456、多年的日常经历向我证明，当人的灵从身体中被释放后，仍是形状相似的人。因为我上千次地看见他们，听见他们说话，甚至与他们谈论这一事实：世人不相信他们是人，真信的人却被有学问的人视为头脑简单，这种无知在世上仍被人深信，尤其在教会内，灵人们对此感到伤心。
[2]但他们说，这种信仰主要来自有学问的人，这些人基于肉体感官来思考灵魂，他们从那些无知的观念中只能对灵魂形成这样的概念：灵魂是纯粹的思想，当这种思想与它赖以存在的任何主体（容器和源头）分离后，不过是一股转瞬即逝的纯以太气息，当身体死亡时，必定消散。但教会又根据圣经，相信灵魂不朽，所以他们被迫把某些有生命力的东西，如思想之类，归于灵魂，可他们却拒绝将诸如人所拥有的知觉归于它，除非等它与身体重新结合。基于这个观点，关于复活的教义就建立在这样一个信念上：当最后的审判来临时，灵魂和身体会重新结合在一起。因为这个原因，当任何人按照该教义和这些猜测来思考灵魂时，他根本不能理解这个事实，即灵魂是灵（人），有人的形状。再者，如今几乎没有人知道什么是灵性，更不知道灵性生命，诸如灵人和天使，都拥有人的形状。
[3]因此，几乎所有从尘世来到灵界的人都惊讶万分地发现，他们还活着，和以前一样是人，能看、听、说，身体和以前一样享有触觉，没有任何改变（参看74节）。当他们不再对自己感到惊讶时，他们又惊讶于教会竟然对人死后的这种状态一无所知，因而对天堂和地狱一无所知。而事实上，所有曾经活在尘世的人都在来世作为人活着。他们也疑惑，这种事既然是教会信仰的本质，为何不藉着异象向世人显明？于是他们从天堂得知，若主乐意，这类异象随时可以发生，因为没有比这更容易的了。然而，那些确信反面谬误的人，即使看见了，也不会相信。再者，当人们陷在谬误中时，通过异象来证实任何事都是危险的，因为他们会先相信，然后又否认，从而亵渎真理本身。因为相信之后又否认就是亵渎。那些亵渎真理的人会被扔到所有地狱中最低层、最痛苦的地方。｛注1｝
[4]这种危险就是主所说的下面这句话的意思：
他蒙蔽了他们的眼睛，使他们的心刚硬，免得他们亲眼看见，心里明白，回转过来，我就医治他们。（约翰福音12:40）
那些陷在伪谬中的人，即使看见异象，也不会相信。下面的话就是这个意思：
亚伯拉罕对地狱中的财主说，他们有摩西和先知的话可以听从。他说，我祖亚伯拉罕哪，不是的，若有一个从死里复活的，到他们那里去的，他们必要悔改。亚伯拉罕说，若不听从摩西和先知的话，就是有一个从死里复活的，他们也不会相信的（路加福音16:29-31）。
｛注1｝：亵渎就是良善与邪恶、真理与伪谬在人里面的混合（6348）。唯独这些人亵渎真理和良善、或圣经和教会的神圣事物：他们首先承认它们，尤其是按照它们生活，但后来又背离这些信仰，拒绝它们，为自己和世界而活（593，1008，1010，1059，3398，3399，3898，4289，4601，10284，10287）。如果一个人在真心悔改后又回到先前的邪恶中，就犯了亵渎，他后来的处境比先前的更糟糕了（8394）。那些不承认神圣事物的人，尤其那些不知道它们的人无法亵渎它们（1008，1010，1059，9188，10284）。教会之外没有圣经的非基督徒，无法亵渎圣经（1327，1328，2051，2284）。因此，内层真理没有向犹太人披露，因为如果它们被披露给犹太人并被承认，犹太人早就亵渎它们了（3398，4289，6963）。在来世，亵渎者的命运是最糟糕的，因为不仅他们所承认的良善和真理，而且他们的邪恶和伪谬都保留下来了，由于这些一起共存，所以他们的生命极其痛苦（571，582，6348）。因此，主极其小心地防止人亵渎（2426，10287）。
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456. 年复一年的日常经历向我证明, 与身体分离后, 人的灵仍是一个人, 处于同样的形式. 因为我成千上万次地看见这类灵人, 听见他们说话, 甚至与他们谈论这一事实: 世人不相信他们是人, 真信的人却被学者视为傻子. 灵人对于这种无知仍在世上, 尤其在教会盛行而感到痛心.
他们说, 这种信仰主要出自那些基于源自身体感官的观念来思想灵魂的学者. 他们基于这类观念只能形成这样的概念: 灵魂是纯粹的思维; 这种思维因缺乏作为其容器和源头的任何主体, 故就像一股转瞬即逝的纯以太气息, 当身体死亡时, 它必消散.
但由于教会基于圣言相信灵魂不朽, 所以他们不得不将诸如属于思维之类的某种生命物归于灵魂. 然而, 他们却不将诸如人所拥有的那类感官能力归于它, 而是要等它与身体重新联结. 其复活的教义就建立在这个观点基础上, 正如他们的信仰, 即: 等到最后审判之时, 灵魂将与身体重新联结. 其结果是, 当有人照该教义和这些揣测来思想灵魂时, 他根本不理解这一事实: 灵魂是灵, 处于人的形式. 而且, 如今几乎没有人知道何为属灵的, 更不知道如灵人和天使那样的属灵人拥有人的形式.
正因如此, 几乎所有从这个世界来到灵界的人都惊讶万分地发现, 他们还活着, 和以前一样是人, 因为他们能看见, 听见, 说话, 其身体和以前一样享有触觉, 没有任何区别(参看74节). 刚刚平复对自己的惊讶, 他们又惊讶于教会竟然对人死后的这种状态一无所知, 因而对天堂或地狱一无所知; 而事实上, 所有曾活在世上的人都在来世, 是活生生的人.
他们想不明白的是, 这种事既然是教会信仰的本质, 为何不通过异象向世人显明. 于是他们从天上被告知, 若主乐意, 这类异象随时可以发生, 因为没有比这更容易的了. 然而, 人们即便看见, 也不相信, 因为他们已经确信对立的虚假了. 再者, 当人们陷入虚假时, 再没有比通过异象来确认任何事更危险的了, 因为那时他们首先会相信, 后来又加以否认, 从而亵渎真理本身; 因为相信, 然后否认就是亵渎; 那些亵渎真理的人会被投入最低层, 最可怕的地狱.
这种危险就是主说这些话所指的:
主叫他们瞎了眼, 硬了心, 免得他们眼睛看见, 心里明白, 回转过来, 我就医治他们. (约翰福音 12:40)
那些陷入虚假的人即便看见异象, 也不会相信. 下面的话就表示这一事实:
亚伯拉罕对地狱里的财主说, 他们有摩西和先知的话, 让他们听他们吧. 他说, 我祖亚伯拉罕哪! 不是的, 若有一个从死人中到他们那里去, 他们必要悔改. 亚伯拉罕对他说, 若不听从摩西和先知, 就是有一个从死里复活的, 他们也不会相信的. (路加福音 16:29-31)
注: 亵渎就是在人里面, 良善与邪恶混合, 真理与虚假混合(天国的奥秘 6348节). 亵渎真理与良善, 或圣言与教会的神圣事物的, 唯独是那些首先承认它们, 尤其曾照之生活, 后来又背离自己的信仰, 否认它们, 为自己和世界而活的人(天国的奥秘 593, 1008, 1010, 1059, 3398, 3399, 3898, 4289, 4601, 10284, 10287节). 人若发自内心悔改后又回到先前的罪恶中, 就犯了亵渎; 他后来的境况比先前还糟糕(天国的奥秘 8394节). 那些不承认神圣事物的人, 尤其那些不知道它们的人无法亵渎它们(天国的奥秘 1008, 1010, 1059, 9188, 10284节). 教会之外没有圣言的非基督徒无法亵渎圣言(天国的奥秘 1327, 1328, 2051, 2284节). 正因如此, 内层真理没有被透露给犹太人, 因为若它们被透露并承认, 犹太人早就亵渎它们了(天国的奥秘 3398, 4289, 6963节). 在来世, 亵渎者的命运是最糟糕的, 因为不仅他们所承认的良善与真理, 而且他们的邪恶与虚假都保留下来, 由于这些粘在一起, 所以他们的生命被撕裂, 非常悲惨(天国的奥秘 571, 582, 6348节). 因此, 主格外小心地防止人亵渎(天国的奥秘 2426, 10287节).
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456. 多年的日常經歷向我證實:人的靈, 脫離肉身後, 仍舊是個人, 有人的形狀。我千百次如此看見, 也聽見他們說話。我告訴他們, 世人並不相信他們具有人形, 相信靈呈人形的會被所謂的學者視為頭腦簡單。對於這種無知依然盛行於世, 尤其盛行於教會, 他們不禁感到悲哀。他們說, 這種觀念主要出於那些以肉體感官來揣摩靈魂的學者們。以感官為基礎的唯一結果, 是他們將靈魂視為思想, 當思想不被認為有某種主體時, 就被視為一股漂流的氣息, 等到肉體死亡, 它就只有消散。但因教會憑聖言而相信靈魂不朽, 他們只好給靈魂賦予某種生氣, 如思想一類的東西。可是他們不認為靈魂有人的知覺, 必須等到它與肉體複合才行。在此基礎上, 他們建立起復活的教義, 以為到最後審判的時候, 靈魂將與肉體複合。其結果是, 當人們憑教義和揣測來思想靈魂時, 就無法把握靈呈人形這個事實。再者, 今日幾乎無人明白何為靈性, 更不知靈界的靈和天人具有人的形狀。正因如此, 幾乎所有從人間進入靈界的人, 當他們發現自己依然活著, 依然能見能聞能言, 身體依然有觸覺, 並無改變時, 都感到莫名驚訝。驚奇之餘, 他們又為教會對人死後的狀態(儘管曾經活在人間的人都已進入靈界, 是活生生的人), 對天國地獄居然一無所知而感到吃驚。他們想不通, 這事於教會的信仰既如此重要, 為何不通過異象向世人顯明呢？天人告之, 主若願意, 異象隨時可以發生, 沒有比這更容易的事。只是人們即使看見, 也不會相信, 因為他們已固守錯誤的成見。再者, 對於陷入錯誤觀念的人, 用異象來使之信服是危險的。因為他們開始會相信, 然後又加以否認。這樣, 他們就褻瀆了真理, 因為相信卻又否認即是褻瀆, 褻瀆真理的人將不得不進入底層最恐怖的地獄。
當主說:"主叫他們瞎了眼, 硬了心, 免得他們眼睛看見, 心裡明白, 回轉過來, 我就醫治他們"(約翰福音12:40), 指的就是這種危險。當主說:"亞伯拉罕對地獄裡的財主說:'他們有摩西和先知的話可以聽從。'他說:'我祖亞伯拉罕哪！不是的, 若有一個從死裡復活的, 到他們那裡去的, 他們必要悔改。'亞伯拉罕說:'若不聽從摩西和先知的話, 就是有一個從死裡復活的, 他們也是不聽勸'"(路加福音16:29-31), 指的就是陷入錯誤觀念的人, 即使看見, 也不會相信。
456. Years and years of daily experience have witnessed to me that after separation from the body the human spirit is a person and is in a similar form. I have seen this thousands of times, I have heard such spirits, and I have talked with them even about the fact that people in the world do not believe that they are what they are, and that scholars think people who do believe are simpletons. Spirits are heartsick over the fact that this kind of ignorance is still common in the world and especially in the church.
[2] They say, however, that this belief stems especially from academics who have thought about the soul on the basis of physical sensory reality. The only concept this can yield is one of pure thought, and when this lacks any medium in which and on the basis of which it is examined, it is like some volatile form of pure ether that can only dissipate when the body dies. Since the church believes in the immortality of the soul on the basis of the Word, though, they cannot help but attribute something vital to it, something thoughtlike. However, they do not attribute to it any sensory capacity like ours until it is reunited with its body. Their doctrine of the resurrection is based on this notion, as is their belief that there will be a reunion [of soul and body] when the Last Judgment comes. The result is that when people think about the soul on the basis of both doctrine and speculation, they do not at all grasp the fact that it is the spirit and that it is in human form. There is also the fact that hardly anyone nowadays knows what the spiritual is, let alone that people who are spiritual, as all spirits and angels are, have a human form.
[3] This is why almost all the people who arrive from this world are as astonished as they can be to find that they are alive and that they are just as human as ever, that they are seeing and hearing and talking, that their bodies are still endowed with the sense of touch, and that nothing at all has changed (see 74 above). Once they get over their amazement, though, then they are amazed that the church does not know anything about this state of ours after death and therefore does not know anything about heaven or hell, even though all the people who have lived in this world are in the other life and are living people. Since they do keep wondering why this has not been made plain to people on earth through visions, inasmuch as it is essential to the faith of the church, they have been told from heaven that such visions could happen whenever it pleased the Lord - nothing could be easier. However, people would not believe even if they were to see, because they have convinced themselves of the opposing false notions. Further, it is dangerous to use visions to convince people of anything if they are immersed in false opinions, because they will believe at first and then deny. In this way they will desecrate the truth itself, since desecration is believing and then denying. People who desecrate truths are forced down into the lowest and direst hell of all. 1
[4] This is the danger meant by the Lord's words, "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts lest they see with their eyes and understand with their heart and turn themselves and I might heal them" (John 12:40); and the fact that people immersed in false opinions still would not believe is meant when it says, "Abraham said to the rich man in hell, They have Moses and the prophets, let them heed them. But he said, No, Father Abraham, but if someone from the dead were to come to them, they would change. But Abraham said, If they do not heed Moses and the prophets, then even if someone were raised from the dead, they would not believe" (Luke 16:29-31).
Footnotes:
1. Desecration is the mingling of the good and the evil and of the true and the false within us: 6348. The only people who can desecrate what is true and good, or the holy things of the Word and the church, are people who have first acknowledged them, all the more if they have lived by them, and later fall away from their faith, deny them, and live for themselves and the world: 593, 1008, 1010, 1059, 3398-3399, 3898, 4289, 4601, 10284, 10287. If we fall back into prior evils after heartfelt repentance, we commit desecration; and then our later state is worse than our former one: 8394. People cannot desecrate holy things if they have not acknowledged them, and still less if they have not even known about them: 1008, 1010, 1059, 9188, 10284. Non-Christians who are outside the church and do not have the Word are incapable of desecration: 1327-1328, 2051, 2081. This is why deeper truths were not disclosed to the Jews, because if they had been disclosed and acknowledged, they would have desecrated them: 3398, 3489, 6963. The fate of desecrators in the other life is the worst of all because the good and truth they acknowledged is still there and so is what is evil and false; and since these coexist, there is a wrenching of their very life: 571, 582, 6348. So the Lord takes the greatest care to prevent desecration: 2426, 10384.
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456. That the spirit of man, when it has been loosed from the body, is still a man and in a like form, has been proved to me by the daily experience of many years; for, a thousand times I have seen such and have heard them and talked with them even about this fact, that men in the world do not believe them to be men, and that those who do believe this are regarded by the learned as simple. Spirits are grieved at heart that such ignorance still persists in the world, and above all within the Church.
[2] But this belief they said had emanated chiefly from the learned, who had thought about the soul from the corporeal sensual; and from such ideas the only conception they formed of the soul was as being mere thought; and when this is regarded apart from any subject in and from which it exists, it is merely a fleeting breath of pure ether that must needs be dissipated when the body dies. But as the Church believes from the Word in the immortality of the soul, they are compelled to ascribe to it something vital, such as pertains to thought, but they deny to it anything of sense, such as man possesses, until it has again been joined to the body. On this opinion, the doctrine in regard to the resurrection is based, with the belief that the soul and body will be joined again when the last judgment comes. For this reason, when anyone thinks about the soul in accordance with this doctrine and these conjectures, he cannot at all grasp the fact that it is a spirit, and in a human form. And still further, scarcely anyone at this day knows what the spiritual is, and still less that spiritual beings, as all spirits and angels are, have any human form.
[3] Consequently, nearly all who come from the world are greatly surprised that they are alive, and are as much men as before, that they see, hear, and speak, and that their body enjoys the sense of touch as before, with no difference whatever (see above, 74). And when they cease to be astonished at themselves, then they are astonished that the Church should know nothing about this state of men after death, thus nothing about heaven and hell, when in fact all who have ever lived in the world are in the other life and live as men. And as they wondered also why this had not been disclosed to man by visions, being an essential of the faith of the Church, they were told from heaven that although this might have been done, since nothing is easier when it is the Lord's good pleasure, yet those who have confirmed themselves in the opposite falsities would not believe even if they themselves should behold it; also that there is danger in confirming anything by visions with men who are in falsities, for they would then first believe and afterwards deny, and thus would profane the truth itself, for it is profanation to believe and then to deny; and those who profane truths are cast down into the lowest and most grievous of all the hells. 1
[4] This danger is what is meant by the Lord's words:
He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts lest they should see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and should turn and I should heal them. John 12:40.
And that those who are in falsities would not believe [even if visions were given] is meant by these words:
Abraham said to the rich man in hell, They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them. But he said, Nay, father Abraham, but if one came to them from the dead they would be converted. But Abraham said to him, If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they believe though one should rise from the dead. Luke 16:29-31.
Footnotes:
1. Profanation is the mixing of good and evil and of truth and falsity in man (Arcana Coelestia 6348).
Only those can profane truth and good, or the holy things of the Word and the Church, who first acknowledge them, and still more who live according to them, and who afterwards recede from the belief and reject it, and live for themselves and the world (Arcana Coelestia 593, 1008, 1010, 1059, 3398-3399, 3898, 4289, 4601, 10284, 10287).
If man after repentance of heart relapses to former evils, he profanes, and his latter state is then worse than his former (Arcana Coelestia 8394).
Those who have not acknowledged holy things, still less those who have no knowledge of them, cannot profane them (Arcana Coelestia 1008, 1010, 1059, 9188, 10284).
The heathen who are out of the Church and do not have the Word cannot profane it (Arcana Coelestia 1327, 5328, 2051, 2284).
On this account interior truths were not disclosed to the Jews, for if they had been disclosed and acknowledged, they would have profaned them (Arcana Coelestia 3398, 4289, 6963).
The lot of profaners in the other life is the worst of all, because not only the good and truth they have acknowledged, but also their evil and falsity remain, and as these cling together, the life is rent asunder (Arcana Coelestia 571, 582, 6348).
Consequently most careful provision is made by the Lord to prevent profanation (Arcana Coelestia 2426, 10287).
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456. That the spirit of man, when it has been loosed from the body, is still a man and in a like form, has been proved to me by the daily experience of many years; for I have seen such and have listened to them a thousand times, and have talked with them about this fact, that men in the world do not believe them to be men, and that those that do believe this are regarded by the learned as simple. Spirits are grieved at heart that such ignorance still continues in the world, and above all within the church.
[2] But this belief they said had emanated chiefly from the learned, who had thought about the soul from ideas derived from bodily sense; and from such ideas the only conception they formed of the soul was as being mere thought; and when this is regarded apart from any subject as its containant and source it is merely a fleeting breath of pure ether that must needs be dissipated when the body dies. But as the church believes from the Word in the immortality of the soul they are compelled to ascribe to it something vital, such as pertains to thought, but they deny to it any thing of sense, such as man possesses, until it has again been joined to the body. On this opinion the doctrine in regard to the resurrection is based, with the belief that the soul and body will be joined again at the time of the final judgment. For this reason when any one thinks about the soul in accordance with this doctrine and these conjectures, he has no conception that it is a spirit, and in a human form. And still further, scarcely any one at this day knows what the spiritual is, and still less that spiritual beings, as all spirits and angels are, have any human form.
[3] Consequently, nearly all that go from this world are greatly surprised to find that they are alive, and are as much men as before, that they see, hear, and speak, and that their body enjoys the sense of touch as before, with no difference whatever (see above, 74). And when they cease to be astonished at themselves they are astonished that the church should know nothing about this state of men after death, thus nothing about heaven or hell, when in fact all that have ever lived in the world are in the other life and live as men. And as they wondered also why this had not been disclosed to man by visions, being an essential of the faith of the church, they were told from heaven that although this might have been done, since nothing is easier when it is the Lord's good pleasure, yet those that have confirmed themselves in the opposite falsities would not believe even if they themselves should behold it; also that there is danger in confirming any thing by visions when men are in falsities, for they would then first believe and afterwards deny, and thus would profane the truth itself, since to believe and afterwards deny is to profane; and those who profane truths are cast down into the lowest and most grievous of all the hells. 1
[4] This danger is what is meant by the Lord's words:
He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts lest they should see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and should turn and I should heal them (John 12:40).
And that those that are in falsities would not believe [even if visions were given] is meant by these words:
Abraham said to the rich man in hell, They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them. But he said, Nay, father Abraham, but if one came to them from the dead they would be converted. But Abraham said to him, If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they believe though one should rise from the dead (Luke 16:29-31).
The lot of profaners in the other life is the worst of all, because not only the good and truth they have acknowledged, but also their evil and falsity remain, and as these cling together, the life is rent asunder (Arcana Coelestia 571, 582, 6348).
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456. Quod spiritus hominis post solutionem a corpore sit homo, et in simili forma, hoc mihi per cottidianam plurium annorum experientiam in testato est; nam illos millies vidi, audivi, et cum illis locutus sum, etiam de eo, quod homines in mundo non tales esse credant, et quod illi qui credunt ab eruditis reputentur ut simplices. Spiritus doluerunt corde, quod talis ignorantia adhuc perstet in orbe, et maxime intra ecclesiam;
[2] sed haec fidem dicebant emanavisse imprimis ab eruditis, qui ex sensuali corporeo cogitaverunt de anima, ex quo de illa non aliam ideam ceperunt, quam sicut de cogitatione sola, quae cum absque aliquo subjecto in quo et ex quo spectatur, est sicut quoddam volatile puri aetheris, quod, moriente corpore, non potest non dissipari: sed quia ecclesia ex Verbo animae immortalitatem credit, non potuerunt aliter quam aliquod vitale, quale est cogitationis, ei addicere, sed usque non sensitivum, quale homini, priusquam iterum conjuncta esset corpori. Super hac opinione fundatur doctrina de resurrectione, ac fides quod conjunctio futura sit, quando ultimum judicium venit inde est, cum aliquis de anima ex doctrina et simul ex hypothesi cogitat, quod prorsus non capiat quod illa sit spiritus, et is in forma humana. Accedit, quod vix aliquis hodie sciat quid spirituale est, et minus quod aliqua forma humana sit illis qui spirituales sunt, quales sunt omnes spiritus et angeli.
[3] Inde est, quod fere omnes qui e mundo veniunt, mirentur quam maxime, quod vivant, et quod sint homines aeque ac prius, quod videant, audiant et loquantur, et quod corpus eorum tactu polleat sicut prius, et quod prorsus nihil differat (videatur supra, 74): sed cum cessant se mirari, dein mirantur quod ecclesia nihil sciat de tali statu hominum post mortem, ita nec de caelo et inferno, cum tamen omnes quotcunque in mundo vixerunt, in altera vita sunt, ac vivunt homines. Et quia etiam mirabantur cur hoc non manifestatum fuerit homini per visiones, quia id essentiale fidei ecclesiae est, dictum est illis e caelo quod hoc potuisset fieri, nam nihil facilius est quum Domino beneplacet, sed quod usque non credituri essent, qui se in falsis contra illa confirmaverunt, etiamsi ipsi visuri tum quod periculosum sit aliquid per visiones confirmare apud illos qui in falsis sunt, quia sic primum credituri essent, et postea negaturi, ac ita ipsum illud verum profanaturi, nam profanare est credere et postea negare; et qui profanant vera, illi in omnium infernorum infimum et gravissimum detruduntur. 1Hoc periculum est, quod intelligitur per Domini verba,
"Excaecavit oculos eorum, et obduravit corda 2eorum, ne videant oculis et intelligant corde, et sese convertant, et sanem illos," (Johannes 12:40):
et quod qui in falsis sunt, usque non credituri sint, per haec,
Dixit Abraham Diviti in inferno, Habent Mosen et Prophetas, audiant illos; ille vero dixit, Non pater Abraham, sed si quis ex mortuis veniat ad eos, convertentur; Abraham autem dixit ei, Si Mosen et Prophetas non audiunt, nec etiam si quis ex mortuis resurrexerit, credent," (Luca 16:29-31).
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