of correspondences had been concealed for some thousands
of years, ever since the time of Job; and that with
those who lived at that time, and before it, the science
of correspondences was their chief science, whence
they derived wisdom, because they derived knowledge
respecting the spiritual things of heaven and the
church; but that this science, on account of its being
made idolatrous, was so extirpated and destroyed by
the divine providence of the Lord that no visible traces
of it were left remaining; that nevertheless at this
time it has been again discovered by the Lord, in
order that the men of the church may have conjunction
with him, and consociation with the angels; which purposes
are effected by the Word, in which all things are
correspondences. The angels rejoiced exceedingly
to hear that it has pleased the Lord to reveal this
great arcanum, which had lain so deeply hid for some
thousands of years; and they said it was done in order
that the Christian church, which is founded on the
Word, and is now at its end, may again revive and draw
breath through heaven from the Lord. They inquired
whether by that science it is at this day discovered
what are signified by baptism and the holy supper,
which have heretofore given birth to so many various
conjectures about their true meaning. I replied,
that it is. 3. I said further, that a revelation
has been made at this day by the Lord concerning the
life of man after death? The angels said, “What
concerning the life after death? Who does not
know that a man lives after death?” I replied,
“They know it, and they do not know it:
they say that it is not the man that lives after death,
but his soul, and that this lives a spirit; and the
idea they have of a spirit is as of wind or ether,
and that it does not live a man till after the day
of the last judgement, at which time the corporeal
parts, which had been left in the world, will be recollected
and again fitted together into a body, notwithstanding
their having been eaten by worms, mice, and fish; and
that thus men will rise again.” The angels
said, “What a notion is this! Who does
not know that a man lives a man after death, with this
difference alone, that he then lives a spiritual man,
and that a spiritual man sees a spiritual man, as
a material man sees a material man, and that they
know no distinction, except that they are in a more
perfect state?” 4. The angels inquired,
“What do they know concerning our world, and
concerning heaven and hell?” I said, “Nothing
at all; but at this day it has been revealed by the
Lord, what is the nature and quality of the world
in which angels and spirits live, thus what is the
quality of heaven and of hell; and further, that angels
and spirits are in conjunction with men; besides many
wonderful things respecting them.” The
angels were glad to hear that it has pleased the Lord
to reveal such things, that men may no longer be in
doubt through ignorance respecting their immortality.
5. I further said, that at this day it has been