PASSING FROM EXTERNALS TO INTERNALS
But gradually as they put off externals and come into their internals, they perceive what their love and inclination toward each other had been, and consequently whether they can live together or not...
Every one after death is first introduced into the world which is called the world of spirits, and is in the midst between heaven and hell; and is there prepared, the good for heaven and the evil for hell. This preparation has for its end, that the internal and external may agree and make one, and not disagree and make two. In the natural world they make two, and only one with those who are sincere in heart. That they make two, is evident from the deceitful and cunning, especially from hypocrites, flatterers, dissemblers and liars.
But in the spiritual world it is not permitted to have a mind thus divided; for he who has been evil in internals will also be evil in externals; in like manner the good in both; for every man after death becomes what he had been interiorly, and not what he had been exteriorly. For this reason he is then alternately let into his external and his internal; and every one while in his external is wise, that is, wishes to appear wise, although he is evil; but in his internal he is insane. By means of these alternations he can see his insanities and repent of them; but if he had not repented in the
