wine, and who, when he drinks wine of an inferior quality, does not lose his taste and appetite for that which is generous. 3.  The reason why the above concubinage is only a clothing of conjugial love encompassing it, is, because the love of concubinage is natural, and the love of marriage spiritual; and natural love is a veil or covering to spiritual, when the latter is interrupted:  that this is the case, is unknown to the lover; because spiritual love is not made sensible of itself, but by natural love, and it is made sensible as delight, in which there is blessedness from heaven:  but natural love by itself is made sensible only as delight. 4.  The reason why this veil is taken away after death, is, because then a man from natural becomes spiritual, and instead of a material body enjoys a substantial one, wherein natural delight grounded in spiritual is made sensible in its perfection.  That this is the case, I have heard from communication with some in the spiritual world, even from kings there, who in the natural world had engaged in concubinage from really excusatory causes.

476.  XII.  WHILE THIS CONCUBINAGE CONTINUES, ACTUAL CONNECTION WITH A WIFE IS NOT ALLOWABLE.  The reason of this is, because in such case conjugial love, which in itself is spiritual, chaste, pure, and holy, becomes natural, is defiled and disregarded, and thereby perishes; wherefore in order that this love may be preserved, it is expedient that concubinage grounded in really excusatory causes, n. 472, 473, be engaged in with one only, and not with two at the same time.

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477.  To the above I will add the following MEMORABLE RELATION.  I heard a certain spirit, a youth, recently deceased, boasting of his libertinism, and eager to establish his reputation as a man of superior masculine powers; and in the insolence of his boasting he thus expressed himself; “What is more dismal than for a man to imprison his love, and to confine himself to one woman? and what is more delightful than to set the love at liberty?  Who does not grow tired of one? and who is not revived by several?  What is sweeter than promiscuous liberty, variety, deflorations, schemes to deceive husbands, and plans of adulterous hypocrisy?  Do not those things which are obtained by cunning, deceit, and theft, delight the inmost principles of the mind!” On hearing these things, the bystanders said, “Speak not in such terms; you know not where and with whom you are; you are but lately come hither.  Hell is beneath your feet, and heaven over your head; you are now in the world which is between those two, and is called the world of spirits.  All who depart out of the world, come here, and being assembled are examined as to their quality; and here they are prepared, the wicked for hell, and the good for heaven.  Possibly you still retain what you have heard from priests in the world, that whoremongers and adulterers are cast down into hell, and that chaste married partners