m himself. Because this was the state
of the spirits who spoke with the prophets they said that it was
Jehovah that spoke; the spirits even called themselves Jehovah, as
can be seen both from the prophetical and historical parts of the
Word.

255. That the nature of the conjunction of angels and spirits with
man may be understood I am permitted to mention some notable things
by which it may be elucidated and verified. When angels and spirits
turn themselves to man they do not know otherwise than that the man's
language is their own and that they have no other language; and for
the reason that they are there in the man's language, and not in
their own, which they have forgotten. But as soon as they turn
themselves away from the man they are in their own angelic and
spiritual language, and know nothing about the man's language. I have
had a like experience when in company with angels and in a state like
theirs. I then talked with them in their language and knew nothing of
my own, having forgotten it; but as soon as I ceased to be present
with them I was in my own language. [2] Another notable fact is that
when angels and spirits turn themselves to a man they are able to
talk with him at any distance; they have talked with me at a
considerable distance as audibly as when they were near. But when
they turn themselves away from man and talk with each other man hears
nothing at all of what they are saying, even if it be close to his
ear. From this it was made clear that all conjunction in the
spiritual world is determined by the way they turn. [3] Another
notable fact is that many spirits together can talk with a man, and
the man with them; for they send one of their number to the man with
whom they wish to speak, and the spirit sent turns himself to the man
and the rest of them turn to their spirit and thus concentrate their
thoughts, which the spirit utters; and the spirit then does not know
otherwise than that he is speaking from himself, and they do not know
otherwise than that they are speaking. Thus also is the conjunction
of many with one effected by turning.{1} But of these emissary
spirits, who are also called subjects, and of communication by means
of them, more will be said hereafter.

{Footnote 1} Spirits sent from one society of spirits to other
societies are called subjects (n. 4403, 5856). Communications
in the spiritual world are effected by such emissary spirits
(n. 4403, 5856, 5983). A spirit wh