Heaven and Hell (Harley) n. 240

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240. Because the speech of angels proceeds directly from their affection, and the ideas of their thought being, as was said above (n. 236), the various forms into which their general affection is distributed, angels can therefore express in a moment what a man cannot express in half an hour. Also they can set forth in a few words what has been expressed in writing on many pages. This, too, has been proved to me by much experience.# Thus the angels' ideas of thought and the words of their speech make one, like efficient cause and effect. For what is in the ideas of thought as cause is presented in the words as effect, and this is why every word comprises in itself so many things. Also all the particulars of angelic thought, and thus of angelic speech, appear, when presented to view, like a thin outflowing wave or atmosphere, in which are innumerable things in their order derived from angelic wisdom, and these enter another's thought and affect him. The ideas of thought of every one, both angel and man, are presented to view in the light of heaven, whenever the Lord pleases.## # Angels can express by their speech in a moment more than a man can express by his in half an hour; and they can also express things that do not fall into the expressions of human speech (n. 1641-1643, 1645, 4609. 7089). ## There are innumerable things contained in one idea of thought (n. 1008, 1869, 4946, 6613-6618). The ideas of man's thought are opened in the other life, and what they are is presented to view to the life (n. 1869, 3310, 5510). What their appearance is (n. 6601, 8885). The ideas of angels of the inmost heaven present an appearance of flamy light (n. 6615). The ideas of angels of the outermost heaven present an appearance of thin white clouds (n. 6614). An idea of an angel seen, from which there was a radiation towards the Lord (n. 6620). Ideas of thought extend themselves widely into the societies of angels round about (n. 6598-6613).


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