Angelic Wisdom about Divine ProvidenceSwedenborg, Emanuel
Religion
Angelic Wisdom about Divine Providence
Swedenborg, Emanuel
Providence and government of God -- Christianity
66. From all this the arcanum, well called angelic, can in a measure be
seen, that each affection of good and at the same time of truth is human
in form. For whatever proceeds from the Lord gets from His divine love
that it is an affection of good and from His divine wisdom that it is an
affection of truth. An affection of truth proceeding from the Lord
appears in angel and man as perception and consequent thought of truth.
For we are aware of perception and thought, but little aware of the
affection whence they are, although all come as one from the Lord.
67. Man, then, is by creation a heaven in least form and hence an image
of the Lord; heaven consists of as many affections as there are angels;
and each affection in its form is man. It must then be the constant
striving of divine providence that a man may become a heaven in form and
an image of the Lord, and as this is effected by means of an affection of
the good and true, that he may become such an affection. This is
therefore the unceasing effort of divine providence. But its inmost aim
is that a man may be here or there in heaven or in the divine heavenly
man, for so he is in the Lord. But this is accomplished with those whom
the Lord can lead to heaven. As He foresees who can be led He also
provides continually that a man may become amenable; for thus everyone
who suffers himself to be led to heaven is prepared for his own place
there.
68. We have said that heaven is divided into as many societies as there
are organs, viscera and members in man; and in these no part can be in
any place but its own. As angels are the parts in the divine heavenly
man, and none become angels who were not men in the world, the man who
suffers himself to be led to heaven is continually prepared by the Lord
for his own place there. This is done by the affection of good and truth
which corresponds with that place. To this place every angel-man is also
assigned on his departure from the world. This is the inmost of divine
providence touching heaven.
69. On the other hand, a man who does not permit himself to be led to
heaven and allotted a place there is prepared for his own place in hell.
Of himself a man tends constantly to the depths of hell but is
continually withheld by the Lord. He who cannot be withheld is prepared
for a given place in hell, to which he is assigned on departure from the
world. This place is opposite one in heaven; for hell is the opposite of
heaven. So, as the angel-man according to his affection of good and truth
is allotted his place in heaven, the devil-man according to his affection
of evil and falsity is allotted his in hell. The two opposites, set
exactly over against each other, are kept in connection. This is the
inmost of divine providence touching hell.
IV. THERE ARE LAWS OF PROVIDENCE THAT ARE UNKNOWN TO MEN
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