Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 165
preaching, observing the sacrament of the Supper three or four
times a year, and performing other acts of worship according to
the requirements of the church; also devoting special times to
prayers, and at such times, behaving devoutly. The angels said
that these are outward acts that ought to be done, but are of no
avail unless there is an internal from which they proceed,
which is a life in accordance with the precepts that doctrine
teaches.
223. That I might learn about their meeting in places of
worship, I have been permitted at times to attend and to hear
the preaching. The preacher stands in a pulpit at the east.
Those who are in the light of wisdom more than others sit in
front of him; those who are in less light sit to the right and left
of these. There is a circular arrangement of the seats, so that all
are in the preacher’s view, no one so sitting at either side as to
be out of his view. At the entrance, which is at the east of the
building and on the left of the pulpit, those stand who are
being initiated. No one is permitted to stand behind the pulpit;
when there is anyone there the preacher becomes confused. It
is the same if anyone in the congregation dissents; and for this
reason the dissenter must needs turn away his face. The
wisdom of the preachings is such as to be above all comparison
with the preachings of this world, for those in the heavens are
in interior light. The church edifices in the spiritual kingdom
are apparently built of stone, and those in the celestial
kingdom of wood; because stone corresponds to truth, and
those who are in the spiritual kingdom are in truth, while
wood corresponds to good, and those in the celestial kingdom
are in good. 162
In that kingdom the sacred edifices are not
called churches but houses of God. In that kingdom they are
162. “Stone” signifies truth (n. 114, 643, 1298, 3720, 6426, 8609,
10376).
“Wood” signifies good (n. 643, 3720, 8354).
For this reason the most ancient people, who were in celestial good, had
sacred buildings of wood (n. 3720).