respect to the
Divine good, kings in respect to Divine truth (n. 2015, 6148).
Therefore, in the Word a "priest" signifies those who are in
the good of love to the Lord, and the priesthood signifies that
good (n. 9806, 9809). A "king" in the Word signifies those who
are in Divine truth, and therefrom kingship signifies truth
from good (n. 1672, 2015, 2069, 4575, 4581, 4966, 5044).
227. The doctrines with which their preachings are in accord all look
to life as their end, and none look to faith separate from the life.
The doctrine of the inmost heaven is more full of wisdom than the
doctrine of the middle heaven, and this more full of intelligence
than the doctrine of the outmost heaven; for in each heaven the
doctrines are adapted to the perceptions of the angels. The essential
of all doctrines is acknowledging the Divine Human of the Lord.
228. XXVI. THE POWER OF THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN.
That the angels possess power cannot be comprehended by those who
know nothing about the spiritual world and its influx into the
natural world. Such think that angels can have no power because they
are spiritual and are even so pure and unsubstantial that no eye can
see them. But those who look more interiorly into the causes of
things take a different view. Such know that all the power that a man
has is from his understanding and will (for apart from these he is
powerless to move a particle of his body), and his understanding and
will are his spiritual man. This moves the body and its members at
its pleasure; for whatever it thinks the mouth and tongue speak, and
whatever it wills the body does; and it bestows its strength at
pleasure. As man's will and understanding are ruled by the Lord
through angels and spirits, so also are all things of his body,
because these are from the will and understanding; and if you will
believe it, without influx from heaven man cannot even move a step.
That this is so has been shown me by much experience. Angels have
been permitted to move my steps, my actions, and my tongue and
speech, as they pleased, and this by influx into my will and thought;
and I have learned thereby that of myself I could do nothing. I was
afterwards told by them that every man is so ruled, and that he can
know this from the doctrine of the church and from the Word, for he
prays that God may send His angels to lead him, direct his steps,
teach him, and inspire in him what to think and what to say, and
other
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