735# 此后，天使对那些人说话；他们曾给自己形成这样的观念：天堂的喜乐和永远的幸福，就是与亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各一同筵宴；筵宴之后有游戏和表演，随后又是筵宴，如此直到永远。
天使对他们说：“跟随我吧；我要把你们引入你们所认为的幸福喜乐之中。”于是他领他们穿过一片树林，来到一块铺着木板的平地；那里摆着许多桌子，一边十五张，另一边也十五张。
他们问：“为什么有这么多桌子？”
天使回答说，第一张是亚伯拉罕的桌子，第二张是以撒的，第三张是雅各的；紧接着，依次是十二使徒的桌子。“另一边也有同样数目的桌子，是他们妻子的桌子；前三张分别是亚伯拉罕之妻撒拉、以撒之妻利百加，以及雅各之妻利亚和拉结的桌子；其余十二张，则是十二使徒妻子的桌子。”
【2】过了一会儿，所有桌子都显得摆满了菜肴；菜肴之间的小空处，还用盛着调味品的小金字塔装饰着。
将要赴宴的人站在桌旁，等候观看主持各桌的人。不久，他们看见这些人按队列进来，从亚伯拉罕开始，直到最后一位使徒。随即，各人来到自己的桌前，在桌首的卧榻上就座，并对周围的人说：“你们也同我们一同坐席吧。”
于是，男子便与这些祖宗同席，女子则与他们的妻子同席；他们怀着喜乐和敬意吃喝。
饭后，这些祖宗离去；于是开始游戏，又有童女和少年跳舞，随后还有表演。表演结束后，他们再次被邀请赴宴；但有一项规定：第一天与亚伯拉罕同食，第二天与以撒同食，第三天与雅各同食，第四天与彼得同食，第五天与雅各同食，第六天与约翰同食，第七天与保罗同食；再按次序与其余使徒同食，直到第十五天。此后，又照同样次序重新开始宴饮，只是更换座位，如此直到永远。
【3】此后，天使召集那一队人，对他们说：“你们刚才所看见坐在桌旁的所有人，曾和你们一样，对天堂的喜乐以及由此而来的永远幸福，怀有同样的想象。为了使他们亲自看见自己观念的虚妄，并被带离这些观念，这类筵宴场景才被设立，并蒙主允许。
你们看见坐在桌首的那些首要人物，其实都是装扮出来的老人；他们多半出身乡野，蓄着胡须，又因略有财物而比别人骄矜。他们被一种幻想带入其中，以为自己就是那些古时的祖宗。
【4】但现在跟随我，走出这片活动场地。”
他们跟着他走，看见这里有五十人，那里也有五十人；这些人把肚腹塞满食物，直到作呕，只想回到自己家中熟悉的生活里去。有些人想回到自己的职务，有些想回到自己的事务，有些想回到自己的工作。
但其中许多人被树林的看守者拦住，询问他们已经赴宴多少日，是否已经同彼得和保罗一同吃过；若他们在此之前离开，便是不合礼节，将来会为此羞愧。
然而，多数人回答说：“我们的喜乐已经满足了；食物对我们已经没有滋味，味觉也变得干涩，胃也厌恶这些东西，我们再也不能尝它们了。我们已经在这种奢华中拖过了好几日好几夜，恳切请求放我们出去。”
他们获准离开后，便气喘吁吁，急忙奔回家去。
【5】此后，天使召来那一队人，在路上教导他们关于天堂的事，说：“在天堂，和在世上一样，也有食物和饮料，有宴饮和筵席；在那里，首要者也有摆满丰盛佳肴、美味珍馐和精致食物的桌子，使他们的心情欢欣并得恢复。
那里也有游戏和表演，也有音乐和歌唱；这一切都达到最高的完美。对他们来说，这些也确实是喜乐，却不是幸福本身。幸福要在这些喜乐之中，并由此借着这些喜乐显出来。喜乐中的幸福，使喜乐成为真正的喜乐，使它们丰盛，并维持它们，不致变得低贱而令人厌倦。而这种幸福，是每个人从自己职分中的用途而来的。
【6】在每位天使意愿的情感中，都潜藏着某种脉流，吸引其心智去做某件事；心智借此安静下来，并得到满足。这种满足和安静，使心智处于能够接受来自主的用途之爱的状态；由这种接受而来的，就是天堂的幸福，也就是前面所说那些喜乐的生命。
天堂的食物，就其本质而言，也无非是爱、智和用三者合一；也就是说，是由爱借智慧而有用。因此，天堂中每个人所得给身体的食物，都按他所履行的功用而定：那些处于卓越功用中的人，所得食物华美；那些处于中等功用中的人，所得食物适中，却滋味精美；那些处于低微功用中的人，所得食物粗朴；至于懒惰无用的人，则没有食物。”
735# 此后，天使向那些采纳以下观念的人说话，即：天堂的喜乐和永恒的幸福就是与亚伯拉罕、以撒和雅各共享盛宴，随后是运动或游戏和舞台表演，然后又是盛宴，以此类推，直到永远。他对他们说：“跟我来，我将把你们引入你们喜乐的幸福状态。”他领着他们穿过一片小树林，来到一片铺着木地板的平地上，那里摆着桌子，两边各摆了十五张。他们问为什么有这么多桌子；天使回答说：“第一张桌子是亚伯拉罕的，第二张是以撒的，第三张是雅各的，它们旁边按顺序是十二使徒的。另一边同样有十五张桌子，是给他们妻子的；头三张是给亚伯拉罕的妻子撒拉、以撒的妻子利百加，以及雅各的妻子利亚和拉结的；剩下的十二张是给十二使徒的妻子的。”
不久之后，只见所有桌子上都摆满了菜肴，桌子之间的空间还点缀着小金字塔形的甜食，或水果和调味料。客人们围着桌子站着，等着见主持的人。等了一会儿，这些人出现了，按行进的顺序进入，从亚伯拉罕到最后一位使徒；他们各人立刻走到自己的桌子前，在桌首的卧榻上就座。然后，他们对周围站着的人说：“请与我们一同就座。”男人们便与族长们坐在一起，女人们则与他们的妻子坐在一起；他们怀着快乐和崇敬的心情吃着喝着。用餐结束后，族长们退席了；然后是少女和少男们的运动或游戏和舞蹈，接着是表演。当这些结束时，客人们再次被邀请赴宴，不过，是按以下安排来赴宴的：第一天，他们要和亚伯拉罕一起吃饭，第二天和以撒，第三天和雅各，第四天和彼得，第五天和雅各，第六天和约翰，第七天和保罗，按顺序与其余的所有人一起吃饭，直到第十五天，就是当他们按同样的顺序又重新开始盛宴时；每次都要换座位，以此类推，直到永远。
过了一段时间，天使将他队伍的人召集起来，对他们说：“你们在席上看到的所有人，对天堂的喜乐和它的永恒幸福都有着和你们一样的幻想；主设立和允许这些盛宴，是为了让他们可以看到他们观念的虚荣，并被引导离开它们。你们在桌首看到的那些主要人物，只是扮演他们的老人。他们大多数是留着胡子的乡下人，因拥有一点财富就骄傲自负，痴迷于这种幻觉：他们实际上是那些老族长。但请随我走上离开这个营地的道路。”
于是，他们跟着他，看到这里有五十人，那里有五十人，他们胃里塞满了食物，直到他们恶心；他们渴望回到自己家里熟悉的场景中，一些人渴望回到自己的职位上，一些人渴望回去做自己的生意，一些人渴望回到自己的行业或体力劳动中。然而，许多人被小树林的看守扣留了，并被问及他们盛宴的天数，他们是否已经和彼得、保罗同席用餐；他们被告知，如果他们还没有做到这一点就离开，那将是他们永远的耻辱，因为这是不体面的、可耻的。但他们中的大多数人回答说：“我们已经充分品尝了我们的喜乐，食物对我们来说，已经变得淡而无味；我们的味觉已经枯竭，我们的胃厌恶这些东西；我们无法忍受这些饮料；我们已经在这种奢侈中度过了几天几夜，现在恳切地请求放我们出去。”于是，他们就被放出来，气喘吁吁地快步逃回了家。
后来，天使把他队伍的人召集起来，在路上给予他们关于天堂的如下教导：“在天堂里和在世界上一样，都有食物和饮料，盛宴和欢乐的聚会。大人物或首要人物的桌子上摆着最上等、最丰盛的食物、珍馐和美味，这些东西让他们的灵感到振奋，并恢复活力。天堂里也有体育运动和舞台表演，以及器乐和歌曲，并且这一切都是最完美的。此外，对那些在天堂里的人来说，这些东西是喜乐，但不是幸福；幸福必在喜乐中，因而来自它们。正是喜乐中的幸福使得喜乐成为喜乐，并丰富和提升它们，防止它们变得毫无意义、令人厌烦或乏味；每个人都从自己职业的功用中拥有这种幸福。
“每位天使的意愿的情感里面都有一种潜藏的倾向，促使心智去做事，心智在其中找到平静和满足；这种满足和平静产生一种心智从主那里接受对功用之爱的状态；天堂的幸福，也就是前面所列举的这些喜乐的生命，就来自对这爱的接受。天堂的食物本质上不是别的，正是爱、智慧和功用的和谐统一，也就是说，是通过智慧来自爱的功用。出于这个原因，天堂里的每个人都照着他所履行的功用而得到身体所需的食物：那些履行杰出功用的人得到最好、最丰盛的食物；那些履行中等水平功用的人得到中等品质的食物；而那些履行低级或卑微功用的人得到低劣的食物；而懒惰的人得不到任何食物。”
735. Afterward the angel addressed the people who had convinced themselves that heavenly joys and eternal happiness consist in dining with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and then playing games and watching shows after the meal, then having another feast the next day, and so on to eternity.
"Follow me," the angel said to them, "and I will bring you into the happiness of your joys. "
He led them through a wooded area to a clearing with a large, low platform of wooden boards that had tables on it - fifteen on one side, and fifteen on the other.
"Why are there so many tables?" they asked.
"The first table is for Abram, the second for Isaac, the third for Jacob, and next to them is a row of twelve tables for the twelve apostles. On the other side, there are the same number of tables for their wives. The first three tables are for Sarai, Abram's wife; Rebecca, Isaac's wife; and Leah and Rachel, Jacob's wives. The other twelve tables are for the wives of the twelve apostles. "
[2] Not too long afterward, the tables were loaded with dishes of food, and little pyramids with desserts were neatly placed in the spaces between the dishes. The dinner guests stood next to the tables, excited to see the distinguished people who would be sitting at the heads of the tables. After a brief delay, they saw their honorable dinner companions entering in a procession, beginning with Abram and ending with the last of the apostles. Soon the patriarchs were seated on padded chairs at the heads of the tables. They addressed the visitors, who were still standing, and said, "We invite you to sit down with us. "
The men sat down with the patriarchs and the women sat down with their wives. They all ate and drank together in a joyful yet reverent state of mind. After the meal was over, the famous figures left. Then there were games to play, and young men and women giving a dance performance, and afterward several stage plays. At the end of the evening, all were invited to another festival the next day, but with the following stipulation: "You will dine with Abram on the first day, Isaac on the second, Jacob on the third, Peter on the fourth, James on the fifth, John on the sixth, Paul on the seventh, and with the rest in sequence up to the fifteenth day, at which time the dinner cycle will repeat, although you will be sitting in different places. This cycle will go on forever. "
[3] At that point the angel called together the people from his group, and said to them, "All the other guests you dined with were people who had formed similar mental images as your own about the joys of heaven and therefore eternal happiness. These banquets and shows were established with the Lord's permission for the purpose of allowing people to see that their ideas are foolish so that they can let go of them.
"The famous men that you saw at the heads of the tables were actually older actors with beards; many of them are country folk whose relative wealth compared to their neighbors has given them enough of a superior attitude for the part. They agreed to pretend that they were the ancient patriarchs.
[4] But follow me now to the pathways that lead out of this arena. "
They followed, and came upon fifty people here and fifty there who had crammed their stomachs full of food to the point of nausea and were longing for their usual routine at home - some for their professional duties, some for their businesses, and some for the work they did with their hands. Many of them, though, had been detained by the guards of that wooded area and questioned about which day of feasting they were on, and whether they had eaten with Peter or Paul yet. They were told that leaving before doing so was highly improper and would cause them great shame.
Many of the people said to the guards in response, "We are fed up with our joys! We can't even taste the food or the drink any more - our sense of taste is burned out. Our stomach can't take it any more, and we can no longer stand to put anything in our mouths. This ridiculous indulgence has gone on for whole days and nights on end. Please, we beg you, let us go!"
They were allowed out and ran home breathlessly.
[5] The angel called his group together again, and as they walked away together he taught them the following things about heaven.
"In heaven as on earth there is food and drink, and there are dinners and parties, and the tables of leading figures are laden with glorious spreads including special delicacies you don't find elsewhere; these things rejuvenate and refresh the mind. There are also sports and shows and concerts of vocal and instrumental music, all at the height of perfection. All these things are a joy to the angels, but they don't constitute their true happiness. Their happiness has to be present for these things to bring them joy. The happiness that is present within them during the joyful events is what makes the events joyful, enriches them, and keeps them from becoming meaningless and tedious. And the only source of anyone's true happiness is doing something useful through his or her work.
[6] "Hidden deep within the desires of every angel's heart there is a kind of current that draws her or his mind to do something. In that activity the mind finds its peace and satisfaction. This peace and satisfaction then condition the mind to be receptive to the love of being useful that flows in from the Lord. Receiving this love leads to the true heavenly happiness that gives life to the joys that I mentioned a moment ago.
"At the level of its essence, heavenly food is in fact love, wisdom, and usefulness working together; or to put it another way, usefulness that draws on wisdom and comes from love. For all of us in heaven, the type of food we are given for our bodies therefore depends on how useful a function we perform. People who perform the highest-level functions are given magnificent food; people who perform mid-level functions are given more moderate kinds of food, but still very good-tasting; people who perform low-level functions are given humble food. Those who do nothing get no food at all. "
735. After this the angel addressed those who had formed the notion that the joys of heaven and everlasting happiness meant feasting with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and after the feast games and entertainments, followed by more feasts, and so on for ever. 'Follow me,' he told them, 'and I shall bring you to the enjoyment of the happiness your joys give.' So he led them through a wood to a clearing paved with planks, where tables were set out, fifteen on one side and fifteen on the other.
'Why are there so many tables?' they asked. The angel replied that the first table was Abraham's, the second Isaac's, the third Jacob's, and then ranged next to these the tables of the twelve Apostles. On the other side were the same number of tables for their wives, the first three for Sarah, the wife of Abraham, Rebecca, the wife of Isaac, and Leah and Rachel, Jacob's wives. The other twelve were for the wives of the twelve Apostles.
[2] After a little while all the tables appeared full of dishes of food, and the small spaces between them were decorated with small pyramids of sweets. The diners stood around the tables waiting to see the people who would preside; and after a short interval these were seen entering in procession with Abraham at their head and the rear brought up by the last of the Apostles. Then each went to his own table and sat down on the couch at its head, from where they invited those standing around: 'Do you too please take your seats with us.' So the men sat at table with the patriarchs, and the women with their wives, and they ate and drank cheerfully and with reverence. After the lunch the patriarchs went out, and then the games began, dancing by young girls and young men, and then theatrical performances. When these were over, they were invited to feast again, but the rule was that the first day they should dine with Abraham, the second with Isaac, the third with Jacob, the fourth with Peter, the fifth with James, the sixth with John, the seventh with Paul, and so on with the rest up to the fifteenth day, after which they would go through all the feasts again, merely changing places, and so on for ever.
[3] After this the angel called together the men in the group and said to them: 'All these whom you have seen at table had much the same thoughts as you did when they imagined the joys of heaven and everlasting happiness. In order that they should see for themselves how vain their notions were, these feasts and performances were set up with the Lord's permission. The leading figures you saw at the head of each table were old men portrayed by actors, many of them countryfolk who had beards, and as the result of some degree of wealth more haughty than the rest; these were made to imagine that they were the ancient patriarchs. But follow me to the exits from this exercise-ground.'
[4] So they followed him and came upon fifty people in one place and fifty more in another, who had stuffed their bellies with food until they felt sick. Then they longed to return to the familiar surroundings of their homes, some to their duties, some to their businesses, and some to their tasks. But many of them were stopped by the guards of the wood, and questioned about the days they had spent feasting, and whether they had yet eaten at the tables with Peter and Paul, telling them that if they left before this, it would make them ashamed to be so impolite. But most of them answered: 'We have had enough of our joys. The food has become tasteless to us, our taste has become parched, so that our stomachs loathe food and we can no longer bear to swallow it. We have spent a number of long days and nights amid that luxury; we beg you earnestly to let us go.' When they were allowed out, they hurried off home so fast they were out of breath.
[5] After this the angel called the men of the group together, and as they walked gave them the following information about heaven: 'In heaven, just as in the world, there is food and drink, and there are banquets and parties. The leading people there have their tables laden with rich feasts, dainties and delicacies, which serve to cheer and refresh their minds. There are also games and theatrical performances; there are also concerts and singing, and all achieve the highest perfection. Such things are a joy to them, but they do not constitute happiness. Happiness has to have joys and therefore comes from joys.
It is the happiness in joys that makes them joys, enriches them, and keeps them from becoming worthless and boring. Everyone gets this happiness by being of service in his occupation.
[6] 'Every angel has some hidden tendency in the affection of his will, which induces his mind to do something. By this means the mind calms and satisfies itself. This feeling of satisfaction and calm render the state of the mind amenable to receiving from the Lord the love of service. Heavenly happiness is the result of receiving this, and this is what gives life to the joys I mentioned before. Heavenly food is essentially nothing but love, wisdom and service all combined; that is, service performed by means of wisdom out of love. Everyone therefore in heaven gets food for the body depending on the service he performs; it is magnificent for those who perform the highest services, moderate but of exquisite flavour for those whose service is modest, humble for those who perform humble services. But there is none at all for the lazy.'
735. After this the angel addressed those who had adopted the idea that the joys of heaven and eternal happiness are feastings with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, followed by games and spectacles, and then feasting again, and so on to eternity. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will introduce you into the felicities of your joys." And he led them through a meadow to a plain staked out, and on it tables were placed, fifteen on each side.
They asked why there were so many tables; the angel replied, "The first table is Abraham's, the second Isaac's, the third Jacob's and near them in order are the tables of the twelve apostles; on the other side is the same number of tables for their wives; the three first being for Sarah, Abraham's wife, Rebecca, Isaac's wife, and Leah and Rachel, Jacob's wives; the twelve remaining tables are for the wives of the twelve apostles."
[2] After a little delay, all the tables were seen to be loaded with dishes, and the spaces between decorated with little pyramids of sweetmeats. The guests stood around the tables waiting to see those who were to preside. These, after a little waiting, appeared, entering in order of procession from Abraham to the last of the apostles; and each going at once to his own table, took his place upon a couch at the head of it. Then they said to those standing around, "Sit you down with us." And the men sat down with those fathers, and the women with their wives, and ate and drank in gladness and with reverence.
After the meal the fathers went out; and then sports were introduced, dances by maidens and young men, and afterward spectacles; and when these were ended the guests were again invited to the feasting, but with the understanding that on the first day they should eat with Abraham, on the second with Isaac, on the third with Jacob, on the fourth with Peter, on the fifth with James, on the sixth with John, on the seventh with Paul, and with all the rest in order until the fifteenth day, when they were to renew the feasting again in the same order; changing seats; and so on to eternity.
[3] After this the angel called together the men of his company and said to them, "All those whom you see at the tables had the same imaginary thought about the joys of heaven and its eternal happiness that you had; and these feasting scenes were instituted and permitted by the Lord in order that they might see the vanity of their ideas and be led away from them. Those chief men whom you saw at the head of the tables merely impersonated old men; most of them are rustics with beards, and puffed up by some little wealth, upon whom has been induced the fantasy that they actually were those ancient fathers. But follow me to the ways of exit from this camp."
[4] They followed him; and they saw fifty here and fifty there who had loaded their stomachs with food until they were nauseated, and longed to return to the familiar scenes of their own homes, some to their offices, some to their business, and some to their trades. But many were detained by the keepers of the grove, and were asked how many days they had feasted, and whether they had yet eaten at the tables with Peter and Paul, and were told that it would be shameful for them to go away before doing so, because it would be unbecoming. But most of them answered, "We are surfeited with our joys, the food has become insipid to us, our taste has dried up, our stomachs loathe these things, we cannot bear these drinks, we have spent several days and nights in this luxury, and we earnestly beg to be let out." And being let out, with panting breath and hurried steps they fled home.
[5] Then the angel called the men of his company, and on the way taught them about heaven, as follows: "In heaven, just as in the world, there are food and drink, feasts and convivial parties, on the tables of the great are the choicest foods, rarities, and delicacies, whereby their spirits are exhilarated and refreshed; there are also plays and exhibitions, and instrumental and vocal music; and all in the highest perfection. Moreover, such things are joys to those in heaven, but not happiness; happiness must be in the joys, and thus from them. It is happiness in the joys that causes them to be joys, enriches them, and so sustains them as to prevent their becoming paltry and wearisome; and this happiness every man has from use in his employment.
[6] "In the affection of every angel's will there is a kind of hidden current that draws his mind to the doing of something, wherein the mind finds tranquillity and satisfaction; and this satisfaction and tranquillity produce a state of mind receptive of the love of use from the Lord; and from the reception of this love comes heavenly happiness, which is the life of those joys that have been enumerated. Heavenly food in its essence is no other than love, wisdom, and use together; that is, use from love through wisdom; and because of this to everyone in heaven food for the body is given according to the use he performs, most excellent food to those who are eminently useful; food of medium quality but of exquisite taste to those whose use is of the middle grade; inferior food to those who perform low uses; but none to the indolent."
735. The angel then addressed those who had conceived the idea that the joys of heaven and eternal happiness consisted in an eternal succession of feasts with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, alternating with sports and stage plays. He said to them: "Follow me, and I will bring you to that happy state that attends the gratification of your joys." He led them through a grove to a level field covered over with a wooden floor, where were set tables, fifteen on one side and fifteen on the other. They asked why there were so many tables; and the angel replied: "The first table is for Abraham, the second for Isaac, the third for Jacob, and near these in due order are tables for the twelve apostles. On the other side are the same number of tables for their wives. The first three are for Sarah the wife of Abraham, Rebecca the wife of Isaac, and Leah and Rachel the wives of Jacob; and the other twelve are for the wives of the twelve apostles."
[2] Presently all the tables appeared laden with dishes of food, interspersed with table ornaments bearing fruits and condiments. The guests stood round the tables, waiting to see those who were to preside. After a brief interval, they were seen to enter in processional order, from Abraham to the last of the apostles. They now approached their own table, and reclined at the head of the couch; and then they invited those who were standing around to take their places. The men reclined with the patriarchs and apostles, and the women with their wives; and they ate and drank with reverent joy. When the repast was ended, the patriarchs retired; and then were introduced sports and dances of maidens and young men, and these were succeeded by plays. Thereupon they were again invited to feast according to the following arrangement: on the first day they were to eat with Abraham, on the next with Isaac, on the third with Jacob, on the fourth with Peter, on the fifth with James, on the sixth with John, on the seventh with Paul, and with the rest in order till the fifteenth day, when they were to begin the feasting over again in the same order, changing their seats each time, and so on to eternity.
[3] Some time after, the angel called together the men of his company, and said to them: "All those whom you saw at the tables had entertained in their imagination the same ideas as you concerning the joys of heaven, and the eternal happiness that follows from these; and in order that they might realize the vanity of their ideas, and be led away from them, such festive scenes, which are merely dramatic representations, have been instituted by Divine permission. Those leading personages whom you saw at the head of the tables, were old men playing their part. They were mostly from the peasant class, who, wearing long beards and puffed up with pride at possessing a little more wealth than others, were obsessed with the delusion that they were those old patriarchs. But follow me to the paths that lead away from this place of festivity."
[4] So they followed him and saw groups of fifty here and fifty there who had surfeited themselves with food till they were nauseated. They longed to return to the affairs of their own households, some to their official duties, some to their businesses, and some to their manual labor. Many, however, were detained by the wardens of the grove who questioned them as to the number of days they had feasted, and whether they had yet eaten at the tables with Peter and Paul; and they were told that if they went away before doing so, it would be to their lasting shame, because it was a disgraceful thing to do. Most of them replied: "We have tasted our joys to the full; the food has become insipid to us; and our relish for it has been destroyed. Our stomachs revolt at it, and we cannot bear even to taste it. We have already spent several days and nights in that luxury, and we earnestly beg to be let out." They were then let out; and with panting breath and hurried steps they fled home.
[5] The angel afterwards called together his companions, and as they went along, he gave them the following instruction concerning heaven. "There are in heaven, as well as in the world, food and drink, feasts and repasts. For leading personages the tables furnished with richest food, delicate and splendid, by which their minds are exhilarated and refreshed. There are sports and stage shows, instrumental music and song, and all in the highest perfection. Such things are pleasures to those for whom they are provided, but not happiness; which indeed will be found in pleasures, and which springs from them. When it is present in them it causes them to be real pleasures, enriching and elevating them, and preventing them from degenerating and becoming distasteful but happiness comes to every one from the use he performs in his own vocation.
[6] "There is in the affection of the will of every angel a latent tendency which induces the mind to do something; and this tranquilizes and satisfies it. Satisfaction and tranquillity create a state of mind receptive of the love of use from the Lord; and it is from the reception of this love that heavenly happiness results, which is the very life of those pleasures already referred to. Heavenly food in its essence is the harmonious union of love, wisdom and use; that is, use from love through the exercise of wisdom. For this reason food for the body is given to every one in heaven according to the use which he performs, sumptuous to those who perform uses of an outstanding character, moderately fine but of choice flavor to those whose uses are of moderate importance, and plain to those who perform humble uses of lesser importance; but none to the indolent."
735. Post haec Angelus alloquutus est illos, qui induxerant sibi ideam de Gaudiis Coeli, et de Felicitate aeterna, quod forent Epulationes cum Abramo, Isaco et Jacobo; et post epulas Ludi et Spectacula, ac iterum Epulae, et sic in aeternum: et dixit illis, sequimini me, et introducam vos in gaudiorum vestrorum felicitates; et introduxit illos per nemus in planitiem stratam asseribus, super qua positae erant Mensae, quindecim ab uno latere, et quindecim ab altero; et quaesiverunt, cur tot mensae, et respondit Angelus, quod prima mensa sit Abrami, secunda Isaci, tertia Jacobi, et juxta has in serie mensae duodecim Apostolorum; ab altero latere totidem mensae Uxorum illorum, et tres primae mensae sunt Sarae uxoris Abrami, Rebeccae uxoris Isaci, ac Leae et Rachelis uxorum Jacobi; ac duodecim reliquae sunt uxorum duodecim Apostolorum.
[2] Post aliquam moram, apparebant omnes Mensae plenae ferculis, et spatiola inter haec ornata parvis pyramidibus cum condituris. Epulaturi stabant circum illas in exspectatione videndi Praesules mensarum; qui pauculum exspectati visi sunt in ordine processionis ab Abramo ad ultimum Apostolorum intrantes; et mox quisque ad suam mensam accedens se reposuit super toro ad caput ejus; et inde dixerunt ad circumstantes, discumbite etiam vos nobiscum; et discubuerunt viri cum Patribus illis, et foeminae cum Uxoribus illorum, et comederunt et biberunt in laetitia, et cum veneratione. Post prandium exiverunt 1 illi Patres; et tunc instituti sunt ludi, choreae virginum et juvenum, et post has spectacula: quibus finitis invitabantur iterum ad Epulas, sed cum statuto, quod primo die comederent cum Abramo, altero cum Isaco, tertio cum Jacobo, quarto cum Petro, quinto cum Jacobo, sexto cum Johanne, septimo cum Paulo, et cum reliquis in ordine usque ad quindecimum diem, a quo iterum in simili ordine commessationes renovarent variando sedes, et sic in aeternum.
[3] Post haec Angelus convocavit viros cohortis, et dixit illis, hi omnes, quos vidistis ad mensas, in simili cogitatione imaginaria de Gaudiis Coeli, et inde Felicitate aeterna cum vobis fuerant; et propter finem, ut ipsi videant vanitates idearum suarum, et ab illis abducantur, institutae sunt, et a Domino permissae tales epulares Scenae. Primores illi, quos vidistis ad capita mensarum, erant personati 2 Senes, plerique ex rustica gente, qui barbati, et ex quadam opulentia prae caeteris fastuosi, quibus inducta est phantasia, quod vetusti illi Patres essent.
[4] Sed sequimini me in vias exitus e palaestra hac, et sequuti sunt, et videbant quinquaginta hic et quinquaginta ibi, qui farciverant ventres cibariis usque ad nauseas, et concupiverunt redire ad familiaria domuum suarum, quidam ad sua munia, quidam ad sua negotia, et quidam ad suas operas: at multi a custodibus nemoris retenti et interrogati de diebus epulationis illorum, et num adhuc ad mensas cum Petro et cum Paulo comederint, et si prius exirent, hoc, quia, indecens est, futurum illis pudori: sed plerique respondebant, explevimus gaudia nostra, cibi facti sunt nobis insipidi, ac gustus torridus, fastidit illos stomachus, non sustinemus libare illos, protraximus aliquot dies et noctes in luxurie illa, impense rogamus ut emittamur; ac dimissi, anhelo spiritu et festino cursu aufugerunt domum.
[5] Post haec Angelus vocavit viros cohortis, et in via docuit illos haec de Coelo: in Coelo aeque sicut in Mundo sunt Cibi et Potus, sunt Commessationes et Convivia; et apud Primores ibi sunt Mensae super quibus sunt opimae dapes, cupediae et lautitiae, quibus exhilarantur et recreantur animi; et sunt quoque Ludi et Spectacula; et sunt Musicalia et Cantica; et omnia illa in summa perfectione; talia sunt illis etiam in gaudia, sed non in felicitatem; haec erit in gaudiis, et inde ex gaudiis; felicitas in gaudiis facit ut sint gaudia, opimat illa, et sustentat ne vilescant et fastidiantur; et haec felicitas est cuivis ex usu in sua functione.
[6] Est aliqua vena in affectione voluntatis cujusvis Angeli latens, quae attrahit mentem ad aliquid faciendum; mens per hoc tranquillat se, et satisfacit sibi; haec satisfactio 3 et illa tranquillitas faciunt statum mentis receptibilem amoris usus a Domino; ex receptione hujus est Felicitas coelestis, quae est vita illorum gaudiorum, quae prius memorata sunt. Cibus coelestis in sua essentia nec aliud est quam amor, sapientia et usus simul, hoc est, usus per sapientiam ex amore; quamobrem unicuivis in Coelo datur cibus pro corpore secundum usum, quem praestat, magnificus illis qui in eminente usu sunt, modicus sed exquisiti saporis illis qui in medii gradus usu sunt, et vilis illis qui in vili usu sunt, at nullus socordibus.
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