Heaven and its Wonders and HellSwedenborg, Emanuel
Religion
Heaven and its Wonders and Hell
Swedenborg, Emanuel
Future life -- Christianity -- Early work to 1800; Heaven -- Christianity; Hell -- Christianity
368. Moreover, such a conjunction of husband and wife in the inmosts
of their minds comes from their very creation; for man is born to be
intellectual, that is, to think from the understanding, while woman
is born to be affectional, that is, to think from her will; and this
is evident from the inclination or natural disposition of each, also
from their form; from the disposition, in that man acts from reason
and woman from affection; from the form in that man has a rougher and
less beautiful face, a deeper voice and a harder body; while woman
has a smoother and more beautiful face, a softer voice, and a more
tender body. There is a like difference between understanding and
will, or between thought and affection; so, too, between truth and
good and between faith and love; for truth and faith belong to the
understanding, and good and love to the will. From this it is that in
the Word "youth" or "man" means in the spiritual sense the
understanding of truth, and "virgin" or "woman" affection for good;
also that the church, on account of its affection for good and truth,
is called a "woman" and a "virgin;" also that all those that are in
affection for good are called "virgins" (as in Apoc. 14:4).{1}
{Footnote 1} In the Word "young men" signify understanding of
truth, or the intelligent (n. 7668). "Men" have the same
signification (n. 158, 265, 749, 915, 1007, 2517, 3134, 3236,
4823, 9007). "Woman" signifies affection for good and truth (n.
568, 3160, 6014, 7337, 8994); likewise the church (n. 252, 253,
749, 770); "wife" has the same signification (n. 252, 253, 409,
749, 770); with what difference (n. 915, 2517, 3236, 4510,
4823). In the highest sense "husband and wife" are predicated
of the Lord and of His conjunction with heaven and the church
(n. 7022). A "virgin" signifies affection for good (n. 3067,
3110, 3179, 3189, 6729, 6742); likewise the church (n. 2362,
3081, 3963, 4638, 6729, 6775, 6788).
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