Heaven and Hell (Harley) n. 335

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335. Little children are taught chiefly by representatives suited to their genius. These are beautiful and at the same time full of wisdom from within, beyond all belief. In this way, an intelligence that derives its soul from good is gradually instilled into them. It is permitted here to describe two representatives that I have been enabled to see, from which a conclusion can be made about the rest. First, they were representing the Lord rising from the sepulchre, and at the same time the uniting of His Human with the Divine. This was done in a manner so wise as to surpass all human wisdom, and at the same time in an innocent infantile manner. They were presenting also an idea of the sepulchre, and with it an idea of the Lord, but in so remote a way that it could scarcely be perceived that the Lord was there, except seemingly afar off. This was because in the idea of a sepulchre there is something funereal, and they were removing it in this way. Afterwards, they cautiously admitted into the sepulchre something atmospheric, with an appearance of thin vapour, by which with proper remoteness they signified spiritual life in baptism. Afterwards, I saw a representation, by these angels, of the Lord descending to those who are bound, and of His ascending with these into heaven, and this with incomparable prudence and reverence. In adaptation to the infantile mind they let down little cords almost invisible, very soft and tender, by which they eased the Lord's ascent, always with a holy solicitude that there should be nothing in the representation bordering upon anything that did not contain what is spiritual celestial. Other representations are there given, whereby, as by plays adapted to the minds of children, they are guided into cognitions of truth and affections of good.


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