These two motions, the
respiration of the lungs and the beating of heart, are the very bond
on the sundering of which the spirit is left to itself; and the body
being then deprived of the life of its spirit grows cold and begins
to decay. This inmost communication of the spirit of man is with the
respiration and with the heart, because on these all vital motions
depend, not only in general but in every particular.{2}

{Footnote 1} The heart corresponds to the will, thus to the
affection which belongs to the love, while the respiration of
the lungs corresponds to the understanding, thus to the thought
(n. 3888). From this the "heart" in the Word signifies the will
and love (n. 7542, 9050, 10336). The "soul" signifies
understanding, faith, and truth; therefore "from the soul and
from the heart" signifies what is from the understanding,
faith, and truth, and what is from the will, love, and good (n.
2930, 9050). The correspondence of the heart and lungs with the
Greatest Man, or heaven (n. 3883-3895).

{Footnote 2} The beating of the heart and the respiration of
the lungs reign in the body throughout, and flow mutually into
every part (n. 3887, 3889, 3890).

447. After the separation the spirit of man continues in the body for
a short time, but only until the heart's action has wholly ceased,
which happens variously in accord with the diseased condition that
causes death, with some the motion of the heart continuing for some
time, with others not so long. As soon as this motion ceases the man
is resuscitated; but this is done by the Lord alone. Resuscitation
means the drawing forth of the spirit from the body, and its
introduction into the spiritual world; this is commonly called the
resurrection. The spirit is not separated from the body until the
motion of the heart has ceased, for the reason that the heart
corresponds to the affection of love, which is the very life of man,
for it is from love that everyone has vital heat;{1} consequently as
long as this conjunction continues correspondence continues, and
thereby the life of the spirit in the body.

{Footnote 1} Love is the being [esse] of the life of man (n.
5002). Love is spiritual heat, and therefore the very vital
itself of man (n. 1589, 2146, 3338, 4906, 7081-7086, 9954,
10740). Affection is a continuation of love (n. 3938).

448. How this resuscitation is effected has both been told to me and
shown to me in living exper