Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 260
and by means of these heavenly things their interiors are
opened, and they are thereby daily perfected. But when this
first age is completed they are transferred to another heaven,
where they are taught by masters; and so on.
335. Children are taught chiefly by representatives suited to
their capacity. These are beautiful and full of wisdom from
within, beyond all belief. In this way an intelligence that
derives its soul from good is gradually instilled into them. I will
here describe two representatives that I have been permitted to
see, from which the nature of others may be inferred. First
there was a representation of the Lord’s rising from the
sepulcher, and at the same time of 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. An idea of a sepulcher was
presented, and with it an idea of the Lord, but in so remote a
way that there was scarcely any perception of its being the
Lord, except seemingly afar off; and for the reason that in the
idea of a sepulcher there is something funereal, and this was
thus removed; afterwards they cautiously admitted into the
sepulcher something atmospheric, with an appearance of thin
vapor, by which with proper remoteness they signified spiritual
life in baptism. Afterwards I saw a representation by the angels
of the Lord’s descent to those that are “bound,” and of his
ascent with these into heaven, and this with incomparable
prudence and gentleness. In adaptation to the infantile mind
they let down little cords almost invisible, very soft and tender,
by which they lightened 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
and heavenly. Other representations are there given, whereby,
as by plays adapted to the minds of children, they are guided
into knowledges of truth and affections for good.
336. It was also shown how tender their understanding is.
When I was praying the Lord’s Prayer, and from their
understanding they flowed into the ideas of my thought, their