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《正信的基督教》 第694节

（周玉阳译，2026年8月）

694# 第三则可记之事：

过了一段时间，我望向雅典学园城，就是前一则可记之事中略有叙述的那座城；我听见从那里传来一种不寻常的喧声。那声音中有几分笑声，笑声中有几分愤慨，愤慨中又有几分悲哀；然而，那喧声并不因此不谐，反而和谐，因为不是一种情感与另一种情感并列同时发出，而是一种情感在另一种情感之内。在灵性世界中，声音里的情感变化与混合，是可以清楚感知的。

我从远处问：“出了什么事？”

他们说：“有一个使者从基督教世界来的新到者初次显现之处来到，说他在那里从三个人听见：在他们所来的世界中，他们和那里其余的人都相信，蒙福且幸福的人死后将有一种完全脱离劳苦的安息；而由于管理、职务和工作都是劳苦，所以也将有脱离这些事的安息。如今这三人已由我们的使者带来，站在门前等候；于是起了喧声。经过商议，众人决定不把他们带入帕耳那索斯山上的帕拉迪乌姆，如前面那些人一样，而是把他们带入那里的大讲堂，好让他们说明自己从基督教世界带来的新事；并已派出一些人，庄重地将他们引进来。”

因为我在灵中，而对灵来说，距离取决于他们情感的状态；又因为那时我有看见并听见他们的情感，所以我仿佛亲临其地；于是我看见他们被引入，也听见他们说话。

【2】在讲堂中，年长者或较有智慧者坐在两旁，其余的人坐在中间；在他们前面有一处高起的平台。那三个新到者同使者一起，在年轻人的庄重陪同下，被带着从讲堂中间经过，来到那里。静默之后，他们受到在那里一位年长者的问候，并被问道：“地上有什么新事？”

他们说：“新事很多，但请说，是关于什么事？”

年长者回答：“地上关于我们的世界和天堂，有什么新事？”

他们回答说，我们新近来到这个世界时，听见“这里和天堂中有管理、职事、职务、商业、各种学科的研究，以及奇妙的工作；然而我们原以为，从自然世界迁移或转移到这个灵性世界以后，我们将进入脱离劳苦的永恒安息；而职务若不是劳苦，又是什么呢？”

【3】年长者对此说：“你们所谓脱离劳苦的永恒安息，难道是指永恒的闲逸吗？就是不断坐着、躺着，用胸怀吸入快乐，用口啜饮喜乐？”

三个新到者听了，温和地笑着说，他们确曾这样认为。

于是有人回答他们：“快乐、愉悦以及由此而来的幸福，与闲逸有什么共同之处呢？由于闲逸，心智会坍塌而不扩展；或者说，人会被致死，而不被赋予生命。设想有一人完全闲坐，双手松弛，眼睛低垂或避开；再设想他同时被喜乐的气氛环绕，难道昏沉不会占据他的头和身体吗？他面容上的生命扩展岂不会消沉吗？最后，他的纤维松弛，岂不会摇摇晃晃，直到倒在地上吗？

使整个身体系统保持扩展和张力的，除了心灵的紧张之外，还有什么呢？而心灵的紧张，又从何而来，若不是从管理和工作而来，当它们出于愉悦而被实行时？因此，我要告诉你们一件来自天堂的新事：那里有管理、职事、审判，无论大小；也有技艺和工作。”

【4】三个新到者听见天堂中有大小审判，就说：“为什么会有这些？难道天堂中的所有人不都是由上帝启示并引导，因而知道什么是公义和正直吗？那还需要审判者做什么？”

年长者回答说：“在这个世界中，我们受教并学习什么是良善和真理，也学习什么是公义和公平，正如在自然世界中一样；并且我们不是直接从上帝学习这些，而是间接地藉着他人学习。每一位天使，正如每一个人一样，都是如同出于自己而思想真理、实行良善；而这照着天使的状态，是混合的，并非纯一的。并且，在天使中也有简单者和有智慧者；当简单者因单纯和无知而对公义有所疑惑，或偏离公义时，有智慧者就要审判。

【5】不过，你们既然还新近来到这个世界，若你们愿意，就跟随我到我们的城中去，我们要把一切指给你们看。”

他们便离开讲堂，几位年长者也陪同他们。首先，他们来到一座大图书馆，这图书馆按照各门知识分成较小的书房。那三个新到者看见这么多书，便惊讶不已，说：“这个世界也有书吗？羊皮纸和纸张从哪里来？笔和墨水从哪里来？”

年长者对他们说：“我们察觉到，你们在先前的世界中相信这个世界是空无的，因为它是属灵的；你们之所以这样相信，是因为你们抱有一种从物质抽离出来的属灵观念；而从物质抽离出来的东西，在你们看来就像无物，也就是虚空。然而这里却有万物的充满。这里一切都是实体性的，并非物质性的；物质性的东西则从实质性的东西取得自己的源头。

我们这里的人是属灵的人，因为我们是实质性的，而不是物质性的。因此，这里有自然世界中所有的事物，并且是在其完善中存在，连书籍和文字也有，而且还有更多。”

那三个新到者听见提到“实质性的事物”时，便想到事情确是如此；这既因为他们看见了写成的书，也因为他们听见说，物质原本出于实质。为了进一步使他们在这些事上得确认，他们被带到抄写员的住所；抄写员在那里抄录城中智者所撰写的副本。他们察看文字，并惊讶其如此整洁而精美。

【6】此后，他们被带到博物馆、学堂和学院，以及他们举行文学游戏的地方。其中有些被称为赫利孔诸女的游戏，有些称为帕耳那索斯诸女的游戏，有些称为雅典诸女的游戏，还有些称为泉源童女的游戏。他们说，这些这样命名，是因为“童女”表示对各门知识的情感；每个人的聪明，取决于他对知识的情感。所谓游戏，就是属灵的操练和竞赛。

随后，他们在城中被带到各位治理者、管理者及其官员那里；又由这些人带到那些奇妙的工作那里，就是由工匠以属灵方式完成的工作。

【7】他们看完这些以后，年长者又同他们谈到蒙福且幸福的人死后所进入的脱离劳苦的永恒安息。他说：

“永恒安息并不是闲逸；因为闲逸会造成心智、并由心智造成全身的衰弱、迟钝、麻木和沉睡；这些是死亡，不是生命，更不是天堂天使所在的永生。因此，永恒安息乃是驱散这些状态，并使人活着的安息；而这无非是某种提升心智的东西。它是一种研究和工作，由此心智被激发、被赋予生命并获得愉悦；而这是照着功用发生的，心智从功用而工作，在功用中工作，并为功用而工作。

因此，整个天堂在主看来就是一个包含诸用的整体；每一位天使也照其用而成为天使。用的愉悦承载他，如同顺风承载船，使他处于永恒的平安和安息的平安中。所谓脱离劳苦的永恒安息，就是这样理解的。

天使照着从功用而来的心智热诚而有生命，这一点从以下事实明显可知：每一位天使都照着他所处的真正功用之热诚，拥有婚姻之爱及其力量、能力和愉悦。”

那三个新到者得确认：永恒安息不是闲逸，而是某种有益工作的愉悦。此后，有几位童女带着刺绣和编织品，就是她们亲手所作的作品前来，把它们赠给三人。当这些新来的灵离去时，童女们唱了一首颂歌，用天使般的旋律表达她们对有益工作的情感及其愉悦。

《真实的基督教》 第694节

（一滴水译，2026年修订）

694# 记事三：

过了一会儿，我向前面的记事提到的雅典娜城望去，听到来自它的一种不同寻常的喧闹声。这种喧闹声里面有某种笑声，笑声里面有某种愤慨，愤慨里面又有某种悲伤。然而，这种声音不是不和谐的，而是和谐的，因为声音不是分开听到的，而是一种声音在另一种声音里面。在灵界，情感的多样性和混合，或说各种情感的组合在声音的音调中被明显感知到。我从远处问：“出了什么事？”他们回答说：“一位信使从来自基督教界的新人第一次出现的地方来了，说，他从那里的三个人那里听说，在他们所来自的世界，他们和那里的其他人一样，都认为死后，有福和幸福的人会完全休息，息了一切劳动；由于行政职责、公职和工作都是劳动，所以就会有息了这些活动的休息。由于这三个人现在被我们的信使带到这里，正站在门口等候，所以喧闹声响起。经过协商，决定他们不应该像之前的新人一样被带到帕尔纳索斯山上的帕拉斯殿，而应该被带到那里的大礼堂，以便他们可以讲述来自基督教界的消息；一些代表被派去正式介绍他们。”我在灵里，对灵来说，距离取决于他们情感的状态。然后我有一种情感，想看到和听到新人，于是我觉得自己似乎立刻出现在那里；我看到他们被介绍，听到他们说话。

在大礼堂，年长者或智者坐在两侧，其他人坐在中间，后者对面是一个升高的平台。会众中的年轻者以适当仪式带着三个新人和信使从礼堂中间穿过，来到高台上；人群安静下来后，一位年长者向他们致意，并问道：“地上有什么消息？”他们回答说：“消息有很多；但请告诉我们，你想让我们谈什么话题？”年长者回答说：“关于我们的世界和天堂，地上有什么消息。”他们回答道：“当我们第一次来到这个世界时，我们听说，无论这里还是天堂，都有行政职位、事工、职业、商业、各种学科研究和精彩的工作。然而，我们原以为我们离世，或从自然界转到灵界后，就会进入永恒的休息，息了劳动（启示录14:13）。但工作不就是劳动吗？”

对此，年长者回答说：“你们把息了劳苦的永恒休息理解为永恒的懒惰，或永远不做任何事吗？你们以为你们会不断地坐着或躺着，吸入快乐，吞咽喜悦吗？”对此，三个新人带着愉快的微笑，说：“我们的确持有这种观点。”年长者继续说：“喜悦，快乐和随之而来的幸福，与懒惰一样吗？懒惰会摧毁心智，而不是扩展心智；换句话说，人会因懒惰变得麻木，而不是充满活力。假如一个人无所事事地坐着，双手垂下，眼睛低垂或缩回，同时被快乐的氛围包围着，那么他的头脑和身体岂不会昏昏欲睡？他脸上的生动表情岂不会消失？随着神经纤维和肌肉的放松，他岂不会点头打盹，直到倒在地上吗？使整个身体系统扩张和紧张的，不就是心智的紧张吗？心智的这种紧张只来自行政职责和工作，就在它们被快乐地履行的时候。因此，我要告诉你们这个来自天堂的消息，天堂里有行政职责、职业、大大小小的法庭，以及机械工艺和其它工作或服务。”

当三个新人听说天堂里有大大小小的法庭时，就说：“为什么呢？天上的所有人不都是被神启示和引导吗？因此，难道他们不知道什么是公义和公平吗？那么他们为什么需要法官呢？”年长者回答说：“在这个世界，我们被教导和学习什么是良善和真理，以及什么是公义和公平，就像在自然界一样；我们不是从神那里直接学习这些东西的，而是通过其他人间接学习。每位天使，就像每个人一样，都貌似凭自己思考真理、实行良善；这真理和良善照着天使的状态而是混和的，不是纯粹的。此外，在天使当中，有一些天使是简单的，有一些天使是智慧的，智慧的天使会判断什么是公义的，而简单的天使因他们的简单和无知而在判断公义时犹豫不决，甚至偏离它。

“但由于你们刚刚来到这个世界，所以你们若愿意，就和我一起去我们的城市，我们会向你们展示一切。”于是，他们在年长者的陪同下离开礼堂。他们先进入一座大型图书馆，这个图书馆根据不同的知识分支而被划分为不同的小图书馆。这三个新人看到这么多书，都很惊讶，说：“这个世界也有书吗？羊皮纸、纸、笔和墨水是从哪里来的？”年长者回答说：“我们感知到，在以前的世界，你们以为这个世界是空的，因为它是属灵的；你们这样认为，是因为你们认为属灵之物是从物质中抽象出来的东西；从物质中抽象出来的东西在你们看来，似乎什么都不是，因而就像真空；而事实上，丰富的一切事物都在这里。这里的一切事物都是实质的，不是物质的，物质事物起源于实质事物。在这里或在这个世界的我们是属灵人，因为我们是实质的，不是物质的。因此，存在于自然界中的一切事物都完美地存在于这里，包括书籍和手稿，以及其它许多东西。”当这三个新人听到“实质”这个词时，他们认识到了事情的真相，因为他们看到了书面书籍，并被告知物质起源于实质。为了进一步让他们信服，他们被带到文士的家里，他们正在抄写城里智者的著作。他们仔细检查了字迹，惊讶地发现它如此整洁和优雅。

之后，他们被带到他们的学习场所、博物馆、体育馆和学院，以及举行文学比赛的地方。其中一些比赛被称为赫利孔少女比赛，一些比赛被称为帕尔纳索斯少女比赛，一些比赛被称为雅典娜少女比赛，一些比赛被称为泉水少女比赛。他们说，后者被如此命名，是因为少女或童女表示对知识的情感，每个人都照着这种情感而拥有聪明。所谓的比赛是指属灵锻炼和技能测试。后来，他们被带到城里，拜访了统治者、行政人员和他们下级官员，后者带着这些人参观了他们的工人以属灵方式，或属灵风格制作的精彩作品。

当他们看到这些事物时，年长者再次与他们谈论了息了劳动的永恒休息，有福和幸福的人死后会进入其中。他说：“永恒的休息不是懒惰，因为懒惰会产生心智和随之整个身体的倦怠、迟钝、麻木和困倦状态；这是死亡，不是生命，更不是天堂天使所享有的永生。因此，永恒的休息是驱散这种状态，并使人活着的休息；所以它只是提升心智的东西；因此，它在于某种追求或职业，这种追求或职业激发心智，给它带来生命，赋予它快乐；这种效果是由功用产生的，心智出于功用，在功用中并为了功用而劳动，或说功用是工作的基础、背景和目的。因此，主将整个天堂视为功用的容器或领域，每位天使都照着他的功用而为一位天使。功用的快乐就像一股有利的水流载着船只一样载着他，使他处于永恒的平安和平安的休息。这就是息了劳动的永恒休息的意思。一位天使随着他的心智被应用于功用而变得活跃，这一点从以下事实很明显地看出来：每位天使所拥有的婚姻之爱，以及伴随这爱的一切活力、能力和快乐，都取决于他致力于真正功用的程度，或说每个人都照着他对婚姻之爱的功用的热爱而享受婚姻之爱及其活力、力量和快乐。”

当三个新人确信永恒的休息不是懒惰，而是从事某种有用工作的快乐时，一些少女来了，把她们自己亲手制作的女红和刺绣赠送给他们。当新人离开时，少女们唱了一首颂歌，以天使的旋律表达了对有用工作或有益劳动及其乐趣或魅力的热爱或情感。

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True Christianity #694 (Rose, 2010)

694. The third memorable occurrence. A while later I looked in the direction of New Athens, a city that was introduced in an earlier account [], and I heard an unusual cry from there. It was a kind of laughter, but within the laughter there was a feeling of indignation, and within the indignation there was a sense of sadness. Yet it was not a cacophonous racket; it was harmonious, because the one sound was not competing with the others, but was within the others. (In the spiritual world, various emotions and the ways they combine are distinctly audible within a given sound.)

While still at a distance, I asked: "What is going on?"

"A messenger has come to us from the place where new arrivals from the Christian world first appear," the locals told me. "The messenger said he had heard from three people that in the world they had just left behind, they and everyone else believed those who are blessed and happy after death are going to experience complete rest from labor of all kinds. Since offices, jobs, and administrative positions are forms of labor, they thought there would be rest from these types of activity. Because the three people have been brought here by our emissary, and are standing at the gate and waiting, a great cry went up. A decision was immediately made to bring them not to the Palladium on New Parnassus as before but to the large auditorium, so that they can reveal the latest news from the Christian world. Delegates were sent out to them in order to give them a formal introduction to our assembly. "

Because I was in the spirit, and spirits experience distances in accordance with their own desires, and I desired to see and hear them, I seemed to myself to become present there. I saw them brought in, and I heard what they said.

[2] The "elders," meaning the wiser people, were sitting at the sides of the auditorium; the rest were sitting in the middle. Before them all there was a stage. The three new arrivals and the messenger were brought in through the middle of the auditorium toward the stage in a formal procession accompanied by lesser dignitaries. After silence was obtained from the crowd, they were welcomed by an elder, and were asked, "What are the latest developments on earth [in regard to wisdom]?"

The new arrivals said, "There are many new developments. Could you kindly specify a topic?"

"What is new in the thinking on earth regarding our world and heaven?" the elder asked.

"When we came into this world not long ago," they replied, "we were told that here and in heaven there are administrative positions, ministries, functions, businesses, research in all the academic disciplines, and amazing works of art and creativity. We had believed, however, that after we migrated or were transferred from the physical world into the spiritual world we would come into eternal rest from our labors [Revelation 14:13]. What are jobs if not forms of labor?"

[3] "Did you take 'eternal rest from your labors' to mean never doing anything?" the elder asked. "Did you believe you would sit or lie down all the time, breathing in pleasures and swallowing joy?"

The three new arrivals smiled sheepishly and said that they had had some such thought.

"What do joy and pleasure and happiness have in common with doing nothing?" the elder continued. "When we are doing nothing, our mind does not develop; it collapses in on itself. Rather than bringing us to life, doing nothing is actually deadly for us.

"Imagine people who are sitting in a completely idle state with their hands hanging down and their eyes either looking at the floor or closed altogether; and then imagine that at that very moment an aura of exquisite happiness comes pouring down all around them. Despite it, their own listlessness would continue to control their head and body. Any lively, uplifted expression that tried to form on their face would immediately fall off. Eventually, as all their ligaments and tendons loosened through inactivity, they would sway back and forth until they fell over on the floor. What else but the stretching of our minds keeps our entire bodily system intent and ready for action? And what stretches our mind more than our work and other responsibilities, when we take delight in doing them?

"Therefore I will tell you some news from heaven: There are in fact administrative functions there, ministries, and higher and lower courts, as well as a variety of arts and skills that are practiced. "

[4] Upon hearing that there were higher and lower courts in heaven, the three new arrivals asked, "Why are there courts? Surely all who are in heaven are inspired and led by God, and therefore know what the just and right thing to do is. Why then would they need judges?"

"In this world," the elder replied, "we are taught and we learn what is good and true, and also what is just and fair, much as we did in the physical world. We do not learn these things directly from God, however; we learn them indirectly through other people. Just as people on earth do, all angels consider what is true and practice what is good as if they were doing so on their own. Depending on the state they are in, their success in doing so is mixed and not pure. For another thing, some angels are just simple folk, whereas others are wise. The wise angels need to adjudicate when simple angels, because of their simplicity or ignorance, are unsure of what is right or depart from it.

[5] "But since you are still new arrivals in this world, why don't you follow me into our city, if that would suit you, and we will show you all there is to see. "

They left the auditorium. Several of the elders accompanied them on a tour.

First they visited a huge library, which was subdivided into collections for each of the various academic disciplines. The three new arrivals were dumbstruck to see the abundance of volumes. They said, "So there are books in this world too? Where do you get the paper and bindings, and the pens and the ink?"

"We get the sense," the elders said, "that as long as you were in that world, you believed that this world had nothing in it because it was spiritual. The reason you had this belief was that you conceived of what is spiritual as something nonphysical; and your idea of something nonphysical was basically an idea of nothingness, like empty space.

"In fact, though, there is a fullness of all things here. All the things that are here are substantial rather than physical. Physical things actually originate from substantial things. We who are here are spiritual people because we are substantial rather than physical. Therefore all the things that exist in the physical world are present here in their perfection, including books and documents, and much more. "

When the three new arrivals heard the idea of substantial things, it struck them as true, both because they had seen the written volumes and because they had just heard their hosts say that physical matter originates in what is substantial.

To reinforce these points, their hosts took them to visit the homes of scribes, who were copying original documents that had been written by the wise people of that city. The new arrivals inspected those products and were amazed at how precise and elegant the handwriting was.

[6] Then they were taken to see the various research institutes, schools, and colleges, and the places where literary games were held. Some of those games were called "the Games of the Maidens of Helicon"; some were called "the Games of the Maidens of Parnassus"; some were called "the Games of the Maidens of Athens"; and some were called "the Games of the Maidens of the Spring. " The reason the locals gave for these names was that maidens mean feelings of love for the various academic disciplines. They said that everyone's degree of intelligence depends on how much she or he loves these disciplines. The so-called games were actually academic exercises and spiritual debates.

Then the new arrivals were taken around the city to see the government officials, and the administrators and their deputies. The deputies took them to see amazing works of art that artists had created using spiritual methods.

[7] After they had seen those things the elder spoke with them again on the subject of the eternal rest from labors that those who are blessed and happy come into after death.

"Eternal rest," he said, "is not idleness. Complete inactivity causes first mental and then physical lethargy, inertia, unresponsiveness, and loss of consciousness. These are death, not life. They are far from the eternal life that is enjoyed by the angels of heaven.

"Eternal rest, then, is a form of rest that keeps all those things at bay and makes us alive. What has this effect is something that lifts the mind; therefore it is some study or work that excites our mind, brings it to life, and gives it delight. This effect is produced by the usefulness that is the foundation, the context, and the purpose of our work. For this reason, the Lord regards the entirety of heaven as a context for usefulness. Each angel is an angel depending on how useful he or she is. The enjoyment we take in being useful carries us along as a helpful current carries a ship; it gives us everlasting peace and the rest that peace provides. This is what 'eternal rest from our labors' means.

"In fact, the marriage love that angels have, and all the vigor, ability, and pleasure that go along with it, depends on their level of devotion to being genuinely useful. Clearly then, the very level of aliveness that angels feel depends on the level of their mental devotion to usefulness. "

[8] Once the three new arrivals were thoroughly convinced that eternal rest is not idleness, but is instead finding delight in some useful activity, several young women came forward with pieces of needlework and embroidery of their own making and gave them to the visitors. As the newly arrived spirits left, the young women sang them a song; through its angelic melody they expressed their love for useful activity and the pleasure it brings them.

True Christian Religion #694 (Chadwick, 1988)

694. The third experience. ¹

Some while later I looked towards the city of Athenaeum which I mentioned in the preceding account. I heard an unusual shouting coming from it. There was a certain amount of laughter in the shouting, and a certain amount of indignation in the laughter, and a certain amount of sadness in the indignation. Yet this shouting was not for this reason discordant; it was harmonious, because one element was not together with the other, but one was inside the other. In the spiritual world one can distinguish in sounds the mixture of differing affections.

I asked from a distance, 'What is happening?' 'A messenger,' they said, 'has come from the place where newcomers from the Christian parts of the world first appear, to say that he had heard from three people there, that in the world they had come from they shared the belief of other people that the blessed and happy would after death have total rest from their labours. Since administrative duties, offices and work are labours, they believed they would have rest from them. The three have now been brought by our emissary, and are standing waiting in front of the gate. So a great shouting has started, and they have deliberated and decided that they should not be brought into the Palladium on Parnassium, as in the previous case, but into the large auditorium, so that they can reveal their news from Christendom. Some people have been despatched to introduce them in due form.'

I was in the spirit, and distances for spirits depend upon the condition of their affections, and I then had a desire to see and hear them, so I found myself in their presence, watching them being brought in and hearing them talking.

[2] The older and wiser people were seated at the sides of the auditorium, and the rest in the middle. There was a raised platform in front of them, and to this the three newcomers together with the messenger were conducted by younger men in a solemn procession through the middle of the auditorium. When silence had been obtained, they were greeted by one of the elders present and asked: 'What is the news from earth?'

'There is a lot of news,' they said, 'please tell us about what.'

'What is the news from earth,' replied the elder, 'about our world and about heaven?'

They replied that when recently they had arrived in this world they had heard that there and in heaven there are administrative duties, ministries, public offices, businesses, studies of all sciences and wonderful work. Yet they had believed that after their migration or transfer from the natural world to this spiritual one, they would come into everlasting rest from labours, and what were duties but labours?

[3] To this the elder said: 'Did you understand everlasting rest from labours to mean everlasting leisure, in which you would continually sit or lie, plying your hearts with delights and filling your mouths with joys?' The three newcomers smiled gently at this, and said they had supposed something of the sort.

'What have joy,' they were asked in reply, 'and delights and so happiness got in common with leisure? The result of leisure is that the mind collapses instead of expanding, or one becomes as dead instead of lively. Imagine someone sitting completely at leisure, with his hands folded, his eyes cast down or withdrawn, and imagine him being at the same time surrounded with an aura of cheerfulness; would not his head and body be gripped by lassitude, the lively expression of his face would collapse, and eventually his every fibre would become so relaxed that he would sway to and fro until he fell to the ground? What is it that keeps the whole system of the body stretched and under tension but the stretching of the mind? And what is it that stretches the mind but administrative duties and tasks, so long as they are enjoyable? So I will tell you some news from heaven: there are there administrative duties, ministries, higher and lower law-courts, as well as crafts and work.'

[4] When the three newcomers heard that in heaven there were higher and lower law-courts, they said: 'Why is that? Are not all in heaven inspired and led by God, so that they know what is just and right? What need then is there of judges?'

'In this world,' replied the elder, 'we are taught and learn what is good and true, and what is just and fair, in the same way as in the natural world. We do not learn these things directly from God, but indirectly through others. Every angel, just as every man, thinks what is true and does what is good as if of himself, and this, depending upon the angel's state, is not pure truth and good, but mixed. Among angels too there are simple and wise people, and it will be for the wise to judge, when the simple as the result of their simplicity or their ignorance are in doubt about what is just, or depart from it.

[5] But if you, who have still not been long in this world, would be good enough to accompany me to our city, we shall show you everything.'

So they left the auditorium, and some of the elders went with them. They came first to a large library, which was divided into smaller collections of books by subjects. The three newcomers were astonished to see so many books, and said: 'Are there books in this world too? Where do they get parchment and paper, pens and ink?'

'We perceive,' said the elders, 'that you believed in the previous world that this world is empty, because it is spiritual. The reason for this belief of yours is that you entertained the idea that the spiritual is abstract; and that what is abstract is nothing and so as if empty. Yet here everything is in its fulness. Everything here is substantial, not material; material things owe their origin to what is substantial. We who are present here are spiritual people, because we are substantial, and not material. This is why everything that is in the material world exists here in its perfection; so we have books and writing, and much more.'

When the three newcomers heard the term substantial mentioned, they thought this must be so, both because they saw there were books written and because they heard it said that matter originates from substance. To give them further proof of this, they were taken to the houses of scribes, who were making copies of books written by the city's wise men. They looked at the writing and were surprised how neat and elegant it was.

[6] After this they were taken to research institutions, high schools and colleges, and to the places where their literary contests took place. Some of these were called contests of the Maidens of Helicon, some those of the Maidens of Parnassus, some those of the Maidens of Athena and some those of the Maidens of the Spring-waters. They said that they were so named because maidens stand for the affections for branches of knowledge, and everyone's intelligence depends upon his affection for knowledge. The contests so called were spiritual exercises and gymnastics. Later, they were taken around the city to visit controllers, administrators and their officials and these showed them the remarkable work performed by craftsmen in a spiritual manner.

[7] When they had seen this, the elder talked with them again about the everlasting rest from labours the blessed and happy obtain after death. 'Everlasting rest,' he said, 'is not leisure, since that reduces the mind and so the whole body to a state of feebleness, torpidity, stupidness and somnolence. These are not life, but death, much less the everlasting life of the angels in heaven. So everlasting rest is a rest that banishes all those ills and makes people alive. This can only be something that uplifts the mind. So it is some interest or task which excites, enlivens and delights the mind. This depends upon the purpose for which, in which and towards which it aims. This is why the whole of heaven is seen by the Lord as a coherent purpose, and it is the purpose he serves that makes every angel an angel. The pleasure of service carries him along, as a favourable current does a ship, and confers upon him everlasting peace and the rest peace gives. This is what is meant by everlasting rest from labours. The extent to which an angel is alive depends upon his mental commitment arising from service. This is perfectly clear from the fact that the depth of conjugial love anyone enjoys, together with the manliness, potency and delights that accompany it, depend upon his commitment to true service.'

[8] When it had been proved to the three newcomers that everlasting rest is not leisure, but the pleasure of some work that is of service, some girls came with embroidery and sewing, their own handiwork, and presented these to them. Then, as the new spirits took their departure, the girls sang a song expressing in an angelic melody their affection for useful work and its attendant pleasures.

Footnotes:

True Christian Religion #694 (Ager, 1970)

694. Third Memorable Relation:

Sometime afterward I looked toward the city Athenaeum, spoken of in the foregoing Memorable Relation, and I heard a strange noise coming from it. There was in it something of laughter, in this something of indignation, and in this still something of sadness; and yet the noise was not discordant but harmonious, because the sounds were not simultaneous, but were one within the other. In the spiritual world the variety and commingling of affections is distinctly perceived in the tone of the voice.

At a distance I asked, "What is the matter?" They answered, "A messenger has arrived from the place where newcomers from the Christian world first appear, saying that he has heard from three persons there that in the world from which they had come, they in common with others there had believed that after death the blessed and happy would have rest from all kinds of labor; and because administrations, and official and manual employments are labors, there would be rest from these. And as these three have now been brought here by our messenger, and stand waiting at the door, a clamor has arisen; and after consultation it has been decided that they should not be introduced into the Palladium on Parnassium as the former new-comers had been, but into the great auditorium there, that they may tell their news from the Christian world; and some have been sent to introduce them formally."

As I was in the spirit, and as with spirits distances are according to the state of their affections, and as I then had an affection for seeing and hearing the newcomers, I seemed to myself to be there present, and I saw them introduced and heard them speak.

[2] In the auditorium the older or wiser sat at the sides, and the others in the center, and in front of these was a raised floor. The three new-corners with the messenger were conducted hither, through the middle of the auditorium, by the younger ones in formal attendance; and when silence had been obtained they were introduced by one of the elders, and asked, "What news from earth?"

They replied, "There is much news; but pray tell us to what subject your inquiry refers."

The elder replied, "What news from earth respecting our world and heaven?"

They answered, "When we first arrived in this world, we heard that both here and in heaven there are governments, ministerial offices, occupations, business, all kinds of studies, and wonderful works; although our belief had been that after our removal or transfer from the natural world into this spiritual world, we should enter into eternal rest from labors. But what are occupations but labors?"

[3] To this the elder replied, "By eternal rest from labor did you understand eternal idleness, wherein you would constantly sit and lie, inhaling delights with the breast, and drinking in joys with the mouth?"

The three newcomers smiled pleasantly at this and said, "We did entertain some such opinion."

They were then asked, "What has joy, delight, and consequent happiness in common with idleness? By idleness the mind is not expanded but dissipated; that is, man is deadened by it, not vivified. Picture to yourselves a man sitting in utter idleness, his hands hanging down, his eyes cast down or withdrawn, and at the same time surrounded by an aura of delight; would not a lethargy seize upon both his head and body, the vital expansion of his face give way, and with relaxed fibers would he not nod and nod, until he fell to the ground? What keeps the whole bodily system expanded and tense, but the tension of the mind? And whence comes the mind's tension but from administrative duties and works, when they are performed from delight? I will therefore tell you this news from heaven, that there are governments here, ministerial duties, judicial tribunals, greater and less, as also mechanical and other employments."

[4] When the three newcomers heard that there were greater and lesser judicial tribunals in heaven they said, "Why so? Are not all who are in heaven inspired and led by God, and do they not therefore know what is just and right? What need then of judges?"

The elder replied, "In this world we are taught and learn what is good and true, also what is just and equitable, the same as in the natural world, and these things we learn not immediately from God, but mediately through others; and every angel, like every man, thinks what is true and does what is good as if of himself, this being not pure but mixed, according to the state of the angel. Moreover, among angels some are simple and some wise, and the wise must judge of what is just, while the simple from their simplicity and ignorance are in doubt about it of depart from it.

[5] But as you are yet new in this world, follow me, if you would like to do so, into our city, and we will show you everything."

And they left the auditorium, others of the elders also accompanying them; and first entered a large library, which was divided into smaller libraries, each devoted to a different branch of knowledge. The three new-comers, seeing so many books, were amazed, and said, "Are there books in this world also?" Where do the parchment, paper, pens and ink come from?"

The elders replied, "We perceive that in the former world you believed this world to be empty because it is spiritual; and this you believed because you cherished an idea of the spiritual as something abstract from the material; and what is abstract from the material seemed to you like nothing, thus like a vacuum; and yet here is an abundance of all things. All things here are substantial, not material, and material things have their origin in the substantial. We who are here are spiritual men, because we are substantial and not material. For this reason all things that exist in the natural world exist here in their perfection, even books and writings and many other things."

When the three newcomers heard the word substantial, they recognized the truth of the matter, both from seeing the written books and from hearing that matter originates in substance. To convince them still further, they were taken to the abodes of the writers who transcribed the writings of the wise men of the city; and they examined the writings and wondered at their neatness and elegance.

[6] After this they were conducted to the museums, gymnasia, colleges, and places where they held their literary games, some called the games of the Heliconides, some of the Parnassides, some of the Athenaeides, and some of the Virgins of the fountain. They said that the latter were so named because virgins signify affections for knowledges, according to which affections everyone has intelligence. The so-called games were spiritual exercises and trials of skill. After this they were conducted about the city to the rulers, administrators, and their officers, and by these latter to the wonderful works which their workmen execute in a spiritual manner.

[7] When these things had been seen, the elder again spoke to them about the eternal rest from labor, into which the blessed and happy enter after death. He said, "Eternal rest is not idleness, for idleness produces a languid, torpid, stupid, and sleepy state of the mind, and therefrom of the whole body; and this is not life but death, still less is it the eternal life which the angels of heaven live. Eternal rest is therefore a rest that dispels that state and causes man to live; thus it is nothing else than what elevates the mind; and is some pursuit or work by which the mind is aroused, enlivened, and delighted; and this is accomplished in the measure of the use from which, and for which the mind labors. Because of this the whole heaven is regarded by the Lord as a containant of uses, and every angel is an angel in the measure of his use. Delight in use bears him on as a favoring current does a ship, causing him to be in eternal peace and in the rest of peace. This is what is meant by eternal rest from labor. That an angel is alive in the measure of the application of his mind to use is very manifest from this, that everyone has conjugial love with its vigor, potency, and delights, according to his application to the genuine use in which he is engaged."

When the three newcomers had been convinced that eternal rest is not idleness, but the delight arising from some useful work, some virgins came and presented them with needlework and embroidery made with their own hands; and as the newcomers were departing, the virgins sang an ode in which they expressed in angelic melody the affection for useful labor and its charms.

True Christian Religion #694 (Dick, 1950)

694. The third experience. Some time afterwards I was looking towards the city Athenaeum, mentioned in the preceding narrative, and I heard an unusual clamor come from it. In the sound there was laughter, and in this there was indignation, and in this again there was sadness. Still, however, the clamor was not on that account discordant; but it was harmonious, because the sounds were not heard separately, but one within the other. For in the spiritual world a combination of various emotions is distinctly perceived in sound. I inquired from a distance what the matter was, and I received this reply: "A messenger has arrived from the place where new comers from the Christian world first appear. He has heard from three persons there that in the world from which they have come they shared the belief that the blessed and happy after death would have perfect rest from labors; and because administrative duties, offices and employments are labor, there would be rest from them. As these three persons have been brought here by our messenger, and now stand waiting to be admitted, a cry has gone up. After consultation it has been decided that they should not be admitted into the Palladium ¹ on Parnassium, ² as the former strangers were, but into the great audience hall there, in order to announce their news from the Christian world; and deputies have been sent to introduce them with due ceremony.

I was in the spirit, and distances with spirits are according to the state of their affections. As I then desired to see and hear them, I was immediately present at the place; and I saw them introduced, and heard them speak.

[2] The elders, or wiser ones, sat at the sides of the hall, and the rest in the centre. Facing the latter was a raised platform; and to this the three new comers with the messenger were conducted with due ceremony by the younger members of the assembly through the middle of the hall. As soon as there was silence, they were greeted by a certain one of the elders, who then asked, "What news from the earth?" They replied, "There is much that is new; but pray tell us on what subject you would like us to speak. The elder answered, "What is the news from the earth concerning our world and heaven?" They replied: "When we first came into this world we were informed that here and in heaven there are administrative duties, occupations, offices, employments, the pursuit of all kinds of learning, and wonderful pieces of workmanship. Yet we used to believe that after our departure or translation from the natural world into this spiritual world we should come into eternal rest from labors; and what the employments but labors?"

[3] To this the elder said: "Did you understand by eternal rest from labors, eternal idleness, when you would be continually sitting or lying down, summoning for your enjoyment the delights of the mind and the pleasures of the senses?" The three strangers, with a pleasant smile, said they had supposed some such thing. "But," was the reply, "what have pleasures and delights, and the happiness they bring, in common with idleness? By idleness the mind is destroyed, not expanded, or, in other words, the man is deadened and not enlivened. Suppose that a person were sitting in perfect idleness, with his hands hanging down, and his eyes downcast or uplifted; and suppose that he were at the same time surrounded by an atmosphere of gladness, then a lethargy would seize both his head and body, the lively expression of his face would fall away, and with nerves and sinews relaxed, he would nod and nod until he collapsed to the ground. What is it that keeps the whole bodily system expanded and tense, but the tension of the mind? and this tension comes only from administrative duties and employment, when these are performed with pleasure. I will, therefore, tell you this news from heaven, that there are in heaven administrative duties, occupations, courts of justice, higher and lower, as well as mechanical arts and services."

[4] When the three strangers heard that there were courts of justice, higher and lower, in heaven, they said, "Why so? Are not all in heaven inspired and guided by God, and do they not, therefore, know what is just and right? What need then of judges?" "In this world," replied the elder, "we are instructed, and learn what is good and true, and also what is just and equitable, as in the natural world; and these things we learn not immediately from God, but mediately through others. Besides every angel, like every man, thinks what is true and does what is good as from himself; and the results are more or less true and good according to the state of the angel. Further, among the angels there are some who are simple and some who are wise; and the wise will judge what is right, while the simple in their simplicity and ignorance hesitate, or even depart from it.

[5] But as you are new to this world, if agreeable to you, come with me into our city, and we will show you everything." Thereupon they left the audience hall, accompanied by some of the seniors.

They first entered a large library, which was divided into sub-sections according to the different branches of knowledge. When the three strangers saw so many books they were astonished, and said, "There are books too, in this world! Where do the parchment, paper, pens and ink come from?" "We perceive," the seniors replied, "that in the former world you believed this world, being spiritual, to be empty; and this you believed because you conceived the spiritual to be an abstraction from the material. As an abstraction from the material appeared to you as nothing at all, you supposed this world to be a void, when in truth there is here the plenitude of all things. In this world all things are substantial ³ and not material, and material things originate from the substantial. We in this world are spiritual men because we are substantial, and not material. It follows, therefore, that all things which exist in the natural world, including books and manuscripts, are found here in their perfection." When the three strangers heard these things called substantial, they understood what it meant, for they saw the written books and were told that matter has its origin from substance. That they might be still further convinced on these points, they were taken to the houses of scribes who were making copies of what had been written by the wise men of the city. They examined the writing carefully, and wondered at seeing it so neat and elegant.

[6] After this they were conducted to their places of learning, the museums, gymnasiums, and colleges, and to the places where were held their literary sports. Some of these were called after Heliconeum, ⁴ Parmassium and Athenaeum, and some after the Virgins of the fountain. It was said that these last were so named because virgins signify the love of knowledge, and every one is intelligent in proportion to his love of knowledge. The sports, as they were termed, were spiritual exercises and trials of skill. The strangers were afterwards conducted about the city, visiting the rulers, administrators, and their subordinate officials, by whom they were taken to view the wonderful works constructed by workmen in spiritual style.

[7] When they had seen these things, the elder spoke with them again about the eternal rest from labors into which the blessed and happy come after death. "Eternal rest," he said, "is not idleness, for idleness produces languor, sluggishness, numbness and drowsiness of the mind, and consequently of the whole body; and these are death, not life, much less the eternal life which the angels of heaven enjoy. Eternal rest, therefore, is a rest that dispels these states and enables a man to live; and it is only this that elevates the mind. It consists therefore in some pursuit or occupation by which the mind is aroused, quickened and delighted; and this follows according to the use from which, in which and for which the work is performed. Thus the whole heaven is viewed by the Lord as a sphere of uses, and every angel is an angel according to his use. The delight of use bears him along as a favorable current does a ship, causing him to be in eternal peace, and in the rest of peace. This is the meaning of eternal rest from labors. That an angel is quickened as his mind is applied to use is plainly evident from the fact that every one enjoys conjugial love in its vigor, potency and delight according to his love of its use."

When the three strangers had been thus convinced that eternal rest is not idleness but joy in the performance of useful work, some maidens came and presented them with embroidered and woven articles, examples of their own handiwork. As the new comers were departing, the maidens sang an ode expressing in heavenly strains the love of useful work and its pleasures.

Footnotes:

Vera Christiana Religio #694 (original Latin,1770)

694. TERTIUM MEMORABILE.

Post aliquod tempus spectavi ad urbem Athenaeum, de qua in priori Memorabili aliquid dictum est, et audivi inde clamorem insolitum; erat in illo aliquid risus, in hoc aliquid indignationis, et in hac aliquid maestitiae; at usque clamor ille non inde erat dissonus, sed consonus, quia unum non erat simul cum altero, sed unum intra alterum; in Mundo spirituali percipitur in sono distincte varietas et commixtura affectionum. Quaesivi e longinquo, quid rei; et dixerunt, venit nuntius e loco, ubi advenae e Christiano Orbe primum apparent, dicens, quod a Tribus ibi audiverit, quod in Mundo, unde venerunt, cum reliquis ibi crediderint, quod beatis et felicibus post mortem futura sit omnimoda requies a laboribus; et quia administrationes, officia et operae sunt labores, quod requies ab illis futura sit: et quia tres illi ab Emissario nostro nunc adducti sunt, et stant ante portam et exspectant, factus est Clamor, et ex consulto statuerunt, quod non in Palladium in Parnassio, ut priores, sed in magnum Auditorium ibi introducerentur, ut aperiant Nova sua e Christiano Orbe; et ablegati sunt aliqui, qui solenniter illos introducerent. Quia eram in spiritu, et spiritibus distantiae sunt secundum status affectionum illorum; et quia tunc mihi affectio videndi et audiendi illos erat, visus mihi sum praesens ibi, et vidi introductos, et audivi loquentes.

[2] Sederunt in Auditorio Seniores seu Sapientiores ad latera, ac reliqui in medio; et ante hos erat elevatum solum; huc tres Advenae cum nuntio in solenni comitatu a minorennibus per medium Auditorii deducti sunt; et post silentium factum, salutati sunt a quodam Majorenni ibi, et quaesiti, QUID NOVI E TERRA; et dixerunt, sunt multa Nova, sed dic quaeso de qua re, et respondit Majorennis, QUID NOVI E TERRA DE NOSTRO MUNDO ET DE COELO; et responderunt, quod cum recentes in hunc Mundum venimus, audiverimus, quod ibi et in Coelo sint Administrationes, Ministeria, Functiones, Negotiationes, Studia omnium disciplinarum, et mirabiles Operae; et tamen credidimus quod post migrationem seu translationem e Mundo naturali in hunc Spiritualem, in aeternam requiem a laboribus venturi simus; et quid functiones nisi labores:

[3] ad haec Majorennis dixit, num per aeternam requiem a laboribus intellexistis aeternum otium, in quo continue sederetis et cubaretis, attrahentes delitias pectore, et sorbentes gaudia ore; ad haec tres Advenae blande ridentes dixerunt, quod aliquid tale autumaverint; et tunc responsum est illis, quid gaudia, et delitiae, et inde felicitas, commune habent cum otio; ex otio collabitur mens et non expanditur, seu mortificatur homo et non vivificatur; pone aliquem sedentem in pleno otio, remissis manibus, dejectis aut subductis oculis, et pone ut ille simul circumfundatur aura laetitiae; numne Veternus occuparet et caput et corpus ejus, ac vitalis expansio faciei concideret, et tandem ille relaxatis fibris nutaret et nutaret, usque dum caderet in terram; quid in expansione et tensione tenet totius corporis systema, quam intensio animi; et unde intensio animi, nisi ex administraturis et operis, dum fiunt ex jucundo; quare dicam vobis Novum e Coelo, quod ibi sint administrationes, ministeria, judicia majora et minora, tum artificia et operae.

[4] Tres advenae, cum audiverunt, quod in Coelo essent Judicia majora et minora, dicebant, cur illa; annon omnes in Coelo inspirantur et ducuntur a Deo, et inde sciunt quid justum et rectum; quid tunc opus judicibus; et respondit Vir majorennis, in hoc Mundo instruimur et discimus quid bonum et verum, tum quid justum et aequum, similiter ut in Mundo naturali, et haec discimus non immediate a Deo, sed mediate per alios; et omnis Angelus, sicut omnis homo, cogitat verum, et facit bonum ¹ sicut a se, et hoc secundum statum Angeli est mixtum, et non purum; et quoque inter Angelos dantur simplices et sapientes, et sapientes judicabunt, dum simplices ex simplicitate et ex ignorantia ambigunt de justo, aut abeunt ab illo.

[5] Sed vos, quia recentes adhuc in hoc Mundo estis, si sit beneplaciti vestri, sequimini me in Urbem nostram, et monstrabimus omnia; et exiverunt Auditorio, et aliqui ex Senioribus etiam illos comitati sunt; et primum in Bibliothecam magnam, quae secundum scientias distincta erat in Libraria minora: tres illi Advenae, visis tot libris, obstupefacti sunt, et dixerunt, sunt etiam in hoc Mundo Libri, unde membranae et chartae; unde calami et atramentum; ad haec dixerunt Seniores, percipimus quod credideritis in Mundo priori, quod hic Mundus vacuus sit, quia spiritualis; et quod hoc credideritis, est quia ideam de spirituali fovistis abstractam a materiali; et abstractum a materiali apparuit vobis sicut nihilum, ita sicut vacuum; cum tamen hic est plenitudo omnium; sunt hic omnia SUBSTANTIALIA et non materialia, et materialia suam originem ducunt ex substantialibus; nos qui hic sumus, homines spirituales sumus quia substantiales, et non materiales; inde est, quod hic dentur omnia quae in Mundo naturali in sua perfectione, ² etiam libri et scripturae, et multo plura; tres Advenae cum audiverunt nominari SUBSTANTIALIA, cogitaverunt quod ita sit, tam quia viderunt Libros scriptos, quam quia audiverunt dictum, quod materiae originitus sint ex substantiis. Ut adhuc de his confirmarentur, delati sunt ad Domicilia scribarum, qui exscribebant exemplaria a sapientibus urbis conscripta, et inspiciebant scripturas, et mirati sunt, quod tam nitidae et politae essent.

[6] Post haec deducti sunt ad Musaea, Gymnasia et Collegia, et ubi erant Ludi illorum literarii, quorum aliquos vocabant Heliconidum, aliquos ludos Parnassidum, aliquos ludos Atheneidum, et aliquos ludos Virginum fontis; dicebant quod hi ita appellentur, quia Virgines significant affectiones scientiarum, et secundum affectionem scientiarum est cuivis intelligentia; Ludi ita vocati, erant exercitationes et palaestrae ³ spirituales. Postea circumducti sunt in urbe ad Moderatores, Administratores, et horum Officiarios, et per hos ad mirabiles Operas, quae ab artificibus spirituali modo fiunt.

[7] Postquam haec visa sunt, iterum cum illis loquutus est Vir majorennis de Requie aeterna a laboribus, in quam veniunt beati et felices post mortem, et dixit, Requies aeterna non est otium, quoniam ex otio est mentis et inde totius corporis, languor, torpor, stupor et sopor, et haec sunt mors et non vita, et minus vita aeterna, in qua sunt Angeli Coeli; quare Requies aeterna est requies quae discutit illa, et facit ut homo vivat; et hoc non aliud est, quam tale quod elevat mentem; est itaque aliquod studium et opus, ex quo excitatur, vivificatur, et delitiatur mens; et hoc fit secundum usum, ex quo, in quo, et ad quem operatur; inde est, quod Universum Coelum spectetur a Domino ut continens usus, et quisque Angelus est Angelus secundum usum; jucundum usus fert illum sicut secunda vena navem, et facit ut in aeterna pace, et pacis requie sit; ita intelligitur Aeterna requies a laboribus. Quod Angelus sit vivus secundum studium mentis ex usu, patet manifeste ex eo, quod cuivis sit Amor conjugialis cum ejus virtute, potentia et delitiis, secundum studium genuini usus in quo est.

[8] Postquam tres illi Advenae confirmati sunt, quod Aeterna requies non sit otium, sed jucundum alicujus operis quod usui est, ⁴ venerunt aliquae Virgines cum acupictus et netis, operibus manuum suarum, et donaverunt illis; et Virgines, cum abibant novitii illi spiritus, cecinerunt oden, qua affectionem operum usus cum amaenis ⁵ ejus, melo angelico exprimebant.

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