14、水星灵在所掌握知识的数量方面超过其他所有人，这些知识既涉及太阳系，也涉及太阳系之外的星空。他们一旦获得知识，就保留下来，每当有类似的事发生，就回想起来。由此也明显可知，灵人拥有记忆，事实上，这记忆比人类所拥有的记忆完美得多。他们把自己的所见所闻或所领悟到的，尤其诸如令他们感到快乐的事都保留下来，因为这些灵人以知识为乐。凡给予快乐并被喜爱的事物都仿佛自动流入，并保留下来。其它事物则不会渗透到记忆中，仅表面接触一下就悄无声息地溜走了。
14. The spirits from Mercury possess far more knowledge than other spirits do, both about what is going on within our own solar system and also about what is happening on extrasolar planets. Once they have learned something they retain it, and they also recall it every time they encounter something similar. This shows that spirits have the faculty of memory and that their memory is far better than ours is. It also shows that spirits retain what they hear and see and perceive, especially things they enjoy, such as the information about higher realities that gives pleasure to these spirits from Mercury. This is because things that we delight in and love flow into us almost effortlessly and remain with us. The rest does not penetrate but only glances off the surface of our minds and disappears. 1
Footnotes:
1. For a fuller statement on the role of love in memory retention, see Secrets of Heaven 5893:2. This role is in accord with the general principle articulated in Swedenborg’s works that whatever we love we seek out, and it becomes part of us and remains with us forever, whereas what we do not love we consider foreign and reject from ourselves. See Secrets of Heaven 10153, 10740-10749; Heaven and Hell 18, 363, 479-481; New Jerusalem 113; Marriage Love 34-36, 524. [LSW]
14. The spirits of Mercury surpass others in the amount of knowledge they possess, both about matters within the solar system and in the starry sky beyond it. What they have once learned they retain, and recall whenever similar facts are observed. This is another clear proof that spirits have a memory, one in fact much more perfect than human beings have. They retain what they see, hear or otherwise grasp, especially if they get pleasure from it, as these spirits do from knowledge. Things that give pleasure and are loved flow in as if of their own accord and are retained. Other things do not penetrate the memory, but only make superficial contact and slip away.
14. The spirits of Mercury, above all other spirits, possess the knowledges of things, as well respecting this solar system, as respecting the earths which are in the starry heavens; and what they have once acquired to themselves, that they retain, and also recollect as often as anything similar occurs. Hence also it may appear manifest, that spirits have memory, and that it is much more perfect than the memory of men; and further, that what they hear, see, and apperceive, they retain, and especially such things as delight them, as these spirits are delighted with the knowledges of things. For whatever things cause delight, and affect the love, these flow in as it were spontaneously, and remain; other things do not enter, but only touch the surface and pass by.
14. Spiritus Mercurii prae reliquis spiritibus cognitiones rerum, tam qua in hujus Solis mundo, quam quae extra hunc in Caelo astrifero sunt, possident; et quae semel sibi acquisiverunt, illa retinent, et quoque illorum reminiscuntur, quoties similia occurrunt: inde quoque manifeste constare potest, quod memoria spiritibus sit, et quod illa multo perfectior sit memoria hominum; tum quod quae spiritus audiunt, vident, et appercipiunt, retineant, et maxime talia, quibus delectantur, ut hi spiritus cognitionibus rerum; nam quae delectationi sunt et amori, ea quasi sponte sua influunt, et remanent; caetera non intrant, sed modo superficiem tangunt, et praeterlabuntur.