Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 364
When the life of the spirit in the body is ended, and its
exteriors are laid aside and its interiors disclosed, it comes into
this affection. This is man’s second state. I have seen some that
have recently arrived from the world, and have recognized
them from their face and speech; but seeing them afterwards I
did not recognize them. Those that had been in good affections
appeared with beautiful faces; but those that had been in evil
affections with misshapen faces; for man’s spirit, viewed in
itself, is nothing but his affection; and the face is its outward
form. Another reason why faces are changed is that in the other
life no one is permitted to counterfeit affections that are not his
own, and thus assume looks that are contrary to his love. All in
the other life are brought into such a state as to speak as they
think, and to manifest in their looks and gestures the
inclinations of their will. And because of this the faces of all
become forms and images of their affections; and in
consequence all that have known each other in the world know
each other in the world of spirits, but not in heaven nor in hell
(as has been said above, n. 427). 264
458. The faces of hypocrites are changed more slowly than
those of others, because by practice they had formed a habit of
so managing their interiors as to imitate good affections;
consequently for a long time they appear not unbeautiful. But
as that which they had assumed is gradually put off, and the
264. The face is so formed as to correspond with the interiors (n.
4791–4805, 5695).
The correspondence of the face and its expressions with the affections of
the mind (n. 1568, 2988, 2989, 3631, 4796, 4797, 4800, 5165, 5168, 5695,
9306).
With the angels of heaven the face makes one with the interiors that
belong to the mind (n. 4796–4799, 5695, 8250). Therefore in the Word the
face signifies the interiors that belong to the mind, that is, to the affection
and thought (n. 1999, 2434, 3527, 4066, 4796, 5102, 9306, 9546). In what
manner the influx from the brain into the face has been changed in process of
time and with it the face itself as regards its correspondence with the interiors
(n. 4326, 8250).