Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 269
(see above, n. 126–140). This light enters only into the
interiors of the mind; for the interiors of the mind are formed
for the reception of that light, and are affected by and
delighted with that light as it enters; for whatever flows in and
is received from heaven has in it what is delightful and
pleasant. From this comes a genuine affection for truth, which
is an affection for truth for truth’s sake. Those who are in this
affection, or what is the same thing, in this love, are in
heavenly intelligence, and “shine in heaven as with the
brightness of the firmament.” They so shine because Divine
truth, wherever it is in heaven, is what gives light (see above, n.
132); and the “firmament” of heaven signifies from
correspondence the intellectual faculty, both with angels and
men, that is in the light of heaven.
[2] But those that love the truth, either with glory in the
world or glory in heaven as an end, cannot shine in heaven,
since they are delighted with and affected by the light of the
world, and not with the very light of heaven; and the light of
the world without the light of heaven is in heaven mere thick
darkness. 226
For the glory of self is what rules, because it is the
end in view; and when that glory is the end man puts himself
in the first place, and such truths as can be made serviceable to
his glory he looks upon simply as means to the end and as
instruments of service. For he that loves Divine truths for the
sake of his own glory regards himself and not the Lord in
226. The light of the world is for the external man, the light of heaven
for the internal man (n. 3222–3224, 3337).
The light of heaven flows into the natural light, and so far as the natural
man receives the light of heaven he becomes wise (n. 4302, 4408).
The things that are in the light of heaven can be seen in the light of
heaven but not in the light of the world, which is called natural light (n.
9755).
Therefore those who are solely in the light of the world do not perceive
those things that are in the light of heaven (n. 3108).
To the angels the light of the world is thick darkness (n. 1521, 1783,
1880).