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in the works of charity, since it consists in exercise or use. He who loves his neighbor as himself, never perceives the delight of charity except in its exercise. Therefore a life of charity is a life of uses. Such is the life of the universal heaven; for the Lord's kingdom, being a kingdom of mutual love, is a kingdom of uses. Hence every pleasure derived from charity receives its delight from use; and the more exalted the use, so much the greater is the delight; and hence the angels receive happiness from the Lord according to the nature and quality of the use they perform.

So also it is with every pleasure; for the more distinguished its use, so much the greater its delight. Thus, for instance, conjugial love, which is the seminary of human society, and from which is formed the Lord's kingdom in the heavens, performs the most important of all uses, and is therefore attended with so great a delight that it is heavenly happiness.

The case is similar with respect to other pleasures, with a difference, however, according to the excellence of their uses, which indeed are so numerous that it is scarcely possible to divide them into their several genera and species, although all of them regard the Lord's kingdom or the Lord — some more nearly and directly, others more remotely and obliquely.

Hence it may be seen that all pleasures are allowed to man, but for the sake of use only; and that by virtue of their use, with a difference according to its degree, they participate in and live from heavenly felicity. (A. C. 997.)