Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 276
things as appear before their eyes in the world; these they hold
in the memory and look at them in an almost material way,
although the same knowledges serve the truly intelligent in
forming their under standing. By sciences the various kinds of
experimental knowledge are meant, such as physics, astronomy,
chemistry, mechanics, geometry, anatomy, psychology,
philosophy, the history of kingdoms and of the literary world,
criticism, and languages.
[2] The clergy who deny the Divine do not raise their
thoughts above the sensual things of the external man; and
regard the things of the Word in the same way as others regard
the sciences, not making them matters of thought or of any
intuition by an enlightened rational mind; and for the reason
that their interiors are closed up, together with those exteriors
that are nearest to their interiors. These are closed up because
they have turned themselves away from heaven, and have
retroverted those faculties that were capable of looking
heavenward, which are, as has been said above, the interiors of
the human mind. For this reason they are incapable of seeing
anything true or good, this being to them in thick darkness,
while whatever is false and evil is in light.
[3] And yet sensual men can reason, some of them more
cunningly and keenly than anyone else; but they reason from
the fallacies of the senses confirmed by their knowledges; and
because they are able to reason in this way they believe
themselves to be wiser than others. 230
The fire that kindles with
and thus perceives nothing that is from the light of heaven (n. 6201, 6310,
6564, 6598, 6612, 6614, 6622, 6624, 6844, 6845).
Therefore he is inwardly opposed to all things pertaining to heaven and
the church (n. 6201, 6310, 6844, 6845, 6948, 6949). The learned that have
confirmed themselves against the truths of the church are sensual (n. 6316).
A description of the sensual man (n. 10236).
230. Sensual men reason keenly and cunningly, since they place all
intelligence in speaking from the bodily memory (n. 195, 196, 5700, 10236).