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LETTERS. , 995
deed are life of each other’s life, or have ‘ become one fish’ in
the full and sacred sense of the word.” And it requires no ex-
planation to show what a delight it is to them, when they are per-
mitted to keep their children with them alive, until, surrounded
by them, they close their own eyes forever. But even that is a
blessing, to have, as one expresses it, lost children by death in
their tender age. For these, who in heaven are educated by
angels especially appointed for that purpose, until they themselves
have become qualified to be such angels, continue to be connected
with their parents remaining on earth, by love’s immortal, sym-
pathetic ties. These ties are the root of their being, and hence
it follows that these ties, by the development of the conscious-
ness of these children, themselves become developed into a con-
stantly higher love ; and this makes that from the third or highest
heaven, which is the heaven of innocence and of children, they
constantly visit the parents through soothing and_ purifying influ-
ences.
“ All children who, in their tenderest age, are taken away from
earth, are in the beginning brought up in that circle of heaven
which has been mentioned first. For this purpose female angels
are employed whose distinguishing characteristic during their
mortal life has been sincere piety, and great love of children.
Thereafter their edu¢ation is continued by male angels in that
branch of celestial knowledge and wisdom to which their disposi-
tion directs them. During this latter education, or while growing
up, they are removed to other celestial spheres. It then de-
pends upon themselves whether they can again be received into
the third celestial sphere. Fully grown up and educated are
they, when the innocence of childhood in them is transformed
into the innocence of wisdom; for just thereby, but not before,
are they real angels. In general, this transformation is the
common fundamental condition of all heavenly life, although
different grades are possible. It is this fundamental condition
which is expressed in the words of our Saviour: ‘ Whosoever
shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall in no
wise enter therein.’ When full grown, and when their education
has been finished, those who have thus been prepared for a celes-
tial social life, receive those angel-spouses which from eternity
have been destined for them. But in form and features they
remain forever youth and maiden.
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