Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/225

In like manner when man under holy influence thinks about raiment, the thought of the angels is about truth. And so in all other instances which occur in the Word.

Hence it may be seen what is the nature of the conjunction of heaven and earth effected by the Word, viz.: that a man who reads the Word under holy influence, by such correspondences is conjoined closely with heaven, and by heaven with the Lord, although he thinks only of those things in the Word which appertain to its literal sense. The essentially holy principle which influences him on such occasion, is derived from an influx of celestial and spiritual thoughts and affections such as exist with the angels. To the intent that such influx might have place, and thereby man might have conjunction with the Lord, the Holy Supper was instituted. (A. C. 3735.)

Unless the internal of the Word flowed in with those who read the Word and abide in the literal sense, conjunction of truth from the Word with good would not be effected; and the internal of the Word then flows in and is conjoined with good, when a man accounts the Word holy; and he accounts it holy when he is in good.

The same may be illustrated also by the Holy Supper. Scarcely any know that bread in the Holy Supper signifies the Lord's love towards the universal human race, and the reciprocal love of man; and that wine represents charity. Nevertheless with those who receive