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of infinitude forms their life。 They become infinite by participating
of the essence of God； who generates Himself by Himself。
〃The immensity of the Heavens where the Angels dwell is such that if
man were endowed with sight as rapid as the darting of light from the
sun to the earth； and if he gazed throughout eternity； his eyes could
not reach the horizon； nor find an end。 Light alone can give an idea
of the joys of heaven。 'It is；' says Swedenborg （'Angelic Wisdom；' 7；
25； 26； 27）； 'a vapor of the virtue of God； a pure emanation of His
splendor； beside which our greatest brilliance is obscurity。 It can
compass all； it can renew all； and is never absorbed： it environs the
Angel and unites him to God by infinite joys which multiply infinitely
of themselves。 This Light destroys whosoever is not prepared to
receive it。 No one here below； nor yet in Heaven can see God and live。
This is the meaning of the saying （Exodus xix。 12； 13； 21…23） 〃Take
heed to yourselves that ye go not up into the mountlest ye break
through unto the Lord to gaze； and many perish。〃 And again （Exodus
xxxiv。 29…35）； 〃When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two
Tables of testimony in his hand； his face shone； so that he put a veil
upon it when he spake with the people； lest any of them die。〃 The
Transfiguration of Jesus Christ likewise revealed the light
surrounding the Messengers from on high and the ineffable joys of the
Angels who are forever imbued with it。 〃His face；〃 says Saint Matthew
（xvii。 1…5）； 〃did shine as the sun and his raiment was white as the
lightand a bright cloud overshadowed them。〃'
〃When a planet contains only those beings who reject the Lord； when
his word is ignored； then the Angelic Spirits are gathered together by
the four winds； and God sends forth an Exterminating Angel to change
the face of the refractory earth； which in the immensity of this
universe is to Him what an unfruitful seed is to Nature。 Approaching
the globe； this Exterminating Angel； borne by a comet； causes the
planet to turn upon its axis； and the lands lately covered by the seas
reappear； adorned in freshness and obedient to the laws proclaimed in
Genesis； the Word of God is once more powerful on this new earth；
which everywhere exhibits the effects of terrestrial waters and
celestial flames。 The light brought by the Angel from On High； causes
the sun to pale。 'Then；' says Isaiah； （xix。 20） 'men will hide in the
clefts of the rock and roll themselves in the dust of the earth。'
'They will cry to the mountains' （Revelation）； 'Fall on us！ and to the
seas； Swallow us up！ Hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the
throne； and from the wrath of the Lamb！' The Lamb is the great figure
and hope of the Angels misjudged and persecuted here below。 Christ
himself has said； 'Blessed are those who mourn！ Blessed are the
simple…hearted！ Blessed are they that love！'All Swedenborg is there！
Suffer； Believe； Love。 To love truly must we not suffer？ must we not
believe？ Love begets Strength； Strength bestows Wisdom； thence
Intelligence； for Strength and Wisdom demand Will。 To be intelligent；
is not that to Know； to Wish； and to Will；the three attributes of
the Angelic Spirit？ 'If the universe has a meaning；' Monsieur Saint…
Martin said to me when I met him during a journey which he made in
Sweden； 'surely this is the one most worthy of God。'
〃But； Monsieur；〃 continued the pastor after a thoughtful pause； 〃of
what avail to you are these shreds of thoughts taken here and there
from the vast extent of a work of which no true idea can be given
except by comparing it to a river of light； to billows of flame？ When
a man plunges into it he is carried away as by an awful current。
Dante's poem seems but a speck to the reader submerged in the almost
Biblical verses with which Swedenborg renders palpable the Celestial
Worlds； as Beethoven built his palaces of harmony with thousands of
notes； as architects have reared cathedrals with millions of stones。
We roll in soundless depths； where our minds will not always sustain
us。 Ah； surely a great and powerful intellect is needed to bring us
back； safe and sound； to our own social beliefs。
〃Swedenborg；〃 resumed the pastor； 〃was particularly attached to the
Baron de Seraphitz； whose name； according to an old Swedish custom；
had taken from time immemorial the Latin termination of 'us。' The
baron was an ardent disciple of the Swedish prophet； who had opened
the eyes of his Inner…Man and brought him to a life in conformity with
the decrees from On…High。 He sought for an Angelic Spirit among women；
Swedenborg found her for him in a vision。 His bride was the daughter
of a London shoemaker； in whom； said Swedenborg； the life of Heaven
shone； she having passed through all anterior trials。 After the death；
that is； the transformation of the prophet； the baron came to Jarvis
to accomplish his celestial nuptials with the observances of Prayer。
As for me； who am not a Seer； I have only known the terrestrial works
of this couple。 Their lives were those of saints whose virtues are the
glory of the Roman Church。 They ameliorated the condition of our
people； they supplied them all with means in return for work；little；
perhaps； but enough for all their wants。 Those who lived with them in
constant intercourse never saw them show a sign of anger or
impatience； they were constantly beneficent and gentle； full of
courtesy and loving…kindness； their marriage was the harmony of two
souls indissolubly united。 Two eiders winging the same flight； the
sound in the echo； the thought in the word；these； perhaps； are true
images of their union。 Every one here in Jarvis loved them with an
affection which I can compare only to the love of a plant for the sun。
The wife was simple in her manners； beautiful in form； lovely in face；
with a dignity of bearing like that of august personages。 In 1783；
being then twenty…six years old； she conceived a child； her pregnancy
was to the pair a solemn joy。 They prepared to bid the earth farewell；
for they told me they should be transformed when their child had
passed the state of infancy which needed their fostering care until
the strength to exist alone should be given to her。
〃Their child was born；the Seraphita we are now concerned with。 From
the moment of her conception father and mother lived a still more
solitary life than in the past； lifting themselves up to heaven by
Prayer。 They hoped to see Swedenborg； and faith realized their hope。
The day on which Seraphita came into the world Swedenborg appeared in
Jarvis； and filled the room of the new…born child with light。 I was
told that he said； 'The work is accomplished； the Heavens rejoice！'
Sounds of unknown melodies were heard throughout the house； seeming to
come from the four points of heaven on the wings of the wind。 The
spirit of Swedenborg led the father forth to the shores of the fiord
and there quitted him。 Certain inhabitants of Jarvis； having
approac