Doctrine of Holy Scripture - Swedenborg Foundation

DOCTRINE OF HOLY SCRIPTURE 201in Doctrine of the Lord. The reason why the conjunction is in thesense of the letter is that in this sense the Word is in its fullness, itsholiness, and its power, as has been shown above in its properchapter. The conjunction is not apparent to the man, but is in theaffection of truth, and in his perception of it, thus is in the man’slove for and faith in Divine truth.63. The reason why there is association with the angels of heavenby means of the sense of the letter is that the spiritual sense andcelestial sense are in it, and the angels are in these senses, the angelsof the spiritual kingdom being in the Word’s spiritual sense, andthose of the celestial kingdom in its celestial sense. These senses areevolved from the Word’s natural sense which is the sense of theletter while a true man is in it. The evolution is instantaneous;consequently so is the association.64. It has been made plain to me by much experience that thespiritual angels are in the spiritual sense of the Word, and thecelestial angels in its celestial sense. While reading the Word in itssense of the letter it has been given me to perceive thatcommunication was effected with the heavens, now with thissociety of them, now with that, and that what I understoodaccording to the natural sense, the spiritual angels understoodaccording to the spiritual sense, and the celestial angels accordingto the celestial sense, and this in an instant. As I have perceived thiscommunication many thousands of times, there remains with meno doubt about it. Moreover there are spirits beneath the heavenswho abuse this communication; they recite some sayings from thesense of the letter, and immediately observe and take note of thesociety with which communication is effected. This I havefrequently seen and heard. From these things it has been given meto know by actual experience that the Word in respect to its senseof the letter is the Divine medium of conjunction with the Lordand with heaven. (Concerning this conjunction by the Word seealso what is said in Heaven and Hell, n. 303–310.)65. The way in which the evolution of these senses is effectedshall also be told in a few words. But for the understanding of this