that the dominion of the love of self is such in societies, or in kingdoms and empires, there nevertheless exists even in these a dominion of love towards the neighbour among those who are wise from faith in and love to God, for these love the neighbour.  That in the heavens also these dwell distinguished into clans, families, and households, although in societies together, but according to spiritual affinities which have relation to the good of love and the truth of faith, will, by the Lord’s Divine mercy, be stated elsewhere.

[Footnote ddd:  Man’s proprium, which he derives from his parents, is nothing but dense evil, nos. 210, 215, 731, 874, 876, 987, 1047, 2307, 2308, 3518, 3701, 3812, 8480, 8550, 10283, 10284, 10286, 10731.  Man’s proprium consists in loving himself more than God, and the world more than heaven, and in holding his neighbour of no account in respect to himself, except it be for the sake of himself, consequently [in making much of] himself; thus it consists of the love of self and of the world, nos. 694, 731, 4317, 5660.  All evils flow from the love of self and of the world, when these predominate, nos. 1307, 1308, 1321, 1594, 1691, 3413, 7255, 7376, 7488, 8318, 9335, 9348, 10038, 10742.  These evils are contempt of others, enmity, hatred, revenge, cruelty, deceit, nos. 6667, 7372-7374, 9348, 10038, 10742.  And from these evils all falsity flows, nos. 1047, 10283, 10284, 10286.]

175.  I afterwards questioned those spirits concerning various things in the earth from which they were; and first, concerning their Divine worship, and concerning revelation.  Concerning the Divine worship, they said that clans, with their families, meet together every thirtieth day, in one place, and hear preaching; and that on these occasions the preacher, from a pulpit raised a little from the ground, teaches them the Divine truths which lead to the good of life.  Concerning revelation, they said that it is made early in the morning in a state midway between sleeping and wakefulness, when they are in an interior light not as yet interfered with by the bodily senses and worldly things; that on such occasions they hear the angels of heaven speaking concerning Divine truths, and a life according to them; and that when they are quite awake, an angel in a white garment appears to them by the bed, and then suddenly disappears from their sight; and that by this they know that what they have heard is from heaven.  Thus a Divine vision is distinguished from a vision which is not Divine; for in a vision which is not Divine no angel appears.  They added, that in such a manner revelations are made with their preachers, and sometimes also with others.

176.  On questioning them concerning their houses, they said that they are lowly, built of wood, with a flat roof, having a cornice sloping downwards; and that in front dwell the husband and wife, in the next chamber the children, and the maid-servants and men-servants at the back.  With regard to food, they said that they drink milk with water; and that they get the milk from cows, which are woolly like sheep.  Concerning their [mode of] life, they said that they go naked, and that to them nakedness is not a matter of shame; also that their habitual association is with those who are within their own families.