longer capable of being reformed by instruction, as in the world, because the ultimate plane, which consists of natural knowledges and affections, is then quiescent, and cannot be opened because it is not spiritual; that the interiors which belong to the rational and natural minds rest upon that plane, like, a house on its foundation; and that it is on this account that man remains to eternity such as the life of his love had been in the world.
The angels wonder exceedingly that man does not know that every one is such as his ruling love is; that many should believe they can be saved by immediate mercy, and by faith alone, whatever be the quality of their lives; also that they do not know that the divine mercy operates through means, and consists in being led by the Lord both in the world and afterwards to eternity; and that those are led by mercy who do not live in evil. They are also surprised that men do not know that faith is the affection of truth proceeding from heavenly love which is from the Lord.
That the man whose love is celestial and spiritual goes to heaven, and he whose love is corporeal and worldly without celestial and spiritual, goes to hell, has been made plain to me from all whom I have seen taken up into heaven and cast into hell. The life of those who were taken up into heaven had been from celestial and spiritual love; but the life of
