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Doc. 208]. HIS SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE IN 1743.. 141
finally told that "his looks have improved, and that his
appearance is like that of an angel" (no. 196).*
That the Lord might fill this man with His spirit, and
enable him "to teach the doctrines of the New Church by the
Word from Himself," it was not however sufficient that "by
means of the knowledge of natural things he should reach a
state of intelligence," and that he should be in a state of good ;
it was further necessary that his spiritual sight should be
opened, and that "he should associate with the angels of
heaven." This he clearly states in the following passage :
"This internal or spiritual sense, and the arcana of the state
of the Church in the heavens and on the earth, which are
contained in that sense, cannot be revealed to any one, unless
he know that sense, and unless it be granted him at the same
time to have consort with the angels, and to speak spiritually
with them" ("Last Judgment," no. 42.)
Several reasons are given by him why it was necessary that
his spiritual sight should be opened. He says in the "Arcana
Cœlestia," no. 67: "The hidden things of the internal sense of the
Word can never be known, unless the nature of the things in
the other world be made known, because so very many of the
things contained in the internal sense have respect to them,
and describe and involve them."
This reason he states in the " Spiritual Diary," no. 200 in
these words: "There are many things in the Word respecting
God-Messiah, as well in the Old as in the New Testament,
* That Swedenborg’s preparation for his office was not only of the
understanding, but also of the will, and that he was regenerated as to his
will, when his spiritual sight was fully opened appears from the following
passage in the "Spiritual Diary:" "It was observed and instilled into my
mind, that everything that a man has done in the life of the body returns
in the other life. For there are perpetual changes of state, into which man
is introduced, so that there is not a single state of the life of the body,
which does not return in the other life; consequently hatreds and the like,
which man has not only done, but also thought. *** But it is to be ob
served that with the evil, all the evils which they have done and thought
return in a most vivid manner ; while with those who are in good and
faith such is not the case: for with them all the states of good, of friendship,
and of love return with the greatest delight and felicity. Experimental
proof that there is no evil with me" (no. 4109).
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