Arcana Coelestia volume 7 - Swedenborg Foundation

ARCANA COELESTIA 3712Lord stored up from infancy, which in the Word are called“remains” (see n. 468, 530, 560, 561, 661, 1050, 1738, 1906,2284); these remains are infected by deceit, and are mixed up byprofanation (what profanation is may be seen above, n. 593, 1008,1010, 1059, 1327, 1328, 2051, 2426, 3398, 3402, 3489, 3898,4289, 4601). From these signs it may in some measure be knownwho is a rational, and who a sensuous man.[6] When sensuous things are subject to the rational, then thesensuous things from which man’s first imagination is formed areenlightened by the light which comes through heaven from theLord, and are also disposed into order so as to receive the light andcorrespond. When they are in this state, sensuous things no longerstand in the way of truths being acknowledged and seen, thosewhich disagree being instantly removed, and those which agreebeing accepted. Those which agree are then as it were in the center,and those which disagree are in the circumference; those which arein the center are as it were lifted up toward heaven, and thosewhich are in the circumference as it were hang downward. Thosewhich are in the center receive light through the rational, and whenthey are presented to view in the other life they are seen as littlestars which gleam and shed light round about even to thecircumference, with a gradual diminution. Into such a form arenatural and sensuous things disposed when the rational hasdominion and sensuous things are in subjection. This takes placewhile the man is being regenerated, and thereby he is in a state ofseeing and acknowledging truths in their full extent. But when therational is subject to sensuous things, the contrary comes to pass;for falsities are in the middle, or in the center, and truths are in thecircumference. The things which are in the center are in a certainlight, but it is a fatuous light, or such as arises from a coal fire, intowhich flows a light on all sides from hell. This is the light which iscalled darkness, for as soon as any light from heaven flows into it, itis turned into darkness.5129. Verses 14, 15. But remember me with thee when it is wellwith thee, and do mercy I pray with me, and make mention of me untoPharaoh, and bring me out of this house. For being carried off by theft