Arcana Coelestia (Potts) n. 9931

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9931. And grave upon it with the engraving of a signet. That this signifies what is perpetual and impressed on hearts according to the heavenly sphere, is evident from the signification of "to engrave," as being to impress on the memory (see n. 9841, 9842), thus also on the heart; for that which is impressed on the interior memory, which belongs to the life, is said to be "impressed on the heart," and as this remains to eternity, it also signifies what is perpetual; and from the signification of "the engraving of a signet," as being the heavenly sphere (n. 9846). The reason why it is said to be "impressed on hearts according to the heavenly sphere," is that the things which have been impressed on the memory, especially on the interior memory, which is the book of life (see n. 2474), have been impressed according to the heavenly sphere; for a man who is in the good of love from the truths of faith resembles heaven, and moreover, is a heaven in the least form (see the places cited in n. 9279, 9632); thus in him there is the heavenly form; for all the societies in heaven have been set in order in accordance with the heavenly form, because all the affections of good and the consequent thoughts of truth flow in accordance with this form (n. 9877). (That when a man is in heavenly love all the memory-knowledges are arranged in the heavenly form, and that love so arranges them, see n. 6690.)


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