Page:Heaven Revealed.djvu/357

 little about being instructed, are in the lowest or first heaven.

"Hence it may be manifest that the states of the interiors make heaven, and that heaven is within every one and not without him; as the Lord also teaches (Luke xvii. 20, 21).

"All perfection also increases toward the interiors and decreases toward the exteriors; because interior things are nearer the Divine, and in themselves purer; but exterior things are more remote from the Divine, and in themselves grosser. . . Since the interiors of the angels of the inmost heaven are open to the third degree, therefore their perfection immensely surpasses that of the angels of the middle heaven, whose interiors are open to the second degree. In like manner the perfection of the angels of the middle heaven surpasses that of the angels of the ultimate heaven.'"—H. H, n. 29-34.

"It is known that there are three heavens, the inmost, the middle and the ultimate, or the third, the second and the first: all those heavens were represented by the tabernacle. . . The reason why there are three heavens is, that there are three degrees of life in man (for man who becomes an angel after death, constitutes heaven, nor have the angels or the heavens any other origin); the inmost degree of his life is for the inmost heaven; the middle degree of life for the middle heaven; and the ultimate for the ultimate heaven. And since man is such, or so formed, and heaven is from the human race, therefore there are three heavens. Those degrees of life in man are opened successively; the first degree by a life according to what is equitable and just; the second degree by a life according to the truths of faith from the Word, and according to the goods of charity toward the neighbor thence; and the third degree according to the good of mutual love, and the good of love to the Lord: these are the means whereby are suc-