Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 298
368. Moreover, such a conjunction of husband and wife in
the inmosts of their minds comes from their very creation; for
man is born to be intellectual, that is, to think from the
understanding, while woman is born to be affectional, that is,
to think from her will; and this is evident from the inclination
or natural disposition of each, also from their form; from the
disposition, in that man acts from reason and woman from
affection; from the form in that man has a rougher and less
beautiful face, a deeper voice and a harder body; while woman
has a smoother and more beautiful face, a softer voice, and a
more tender body. There is a like difference between
understanding and will, or between thought and affection; so,
too, between truth and good and between faith and love; for
truth and faith belong to the understanding, and good and love
to the will. From this it is that in the Word “youth” or “man”
means in the spiritual sense the understanding of truth, and
“virgin” or “woman” affection for good; also that the church,
on account of its affection for good and truth, is called a
“woman” and a “virgin”; also that all those that are in affection
for good are called “virgins” (as in Rev. 14:4). 242
Marriage love is willing what another wills, thus willing mutually and
reciprocally (n. 2731). Those that are in marriage love dwell together in the
inmosts of life (n. 2732).
It is such a union of two minds that from love they are one (n. 10168,
10169).
For the love of minds, which is spiritual love, is a union (n. 1594, 2057,
3939, 4018, 5807, 6195, 7081–7086, 7501, 10130).
242. In the Word “young men” signify understanding of truth, or the
intelligent (n. 7668).
“Men” have the same signification (n. 158, 265, 749, 915, 1007, 2517,
3134, 3236, 4823, 9007). “Woman” signifies affection for good and truth
(n. 568, 3160, 6014, 7337, 8994); likewise the church (n. 252, 253, 749,
770); “wife” has the same signification (n. 252, 253, 409, 749, 770); with
what difference (n. 915, 2517, 3236, 4510, 4823).
In the highest sense “husband and wife” are predicated of the Lord and
of His conjunction with heaven and the church (n. 7022).