Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/23

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HEAVENLY AND INFERNAL FREEDOM.
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freedom which is grounded in the affection of what is evil and false, may appear from this consideration: that the angels in heaven if they only think of such a freedom as is grounded in the affection of what is evil and false, or what is the same, in the lusts of self-love and the love of the world, are instantly seized with internal pain. And on the other hand, when evil spirits only think of a freedom which is grounded in the affection of good and truth, or what is the same, in the desires of mutual love, they instantly fall into agonies; and what is wonderful, so opposite is the one freedom to the other, that the freedom originating in self-love and the love of the word, is hell to good spirits; and on the other hand, the freedom originating in love to the Lord and mutual love, is hell to evil spirits.

Hence all are distinguished in another life according to their principles of freedom, or what is the same, according to loves and affections, consequently according to the delights of life, which is the same thing as according to their lives; for lives are nothing else but delights, and delights are nothing else but affections which originate in loves.

Hence it may be seen that freedom is to think and will from affection; and that such as the affection is, such is the freedom. Also that one freedom is infernal and another heavenly; and that infernal freedom is from hell, but heavenly freedom is from the Lord. It appears also that they who are in infernal freedom cannot come into heavenly freedom (this being like going

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