AL CONNECTION WITH A
WIFE IS NOT ALLOWABLE. The reason of this is, because in such case
conjugial love, which in itself is spiritual, chaste, pure, and holy,
becomes natural, is defiled and disregarded, and thereby perishes;
wherefore in order that this love may be preserved, it is expedient that
concubinage grounded in really excusatory causes, n. 472, 473, be
engaged in with one only, and not with two at the same time.

* * * * *

477. To the above I will add the following MEMORABLE RELATION. I heard a
certain spirit, a youth, recently deceased, boasting of his libertinism,
and eager to establish his reputation as a man of superior masculine
powers; and in the insolence of his boasting he thus expressed himself;
"What is more dismal than for a man to imprison his love, and to confine
himself to one woman? and what is more delightful than to set the love
at liberty? Who does not grow tired of one? and who is not revived by
several? What is sweeter than promiscuous liberty, variety,
deflorations, schemes to deceive husbands, and plans of adulterous
hypocrisy? Do not those things which are obtained by cunning, deceit,
and theft, delight the inmost principles of the mind!" On hearing these
things, the bystanders said, "Speak not in such terms; you know not
where and with whom you are; you are but lately come hither. Hell is
beneath your feet, and heaven over your head; you are now in the world
which is between those two, and is called the world of spirits. All who
depart out of the world, come here, and being assembled are examined as
to their quality; and here they are prepared, the wicked for hell, and
the good for heaven. Possibly you still retain what you have heard from
priests in the world, that whoremongers and adulterers are cast down
into hell, and that chaste married partners are raised to heaven." At
this the novitiate laughed, saying, "What are heaven and hell? Is it not
heaven where any one is free; and is not he free who is allowed to love
as many as he pleases? and is not it hell where any one is a servant:
and is not he a servant who is obliged to keep to one?" But a certain
angel, looking down from heaven, heard what he said, and broke off the
conversation, lest it should proceed further and profane marriages; and
he said to him, "Come up here, and I will clearly shew you what heaven
and hell are, and what the quality of the latter is to continued
adulterers." He then shewe