at are spiritual, that is, such as pertain to
good and truth, or to love and faith (n. 613, 1145, 1255, 2020,
2584, 3860, 3868, 4070, 4668, 6239, 8042, 9325, 10249).
Therefore generation and birth signify regeneration and rebirth
through faith and love (n. 5160, 5598, 9042, 9845). Mother
signifies the church in respect to truth, and thus the truth of
the church; father the church in respect to good, and thus the
good of the church (n. 2691, 2717, 3703, 5581, 8897). Sons
signify affections for truth, and thus truths (n. 489, 491,
533, 2623, 3373, 4257, 8649, 9807). Daughters signify
affections for good, and the goods (n. 489-491, 2362, 3963,
6729, 6775, 6778, 9055). Son-in-law signifies truth associated
with affection for good (n. 2389). Daughter-in-law signifies
good associated with its truth (n. 4843).

383. I have also been permitted to see how marriages are contracted
in the heavens. As everywhere in heaven those who are alike are
united and those who are unlike are separated, so every society in
heaven consists of those who are alike. Like are brought to like not
by themselves but by the Lord (see above, n. 41, 43, 44, seq.); and
equally consort to consort whose minds can be joined into one are
drawn together; and consequently at first sight they inmostly love
each other, and see themselves to be consorts, and enter into
marriage. For this reason all marriages in heaven are from the Lord
alone. They have also marriage feasts; and these are attended by
many; but the festivities differ in different societies.

384. Marriages on the earth are most holy in the sight of the angels
of heaven because they are seminaries of the human race, and also of
the angels of heaven (heaven being from the human race, as already
shown under that head), also because these marriages are from a
spiritual origin, namely, from the marriage of good and truth, and
because the Lord's Divine flows especially into marriage love.
Adulteries on the other hand are regarded by the angels as profane
because they are contrary to marriage love; for as in marriages the
angels behold the marriage of good and truth, which is heaven, so in
adulteries they behold the marriage of falsity and evil, which is
hell. If, then, they but hear adulteries mentioned they turn away.
And this is why heaven is closed up to man when he commits adultery
from delight; and when heaven is closed man no longer acknowledges
the Divine nor any th