Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/226
the bread and wine devoutly, conjunction with heaven and the Lord is effected thereby; and the goods of love and charity flow in by (or through) the angels, who on such occasion do not think of bread and wine, but of love and charity. Hence it is evident that external truth is conjoined with internal truth when man is in good, he himself being ignorant of it. (A. C. 6789.)
Communication [with heaven, among the Jews] was not given with the man himself, but with the principle of sanctity in which he was while observing the statutes and precepts which were all representative of the spiritual and celestial things of the Lord's kingdom. This is what is signified by the Lord's being representatively present with that nation.
But the Lord is present in a different manner from this with those within the church who are principled in spiritual love and thence in faith. Good spirits and angels are present with these, not only in external worship, but at the same time in internal also. Therefore in the case of such, communication with heaven is granted, for the Lord flows-in through heaven by their internals into their externals. To these latter the sanctity of worship is profitable in another life, but not to the former.
The case is the same with priests and presbyters who preach what is holy and yet believe and live wickedly. Not good but evil spirits are with such even while they are engaged in worship which appears holy in its ex-