Arcana Coelestia volume 7 - Swedenborg Foundation

ARCANA COELESTIA 3638the faith of truth are from mercy given to those who receive mercyin the world; and with these there is reception from mercy, andthey are those who are called the “elect” (see n. 3755e, 3900).5059. When those have approached me who have lived in what iscontrary to conjugial love—that is, in adulteries—they alwaysinjected pain in the loins, more or less severe according to the lifeof adulteries which they had lived; from which influx also it hasbeen evident that the loins correspond to conjugial love. The hell ofthese is under the hinder part of the loins, beneath the buttocks,where they dwell in filth and excrements; and these things aredelightful to them because in the spiritual world they are incorrespondence with these pleasures. But more will be said aboutthese spirits, when of the Lord’s Divine mercy I come to speak ofthe hells in general and in particular.5060. Who they are that correspond to the testicles, was in likemanner evident to me from those who are in what is contrary toconjugial love, and who inflict pain on the testicles; for whensocieties operate they act upon those parts and those members ofthe body to which they correspond—heavenly societies by a gentle,sweet, delightful influx; and infernal ones, who are in what iscontrary, by a severe and painful influx. But their influx isperceived by those only whose interiors have been opened, and whothereby have received perceptible communication with the spiritualworld. They who are in what is contrary to conjugial love and whoinflict pain on the testicles, are those who ensnare by love,friendship, and kind offices. When such spirits approached me theydesired to speak with me in private, being exceedingly fearful lestanyone should be present, for this had been their character in thelife of the body; and being such then, they are such in the other lifealso, because everyone’s life remains with him.[2] There arose from the region about Gehenna something airyand inconspicuous. It was a company of such spirits, but thoughthere were many in it, it afterward appeared to me as only one spirithampered with bandages, which however he seemed to himself toremove, whereby was signified that they desired to remove