and to think and speak the truth
from good; and if he is evil, he is brought to will evil, and to think
and speak falsity from evil. Until this is effected, a good spirit is
not raised into heaven, nor an evil one cast into hell: and the object
of this is, that in hell there may be nothing but evil and the falsity
of evil, and in heaven nothing but good and the truth of good.
[Footnote z: The Most Ancient people on this Earth spoke by the face
and lips by means of internal respiration, nos. 607, 1118, 7361. The
inhabitants of some other earths have a similar speech, nos. 4799,
7359, 8248, 10587. Concerning the perfection and excellence of that
speech, nos. 7360, 10587, 10708.]
55. The spirits who were from that earth informed me about various
other particulars relating to its inhabitants, as, about their gait,
their food, and their dwellings. With respect to their gait, they do
not walk erect like the inhabitants of this and of many other earths,
nor do they creep like animals, but as they advance they assist
themselves with their hands, and alternately half raise themselves
on their feet, and at every third step they face about sideways and
behind them, and at the same time also bend the body a little, which
is done quickly; for among them it is [considered] unbecoming to be
looked at by others except in the face. While walking in this manner
they always keep the face raised as we do, so that they may look at
the heaven as well as at the earth. They do not hold it down so as to
look at the earth; this they call accursed. The basest among them
do so; but if they do not get accustomed to raise the face, they are
expelled from their society. When, however, they sit, they appear,
like the men of our Earth, erect as to the upper part of the body, but
they sit with the feet crossed. They are extremely cautious, not only
when they walk, but also when they sit, not to be seen behind, but
in the face. They also gladly desire that their face should be seen,
because their mind appears from it, for they never show a face at
variance with the mind, nor have they the power to do so. Those who
are present, therefore, see clearly what is their disposition towards
them--which indeed they do not conceal--especially whether their
apparent friendliness is sincere or forced. These facts were made
known to me by their spirits, and confirmed by their angels. For the
above reason also, their spirits are seen, not like others, to walk
erec
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