (Buss) n. 4642

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4642

4642. They who are in good and truth can be in conjugial love, but others not, although they suppose themselves to be; for conjugial love descends from the Divine marriage, which is of good and truth, and of truth and good.

SEM (Buss) n. 4643

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4643

4643. They who have not been in conjugial love, or, if unmarried, in the marriage of good and truth, or the Divine marriage, but in its opposites, as in adulteries, cannot be in heaven. For, when angels think and speak of the kingdom of the Lord as a marriage, and of the Church as a Virgin, immediately marriage and a virgin are merely named there come up, with those who are in adulteries, filthy ideas, and so filthy that they cannot be made known-about the womb, about the privy parts, and about such things as they filled their thoughts with, in the world. It is evident that these things are utterly abominable and profane, [especially] when the heavenly marriage, wherein is nothing but holiness and chastity, is thought about; and that they are directly contrary to angelic thoughts.))

SEM (Buss) n. 4644

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4644

4644. CONCERNING PERCEPTION.
I spoke with spirits concerning perception; to the effect, that perception is of a twofold character: one kind of which relates to civil and moral concerns, and is the perception of justice and rectitude - the other to celestial and spiritual concerns, and is the perception of good and truth. The former is for man in the world, and exists naturally - the latter is for man in the other life or for his spirit: the latter is interior or superior; the former is exterior or inferior; and the former is the plane of the latter; for good and truth can inflow into justice and rectitude as into their corresponding for. As respects inferior perception, or that which relates to civil and moral concerns, it exists with men, and is the perception of justice and rectitude; and it is called common sense. They who have the perception of justice, can, at once, from a few things which they know, perceive whether a thing is just or not. But they who have the perception of rectitude, are not able to do so in this way, but from the laws, and such things as they have learned. It is evident that the former is more excellent than the latter. These perceptions exist naturally. But, at this day, the perception of celestial good and spiritual truth does not exist. There existed [a perception] of celestial good with those who were of the celestial Church, and it is called the perception of good; it exists also immediately from the Lord. The perception of truth is given with those who have conscience; but it is in accordance with the truth which they have learned, impressed upon themselves, and become acquainted with; this, also, is from the Lord by means of conscience. These are called spiritual; but how great is the difference is manifest. From the perception relating to civil and moral concerns, men are called rational: from the perception of good, celestial, and of truth, spiritual; and [the two last] are eminently rational.

SEM (Buss) n. 4645

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4645

4645. HOW IT IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD THAT AS A TREE FALLS, IT REMAINS: MEMORY.
So long as a man is alive [in the world], he is in the ultimate of order. He possesses a corporeal memory, which grows, and in which are to be rooted things which are of the interior memory; hence the more harmonies and correspondences of good and truth there are in them and among them, the more he has of life from the Lord, and the more he can be perfected in the other life. But that memory in which interior things are rooted, is exterior or corporeal. Man, after death, has, indeed, all his own exterior or corporeal memory, or the whole and every one of its belongings; but it can no longer grow; and, where it is not, new harmonies and correspondences cannot be formed. And, hence, all things of his interior memory are there, and they are terminated in his exterior memory, although it is not allowed to use this. From these things it may be manifest, what means [the statement] that as the tree falls it remains. Not that he who is in good cannot be perfected: he is perfected, immensely, even to angelic wisdom-but, according to the harmony and correspondence which existed between internals and externals, whilst he was alive in the world. After the life of the body, no one receives external things, but things interior and internal.

SEM (Buss) n. 4646

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4646

4646. The case with that dogma, that a tree remains where it falls, is not as is [usually] explained, but in this wise: It is the agreement of the internal or spiritual man with the external or natural, which remains as it falls. Man possesses both, in the other life. The internal or spiritual is terminated in his external or natural, as in its ultimate. The inmost or spiritual man is perfected in the other life - but, according to the agreeing things it is able to make use of, in the external or natural. The latter, however, namely, the external or natural man, cannot be perfected in the other life, but remains of the quality it has acquired in the life of the body; and, in the latter [life], it is perfected by the removal of the love of self and the world, and so by reception of the good which is of charity, and of the truth which is of faith, from the Lord. Hence, it is agreement or non-agreement which is the tree, with its root, which remains, after death, where it falls.

SEM (Buss) n. 4647

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4647

4647. CONCERNING THE MARVELOUS SPEECH OF SPIRITS.
The speech of spirits is related to the speech of men, as sight to hearing; and it excels it even more [than this]. It beholds things themselves: from them, [spirits] produce marvelous and inexpressible forms. He who is not aware, would affirm that forms are not produced from things themselves, save from visible objects; but still they are produced. These forms contain very many things - in their midst [the spirit] determines something visible; within, and round about, something invisible, which is, yet, perceived by interior vision - which things cannot be told in words. In a moment, more things are presented than can be described in an hour; and, even then, not as much as the half would be expressible. This is the speech of spirits. The speech of spiritual angels is still more perfect, being comparatively [to it] as the speech of spirits is to human speech. The speech of celestial angels is more perfect still; in so great a degree is it more excellent. They do not learn this speech; but it is given to them, and is in them without their learning it. Every man who becomes a spirit has it in himself; likewise, every spirit who becomes an angel.

SEM (Buss) n. 4648

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4648

4648. CORRESPONDENCE IN DISEASES.
Diseases do, indeed, exist from natural causes among men who are not, as to the spirit, at the same time in the other life; but, as often as they exist, thither flow spirits corresponding to that disease. For spirits who are in evil and falsity, produce precisely such things as are perceived by the sense in diseases, as I have most plainly experienced from hypocrites, [namely] that their presence brought on pain of the teeth and gums, and of that part of the skull, and this beyond all mistake. When I suffered with a certain heaviness of the stomach and bowels, spirits, corresponding to that disease, applied themselves there, as I sensibly perceived, and they spoke somewhat. So, in the other diseases.

SEM (Buss) n. 4649

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4649

4649. Hence it is, since such spirits apply themselves there and aggravate the disease by their presence, that, if they should be removed by the Lord, man would at once be restored; for there are evil and false spirits to whom correspond diseases and ailments of every kind. But such a one as is in the other life, as to his spirit, is exempt, so long as the Lord grants that he lives in the world. And, since he speaks with spirits, and is sensible of their presence, it is also given him to know such things.

SEM (Buss) n. 4650

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4650

4650. But, because we do not believe spirits to be about us, all these things are ascribed to natural causes. Medicines help, but still more, as they say, the Providence of the Lord: and, marvelous to say, the sufferers pray to God that they may be restored, and declare themselves to be restored by God; but, still, every one of them, when out of that state, ascribes it to nature.

SEM (Buss) n. 4651

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4651

4651. HOW INFERNAL THE LOVE OF SELF IS, IN THAT IT DESTROYS ORDER.
Besides the innumerable evils which arise from self-love, it is also perceived by the angels, that, unless that was utterly trampled under foot by the Lord, no spirit and no man would have been able to think or to live. It inflows, from very many sources, into every particular of the thought, of spirit and of man. If one person should take up rule over another, he would take away all the influx round about: hence, there would be no thought. It was plainly perceived that the order of thought is ruled by the Lord, by means of angels and spirits, and they who wish to govern others are removed; otherwise, influx would come from them, and thought would utterly perish. This manifestly follows from influx.

SEM (Buss) n. 4652

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4652

4652. CONCERNING THE FORESIGHT AND PROVIDENCE OF THE LORD.
It was perceived, and I said to angels, that every most minute moment of man's life has a series of consequences to eternity, and, unless all of them were over-ruled by the Lord, in the smallest moments, man would never have any salvation; and that, hence, it may be evident, that the Lord's eternity, or foresight and Providence to eternity, is from the Lord; and so, that man is over-ruled in every one of his smallest moments. Without such Providence, in the minutest particulars of all things, no one could have any salvation - for, of himself, man rushes to hell, every moment - nor [would there be] any foretelling of the future, nor general civil love of country, nor state of the Church, nor Kingdom of the Lord. Hence, also, it may be evident, that man is led of the Lord by continuous constraints to foreseen ends; and, yet, by means of his freedom.)

SEM (Buss) n. 4653

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4653

4653. CONCERNING INTELLECTUAL HYPOCRITES.
They are hypocrites who, outwardly, counterfeit good, so that they may appear to nearly everybody, good in act, gesture and speech, but are, inwardly, destitute of conscience and mercy. This sort of hypocrites is affectional.

SEM (Buss) n. 4654

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4654

4654. There are hypocrites of another kind, who, outwardly, talk well, and appear as if they were intellectual [Adam Lejel], confessing truths which are generally acknowledged, with the mouth, but, inwardly, believing nothing, and destitute of conscience. They reason well and elegantly, and sometimes wisely, concerning divine things; but in a general way, saying that a thing is so, because it is generally received; in other matters [where there is not general consent], that it may be so, that there are different opinions according to each one's apprehension, principles and disposition; so that, from such generalities, besides much more of the same kind, they appear very wise: so that they have less belief in truths than in falses. Inwardly, they believe nothing but falsity. This they do not confess to any one, on account of many external bonds. They stick, namely, to the general judgment concerning men's opinions, whatever they are, whether evil and false, or good and true. These appear exceedingly wise before the world. These are intellectual hypocrites: such, also, the Lord means by hypocrites: they are very injurious in the other life.

SEM (Buss) n. 4655

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4655

4655. CONCERNING PHILOSOPHY AND FREEDOM.
I spoke with angels concerning philosophy or human artificiality, whereby, as men say, one may learn to think correctly. [I said] that those things induce darkness on the mind of man and its apprehension, and take away his freedom. This was represented: when any perceivable truth was mentioned, such persons at once descend into terms, and contemplate these and their definitions, and thence fill up their idea. This was represented as a thick wood, into which they precipitate themselves, and where they no longer see anything from heaven or its light, but wander hither and thither. But [I perceived] that such wood is removed from those who are in simple good, free from the vagaries of such wisdom; and that they are in an open field, where they see a long way round about, into the distance. Wherefore, the simple have a much clearer perception as regards good and truth, than those who are learned in such wise; as, indeed, any one may know, from abundant experience, who reflects upon these matters. It was also stated that they who are in the open field, when they think without such induced obscurity, are in freedom, and that their states can be freely changed, and bent; but that they who are in such wisdom throw away all their freedom, not merely as regards apprehension, which is manifest, but also as regards affection; for affection then sinks itself, immediately, in the affection of self, from love of self, or self-glory, and thus becomes duller, so that the love of truth at once perishes. Wherefore, they cannot be in freedom, but in slavery: besides which, such persons close heaven against themselves. This may be sufficiently manifest from them in the other life. They who are wise in such a fashion, seem to themselves wiser than others; but they are unable to have even one perception of spiritual truth. As soon as an idea of truth occurs, they at once throw themselves into such [obscurities as have been described], and so know nothing. In a word, they have no common-sense.

SEM (Buss) n. 4657

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4657

4657.* But, still, there are many useful sciences, which confirm and illustrate ideas: such as all the physical sciences, or, natural science in the three kingdoms of the world, and especially experimental sciences, as astronomy, geometry, optics, chemistry, mechanics, history, anatomy, medicine, civil law, and also such as are called philosophical.
* No. 4656 is absent from the Latin copy.

SEM (Buss) n. 4658

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4658

4658. THAT, JUST AS HYPOCRITES INDUCE PAINS OF THE TEETH, SO OTHER SPIRITS INDUCE OTHER PAINS OF THE BODY CORRESPONDING [TO THEIR OWN CHARACTER].
4658. There was a spirit who, merely on approaching me, so racked my body by wrenching, that I was as if altogether broken in pieces. It was a peculiar mode of wrenching, of what nature had not been evident to me.

SEM (Buss) n. 4659

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4659

4659. There were spirits who induced a most grievous pain in the back-bone, about the "cauda equina" - so that, as often as it happened, I was almost overcome.

SEM (Buss) n. 4660

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4660

4660. There were spirits who induce pain in the skin of the knee bone, and its cartilage; so that, when that orbit of the knee was twisted, it was affected with quite severe pain. It was said who they are, namely, that they are those who are, indeed, modest and pious, but particularly care for self; not, thus, for the common welfare: thus, neither for the kingdom of the Lord.

SEM (Buss) n. 4661

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4661

4661. SPIRITS WHO INFUSE AFFECTIONS.
Spirits who are in the gloomy place, were from the Ancient Church. When they come from thence into the world of spirits, they infuse affections and compassion for themselves, into those there. They were in the world of spirits on several occasions, and acted in this manner. I talked, concerning them, with other spirits; and it was said that they do these things lest any one should do them harm, and that thus they may be able to be amongst others.

SEM (Buss) n. 4662

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4662

4662. CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT.
It is manifest, from many parts [of the Word], that not the Holy Spirit, but an angel, spoke to the prophets. The prophets say that an angel spoke to me: also David, I think. In like manner, an angel [spoke] to Zacharias, to Mary, and to the shepherds [Luke i.]. Thus, they who spoke the Word to the prophets were angels. They are called the Holy Spirit, because holiness [came] through them, from the Lord. The Divine is here and there termed the Spirit of Jehovah, by the prophets: but the Jews, like their fathers, called whomsoever spoke to them [in this manner], God, because, for reasons mentioned elsewhere, he called himself God; therefore, also, at the time of the Lord's advent, they worshipped the Holy Spirit, which was because [the notion] could not be eradicated in a moment: and, though the Holy Spirit is named, the holiness of the Spirit, or the Divine, as in the Old Testament, is meant.

SEM (Buss) n. 4663

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4663

4663. I spoke with spirits, in the other life, concerning the Holy Spirit, as to what conception, or what idea, they had about it;-for they acknowledged it as God, and separately, as is patent from the articles of faith and the chants; and, also, it is worshipped separately-whether they had the idea of one, or as of several, or as of innumerable [Holy Spirits]. They said, variously; that some had an idea of one, some of several, some of innumerable ones, from eternity; some, as of a certain divine aura, some, as of an out-breathing from the Lord; some had other ideas.

SEM (Buss) n. 4664

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4664

4664. Moreover, there are many spirits who give themselves out as the Holy Spirit, for the reason that they are with Quakers; and some because they are with the popes, and with other men who worship the Holy Spirit separately: but these are among those who are foolish above the rest; for a spirit who believes himself to be God, is in greater folly than others, because he is in the highest degree of self-love.

SEM (Buss) n. 4665

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4665

4665. CONCERNING THE SPEECH OF SPIRITS, AND OF ANGELS OF AN INTERIOR DEGREE.
I talked with spirits concerning the speech of angels; and it was perceived, and said, that the speech of men passes over into speech of spirits, which is incomprehensible to man, although [men] possess it in themselves; for they think thus [i. e. as spirits speak], when [they think] abstractedly from natural ideas and words. And the speech of interior angels is similarly circumstanced in respect to spirits. To these it is incomprehensible, although they have it in themselves; and when [they think] abstractedly from the ideas according to which they speak, they think in this manner [i. e. as angels speak]. The spiritual speech of the angels of the third heaven, is, likewise, to these, namely, to the angels of the second heaven, incomprehensible, although they have it in themselves, and they think by means thereof when [they think] abstractedly from their own ideas. So with the celestial angels: inmost speech is just as incomprehensible to them; so that they are completely ignorant how it is circumstanced. It takes place by means of inmost affections, and is most copious; so that things, of which scarce a hundredth part can be uttered by spiritual angels, can be expressed, by it, in a moment. Lastly, it is infinite, on which account it is incomprehensible: all their wisdom and intelligence is thence.

SEM (Buss) n. 4666

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4666

4666. Hence may be manifest how it is with the internal sense of the Word. The things which are stated, are merely according to those things that spirits comprehend. If they should be told in the way in which the interior angels, and still more the inmost angels, comprehend them, it would be altogether incredible.

SEM (Buss) n. 4667

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4667

4667. It is, with this, almost as with human action, which appears as a single thing, but it inflows from innumerable modifications of the muscles; these, from [modifications] of the motive fibers and blood-vessels; and, lastly, from the fibers of the nerves. It is also circumstanced like the external human form: to that, contribute innumerable things, which are under the skin, or in the inside, which, if it were said that they flowed forth thence, it would appear to man like a paradox. The interiors of thought contain in themselves, and in the order which prevails amongst themselves, much more marvelous and incredible things; just as has been said. All and every one of those things, well out from the affections. Thoughts and intellectual things are but forms appearing thus from the affections; or they are formed affections; and, if they were closed, so that not a single detail should be inwardly inspired by affection, then it is, as it were, something dead: but, yet, somewhat of affection bursts forth from the harmony of such things; and so forth.

SEM (Buss) n. 4668

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4668

4668. CONCERNING THE DIVINE SPHERE OF ENDS AND USES.
I manifestly perceived the Divine sphere of ends and uses, and more things than are utterable. [I perceived] that, from that sphere, flow, and are ruled, all things, and every single detail, which were of thought and speech: concerning which I spoke with spirits.)

SEM (Buss) n. 4669

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4669

4669. WHENCE PROFANE THINGS ARE.
From a profane hell, or a profane siren, about whom I have spoken previously, it could be known whence profanation is: that, namely, she had known, and acknowledged, and believed holy things, because she was instructed, in her previous life, and had learnt about them through writings, and so was accustomed to them; and, afterwards, she had never rejected faith in eternal life, even going so far that she had believed in the resurrection; but, yet, she perpetrated frightful enormities with an infant, was a sorceress and an adulteress, [cherishing] hatred within, and feigning friendship outwardly, and such things: hence is the profanation of holiness.

SEM (Buss) n. 4670

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4670

4670. CONCERNING PERSUASIVENESS AND THE LIGHT OF PERSUASION.
Several times I had been in a certain light: such, to wit, that the imagination was, as it were, forcibly drawn away: but I was, at that time, with those who are in the light of persuasion. It is of such a nature that persuasive suggestions inflow quite vigorously; but, as soon as such suggestions were not present, I was at once in darkness, although there were truths [with me]: and it was stated that such light is darkness to the angels, as also was perceived; for a total darkness shrouded the eyes, even in truths, when spirits were in this persuasion.

SEM (Buss) n. 4671

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4671

4671. This light of persuasion is with those who are in truths, and, by means of truths, wish to rule, thus, to appear greater than others, and, in that, to have their delight. There are many of this sort, and amongst them are women. They are above the head, the females on the left, forwards; and they had a subject who adhered, like a diabolical spirit, to the left part of the head, in front. He, as it were, took away the light of a thing.

SEM (Buss) n. 4672

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4672

4672. The light of phantasy prevails when there are falses: the light of persuasion when there are truths.

SEM (Buss) n. 4673

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4673

4673. WHO IS MEANT BY GRINDING OR GRINDERS.
In the other life, those who study much, write, and instruct themselves, diligently, without use for an end, but for the sake of their own pleasure and delight, appear to themselves to be grinding.

SEM (Buss) n. 4674

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4674

4674. Those who have been of such a character in the world, appear to themselves to be grinding, in the other life. Hence it is plain what that signifies, that two [should be] grinding, and one should be taken, and the other left.

SEM (Buss) n. 4675

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4675

4675. THAT SOCIETIES OF SPIRITS HAVE THEIR OWN APPROPRIATE MEANS OF DEFENCE.
Societies of spirits, who are not yet so spiritual and celestial, as that evil genii can be restrained from interfering with them; but who are still spirits, and dwell together-when evil spirits come to them, wishing to bring evil upon them, and to secretly insinuate themselves, it is granted them to defend themselves in certain ways: these societies in their own way; others in their own. Some of the female sex, when the evil secretly insinuated themselves, drove them away, in a certain manner, by, as it were, concentrating their cries, and so their powers upon them, driving them far off. Other societies [defend themselves] differently, and through other persons. This is also represented in nature; where every single animal has its own means of defense.

SEM (Buss) n. 4676

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4676

4676. CONCERNING THE EXECRABLE SPHERE OF SELF-LOVE. CEDERHJELM. STRIKING A STONE.
He was with me for several days, and it was recognized, and [this] from his life, that he had supposed himself to be the wisest of all men, and to have been able to effect all things; but [he attempted this] by such modes, that he constantly searched out the faults and vices of others, so that he might know, and also publish them; supposing that thus he should have them bound and be able to govern them, so that they would serve him and he could become greater than others; he also despised all others in comparison with himself. He had been such so much more than others in the love of self and of the world that those who would not serve or honor him, he persecuted in every way, and cherished hatred against them. He could praise hardly anybody, from the heart.

SEM (Buss) n. 4677

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4677

4677. His sphere, in those days, was of such a kind, and so execrable, that it penetrated to the interiors; so that I could not perceive it, save by this: that all desire of writing, and doing anything useful, was completely taken away from me. Others complained, that, in like manner, there was with them so abominable a sphere, that it extinguished the interiors of heat, and induced torpor and inertness in the mind, and, at length, in the body. When delight fails, then, also, cutaneous exhalation fails, and the state of the body suffers. It was like a most intense latent cold, which extinguishes the fire from the interior [of the body, or spirit]. They are such as are habituated to the love of self and of the world, despising all others, esteeming no one.

SEM (Buss) n. 4678

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4678

4678. Such a sphere-altogether contrary to the Divine Sphere, which is of uses-was present. It took away every single thing with me: as, for example, my delight of use; for the reason that he was unwilling that any one should do anything useful, unless he could arrogate it to himself: The same individual, inasmuch as he had believed himself to have possessed more understanding than others in worldly matters, and thus to have deserved more than others, seemed to himself to strike a white stone with a certain iron instrument, and to want to divide it. At this he rushed, as often as anyone thought about him.

SEM (Buss) n. 4679

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4679

4679. THE ODOR OF PRUNES.
The odor of prunes which they have when they are cooked, signifies the delight which married people have in lying together, that is, the delight they feel at simply being with their married partners, and lying close to them.*
* The original of this number is in Swedish, and runs thus:-Swiska lucht, som de aro nar de aro kokade, betyder noje som achta folck hafwa wid sammanlegandet, nemligen sjelwa noje at allenast wara hos sin maka, ligga nar den.

SEM (Buss) n. 4680

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4680

4680. CORRESPONDENCES OF DISEASE.
Sirens cause obstruction of the hinder part of the cauda, where the spinal marrow terminates, and produce pain there. They act into the lower intestines especially into the rectum, and, when present, produce a kind of colic there, and difficulties in disburdening the alvum.

SEM (Buss) n. 4681

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4681

4681. WHENCE MAN HAS A HEAVENLY PROPRIUM FROM THE LORD.
I was in the celestial idea, that [a certain one] wished, from love, to give me his all, and, indeed, to such an extent, that he would have nothing left for himself; so that he would communicate his all to me: and thus I should have his proprium. Hence it was insinuated how it is with the heavenly proprium from the Lord; to wit, that, from Divine Love, He continually wishes to give what is His own to man; and, according as man is able to receive, He gives.

SEM (Buss) n. 4682

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4682

4682. CONCERNING THE EQUILIBRIUM BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL; THEN CONCERNING THE LIGHT AND HEAT IN WHICH HEAVEN IS; AND LASTLY, CONCERNING THE DARKNESS AND COLD IN WHICH HELL IS.
It was perceived that where the angels are, or in heaven, there is a serene aura of light, like morning and mid-day, and also warmth as of spring; and whatever is there, is in such light and heat. But, on the contrary, the infernals, or hell, are in a gross, cloud-laden and filthy atmosphere, and in cold which sometimes burns from the heat of cupidity. It was perceived, that, between those things, there is, in general, an equilibrium; and, so far as a spirit is in love, charity and thence in faith, so far is he in the aura of light; and conversely, in the internal atmosphere. Light has in itself intelligence; heat, wisdom; darkness, insanity; and cold, or filthy heat, folly.
(((A certain one was let into the infernal atmosphere, and perception was given him, and he spoke thence. He said that the fury of insanity against good and truth, thus against the Lord, was so great that he was amazed; and it could never be resisted, because they breathed nothing else but slaughter and such things, with such vehemence, that they wished to destroy the whole heaven: wherefore, unless this was driven away by the Lord, the whole human race would perish.)))

SEM (Buss) n. 4683

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4683

4683. CONCERNING THE OPPOSITE POSITION OF ANGELS AND INTERNALS, IN RELATION TO EACH OTHER.
All who are in the world of spirits appear before the eyes [of those there] as if having the head upward; but, still, in themselves, and according to angelic sight, the angels are in a perpendicular position, that is, with the head towards the Lord, who is in the highest, and whence is all position and situation: in this case, there is, as it were, a force acting from above to beneath. But the infernals, to the internal and angelic sight, are with the head towards hell, and the feet upwards; thus in an opposite position. So, in succession, even to an oblique direction, upwards and downwards; for the below of the infernals is the above of them [the angels], and the above of the angels is the below [of the infernals]: thus, all are inverted, successively, until they arrive at that position which is their normal one.)

SEM (Buss) n. 4684

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4684

4684. HOW THE CHURCH REPRESENTS THE HEART AND LUNGS.
In what manner the Church answers to the heart and lungs was perceived by spiritual ideas, by means of a cylinder, or axle-tree, in whose middle were the celestial things of love, and, round about, spiritual things: and [it was perceived] that, from celestial things, there is an influx into spiritual things, and so on, continuously, towards the circumferences, even to the ultimates: and, so, that the communications of love are according to order: that thus, likewise, the men of the Church who are in good are in the middle, as regards their souls, and those who are in truth are round about; no matter how far apart and how unknown to each other, they may be on earth; for their souls are still in heaven. That middle is the heart; around it are the lungs. When, therefore, there is no Church, neither is there heart or lungs; hence, neither is there communication with those who are in the circumferences. This would be the case with man, because, with him, natural aims are pursued; so that there must be influx into natural things.

SEM (Buss) n. 4685

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4685

4685. CONCERNING THE COMMUNICATION OF HEAVEN WITH HELL.
((In the morning, I was in company with many who acted as one, by thinking and speaking according to their own manner. This penetrated towards hell, into which it was continued; and they who were there also appeared to act as one, but not to think and speak. But the fact was, that that which was with the angels, which was good and true, was, by a wonderful twirling about, or circle, or form, gradually changed into evil and falsity, as it flowed down towards hell, where those [who were there] acted as one, by means of the phantasies of falsity and the cupidities of evil.))

SEM (Buss) n. 4686

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4686

4686. (HOW AFFECTIONS AND LOVES CONJOIN AND DISJOIN.
There were spirits with me quite a long time, a little above the head, who were neither very good nor very evil. They were able to inflow into the affections of writing about those things which [I had written] concerning the internal sense of the Word; and because, for a while, they entered more deeply into my affection, they bound themselves to me, so that they could scarcely be afterwards separated. I spoke with them about it, [saying] that it was in this wise: that it was necessary that they should be separated, for many reasons; but they were unable to accomplish this from themselves. Hence it could be known how closely affections and loves bind themselves. When they separated themselves from thence, and were by themselves, then they so deadened my thoughts, that I was scarcely able to think, save fitfully. There was an evil spirit who observed this, and, by such means, he harassed me exceedingly: yea, when they were separated from others, I felt a pain in my head, such as is experienced by those who fall into a swoon. Hence it could be manifest to me, that many swoons happen from this origin. It is hence evident, in what way loves conjoin; and thus, from thence, that all conjunction, and also disjunction, in the other life, is by loves. Truths do not cause this: only the affections of truth, which are of such quality, and are conjoined: thus, these things are not from faith, but from the affection which belongs to faith. I perceived such to be the case on several occasions; but I did not then know the reasons.

SEM (Buss) n. 4687

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4687

4687. From these things, it may be manifest how man is conjoined, yea bound, to heaven or hell, by means of loves: and that by the loves of self and of the world [he is conjoined] with hell, and [by] celestial and spiritual loves, with heaven.

SEM (Buss) n. 4688

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4688

4688. And it may also be manifest, that a man bound to hell can never be loosed therefrom, save by the Lord, and this in divine ways; which also was discovered to me, by the fact that they who were bound to me were separated with difficulty and only by the Lord, and this by successive media, of which, also, some were perceived: thus, by intermediate loves, whereby they were gradually conjoined with others.

SEM (Buss) n. 4689

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4689

4689. It was also observed, that as they were separated, they were also removed far from thence, and this to the left forwards; as, also, was done, previously, with others who bound themselves.

SEM (Buss) n. 4690

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4690

4690. It was observed, also, that, when, of themselves, they receded from me, and were by themselves, as above stated, then malignant spirits and others succeeded, for the reason that, hereupon, the state of affection was changed. This was further shown, through changes of the state of the affections with me; and as the affections were changed, so the spirits who were not in that [the new] affection receded; and, then, they complained that they were thus removed.]

SEM (Buss) n. 4691

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4691

4691. THAT THE LIPS CORRESPOND TO TRUTHS.
Truths and spiritual things, in general, were called forth; and, then, the lips were moved in a general manner. Hence it was plain, that the lips have correspondence with truths.

SEM (Buss) n. 4692

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4692

4692. CONCERNING PROVIDENCE AND FATE.
I spoke with spirits concerning Providence, and some also were present who believed somewhat in fate; and it was shown them how the case stood. They supposed that all things were accomplished out of absolute necessity; and, thus, that the whole life was the unavoidable force of circumstance; consequently, that the Lord was bound by necessity; therefore, that there was nothing except this to keep things in existence; and that this is the Divine. But they were shown that they have entire freedom; and if freedom, then there is not necessity, because there are so many contingencies which bear man, in freedom, to opposites. This was exhibited by means of pebbles, which were so placed as to form a certain figure: then, if necessity required that one pebble should be placed in order after another, and thus that man [should arrange them] from necessity, nothing further would follow; but [it was shown] that the case is this: that the pebbles are put, now here, now there, so as to appear dispersedly; and this according to freedom; and the Lord foresees the form, namely, that in which man, from freedom, wills [to arrange his life]; but He determines for him, from other considerations, and so foresees the form, and permits him to go hither and thither, so that the moments of his life appear like scattered pebbles. But the Lord then sees whether he fills up that space between them; He sees what is lacking and where; and, then, continually, what is next in order, after a hundred or a thousand years; and so forth.)

SEM (Buss) n. 4693

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4693

4693. CONCERNING SPIRITS, WHEN THEY ENTER INTO MAN'S CORPOREALS.
Spirits do not know whereabouts men are. They seek, but are unable to find out. It was thus provided that they may not know; for, then, they would destroy the human race. They would enter into them and cause them to be possessed, as in times past. When, by chance, they happen upon them while they are asleep, then there seems to be, as it were, a sound of shouting outside them; and it appears as if some one falls down close to his [the sleeper's] bed, and, as it were, goes on under the bed, and there remains. Man then supposes that it is something or other, either an illusion or a vision; but this is from that source. This happened to me, several times, while I was asleep; and then I awaked, and was instructed that it was from thence.

SEM (Buss) n. 4694

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4694

4694. CONCERNING INFLUX.
To me, now for many years almost continually, it has been granted to notice, that all things and every single thing in their turn inflow into the thoughts and affections, and that this is by means of spirits and angels; so that, from constant experience itself, I can know this, and that still those things, when they were interior goods and truths, appeared exactly as if they were my own, or from my proprium. For angels do not inflow in any other way, than that it [the activity] appears to be the man's. They are in an interior sphere, which, hence, is not noticed in the exterior or natural sphere; and besides, the angels are of such a character that they arrogate nothing to themselves, as from themselves; but they know that [all] is from the Lord. Those, however, in whom interiors are not opened, and who are not in the belief that this is so; and because they love themselves, and hence their proprium, as is the case with all who are in falses and evils, - these are not able to perceive this, inasmuch as they are in the life of the body; and, after death, when they become spirits, it is contrary to their affection, and hence contrary to their delight to perceive that thoughts and affections inflow from another. When told that life is not theirs, but that it inflows, and that they [only] appear to live from themselves they turn away from it. They wish to live from themselves; and, when they are shown to the life, by experience, that all that they think inflows from others, then they do indeed confess that it is so; yet, still, after a little, they reject and deny it. This was confirmed by much experience to be so; and evil spirits, although they know that they speak by means of others [who also are called subjects], and they also say, when they are interrogated, that those subjects think nothing from themselves; still, they are unwilling to know, that they [themselves] think, and are acted upon, by others. And so great is their unwillingness, that, when asked if they wish to know by whom [the influx comes], this they decline, and declare themselves unwilling to know, because it is contrary to their delight. The subjects, themselves, do not believe otherwise than that they think and speak all things from themselves.

SEM (Buss) n. 4695

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4695

4695. Yea, when they saw that all things inflowed with me, they said, many times, [about me] that thus he is, as it were, inanimate, and thinks nothing, because not from himself.

SEM (Buss) n. 4696

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4696

4696. The state of tranquillity and peace [in heaven] is from no other source than that the angel perceives that all things inflow, and that evil is not his, nor good his: thus he is in peace, and, yet, as it were, he appropriates the good.)

SEM (Buss) n. 4697

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4697

4697. CONCERNING A CERTAIN GENTILE, WHO WAS DEEPLY AGITATED BY THE WORD.
I had written about Esau and Jacob, Gen. chap. 27; no. 3509 [Arcana Coelestia], and, then, a Gentile, when he heard that there were so indefinite things in the Word, and that there are infinite or Divine things, was so moved thereby, that his emotion was perceived to be from an internal ground. I heard, also, how he lamented, from interior [affection] that, in the world, he had not heard such things, and that yet he had thought that such a Divine [production] must be somewhere; and that if he had been aware of this, he would have fled from his native country to that place where such a Word, or such a Divine [production], was; and, as he was so much agitated, he was told, that, in the state where he now is, he can enjoy it, and be informed about those things, like the infants who are in heaven. But he said, lamenting, that he might not be able to receive it, because, perhaps, in the life of the body, he was not in love towards the neighbor as he ought to have been. Of such a quality are many Gentiles. He was received by the angels.

SEM (Buss) n. 4698

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4698

4698. CONCERNING THE STATE OF HELL.
During a whole night, while I was asleep, I was tormented in hell, in order that I might know the nature of the state [of those] there; for they fell upon me, inasmuch as they were then able to torture the spirit; but, still, I had no consciousness of a dream. It was a continual torture, one [of them] after another. [Persons] are there placed upon tables, and are miserably torn asunder, and their lust of ruling is called forth, and, as long as that cupidity lasts, they are tortured until it abates. [They are treated] thus, by one devil after another, as [they pass] from one part of hell to another, upon the tables. When the lust abates, then a little respite is given, so that they may be able to be in some cupidity of their own. Thus is the head of the serpent trampled under foot.

SEM (Buss) n. 4699

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4699

4699. CONCERNING THE SPIRITS WITH MAN.
I performed a certain action, and it was perceived, that it was with a gesture nearly like what a certain spirit employed when he was a man. I spoke with him. He said, that he was not aware that [the gesture] was from him, but still that he observed that it was from him. He was astonished. [I] then told others, that such was the case with spirits, who are with man, and that they were not aware of the fact that they act upon man. But he said that he did not seem to himself to act similarly, but that he did something else which corresponded; so that it [the gesture] inflowed by means of correspondence.

SEM (Buss) n. 4700

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4700

4700. CONCERNING AN INFERNAL WHO APPEARED LIKE A HUGE DRAGON-SERPENT - CONCERNING NATURAL GOOD.
There was a certain one, who applied himself under the left side of the head beneath the cerebellum in that part, who was somewhat hidden; but angels told me that there appeared, there, a great serpent, huge like a beam, and they said, that, from him, came out four feet. It was horrible - more horrible than [I had] seen anything before. He was compelled to speak, and, so, was recognized, and then it was seen of what quality he was. He was a natural hypocrite, doing good, outwardly: within was nothing but seductiveness and evil; so that outwardly he had quite a powerful good, whereby he was able to seduce nearly everybody. Whomsoever he saw with me, or in my memory, he attracted according to their nature; and it was said that he disposed them in a certain order, so that they might be able to be of service to him, or to perform useful offices for him. This also he practiced; and it was said, that thus he had in mind [animus] a certain [plan], as was said, of forming to himself a train of followers. This - as he acted, then, in that manner - he drew from his life. The attracting force was latent, so that they were not aware that they were attracted, because he adroitly entered into their good affections, and thus adjoined them to himself. It was said that afterwards it appeared as if he swallowed them. Such do they become who possess natural good and fill this with malignities. He could reason very correctly concerning civil life and concerning the dispositions and minds [animi] of those who were there.

SEM (Buss) n. 4701

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4701

4701. Moreover, he was also expert in repelling from himself genuine exterior good and truth, lest it should hurt him: which he was able to do, because he possessed good appearing outwardly as genuine. But he was unable [to possess] genuine interior good. All these things were seen, or perceived, to the life: and it was observed, before he was exposed, that he was not able to adopt truths in thought, because he repelled those which inflowed.

SEM (Buss) n. 4702

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4702

4702. CONCERNING THE RESUSCITATION OF THE DEAD.
Twice or thrice I was let into a place where there is a resurrection of the dead - really what is called place is state - where were celestials. This [that celestials are present] is known from the fact, that when the Lord and celestial angels are present, that something aromatic is perceived from corpses. And it was stated, that the Lord is there specially present, wherefore also celestial angels are there; because, without such presence of the Lord, there would be no resuscitation of the dead.

SEM (Buss) n. 4703

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4703

4703. SOME PARTICULARS CONCERNING THE HELLS: MICE, DUMB DOGS, AND CATS.
The hell of the profane is to the left, under the earth. It appears, there, that they are such as seek to discover who are with others, as, for example, with me, by means of affections inspired [into] a subject, and by variations thereof, and by examinations of various parts of the head; which, since it takes place by variations of affections, takes place successively, and in a very observable manner. These are said to answer to manner. These acted upon me for a long time.

SEM (Buss) n. 4704

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4704

4704. There is another hell, near to the right foot, in front, where are such as examine, in order, those parts which [extend] from the eyes even to the chin, and also to the navel; but they act mildly, and then, at the same time, inspire a state of a certain hidden, or, as it were, tranquil satisfaction; and, meanwhile, they explore, while ranging over those [parts], so that I was scarcely able to know that they did so. When they inspire, at the same time, a tacit satisfaction, it is not observed. They have a subject above the head; but, when they act upon a subject as upon another, then the subject rises up, and stands bent, withstanding them. Thus do they mutually harass each other in hell. Their thoughts penetrate quite deeply, nor do they appear evil; yet they are more deceitful than others. These are dumb dogs.

SEM (Buss) n. 4705

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4705

4705. A crowd ascended at the back, along the spinal marrow, upwards, under the head, and on high, and was not perceived until the thing was done. It was stated that they were those who answered to cats. Those who answered to mice were dismayed by these, complaining and lamenting that thus they would perish; and they seemed to themselves like mice, seeking help. They [those answering to cats] are silent, insinuating and most deceitful. When they act upon such ones, [spirits] are sensible of the odor of mice. But the crowd was dispersed, and so the terror ceased.

SEM (Buss) n. 4706

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4706

4706. They who are like dumb dogs appear, in external form, like the good, so that they cannot be distinguished from them; and they inspire good, so that others cannot believe them to be otherwise. They also speak and act in such a manner, but for the sake of an evil end, and of injuring, as far as they dare; and, as far as they do, so far are their external bonds taken away. In external form they do not appear proud, or, from the external, to have aught of self-love; for, when reviled, and likewise when they are called dumb dogs, they cared nothing, but, yet, they have the passion of governing. They place delight in this: that, by means of deception, by externals, they may be able to bend the souls [anima] of others whithersoever they please: thus interior self-love prevails among them.

SEM (Buss) n. 4707

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4707

4707. If the brightness which appears around is taken away from them, they, then, become insane. That brightness is from the good spirits who inflow; for, as to their externals, they are able to some extent to be with the good; but they are quickly detected.

SEM (Buss) n. 4708

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4708

4708. When this hell was opened, then a streaked snowy thing appeared to be elevated on high in a long unbroken line, towards higher places, and this to perhaps a very great distance. Then some complained that they would perish. That streaked snowy thing was what exhaled from those pernicious deceits, mixed with apparent good.

SEM (Buss) n. 4709

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4709

4709. They showed how they are accustomed to withdraw that snowy thing, from some who were round about to others who were like themselves. One of them rolled himself round like an axle-tree, and thinking, at the time, from many persuasions joined to affections, he then also enticed to himself good and pious spirits, and took them away from another. Then the other appeared black, or without the bright circle around. Others who are of such a character, but more cunning, act similarly; but they roll themselves around, not as an axis, but obliquely lengthwise, holding in, at the time, their thoughts or affections, and placing themselves in the state of the affections: they then take [these] away, from the spirits who are watching them, somewhat to others, so that they appear blacker.

SEM (Buss) n. 4710

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4710

4710. CONCERNING THE GRAND MAN AND CORRESPONDENCE.
It is a most universal truth, that the Lord is the Sun of heaven, or of angels and spirits, to whom the light of the world appears as nothing. To them it is like darkness. It is a most universal correspondence, that it is the Light of heaven in which is love and intelligence. Heat corresponds to love, and light to intelligence; wherefore, also, love is called spiritual heat, and intelligence, spiritual light. From this correspondence all things are derived, and correspond; but correspondences are such that they are not similar in other respects: etc, etc.

SEM (Buss) n. 4711

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4711

4711. CONCERNING THE GRAND MAN: HOW THE CASE IS WITH THE VOLUNTARY PART.
It was shown me how the case is, in general, with the voluntary and intellectual [parts]. The celestial angels, or the celestial heaven, wherein are the men of the Most Ancient Church, had a voluntary wherein was some good; wherefore, also, they were able to be regenerated in reference to that, likewise. But the spiritual angels, or the spiritual heaven, wherein are the men of the Ancient and modern church, have the voluntary completely destroyed, and are not able to be regenerated except only as regards the intellectual, in which a new will is formed by the Lord, and from which the will of the proprium is entirely separated.

SEM (Buss) n. 4712

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4712

4712. How it was with the men of the Most Ancient Church, who are celestial, and hence constitute the Lord's celestial kingdom, was shown me by a certain column descending from heaven, which was of a dark blue color, and, on the left side, there was a brilliancy, like the brilliancy of the solar flame, which washed against it. By this means was represented their former state. The blue color is such as contains good in itself: but, after regeneration, the blueness of the column successively passed over into a subdued flaming brilliancy. Then the two lives, the will and understanding acted as one, and were such: the flame signifies love. Thus it was, in general, with the man of the Most Ancient Church, likewise in every particular, and thus, in the least organic parts of the form of the interiors; since, as it is with the general, so is it with the particulars, for these are images of the general.

SEM (Buss) n. 4713

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4713

4713. But of what character the man of the spiritual Church is, was told, [namely], that that column was completely black, which, thus, cannot be dissolved and moderated; wherefore, that part is miraculously separated from the intellectual part. When the intellectual part is regenerated, it appears completely brilliant but not flaming; which [brilliancy] does not enter the black column. From the column, a smoke often exhales, and that snowy thing; and it presents a certain lovely color.

SEM (Buss) n. 4714

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4714

4714. But it was perceived in what manner the voluntary and intellectual [parts] were separated: that there are spirits who refer to common sense, and have a situation beneath the occiput. The evil there are completely separated from those who are in the good of the voluntary; and, when they are separated, no influx can take place into the intellectual from the voluntary; for nothing from the voluntary is then called forth. Those pertain to the province of the cerebellum, others to the province of the cerebrum. The spirits of those two provinces are completely separated, in a miraculous way, for the sake of the spiritual - when nevertheless they should make one - just as, in man also, the cerebellum is separated from the cerebrum; but still they communicate, both in general, as in the medulla oblongata, and in the single fibers and nerves; so that there is not a fiber which has not something from the cerebrum and from the cerebellum, thus, from the voluntary and from the involuntary part; unless which were the case, man would perish in a moment. The voluntary part is miraculously ruled by means of the involuntary.

SEM (Buss) n. 4715

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4715

4715. WHAT SORT [OF SPIRITS], IN GENERAL, PERTAIN TO THE CEREBELLUM AND CEREBRUM.
They who in the world appear good and agreeable in the countenance, so that it cannot be believed other than that they are such, but who inwardly think ill of all men, and do not, although they think so, let it be clearly known, save amongst their intimates - these are the malignant ones who are beneath the occiput. They, however, who are inwardly evil, and [outwardly] affable, but still it [the affability] is so feigned that it can be recognized - these are not there.

SEM (Buss) n. 4716

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4716

4716. IN WHAT MANNER SOCIETIES OF FRIENDSHIP LEAD AWAY DELIGHTS FROM OTHERS.
It was sometimes observed that societies of friendship passed by over the head, and bore away all pleasantness, delight and agreeableness, so that nothing except what was undelightful was perceived. And there were others who were better; nor did they plot together by affections, thus by arts, against those things which I wrote; but when I wrote such things as they were not pleased with, then they removed themselves. Hence all delight fled, and agreeableness was borne away, thus the life of idea and thought; and, then, evil spirits and genii took their place, because these could not be removed thence by such things as are not agreeable: for they are able to be in such a sphere. I spoke to them concerning that matter, and they acknowledged it to be so. The reason was disclosed, [namely], that they were inwardly bound to that affection; and, so, when they removed themselves, they removed the affection also, since it inflowed by their means; and, thus, when they removed themselves, many spirits in connection also averted themselves from my [delights], and turned to their delights and enjoyments. Hence, also, I experienced sadness: so that sometimes, I was, as it were, in hell.

SEM (Buss) n. 4717

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4717

4717. CONCERNING A FEIGNER OF HONESTY, A DEVIL.
((There are those in the other life, who, from their speech and from the sphere thence, appear as if honest, and, by means of that external appearance of honesty, they induced others to believe that they were such; and they were [so] estimated, and seemed so to themselves. And, in the other life, they persuade others that they are of such a character: hence upright spirits are around them, knowing no otherwise; but these are simple external spirits, who are afterwards removed. Some are of such a character, and they are inwardly spurious, being in self-love, revenge and hatred against those who do not favor them, and in cruelty; and all these things they conceal under the appearance of honesty, and, by that appearance, induce others to believe that such things [self-love, etc.], are just and equitable, and that cruelty ought to be exercised against such [as do not favor them]; and they [the others] are easily persuaded by such representations. They speak altogether after an honest manner, but, inwardly, they are such as has been described. One was shown as to what sort of devil he was; and it was an extraordinary quality. Such are the feigners of honesty. They are willing to be styled devils, if only they might be able to rule the hells and to be supreme among those who fight against good and truth. They are never appeased except by being worshipped as gods: as [they wished] in the world, so do they wish in the other life. They appeared on the left side at a certain height, and at a certain distance at the back. But they are severely punished, as I also heard, until they refrain from seducing others by the appearance of honesty: and that appearance was taken away from this one, [alluded to above], that is, the simple were removed, and, then, he spoke in a different tone. It is principally by the tone of the speech that they seduce; and, thus, they have a certain external dignity, and hence authority.))

SEM (Buss) n. 4718

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4718

4718. CONCERNING A CERTAIN INFERNAL WHO HAD A REMARKABLE PERCEPTION OF TRUTH. ADAM LEJEL.
Amongst those, in the life of the body, had been one who appeared, in outward form, endowed with much sagacity and prudence, nor was anyone able to assert but, that he possessed sound reason, even as regards spiritual things. But it was ascertained that he ascribed all things to merely natural causes, because he had lived a natural life only, as above described. In the other life, he had a remarkable perception of truth, so great that they supposed he could have been converted; and he desired it to such an extent that many were on his side, because he was in such remarkable perception. But it was said to him that this avails nothing, but the life; the rather as he had employed reason to confirming evils and thence falses; but if that [the life] was to become better, he must put on another nature: thus would exterior and interior evil spirits be removed, especially those in whose company he is, and to whom he is bound; and that this could not take place without much time, and the loss of his acquired life. How much time is [needed] for the reforming of the upright, is known; how much more for such persons! And, meanwhile, he must serve the evil as their organ or subject, especially the deceitful and the most deceitful. Hence it was plain, that it is the life, not any faculty of reasoning well and apprehending, [that avails].

SEM (Buss) n. 4719

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4719

4719. WHAT IS MEANT BY TRAILING A NET AND HAULING OUT FISHES.
A certain one appeared, who outwardly seemed sincere, but was inwardly a devil, and his speech sounded as if sincere. Hence there were outwardly associated with him simple upright spirits, who do not perceive interiors - as happens in the other life. When he thought about this, that he attracted the simple upright, who [were so] because they were natural, he seemed, as it were, to have a net, and to plunge it down and bring it up, and thus to catch the upright.

SEM (Buss) n. 4720

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4720

4720. CONCERNING THOSE WHO POUND.
They who, in the life of the body, have been of such a character that they have been just and equitable in their works or deeds, and, yet, interiorly, have acknowledged neither God nor the life after death, thus, interiorly have been in no worship - these in the other life appear to be pounding; and that which is thus pounded is supposed to be flour, but it is human dung, as is read in the prophet, and it tastes urinous. From such a one also, I felt a sensation of cold in my ankles; and he is called, by spirits, a shoemaker, because he was in outermost natural states, which are signified by shoes.

SEM (Buss) n. 4721

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4721

4721. CONCERNING CHANGES OF STATE, AND THAT THE ANGELS OUGHT TO BE IN GOOD AND TRUTH IN EVERY STATE.
I perceived a change of state, as regards the good and truth in which I had been previously. It was of such a nature that it was delightful and pleasant to me. Afterwards, I was in a similar condition, and not in delight and pleasantness; but, yet, there was influx into the remembered truth, that that state had been one in which I was delighted: therefore I was sustained, and I fought against [an inclination to abandon the good and truth*]. Hence it could be manifest to me, how it is with the angels and their changes of state, and that in every state, they could be kept in good and truth; and, although, the same thing, in another state, seems to them undelightful and sad, still, from the remembrance that the thing is as has been stated, they suffer themselves to be kept in a state of good and truth. Hence also was it evident, how, when man resists, or fights against evil and falsity only a little, he can be in a state opposite to them, and in delight and pleasantness. Wherefore, only the discernment of resistance, or its admission, is sometimes sufficient, and attests this.
* See the parallel experience of the angels, mentioned a few lines further on.

SEM (Buss) n. 4722

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4722

4722. CONCERNING NATURALISTS.
((Under the left foot, a very little towards the left, are such as have ascribed all things to nature. It was examined whether they had believed there was any supreme deity, Creator of all things. But it was perceived, when the idea was presented to them, that, with them, it was, as it were, something inanimate, so that they had attributed nothing at all of life to Him; from which it could be manifest, that they had not acknowledged any Creator of the universe, but an utterly dead nature. They said, also, that they were unable to have the idea of a living deity.))

SEM (Buss) n. 4723

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4723

4723. CONCERNING CERTAIN REASONERS, HIGH ABOVE THE HEAD.
There are other acuter reasoners, above the head, a little forwards - high above the head. When they appear, they speak in a rapid, animated manner; and when they speak they appear to be flying in ashes. Such persons are among the spiritual: they wished to be called angels, because they are not very evil. But they reason very acutely concerning divine things, and in such a way, that they quite believe that, as they conclude, so it is. I talked with them, and they said that they knew how it was with those things which at that time were with them, and not true; and they stated that a thing was so-and-so, when, yet, that was not the truth. But I asked whether they are good: they said they are; that, when they appear flying thus, in ashes, these things are signs that they are good. They said that such was their nature. Thus reasonings seem to fly; and the more acute they are, the sharper and swifter is the flight.

SEM (Buss) n. 4724

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4724

4724. WHY MIRACLES TOOK PLACE IN THE TIME OF THE APOSTLES, IN ORDER THAT THE CHURCH MIGHT BE ESTABLISHED.
I spoke with angels concerning the miracles of the time of the apostles, also that they spoke with other tongues, and that they manifestly perceived the influx of the spirit. [I said] that this was the case, for the reason that it was entirely unknown everywhere that the Lord who saved souls [anima] had come into the world; and that it would never be received by anyone without miracles, and neither would it be so received by any such as worship idols, or men after death; in which case idolatry would have been the worship. For these reasons, miracles took place; but, now, when doctrine is received, they no longer occur. The inrooting of truth and good among the gentiles, is by external evidences; but, with Christians, who are in the knowledge of internal things, the case is otherwise.

SEM (Buss) n. 4725

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4725

4725. THAT A CERTAIN ONE, THE SAME DAY THAT HIS BODY WAS BURIED, [bisattes], HEARD OF IT: CONCERNING KING FREDERICK
He was with me, the fifteenth day after death; and he heard the same day, that he was buried [bisattes] and also he saw somewhat; he heard, as it were, the sound of bells: and, for many hours, he spoke with me, and was astonished, that, although dead, he saw and heard those things. Then he rejoiced that he was still alive.

SEM (Buss) n. 4726

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4726

4726. CONCERNING THOSE WHO HAVE SLEPT MUCH. SLEEP.
There was a certain one, who, in the life of the body, slept much, and had the delight of his life therein. He approached the spirits who were with me, and immediately sleepiness seized me. The spirits also complained. It was said that he had been of such a habit, and that such are of almost no use, but are rejected; for they induce torpidity in others, so that they are unable to think: for thought belongs to wakefulness, and produces wakefulness.

SEM (Buss) n. 4727

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4727

4727. CONCERNING THOSE WHO HAVE ACQUIRED REPUTATION BY MEANS OF EXTERNAL UPRIGHTNESS.
There was a spirit, who was able to call forth the upright, and also angels, but, as he said, from no evil end. His ends were not disclosed. He put himself into a state of uprightness, and thus communicated with good spirits, and, as the angels communicate through these, so the angels could be called forth. He was exposed and driven out. It was stated that such persons cannot be present in the societies of the good, because they still commit evils; and that external uprightness must be taken away from him, and his evils filled up; since, otherwise, he would afford a handle to the evil for doing injury to the good.

SEM (Buss) n. 4728

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4728

4728. CONCERNING THE LIGHT AND UNDERSTANDING WHICH ARE FROM PROPRIUM, AND THOSE WHICH ARE FROM THE LORD; THUS, CONCERNING SELF-PRUDENCE AND WISDOM.
(((((There was a spirit with me, who was in self-intelligence and wisdom, and therefore, of such a nature, that he believed he knew and saw all things, and, consequently that he ruled all things. He was then sent by a certain society to serve as a subject, because he was troublesome, and took away the power of seeing truth and good. I told him he had better take himself off; but, since he was in self-intelligence, he was unwilling to go. At length the nature of intelligence from the proprium, and the nature of intelligence from the Lord was shown to him by means of lights, which were represented to the life - as can occur in the other life; to wit, that light from proprium is round about, like what comes from an ignis fatuus, or coal-fire, of narrow extension or sphere - round about, is darkness - and, that the light of heaven, or through heaven from the Lord, cannot enter, neither can it be received, because of the darkness round about and within such a fire, which at once extinguishes, or suffocates, or perverts, the heavenly light. But intelligence from the Divine is represented by light which is extended into the universe heaven and enters from every side, and causes man to understand. It was a bright light of very great extension, which man could receive if he should confide, not in himself, but in the Lord. For the Lord acts through the universal heaven, and into man, according to its quality and extension [derived] from the fact that he trusts not in himself, but in the Lord; and, especially, if he entirely believes, from the heart, that nothing of intelligence is from the proprium, or that comparatively it [what is from the proprium] is altogether of no moment. That he seems to himself to exist of himself, is in order that he may live and be able to be regenerated, and, by little and little, to receive Divine light, so that the delusive light may be dispersed. This commences by his being kept in the knowledge that it is so, and afterwards in the will [that it be so].)))))

SEM (Buss) n. 4729

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4729

4729. CONCERNING PERCEPTION.
I spoke with angels concerning perception, saying, that men are not possessed of it, because they thereupon would aggravate their wickedness to such an extent that they would interiorly and clandestinely injure each other. It is a property of perception that they who have it would know what another thinks and wills; indeed, this power exists among spirits in the other life. They perceive of what quality another is, merely from his approach. Angels [perceive] still more and more interior things, from the Lord. [4730] And I, then, also, spoke about brute animals, that they all possess perception after their kind; and this, for the reason, that they are in their own order, and are therefore born into all their nature, and are therein from earliest nativity, nor have they any need of learning it in addition: as, for instance, that they know their prey, their master, their enemies, their companions, and very many particulars which natural history records. This appears as though it is from a certain sense of smell, but it is not; for perception is the foundation of smelling, and it is turned into smelling, in the other life, when it suits the Lord's good pleasure. [4731] And this was the reason that the sparrows had the knowledge to pluck up the first shoots of the chick-peas, because they were aware, from perception, that the chick-pea, which they wished to draw out, lay hidden beneath.

SEM (Buss) n. 4730

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4730

4730. [4732] CONCERNING CONSOCIATION ACCORDING TO AFFECTION IN THE OTHER LIFE, AND CONCERNING THE FREEDOM OF CHOOSING A SOCIETY.
(A certain one (Jacob Benzelius), who, in the world, was among the more honored and who was esteemed, when alive in the world, on account of his learning, and whose character was not known to any - but, in the other life, it was for some time shown that he was deceitful - he, when he had been a long time among them, and had frequently suffered hard things, and also endured grievous punishments, began, from that state, to desire, and then said that he wished, to enter heaven. But it was said to him, that, if he desired this it should be conceded; for, whatever anyone desires, this is granted, and that all consociation is according to the affections, thus according to the desires, for these are affections. But it was also said, that if he came thither, he would not be able to remain there, and would precipitate himself from thence, since he would possess nothing of life, because nothing of such affection or love. He stated that he desired to be released from the society in which he was. He was among the deceitful. He was then released according to his desire, and came into another society; but, he said that he was unable to remain there. And it was the same way when he desired to go elsewhere, and came thither; neither was he satisfied there: he wished to be released from them. He said that he desires to go to a good society, and that he would be able to remain there, with them, to be led by them, and to live with them. This also was allowed: he came to a society a little above the head, forwards, where were the simple good; but, when he was there, he began to desire to govern there, saying for himself, that he would instruct them. And they, because they were good, listened to him, neither did they wish to reject him; but, after he had been there about an hour, they who were there began to bewail that he quite took away from them all perception, and that he destroyed their good faculties, since he wished to enter, like the deceitful into their perception - the upper part of his nose seemed to be horribly furrowed with an ugly wound - wherefore, neither could he tarry there, projecting himself hither and thither. Hence it can be manifest, as was also said to him, that he receives a society according to the desires of his life which he acquired to himself in the world, and that he cannot be satisfied elsewhere; thus, that it is necessary for him to be with those who are of such a character [animus] that he may be able to practice his deceits; for in them he had had his life's delight. Hence it is clear that every one in the other life is associated according to the affections of his life.

SEM (Buss) n. 4731

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4731

4731. [4733] CONCERNING SPIRITS WHO INDUCE DISEASES.
((((There were with me spirits of such a character that they produced a most grievous vomiting of the stomach, to such a degree, that I seemed scarce able to survive. It was of such an evil-smelling character, that it could have induced swoons on others: indeed, there was a feebleness of the vital powers; thus, it was, as it were, accompanied with the swoons of death. I perceived that it was the spirits who were with me who induced it; and I was instructed that they were such as, in the life of the body, had been devoted to no employment, not even domestic, but only to pleasure, chiefly that of eating, and were delighted with that alone. They had not known what were the domestic or other employments, which pertain to man or wife. Such, in the other life, become of such a character; and this after several centuries. They then possess so little vitality, that they cannot be driven away by any persuasion, but remain where they are, immovable, like certain insects. It was said that they cannot be driven away, save by the Lord; and that, if they are not driven away, they induce death on man. They are almost insensible. Such spirits sometimes come among sick men, and hence death befalls the sick; and it was stated, that to diseases amongst men, there pertain spirits of this and other kinds, who induce and aggravate the diseases.))))

SEM (Buss) n. 4732

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4732

4732. [4734] CONCERNING THE HELLS, AND CONCERNING THE BASILISK.
Among many hells, there is also a certain one, forwards to the left, quite deep, where are such as are skilled in the art of enticing, and, as it were, attracting other spirits to themselves; and this by many arts, so that the spirits are unable to resist: and when they are thus attracted thither, they cast them into their hell and ill-treat them; and, if they are unable to do this, they drive them to something criminal, so that they may condemn them. They are quite dangerous; wherefore, such spirits are not let out. A certain one of them betook himself to the mouth of another hell, and attempted this with me. It almost seemed to me that I wished to go thither; but I was restrained by the Lord, and that spirit was grievously punished. They are such as are signified, as I think, by basilisks.

SEM (Buss) n. 4733

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4733

4733. [4735] CONCERNING THOSE WHO ARE IN NATURAL GOOD, BUT NOT IN THE PERCEPTION OF GOOD AND EQUALITY. A SOCIETY OF FRIENDSHIP.
There are very many at the present day in the Christian world, who are in natural good, and particularly in duties, who reason much concerning good and equity, and so believe, from this, that they are most wise; but yet they have no perception of justice and equity, still less of spiritual good and truth, but whatever opinion they adopt, whether from others who have been in authority, or from parents, or from their proprium, that they defend, acquiring confirmations from every source: thus they are able to defend, for and against, and to confirm themselves. But they do not know whether a thing is just and equitable from any other grounds [than these]; for they do not possess the more extended intuition of mind, but only that limited one. In the other life, they also believe themselves to be wise above all; but they are able to be equally in evil societies and in good, thus to defend evils and falses, and things just and equitable, equally well. I spoke with them. They believed that they have a better knowledge than others of justice and equity, and that, of justice and equity, none possess a more extended sphere of intuition. They have no other ground in which spiritual good and truth can be terminated and there fixed, but their confirmatives, which, also, are false. When they, especially those who are in the persuasion that they are wiser, or know truths better, than others, come to any society, they take away reflection from those [who are in that society], so that they cannot reflect whether a thing is so; thus also [they take away] the delight of reflection, and thus of justice and equity, with others. And therefore, they, like societies of friendship, divert the delight of another to themselves.

SEM (Buss) n. 4734

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4734

4734. [4736] CONCERNING THE LEARNED OF THIS AGE.
It was several times permitted that the learned might be present, when I wrote those things which concern the internal sense of the Word; and then, at once, obscurity occurred, and also a difficulty of understanding anything, save that from them there was a sphere that nothing at all could be understood; for their spheres have this property in them. But, when there were present such as were not learned, but yet were strong in the power of comprehension, and lived in good, and were placed in authority, then, immediately, there was light, and every single thing was understood. It was therefore granted to tell those learned ones, who then wished to lead me to write, that they infuse only darkness, and take away all the understanding of a thing; and, in every single thing belonging to them, there was an imperious [purpose] of thinking so and so and no otherwise; for they do not suffer themselves to be led. They suppose they surpass others, and yet they are the most senseless. But it was granted to tell them that their ideas utterly conflict with the ideas which are insinuated into me from heaven, and that no plane corresponds to those ideas, in their natural mind; but that there is such [a plane] as confirms nothing, but rather destroys it; and, therefore, at their approach, the ideas conflict, and hence is that obscurity, and, by virtue of the opposition, [the ideas are] as if they were intelligible to no one. It was then shown, that when those were present, who were not learned, there was light, and they perceived all and every one [of those ideas]; and it was granted to say, that, in the world, these things [from heaven] cannot be received by the learned, but by those who are not learned. It was granted to say, also, that this is circumstanced like as with the shepherds who made known the birth of the Lord - that they were able to receive and believe, and, from the good of faith, to make it known, but not the Rabbis, with whom, if an angel inflowed [with that announcement] he would be immediately rejected and destroyed; and that thus it was, in the world, with the internal sense of the Word. If, however, the learned were in good, then would they be in that disposition that they would wish to know truth, and, so, would suffer themselves to be led and to pay attention, but not to command, and then [those truths] could have been received [by them.] But they who have not been in good are dictatorial, and never receive; for they love a life of evil, and confirm their own doctrinals; nor do they do this for the end that they may become good, but for the end that they may become great and rich.

SEM (Buss) n. 4735

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4735

4735. [4737] CONCERNING REPRESENTATION IN THE OTHER LIFE: CONCERNING COPPER.
There was a certain one [Swab] who had thought a great deal, during the life of the body, concerning copper. When he defended himself against the evil, the ideas about copper which were with him were changed into an inverted hollow caldron, which seemed to them to project over them. Hence, those who were enclosed were not able to do the slightest thing against him. [When] he marveled whence this happened, it was granted to say, that copper signifies natural good; and it is hence, [namely] because such things are representative in the other life: hence they who are in natural goods have their representative, and, then, they who are in opposition to natural good can effect nothing. They who are in natural good are in an interior sphere; nor do they see any copper vessel, but yet such an appearance then takes place. Hence also, it was granted to tell him how it is in the Word, that where copper is mentioned natural good is meant, and similarly with everything else, yea with every word there, to which not any writing is equal - as also when bread is mentioned in the Lord's prayer: when man devoutly reads those words, the angels then perceive the good of love, because, namely, love is that heavenly bread itself. So with the rest.

SEM (Buss) n. 4736

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4736

4736. [4738] CONCERNING THE INTERIOR MEMORY.
The nature of the interior memory maybe evident from this, that some seem to read in books, and to see and read all and every one of the things therein, just as in the life of the body; neither is the slightest thing lacking: for instance, in the Word, which those who delighted therein in the life of the body read there - they read also every single item as regards all the words, so that nothing at all has perished, although they may have read it cursorily in the life of the body.

SEM (Buss) n. 4737

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4737

4737. [4739] CONCERNING THOSE WHO HAVE THEIR KNOWLEDGE, AND BY VIRTUE OF IT PASS FOR LEARNED, FROM OTHERS, AND NOT FROM THEMSELVES, SAVE THAT THEY CONFIRM THESE THINGS. A COMPARISON WITH THE EXCRESCENCES OF TREES, ETC.
I talked with angels concerning those who have wisdom only from others, and who do not think for themselves, either in spiritual things, or in other scientifics, whether a thing is so. It was said, that they are like the excrescences on trees - which are like a spongy or other exudation - which place themselves on the bark, outside of it, and thence draw something gross from the juice of the tree, and also sometimes produce a certain resemblance of a leaf, or become green all over. These are not of the tree, but wither and rot, and, thence, are separated. They, however, who take some wisdom from others, but to whom those things are as means of thinking whether things are so, are like trees. If the things they take are goods and truths they are like trees which bear good fruits: if evils and falses, trees which bear evil fruits. [4740] They are also like excrescences and tumors which grow forth on the outside of the body. They adhere outwardly to the scaly skin, and thus extract a gross juice. Such as take wisdom from others and nothing from themselves are like those things which thus adhere outwardly to the scales, and grow to them. But they who are wise from themselves also, are like the fleshy matter which adheres to the scales or skin, inwardly, and communicates with the interiors of the body, and has sensation, and performs, in its own place, bodily functions. [4741] But with those who learn such things, as also languages, without use for an end, so that they do not thence cultivate the rational, such things are like scales upon scales, which further increase, and thicken the outer skin, and take away sensation from the interiors, so that the exquisiteness of sensation perishes. Such persons are rejected after death, because they are of no use, since they have been of no use [in the world].*
* The "scaly-skin" and "scales" here mentioned, are that outermost, and entirely dead, portion of the skin which is the basis of bodily dirt, and comes off in washing. One of the prime uses of washing is to effect its removal. In the Turkish bath, the removal is visibly accomplished.

SEM (Buss) n. 4738

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4738

4738. [4742] CONCERNING DISEASES.
((A certain one - who, during the life of the body, was an adulterer [King Frederick], and placed his highest delight therein, without any conscience about injuring the matrimonial covenant, and, moreover, was lascivious in the highest degree and wholly given up to pleasures, so that he did not wish to perform any use save on his own behalf, and for the sake of his adultery and his pleasure - he was with me several days, beneath the feet. And when he changed his state, he inflicted, whithersoever he came, some pain on the periosteal* and the nerves there; sometimes on the left part of the loins, at the hinder portion, sometimes on the toes of the sole of the left foot, sometimes on the periostea of the breast beneath the right diaphragm, and also on the lower row of teeth, and so on, here and there. [4743] This sphere, when he operated, produced a great heaviness of the stomach, to such a degree that I thought I should fall dead; for he assailed and hurt all the periostea, even of the head, if permitted, for he was also a dissembling hypocrite: [he operated] also, into the periosteum of the right eye.))
* The periosteum is the skin of the bones. It is most keenly sensitive to pain.

SEM (Buss) n. 4739

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4739

4739. [4744] THAT ALL LIFE IS FROM THE LORD. INFLUX.
((This may be known by those who are only strong in judgment, and reflect: for they say, and they wish it to be believed, that all good is from the Lord, and that the whole of the endeavor to do good is not from man, but from the Lord, and that, in man, there is evil: for they wish that this should be believed. They could also conclude that all of life, at least, of the good of life, thus, thinking good and willing good, inflows; consequently, the whole conscience of good [man's thinking and willing is his life]; and, hence, that all of life inflows. And, moreover, they ascribe the evil they do to the devil, and say, when any one has committed some crime, that he allowed himself to be led by the devil; and they advise that one should not suffer himself to be led by the devil, thus, not to think evil or to will evil and hence they could conclude that all evil, also, and hence falsity, inflows. But people believe otherwise than they teach: at the least, they must think, that, if that which causes thought and will, and hence act, did not inflow, this doctrine [about good and evil flowing in] must be vain and fallacious.))

SEM (Buss) n. 4740

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4740

4740. [4745] CONCERNING KINGS AND QUEENS WHO BELIEVE THEMSELVES TO HAVE ABSOLUTE POWER, AND TO HAVE THE LIVES OF MEN AT THEIR DISPOSAL. A PROFANE CHARACTERISTIC.
There was a queen - it was said that she was from Africa - who had absolute power, and who believed that she had power over the lives of men, namely, that it had been lawful for her to kill whomsoever she pleased, whether innocent or guilty. Moreover, from her religious belief she knew that there was a God, and likewise acknowledged Him. She was lascivious in an extreme degree, and admitted lovers, but had afterwards caused them to be slain, lest a report should thence spread to the public, that she was of such a character. She was seen. She was black like the inhabitants of that region, with a handsome face, and, also, beautiful hair. It was granted to speak with her, and to say that absolute authority does not confer such power, but that [her power should operate] against those who act contrary to the laws and justice and equity, not against the innocent. But she supposed that she had [that power], because they bestowed it upon her [at her coronation]. It was granted to say, that she knew there is a deity above her, and it would he contrary to the deity and his laws so to do: but she was not then able to withstand this, and was silent. She was profane, because she acknowledged a deity, and yet lived in such a manner. She suffered most grievous punishments, and it was said that her hell was a most grievous one, of the character which is allotted to the profane. [It was also said] that they [the profaners] at length become like skeletons, scarcely holding together, in which there is so little of life as to be scarcely anything; for the state of a profane person has this property from that holiness which coheres with a profane [act]. They [evils and goods] cannot be separated [with these] as with others, but they are torn asunder and, then, the life which is only in holy things, that is, in goods and truths, perishes, or is changed into most abominable stenches, and accompanied with torture.

SEM (Buss) n. 4741

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4741

4741. [4746] (((((((CONCERNING THOSE WHO ARE IN INTELLECTUAL PERCEPTION, AND, AS IT WERE, IN THE LIGHT OF HEAVEN, AND YET ARE EVIL.
Those who are in illusory light [lumen] are those who either suffocate, or extinguish, or pervert the light [lumen] of heaven. But there are those also who admit the light [lux] of heaven, and yet are evil [Postmaster Bunge]. They can clearly perceive how a thing is. I spoke with such a one, and it was ascertained that he acknowledged truths and discerned falses; but yet he wished to abuse that faculty, in order to rule. He was aware that he thus had communication with angels of an interior heaven, who were in the circumferences, and that thus he could be in the hells and prevail. But it was granted to tell him that such light [lux] is the light [lux] of winter, wherein objects and colorings appear just as well as in the light [lux] of summer, but all things are benumbed: also, that the sphere of his ends is such, that when it exhales to angels, it is so repugnant to them that they cannot endure it; but it is at once beaten back in order that it may subside.)))))))

SEM (Buss) n. 4742

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4742

4742. [4747] ((THEY WHO IN THE OTHER LIFE ARE SENSUAL-CORPOREAL. DISEASES.
They who in the world have lived merely for their own sake, and in all that they have done have looked to [self], and whatever good they had done to the neighbor has been on account of themselves, in order, that, namely, they might serve themselves; neither have they in any other way considered the public and the neighbor, consequently [have done it] for the sake of their own honor and their own advantage - these, in the other life, become sensual-corporeal men. They are of such a nature that a gross sphere exhales from them, almost like a corporeal [sphere]. Their speech is not like that of spirits, nor have they inwardly those things which are appropriate to spirits, but those appropriate to men; thus a corporeal grossness follows them [Carl Gyllenborg]. The character of their ingenuity, which is gross, and the character of their manners, which are voluptuous, follows according to their nature and to the fact that they ascribe all things to themselves. A certain one of such a character [appeared] not very long after death. It is said that such persons are at first in a lodging place of the vile, and live there; and the lodging place was seen. What sort of life they lead next, was not so fully disclosed, save by one or two who were of such a character, with whom there appeared the semblance of a body. That their future state will be wretched is apparent from this: that they enter into grosser states, thus, as it were into corpses again. They are under the buttocks. [4748] These become, at last, of so gross and so stupid a character, that never any stupidity of anyone in the world is like it.))

SEM (Buss) n. 4743

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4743

4743. [4749] CONCERNING GENII AND SUBTLE SPIRITS.
There were two with me, who did not ascend higher than the loins. They, for several hours at night, while I was awake, perceived all the ideas of my thought, even to the least, and also to the minute little affections, even the least, and the changes of all of them, so that nothing escaped them, and also more things with me, than I could have known and perceived - and this in a moment, as it were, in an instant. And then they bended these things, in a thousand modes, into contraries; so that there was nothing which they did not thus suddenly bend. They took away all my delight and pleasantness. This was their intention and deed. This lasted for several hours. I afterwards spoke to them, and they then perceived better than I, whatever I thought. It was granted to say that they were infernals, and in contraries to those things which are of heaven; and that heaven does not take away anyone's delights and pleasantnesses, but promotes them in every way; and that heavenly joy consists in that. This, also, they discerned clearly. I then asked whether they wished to come into heaven. They said that they did wish it. I said, that, in that case, they would not be able to live, for their delight is contrary to it. They said, if. this was so, they did not wish to come thither It was afterwards granted to speak with them concerning their lot; that such delight will be taken away from them, and that they will then become most stupid, since their interior delight gave them that dexterity and penetration; also, that they will then remain in torment until that light is extinguished; and that, if there is aught of good in the remains, it will abide; thus, so far as that [good] could diffuse itself, so much of life would they possess: that this is but slight may be evident. Then I spoke also with others, recently come from the world, and said that some infernals are very penetrating, and nevertheless infernal, and that the sagacity which is called cleverness, contributes nothing to salvation, but good and delight thence and penetration from this delight, thus from the light [lux] of heaven.
[4750] I also reasoned with them, that they could know, since they are so penetrating, that they are opposed to the Divine; that all those evils, which they intended are turned into good by the Divine, and that it is thus given not only to know of what quality are many infernals, but also by virtue of the contrarieties, to perceive the more of delight and pleasantness; for all things are relative, and without the perception of contraries there are no relatives, which have their extension according to the perception of opposites which exists. These things they understood quite sagaciously, and also affirmed to be the case. They were after this exhibited to others, who said that they were most hideous infernals, or devils. They said, moreover, that they wished to refrain; but it was replied that they were unable, because when they are in their delight, they are then sleepless; so that they are not able to think and will by any other means than from that delight. Their delight has the property of causing sleeplessness.

SEM (Buss) n. 4744

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4744

4744. [4751] CONCERNING FEAR AND MISFORTUNE THENCE.
There were spirits of the female sex, who were good, and had something of innocence, but were timid when any evil befell them; they feared they would be hurt. Such fear was continually experienced by them - as was given to know by this, that when [the misfortunes] were removed, the fear was at once dissipated, and, [which is wonderful] those who continually attempted to introduce the evil, were also removed at the same time. The reason that fear has this in itself was told me: namely, that it diffuses itself thence into the souls of those who are near and conjoined by some affection, and, when there is fear, then are those immediately present, who wished to bring evil about, and who also do bring it about; and that many misfortunes are from this source, some from intention, some not from intention but from a sphere of intention or malice which diffuses itself, and effects misfortunes, with those who, for very many reasons, are to undergo such things. It was shown, also, that many misfortunes are thence. But these things are not at present [known to be] of such a character, without much experience, so that thence there may be some rule [to guide the judgment].

SEM (Buss) n. 4745

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4745

4745. [4752] CONCERNING THE UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE, WHO ONLY CONFIRM GIVEN OR ASSUMED PRINCIPLES.
There was a certain one, whom, while alive in the world, people had believed to be learned, because he confirmed the principles of the religion wherein he was born, and this to a great extent. But it was shown, with what understanding he was endowed. He appeared, as it were, bound as to the face and head, which [binding] was arranged according to that perception of things which he possessed in the world. When he had been thus bound, or wrapped up, he said that he understood nothing. I told him that he had been of such a quality in the life of the body, although he may have believed himself to be more enlightened than others because he was acquainted with heretical tenets, and all opinions, and had confirmed the principles of his religion: and that, yet, he possessed no extension of perception, as to whether it was the truth that he confirmed; and that it would have been similar, if he had confirmed truths also, had he not previously seen, from interior sight, that they were truths. It is they who are in good that are enlightened by the Lord. With the culture of the present day, the case is such that people believe men to be cultured and learned, provided they know many things, and still more when they have, of themselves, devised several means to confirm them: and yet this is not to be learned, that is, enlightened, for even falses can equally be confirmed; and, from confirmation, one may be persuaded that the thing is so.

SEM (Buss) n. 4746

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4746

4746. [4753] CONCERNING SORCERERS. CONCERNING SAMSON. THE HAIR.
Those men or women who, in the life of the body, were skilled in magic arts, and professed such things, become in the other [life] sorcerers of a peculiar kind: for they know, not only how to enchant man, but also how to take away from him, as it were, the power of thinking and willing, and this in a moment, which they do with almost all to whom they come near, so that these are no longer their own masters; and then it seems as though they wrap him up either with coverings, or in a different manner, around the head - which is enchantment, or the taking away of another's power. Then, when he becomes free, he is in such an obscure state, that he says he is unable to think at all, and scarcely to see. The women who professed magical arts, become of such a character, and are many in number. I heard their muttering, owing to there being a multitude. The muttering was unpleasant, rough, and almost destitute of intellectual quality. When they speak singly, it is also slowly, and in a certain unpleasant tone; at which time also they appear to behave like maniacs. [4754] Their enchanting consists in this: that they are intent, with their own thought, upon every one of the ideas of the speaker or thinker, following them with a breathing like [his]; and thus [they enchant] the interior ideas of the thought: the exterior ones in like manner. And it then seems as though they bound themselves to the hair, turning round, also, in a certain way. Hence is their enchanting; for, then, they make another's thoughts their own. [4755] Such ones, when they come near, are obstinate and stubborn in the highest degree: they never leave off when, by chance, the infernals who are deep down under the feet, and most wicked, are let out of hell, such spirits hasten to them, and hold them captive thus, and so stubbornly that they do not refrain till they [the infernals] betake themselves to their hell.

SEM (Buss) n. 4747

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4747

4747. [4756] Such things, also, are signified, in the internal sense, by Samson, when he was kept asleep by his harlot and she stimulated his lust; whereby such things are signified. She, perhaps, had been such a sorceress as was skilled in that art. The hairs, there, signify ideas of the natural. [4757] They also assailed me by a like art, but were punished long and severely. The punishing lasted continuously for many hours. [4758] Those sorceresses were also with me, and attempted many things; but in vain: still, however, I was able to note their effect and how they act. [4759] Such ones, because they are the most stubborn of all, and, [because] when they break out of hell, as sometimes happens, or are called forth by others, they assail as many as they come across with their enchantments, and threaten to bring mischief upon them, and easily effect it - therefore, many of them are cast among the Antediluvians, who are of such a character, that, by means of deadly persuasions, they are able to take away from such spirits all capability of thinking and willing, so that they appear to themselves as half-dead: thus are they deprived of such power. The life which afterwards remains is so trifling, that they are incapable of serving in any but the lowest offices of all, in which very little of life is requisite.

SEM (Buss) n. 4748

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4748

4748. [4760] CONCERNING THE MOST CUNNING. RICHELIEU.
Certain ones in the other life are so cunning, that they do not say aught but what is just and equitable, and good and true; and they have, also, reduced themselves to that state, so fully, that they do not think otherwise, so far as comes to the perception of those who are near; but, still, they have evil ends, as, for example, that of ruling over others. These ends are in an interior sphere. The spirits who are thence were also shown, and were inwardly in the breast, on the left side, and devised evil. There are also others of a grosser sort, who also govern by speaking the truth [as Postmaster Bunge], concerning whom I have spoken previously. Since he desired it, he was admitted thither; but he was comparatively gross. He was in that society, and there, as is said, was ill-treated, like one who was comparatively insane. [4761] The former ones are of such a character, that, when they are thinking, there is heard a hissing like that of serpents, which comes from their ends, which are thus perceived in a lower sphere.

SEM (Buss) n. 4749

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4749

4749. [4762] CONCERNING THE MORAVIAN CHURCH.
There were with me, certain ones belonging to the Moravian Church, and, amongst them, one who was lately come into the other life, and who said that he had been acquainted with me in the world. He was a little forwards, beneath, near the lower earth; the rest, however, were somewhat above. I spoke with him who was below. The rest inflowed in community, since, in community, they acted as one. With him who was lately come from the world, I spoke for several hours, and, indeed, concerning faith and charity. He preferred faith saying that by that man is saved, and that faith is the confidence, or assurance, that they are saved by the Lord's merit. Hence it is that they so frequently mention the blood of the Lord; but they have various sayings: hence, also, it is that they do not as yet know what charity is, consequently what faith is, or what confidence is. He who is ignorant what charity is, can know nothing of what confidence is, because its essential and its life is charity; and, since they do not know this, neither do they know what faith is, nor what the merit of the Lord. For they are aware that the Lord's merit is universal, namely, on behalf of the universal human race; but it is also known that it is reception [which avails]: wherefore, many still go to hell, and many to heaven: for which reason it is evident, that it is reception [that avails], and that reception is not by faith, but by the life of faith, which is charity. I also observed that he can scarce tolerate the term charity, and with still greater difficulty the word love, unless the Lord be thought about at the same time. [4763] It was, moreover, shown of what quality they are, to wit, that they are a society of interior friendship for, like as societies of friendship, wherever they pass by, take away from others with whom they inflow, the external delight of life, so do these take away the interior delight, and thus the blessedness, of life; so that they are a society of interior friendship. This they are unwilling to admit, but they were convicted of its being so; for all who are within their society they call brothers, and with them they have the interior delight of life; but all others, who are without their society, they scorn, and call dead: so that they hold others in contempt in comparison with themselves, and, thus, relegate others to hell, and believe themselves the only elect. Moreover, all the good of charity which others do, whether they give to the poor, or utter prayers, or attend churches out of piety, and, so, the piety of all others, who are outside their assembly, they depreciate, yea, ridicule, believing that they place merit in those things, and that such persons can less easily be saved than robbers, adulterers and miscreants; consequently, they utterly reject a life of good. But they praise the life of good of those who are within their company, only it must not be such as stands out and is apparent. But they do this not from charity, but from interior friendship; for a friend praises a friend and thinks well of him, and this in the degree in which he perceives delight from his society. [4764] These - excepting those among them, who do not despise others in comparison with themselves, or believe them to be infernal and themselves only the elect, and who believe that the good of life, and not the doctrine of faith, constitutes the Church - in the other life, are of such a character, that, wherever they come, they destroy those things which belong to innocence and heavenly love. [4765] They were told of what nature is the heaven of the Lord, namely, that it is immense, and that there are men answering to all the provinces of the body, as regards interiors and exteriors; and that, if they aspire higher than to those things which correspond to their life, they do not possess heaven. [4766] They were also shown that they are by no means able to be in true humiliation before the Lord, consequently in love to him, if they believe that they are elected in preference to others, and that they are made holy by the blood and merit of the Lord. He who does not believe that he, of himself is a hell, and hence that it is the Lord's mercy which holds him back from hell, can never be in humiliation; nor, also, if they believe that faith alone saves and that charity is nothing, consequently that doctrine, not life [saves], since, with everyone, his life remains. They [men] cannot be divided. If true doctrine should take them to heaven, and the life to hell, they would be divided in two, or would hang between heaven and hell, which does not take place. But when the life is evil, then the truths of doctrine are taken away and the man is cast forth into hell; but if the life is good, then the truths of doctrine are adjoined to him, and thus he is raised up into heaven. [4767] I also said, concerning truths of doctrine, that these teach what sort of life man ought to lead; if they are not for the sake of that end they profit nothing. [4768] [I said] also, that the external, or doing good, is not life, unless it be from willing good. The life consists in willing and thinking good; thus, so far as willing good and thinking good is in the doing of good, so far is there life in the externals; and he who wills good and thinks good, does good; for life cannot exist without an effect: he, however, who does not will good and think good but yet does good, is a hypocrite. [4769] And I spoke concerning the words of the Lord in Matthew, chapter 25, respecting the last judgment, where only the works of charity are recounted, but not faith, and they wondered that the Lord spoke thus, so that they were unable to make any reply. What they thought was not disclosed to me. After this, it was plain that He spoke thus for the benefit of the most simple, who are in complete ignorance. [4770] As respects the Word of the Lord, they also reject the Old Testament as abrogated, nor do they pay attention to it; and they were told that it was most holy, and that all and every one of the things which are there, have an internal sense, and that it is Divine.

SEM (Buss) n. 4750

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4750

4750. [4771] CONCERNING THOSE WHO ARE IN PRINCIPLES OF TRUTH, AND IN THE WILL OF EVIL. THE FIRST ABODE OF INNOCENCE.
A certain one [Peter Schonstrom].* with whom I had been acquainted in the life of the body, and who thought much with himself, and in many instances, correctly, had been married, and had also loved his partner in his way, but she was among adulteresses. He observed that there was a certain abode, in the hall [devoted] to innocence, or to those who are in a state of innocence. Inasmuch as he had lived in conjugial love, in his way, he explored this abode, and also perceived that his delight was transferred thither, believing that he could have remained there. All in that place are naked, since there is nothing lascivious there, to offend modesty. When he was come thither, he supposed also that he would be able to remain there; but he was deceived; because, though he had possessed principles of right, he had not followed out those principles in his life, and had loved himself more than others - neither had he been concerned about the misfortunes of others, but had regarded these as nothing could he only be safe, even though he himself brought the injuries upon them, as far as external bonds did not restrain him. On coming thither, he suffered himself to be led by an infernal crew, which puffed him up with the notion that he would be able to remain there. Therefore was he several times put into his thoughts and principles: he then discerned some things well; but when left to his life, he at once departed from his principles, so that his life was discordant. Wherefore, after some time, he was removed thence, himself then confessing that he was unable to remain there, and that his life was at variance with his doctrine, or his voluntary with his intellectual [quality]. I know not whither he was ejected.
* The Latin edition has (Pol Schustra); but, as the Editor of that edition points out that Swedenborg's own manuscript Index to this passage says that it treats about Peter Schonstrom, we have adopted that reading in the text.

SEM (Buss) n. 4751

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4751

4751. [4772] CONCERNING HIM WHO CAME TO THE FEAST, OR HEAVEN, [WITHOUT] A WEDDING GARMENT, AND WAS CAST DOWN.
A certain one among the more deceitful, with whom I was acquainted in the life of the body [Jacob Benzelius], perceived that I was in heaven, in a certain society there. He wished, formerly, to infest me, but did not know how to come thither; wherefore he betook himself to his deceits [for he was able to devise interior deceits], and then, by pretences of good and truth, he allured certain simple good spirits, of whom part were in the world of spirits and part in an interior sphere: for he knew where they were. This he effected by means of previous craftiness, which he had practiced. And he then devised deceits in an interior or more subtle way, and counterfeited good; for such things do not take place in the other life by manifest speech, but by tacit speech, and by thoughts; for these penetrate round about like sound from the mouth. Hence certain ones were taken from angelic spirits, who are on the threshold of the second heaven, and associated themselves with him, and so helped him that he came into that society where I was in company with others; and he then began to feign himself an angel of light. But by his presence [he began] to infest me; for the sphere of such a one's presence infests those who are in a heavenly society. But at last he lost all power of thinking, whence he appeared bound as to hands and feet and was cast out. The appearance of the binding of the hands, is because he had no power of willing and thinking, consequently neither of plotting anything by his artifices; for, indeed, when he was below, he received a broad girdle so that he might be distinguished from others. Hence it is plain, how the deceitful can force their way into certain heavenly societies, because namely, they can counterfeit innocence. This appeared by means of an infant which he held in his hands, and which he rolled up and folded in various ways; for the thought of any one, when he deceives by innocence, appears thus: and afterwards, by various thoughts of good and truth, he penetrated as far as to the simple there, who assisted him. He was skilled in that art of counterfeiting sincerity; but he had inwardly cherished deceits, so that he had thought deceitfully, while he spoke with [apparent] sincerity.

SEM (Buss) n. 4752

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4752

4752. [4773] CONCERNING ONE WHO WAS RESUSCITATED SHORTLY AFTER DEATH, AND HIS SEEING HIS OWN BURIAL. POLHEM.
Polhem died on Monday. He spoke with me on Thursday; and [when I was] invited to the funeral he saw his coffin, and those who were there, and the whole procession, and also when [his body] was laid in the grave; and, in the meantime, he spoke with me, asking why they buried him when he was still alive: and [he heard], also, when the priest said that he should be resuscitated at the last judgment, and yet he had been resuscitated for some time; and he marveled that such a belief should exist, as that men should be resuscitated at the last judgment, when he was still alive; and that the body should rise again, when yet he himself was sensible of being in a body: besides many other things.

SEM (Buss) n. 4753

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4753

4753. [4774] CONCERNING REVENGE ALONG WITH DECEIT.
The same spirit, namely, Jacob Benzelius, the archbishop, was at length brought forwards, in front of the right foot, in the infernal earth there. He had the greatest delight in devising deceits, in thought; and he began, from the inspiration of the diabolical crew which was below there, to contrive abominable things against conjugial love, which things it is not permitted to divulge; and inasmuch as he previously, in the life of the body, plotted deceitfully against that love, and thus [now] exceeded the limits of his delight,* therefore he was grievously punished by inward pains: and it was perceived that when he endured punishment, he then still retained his vengefulness, inasmuch as that grievous punishing lasted a long time: for they are not let go, until something of amendment, or disinclination for such a thing is observed by the angels; but he still retained vengefulness, no matter how much he was punished. Afterwards, he was left to himself again, and by degrees his lust of revenge began to be excited by the hells, and he also took up deceits, likewise, for the sake of revenge, in the interim, so that he continued his former practices: wherefore he was again given over to a more grievous punishing, so that he was set on fire as to the viscera; and it was shown him, to the life, that the punishment of burning could have been aggravated indefinitely: wherefore, being left to himself once more, he at first began to meditate revenge, cautiously; then more and more: at length, he also came into the delight of revenge, and from revenge he began [his practices], so that, although he was punished, he might hold out. Hence it was evident, that the lust of doing ill to others from interior deceit, leads a spirit into such cupidities as he did not before actually practice, but which he hereditarily possessed; for they then rush into such things when they can no longer be deterred by punishments, and so their life becomes more and more infernal; so that life, which is interior life, is diminished, or is no longer able to inflow from the internal, because it falls into the lust, of revenge, and, at the same time, into the deceitful delight of torturing everybody. It was stated that they who are in the lust of revenge, and, at the same time, in deceit, become such as to be no longer like any man, but they appear like charred skeletons.
* To understand this, it needs to be remembered that the infernals are not permitted to become worse than at the time of death; and, to prevent them doing so, punishments are inflicted, whenever they overstep the limits of their evil, that is the measure of evil they had acquired at the death of the holy. - See AC 6559.

SEM (Buss) n. 4754

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4754

4754. [4775] CONCERNING INFERNAL DUST, AND CONCERNING THOSE WHO ARE OPPOSED TO CONJUGIAL LOVE.
Under the same place where he was, of whom I have spoken just before, namely, before the right foot in the infernal earth - under that place, are infernal caves, where those are who plot against conjugial love, and such things as pertain to that love, and are the vilest of all, since conjugial love is the holiest of all things. He, there, by sorcery, stirred up with his foot, the dust, there, in various ways; and, then, he opened something in front, so that those who were there might inflow into such things, to which he also contributed by thought, for thought is communicated [concerning which see below]; and, as he stirred up the dust there, and plunged therein the great toes or the soles of the foot, so did he open those infernal caves: and, thus, there inflowed from thence, vile things against conjugial love. Inasmuch as he did this from the lust of revenge, and also from deceit, also assisting with the thought in various ways, he was punished in this manner: his feet were accursed and appeared black from burning, as it were a crisp black; and he also drew through the nostrils some of the infernal dust. From this place he was let down lower in a certain cavern, from whence, also, he began to plot. He was told that he would attract the curse as far as to the knees; and, that if he did not refrain, it would rise higher, even to the houghs, and beyond. Hence it might be evident what accursed dust is, and what means the accursed dust which was given a wife charged by her husband with adultery,* that [namely] it was representative of such a thing; and that they who deceitfully and with revenge plot against conjugial love, incur such consequences.
* The allusion is to the dust used in mixing the "water of jealousy" (NUMBERS 5).

SEM (Buss) n. 4755

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4755

4755. [4776] CONCERNING COMMUNICATION BY MEANS OF THOUGHTS.
Among spirits there is communication of all thoughts. Magical art consists mainly in this, that, by means of thoughts, they [magical spirits] communicate to others their abominations and filthinesses, and that they induce a persuasion of piety, honesty, innocence, and such things, and scatter it round about, in various ways, and thus lead simple spirits to suppose that [the spirit who so acts] is pious, honest, innocent, or the like; and thus he awakens their compassion. Wherefore, since they are simple, and neither see him, nor know where he is, they easily allow themselves to be deceived. That vile spirit [Jacob Benzelius] had a most masterly acquaintance with such things, and fortified himself in crimes and abominations, by them, in numerous ways; and, thus perpetrated his abominations. In such and many other similar things, consists magic, there.

SEM (Buss) n. 4756

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4756

4756. [4777] HOW REFLECTION IS BESTOWED IN THE OTHER LIFE.
After death, reflection upon inconveniences and punishments is taken away from man; for external bonds are removed, and the man is left to his own disposition, thus to the delights of his life, so that he may act according to them. For, in the other life, a reflection other than prevails during the life of the body, is requisite. In this life, there is reflection upon honors, gains, reputation, dangers to life, and the like. These things are taken away, and the spirit is left to his own disposition, which he had acquired to himself in the life of the body. To him who had done evil, reflection is given by means of many punishments, until at last [such ones] are averse to, and terrified at doing evil, especially to the societies in which they have suffered. This reflection, which is given to the evil, is external, and they are then kept in the hells, nor do they get out from thence. They suffer punishments so prolonged and so grievous, that, at last, that reflection comes into the mind, as it were of itself. But to the good reflection is given by means of the enjoyments and delights of heaven, besides that they, when they enter the other life, are in some reflection - which is augmented.

SEM (Buss) n. 4757

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4757

4757. [4778] CONCERNING THOSE WHO ARE IN A STRONG PERSUASION.
Certain ones who come from the Christian world into the other life, are in a strong persuasion, that, namely, whatever they say and think is true, even what is opposed to faith and heaven. When first they enter the other life, they appear with a linen band wrapped about the head, which is a sign that persuasive spirits, with whom they had previously been in company, have been taken away from them. A certain one whom I was acquainted with [Polhem], was of this character, from confidence in his own knowledge and imagination. [4779] But the sorcerers, when they became aware of this, caused something of communication, by means of magical art, so that the linen bandage was, to some extent, removed. This was done by means of a staff, or magic wand, prepared by art; but there then appeared a naked man, whose back I saw. It was a certain heaven which appeared thus. I noticed the influx from thence; and he [this naked man] not only found out all the sorcerers, but cast them forth from their place, and thrust them into other places, and this as easily as though they had been flies; besides many other things. [4780] The persuasion that nothing is hidden from him [Polhem], but that he knows all things, and hence is the wisest of all men, has in itself the characteristic that he rushes into the most filthy deeds and persuades himself that they are lawful: thus [he rushes] into heinous things. And when [spirits] are of such a character, they then so close the intellectual, by persuasions, that it cannot be opened. [4781] Such ones are in a very deep hell, under the feet, which is so closed, that not a breath can exhale from thence; for those there are in most filthy and abominable [states]. [4782] A certain one, having the appearance of a man, in a snow-white garment and square cap, descended thither, and so opened it. They [those there] appeared like swine, and like trunks without life. The man in the snow-white garment was an appearance of heaven looking thither. [4783] They who are in such a persuasion that they believe themselves wiser than all others, and despise others in comparison with themselves - when they, in the other life, look at other spirits, the spirits appear like torn garments, without a body: for such persuasion has in itself the peculiarity, that they view others in this manner: for garments are truths; therefore, such things as are of knowledge and intelligence.

SEM (Buss) n. 4758

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4758

4758. [4784] CONCERNING MISFORTUNES AND FORTUNE, AND CONCERNING ACCIDENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES, WHENCE THEY ARE. INFLUX.
There were certain spirits, who sent forth a sphere of misfortune, namely, by calling forth such spirits as wished to destroy, or, rather, [they produced] such a sphere among spirits. Then befell misfortunes, which were not foreseen by them; and, because they have employed that art, they were also punished. Hence it was evident whence misfortunes, and unforeseen events which are considered accidents, arise, namely, that they are from spirits who continually attempt to destroy man, thus, from their endeavor [to destroy him]. Hence, also, it was granted to know whence fortune is, especially that which tends to the salvation of man, namely, from the continual will of the Lord that it should be well with man and that he should be saved, and that that sphere itself, by means of angels, should contribute thereto. Unforeseen misfortunes are nothing else than the perpetual efforts of evil spirits; and this, because unforeseen goods exist from the Lord. This [I know] from experience: it appears incredible; but yet it is the case.

SEM (Buss) n. 4759

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4759

4759. [4785] CONCERNING THOSE WHO APPEAR IN THE STOMACH.
((((They who are very anxious about the future, and still more they who are so from stinginess and avarice, appear, as it were, in the stomach. Many appeared so to me. Their sphere may be compared to that sickening odor which is exhaled from the stomach.))))

SEM (Buss) n. 4760

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4760

4760. [4786] CONCERNING THE HELL OF THOSE WHO ARE INWARDLY MALICIOUS AND IN THE LUST OF REVENGE. GUSTAF BENZELSTJERNA.
There was a certain one known to me in the life of the body, Gustaf Benzelstjerna. In outward form he appeared honest, and seemed to have led a secluded life. It was his custom, when he replied to anyone against whom he meditated evil, to utter such malicious sayings as stung inwardly, and, so, such as could not be answered. He was accustomed thereto, so that his sarcasms flowed forth from his interior quality; consequently, he was in the desire of killing, as it were, the souls of others. Such spitefulness remained with him after death; and it was there shown of what nature he was. He was, inwardly, a hard body, as it were, comparatively like a plague sore, and an exhalation, from deep hells, emanated from him when he spoke. It was afterwards disclosed of what nature he was - for in time, the interiors of all are gradually disclosed in the other life - and it was then ascertained that he was of such a nature, and also that he deceitfully plotted many things, and this secretly, in addition to what any one could observe. In my case, he called forth a spirit who was an adulterer, whose presence inflicted a severe pain in the ginglymus of the loins; and this by means of another spirit who was above, in front, on the right. Wherefore, as he was of such a character, he was put into quite a deep hell under the feet, where they begin to be of such a character; and this was done by degrees. And meanwhile, it was noticed of what nature he had been; and it was ascertained that he had cherished inextinguishable revenge, and also contempt, and a species of hatred against the entire human race. Wherefore, he was put beneath a rock, for there is a cloudy rock, which, where they are of such a character in a lesser degree, goes over them; and he there appeared with a chain around his neck, so that he was fettered. He complained of that; and, meanwhile, he was examined as respects his vengefulness, and it was discovered that it was murderous: therefore, he was put deeper down. In that place, as it was said, they seem to devour one another; and they who look on do not appear otherwise to them. Such hatred causes this [appearance]. He, also, did similarly; wherefore he was put down deeper. From that hell, when it is opened, there is such an exhalation, that it infects those whom it meets, and reduces them to insanity; for it stirs up interior evils. When they speak also there is heard, as it were, a low hissing, after the speech; and this is from interior deceit. [4787] The same spirit, inasmuch as he still breathed vengeance from a deeper hell, was submerged in the sea there: for a raging sea appears there: and, after some efforts at swimming, sank to the bottom, whence I heard him saying that there were various monsters there, which were never seen in the world. But yet, he breathed out, from thence, the venom of revenge, and infected certain ones around me, and in such wise, that, as it was revenge, I was twisted as to the ginglymi of the loins: I was grievously tortured. They attracted him [King Frederick] from whom was such a sphere as tortured that part, and also the bones round about, as far as to the ribs, etc. [4788] In that profound, are such as have breathed deadly revenges; and they are the deeper in it according as they have breathed more interior revenge even as far as killing, and as they have perceived more delight in revenge, and as they had been more persistent in it.

SEM (Buss) n. 4761

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4761

4761. [4789] CONCERNING THOSE WHO ARE STRONG IN INTELLIGENCE, BUT WHO HAVE LED A BAD LIFE
There was a certain one whom I knew in the life of the body [Pastor Arnel]. He, when alive, was endowed with the gift of ingenuity, which also he retained in the other life, when I spoke with him. But it was perceived that he was among the deceitful, as he had woven deceits in the life of the body; and so, loving self and the world, neither had he led a good life, nor believed anything about a life after death. He was among the ingenious and deceitful in a certain hell. He supposed, that, since he could understand truths, and well discern them, he could have been saved; but the angels replied, that such were in outward form like beautiful women, but filthy and swarming [with vileness] inwardly, and like those who give out a foul odor, no matter how they appear outwardly; so that, if he should come into a heavenly society, he could not have been endured on account of the noisome odor: for the intellectual has beauty, but the life a stench.

SEM (Buss) n. 4762

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4762

4762. [4790] CONCERNING THE FALLACIES OF THE SENSES.
I spoke with spirits concerning the fallacies of the senses; and one was present who had believed scarcely anything save what the senses perceived. It was shown what fallacies of sense are, and this to the life, by means of representatives, as is customary in the other life: namely, that it is a fallacy of sense (1) that the eye sees from itself; when, yet, it is the spirit that sees, as was shown by the fact that spirits see through my eyes; also, that the ear hears, the tongue tastes, the nostrils smell, the body feels. (2) That the body lives, and not the spirit in the body. (3) That man, spirits and angels live from themselves; and yet it was shown that it is through others. When others are removed from a spirit, he falls, as it were, dead, and is held in a life, of which he is in himself destitute, by spirits of an interior sphere; he also lives according to the society in which he is - and every one does so. (4) It is a fallacy of sense that the sun rises and sets; when yet the earth revolves. It was shown, by means of the whole heaven with the stars, that it [the earth] goes round every twenty-four hours; and it is not probable that so large a globe as the sun should accomplish several thousands of miles every moment, and its flame should appear everywhere; and, nevertheless, it is a fiery globe. It was shown that the planets [like] the moon revolve and are turned round; that they are moons;* and that the earth is relatively a small globe. (5) Fallacies of sense were shown by a mirror, behind which there appears to stand [a person] like one's self; silver vessels were placed [before] and were seen behind the mirror; and it was stated that if one should follow the fallacies of the senses, one could multiply riches indefinitely by means of a single mirror; when yet these things are fallacious. (6) And it was shown, that, by a fallacy of sense, the same one might be in different places at the same time, and that they would see themselves in both places. (7) It is a fallacy of sense, that color is in the flower, when yet it is from the sun's light thus modified. And it was stated that there are such fallacies without number; so that a man appears to himself to be at rest in a ship, when yet he is being borne along; and, that, when he beholds thence any fixed object, it appears to be moving and he to be at rest: and so, in innumerable cases.
* The statement that the planets are "moons" must evidently be understood as referring to the resemblance between moons and planets in respect to the fact alluded to, namely, that the planets revolve around their sun, as the moons revolve around their planet.

SEM (Buss) n. 4763

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4763

4763. [4791] HOW THE INFERNALS ARE SENT INTO HELL.
This was seen with Jacob Benzelius's spirits, who are infernal. They remain quite a long time in the world of spirits; and there they practice their villainies, for the sake of tempting spirits, and this until the measures of their evil are filled. And, meanwhile, they endure many severe punishments; but yet they are such, that they are not completely restrained. At length, when the measures are filled, they then endure more severe, and, at last, the severest punishments, and this in quite a long succession, on their way to hell, with many repetitions. And, finally, they are cast into hell, so that they may there chastise and punish each other. They then come out thence no more; and they become of such a nature that they at once see punishments if they venture from that place. Wherefore, they who are in hell do not venture thence, and are more submissive to those [punishments] whenever [afterwards] they have been in the world of spirits; and, in that state, they also become more prudent; and, when they are so, they see those in the world of spirits. [4792] Evils cannot be subdued, and so [subdued] that [those in them] do not long to commit the evils, any otherwise than by punishments, because they are left to the delights of their nature, and external bonds are removed from them; and, when they act according to the nature which they have acquired to themselves, they have, then, almost no judgment, but they act from that nature, which cannot be subdued in any other manner [than by punishments]. For they do not receive exhortations and such things - their nature acts contrary to them. Their nature often holds out for many years, before it suffers itself to be subdued.

SEM (Buss) n. 4764

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4764

4764. [4793] CONCERNING THE GENII OF THE THOUGHTS.
There was a certain one in a situation over the occiput a little to the rear, who, in the life of the body, had fashioned himself, in voice, accent and speech, in imitation of my father; in which also he was so dexterously skilled, that he called him forth very frequently. He [this spirit] was concealed in obscurity, so that they could not tell from whence [he came]. At length, after a time, he was discovered; and he was then forced to confess his villainies, which were of such a nature that not any spirit had previously done such things. He had lurked there, and noticed, on every side, where were spirits of such an inclination and such a nature, so that he might know all those round about, whom, also, he was able to stir up, and dexterously to infuse into them whatever he thought and willed. He confessed how he had done it, and where they [those spirits] were. Hence he became such that whatever occurred [to my mind] he could have changed, and also would have changed, unless the Lord had guided me aright by interior spirits. He could have turned and perverted, not only the affections, but also the thoughts, and the affections of the thoughts; for he learned where they were, and had been in this meditation almost continuously, when in obscurity in that place. He supposed that he could thus rule all things, and make himself God. Several hells also at the back part inflowed; one of which [where are such as claimed that they can effect all things by means of arts, and thus, by the control of order in the other life] was exposed. He was severely punished; but still he persists: wherefore, grievous punishment threatens him, before he shall be thrust down into the hell where such ones are. Such may be styled genii as regards thoughts and their affections.

SEM (Buss) n. 4765

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4765

4765. [4794] CONCERNING ADULTERIES. KING FREDERICK. HELL.
He was transferred under the buttocks, or intestinal rectum; and thence he spoke, and said that there are only privies there. They who were there spoke with him, and led him into the privies, which were numerous and variously constructed; whereby was signified that he was given over to mere voluptuousness. Such, those who are there have been. He was afterwards led to another place, a little to the left from that one; and, when he was there, he said that a most disgusting stink exhaled from the holes there, and that he could not move a step, because he fell into the holes. This signified that those who are there have been defiled with such grievous adultery. He constantly wanted new [mistresses], and was disgusted with those he had once touched. [4795] From the dens there likewise exhaled the stench of corpses, for the reason that he had been deceitful also.

SEM (Buss) n. 4766

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4766

4766. [4796] THOSE WHO CORRESPOND TO THE FUNDAMENT.
Beneath the fundament, are those spirits who have entertained much solicitude about future events, and, as soon as those events came into thought, also reduced themselves into anxiety; and, moreover, they are not evil. They correspond to the fundament. They were with me, on several occasions; and then I was always conscious of such anxiety. They held the mind steadfastly on such things. This, also, they know.

SEM (Buss) n. 4767

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4767

4767. [4797] CONCERNING THOSE WHO ARE FROM THE MORAVIAN CHURCH.
A certain one had stood above at the right, a little higher forwards in the direction of the head; and at the time I had treated of what relates to that church, he manifested himself by this, that he continually urged something in defense of the charges brought against them. At length, I spoke with him; and it was manifested of what quality he was. He withdrew himself to the company where his comrades were. They are below, in the same line, a little to the right, in the plane of the sole of the foot, and are there together, in a certain city; and it was then ascertained of what quality they were, namely, that they regard those who are outside of their company as dead, thus as not having any life, and themselves alone as living and in light. But they are of such a character that they despised the interior sense of the Word. The infernals acted through such ones, when they would infuse contempt. They care for faith alone, etc.

SEM (Buss) n. 4768

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4768

4768. [4798] CONCERNING TWO KINDS OF INUNDATIONS.
There appears a resemblance of inundations in the other life, but of two kinds. [One kind is] for the good, when they are deluged by various spheres of the hells, which spheres are directed by the Lord, and then produce anxieties and temptations. According to the state, they [these inundations] reach to the feet, over the feet, to the stomach, to the neck, and to the head - rarely above the head. [4799] Another kind of inundation is for the evil, who are in the hells. When they begin to be insane, and have to be restrained, then is the celestial sphere of heaven let down and reaches thus far; and, whither it comes, there they are, as it were, in a deluge, plunged under the waters, and falling into abysses; and this with terrors and cries, altogether like those who perished in the flood. Both kinds of inundation appeared to me.

SEM (Buss) n. 4769

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4769

4769. [4800] CONCERNING A RAINING OF FIRE AND SULPHUR.
Similarly, in the other life, there appears a raining of fire and sulphur, together with a sense of burning; and, then, the earth, where they are, parts asunder, and becomes like a lake, and evil genii are in a morass, there. This has not yet been seen by me; but I perceived it was so stated.

SEM (Buss) n. 4770

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4770

4770. [4801] CONCERNING DRUNKARDS.
Sometimes the infernals come into such a state that they are completely insane, like madmen, nor do they know what they think and say. This insanity is what is called, in the Word, drunkenness.

SEM (Buss) n. 4771

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4771

4771. [4802] CONCERNING THE TEETH.
(Several times were with me those who attempted to induce a gnashing of the teeth; and I became aware that such seem to themselves to be in certain hells, especially where those are who have impressed themselves with natural falses, and have confirmed themselves in them, and drawn [thence] many inferences, and who from those things reason about spiritual things in the other life: for there is not any correspondence [between these natural falses and spiritual truths] but, they clash: hence the grating of the teeth.)

SEM (Buss) n. 4772

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4772

4772. [4803] CONCERNING THOSE WHO ARE IN THE PRINCIPLES OF THEIR DOCTRINALS, AND CONCERNING BEARS.
There was a certain one who came to me, and spirits wondered who he could be. It was perceived, from his sphere, that the spirits were discordant with him; and he afterwards spoke, and said that he had been led into error, nor knew whither he came, and that he had [blindly] come to this place. He was a man who had been learned, and had confirmed himself in the principles of his doctrinals, and especially respecting faith, and against charity, concerning which things there had been much discourse; but, still, he was unwilling to be confirmed [in any doctrinal] save only when he had anything that directly approached his own [opinion]. He afterwards repaired to that congregation where are those who are from the Moravian Church, a little beneath towards the right; and, because there also [he wished] to rule them according to his own opinions, he was disagreeable to them and was cast out thence, when he appeared to fall in with a bear, which overcame him, and seemed to bite him, but was not able to do so. He said afterwards, that he frequently came across bears, and that they wished to ill-treat him, but in vain; and this so often, that he does not now care anything about them. It was said, by the angels, that those seem to be infested by bears who have confirmed themselves in principles of doctrinals, and tenaciously clung to them, and wished to rule other minds according to them, and thus to govern. Especially is this the case when the doctrinals are false. They are infested so long, until they no longer care to rule others, but are content that every one should remain in his own doctrine.
[4804] I afterwards spoke with him who appeared as a bear. He was a little above the head; and it was observed, that there was hostility, and, as it were, antipathy, amongst such as dispute about truths, and do not permit others to think every one according to his own understanding, but wish to govern the conscience of others. Hence it was plain, that every single vice has its own adversaries. He who was the bear, said that he does not know that he appears in such a guise, and, also, that he does not know whence the desire that he should be driven against the former one, came.

SEM (Buss) n. 4773

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4773

4773. [4805] THAT IN HEAVEN THERE IS NO JOY APART FROM USE.
Several times I spoke with spirits concerning heavenly joy - that men, at this day, do not know what heavenly joy, thus what heaven, is; but that they suppose it to consist in this, that they should be cared for by angels and spirits, and should thus breathe joy in idleness; and this to eternity. That this is false, was shown them by the fact, that there are no spirits and angels who have not been men: Secondly, that in heaven, it is not permitted to be served by others, but to serve others; and that mere joy in idleness, vanishes away in a few hours or days, since it is without life. Idleness at length wearies everyone, no matter what joy they may be in. But [it was shown] that heavenly joy consists in an active life, thus in use; and that according to the use they possess joy, so that use is the subject of joy; and that the latter, without the subject from which it is derived, can never exist. Concerning the uses which angels perform, and by virtue of which they perceive joy, it was also said, that these are very numerous, and more remarkable than man ever believes. Glorifying the Lord is not a use, but a recreation; for [angels] glorify the Lord in every use. This the Lord loves. Their uses, also, are (1) to be with men, to insinuate there goods and truths, and to turn aside evils and falses. (2) To instruct spirits who come from the world. (3) To instruct infants. (4) To awaken the dead, and to lead and inform those who are awakened. (5) To watch over these, and, moreover, to attend to domestic duties there; for such things are there-which man has not known: besides other things innumerable. In these things the angels take such joy as is indescribable: for these things relate to mutual love, or charity towards the neighbor.

SEM (Buss) n. 4774

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4774

4774. [4806] CONCERNING THE MORAVIAN CONGREGATION.
It was previously said that they [the Moravian congregations] are societies of interior friendship. But they are not among the best; for the reason that they believe they only are the elect, and living, but that the rest are non-elect and dead. Thus they regard others as dead, and despise them, yea, they are also angry that others should be saved. They were asked, how they can suppose that the Lord should suffer so many men to be born who are to be tormented in hell - whether this would not be unmerciful; whether they do not know that the Lord loves everyone, and has His Church scattered throughout the entire world. Yea, such is their nature, that, when they become aware that others are saved, they think little about the Lord, and, owing to it their anger, not well. Moreover, they, more than others, are in principles concerning faith, as alone saving; and they were asked what are their sentiments about those things which the Lord said concerning the last day, where it is declared that they shall inherit heaven who have performed goods. They said that those goods are the fruits of faith. Wherefore, it was said to them, that the fruits of faith are good works, and that only those who, from faith, are in them, are saved; and that if, from faith, they are not in those things, they are among those who have not done such duties. To these remarks they were unable to reply; for they are utterly unwilling to hear about good works, believing that no one can think about these without putting merit in them. But it was shown that this is false: for good works are the same with uses, in which the entire heaven is - they do not think about merit there - and they have this view of the case, because they are of such a quality that they hold in derision all, outside of their own company, who do anything good from piety. I spoke with them about that matter, and [told them] that they are in falsity, and that no one can be saved by faith separated from uses.

SEM (Buss) n. 4775

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4775

4775. [4807] THAT, IN THE OTHER LIFE, THOSE WHO HATED EACH OTHER IN THE LIFE OF THE BODY, MEET TOGETHER.
(There were many evil spirits who long lay concealed, inclosed in a peculiar hell, out of which they were, for a considerable time, unable to break forth. On several occasions I wondered who they were. One evening they were let out, and then was heard their great noise, beneath me, like a tumult, which lasted the whole night. And when the ability was given them, I heard revilings against myself and observed their effort, that [namely] they wished to ascend and to destroy me. I asked the angels the reason. They said that they held me in hatred when they were alive; and yet, they were such as I had in no respect injured. I was informed also, that, when they but perceive the sphere of him whom they have held in hatred, they rage, and breathe his destruction; but they were again sent to their hell.
[4808] That they who have held each other in mutual hatred, meet together in the other life, and, on both sides, attempt many evils against each other, was made known to me by many examples; for hatred corresponds to antipathy, and, as it were, becomes spiritual antipathy; for, immediately they perceive the sphere of him [they hate], they come into fury. Hence it may be manifest what that which the Lord says, concerning those who are enemies, that they ought to be reconciled, involves: "If thou hast aught against thy brother, go," etc.*)
* Matt. 5:23, 24.

SEM (Buss) n. 4776

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4776

4776. [4809] CONCERNING FAITH AND THE FRUITS OF FAITH.
I once spoke about good works, to spirits recently from the world, who believed them not to be necessary to salvation. [I said] that, nevertheless, they declare good works, whereof the Lord so often, particularly in Matt. 25, speaks, to be the fruits of faith, and [say] that from the fruits the tree is known. It was also granted to speak in like manner as they did, in the life of the body, and I said: allowing that faith is a tree, and good works are its fruits - if so, of what quality do they suppose that tree appears in the heavenly paradise, if it rejoices in leaves only, and is destitute of fruits? whether it would not be, as the Lord says, that such a tree must be cut down? To this they were able to urge nothing in reply.

SEM (Buss) n. 4777

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4777

4777. [4810] CONCERNING THE LOVE OF FRIENDSHIP.
In a dream, I saw a virgin in a room along with others, and with men, with whom, from love, there existed the desire of associating, which was perceived by the fact that they associated intimately, and had interior delight. The virgin was unwilling that I should be admitted, although she was among others, because she perceived that there was not such interaction, familiarity and love of friendship in my composition; for persons of this description are annoying to them. Afterwards, however, when I became awake, or was roused from sleep, I spoke with her about familiarity of interaction and the love of friendship. [I said] that she, in outward form, appears as honest, and worthy of approbation, but that, in inward form, she is not of such a description; that, on the contrary, in inward form, she possesses in herself either lasciviousness, or delight in idleness, or contempt of others; thus that there is not anything of friendship, still less of love, in the internal form. She was, in every respect, modest and prudent in speech and action; so that she appeared like an angelic virgin: she was, however, sent among her male and female friends, and separated from others who might hear, and then the interior showed itself. She spoke contemptuously and also abusively of others, so far as the modesty which is in friendship was loosened; and she communicated with societies of adultery and whoredom. She was shown what sort of glory and splendor was theirs who entertain friendship for what is good, with whomsoever it may exist; and that, if she should come thither, she could not be tolerated, because she would make herself annoying to them.

SEM (Buss) n. 4778

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4778

4778. [4811] CONCERNING LIGHT IN THE OTHER LIFE. LETTERS PRINTED WITH TYPE WERE SEEN.
It was shown in what light appear those things which are in the other life. I once saw, in a chamber, some persons doing something, and in such a light that the noonday light of the sun would not half equal it. [4812] It was also granted to see printed letters, which I read, and this, in such light, as our noonday would not furnish. I saw and read the least particulars of a letter, and this, in order that I might know in what light are the things which are in the other life; and also that they have written letters, and also, as it were, letters printed with type; and that, in the other life, they also know how to read. But I did not understand the language in which it was written. It was said, that, since this is so, the language in which it is written, which is from the variety of sound according to affections thus a rational language is a peculiar one; and that the most ancient language, to which the Hebrew approaches, was of such a character. If this should be true!

SEM (Buss) n. 4779

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4779

4779. [4813] THOSE WHO BELONG TO THE PROVINCE OF THE EAR.
((There was a spirit with me, who, while I treated of such things as related to Providence, inflowed very powerfully into my thought ([with the suggestion] as it were, that I might not receive a reply from the printer); and, as often as he did so, I was harassed with anxious thoughts about that matter. It was afterwards said to me, that the spirit who did this, [belonged] to the province of the external ear, and, in fact, to the portion of the ear where the fleshy [lobe] hangs beneath the cartilaginous part, or, rather, where the thick membranous cartilage is; and it was said that his disposition was such, that when, in the life of the body, he had prayed for anything and did not obtain it, he would be exceedingly angry, and come into doubt about Providence. But, yet, when he was out of that state, he had still, obediently, practiced piety. [Such persons] are, as the elders had insinuated, those who are in simple obedience.))

SEM (Buss) n. 4780

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4780

4780. [4814] CONCERNING A CERTAIN EAST WIND.
There were societies compounded in an evil manner; and then came those whom I have previously called the east wind. They came, with a harsh noise, a little from above, at the right side. Something of the terror which they bear with them was communicated; but I became aware, from the lamentation of those who are in hell, and otherwise not timid, that a great terror prevailed; for they bewailed, and fled away, hiding wherever they were able. They appeared to me, as to what quality they were. They appeared like large heads of wolves, which gnashed with the teeth; and, wherever they came, they looked in, and turned [those there] into a certain luminous appearance, approaching to yellow, and that which was thus changed, they took in the mouth, and cast forth: it appeared as though they devoured it. Afterwards, I heard those who were thus changed and devoured, in other hells. Such a thing sometimes happens, when deceitful societies are compounded in an evil manner. The compounding of these was done by deceitful ones above the head.

SEM (Buss) n. 4781

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4781

4781. [4815] CONCERNING VARIOUS HELLS.
There was a certain one, known to me in the life of the body (Sven Lagerberg). He possessed a powerful sphere of truth; protected in that sphere, he traversed many hells; and, meanwhile, spoke with me concerning them. I compared him to Aeneas, who was let down into the localities of hell, and carried into the Elysian fields, and traversed them. Wherever he came, those there either fled, or were deprived of their powers of doing anything against him, or made lamentation. Everywhere, they were afraid. Such [a protection] does the man possess who is in truth. The hells to which he came, were in front, under the earth: and from thence he wandered forwards, to the right, and, afterwards, more towards the right, where the magical hells are. They were the hells of lascivious men and women, who were in mire and squalor. After this, more to the front, a little further on the right, were the hells of miscreants, who wished to plunder everybody. Then, more towards the right still, were the hells of sorcerers, where, also, the farther [you go] the more grievous [the hells] are. He described how some lie in squalor, some in excrements, and some in places where are corpses; and that some appear like corpses, with little of life, but still they could speak. Some had so horrible a countenance, that they could never be described; and they were so numerous that they could not be numbered.

SEM (Buss) n. 4782

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4782

4782. [4816] He next went to hells which were in front, under the earth, where were such as had been able to inspire affections, and as try, by inspiring affections, to seduce the simple good; which, it was shown, they frequently attempted. And he spoke to me from thence, as from the rest of the hells, saying that they appear there with a wan countenance, hideous like a corpse, and that they are in squalor. Those attempted to inspire affections, and also weeping, in him, and succeeded a little in doing so. They who are such, and think evil, are spiritual hypocrites.

SEM (Buss) n. 4783

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4783

4783. [4817] He proceeded still farther to the front, and descended into a cavern. It was said that no one had been there before. In that place, are they who have been devoted to prayers, and who concealed, beneath their piety, cruelty against the neighbor. He said of these also, that they were like corpses: a cadaverous exhalation, too, was wafted thence to me. These are those who are of an exactly opposite character to the celestial [angels], and are genii. But those, about whom I have previously spoken, who are opposites to the spiritual [angels] are spirits. The former, namely, those who are opposites to the celestials, or such genii, also inflowed into the pulse.

SEM (Buss) n. 4784

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4784

4784. [4818] He advanced farther still to the front, and somewhat deeper. He then came to utterly dark places, so that he could not know whither he was going; but he was still conducted by angels. He said, from thence, that it was entirely dark, and that the genii there flitted about like specters, whom they were by no means able to see. It was stated that such were there as loved darkness, and as light could not flow into. They were genii among the hypocritical genii, just previously mentioned, and profaners.

SEM (Buss) n. 4785

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4785

4785. [4819] When, at length, he had advanced, a little to the front, [in those dark places], there then appeared an obscure light, so that he was able to see a little; and then he came to the profaners of holiness, those, to wit, who in externals demeaned themselves holily for the sake of seducing, but, inwardly, thought profanely about holy things - in all of whom, holy and profane things were conjoined. These appeared to him like skeletons; and from thence was wafted a cadaverous exhalation. One had a little wheel-pulley about a cylinder; and he said that he would cast it into the hearts of certain ones, and that, then, they no longer know anything, but sink down as dead, and that they [the profaners] then plunder them.
[4820] There were those there, also, who, from evil, say, for the following reason, that they are profane, and thence holy: for, if only they were able to [sincerely] avow their profanities, they would thus be freed from them. [4821] From these he went farther to the front, and then to those who are skilled in leading others into the despairing thought, namely, that no one can ever be saved, but that all become condemned like them. They also infused this despair with some, in order that I might know of what quality it was. They came into the anxiety of desperation.

SEM (Buss) n. 4786

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4786

4786. [4822] On another day, he proceeded to others in the lower earth, somewhat higher up, where he came to a certain place there, where were enthusiastic spirits, who declared themselves to be the Holy Spirit; and being asked whence that was, they said, because they were made holy by baptism and the sacraments. [4823] Farther on, he came to others, who affirm that they have the keys of Peter, and that they fill Peter's place when he is absent: they open [what they call] a heaven and let people in. And one opened it for him, and he was admitted. Silver and gold in immense abundance, was seen by him, in vision, with vessels and coffers, with which hollow places and closets were filled. They said that heaven is there; and they insisted that heaven itself consists in possessing and beholding such things. They added that they sometimes possess many things, and sometimes those things vanish away; and that this is so, because they then become blind, so that they are unable to see them, but that, when their eyes are opened, they see: and they actually had the delight of their life in beholding those things. They are simple. The reason they were of the description just given, was because they have seen the treasures of monasteries, and have taken up that delight thence, and have supposed the joys of heaven to consist in such things.

SEM (Buss) n. 4787

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4787

4787. [4824] THE HELLS OF PROFANERS.
Round about, at a great distance, appeared a black mistiness, mixed, as it were, with a fiery or sanguineous appearance, dreadful to the sight of the good. In that gloom, are profaners, rejected to an exceedingly great distance. Thither was sent a profaner; and it was said that nothing exists there but gnashing and raging of one against another. It was said that these [hells] are round about, even to the remotest circumference.

SEM (Buss) n. 4788

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4788

4788. [4825] THAT PRINCIPLES OF FALSITY AND DELIGHTS OF EVIL TAKE AWAY INFLUX.
It was given me to know, by living experience, that principles of falsity and delights of evil, thus those things which are of the proprium, take away the influx from heaven and the Lord. I was held in spiritual delight, and there was influx out of heaven; and the affection and thought was varied according to the influx. But as soon as I was left to any delight from the proprium, then the thought clung to it, and thus excluded the influx. Care, and also anxiety, about future events, especially produces this result.

SEM (Buss) n. 4789

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4789

4789. [4826] THOSE WHO RELATE TO THE STOMACH.
((Many anxieties appear to have their seat in the stomach, and the influx of such [anxiety-producing] spirits is felt there, and sometimes the anxieties [appear] to be there, like those of avarice, which are numerous. Such anxieties, when the persons distress themselves because they have to part with their money, appear to dwell in that organ. There are also other anxieties, which, likewise, are plainly perceived in the stomach; some inwardly, some higher, and some lower, according to the difference between them. I often talked with the spirits who induced [the sensations], and who are in the province of the stomach. They correspond to indigestion, and hence to the sense of oppression. [4827] Moreover, the stomach corresponds to the desire of knowing for the sake of use, thus of digesting and appropriating those things which are tributary to use. Then is the stomach in its freedom, and expands freely, and the lungs operate freely upon it; hence, also, life is delightful. In the other case, it is restricted, nor is it able to attain to freedom. [4828] There were certain ones with me above the head, for some hours. I did not observe their presence from anything else than a certain anxious feeling, of which one becomes aware in the lower part of the stomach. Hence, it was evident that they had communication with such as infested the stomach, and those who had their province there. I spoke with the same; and I said that I wished they would retire, because they do not accord with the sphere of those spirits who are with me: for they are repugnant to it.
[4929] Then, also, there was conversation about spheres, [to the effect] that there are very many such spheres around men, and that they do not observe that there are; and that many, likewise, produce their effect, like those effects are produced which arise from exhalations, and from repugnance at any one's presence, from joy and freedom, and very many other things; so that spheres operate with men also: but, because they deny all that they do not see and feel in the body, and ascribe anything that appears occult, to nature, and scarcely anyone [believes] that such a thing is from the spiritual world - owing to all this, they reflect little upon it; and they who do reflect, put it aside either as a recondite natural [phenomenon], or as nothing, because they do not understand it.))

SEM (Buss) n. 4790

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4790

4790. [4830] CONCERNING WRITINGS IN THE OTHER LIFE.
Several times I have observed that they who are in the other [life], both read writings, and also write; and I wondered how this could be, as it was contrary to [our] ideas respecting their state. But, sometimes, there appeared before the eyes sheets written by hand, and also printed, as it were, with types; as, for instance, to-day, there was a writing, which, also, I read clearly; but I did not understand the words. They were in ancient styles, but in the language of some region in the world. I read it in the right order, but did not understand it. But there was an angel with me, and he understood the whole of it. It was said that there is such a style in the other life, formed according to their ideas, and that a perception is then given them for understanding those things. Numbers also were intermingled. They were not foreign characters, but the style was that of the letters of the Latin.

SEM (Buss) n. 4791

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4791

4791. [4831] CONCERNING THE LORD SEEN IN A DREAM.
The Lord was seen by me, in a dream, with the face and form in which He had been when He was in the world. He was such that interiorly He was full, and, so, could have ruled the whole heaven within. There was a certain one at no great distance from Himself, on whom He gazed, and then raised the eyes slightly, and, thus, knew who and of what quality he was. And He often slept, as it were, with the eyes, when He was withdrawn into Himself. When, also, I awaked I saw Him obscurely; and it was stated that such had been His appearance. In a word, He was filled with heaven and with the Divine. In the night between the 18th and 19th November, 1751.

SEM (Buss) n. 4792

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Buss) n. 4792

4792.* [4832] CONCERNING THE JEWS. CONCERNING THE MESSIAH AND BETHLEHEM.
When I wrote about Bethlehem, whence was the Messiah, Nos. 4593-4 [AC], [to the effect] that they knew previously that the Messiah would be born there, then the Jews perceived and thought about the Messiah, that the prophecies say this, and that now it is scarcely known where Bethlehem is, and that it cannot be believed that the Messiah, whom they expect, should be born there, for they expect him from somewhere else. Thus they knew not what they should believe.
* What is generally known as the "Spiritual Experiences Minor," ends here.