Conjugial Love

The guards tried to lead them back again into the temple to repeat their prayers and praises, but it was in vain. They insisted on being left to themselves to original: "recruit their spirits" refresh their spirits. "If we do not," they said, "we shall die of mere faintness and exhaustion." At that instant, look! There appeared four men in white garments, with mitres on their heads. One of them, while on earth, had been an archbishop, and the other three had been bishops; all of them had now become angels. As they approached, they addressed the priests and said, "We have observed from heaven how you feed these sheep. Your instruction leads to their original: "infatuation"; here meaning a state of being misled or foolishly mistaken delusion. Do you not know that to glorify God means to bring forth the fruits of love? That is, to discharge all the duties of our callings with faithfulness, sincerity, and diligence. For this is the nature of love toward God and our neighbor, and this is the bond and blessing of society. In this way, God is glorified, as well as by acts of worship performed at stated times after these duties. Have you never read these words of the Lord: In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples (John 15:8). You priests, indeed, may glorify God by your attendance on his worship, since this is your office, and from the discharge of it you derive honor, glory, and reward; but it would be as impossible for you as for others to glorify God in this way unless honor, glory, and reward were attached to your office." Having said this, the bishops ordered the doorkeepers to allow everyone free entry and exit. There were so many people who, because of their ignorance of the state and nature of heaven, could form no other idea of heavenly joy than that it consists in the perpetual worship of God.

10. After this, the angel returned with his companions to the place of assembly, where the various groups of the "wise ones" were still waiting. Next, he addressed those who fancied that heavenly joy and eternal happiness depend only on being admitted into heaven, which they believed is obtained merely by divine grace and favor. They thought that in such a case, the people introduced would enter into the enjoyments of heaven just as those invited to a court festival or a wedding enter into the enjoyment of such scenes. "Wait here a while," said the angel, "until I sound my trumpet and call together those who have been most distinguished for their wisdom regarding the spiritual matters of the Church." After some hours, there appeared nine men, each wearing a wreath of laurel on his head as a mark of distinction. The angel introduced these men into the house of assembly where all the companies previously collected were still waiting. Then, in their presence, he addressed the nine strangers and said, "I am informed that, in accordance with your desire, you have been permitted to ascend into heaven according to your own ideas of it, and that you have returned to this inferior or original: "sub-celestial earth"; in Swedenborg’s theology, this refers to the "World of Spirits," an intermediate realm between heaven and hell where people are prepared for their final destination sub-celestial earth, perfectly well-informed as to the nature and state of heaven. Tell us, therefore..."