Divine Love and Wisdom (Harleys) n. 202

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

202. In the spiritual world there are three heavens arranged according to degrees of height. In the highest heaven are angels superior in every perfection to angels in the middle heaven, and in the middle heaven are angels superior in every perfection to angels of the lowest heaven. The degrees of perfection are such that angels of the lowest heaven cannot ascend to the first threshold of the perfections of the angels of the middle heaven, nor these to the first threshold of the perfections of the angels of the highest heaven. This seems a paradox, yet it is the truth. The reason is that they are consociated according to discrete, and not according to continuous degrees. It has been made known to me by experience that there is such a distinction between the affections and thoughts and consequently the speech, of the angels of the higher and the lower heavens that they have nothing in common, and that communication takes place only through correspondences which have existence through the immediate influx of the Lord into all the heavens, and by mediate influx through the highest heaven into the lowest. Such being the nature of these distinctions, they cannot be expressed in natural language, and so cannot be described. For the thoughts of angels, being spiritual, do not fall into natural ideas. They can be expressed and described only by the angels themselves through their own languages, words and writings, and not through those which are human. This is why it is said that in the heavens ineffable things are heard and seen. These distinctions may in some measure be comprehended from these considerations, that the thoughts of angels of the highest or third heaven are thoughts of ends, and the thoughts of angels of the middle or second heaven are thoughts of causes while the thoughts of angels of the lowest or first heaven are thoughts of effects. It is to be known that it is one thing to think from ends, and another to think about ends; also that it is one thing to think from causes, and another to think about causes; just as it is one thing to think from effects, and another about effects. Angels of the lower heavens think about causes and about ends, but angels of the higher heavens think from causes and ends. To think from these belongs to higher wisdom, whereas to think about these belongs to lower wisdom. To think from ends pertains to wisdom, to think from causes pertains to intelligence, and to think from effects pertains to knowledge. From these things it is clear that all perfection ascends and descends along with degrees and according to them.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church